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One Year Later: R.I.P. Alex Soria (Nils) [Part II]

by Jack Rabid
19 December 2005

In my last blog, I spoke about the death (tragic suicide, age 39) last December of someone who I admired and knew, someone who wasn’t well known outside of underground Canadian rock circles and his home Montreal. But ALEX SORIA (1966-2004), leader of THE NILS, was one of the great singer/songwriters of the 1980s. A year later, I still miss him, having eulogized him briefly in issue 56 of The Big Takeover.

I also spoke of Soria’s gifts as a songwriter and singer, and implored readers who wanted to hear some real early ‘80s melodic, heartfelt, post-punk greatness, to try The Nils’ compilation Green Fields in Daylight on Canadian label Mag Wheel (and start from the end and work their way backwards).

I also included Part I of a fine memorial piece for him penned by Canadian writer CAROLINE EVANS, who generously offered it to us to run in this space. So, without further comment, here’s Ms. Evans to conclude that thoughtful and informative look back:

Scratches and Needles [Part II]
by Caroline Evans

In spite of his drug [heroin] problems, the shy frontman never lost his gifts for songwriting and performing, sometimes playing until blood trickled down his pickguard. “Alex was so quiet and soft-spoken, when he got up on stage, it was like, ‘How does he do that? How does he know to do that?’” longtime friend JOHN CAMPBELL says, remembering the first time he saw his high school chum rehearse.

“The way he wrote his lyrics, he was very concise. He could say so much in just one sentence,” Mag Wheel Records head WOODY WHELAN wrote to me via e-mail shortly after Soria died. “I often think of that STEVE EARLE quote regarding TOWNES VAN ZANT: ‘Townes Van Zant is the greatest songwriter, and I’ll jump up on BOB DYLAN’s coffee table with cowboy boots and say that to his face.’ I would change that to Alex Soria, boots to Converse high-tops, and Bob Dylan to PAUL WESTERBERG.”

Attempts to revive The Nils in the early ‘90 on guitarist/bassist brother CARLOS SORIA’s return from California came to naught, and Alex formed another band, CHINO, in 1998, which issued a sole EP, the celebrated Mala Leche on Whelan’s Mag Wheel label, then based in Montreal.

“It bothered him because he was so aware that ‘making it’ isn’t always about the songwriting, it’s also about timing and who you know. And you know, Alex wasn’t a schmoozer,” says Campbell.

Although The Nils were never commercially successful, their influence has been tremendous. As contemporaries of the American post-punk movement, they influenced the likes of SUPERCHUNK and HUSKER DU. “BOB MOULD’s mum used to bake The Nils cookies while they were on tour,” Whelan laughs, speaking from his Toronto home. His high voice conjures up a mental image of the Converse high-tops he had written about in his email. “But it’s true that they were contemporaries, not copiers, of THE REPLACEMENTS and Husker Du.” Other bands influenced by The Nils include SLOAN, DOWN BY LAW, and JOHN KASTNER outfits THE ASEXUALS, THE DOUGHBOYS, and ALL SYSTEMS GO.

The effect that Soria and his work had on people was seen in March of this year, as people flew in from Edmonton, The Maritimes, L.A. and New York to attend a memorial concert at Montreal’s Main Hall, to watch former members of The Nils and Chino, John Kastner, and others pay tribute to the quiet frontman. “We had to turn away people at the door,” says Campbell. “We fit 250 people into the place, but we could’ve easily fit 500 people in there.” “There were over 100 people lined up to get in,” echoes Whelan.

Campbell’s gravelly voice wavers for a second. “As a fan, what I most regret is that, apart from Mala Leche, there are really no recordings of Alex’s work that do justice to his songs. His was a case of great songwriting transcending mediocre production.”

“The feeling you got being around Alex, was that you had to take care of him. And I just wish, I think we all do, that I had done more. Especially in those last days,” says Whelan.

But since Soria’s death in December 2004, several projects have been established to help keep his memory alive. Proceeds from the memorial concert went to a detox centre [Portage Program For Drug Dependencies]. Unissued tracks abound, and there are plans to release at least some of them in the future. But perhaps the most appropriate recognition is the establishment of a new annual award in Montreal: “The Alex Soria Fountains Memorial Award for Most Promising Local Songwriter.”

[That might be the most fitting legacy of all. For lots more on Soria/The Nils and an oral history of sorts from those who knew him compiled by journalist CHRIS BARRY, see the March 3, 2005 Montreal Mirror cover story and also see Mag Wheel Records for info on obtaining Nils and Chino releases. -ed.]

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Comments

I feel very lucky that I had the chance to see Chino play, at Luna Lounge (with Last Burning Embers opening!) on 9/23/00. It was the very first NY show I saw upon moving back to the area after living in Columbus. It was a great show, and by all means try to get that Mala Leche EP, it smokes! R.I.P. Alex.


— Mark    2005-12-21 23:09    #

I remember that show. Alex came up and sang our Nils cover with us, “Give Me Time” that we did on the Nils tribute. Typical Alex, though—he agreed in advance, but tried to get out of it when it came time. Everything made his shy except fronting his own band…


— jack rabid    2005-12-21 23:16    #

I remember playing with the Nils, winter of 86 or 87. Big storm and about 40 people in Sackville, N.B. show. Amazing show and both bands had to spend the night at someone’s house. My memory of Alex was of a very nice, strong silent type. I was shocked and sad when i heard the news. My condolences to friends and family.


— Gilles Bourque    2005-12-24 20:06    #

In the same weekend, I found a copy of their first album (sealed) for a buck or so at half-price records, had my best friend out of the blue talk about playing one of their songs at his wedding reception/party, and received the issue of BigTakeOver. It hurts. Maybe if his record company had paid him or sold his records instead of warehousing and eventually remaindering them things could have turned out different.


— James K    2005-12-27 23:57    #

As with many people, I first discovered the Nils through the “Scratches and Needles” cut on that BYO album in the early 80s, then got “Sell Out Young” and was in love. A few years later, I was disappointed with the first full length LP at the time of its release (in retrospect, mostly because of the production), and I began to think of Soria as only an intermittently gifted songwriter. Down here in the U.S., I never heard hide nor tail of Soria for the next decade, until “Green Fields” came out. That collection has some great moments, but some mediocre ones too, and since it stopped at around 1989, I still wasn’t certain about how consistent Soria’s talent was. Then when “Mala Leche” came out, I was in love all over again. Every song on that EP is perfect, and The Who never wrote a better mid-to-latter-period Who song than “Worlds Apart.” After that, I sat for three years in the warm Southeast, waiting for the promised Chino full LP. Then in early 2005 I checked Mag Wheel’s website (as I did every month, waiting for some Chino news) and learned of his terribly sad death. Saddest of all, for me at least, the true LASTING genius of Soria was only confirmed after his death. Following it, others have been kind enough to share with me a good number of unreleased Nils tracks from the early 1990s, some live unreleased Chino tracks, and some of the unreleased Soria solo acoustic tracks (and one unbelievably good tune, “Changes,” from what was apparently a Soria side project, Los Patos—What was going on with that band? It sounds like some great lost single from Maggie-May era Rod Stewart—no irony at all). These unreleased tracks confirmed for me that the guy’s genius didn’t just surface at intervals but just kept chugging along and evolving through the 90s. On a different note, I once spoke with some folks once over the last year about trying to convince Steve Earle to release an album of Soria songs. For some reason, it strikes me that Earle would be particularly likely to appreciate Soria’s work. I’ve never gotten together the time (or nerve, perhaps) to approach somebody like Steve Earle cold and ask him to re-record a stranger’s songs. But jeez, just thinking about Soria’s unrelased song “Easy,” it pains me it isn’t released, let alone known far and wide. By the way, I’m happy to share or trade any of the unreleased stuff I’ve got. Write at above email.


— Terence    2006-01-05 20:43    #

Hey Terence,

I don’t know how you got it, and I’m glad you like it but please don’t share that unreleased stuff. Alex’s family and friends have plans for a CD.

Thanks

Jim in Montreal


— Jim    2006-01-06 19:00    #

Jim—Understood. I respect his family’s wishes.


— Terence    2006-01-07 15:22    #

sometimes sad news – thankfully? – travel slow; felt the urge to listen to the nils yesterday, got on the net and had to find out about alex’ passing. have the green fields-cd playing right now;

for what it`s worth – his music travelled far and touched some souls half a world away here in vienna, austria; thanks alex!


— rainer    2006-02-13 12:21    #

Only knew nils thru’ the BYO recording. But have to say that “scratches and needles” remains my all time number one. A perfect track.


— Dom D    2006-03-29 21:32    #

I discovered the Nils back in the late 80’s, with their self titled album
and was blown away by their music.
I just recently got back into the Nils and got a copy of “Green Fields” and Chino “Mala Leche” and was blown away all over agian, by the songs. I went onto the Mag Wheel web site to find out more info on a Chino full LP and was saded to find out the terrible news that Alex was killed by a train. Alex Soria was such a talented and gifted musician, like no other. Alex you will always be remembered and I’m
looking forward to to the unrleased
songs that his brother Carlos and
friends are putting together for a CD.
Alex thanks for all your great music that has touched my soul. Thanks, Alex !


— Erik Rood    2006-11-15 04:03    #