LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Soundcheck), Mike Haggith Updates, And Much More!!

I'm out of town this weekend, but I hope everyone had a great Easter and didn't get pranked too hard for April Fools Day either! Today's first post of the month is full of recent news items, including a few new videos, some apparent lineup changes in a rising new band, and leading off, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, so here's what you should know!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck are advertised to return(?) to The Water Tower Pub for a concert on Friday, April 13th! Our source is this April events calendar posted to the Sault Music Newsletter Facebook page this past Tuesday. After taking March off from publically announced shows, the Mourning Wood successors are visibly slated to end that break next weekend with this Water Tower Pub show, their first there in almost two months. Soundcheck's skilled and well-tested brand of cover action should deliver next weekend, and while The Water Tower Pub has never been a haven for heavier bands, hopefully they give it a good go once again! Note that Soundcheck have not publically acknowledged this show at press time, nor did they do so for February's gig there. This one night only engagement likely has a 9:00 PM start time, no announced cover charge, and a 19+ age limit. For more details, visit the above links!

Next up, here's the latest from former Din frontman Mike Haggith, whose solo project lives on in his current Thompson, Manitoba home base, so what's new from his camp? Well, on Friday, Mike shared this 15 second video on his Facebook page showing him in the songwriting process. I won't spoil it, especially given it's short length, but it's a cute watch! In grander news, Mike made his debut appearance as a live solo performer in Thompson on Saturday during the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church's coffee house series, marking his first solo concert appearance since the fourth Swampstravaganza at The Oddfellows Hall back in 2014! That's surprising on one hand, but remember that his bands have been his live focus throughout the mid-late 2010s. Mike played a 20 minute set on Saturday, which includes mostly new originals for his upcoming solo album, including the debuting "Dangerous Town", "The Nature of the Times",...

...his cover of Stephen Stills' "Love The One You're With", and "Bridges", with his own story on moving from Sault Ste. Marie to Thompson coming after his Stills cover. Mike recorded the set in audio format for his YouTube channel, so how does everything sound? Compared to 2014, this is a straight acoustic performance with no backing tracks, and while the audio's a little echoey, the performances seem sound, and will be familiar to fans of Mike's recent unplugged Facebook videos and old softer originals! Give this a listen below, and also follow Between The Ditches, his new pop rock band in Thompson!

Also today, here's the latest from local indie/hard rock band Vol. who appear to have quietly parted ways with both bassist Shane Storozuk and drummer Matthew Thibert. No statements have been made by the band, but Shane was removed from Vol.'s Facebook page's lineup at some point in recent months, and a Musicians Wanted Facebook group post by frontman Steve Edwards on Thursday notes that he is looking for a drummer to join an "alt-rock band" with "shows booked already." Unless Steve has another group, Vol. are likely the intended band. Reasons for Shane and Matt's departures have not been announced, but hopefully nothing too serious happened, and that we see them in new bands at some point! Maybe the lineup changes are why they're out of this weekend's Shit Liver concert? As per their Facebook page, keyboardist Mikaela Murtonen is now listed as playing bass, indicating that she's taking on Shane's bass role in the newly retracted trio, but if you're interested in the apparently vacant drum position, message Steve at this link or above!

Finally for today, here's a new video from local/St. Catharine's grindcore trio Shit Liver, which contains the reveal of the winners of a merchandise contest that they held on their Facebook page late last month! Fans who liked and shared the contest post from March 23rd were entered to win their new vinyl LP "Hitting The Fan" and a t-shirt with the album art, and in this video, the guys draw names out of a hat to determine the winners. Congratulations to Sam & Michael for winning the contest! The video doesn't have any new reveals otherwise, but it's a fun way to announce the winners, so check it out below, and don't miss Shit Liver at The Algonquin Pub on Saturday!



That's all for now, but stay tuned for this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post on the site next! Thanks everyone!