For our first post of October 2025, let's resume playing catch-up with local/Barrie crossover thrash quintet Spades GT's recent activity by acknowledging the recap video from the fifth annual Rye Fest in Brantford on August 9th! In doing my research for our last Spades-centric post on September 21st, this completely slipped me by, which I apologize for, so kudos to guitarist Daniel Horton for sending me the link after that post went live! After we hear a clip from "Wrecked" from their new album "United", we see Daniel in his vehicle getting ready to meet the rest of the guys in Brantford, before we get to see the whole band setting up for their set and Daniel mingling with multiple Rye Fest attendees and performers (many horns are thrown in this segment). The desserts on offer looked good too! We do get brief raw video footage of Spades GT playing "Rise" late, but it's side-stage, vertical (as ever), and just of the start of that song.
I'm not sure of the advantages of the taped-together beer staff, but this was an entertaining recap video for fans of these types of uploads! I still prefer full live songs, let alone horizontally shot ones, but it looks like the guys had a blast at this all-day metal festival, so check everything out below!
On September 2nd, the band announced on their Facebook page that they were featured in the newest issue of the Niagara-On-The-Lake-based Plunk O Rama zine, but it's a legit physical zine like in the good old days, hand-stapled and everything. As such, you'll have to head down there to buy a copy and/or read the Spades article, assuming that the band doesn't re-post it online. In the former Jack Spades' first show of their fall concert calendar, they returned to their hometown of Barrie for the first time in "a while" (almost 3 months) on September 6th, where they and their friends in G.F.U. opened for Daniel's other band The Fast Life at C.W. Coop's. This show did get a vertical recap video as well, if a shorter one (granted, it was a smaller concert), so what can you see here? Along with mingling and setup, we get a lot of talk about wildlife in the Barrie area from Daniel and Tyler, and the odd sight of J.D. singing while wearing a bucket hat.
I'm not sure that the slow jam backing music in the first half is a good fit, but we do get (all too brief) raw video footage of all three bands in the back half, with a focus on Daniel playing a guitar solo in the Spades clip. Also, props to Sean's choice of t-shirt, now we just need to see him play in that band's hometown! J.D. said that they "killed it", and from what we see of the show, I'm unable to disagree, so give the Coops recap video at this link! Unfortunately, Facebook was able to content match "Wrecked" in this particular recap video, so I'm unable to embed it here. On September 18th, the guys asked on their Facebook page for suggestions towards adding a possible new cover song to their setlist, implying that it would be for "spooky season" or at least Halloween themed, so offer suggestions there in the event that they haven't added such a cover yet! The following day, they did post a new (vertical) video that I can embed here, so what is there to see?
Shot in drummer Tyler Reiner's vehicle, Tyler (or "T", as it were) shows off a copy of the Plunk O Rama zine that they're featured in, though you can't really read the shown pages clearly on the video. Copies were sold at their merchandise table at their next show, however! Tyler also plugged (in particular) their Toronto show opening for The Exploited on October 19th, which they are actively selling tickets for, as well as their debut in Niagara Falls this coming Friday. Good updates all around, so give this one a watch!
For today, we'll close with Spades' return to Newmarket at The Lion Pub & Grill on September 20th, which was basically an encore of the top half of the C.W. Coop's show, with all three bands making the 40 minute drive south for it. A vertical recap video was shared from this gig, which leads off after the titles with Daniel and bassist Sean MacNab outside of the venue. Sean teases that they may have "exciting news around October", so we'll have to see what he was hinting at now that it is October! After everyone arrives at the venue, we do get some brief raw footage of the guys playing "United" at The Lion, along with some brief clips of Daniel with show attendees and performers, as well as The Fast Life & G.F.U.'s later sets. Effective recap video within the confines of what fans can expect from them, even if vertical and heavily edited, so give the Newmarket one a watch below!
We'll pick things back up with Spades GT with a new video interview that Dan & Sean recorded last month, plus new show announcements and their gigs this weekend, so stay tuned for all of that and more soon! Thanks everyone, raise 'em up, and cause a scene!
