LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Ricky Mullen & Project 906), Plus New Live Concert Videos!!

After a couple of off days for a personal matter, we're back with the SMS on this Wednesday morning, including new videos from recent concerts and some LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS for the coming months, so here's what you should know as we get back into the swing of things!

Sault Michigan blues/hard rock band Project 906 will return to The Islander Bar in nearby Hessel for one night only on Saturday, May 3rd! They announced this concert via their Facebook page on Sunday when thanking everyone for their successful Back Bay Grill & Games show in Brimley this past weekend, and it will be their first show in Hessel since playing there in August. Good to see the guys staying busy again with the weather generally getting nicer, and hopefully we hear of more mid-2025 dates from 906 to come! As you can see in the promotional image shared by the venue's Facebook page, hand drummer Brian Duford is pictured with the guys (front and center, no less), which seems to more or less confirm that he has officially joined Project 906, making them a quintet. Brian had guested with 906 since at least mid-2023 but his presence became more and more common, as seen in live media.

Having two percussionists may seem like overkill for some, but Brian's presence in Project 906 concerts gives them a unique aspect that you don't see from other local cover-leaning rock bands, and his drumming can add an extra flavour to their shows! Next month's Hessel concerts is a 21+ affair with no announced cover charge, and an early 7:00 PM start time is listed (past Project 906 shows there started at 9:00 PM but last month's Shipheads On Shore concert was indeed at 7:00). See above for more details!

Next up, folk punk fans will want to circle Independence Day on their calendars, as Mikhal Muto is hosting a Sault Ontario folk punk show at The Stellar Door under The Distraction on Friday, July 4th! Yes, this is in the basement again, they haven't visibly hosted shows in the former barbershop space since last summer. Your headline acts on the Fourth of July are Cambridge solo artist Ricky Mullen and Guelph solo project The Washout, with Ricky's catalog having more of an in-your-face punk attitude that would suit a full band, but The Washout's more reserved material has its audience, and Derek is a solid songwriter with good honest lyrics! Local folk musicians Shae Tull and Tye Lawless Co. will kick off the evening with their own distinct brand of original acoustic music, so don't be late for their sets! Despite his own affinity for folk punk, Mikhal's solo project Agnosticism is not scheduled for this concert.

As usual for Stellar Door/Distraction concerts, this is ALL AGES with a "pay what you can" admission model, though $10 is suggested. Doors open at 6:30 PM for this show, which should pique the interest of folk and punk fans, so keep all of the action in mind in three months, and visit the official Facebook event page for more details!

We'll spend the rest of this post by looking at new videos from local classic/hard rock cover quartet Double Down's Facebook page, starting with one of their shows at Jay's Piston Broke Pub over the April 4th-5th weekend! Two videos from the same night's gig (it's unclear which one) were uploaded on the 6th, and they include covers of Collective Soul's "Heavy" with guitarist Joel Syrette on lead vocals and, as embedded below, The Cult's "Fire Woman" with his cousin Beej on vocals. Both videos are short (33 and 43 seconds apiece), but the renditions are strong from what we hear, and the horizontal videos capture a unique overhead angle, so check both out above & below!

Finally, as part of Double Down's recent focus on promoting and getting the word out for concerts from other local cover rock bands, an unidentified band member was in attendance for veteran classic rock cover band Mid Life Crysis' show at The Esquire Club on Friday, where they were filmed covering most of Queen's "I Want To Break Free". Featuring recent Double Down guest bassist Lori Reinholtz, M.L.C. don't generally lean heavier, but this is a well done rendition with quality vocal melodies that Queen fans should enjoy! Alas, this is a horizontally shot video that was uploaded in vertical dimensions with pillarboxing, so apologies for how tiny it is, that's out of my hands. Check out this Mid Life Crysis cover below!

That's all for now, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews and more news/notes on the SMS soon! Thanks everyone!