Monday, August 26, 2019

YouTube Channel Profile Series: Daniel Horton & TheLilSpirit

It's now time for this month's YouTube Channel Profiles on the SMS! This monthly feature series looks at YouTube channels whose content is at least half devoted to local metal, hard rock, or punk artists or concerts, in order to spotlight them to current readers and hopefully encourage new hits and subscriptions! This month's random selection was a channel with only two distinct types of videos, so I added another random channel with only one distinct video type to fill things out. Ironically, both of today's selections heavily feature Jack Spades alumni with prolific band histories, so here's what you should know on each channel!
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Daniel Horton (http://www.youtube.com/paperclipprojectx)

Owner: Jack Spades guitarist Daniel Horton, also known from his past local music work with bands like Eclipse, Haggith, Havadder, Mike Haggith & The Din, Project 421, and Punch, among others

Channel Timeline: Launched on August 20th, 2009; Videos posted in July & August 2012

Channel Summary: While this channel's description correctly says that it has "Videos from HAGGITH", it predates his defunct local grunge/hard rock band's spring 2012 launch. As it currently stands, this channel has three live concert videos and one jam clip from early in Haggith's run. The channel URL's name of "paperclipprojectX" likely came from or inspired the band's also-defunct indie record label/studio Paperclip Productions.

Why You Should Watch: Daniel's channel is definitely worth a watch to see Haggith at their very beginnings as a local band, and it's four videos showcase a promising start for them! However, it's usage as an official channel for the group would be far superceded by Haggith's own YouTube channel not long afterwards, with three of these videos re-uploaded there anyway, two in full. Also, note that Daniel has not visibly used this channel since 2012, and while I believe it did feature videos of his pre-Haggith work at one time, that content is long since deleted.

Our Recommended Videos To Check Out

HAGGITH Yesterdays Fustrations live @ Party Bay: Three of Daniel's videos come from a private outdoor gig that Haggith played on Canada Day 2012 in Goulais Mission (a.k.a. "Party Bay".) These uploads capture Haggith's initial lineup, including singer/guitarist Curtis McKenzie, Daniel on guitar, and band namesake Mike Haggith on drums, with no bassist added to the lineup yet. Filmed by attendee Morgan Gardner, these videos include renditions of their early originals "Rage Train""Livin' It On The Run" and "Wanko", and in his most popular video, "Yesterday Frustration". The smooth camera quality and Haggith's raw early aggression are captured well on these videos, though the best was yet to come from them locally! Haggith's own channel would later re-upload these songs (except "Wanko"), while adding a cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" from this same function.



I Am Acoustic: Daniel's only other video is an unplugged jam of their original "I Am", location unclear. The dark lighting isn't optimal, and it's odd seeing Haggith play without Mike Haggith, but Curt and Dan put some good emotion and grit into this acoustic performance! A second video from this session would become the first upload on Haggith's own channel in September 2012, where they played "Livin' It On The Run."


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TheLilspirit (http://www.youtube.com/thelilspirit)

Owner: YouTube user TheLilspirit, exact identity unclear

Channel Timeline: Launched on July 3rd, 2009; Videos posted on November 21st, 2010

Channel Summary: TheLilspirit's only uploads were of local rock veterans Wishbone covering The Surfaris' "Wipeout" and, as featured here, AC/DC's "TNT" at The Roosevelt Hotel (now Reggie's West) the previous day. This was during prolific local drummer T.J. Case's run with the band, and he is the primary focus here, with frontman Dennis Duguay and their other members not featured at this zoom level. T.J. takes over lead vocals on "TNT" and does a fine job, as fans of his later AC/DC cover work with Mourning Wood may attest, though the backing vocals aren't as effective. Wishbone fans may not like the singular focus, but T.J.'s skill level and versatility speaks for itself! However, this channel has not been visibly updated since 2013, and there are more plentiful sources for Wishbone videos elsewhere, albeit largely with different lineups.


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I hope you guys liked this month's YouTube Channel Profiles! Our next installment of this series will come on or around September 26th, as our next randomly selected channel will be the YouTube channel of inactive Sault Michigan hard rock band The Karstens! Look for that then, and for more news and notes soon! Thanks everyone!

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