X's & Y's - "Ruination Coactive" Album Review!!

It's now time for our 192nd monthly CD review at The Sault Metal Scene and second in an (at least) seven month run of new album reviews, and this month, we're heading to Sault Michigan for a look at local progressive metal solo project X's & Y's' sophomore album "Ruination Coactive"! Or, "Яuiᴎдтюᴎ Koдcтive" if you want to go by the faux-Cyrillic text on the cover artwork. Released on Friday, June 13th through AFR Records and project leader Jason Mills' own inactive label Werehold Records (identically to last fall's debut album "The Obsidian Dream"), this concept album features Jason on all credited instruments, with no advertised guest musicians this time, at least not via social media. Production information wasn't given there either. "Ruination Coactive" is now available to be streamed on Bandcamp, YouTube Music, Soundcloud, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify, which all also now host "The Obsidian Dream". CD copies are on sale for $10 by contacting Jason directly on X's & Y's' Facebook page or via BigCartel.

If you want to buy "Ruination Coactive" on mp3 format, it will run you $3 on Bandcamp and $7.92 on iTunes, so consider actually buying it to support Jason's work! Song names below are linked to their Bandcamp copies. With eight songs running for about 40 minutes, let's lead off this review!

X's & Y's took a turn into concept album territory here by basing all eight songs on the levels of the classic Nintendo Entertainment System video game Contra (long-time followers of Jason's Werehold Records output will recall his occasional references to NES games in song and project names). No, the songs on offer do not directly sample or cover the Contra soundtrack. Inspired by the famous opening jungle level, track #1 here is "Arrival", which opens with alarms, gunfire, and commotion befitting of the events at the start of the run n' gun game. A solid progressive metal instrumental, it has a catchy bass line to it and a strong groove with some effective time signatures, and you can definitely picture Marines shooting down enemies with spreader guns here! Nothing groundbreaking but it sets the tone well!

Next up is "Through The Lens", inspired by the first 3D-ish perspective base level with the electric beams. Intensity is ratcheted up here with Jason's distinct guitar tone, some very rapid-fire percussion, and more strong bass work that again takes the lead instrumentally at points. The percussion can sound a tad artificial at points, and the midpoint of the song kinda meanders a bit, but it changes things up well as it goes along, and it hits where it counts! Third on the album is "Speak Of Fire", inspired by the third waterfall level (the title likely refers to that stage's boss, who can spit fireballs). A bit of a spacier vibe from the guitar work here, this track has more brutal riffs and pacing to go around, but you can tell a little too obviously when a song breaks to allow Jason to change the style of playing. I know that this is Contra-themed, but the spacier effects don't really add to the metal for me, but ignoring that, it's a strong number!

Contra's second 3D "base" level and its final boss are the inspiration for track #4, "The Gemini Machine" (though the album was released on June 13th). The progginess of this song gives it an extra edge from Jason's technical playing, including more of a melodic near-solo near the midway point, but compared to earlier tracks on the album, this does feel ever so slightly more synthetic and processed. Certainly not a bad song though, and the brutal ending sequence sure helps! Fifth on the album is "Psychic Flux", based on the snowfield level, and it has a more deliberate, darker ambiance early before getting into more Contra-esque territory befitting a game with so much gunfire. The break with just percussion sounded really drowned out, and the electronic beeping & abrupt ending are what they are, but the pounding guitar work and changes of style are well handled!

Song #6 is the shortest one here (at just 4:03), and it is "Heat", based on the energy zone level, which had lots of fire to avoid. An ominous techno opening melody runs for 68 seconds before any proper metal instrumentation kicks in, This song definitely has its moments, but it is a more deliberate and less crushing song compared to what came before, and plays more off of drawn out guitar performances than what X's & Y's are best known for. Fans of darker and more ominous material will find more here, but it's alright for what it is! The hangar level of Contra inspired the penultimate song, "Gateway Terminus", which feels the most like a video game theme so far if just in the melodies played. Still a heavy song, and it has more going for it in that regard than "Heat", so fans of Jason's will like the technicality on display. The song fades out to its ending way too slowly though, doing so gradually for the last 50 seconds!

"Ruination Coactive" ends with the somewhat clunkily named "X's & Y's - The Heart, and What It Wants", which is obviously based on Contra's final level in the alien lair, whose final boss' heart was the main target. By far the longest song here, this 8+ minute epic begins with a soft guitar intro and ominous background noise for the first two minutes, before the metal truly kicks into gear. I like how some of the riffing here is made to sound like shots being taken in the boss battle (intentional or otherwise). With how much Jason changes the structure of the song as it goes, this never feels overlong (maybe he could have shortened the first quarter), and it suitably feels like the epic closer that you want here! So, what are my final thoughts on X's & Y's' second album? If you like progressive instrumental metal, you'll find a lot to like here, but the album isn't as diverse for styles as "The Obsidian Dream".

Of course, remember that this also based on a side-scrolling run n' gun video game, so there isn't an intricate lore here. Jason's multi-instrumental talents remain clear as day, with his distinct tone, strong riffing and bass work, and good ear for progressive structures combining well, and you do get the sense that these songs could work as an alternate Contra soundtrack if you wanted to turn your TV's volume down! "Arrival", "Psychic Flux", and "The Heart, and What It Wants" are probably my favourite tracks here, but nothing on here is bad. Some songs had too drawn out or abrupt endings, I wasn't as sold on the electronic additions on some tracks (NES inspiration acknowledged), and again, their debut album has a wider breadth of influences. Still, X's & Y's are up to their old tricks in a good way, and I hope to hear more from them soon, but give "Ruination Coactive" a buy or listen above!

I hope you guys liked this month's CD review! Next month on the SMS, we're looking at the other new heavier-leaning local album release from June 13th, that being Mike Haggith's new solo album "Frequent Flier",  so watch for that in July, and for a new news post next! Thanks everyone!

YouTube Channel Profile Series: bretdrummer's Channel

After a delay due to a busy weekend concert preview stretch, here's this month's YouTube Channel Profile, as we again spotlight a randomly selected YouTube channel whose content is at least half devoted to local metal, hard rock, or punk musicians/concerts! This month's random choice is actually a channel that is very much still active, from a local drummer whose talents will be known to many extreme metal followers in the Soo area, so here's what you should know!

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bretdrummer's Channel (http://youtube.com/@bretdrummer)

Owner: Pillory drummer Bret Shuttleworth, also known for his work in bands like The Issues and Lazer Queen

Channel Timeline: Launched on May 24th, 2016; Videos uploaded from October 2016 onward

Channel Summary: A personal use channel, Bret has uploaded over 300 videos here, mostly featuring his own drum performance, practice, and cover videos. While the bulk of his uploads have been for his drumming exploits (especially in the past two years), Bret previously focused his channel more on video game uploads from titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Elden Ring, with 64 such videos before he switched to all music, as well as seven videos from 2019 where he showed off and tested Ultrasabers, real buildable lightsabers for avid Star Wars fans. Pillory-relevant videos include a handful of live and jam session videos from the mid-2000s and the past year, as well as uploads of their "Cringe At The Cross" demo EP, though only a few dozen videos here directly reflect/feature the band.

Why You Should Watch: As the channel mostly has drum-centric videos, fans of death metal drumming will get the most value out of Bret's channel, and he has serious drumming ability, which Pillory fans will be well acquainted with! I mean, look at his drumkit, you know he's talented to be using that! The Pillory videos (especially the recent ones) are well worth a watch to see full sets and their most technical material, and fans of modern AAA gaming and Star Wars cosplay will get a kick out of those early uploads as well. Bret still actively uses his channel, so follow/subscribe to hear what he's up to nowadays, both with Pillory and by himself!

 Our Recommended Videos To Check Out:

 

Territory - Sepultura (Cover Practice): With over 19,000 views, this jam session cover of Sepultura's "Territory" by Pillory from May of last year is by far Bret's most popular video. Also featuring frontman Robert Sartini (who does not sing here) and bassist Blair St. John (who recently left Pillory), this is a very strongly handled cover of this 1990s Sepultura classic, and while I'd have preferred vocals, it's strongly performed and well framed for the space! For more Sepultura content, Bret also uploaded a solo drum cover of "Desperate Cry" here last year.

 

Death Metal Drumming Practice (124×) (Multi-video): Bret literally has dozens of solo drumming videos here, so there is no shortage of videos to source from for a feature like this, and it's nearly impossible to pick one over the others. In terms of view count and length (as most are fairly short), one worth highlighting is this practice video from August, which showcases some excellent technical drumming with plenty of cymbals and blast beats to go around! This is just one of many though, so browse Bret's channel if solo practice performances like this interest you.

Pillory - Live at Soo Blaster (April 18th 2025): Since Pillory returned as a full public band last summer, Bret has uploaded four different full-set videos to his channel, including from sets in Leeburn, at Soo Blaster (one audio, one video), and one at Jay's Piston Broke Pub. The most bang for your buck in terms of length and video quality comes from their set at The Pit at Soo Blaster two months ago, where Robert, Blair, and Bret tore through "End Of Small Sanctuary", "Specimen Of Egotism", "Sculptor Of Cadavers", "The Angst Of Existence", "The Passing", "Abhorred Apprehension", "The Curse Of Eternal Sickness",  "A Drop Of Shame In An Ocean Of Guilt", and their "Territory" cover (now with vocals). Despite Bret opting to blur some of the strobe lighting in post-production due to the seizure risk, this is the best looking and sounding of Pillory's concert videos here, and their brutal but very proficient brand of death metal was on full display here for a receptive audience! Don't miss them back at Soo Blaster on July 30th!

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I hope you guys liked this month's YouTube Channel Profile! Next month in this series (hopefully closer to the 26th), our next randomly selected channel will be the of YouTube user TheLateandLoud, featuring video content from the local classic metal quartet's original heyday. That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's CD review next! Thanks everyone!

The Upheaval & Tym Morrison Concert Previews, New Concert Videos, And More!!

Today's post finally wraps up another very busy weekend for hard rock concerts in the Twin Saults and area, but given what we're in for over Rotaryfest weekend next month, that'll get even more packed soon! Along with two previews of Saturday nighters tonight, we have recent concert videos and assorted updates, so here's what you should know!

We'll resume things TONIGHT at Soo Blaster, where local progressive metal quartet Convergence will play their second public concert! A sequel to "The Pit" from Good Friday, this concert is similarly named "The Upheaval", and will see Stephen, Brendan, Jake, and David return to the stage with more intense djent-laden original songs, though the promotion for this concert (at least on Facebook) hasn't been as strong as you may expect, with Convergence not posting on their Facebook page in over a month. We still don't have any official video content of them performing live, so unless you were at/in The Pit, you won't yet know how they sound with a permanent vocalist. Well, you can find out tonight! New & Instagram-only hard rock band Maynard Hayes (who also played at The Pit) will have their own sophomore live gig tonight as well, and they too don't have public videos from that night, at least not yet.

New and online page-less metal supergroup The Sault Side Squad will open things in their fourth ever public concert and first of 2025, and hopefully they kick things off in style tonight! The Upheaval is an all ages event with doors opening at 7:00 PM, and tickets remain on sale on Soo Blaster's website for $15 (the price jumps to $20 at the door), price points that are $5 higher than at The Pit despite this show having one less band. All three bands tonight are still pretty cagey in terms of public videos of them performing, but there's loads of talent on display, so come to Soo Blaster to see what's in store! Visit the above links for more details, and for a preview, here's Convergence's vertical trailer to promote tonight's concert!

Next up, here's the last show of the weekend (as far as I'm aware) in a hard rock context, as local classic/hard rock solo musician Tym Morrison will return to The Fraternal Order Of Eagles Club TONIGHT! Unlike his past gigs at Aerie #3991, this show (and his further ones there) are all scheduled for 8:00 PM rather than the prior 2:00 matinee timeslot that he had there, so if you prefer your live music at nighttime, you won't mind this too much. Tym's unplugged classic and hard rock renditions always deliver for his fans and anyone into these genres, and hopefully there's a good turnout on Wellington Street West during this very busy day of concerts! Again, this is at 8:00 PM tonight with a presumed 19+ age limit and no announced cover charge. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details on Tym's second Eagles Club show this month, and for a preview, here he is live!

Also today, here's some long overdue video from last month's Shae Tull-headlined concert at The Art Hub At Spring! Held on May 26th as a release party for Shae's new album "Statues Of Teeth On Every Street Corner", the concert was unique in that the local artist was the headliner, and the touring bands (Victoria, B.C. noise rock duo Pet Retina and drummer Max Patterson's solo project i.o) were the openers. Promoters Piecing It Together Shows had a camera rolling at the 504 Queen Street East venue, posting five clips in a batch post on their Facebook page the following day, and while these are all vertical, I'll save my usual jabs at that orientation because most of these videos focus on single artists. Shae was filmed twice by the former Dryer Fire, if just for a combined 98 seconds, and her raw folk material was well done here, so genre fans should definitely take a look at those clips, but how about the videos from the heavier touring acts?

If the videos are anything to go by, Pet Retina and i.o either shared a set or there was a lot of crossover, as all of the videos feature Pet Retina, though Max (i.o) alone is the focus of two. The contrast of abrasive noise rock in this plain white events space is interesting, but Pet Retina make the most out of their mixing board/drum setup, and Max is a very good drummer! Interesting how the one clip is shot from around a corner in a different room behind Max, which is relatively unique. There's only 93 seconds of footage of Pet Retina/i.o between the three clips, but give them a watch above and below!

Finally for today, here's three shorter assorted items from the last while, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by artist name:

 

• According to a personal Facebook post, Fuller bassist Mark Rand will not be present for the band's Rotaryfest Stage 2 headlining set on July 19th. A reason for his absence there wasn't given, but remember that he does live/work in Peterborough nowadays, where he performs in his current main band Cross Dog. Honest Work/ex-Nebraska Arms guitarist Dave Prendergast will reportedly step in to handle bass at Clergue Park next month, which should be interesting, and is this a sign that Fuller could have more plans to play live even with Mark not being around as much?
• In a rare video upload, albeit an unembeddable "Reel", local metal duo Hollow Sky posted a clip of singer Liam Tallon performing their new original "To Die For" on their Facebook page on June 8th. If this is legit him growling the song in studio, then the audio isn't synced fully with the video, but it is good to see some new video content from Hollow Sky, so give it a watch above!
• While the album proper remains exclusive to Bandcamp purchasers and mailing list subscribers, Mike Haggith released "Brand New Day" from his new solo album "Frequent Flier" on Spotify and Apple Music yesterday, so fans who prefer major streaming services/applications to the Bandcamp model will have some new content of Mike's to check out there! No word on if the other two free-to-stream songs on Bandcamp will follow, but if you want to hear the full album, buy it there or join the Frequent Fliers mailing list and accumulate your passwords over the next year if you aren't yet!

 

That's all for now, but stay tuned for this month's YouTube Channel Profile and our next CD review before June is done! Thanks everyone! 

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Peril & Curtis McKenzie) And More Weekend Concert Previews!!

This very busy concert weekend will need to be stretched to three posts as we end June in style, so we'll hold tomorrow's metal concert The Upheaval and Tym Morrison's next acoustic gig for tomorrow morning. Here's what else you should know for your weekend plans, including LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, one on SHORT NOTICE!

Former Project 421/Eclipse frontman Curtis McKenzie will return to Beck's Bar for another matinee concert TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the venue first announced this show on their Facebook page on Monday, but Curt himself announced it via his own Facebook event page on June 6th, which completely bypassed me at the time. Last seen at The Dive last week, TOMORROW'S concert will be Curtis' first at the former Vibe Lounge since his late notice fill-in Sunday matinee there at the start of the month. Hopefully his alternative and hard rock covers find another strong audience in the west end TOMORROW, so don't miss out! For reference, the live band tomorrow night is Tex Riviera & The Ride, but once again, the matinee performer on Saturdays is not "opening" for that night's band, the two have distinct and full blocks for their sets, but you can stick around to see both if you like!

Curtis hits the Beck's stage TOMORROW at 3:00 PM, there is no announced cover charge, and according to the event page, this is all ages, but be mindful that it is still a bar. Visit the above links for more details on Curt's latest acoustic solo gig, and here he is live!

Next up, let's head south to Sault Michigan, where Traverse City classic metal trio Peril will return to The Rapids Lounge at the local Kewadin Casino TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Less then a month removed from their most recent St. Ignace Kewadin stops, this weekend's gigs will be Peril's first in the Soo this year, believe it or not. Always good to see Jeff, Howard, and Brooks north of the Mackinac Bridge, and hopefully this weekend's shows are hits as usual! While we're on the subject, Kewadin's entertainment page has also confirmed that Peril will return to The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino on Friday, July 25th and Saturday, July 26th, which are today's other new concert announcements. Peril have been playing that Kewadin branch more than the Soo's, as of late, so keep those in mind if you're up for live classic cover action next month in close confines!

Tonight, tomorrow, and next month's Peril concerts at Kewadin Casinos have 21+ age limits, no cover charges, and 9:00 PM start times. Visit the above links for more on Peril's summer stops in the E.U.P., and here they are live!

Staying in Michigan, let's head 20 minutes away to Brimley, where local hard/blues rock quintet Project 906 will set up shop TOMORROW NIGHT at The Back Bay Grill & Games at Bay Mills Resort & Casino! The guys last rocked the Brimley casino's on-site venue/restaurant in early April, but this is truly the first show for their "#summerof906" (they have resurrected that branding for 2025), and it should be a good time for fans of their hard rocking cover array, so don't miss out if you'll be in the area or are up for a short drive! Yes, Brian is still in the band, Bay Mills used an old band photo for the marketing. Tomorrow's one-nighter has a 21+ age limit, 9:00 PM start time, and no cover charge. Visit the above links for more details, and for a preview, here's a brand new video of 906 at The Back Bay Grill the last time out! This 70 seconds-long video sees the guys covering Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer".

I think harder edged songs suit Project 906 better, but this cover is well performed from what we see of it, and it's a good lively choice for a concert set, so check it out below, and see much more from the guys tomorrow!

Finally for this preview post, we'll look at Sault Ontario classic/hard rock cover quintet Headrush's second show in arguably their biggest weekend as a band so far, as they are opening for Toronto-based Eagles tribute band Hotel California TOMORROW NIGHT at The Roberta Bondar Pavilion! A day removed from Socch-Fest at Soo Blaster, Headrush (not HeadF1rst) will kick things off under the big tent for this high profile tribute concert, with Hotel California having played in the Soo numerous times over the years, most recently in December. The Eagles largely don't fit the SMS' coverage range, but it is worth noting that Sault Ste. Marie native Carl Dixon (who largely fills the Glenn Frey roles with the band) will be performing on this tour, including tomorrow, so it will be neat to have him home! Read more about Carl and his involvement with Hotel California in this new SooToday article by Brandon Walker.

Headrush's 1980s-leaning cover slate will kick things off tomorrow at 7:00 PM for this all ages concert, and general admission tickets are still on sale at this link for $37.27 and presumably at the door. 9&10 News is calling for partly cloudy skies with weather in the 14-19° range, so it should be a comfortable evening for live classic rock! Visit the above links for more details, especially if you're an Eagles fan, and here's Headrush live!

That's all for now, but look for our previews of The Upheaval and Tym Morrison's next solo concert (and more) next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Tarnished) & The First Of This Weekend's Concert Previews!!

Before we kick off our first round of weekend concert previews, just a reminder/heads up that the annual Poutine Feast is back at the Downtown Plaza this weekend, but as far as I can gather, organizers have still not released a schedule for the musical entertainment aside from gradually announcing individual artists. We'll let you know when/if anything comes out in regard to heavier/punk acts there this weekend! Now, let's dive into the first chunk of this weekend's advertised concerts, specifically bands playing live tomorrow in some public degree. Here's what you should know, starting with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!

Sault Michigan classic/hard rock quartet Tarnished will return to the Driftwood Sports Bar in St. Ignace for one night only TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced on the venue's Facebook page earlier today. Tarnished made their successful debut at the 590 North State Street nightclub in April, and it's good to see them spreading their wings beyond the Kewadin Casino there for St. Ignace gigs, so hopefully TOMORROW'S concert is a hit for them despite the late notice! This is a one-nighter due to or resulting in DJs Bob & Troy spinning tunes at the Driftwood on Saturday night after that day's planned car show there. Alex, Josh, Chris, and Ron take the stage TOMORROW at 9:30 PM with a 21+ age limit and no announced cover charge. Visit the above links fro more on Tarnished's short notice St. Ignace show TOMORROW NIGHT, and here they are live!

Next up, we'll head to Sault Ontario, where local classic/hard rock cover quintet Headrush will kick off their busy weekend when they headline TOMORROW'S Socch-Fest memorial concert at Soo Blaster! Yes, this event is being publically advertised via its Facebook event page, and organizers have even said that it's "open to everyone" there, but Socch-Fest is to honour the memory of local chef, bartender, and film lighting worker Mark Gigliotti-Socchia, who passed away in January at just 51 years of age. Aims are for this to be a big party to celebrate Mark's life, and he was well known and liked locally, so hopefully there's a strong crowd at Soo Blaster for Socch-Fest tomorow, let alone for Headrush's debut at this venue! Socch-Fest has an 8:00 PM start time and no stated cover charge or age limit. Visit the above links for more details, here's Headrush live, and look for our preview of their show with Hotel California in tomorrow's preview post!

Also taking place TOMORROW is the return of local classic/hard rock cover quarter Double Down for one night only at The Water Tower Pub! Unlike last year, the guys are planning to take a summer break to work on new songs, with tomorrow's show being their last until the fall begins, hence why they're not playing at Rotaryfest next month. The Syrettes, Dan, and Ric were last seen at Jay's three weeks ago (at least for public events), and after guesting with them on at least one song that weekend, former Quite Frankly frontwoman Jack Alisat (a.k.a. Jacklyn Hyde) will be back for a turn with Double Down tomorrow, as per their recent Facebook advertising. No idea how much she'll be present for the night's sets, but it'll be neat to have credited guest involvement again! Remember, The Water Tower Pub hosts different bands nightly, with classic rock quartet RPM doing the honours there on Saturday night.

Double Down take the stage tomorrow at 8:00 PM with a 19+ age limit and no cover charge. With their implied summer break beginning afterwards, come down to this popular central nightclub tomorrow to see Double Down while you can! Visit the above links for more details, and here they are live!

Finally for weekend concert preview post #1, we'll head downtown to Reggie's Place, where local southern hard rock trio Bone Yard 225 will set up shop for two more sermons TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Fresh off of their rainy (if partially tent-covered) gigs at the Queen Street Cruise, these will be their first proper bar gigs since rocking Reggie's at the end of May, so if you've missed "the dirty three" in regular indoor confines, you know where to find them this weekend! Just as a mild apology from our Queen Street Cruise coverage, the Friday night gig was again outdoors near Montana's during the cruise proper, which I forgot to reflect when previewing the Cruise gigs (the Saturday matinee was at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion as planned). Tomorrow and Saturday's southern fried cover action (with a few covers) is at 9:30 PM with 19+ age limits and no cover. See above for more details, and for a preview,  here's your local 225 live!

That's all for now, but we'll next preview Peril, Tym Morrison, and Curtis McKenzie's concerts this weekend in the Soo area, plus Headrush opening for Hotel California, with The Upheaval and (maybe?) Poutine Feast to follow! Thanks everyone

Heavy Lies The Crown Updates From April-May 2025!!

Let's take some time in this post to continue playing catch-up with St. Ignace, Michigan deathcore band Heavy Lies The Crown, so what have they been up to since we last left off with them two weeks ago? On April 15th, frontman Brandon West posted this video to their Facebook page, but unlike his usual vertical "talking to the camera" uploads, it features him singing (and growling) part of Crossfade's "Cold". Seemingly uploaded more for laughs, as I don't recall many instances of H.L.T.C. covering songs, it would be interesting to see them seriously tackle "Cold" live, but give this brief clip a watch below to judge for yourself!

Two days later, the guys announced a new concert for May 30th, which saw them and three other bands open for Buffalo post-hardcore band The Bunny The Bear at the Diesel Concert Lounge in Chesterfield Township (outside of Detroit, 5 hours south of the Soo). Hopefully that show went well for all involved, but they hit the stage closer by beforehand. On April 19th, they took part in "The Invasion Of 420" at The Delft Theater in Escanaba (3 hours west of here) alongside seven other groups, one being Hannahville metal band Ghidora, who local fans may recall seeing at last year's 2nd Street Music Festival in St. Ignace. Two videos from Ghidora's set were uploaded by H.L.T.C. afterwards, but nothing from their own set was uploaded in the immediate aftermath beyond photos. Hopefully things went well in Escanaba! That same day, the band hinted again that they're interested in adding a full-time DJ or turntablist to their lineup.

As you may recall, drummer Blaze Beairl's debut with the band in May of last year in Pontiac was as a DJ, before he moved behind the kit permanently. If they found someone full-time, it'd sure be a unique addition as local bands go! On April 21st, Heavy Lies The Crown strongly hinted in this picture that they'd be working in studio with guitarist/ex-drummer Jaxon Massaway now that he was back in the active fold. One week later, they announced another May concert, which saw them return to the Influence The Band Headquarters in Taylor (also outside of Detroit), this time as the headliners at "Pat's 3rd Annual Birthday Bash". Things sounded like they went well when H.L.T.C. debuted there at the Theta show last month, so hopefully their return was a hit! They also teased that they may have "a surprise thing happening" during their next concerts, so what were they getting at there?

On May 3rd, the guys asked on Facebook if fans would be interested in "YouTube exclusives for early productions", specifically raw demo tracks to show progression of new songs. Hey, if they're not vertical, have at 'er! As of May 12th, Heavy Lies The Crown were "waiting on some audio files to come back so we can share some new stuff, and we can hear a teaser of said "new stuff" in this video from their Facebook page on May 13th, which features 20 seconds of a new song via its tracking computer, with Jaxon seen at the end playing along with it. No comment on the very incomplete song yet, but check it out for yourselves below!

Among other short recent videos from Heavy Lies The Crown (including re-postings and non-musical ones), let's close with new update videos from Brandon from last month. The May 13th video (filmed outside in the sun) has Brandon hyping that the band has tickets on sale for the Chesterfield Township show on the 30th, while also plugging the next day's I.H.Q. show in Taylor. Eight days later, "Heavy" (well, just Brandon again) reports from his vehicle in this video, noting updates as to band merchandise orders and availability and their growth and new streaming numbers on Spotify. Embedded below is the longest of this batch of Brandon's solo update videos, from May 27th, which was uploaded in two chunks. It starts with Brandon reflecting on the growth and lineup changes in the band after listening to their early original "Knucklebutter", transitioning from there into his musical upbringing and learning how to write and record music.

Brandon wraps up the first half by looking upon the challenges of being in a small touring band, and we get more of the same in part 2, with reflections on long trips to play short sets for the love of the music. This isn't the first time that he has spoken to fans in a raw and honest way like this for reasons beyond "come see/listen to us and buy some merch", and it is neat to see him open up about life and experiences in a band like this, especially coming from the angle of a local band who aspires to be more than that. Check out Brandon's solo update videos from last month above & below!

When we next touch on Heavy Lies The Crown, we'll be thick in the weeds of their May-ending concerts in the Detroit area, complete with a surprise lineup variation, so stay tuned for all of that on the site soon. Thanks everyone! 

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Bon Jovi Forever), One More Weekend Concert Preview, And More Updates!!

Before we begin this post, I wanted to apologize for missing a late concert cancellation on the SMS, as Go Skateboarding Day did not take place as planned at Queen Elizabeth Park outside of the John Rhodes Centre due to yesterday's very rainy conditions. The worst of it was in the morning, but it rained off and on all day, which isn't safe to skateboard in, let alone play plugged-in live music. As far as I can recall, this is the first time that the local Go Skate Day was ever cancelled by rain, but organizers did have a back-up plan to keep the annual June 21st festivities going. They were able to host an indoor Go Skate Day 20 minutes east at the Prince Township Community Center's skating rink, while a concert did take place, albeit at a private house party last night. Unfortunately, Hails and Pillory were not able to play the delayed concert, and they were replaced by a new mystery act named Adam Smith Death Parade and... The Sole Aggressors?

How they were able to swing getting the Sault Michigan punk band to play across the border on short notice, I don't know, but that would have been fun to see if you were able to get the address and come out! Our source for much of the above info is Spaceship Opening member Ralph Barber's personal Facebook page. As for the Queen Street Cruise events yesterday (including Bone Yard 225's concert under The Roberta Bondar Pavilion tent), that all went on despite the rain, so hopefully the car show and other events went as well as they could for all involved!

Today's post otherwise features one more weekend concert preview, some assorted updates, and to start, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, as Oshawa-based Bon Jovi tribute band Bon Jovi Forever will return to the Soo on Saturday, September 13th at the Sault Community Theatre Centre! Since the SMS launched, at least four different Bon Jovi tributes have came here (the others being Bed Of Roses, Keep The Faith, and the hybrid Bon Journey), but Bon Jovi Forever are the ones that played at The Rockstar Bar in May 2016. What distinctions you can make between them will depend on personal preference of their talents and appearances, but Bon Jovi Forever have the classic sound down, both for their early hair metal hits and their later songs, and fans should have a good time in their return to the Soo after nine years! As best as I can tell, there is no opening act. This all ages concert has an 8:00 PM start time.

Loads of tickets are on sale for this newly announced concert in all rows (the balcony is not open for this one), so click here to buy yours, or visit the in-person box office! Prices are much higher than in 2016, running $54.24 for adults, $42.94 for seniors over 65 years of age and students 14-21 years old, and $22.60 for kids 13 and under, but the former Kiwanis Theater is also a much larger venue. Visit the above links for more details on Bon Jovi Forever's long awaited local return this fall! 

Also today, here's one more weekend concert preview that really fell through the cracks while we jumped into our Rotaryfest coverage, and it goes down TODAY, as local alternative/punk cover sextet Bookclub and veteran R&B/soul band The Hustle Brothers will both return to Thomson Farms Cider & Winery at 4057 Third Line West for their second annual teddy bear picnic! Once again, this special matinee concert will see outdoor performances alongside family friendly entertainment at the cider mill. Of course, kids are welcome to bring their teddy bears for the picnic proper, but attendees and families will also get lots of activities to enjoy, exhibits from Entomica, prizes, vendors, food and drinks, tractor rides, and much more, so visit the Eventbrite ticket page and the above links for complete non-musical details! Admission is $10 per person, though babies 2 years old and under will be admitted free.

The teddy bear picnic begins at 1:00 PM (running until 4:00 PM), and if you do come to Thomson Farms, please prepare for the weather given today's heat warnings, including a 40° humidex, so dress accordingly and drink lots of fluids. It's great to see Bookclub and The Hustle Brothers back for year #2 of this fun family event, so keep it in mind this afternoon, and hopefully Bookclub's varied blend of covers finds another willing audience, humans and teddy bears alike! See above for more details, and here's Bookclub live!

Finally for today, here's three assorted shorter news items from the last while, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by artist name:

 

• Toronto deathcore band Beguiler have been added as an extra act on the Insurrection-headlined concert at Soo Blaster on July 30th, as per promoter Mikhal Muto on the Facebook event page on Thursday. If the name Beguiler rings a bell, it may be because they were slated to play at the cancelled Crucifest metal festival in Leeburn in July of last year, making them the first of the planned five touring bands at Crucifest to land a new booking in the Sault Ste. Marie area. Very cool to see Beguiler finally make their way here next month, and they should add to the brutality well!
• In another instance of an additional act on a Mikhal Muto-promoted concert next month, Sylo frontman Eli Russell will also be performing at the Ricky Mullen/Washout-headlined folk punk show at The Distraction next Friday, as per the Facebook event page on June 14th. While Eli's solo material doesn't really cross our radar, his original acoustic folk material will fit that side of this concert, so don't miss him on the bill next week!
• I will likely be moving local industrial metal solo project Molten Imp to our inactive band links tomorrow. Led by former AlgomA guitarist Boyd "Lord Unterbiss von Wigwaus" Rendell, Molten Imp had retreated from updating most social media in recent years, with their most recent public update (to my knowledge) being the upload of their song "Diesel On The Steamship 1 & 2" to their Bandcamp page on June 23rd of last year. Hopefully all is well with Boyd, and that we hear more from him musically when the time is right, as Molten Imp were a very unique and distinct project with lots of potential! 

 

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

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Rotaryfest Stage 2!!)

The eighteenth annual Rotaryfest Stage 2 goes down on Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th, so what should you know there? The Second Stage returns to the pop-up stage beside the Art Gallery of Algoma on Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th for the ninth year of the "Redirected" era, and fourth since adopting the current two day format, including a "Friday Night Blues" program, followed by the usual indie/alternative-leaning lineup on Saturday focusing on original musicians. Thirteen acts will rock Stage 2 that weekend, which is down one from 2024, but there isn't a touring band this year either, so the amount of scheduled local acts is unchanged. Only six acts are returnees from past Second Stage lineups, so there's a good amount of expected and unexpected faces next month! Starting with the Friday Night Blues program, it is devoid of hard rock or punk acts as usual.

Friday's lineup includes veteran local blues musician Rusty McCarthy (billed as "Rusty McBlues") at 8:30 PM in his fifth Stage 2 appearance as a solo act, and third time on a Friday Night Blues bill, while Michael Yurich's blues rock cover band Smokehouse will play their own third Friday Night Blues set at 7:30 PM. Former Generations fill-in guitarist Mike McDonald's band Mudfoot Mike & The Muckrakers will return to Stage 2 for a second straight year at 6:30 PM, and the day's first two acts are newcomers to Rotaryfest. One is new local "electric power blues" band Dark Eyed Junko, who I don't know much about beyond their sparrow-inspired name, but you can find out at 5:30 PM. The day's lineup will begin with solo blues musician Josh "The Preacher" McNally at 4:30 PM, and he'll be a fitting lead-off for the day's festivities, so visit the above links for more details on the fourth annual Friday Night Blues program for 2025!

As for the Saturday bill, eight acts will hit Stage 2, and in a mild surprise, reunited local midwest emo/post-hardcore trio Fuller will headline at 8:30 PM! This will be their first public concert since their LopLops reunion in December 2023, their second show with drummer David Peredun, and their first gig since releasing their album "II" on streaming services in March, so you could call this the de facto release party (no idea if they'll have a run of CDs or not though). Really cool to see Mark come back home for Rotaryfest, and hopefully the full Fuller end things with a bang! Indie/pop rock band Jupiter Marvelous (led by Caroline Divine/Pixo Control alum Anthony Marcello) will return to Stage 2 for the first time in three years at 7:30 PM, while Shane "DJ Seith" Erickson will surprisingly make his first ever solo appearance on the Second Stage at 6:30 PM, as opposed to joint sets with Conika or Planet Rock.

Local djent/progressive metal quartet Convergence will make their Rotaryfest debut and first ever live appearance beyond Soo Blaster at 5:30 PM, in what you could argue will be the heaviest Stage 2 set ever, though fans of Gates of Winter's 2005-2006 Second Stage sets may disagree! Hard rock quintet Headf1rst will return to Stage 2 for a second straight year at 4:30 PM, preceded by the festival debut of crossover thrash quartet Hails at 3:30 PM. The day begins with acoustic singer/guitarists, including Mile 38/ex-Soundcheck frontman Cameron Oliver's Stage 2 solo debut at 2:30 PM as he continues making the local rounds (while still local) with his own country material, while folk musician Matthew James kicks off the program at 1:30 PM in his second Stage 2 appearance, having also played here in 2023. Notable absences this year include 2023-2024 performers All The Tired Horses and The Hollow Heads, and active three-timers The Northwest, among others.

Sounds like a very strong lineup to me, with Saturday's bill dipping into heavier and punk territory more than we have ever seen on Stage 2 (even when Gates of Winter played here, they were notable outliers), so fans won't want to bypass the FREE & ALL AGES entertainment beside the Art Gallery next month, so click here for details (so far) on Stage 2 in 2025! As for the second year of Stage 3, that will see four DJs/EDM musicians spinning tunes at the Downtown Plaza on Friday only, so click here to learn more. That's all for today, but stay tuned for more (non-Rotaryfest) news and notes on the site over the next week! Thanks everyone!