Before we begin this post, just a note that I have seen a personal Facebook post implying that local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck are returning to Northern Superior Brewing Co.'s Tap Room tomorrow night, but I have not seen any public confirmation from the band or brewery to corroborate that posting. We have time to make mention of it if it's 100% verifiably announced, but just in case, I thought I'd lead off by acknowledging what I saw. Otherwise, this post has the rest of this weekend's hard rock/punk previews and an inactive band note, but first, here's a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!
Local acoustic punk duo Dos Amigos will return to The Whisky Barrel for one night only TONIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced via the venue's Facebook page on Monday, and while Dos Amigos' six+ month moratorium on Facebook page updates continues, singer/guitarist Mikey Hawdon did confirm the booking on his personal Facebook page. While we have seen Mikey & Dustin since at The Kiln with their band BookcluB, TONIGHT's show will be their first advertised unplugged gig as Dos Amigos since their last Whiskey Barrel stop in late February. If you're up for some acoustic punk covers from two of the Soo's finest, head down to Gore Street TONIGHT! Possibly due to St. Patrick's Day being on a Tuesday this year (let alone The Whisky Barrel being a Scottish pub), there are no overt seasonal ties TONIGHT, though drinks will be on tap, as you'd assume.
The Whisky Barrel rarely doubles up bands on weekends, and as such, indie rock veterans All The Tired Horses are playing there tomorrow. TONIGHT'S concert goes down at 8:00 PM with a 19+ age limit and no cover charge. Visit the above links for more details on TONIGHT'S Dos Amigos action, and here they are live at The Tap Room last year!
Next up, let's wrap up(?) this weekend's concert previews by heading across to Sault Michigan, where new local hardcore punk duo Viscera will play their first ever local gig TOMORROW NIGHT at Three One Three On Ashmun! While Blind Bob & Mitchell debuted this project in Marquette in January, tomorrow's show will be E.U.P. fans' first chance to hear Viscera's brutal minimalist sound, including cuts from their debut EP "From Feast To Famine" (as this is the first local show since, would this be the de facto release party?). As Sault Michigan goes, a sound this visceral (descriptor intended) doesn't come around every day, so if you like things brutal, come down to the former Back Door tomorrow! Marquette doom/stoner metal duo PonyWorm will make their apparent local debut tomorrow as openers, returning the favour after Viscera opened for them in Marquette in January, and they'll sludge things up well in their first trip here, so don't miss out tomorrow if you can help it!
Opening tomorrow's action is local punk/hard rock band About:Blank (last seen rocking The Savoy in an unadvertised gig last month), and while they have yet to publically replace Nathan Webber in their lineup, Parker & Kade might not have to worry about it immediately, as if they play this show as a duo again, then all three bands tomorrow will be two-man-bands, which will be neat! Tickets run for $10 in advance via the QR code on the poster above or through members of the two local bands, and admission will jump to $15 at the door. This appears to be a 21+ event, and doors open at 7:00 PM. Visit the above links for more on this unique and heavy mix of bands at Three One Three, and for a preview, here's our first look at Viscera on camera! Since I first discovered Viscera last month, I realized that they do have a Facebook page, albeit one that is set up as a personal account, so you'd have to add them as a friend rather than like/follow them.
On said page is their first public video (shared from attendee/former Insipid Brutality guitarist Tyler Dettloff's personal Facebook page), which actually comes from their Marquette show in January at Superior Culture, and it features Viscera playing "Disassociate", the opening song from their EP. Yes, the video is vertical, but Tyler got Bob & Mitchell both in frame, and he was close enough to the action where there's not empty space, so that much works out! Percussion's a little clangy, but this is an intense and grimy performance that suits how their EP is formatted, so give it a watch below, and look for much more tomorrow night!
Finally for today, I have moved Sault Ontario indie/punk quintet The Northwest to our inactive band links. The band has not issued a public update since they opened for Our Lady Peace at GFL Memorial Gardens on March 2nd of last year, which has been their only concert appearance of any kind since the 2023 Go North Music Festival. Originally named North West and Northwest before adding the "The", The Northwest featured a stacked lineup of 2000s veterans of the local indie and punk scenes upon their debut in the fall of 2013, and they would release two EPs in 2014 and 2018. The Northwest finished in second place at November 2013's Viva La Battle, played at Rotaryfest Stage 2 thrice from 2017-2022, opened for The Sheepdogs at the Rock On The River festival in Timmins, opened for Marianas Trench & The Trews at the Gardens in 2022, and even got played on CBC Radio One and NHL telecasts that year.
While they did drift somewhat from punk in later material, their brand of "3-guitar heartland rock" was always adaptable to varying kinds of concerts, and The Northwest displayed a lot of talent and camaraderie in their shows & EPs! An 11+ year run is nothing to shake a stick at for an originals-focused local band either, but they have not announced anything regarding their future, so hopefully we do see the guys back at it down the road. Best of luck to Wayne, Greg, Yak, Mike, Marc, and Clint in the future, and don't miss Greg (and sometimes Yak) in acoustic sets around town! That's all for now, but stay tuned for more on the SMS this weekend! Thanks everyone!
