LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Highway 63, Soundcheck, And Tym Morrison), And Some Weekend Concert Previews!!

Another busy weekend of concerts is ahead in the Soo area, so let's tackle the first half of this weekend's hard rock and punk concerts today! This weekend's previously announced Scarkazm & Banned shows at Kewadin Casino branches and Saturday's March Mash-Up at The Canadian will be covered in tomorrow's weekend concert preview post, so look for them then, but for now, let's start this preview post with a bunch of SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, plus a few already announced!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will return to The Rockstar Bar for one night only TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only confirmed via the venue's Facebook event page earlier this week, and no, Soundcheck still don't have an online page to plug shows in advance. Coming a week prior to their already announced St. Patrick's Day show at Rednecks, this show will mark the debut of Soundcheck's new member, though public sources are still mum on his/her identity and/or what instrument(s) they'll tackle with the Mourning Wood side project. When something is publically announced regarding their lineup expansion, we'll let you know, but don't miss Soundcheck's 1980s-centric hard rock covers TOMORROW NIGHT! Note that this is a one nighter due to Saturday night's Rockstar Bar show from local pop rock cover veterans (formerly Cherry) Crush.

There is no announced cover charge for TOMORROW'S 19+ concert, which has a likely 10:00 PM start time. See the above links for more details, stay tuned for word on Soundcheck's new member, and hopefully videos turn up soon!

Next up, we'll take a brief trip across the border for the next announced show from Sault Michigan classic/hard rock cover quartet Highway 63, who will return to Dondee Lanes for one night only THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! Again, apologies for the short notice, we only heard about this show via the Dondee's Facebook page on Wednesday, and the band proper have yet to acknowledge this concert publically. Just two weeks removed from the Monkey's Uncle successors' last shows at Dondee Lanes, this veteran quartet will continue their non-Rapids Lounge "travelling" with this weekend's gig at the South Mackinac Trail bowling alley, and as usual, their fan favourite covers should find another solid reception on SATURDAY NIGHT, so don't miss out at the Dondee! There is no announced cover charge for this show, which the venue advertises having an oddly early 7:00 PM start time, though expect this to be 21+. Check the above links for more details, and here's Highway 63 live earlier this year!

Heading back to Sault Ontario, we have one more late notice gig to note here, as prolific local hard rock solo artist Tym Morrison will return to The Barrelhouse Wine & Whiskey on Queen Street East THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, joining his previously announced Gliss Steak & Seafood gigs TOMORROW & SATURDAY! Apologies again for the short notice on the Barrelhouse show, it was only announced via it's Facebook event page this morning. This marks the second straight month where Tym played consecutive Saturdays at the downtown tapas restaurant, which is still unfamiliar for our coverage, but his acoustic hard rock should fit there fine in his fourth show there on SATURDAY! As for his Gliss shows, his long-term arrangement at The Quality Inn's restaurant continues to bring entertaining hard rock covers to patrons twice a week, so don't miss these matinees over the next two evenings either!

As usual for Tym's Gliss shows, expect 6:00 PM start times and no age limit (but remember that this is a formal restaurant), while SATURDAY'S Barrelhouse gig is at 10:00 PM and is 19+, while none of the three have an announced cover charge. For more details, visit the above links and the Facebook event page for the Gliss shows, and here's Tym live!



Finally, we'll preview one show that fully & completely received advance notice, as local alternative hard rock trio The Din will headline a Fishbowl Festival event at The Gore Street Cafe TOMORROW NIGHT! Similarly to their set at last year's inaugural Fishbowl Festival, The Din will be headlining at the laundromat in the midst of their sophomore festival of arts and culture, which has expanded to additional outside venues this year, but is still primarily held at the cafe. Last year's Din show during the Pisces astrological sign-timed festival was an all-acoustic affair, and while that isn't publically advertised to repeat tomorrow, remember that The Gore Street Cafe often hosts acoustic performers, so don't be surprised if a cajon is present. Local acoustic solo artist Andrew Pucci will open tomorrow, as he did with his dormant punk band Stereo North during last year's Din show at the Fishbowl Fest, and he should provide another quality set of his rising solo material, so don't be late! Previously advertised opening sets by Mike Mikus & Jackson Reed were either cancelled or moved up to last month's garage show with Id Iota.

The only Fishbowl Festival show this year to feature a hard rock or punk band (garage show aside, and barring a late notice addition), this is an ALL AGES show with a 7:00 PM start time, and there is a $5 admission fee, while I have not seen public reference to ticket packages for the entire festival. This should be a fun concert at a well respected and unique venue that seems to be doing well for itself in year 2 of the Fishbowl Festival, so keep tomorrow's show in mind, stay tuned for our preview of Saturday's March Mash-Up next, and here's The Din live in January!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for mroe weekend concert previews tomorrow! Thanks everyone!