For this penultimate concert weekend of May 2025, things are actually busier than they were for the Victoria Day long weekend, so we'll hold our previews of Saturday night's Dos Amigos and Curtis McKenzie shows for tomorrow's post. Today, we're looking at hard rock/punk shows taking place tomorrow at least partially, so here's what you should know to kick off your weekend!
We'll start at Soo Blaster, where Toronto progressive metal quintet Derev will headline in their first local concert appearance TOMORROW NIGHT! Derev bring a unique blend of influences to the table with their melodic prog rock sound, with a strong technicality supplemented by Middle Eastern influences, and they'll be an interesting change of pace for metalheads looking to hear something different! Learn more about Derev via this SooToday press release. While a search for a formal co-headlining band didn't lead anywhere, promoters Heavy North Entertainment did secure a strong support lineup of local talent, including hard rock quartet Sylo in their first gig of the year and first with new guitarist Owen Middleton, party metal trio The Apocalypse Afterparty in their first show since opening for Robbie G at Soo Blaster last month, and a set from prolific folk punk/extreme metal artist Chase Wigmore.
Diverse lineup of strong local talent, so don't be late for this one! The third post-relaunch concert from Heavy North Entertainment and their first not headlined by Selias, this show (named "Mayhem 2025") has no age limit, a 7:00 PM start time, and admission fees of $15 in advance at this link or $20 at the door. This will be an entertaining night of "mayhem" for metal and hard rock fans, so visit the above links for more details on this concert, and for a preview, here's Derev live!
Next up, there's more touring action TOMORROW NIGHT, this time at Venue (the new public events space at the former Fortune Shop/Void Vinyl location at 482 Queen Street East), where Hamilton outsider folk/acoustic punk musician B.A. Johnston will take the stage once again! While this was (by my count) B.A.'s sixth local date, B.A. figures that he's played here at least fifteen times over the years, as noted in this brand new SooToday article by Kenneth Armstrong, featuring solid interview remarks from B.A. about his style of music, Canadiana-influenced songs, comparisons to Stompin' Tom Connors, and how he never plays the same local venue twice. Solid article to help set things up, but of course, B.A.'s comedic and audience participation-laden live shows are very hard to describe in text alone, so watch some videos of him to get an idea of what to expect at Venue tomorrow! Former Elements/Wyld Stallyns frontman Rob Speers will open tomorrow's festivities, as he did when B.A. rocked The Whiskey Barrel last fall, so don't be late for his acoustic covers!
There's no announced age limit for tomorrow's show, which has a $10 cover charge and 8:00 PM start time, though be advised that Venue is a very intimate locale for concerts, with their website listing a capacity of 60 guests, 30 seated. Always good to see B.A. on a local stage, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here he is live!
Also taking place TOMORROW NIGHT is local classic/hard rock cover quartet Silent 9's return to The Water Tower Pub for one night only! Their first stop at this popular Great Northern Road nightclub for 2025 will also end their early 2025 concert calendar in terms of standard bar gigs, as like they have since their debut, they're taking the summer off aside from private bookings, benefits, and festivals. We will see them back out there a bit (they will reportedly be at Rotaryfest Stage 1 again), but if you want to take in Silent 9's fun and upbeat blend of classic and hard rock covers, don't bypass tomorrow's central gig, as they won't have a solo headlining one like it until the fall! Remember that The Water Tower Pub traditionally hosts different nightly musical acts, with the band playing on Saturday being new local soft rock cover quartet North Channel Sound. As usual here, Silent 9 take the stage tomorrow at 8:00 PM with a 19+ age limit and no cover charge.
Visit the above links for more details, and for a preview, here's a brand new clip of Silent 9 in concert! Uploaded to their Facebook page on May 13th (and cross-posted from Instagram), this video is of them at The Esquire Club earlier this month covering Billy Joel's "You May Be Right" with drummer Steve Porco on lead vocals. Now, very early in the clip, Steve drops his left drumstick, but he doesn't miss a beat with the song and improvises well for drumming one handed before frontwoman Jess Amadio (on backing vocals) locates the stick and gives it back to him. Nice save, and the cover is well done for what we hear, though alas, the video is vertical. Check it out below!
Finally for this preview post, we'll head west to Jay's Piston Broke Pub, where local classic/hard rock cover quartet Double Down will mostly hit the stage TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! While fans last saw Double Down at the former Reggie's West early last month, this weekend's shows will be very different, as singer/guitarist Beej Syrette will be absent for unannounced reasons, according to band members' personal Facebook pages. In his place, Double Down have enlisted bassist Dan Beaupre's Sidekicks bandmates Steve Cardiff and Tracey Hilderley to join him, Joel, and Ric for a joint concert! The branding suggests that the two bands are both playing separate sets this weekend, which makes sense when you realize that Tracey's involvement means that there's two drummers present, but some of the advertising is left vague, and there is at least an implication that Steve is sitting in for Beej in Double Down's sets.
Regardless, it'll be a unique weekend, and while The Sidekicks never leaned heavier from my knowledge of what they play, it'll be neat to see both of Dan's current bands join forces! And of course, hopefully all is well with Beej and that he's back with Double Down before long! This weekend's shows both have 9:30 PM start times, 19+ age limits, and no announced cover charges. Visit the above links for more details, and for a preview, here's Double Down live with Steve earlier this year!
That's all for now, but stay tuned for our Curtis McKenzie and Dos Amigos previews (and more) next! Thanks everyone!
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