A New Local Hard Rock Band, LSSU Battle Of The Bands Preview, And More!!

Today's post was supposed to meld a couple of disparate topics, but the more I researched the lead story, the more new details I learned about bands playing this event, so we're basically all in on the first post-pandemic battle of the bands in the Twin Saults in this post! Leading off are details on who one of the competing bands is, and lineup updates on another competing at this event, so here's what you should know!

We have a new local hard rock band to add to our links, and they are Sault Michigan hard rock quartet Double Jack! We alluded to them last week when we first covered TOMORROW NIGHT'S first annual community battle of the bands at Lake Superior State University (where Double Jack will make their live debut), but we now know enough about them to add them to our coverage, as given their lineup, it's a safe bet that they'll be up our alley. This is the new band from ex-Tarnished guitarist Nathan Webber & bassist Isaac Royer, who both left that band in August, and it's great to see them sticking together in a new project! They're joined here by ex-Stoned Ape Evolution guitarist Melvin Willis (sans mask) as well as drummer Jackie Moon (real name or Semi-Pro reference, I don't know), and while the band hasn't put their names in writing publically on their Facebook page, personal Facebook posts confirm their lineup. I don't know which member(s) is/are on vocals.

Aside from teasers and the reveal of their mascot in their logo (named "Doug of the Dead"), Double Jack are clearly waiting for their live debut to give away anything re: their live set, but you can be first to learn more tomorrow at Lake Superior State University's first ever community battle of the bands at their on-campus Arts Center! Six local acts will take the stage tomorrow to try to win the $150 top prize ($50 for second place, everyone gets t-shirts for competing), and conveniently, Nathan & Isaac's old band Tarnished will also be competing in the debut of their own new lineup! The guys confirmed on their Facebook page on Tuesday that they have added Parker Talentino as their new bassist, though they have yet to confirm a new rhythm guitarist. While new to our coverage, Parker has a solo Facebook page where he has posted original material with him on vocals & acoustic guitar that you can check out across multiple videos.

While this folksier material is a far cry from Tarnished's sound, he is a talented multi-instrumentalist who will add to the band! Also, Parker appears to be the son of veteran local rock musician Terry Talentino (ex-Chump Change). Tarnished have teased original material and more shows ahead, but come down to LSSU's Arts Center tomorrow to see how Parker does in his first set! Also playing tomorrow night is St. Ignace deathcore quartet Heavy Lies The Crown in their first ever public concert in Sault Ste. Marie city limits, giving an all-too rare taste of extreme metal from a local band on the American side of the border, so don't miss them either! The other full band playing tomorrow is new local punk quartet The Sole Aggressors, who debuted at Bird's Eye Outfitters in August (video here), but their online presence is more cryptic, with no proper social media pages beyond Instagram and no publically listed lineup.

Talented young group, especially given that they play hardcore punk in Sault Michigan, which is not common for that side of the border, so don't bypass them tomorrow night either! The battle lineup is rounded out by two solo singer/guitarists, namely Rudyard Musicians Festival regular Kevin Blakeney and rising young Dafter solo artist Molly Escherich. Can one person outperform four 3+ member bands? Find out tomorrow, but solo musicians winning battles of the bands is not impossible! Tomorrow's battle is a fan voted event with no judges, and votes will be cast by putting your ballots in marked boxes for each act. Bands will get 15 minute sets to perform, and the festivities begin tomorrow at 7:00 PM. This is absolutely an all ages event, with tickets running for $10 (adults) or $5 (kids), while current Lake Superior State University students with valid student ID will get in free. 

It's great to see a battle of the bands in Sault Ste. Marie again, let alone on the Michigan side, and while I do prefer a judges panel with criteria to a popularity contest, beggars can't be choosers given how rare battles are across the river. Most of these acts are not mainstays of public concerts in Sault Ste. Marie, so it will be very interesting to see how things go (especially the Tarnished civil war), and I do hope that someone is filming the proceedings! Best of luck to all six acts, and to avoid any favouritism given the event's nature, I'll refrain from a preview video, but all but Double Jack have live performance video online. That's all for today, but stay tuned for more weekend concert previews next! Thanks everyone!