Local Concert Previews For This Weekend (Battle of the Bands/Jager)

Now, if you just clicked on the blog today, and realized that things look different, check the post immediately below this one for full details. This post isn't to go over what I edited, this is to get you all informed on this weekend's local metal concerts! We have two shows in Sault Michigan, and one in Sault Ontario, so let's get right to it!

First, we'll start in Sault Ontario, where there will be a Battle of the Bands at The Lock City Grand Theater! Organized by The YMCA, admission is by donation (pay as much or as little as you want), with all proceeds going to YMCA Strong Kids! Preceding the battle will be an original rock opera, "Nothing To Do In Sault Ste. Marie"! It may not seem outwardly interesting, but they're promising an "army of the undead", so we'll have to see!

And before I get to the bands and the battle itself, plase, DON'T JUDGE YOUR ATTENDANCE BECAUSE ALCOHOL ISN'T BEING SERVED. Getting drunk should not be your #1 reason to attend a concert. You're going to listen to some bands, support local music, and in this case, support a good cause. The YMCA just wants to preserve their image, and we should respect that. Now, onto the battle! It should start at around 7:35, and will go until around 10:15, after which awards will be handed out for Best Original, Best Stage Presence, and Best Overall Performance! (I don't know what the prizes are though.)

Eight bands are scheduled to perform tomorrow night, with at least four of them playing metal or hard rock, so let's talk about them first!

First off, we have local glam metal/punk rockers Dirty Virgin, playing in their first show of the new year! They're not bad at all, and with their previous concert experience, they might be among the top contenders at the battle! You can check them out on MySpace, The Amp, and Facebook if you want! Why not check out this live video of Dirty Virgin covering the Joe South song "Games People Play" from their debut concert from last July!



Also competing are Sue Inside, a band that I haven't seen live in a looong time. They have their own unique style of hard rock, different than most stuff you're likely to hear in this town! Last time I saw them, they lost to Sense of Truth in a Battle of the Bands at The Speakeasy last year, and I enjoyed them! You can check them out on their profile on CBC Radio 3, but here's a slideshow featuring their original "Rips City"! (The metalness picks up around the middle of the song)



Two more metal bands are scheduled to compete as well! Neither have online pages or profiles yet, but hopefully we'll see something soon! One of these bands is Operation: Killdozer, a metal band featuring former Time of Ruin frontman Jason Bourcier and Devastation of the Heavens bassist Justin Lam! I've heard they have a mixture of originals and covers planned, and if you liked Time of Ruin, you'll definitely like these guys as well! As well, another metal band, The Undead Warriors, are on for the battle too! They feature former AtrophiA frontman Dan Souliere, and should put on a good show as well!

These bands will join indie rockers The Outside Lights, as well as three other bands, Train Junky (replacing The Retrofit Kettles), Waterslide and The Glass Statues. I don't know anything about these three bands, but I'll get an idea by tomorrow! Hope to see you guys there, cause I will be, with my camera in tow! (As for the order of the bands, it goes like this: Train Junky, The Glass Statues, Dirty Virgin, Waterslide, The Outside Lights, Operation: Killdozer, Sue Inside, and The Undead Warriors)

Now, we'll head on over to Sault Michigan, for the remaining two local concerts this weekend! Tomorrow night and Saturday night, Sault Michigan's own Jager will hit The Rapids Lounge at Kewadin Casino for two weekend dates! Both shows will begin at around 9:00 PM! I'm sure both shows will be of great quality, and if you're in Sault Michigan, why not go and check them out? But as usual, don't take my word for it, for you can see for yourself! Check out this live video of Jager performing the Nazareth classic "Hair of the Dog"!

Hair of the dog


And finally, best of luck to Sault Michigan's own Nixxon Dixxon, who are hitting the road this weekend for two shows at Kewadin Casino in St. Ignace! That's all for tonight, I'll be back with more news very soon, and of course, a review of tomorrow's Battle of the Bands!