Friday, November 22, 2024

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Generations & Dodge This) And More Weekend Concert Previews!!

Our regular slate of hard rock concert previews for this weekend wraps up today, along with LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (one on SHORT NOTICE) and new videos from a band playing this weekend! Due to its length, scope, and Sunday scheduling, Toystock will be previewed separately in tomorrow's post. Here's what you should know for this weekend and beyond!

Local acoustic hard rock cover duo Dodge This will return to The Dive Gastro Pub for one night only TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced via the band's and venue's Facebook pages on Wednesday. Last seen in "the naughty corner" of the former Low & Slow three weeks ago, and anywhere at The Water Tower Pub on November 8th, TOMORROW'S concert should give fans a solid few sets of unplugged hits, so hopefully Jamie & Jason (and Jeff?) get a strong turnout! This concert has a 9:00 PM start time, 19+ age limit, and no announced cover charge. Visit the above links for more details, and for a preview, here's two brand new videos from their Water Tower Pub gig two weeks ago! Also uploaded to the band's Facebook page on Wednesday, the videos both feature Jeff on hand drums, one actually has an uncredited female guest singer for a cover of The 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up?". Well performed for what it is, but I can't seem to escape local bands covering that song, can I?

Embedded below is the other video of Dodge This covering The Goo Goo Dolls' "Name", with Jamie on vocals but not playing guitar, despite holding it throughout the performance. The video isn't overly crisp visually, but it's a solid cover, and Jamie's singing suits it nicely, so check it out below, and don't miss Dodge This TOMORROW at The Dive! 

Next up, here's a couple of new concerts for next month, as local classic/hard rock cover quartet Generations will return to the stage with two shows at two different venues! Last seen on October 26th at Gateway Casino (and Halloween costumes were indeed wore there), this veteran group took November off, with members sitting in with Tex Riviera & The Ride and Mike McDonald for shows this month, while frontwoman Valerie Powley also returned as a judge for The Soo's Got Talent. They'll end their month+ break with two Saturday nighters in December, including stops at Shooters Downstairs Lounge on December 7th and at Reggie's Place on December 14th! No word on why they're not playing at Reggie's on Friday the 13th (superstition?!), but Shooters has only hosted bands on Saturdays this year due to Friday DJ nights. It is good to see Generations back at it next month, and hopefully their classic covers find strong audiences at both venues to end(?) 2024!

Both of Generations' shows next month have 9:30 PM start times, 19+ age limits, and no cover charges. Hopefully fans welcome Valerie, the Tonys, and Pierre back with open arms next month at either venue, and visit the above links for more on their holiday season dates ahead!

Moving back to this weekend's previews, fellow local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will take the stage TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT at The Esquire Club! While their five year run of annual Toystock appearances will not continue on Sunday, fans of Terry, Cameron, Jim, and Glen can still get their fix of fan friendly rock covers (and even a dash of country) this weekend in the west end, in their first shows in two weeks and their first at The Esquire Club since their pre-Halloween party on October 26th. Be advised that Soundcheck did not promote either their Jay's shows earlier this month or this weekend's publically on their Facebook page, but members have promoted this weekend's shows on their personal accounts.If you can't make it, they'll be back on Second Line West right before Christmas! Tonight & tomorrow's dates are also 19+ affairs at 9:30 PM with no cover. See above for more details, and here's Soundcheck live!


Finally for the non-Toystock hard rock previews for this weekend, let's hop across the border to Brimley, Michigan, where Sault Ste. Marie hard rock band Exit 808 will debut at the Back Bay Grill & Games at Bay Mills Resort & Casino TOMORROW NIGHT! Last seen in the Soo for The Merch's Halloween party, Exit 808 have been relatively quiet in recent weeks, but singer Dillion Semasky is back tomorrow after missing that Halloween gig due to illness, so they'll be at almost full strength! I say "almost" because the band finally confirmed on their Facebook page on November 8th that they have parted ways with guitarist Will Robbins, in order "to make family his full priority". According to that post, he "stepped in with us this summer to cover rhythm guitar", though I had not seen any prior mention of his run with Exit 808 being temporary. Will was credited with the band in shows from June-August, and was not tagged or pictured in promotion of their fall dates.

From what I saw of Will in videos, he is a skilled guitarist, and hopefully we hear more from him down the line! Spun guitarist Bob Libick will travel east from Marquette to fill in on rhythm guitar tomorrow, which is nothing new for Exit 808, as he has played guitar or bass as a guest with them a few times, locally or otherwise. Tomorrow night's concert at The Back Bay Grill has a 9:00 PM start time, 21+ age limit, and no announced cover charge. Visit the above links for more on all of the action at "your perfect up north retreat", and here's Exit 808 (with Bob) live!

That's all for now, but stay tuned for our Toystock XI preview on the site next! Thanks everyone!

No comments: