LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Lucky 13) & This Weekend's Metal/Hard Rock Concert Previews!!

Today at the SMS, we're focusing on this weekend's metal and hard rock concert previews in the area (five heavier-leaning shows in total), and while most have been announced (including a big metal show in Sault Ontario), we also have a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT on this side to announce as well, so here's what you need to know for your concert planning through the next few days!

New Sault Ontario alternative/hard rock quartet Lucky 13 will play just their third ever live concert THIS SATURDAY NIGHT at The Rockstar Bar! I apologize for the short notice, but I only just heard about this show via this Facebook event page launched yesterday from the venue (despite the band confirming it on their Facebook page in a comment reply 3 weeks ago, which I profusely apologize for missing!) Coming over a month after their Rockstar Bar debut, the band featuring Route 69, Turner Up, and Gully Yodelers alumni should be raring to go with a set full of 1990s-leaning hard & alternative rock covers, and hopefully a huge crowd turns out on Saturday for Lucky 13's entertaining addition to the local music scene! A $5 cover is likely, you must be at least 19 to attend, and there's an announced start time of 10:30 PM. Check the above links for more details! I like Lucky 13's grittier take on alternative rock, and they tackle songs most local cover acts don't do, so there's all the more reason to consider seeing them live on Saturday night at The Rockstar Bar! For a preview, here they are covering a Stone Temple Pilots classic last fall!

Next up is a familiar sight, as there's a metal concert going down TONIGHT at The Roosevelt Hotel! While the dormant Rosie metal night series has yet to make a full scheduled return from it's hiatus, this is the first Thursday night metal with a metal majority at this venue since July of last year, so no matter what you call it, this has been a long time coming! Originally scheduled to be headlined by Winnipeg progressive metal sextet Annex Theory (who dropped out the other day due to road closures & inclement weather in Manitoba), the current lineup boasts three local metal bands, all of which are making their first live concert appearances of 2013, but who's on tap? From what I understand, the headliners will be local grimecore trio Shit Liver in their first public local concert in almost 8 months, and their polarizing yet exceedingly heavy sound is sure to be welcomed back by their devoted fan base tonight! There have been hints that their debut album might be done by this show, but will we see any glimpses of new material, recorded or live? Tonight, we'll know!

The middle band (who replaced Annex Theory on the lineup) is local alternative/blues/crash quartet Sykotyk Rampage, who'll bring their prolific and ever-evolving set of creative originals back to the stage in their first Roosevelt Hotel gig in over 6 months! Their current lineup has been playing more frequently than ever before, and you never know what they'll do next! Opening tonight's festivities will be the returning local death metal quintet The Bear Hunters, themselves playing for the first time in Sault Ste. Marie since August (though, like Shit Liver, they played live in Sudbury in December.) Also with their own original recorded material in the works, The Bear Hunters' proficient melodic take on the genre has a strong following locally, and they've been missed in recent months, so don't miss out on these Rosie favourites! This show is being presented by Frightlight frontman J.D. Pearce (who booked three other metal/punk Thursday gigs at The Rosie last year), and it's cleverly being called "Axed Theory Night" on the new poster, referencing Annex Theory being "axed" from the bill.

There will be a $3 cover for this 19+ concert, and a 9:00 PM start time is listed on the Facebook event page. Check the above links for more details! It's about time that we see these bands back on stage, especially the two death metal bands, as it's been far too long for a local public audience to mosh out with them! Even if this doesn't mark a full return of the Rosie metal nights yet, this has the spirit and flavour of one from the band selection alone, so you won't wanna miss out! For a preview, here's Shit Liver at The Rosie last May, and I hope to see you guys there for a long awaited SMS concert review!



We'll close this post in the Eastern U.P., where two popular bands will be playing within an hour of Sault Michigan this weekend, including Charlevoix metal trio Peril TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT at The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino! One of the area's favourite touring hard rock bands, these will be Peril's first "local" shows of 2013, and until we get some schedule updates from Kewadin Casino, their only currently scheduled dates in the region so far this year, and with their long history and entertaining covers, you won't wanna miss the action! Admission should be free for these 10:00 PM-ish concerts, and you must be 21 to attend either tomorrow or Saturday night. Check the above links for more details! Peril's classic metal approach should be sure to appeal to a wide variety of fans, as usual, so keep a drive down to St. Ignace in mind this weekend! For a preview, here's Peril covering "Crazy Train" a few years back! (They need more online videos)



Finally for today, Kinross hard rock quintet Banned will return to The Cozy Corners Tavern & Grill in Barbeau, Michigan (a half hour south of the Soo, an hour north of St. Ignace) on Saturday night for their second gig at this venue this month! Their new lineup will very likely be in attendance, as I can more or less confirm from new Facebook photo postings that they have indeed added Tara Starr & Denny Smith as their new singer & guitarist, replacing Mike Straw and Alex Schrovenwever. Reasons for their departures weren't announced, but considering that Mike's band status was downgraded to "occasional" last year, and Alex has been away at college since August, there are assumptions to be made, but best of luck to both in the future! I wish nothing but the best for the new members, and while hearing Banned with a female singer will be an adjustment, hopefully Don & Alex Traynor still get vocal opportunities going forward, as both are very good on the right material!

The new look Banned will be sure to rock the house with their covers & originals on Saturday night, with no announced cover charge, 8:30 PM start time, and 21+ age limits in tow. Check the above links for more details! Hopefully Banned build on their current lineup's first gigs with a smash success at The Cozy Corners on Saturday night, so keep it in mind this weekend! For a preview, here's Banned covering an Alice In Chains classic last year, and hopefully we'll see some new lineup videos online soon!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's YouTube Channel Profiles TOMORROW, plus if all goes according to plan, our first live concert review since November! Thanks everyone!