Saturday, September 21, 2024

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Skoff, Exit 808, And Peril) Plus The Teenage Head Concert Preview!!

(Updated on Sunday at 9:40 AM) To begin this revised post, we have a cancellation to note, as today's Cruisin' The Dub car show at the newer A&W on Great Northern Road (which would have featured local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck as musical guests once again) has been cancelled due to today's rainy forecast, as per drummer Glen Thomas' personal Facebook page. It's not clear if there will be a make-up date this fall, as this was to have been the final A&W car show of the year, but given the likely downpour this afternoon, I totally get why the event was called off. Hopefully we see Soundcheck live again soon! 

Now, let's lead off with LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS and a big weekend concert preview, starting with Traverse City, Michigan classic metal trio Peril's return to The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino on Friday, October 11th and Saturday, October 12th! These are the only new-to-me metal or hard rock shows at either Kewadin branch on the newly updated schedules for both regional Kewadin lounges' entertainment pages, but, I profusely apologize for missing Peril's shows at The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Ste. Marie Kewadin branch yesterday and tonight for coverage on the SMS. I don't know how these slipped me by, other than to say that I am aware that Kewadin hasn't been booking as many hard rock shows at their lounges as of late, and Peril didn't plug this weekend's gigs on their Facebook page until earlier today, after the Friday nighter had already happened. Still, those are excuses, I know.

Given how Peril have been rocking the local Kewadin branches since the SMS launched, I should be keeping track of everything every time, so I apologize again, and hopefully this weekend's shows were huge hits, as will next month's in St. Ignace! These dates have 9:00 PM start times, 21+ age limits, and no cover charges. Do not miss Peril back in the E.U.P. in three weeks, and I apologize again for blanking on covering their Soo dates this weekend! I will definitely be on top of their next Rapids Lounge dates!

Next up, here's two more new shows as we start adding Halloween events to the schedule, and given that October 31st is on a Thursday this year, expect to see seasonal concerts both the week prior and the day after given the timing! In the former's case, Toronto grunge/punk trio Skoff will make their local concert debut on Saturday, October 26th when they headline local promoters Piecing It Together Shows' Halloween party at the Fraternal Order of Eagles club at 246 Wellington Street West! A newer band making waves in Southern Ontario with their raw and explosive sound that early 1990s rock fans will definitely take to, it should be interesting to see how Skoff go over locally, especially given the seasonality and costumes galore! Local support will be provided by crossover thrash quartet Hails (last seen opening for The Ripcordz) alongside electro synth pop musician Owen MK, who debuted for the former Dryer Fire at an all-local event two years ago.

Aside from the scheduling and the promotion of this being a Halloween party, we don't know any further details yet about spooky frills or entertainment beyond the implication of costumes being welcomed, but this is just the second Eagles Club show that P.I.T.S. are trying (the first is next week). This all ages event has a 7:00 PM start time, and tickets run for $15 at this link or $20 at the door. Since the pandemic and the end of J.D.'s Halloween party, multi-band events like those have not been common, so this could fill a void for fans of punk and metal! Visit the official Facebook event page for more details on this event!

Meanwhile, as Halloween is on a Thursday this year, some bands/promoters will take advantage by hosting their festivities a day late on Friday, November 1st, and one of those will be Sault Michigan hard rock band Exit 808, who will topline The Merchant's Bar's Halloween party that day! With their next show at Team Century 21's A Night Of Music a week away, the Hallowen gig at The Merch is their next advertised date as of this writing, and there will definitely be a costume contest with prizes for attendees, so don't put your getups away yet! No other specifics yet on what to expect, but of course, Exit 808's dual  vocalist-lead hard rock covers will provide the sound you need as usual! This event has a 9:00 PM start time, 21+ age limit, and no announced cover charge. Visit the above links for more details, and stay tuned for more from Exit 808 soon!

Finally, here's the big Sault Ontario concert TONIGHT featuring a touring headliner to wrap up this weekend's concert previews, namely Hamilton punk legends Teenage Head at The Machine Shop! As hyped in this SooToday article from Alex Flood on Tuesday, this concert goes beyond being Teenage Head's first local stop in the internet age, as it's a fundraiser for the Sault Ste. Marie branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. This cause is very important to the band and promoter Ed Lofstrom of Martin's Trailers & Accessories, who is an avid fan of the band's dating back to their early years. Mental health is a serious issue, and it's great to see everyone come together to support such a wonderful charity, and to the extent that Teenage Head are calling this one of the most important shows of their career! Before their garage punk classics like "Let's Shake" and "Some Kinda Fun", Korah Collegiate's student band Mustang Sally will open.

Very atypical choice for openers, but the talent is always there from the current Colts! This show (during Teenage Head's 50th anniversary year, no less) has no age limit, an 8:00 PM start time, and tickets running for $45 at this link (VIP mezzanine tickets run for $60). On a musical and charitable level each, this will be a huge show for old school punk fans, and I hope all goals are exceeded for Ed and Teenage Head tonight! Visit the above links for more details, and here's Teenage Head live!


That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes on the site this week! Thanks everyone!

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