Oh!No 2018 Video Showcase, Part 2!!

Hey everyone, here's our second showcase post of videos from last week's Oh!No concert festival at Robbie's Church in nearby Leeburn, Ontario, with all videos courtesy of Christopher Paci's excellent YouTube channel once again! For our rundown of videos from the closing three acts, the bonfire, professional photography, and assorted household cleaning notes, visit yesterday's post below this one. Continuing in descending order, Chris filmed Thunder Bay psychedelic/desert punk quintet The Franquilizers next, capturing them performing the last half of a song which I cant 100% identify by name (maybe it's new?) The dark nighttime lighting doesn't help visibility here, but this song has a laid back feel while also harbouring some hardcore punk-tinged vocals. Not an optimal view, but The Franquilizers' got a solid reception last week, as they did last year, so give Chris' video of their set a look below!



Next up, here's some more Northern Ontario punk action from last week, courtesy of Sudbury trio Lightmares, who are seen here playing their original song "Soup". More of a modern indie rock-tinged sound here, but there's enough punk energy and swagger to go around with this solid performance, and the lighting is a little better on stage! Strong performance, if a little muffled in the video, so give Lightmares' video from Leeburn a look below!



Also performing last week (during the sunset, even) were Barrie punk quartet Beaver Slap, as this fan favourite, all-female group can be seen here performing three songs, though they were performing sans singer Midge Beaver for reasons unannounced in an online form. While they played some songs as a three-piece (including the Chris-filmed "Don't Bleed"), they also jammed an open mic selection for attendees to join in on. As seen in both Donna Hopper's and Mimi Abitbol's photos from the festival (the latter on the band's Facebook page), you can spot the likes of C.T.W.'s Tyler Gibson, festival co-promoter/ex-Fuller frontman Jamie Vincent, and even a young girl (as in, elementary age) taking over lead vocal duties for short turns. Chris did film two videos featuring guest singers, including one with Bear Hunters singer Nik Deubel channeling his inner Rick Astley by covering "Never Gonna Give You Up"?! I don't believe that's what Beaver Slap are actually playing, but beggars can't be choosers!

Nik reminds me a bit of Glenn Danzig with his cleans before unleashing his usual growl, but I want to hear him in higher quality before fully judging. The other video (embedded below) features Winkstinger frontman Josh Amendola singing a song I can't easily identify, and while he still faces the side of the stage too often when singing, his harsh vocals shred through the music well! Beaver Slap adapted nicely to being short-handed with a crowd friendly backup plan, and the girls sound good throughout the clips, so give their videos a look above and below as well!



Finally for our second Oh!No fallout/video post, let's tackle the remaining out of town bands from last week's festivities! The day's first touring attraction was Toronto indie rock quartet Forest City Aurora, who Chris filmed for this video, though I can't identify the song by name. Garbageface aside, F.C.A. were the only touring non-punk/metal band on the bill, but their melodic and easy flowing sound comes through really well on this video, so genre fans should get a kick out of them! As well, visit Forest City Aurora's Facebook page for one more video of their set courtesy of a band colleague. We'll close today with the second out of town band last week, as F.C.A. were immediately followed by London post-grindcore trio Fat Cop, who Chris filmed two videos of, partially because the first video's lighting is too bright thanks to the sun (the second video with better lighting is embedded below.) That said, this barely sounds like the same band as on their studio recordings, in some respects!

From what I've heard of Fat Cop on Bandcamp, I expected a lo-fi instrumental noise rock attack, but in these videos, they have more vocals and more of a punk influence. New sound, or just how things translate live compared to the studio? In any event, their aggressive sound looks like it got a positive response from attendees near the mid-point of Oh!No II, so give their videos a look above and below!



We'll likely close our Oh!No festival fallout and videos in the coming days by looking at the local openers, plus any odds and ends I missed regarding the event and out of town bands, so look for those and more on the site soon! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (The Wyld Stallyns), Plus Oh!No & Banned Concert Previews!!

Before we begin this weekend's first concert preview post, just a heads up that the Sault Music Newsletter Facebook page is advertising 3 Day Millionaires concerts this weekend at Reggie's West, despite that band's dissolution in July. I believe those shows were once a thing, but obviously not anymore post-breakup. As for this weekend's official hard rock & punk concerts in the Soo area, we'll be holding our Joe's Weekend Warrior Fest and Tym Morrison previews for tomorrow's post due to the amount in today's, so things are spread out more evenly. Now, here's what you should know to start this weekend, including a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!

Local acoustic hard rock trio The Wyld Stallyns will return to Room 21 as their Fishbowl Friday headliners TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this concert was only announced via it's official Facebook event page on Tuesday. Last seen as campfire jam hosts at the Northern Vibe Festival, this will be the Elements side project's first Room 21 gig in over a month, so if you've missed this fan favourite unit above Low & Slow, head there TOMORROW! The event page teases that there will be "all the Jonas you can take", which seems to imply that Elements drummer Jonas Gasperas will be a guest musician TOMORROW, but that's not firmly stated. This concert has a 19+ age limit, 10:00 PM start time, and no announced cover charge, while fishbowls full of adult beverages will be on sale for $8 if that floats your boat. Visit the above links for more details on TOMORROW's concert, and here's The Wyld Stallyns live!



Next up, we'll take a quick detour to Kinross, Michigan, where local classic/hard rock veterans Banned will play their third and final 2018 concert at the Jack Passmore Grandstand at Kinross Speedpark during this year's auto racing season TOMORROW NIGHT! After two prior shows this summer as post-practice entertainment, tomorrow's previously announced concert will see Banned playing their familiar cover selection after the Four Cylinder Friday races during the Memorial Invitational weekend events to cap off this year's racing schedule in Kinross. Unlike their prior 2018 gigs here, Banned are not playing Saturday at the grandstand, with Rudyard classic rockers Steelhead playing post-race that day instead. Expect a 9:00 PM start time with no age limits, and admission is $5 for Friday's race (kids are FREE.) Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Banned live!



Finally for today's concert preview post, let's head to nearby Leeburn, Ontario for the second annual Oh!No music festival, as Six, Two, Oh. are bringing 18 acts to "Robbie's Church" there for a day full of musical mayhem THIS SATURDAY! As well hyped in local news media, at 1990s dance parties, and via ticket sales at the MS Norgoma, this day-long festival will feature food vendors, overnight camping, and a "bring your own beer" policy, so if you loved last year's ambiance, you're in good hands for Oh!No II! The official schedule for the festival was quietly posted on the Facebook event page last month, and it confirms a few unreported band withdrawals and replacements, so who's out? Specifically, local/St. Catharine's grindcore trio Shit Liver, local indie/alt-rock quartet Id Iota, and drone/noise rock trio Pointless, and while reasons weren't stated for their exits, note that Shit Liver hadn't publically ended their summer break at press time. Hopefully all's well in their camps! Also, remember that Vol. already dropped out upon their breakup earlier this year.

Peterborough doom rapper Garbageface (a favourite at 2017 shows here) will close this year's festival at 1:00 AM, while Peterborough hardcore punk trio Cross Dog (featuring former Lion Ride guitarist Mark Rand) will end a 5 year hiatus from the local stage as the highest slotted metal/punk band at 12:00 AM. Sudbury "psychedelic party rock" quintet The Therapists will ostensibly replace Shit Liver at 11:15 PM for their regional concert debut, while the preceding 3 bands are all out of town acts returning from last year's Oh!No Fest, including Thunder Bay desert rock quintet The Franquilizers at 10:15 PM, Sudbury punk band Lightmares at 9:15 PM, and Barrie punk quartet Beaver Slap at 8:30 PM. Two festival newcomers will open the out of town half of the schedule, namely London post-grindcore trio Fat Cop at 7:45 PM and Toronto indie rock quartet Forest City Aurora at 6:45 PM. Your closing local act at 6:00 PM is Planet Rock, the new hip hop project from 2017 performer DJ Seith and rapper St. James.

The all-local opening half continues with new surf-rock quartet The Dynowaves (featuring 2017 performer Brenton "Slumshine" Ellis) at 5:20 PM, and punk/metal quintet Jack Spades at 4:40 PM, while indie rock duo Mik & Steve will replace their predecessor band Vol. at 4:00 PM. Three more returning local bands precede them, including death metal quartet Winkstinger at 3:20 PM, alt-punk trio A Dire Setback at 2:40 PM, and funk/hard rock quartet The Elements at 2:00 PM. Indie/folk solo artists Jackson Reed & Shae Tull will play short afternoon sets at 1:30 & 1:00 PM respectively, while one more new confirmation will kick off this year's festival at 12:30 PM, namely former Honest Job frontman Mister Tahti in a rare solo set. Despite some lineup changes and a drop from 19 bands to only 18, this is a stacked all-day lineup, so be sure to check out the above bands, new and old! Admission for this ALL AGES festival is $35 in advance and $40 at the door, which may be higher than last year, but remember that this year's lineup has more bands.

Tickets are available at The Rad Zone, Case's Music, and via local performers, while visit the Facebook event page linked above for details on how to get to "Robbie's Church". Also, given the relatively remote location, ride sharing is an encouraged method to get to Leeburn if you don't have an available vehicle or if you find a cab to be expensive. This year's Oh!No festival is shaping up to be another great day of local and out of town music, with a little something for many tastes, so be sure to check the above links for full details on all of the action in Leeburn on Saturday, and for a preview, here's Cross Dog live in Sault Ste. Marie back in 2013!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for our Joe's Weekend Warrior Fest preview and more next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Oh!No Music Festival II & Banned!!)

Here's a new news post for your Saturday afternoon reading, and it's devoted to LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS on each side of the border, including a big returning festival! Before I get too far, just a reminder that a musicians' mixer will be held at The Canadian Nightclub TONIGHT where local musicians can meet, coordinate, and arrange musical collaborations. This is not a concert, but it's being promoted by Jeremy Hannah's Sault MusicScene agency. 9:00 PM, 19+, no announced cover, so keep it in mind if you're looking for musicians to jam/work with! Now, here's those new concerts!

Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock trio Banned have announced a handful of new concert dates for 2018, as per new Facebook event page creations through their Facebook page, and they start with three gigs at the Jack Passmore Grandstand at Kinross Speedpark on June 2nd, June 23rd, and September 7th! Remember, Banned played their hometown race track last September too, so this is nothing new for them. They'll be serving as entertainment after Saturday practice wraps up on June 2nd & 23rd (the practice sessions for the season opener and Triple Crown events respectively), while the September 7th show will follow the Friday practice for the Memorial Invitational race, so keep these relatively unique concert sets in mind for later this year! In more traditional realms, Banned will also return to The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Ste. Marie Kewadin Casino on September 28th-29th and on December 14th-15th, returning there for the first time since March, so don't miss those either!

These concerts also join newly confirmed gigs on July 3rd & 11th in De Tour Village and Curtis, both of which are outside of our 1 hour coverage range. The three Kinross Speedpark shows are listed at 9:00 PM with no age limit or cover charge (though note that the races proper have ticket admission), while the Rapids Lounge shows are at 9:00 PM with a 21+ age limit and no cover. Click here for Facebook event pages on these and previously announced Banned shows in 2018, and don't miss this talented group at The Northern Pines Lounge in St. Ignace next month!

Next up, the Oh!No Music Festival is officially on for year #2, so what should you know on it? Taking place on Saturday, September 8th, the Six, Two, Oh.-promoted concert festival will return to "Robbie's Church" in nearby Leeburn, Ontario, with much the same atmosphere of last year's event, with overnight camping and "hangouts" available, and food vendors on site, though no word yet on a prospective bonfire. The performer lineup is expanded from 13 to 17 acts this year, with only four bands from last year not returning for 2018 (The Elements, Handsome Sandwich, and out of towners Run Coyote & Artificial Dissemination), so if you liked last year's roster, you should be right at home once again! The seven out of town bands will include Barrie punk quartet Beaver Slap, Sudbury punk standouts Lightmares, and Thunder Bay desert rock quintet The Franquilizers (all back from 2017), alongside four touring bands new to Oh!No '18, so who are they?

The other 4 out of town acts include Peterborough hardcore punk trio Cross Dog (featuring former Lion Ride guitarist Mark Rand) in their first local concert appearance in five years, and Peterborough doom rapper Garbageface (as seen at a few well received local shows last year), while Toronto indie rock quartet Forest City Aurora and London post-grindcore trio Fat Cop will be making their local concert debuts at the Oh!No fest. This lineup alone is stacked, and it's particularly cool to see Cross Dog back after far too long! The 10 local bands this year include four returning bands, they being punk/metal quintet Jack Spades, alt-punk trio A Dire Setback, death metal quartet Winkstinger (in their first announced show of 2018), indie/hard rock trio Vol., and drone rock trio Pointless, while 2017 solo performer  Brenton "Slumshine" Ellis will return in his new surf rock band The Dynowaves.

The new additions for 2018 include local/St. Catharine's grindcore trio Shit Liver and alt-hard rock quartet Id Iota, plus indie/folk solo artists Jackson Reed & Shae Tull, though no word yet on if DJ Seith will be back to spin tunes between bands. Quite a stacked lineup full of familiar faces, including a much sooner Shit Liver return than we anticipated (if only their splitmates AlgomA were playing too!) More details, including full timeslots, admission fees, and ticket locations are to be announced , but tickets go on sale on July 1st. For reference, they cost $25 last year, but there were also less bands. As well, with a shuttle bus likely not in the cards, remember that promoters encouraged ride-sharing and cab rentals for fans to get to Leeburn and back last year, given the relatively remote locale. There are a lot of unknowns yet for Oh!No II, but visit the official Facebook event page for full details, and it's great to have it back on September 8th! Stay tuned for more details as they roll in!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates on the site next week! Thanks everyone!