LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Soundcheck, Generations, Double Down, And Silent 9!!)

Quite a backlog is developing on the SMS that I blame partially on holiday season commitments (I'm not even in town writing this), so let's try and remedy some of that today with a post solely devoted to LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS! All involve veteran cover rock bands playing what could end up being their last shows of the year, so here's what you should know!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Silent 9 have announced their first shows for early 2024, but before then, you can see them at least one more time this month! The band did announce that their final 2023 dates would be private events, but that isn't true in one case, as they will return to The Algonquin Hotel (likely upstairs at The Rockstar Bar) on Friday, December 15th! The event is not a standard concert, rather a fundraising pub for Soo City United girls soccer teams (specifically the teams for next season whose players have 2010 or 2011 birth years). Despite Silent 9 saying that this is private, the Facebook event page is public, and prospective attendees are welcome to buy a ticket to support the local girls soccer program. The holiday theme is via an ugly sweater party, so bring your ugliest Christmas sweater to fit in for the festivities! No word on if there will be a contest for the ugliest one of all or not.

This is presumably a 19+ event, and tickets are on sale for $35 (if you're unable to attend, but wish to support the teams, they recommend $20 donations). Scan the QR code on the poster to be sent to a ticket sale page! This event is not entirely new territory for Silent 9, as they played at the Searchmont Ski Runners' fall social at The Rockstar Bar (which has been opening sporadically for one-off bookings this year) in October, and this appears to be along those lines. Hopefully it goes swimmingly for Jess, Ryan, Paul, and Steve in a couple of weeks, see above for more details, and look for more on Silent 9's 2024 schedule soon!

Next up, fellow local classic/hard rock cover quartet Generations will end their recent break from the stage when they return to Shooters Downstairs Lounge for one night only on Friday, December 29th! First announced by Shooters in this updated concert calendar posting on their Facebook page on Tuesday, this will be Generations' first show since playing at Jay's early last month, and their first gig at Shooters since mid-October. No word on why they're in the midst of a near two months-long break, but if you want to see the band (sans guitarist Tony Kajnar) before then in bluesier confines, all will be at Soo Blaster one week from Friday as part of this year's Blues For Food fundraiser! Pierre and Tony S. are joining past Generations fill-in guitarist Mike McDonald as part of the one-off Mudfoot Mike & The Muckrakers, with Valerie and fellow fill-in guitarist Michael Yurich among the guest performers. Click here for details on that special event!

Meanwhile, Generations' Shooters show is a one-nighter due to the Dennis Street nightclub's continuation of DJs on most Saturdays. Expect a 9:00 PM-ish start time, 19+ age limit, and no cover charge. If you;ve missed seeing Generations' classic and hard rock cover selection as of late, keep their final show of the year in mind later this month, and do consider attending Blues For Food if you want to support both St. Vincent's Place and the Soup Kitchen at this needy time of year!

Also that same weekend, local classic/hard rock cover quartet Double Down will reportedly return to The Esquire Club for concerts on December 29th & 30th! These were announced in a concert calendar post on the venue's Facebook page on Thursday, despite Double Down announcing on their Facebook page on November 21st that their shows at Reggie's on November 24th-25th were their "last gig(s) of 2023". I have no idea whether the Esquire Club bookings came late or if they're incorrect/now cancelled, but if someone publically confirms that Double Down are not playing there at month's end, we will let you know! The band's full lineup will presumably be present if things are a go, as bassist Brad Stephen had to miss their Reggie's concerts this past weekend for unannounced reasons. Sidekicks bassist Dan Beaupre (who played in 100 Gran with singer/guitarist Joel Syrette) filled in for both shows.

Dan's a very skilled bassist with hard rock experience, so I'm sure he fit in just fine with Double Down at Reggie's! If Double Down are playing at The Esquire Club at month's end, it will be their first ever weekend there, after dropping out of planned gigs there in September, but note that the band never promoted the bookings online. We'll let you know if things get clarified the other way, but expect 9:00 PM start times, no cover charges, and 19+ age limits. Visit the above links for more details!

Finally for today, fellow local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will cap off 2023 by toplining a  New Year's Eve party on Sunday, December 31st at... the Delta Hotel?! Concerts at the waterfront hotel at 208 St. Mary's River Drive are not completely uncommon, as the then-Holiday Inn hosted Bon Soo's Battle of the Bands back in 2007, but it is definitely not a venue used with any regularity for public concerts. On the side of New Year's parties, Soundcheck are no strangers to rocking out on December 31st, having done so at Shooters last year (back when Shooters booked bands on most Saturdays), but this will hew closer to the New Year's party that Soundcheck toplined at The Water Tower Pub in 2019. This ain't just a concert, as paid attendees will get a full course dinner, cocktails, a cash bar, and discount rates on hotel rooms if you are so inclined. Needless to say, attendees will be ringing in 2024 in style!

This 19+ event starts at 5:00 PM with Soundcheck's set beginning and 8:00 PM, and semi-formal/dress attire is encouraged given the locale and amenities. As such, the ticket price is a whopping $100, and limited tickets are available, so contact the Delta A.S.A.P. if this interests you! Granted, this will be above the price range for many, but if you want to go all out for the holiday, this would be a fancy way to do it, and Soundcheck's hard and classic rock covers would be a fine soundtrack throughout! Visit the above links for more details, and look for this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post on the site next! Thanks everyone!