Today's post mostly clears up some recent news and updates that have been waiting for a free moment to plug on here, so what's on tap? All relating to the Sault Ontario area, we have a recent solo cover video upload, a 2 year old video find of a local hardcore performance, and notes on some likely inactive local hard rock projects, but first, here's some info on what a prominent local music personality has been doing in the early 2010s!
Are you curious to know what former local producer and MBM frontman Miguel Gauthier has been up to since moving from the Soo to Los Angeles, California in October 2010? Well, we can find out in a recent SooToday article by Donna Hopper featuring interview comments and reflections on his local and more recent work! The article was actually posted last week, my apologies for it being lost in the shuffle until now. We touched on his move at the time, but in the article, we learn that Miguel chose to relocate to a bigger city with more opportunities 3 years ago, taking Stereo Soul Studios with him, but he has flourished since the move! Though nothing directly ties to metal of his recent output, he's done fashion photography & film work, music production & mixing, and work as a sound engineer for numerous TV and film projects (even on Dexter!), most recently winning a Best Fashion award at the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival for his short "Lovers Game". It sounds like Miguel's found his groove in California, and though his exceptional production is missed for local bands, it's great to see a Saultite doing so well with his career, and I wish him continued success!
Remember, when operating Stereo Soul Studios locally in the late 2000s, Miguel produced albums for bands like Woods of Ypres, Garden of Bedlam, Gates of Winter, and Stillbroke, along with doing studio work with As It Stands, Sense of Truth, and many other local bands. He's never forgotten his local output (even fondly looking back on his Gates of Winter work in the SooToday article), and many of his local projects are still on Stereo Soul Studios' website, so check everything out there, and read the full SooToday article at this link!
Next up, here's notes on two local metal/hard rock acts that we're now
listing as inactive on our band links. One is the solo project of Hydra's Teeth/ex-Late & Loud guitarist Brendan Christie,
who had maintained and recorded some very promising solo originals in
the late 2000s, including planning at least one album. However, his band
work has arguably been his focus in recent years, and there hasn't been
any dedicated solo updates that I've seen since (at the latest) last
fall, with his last MySpace page
uploads being Hydra's Teeth demos. Brendan's solo work was really
solid, and a nice precursor to Late & Loud, so hopefully he
revisits that work in the future! The other likely inactive band is Durera
(formerly The Diego Experience), the CASS Cafe-launched hard rock
sextet that had been sporadically active since 2008. They last made a
band-related update to their Facebook group
in June of last year, and that (plus singer Keegan Gjos moving to
Sudbury soon) leads me to think that they've also fallen inactive.
Durera had talent (as their Diego Experience-era videos on guitarist A.J. Biron's YouTube channel
indicated), but they had room to grow from some earlier and younger
sets in their CASS Cafe run. Hopefully the guys stay active in music,
and best of luck to Mike, Keegan, A.J., Brent, Ben, and Ty in the future! Stay tuned for more notes on inactive and broken up bands as I hear them!
We'll close today with some new video finds, starting with a newly discovered clip of defunct local hardcore quartet Changing Waves! This comes from the Smeltzer reunion show at The Oddfellows Hall on August 12th, 2011 that they were among the openers for, and it was uploaded to YouTube by attendee Kate Fantham the very next day. You'd think this would have been on the site by now, but she actually forgot which band this was, so it's just labelled by the show's name on YouTube. Luckily, only two bands that night featured a singer who didn't play an instrument, so it was easy to figure out who they were! Featuring Changing Waves' classic & final lineup, I can't place the song off hand, but I don't think it was on their free demo. Kate likely filmed this on a cell phone camera (hence the dimensions), and the quality isn't great, with dark lighting, very staticy audio, and a 19 second audio cut-out 1:17 in. Still, Changing Waves do sound heavy from what I remember, and the crowd's definitely into it, so check out this new video discovery below!
Finally for today, Ashes To Dust guitarist Alex Hemy uploaded another solo performance video onto his YouTube channel on Wednesday, and it's a cover of 3 Doors Down's "Be Like That"! Like his Eagles cover from earlier this month (which is now unlisted for unknown reasons), this utilitzes multiple camera angles with Alex singing and playing guitar, and I think his clean vocals work better here, with his tone and pacing fitting this song better! Sure, it's not a heavy song, but we know Alex's track record, and he has the talent, so check out his newest solo cover video below!
That's all for today, but stay tuned for our Airbourne preview and more news this weekend! Thanks everyone!
Hey guys, hope you're enjoying your weekend! I have a bunch of assorted stories to get to today, including the latest from End of Existence and Elipzis, a note you should know concerning a local metal producer, the latest from a local radio station, and first, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!! Here's what you need to know, but first, I hope last night's last minute Tym Morrison show at Foggy Notions went well. It was announced VERY short notice and I hope you guys caught the alert on our Twitter feed!
Now to the news! Last October, downtown Sault Ontario was invaded by zombies in the first annual Soo Zombie Walk. Well, make sure your brains are protected, as the Zombie Walk returns on October 23rd! It's a cool event for great causes (local college food banks), but how does this tie in to the local metal scene? Simple: Frightlight are headlining the after party! The local punk/metal quartet, in what is currently their first announced date to feature new drummer Jeff De Rose, will be the main attraction at the Zombie Walk after party at Foggy Notions on October 23rd at 9:00 PM! Nice to see them involved in this, and with their horror movie theme, they'll fit right in with this type of concert! Three of the supporting bands have also been announced, including Toronto classical/punk trio RedD Monkey (featuring ex-Gates of Winter drummer Kevin Overton), local guitar-less rockers The Fury (featuring ex-D.O.T.H. drummer Joe Bumbacco), and a local act named Wojtek. I've never heard them before, so I can't definitively comment on their sound or members, but they did take part in the Clusterfolk outdoor concert at Bellevue Park in July, for what that's worth. The Facebook event page hypes more bands to be announced, so stay tuned for updates on that front!
This concert will have NO COVER, a 9:00 PM start time, and presumably a 19+ age limit. Remember, this is the after party for the Zombie Walk, so make sure you're in your best brain eater getup so you don't stick out! For more information, visit the above links, and for continued updates on the Zombie Walk itself and attached events, visit it's own Facebook group! This should be a very fun concert, and the Zombie Walk should provide some entertaining moments of it's own! I was out of town during last year's event, I may just hop in on this one! I'll have more on the Zombie Walk after party as I hear it!
Next up, we have some updates from Sault Michigan/Grand Rapids death metal trio End of Existence, and no, their "Sun Is Gone" E.P. isn't out yet. It seems like they keep resetting the countdown timer on their official website continually when the date passes. Now, it's counting down to a release on Thursday, but who knows if that will stick. But that's not the main reason why we're talking about End of Existence today. The big news here is that a new original song has been posted onto their YouTube channel! It's of their song "Deathbed", and if you're expecting some I.S.O.M.-like epic death metal, then you'll likely be disappointed, but as the video description says, it's heavy "in it's own way". I assume they mean lyrically and visually, as the song is soft and ballad-like, but still dark and imposing. It's oddly effective, and Bob Helsten (a.k.a. Orb Hearthstone) shows some good clean singing that I missed from his I.S.O.M. work! I should note that the video has some morbid imagery, so if you're easily creeped out, don't watch it, but it's a good song, and you can check it out below! I can't wait to hear their heavier originals though, I'll let you know of them when they appear online!
Thirdly, here's some updates from local college radio station WLSO 90.1 FM: The Sounds of Lake State! The fall semester is well underway, and both radio shows and DJs are back in the booth! Sadly, a schedule of programs isn't online yet, so I can't 100% tell you guys when the metal blocks are, but when WLSO staffers post something, I'll be sure to have it! I have two other notes though on the Lake Superior State University radio station to share. Firstly, the station is currently looking for a music director to work on-staff for the station. What this means is that you'd be in charge of handling music from radio stations, ensuring an up-to-date and fresh playlist, and calling and contacting record labels to get music for radio play. If you go to LSSU, love music, and have great people skills, you can pick up applications at the Campus Life Office in The Cisler Center to fill out. The deadline to submit your applications is FRIDAY, so get on that A.S.A.P. if you're interested! My source for the above info is their official website.
And finally, WLSO's new logo is now officially in use at the station! Yes, I designed it, but that's all I'll say about that because I don't wanna sound like an egomaniac self-promoting tool. It's on the WLSO office front door, it's on their pages, and now, it's on official t-shirts! If you want a WLSO t-shirt, head to their office (also in The Cisler Center on campus) and pick one up! They're in red, green, and black, in sizes S-XL, and go for affordable prices! I have one, you should get one too! And of course, tune in to WLSO at 90.1 FM and see if you can find something heavy, cause when they do, it's usually well worth your time!
Lastly for today, here's some interesting news from Stereo Soul Studios and local producer Miguel Gauthier. He has a lot on his plate production wise lately, here's a rundown of what's been up and what to expect! As of September 9th, Miguel had planned to finish editing and mixing Woods of Ypres' fifth (and final) album, the new release from another David Gold project, The Northern Ontario Black Metal Preservation Society (you'll hear about them on here in the future), the final mixing of Garden of Bedlam's new album, the artwork and press shipping of Sense of Truth's debut EP, and a later addition, As It Stands' two song demo, among other projects. But he also revealed one somewhat disheartening note as well: He's planning to move to Los Angeles next month. He didn't leave any explanations as to why, but at least we're hearing some details about it. This is gonna be a noticeable blow to the local music scene, as his production has been key to the great sounds of a number of local albums, metal or otherwise! At least he has a lot more coming, but I hope he stays involved in music after his move, cause he's a very talented guy, and a good musician too in his own projects! Stay tuned for more on his next few produced albums, and no matter what, best of luck to Miguel in his future plans! I'll have more as I hear it!
That's all for today, but be sure to check The Sault Metal Scene out for more news by Wednesday, likely sooner! My news desk is almost cleared out again, but I'll surely have more in quick order! Thanks everyone!
Well, I'm back from Detroit and I have some local metal stories to share today, including a preview of a concert tomorrow night and the latest news from Woods of Ypres and The Eastgate Hotel, but first, here's a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!!
Fresh off their new lineup's live debut this past weekend at The Outback, Caveman Morrison have booked a brand new concert for this fall, as they'll be back at The Rockstar Bar for the first time in months on October 1st! Just one show to my knowledge, but if they do end up playing on October 2nd as well, I will let you know! This show will have a 10:00 PM start time, there is no announced cover charge, and you must be 19 to enter. For more information, visit the official Facebook event page! This should be another fun show from Caveman Morrison, who'll deliver another high energy night of heavy metal covers to patrons and fans at The Rockstar Bar to kick off October! But if you want your Caveman fix sooner, remember to check them out this coming Friday and Saturday when they play their first shows at Foggy Notions featuring new bassist Dutch Vanderploeg and drummer Johnny Belanger! I'll be there, and I'll have more on Caveman Morrison soon!
Next up, here's a preview of an upcoming concert, and though it is slightly short notice, it's a very promising show at a new venue, so at least consider going! Tomorrow night at The Vibe Lounge, two British Columbia bands will hit the stage for a concert that's sure to leave an impression! Your headliners are Prince George breakcore band Throat Kick, who have a heavy hardcore-style with a heavy electronic influence in many songs. Unique but moshable, they'll be sure to leave you wanting more tomorrow night! The other scheduled band is Vancouver groove metal quintet GFAP!, who have some nice breakdowns and throw in many different styles and sounds into their music, including some creative experimental touches! Hardcore fans will definitely want to be at The Vibe Lounge tomorrow night, this'll deliver some great stuff! This show will take place at 9:00 PM tomorrow night, there is a $5 cover, and you must be 19 to enter. Sure, it's short notice and in a venue far from most of the other concert spots, but you should have some good times at this concert tomorrow, so make it on out! For more information on this show and the bands scheduled tomorrow, visit the official Facebook event page and the links above! For a video preview, here's Throat Kick's music video for their song "Robot Attack"!
Thirdly today, here's the latest updates on Woods of Ypres! Nothing has came out about "Woods V" yet, but the first photo from what was hyped as their last photo shoot is now online! The shoot was conducted by Miguel Gauthier of Stereo Soul Studios, where the band recorded their last two albums, and the first of these photos can be seen on your right. Looks good, can't wait for the rest! Miguel's actually a very talented photographer, and he has dozens of great photos at his Flickr page to check out, including a couple featuring members of Garden of Bedlam! More on "Woods V" as I hear it! The other Woods note I had was about frontman David Gold's emigration from Canada. Some of you may still be wondering where exactly he went and why, but after clear statements failed to materialize prior to his flight overseas, the questions continued. Well, since arriving, David's shared many photos of his surroundings on his personal Facebook page, and though he never clearly says where he is (he lists his locations as "Brutalandiabad" & "so far from you") the photos all point to him being in Kuwait, an Arabic country near The Persian Gulf.
Probably the most telling is a photo of David outside of The Kuwait Towers, but out of respect for personal privacy, I won't link or embed anything here. I'm assuming he's found work there, possibly as a teacher like when he lived in South Korea, but hopefully he's not done with music after the release of "Woods V"! There, maybe that helps answer a couple of questions!
Finally today, here's some updates concerning the fate of former local metal concert venue The Eastgate Hotel. The offers to buy the unused building are still out there, mostly, but the original offer from Tomasso Petrucci has been withdrawn. The offer from Anna Yurkevich and Walter Jakubsky was ruled to be unacceptable due to their aim to have the building rezoned as a residential building. Lindsay Myles informally offered $30,000 to turn it into low income housing for people on welfare via fax, but it's not being considered. If City Council are going to approve of an offer to save it in today's Council meeting, the only one they'll consider is Robert Berto Jr.'s $17,000 offer for it, though he hasn't announced his plans for it if he gets it. Council could also demolish The Eastgate and sell the vacant lot, or accept an $80,000 offer from Algoma Insurance, which would see them demolish the building for their own purposes. Note that newer offers could be re-evaluated today as well. Read Elaine Della-Mattia's Sault Star article on the topic at this location. Also, click here to read an interesting editorial article about the Eastgate situation from The Sault Star's Doug Millroy.
It seems to me like they could have solved this problem a lot sooner than now, and today may not even decide what will happen to The Eastgate. I'd like to see it stay up in some fashion, and I'm sure many concertgoers from the 1980s and 1990s would love to see it remain where it is for nostalgic reasons, but I wouldn't be surprised if it got torn down. Algoma Insurance have the best offer monetarily, and there's no strange conditions mentioned, so if I was betting, I'd have my chips on them to win The Eastgate. Still, this could go a few different directions, and I'll have more as I hear it!
That's all for today, but I already have some assorted stories lined up for my next update, so stay tuned for that in the next day or two! Thanks everyone!
Are you curious to know what former local producer and MBM frontman Miguel Gauthier has been up to since moving from the Soo to Los Angeles, California in October 2010? Well, we can find out in a recent SooToday article by Donna Hopper featuring interview comments and reflections on his local and more recent work! The article was actually posted last week, my apologies for it being lost in the shuffle until now. We touched on his move at the time, but in the article, we learn that Miguel chose to relocate to a bigger city with more opportunities 3 years ago, taking Stereo Soul Studios with him, but he has flourished since the move! Though nothing directly ties to metal of his recent output, he's done fashion photography & film work, music production & mixing, and work as a sound engineer for numerous TV and film projects (even on Dexter!), most recently winning a Best Fashion award at the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival for his short "Lovers Game". It sounds like Miguel's found his groove in California, and though his exceptional production is missed for local bands, it's great to see a Saultite doing so well with his career, and I wish him continued success!
