Information/Write-up
Neighbourhood Watch are a pioneering hardcore punk band from Fredericton, New Brunswick. Originally active between 1985 and 1988, the band emerged in near isolation from Canada’s established punk circuits and played a formative role in Atlantic Canada’s underground scene. They are widely regarded as having released the first punk 7-inch from the region.
The band took shape in late 1985, sparked by conversations between vocalist Grant Forsythe and guitarist Ciaron Lewis, who were drawn to punk out of boredom, frustration, and a lack of creative outlets in Fredericton at the time. An early version of the group briefly included Pat Oanicia (later of S.C.U.M.) and Rich Ivey, but the lineup did not solidify until drummer Nick Oliver joined. After an improvised first show that required a temporary fill-in bassist, Rob Melvin was brought in, completing the band’s first stable lineup.
That lineup—Grant Forsythe (vocals), Ciaron Lewis (guitar), Rob Melvin (bass), and Nick Oliver (drums)—is documented on the band’s 1986 EP Death at the Hands of Time, released by Real World Records in Durham, England. Issuing a UK-pressed record was a significant achievement for a New Brunswick punk band in the mid-1980s and reflected Neighbourhood Watch’s determination to operate beyond regional limitations. The EP’s aggressive, direct sound captured both the urgency of the band and the broader social and political tensions that shaped Atlantic Canadian hardcore at the time.
Neighbourhood Watch also appeared on the No Frontiers compilation EP and undertook two summer tours in 1986 and 1987, traveling from the Maritimes into Ontario. These tours connected the band with like-minded acts including S.C.U.M., Problem Children, No Fraud, and others, helping to forge informal networks between otherwise disconnected scenes. Touring conditions were often chaotic—marked by unreliable promoters, improvised accommodations, and occasional confrontations—but these experiences became central to the band’s identity.
Despite operating within a small and geographically dispersed scene, Neighbourhood Watch maintained strong relationships with bands in Halifax and Saint John. There was little sense of rivalry; scenes were simply too small and interdependent. The Halifax hardcore community in particular was supportive, and the band shared bills and friendships with acts such as System Overload and Early Warning Syndrome.
Following their tours, Neighbourhood Watch struggled with ongoing lineup instability. Former members during this period included Bill Brown, Tim Gorman, James Hamilton, Daren Greene, Steve Vienot, Johnny Whalen, Al Muir, Steve Duggan, and others. The frequent changes made it increasingly difficult to develop new material, as rehearsals were often spent re-teaching earlier songs.
The band played their final show of the original era in the summer of 1988. While their recorded output from that period was limited, their influence on the Atlantic Canadian punk and hardcore underground far outweighed their discography.
Neighbourhood Watch reunited in 2015 for a series of shows and subsequently reconvened as an active band, releasing archival and new material and re-establishing themselves as a current working unit. Their later activity underscores both the durability of their original work and their continued relevance within Canadian punk history.
-Robert Williston
Cover of Bad Brains Right Brigade
Released April 14, 2020
No Comments