A New Local Band, Another Band's Return, And Much More!!

Here's one more news post before we profile the weekend's concerts tomorrow, but first, here's a cancellation to make note of. Earlier today, it was announced that Caveman Morrison's planned return shows this weekend at The Roosevelt Hotel have been cancelled due to a double booking, as local dance rock act Spyder's Web were already scheduled for shows on Friday & Saturday. That said, Caveman Morrison have been rescheduled for a weekend at The Rosie next month that I hope to have more on shortly, so stay tuned! Disappointing news for sure, but they'll be back before year's end, so it'll all work out! So for today, we have a new local band (and another that's breaking up), news from a prominent Sault Michigan band, and this week's classic video, so here's what you need to know!

Splitshot & ex-Nixxon Dixxon bandmates Chris Hubbard, Kyle Beaumont, and Jake LaLonde have formed a new local hard rock trio named Trail's End! The band just launched their own Facebook page and YouTube channel yesterday, and in this new band, Chris, Kyle, and Jake appear to share vocal duties. Apparently, Trail's End will become the guys' primary band starting in January, with gigs to come for the new band starting in 2012. What does this spell for Splitshot? I'll tell you guys in a second, but first, Trail's End already have an original song to share with fans! Entitled "Run", this was posted onto their YouTube channel yesterday as well (along with song lyrics), but how does it sound? It's sort of a slower hard rock number, and it could work well as a single or an anthem of sorts! The band sounds good, but hopefully we'll hear some originals more like "High Life" or "One Shot Woman", but that's the metalhead in me talking. Nice solo from Chris too, and the vocals work for the tone of the song, though I'm not sure who's singing lead.

There's definitely promise here from Trail's End, so keep tabs on them as news comes out, and as I hear more from them, you guys will know, so check them out at the above links! Here's "Run", and Trail's End are now in our Sault Michigan active band links on your right!



That said, what does the birth of Trail's End mean for Splitshot? Well, according to bassist Kyle Beaumont in a recent e-mail (thanks to him for the above info!), I can confirm that Splitshot are breaking up at the end of the year. A reason for the split wasn't elaborated on, but we may hear more publically over the next month, and I don't know if Trail's End's inception is directly linked. Splitshot will play at least six more shows (four of them in St. Ignace), including one final weekend in Sault Michigan at The Rapids Lounge on December 9th & 10th, with their last shows taking place in St. Ignace at their Kewadin Casino over New Years weekend. Thanks again to Kyle for the above information! I have to say, despite never having media from their shows available, I'm surprised to hear that Splitshot are parting ways at year's end. That said, Trail's End have promise, and we'll of course look forward to seeing them around the U.P. next year! If the members' past resumes are any indicator of what to expect, then the sky's the limit! So keep Splitshot's last local concerts on December 9th and 10th in mind, and if anything else comes out concerning Splitshot's last month together or what Trail's End have in store for fans next, I'll be sure to let you guys know!

Next up, Half A Man are back in action with some interesting band updates! News from the Brimley hard rockers has been scant since the summer, mostly relating to stuff to watch out for, but they recently returned to the studio towards their forthcoming debut album with some news and updates to show for it! Firstly, it looks like Half A Man will be reduced to a 3 piece (or "3/8ths A Man") until "further notice", and from what I can gather, the absent member is guitarist Denny Breslin. It wasn't publically elaborated on if Denny has left the band or will simply be absent for a while, but if I hear more, I'll let you guys know! That said, the rest of Half A Man have posted two new videos onto their Facebook page, one of which features some new riffs towards new material, while the other is a very promising jam video which sounds very brutal! No vocals to speak of, and the angles and lighting ain't perfect, but it's awesome to hear some new Half A Man samples after a few months of waiting! They're still plugging away, and you know when more news from Half A Man comes out, I'll have it all here! Check the above links for more band news and to watch their new videos! (I can't embed them here.)

And finally, here's this week's classic video! For a second time in four weeks, we'll tie in the week's video with new local deathcore quartet View To A Kill (who headline TOMORROW'S 39th Roosevelt Hotel metal night), only this week, we'll focus in on singer Steve Rhodes! As you may know, Steve's also well known for his work in his other (possibly former?) local band State of Misery, and while we wait for new word on them, there's still videos from their late 2010-early 2011 heyday to share, like this jam session video of them playing their original song "Don't Break The Silence"! Like our earlier classic video from May, this is from a jam session circa December 28th, 2010, and it features the band's original lineup, with Steve on vocals, Ray Cowan on guitar, current rhythm guitarist Kevin D'Orazio on bass, and Nick Kainula on drums. It's similar quality to their "Cowboys From Hell" cover from this same day, but they shine more here because their originals are suited to their style, and it's a good performance! This video was uploaded onto Facebook on January 3rd by attendee Ashley Lacasse, and you can see the original video at http://facebook.com/photo.php?v=116057411799885.

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED!! All credit for this video goes to Ashley and State of Misery, as they did all the hard work here, I'm just sharing this video with a wider audience like it deserves! With that said, give State of Misery's jam session rendition of "Don't Break The Silence" from last year a look below, and go see Steve with View To A Kill at The Rosie tomorrow night!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews tomorrow, including a possible LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for this weekend! Thanks everyone!