Borderline Radio Updates, New Videos From Sault Michigan, And Much More!!

75 straight days of Sault Metal Scene posts, now there's a neat milestone! My 31st birthday is tomorrow, and while I am planning to take the day off from the SMS as usual on May 31st each year, I may keep the streak going with an auto-post of some kind. In the meantime, we have some new videos from across the river, some assorted short stories, and some long overdue coverage of a local internet radio station, so here's what you should know!

I have slacked long enough on recent on-air appearances and rotation from local hard rock and punk musicians on new local internet radio station The Borderline Radio, so let's look at what they've been airing in this regard! Earlier this month, The Borderline added Mike Haggith's new album "If Ever Comes The Day" in full to their rotation (before it's release date, even), and Mike was interviewed by Mike Severin on Sev's Cellar on May 12th. Similarly, A Dire Setback's self-titled debut album got a full playback premiere on The Borderline late last month, though I don't believe they were interviewed on air. On May 19th, Jack Spades frontman J.D. Pearce (credited under his Frightlight stage name Johnny Pints) was interviewed for an episode of Sev's Cellar, while Fluid 5ive frontman Colin Nelson was interviewed by "driver" Mike Robillard on The Taxi Passenger Revue on April 13th. Of course, visit the Mike's Lunch Music Facebook group for more episode and playlist descriptions from this year.

Of course, the heavily local-centric rotation on The Borderline is a huge calling card for it, and if you love the idea of local music almost 24/7, you will definitely want to tune in at this link! In fact, they just played a song by defunct hard rock quartet Redefined on there (I still have to find a copy of "Risk & Uncertainty" one of these days.) Unfortunately, the station still doesn't have an outlet for on-demand copies of old shows, and I don't believe they're on a TuneIn Radio-esque service yet, but maybe in time.

Next up, let's head across to Sault Michigan to look at the last hard rock cover videos on Paradise Excuse frontman Mark Bowen's YouTube channel that we hadn't looked at yet! Last August, Mark uploaded a whopping thirteen videos of his eponymous Mark Bowen Band playing outdoors at the Wood-Dock Music Festival in Mackinac Island. This newspaper clipping from a later event seems to confirm that Mark is joined here by his Paradise Excuse bandmate Jason Haske, plus drummers Donny Sorenson (on the full kit) and Matt Myers (on the hand drums). Their wildly varying set on this day included renditions of Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger", The Stray Cats' "Stray Cat Strut", The Eagles' "One Of These Nights" & "Hotel California", Bob Seger's "Night Moves", Van Morrison's "Moondance" in two chunks (seen here & here), Pery Ribeiro's "The Girl From Ipanema", Dean Martin's "Sway", Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin'", Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy", ...

...James Brown's "I Feel Good", and as embedded below, Greta Van Fleet's "You're The One I Need". It's a shame that there's not more of a consistent crowd near where the band's set up, but the filmer did get some different angles of the guys in action, and the audio's nice and clear! While this isn't an optimal showcase for fans of Mark's heavier side, the performances are solid overall and very fan friendly, so give these a watch above and below!



Lastly from Mark's heavier videos we haven't looked at yet, he posted this video of him "shredding with low gain" back in August 2018. If you're only familiar with him fronting cover-centric bands, this nicely controlled guitar solo is a nice showcase of his skills, and it'd be interesting to see him post more clips like this! Give it a look below!



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:

• I have moved Sault Ontario death metal duo Brutally Fatal back to our inactive band links, as they have not issued a public update since (self-deprecatingly) promoting an album release on their Facebook page on May 26th of last year, which has been their only public update of any kind since releasing their free "Blood of the Devil" album in February 2017. Hopefully we hear more music from Austin down the road, but follow Tyler's ongoing prolific work at Blood Shed Productions to see what he's working on!
• In their first Facebook page post since hyping a live-stream in March that never came, local punk/metal quintet Jack Spades announced on May 18th that they have "got some lineup news coming, and we are stoked!" They have not offered specifics yet, but note that Tiffany does still live out of town, and I have read personal Facebook postings in the past week alluding to another band member moving from the area. We'll let you know what's changing in the Spades camp when it goes public!
• Former Caveman Morrison/Half Past bassist Ryan Disano (Bryan Dychanno on Facebook) is looking to join or form a local band with a regular practice schedule, as per his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post on May 18th. I won't get into any social distancing arguments here, but he is a solid bassist, and if you're interested, message Ryan at this link or above for more details! Note that comments there asked if he'd be interested in rejoining a reunited Winkstinger, but that band has not publically returned otherwise.

That's all for today, but stay tuned for a new news post either tomorrow or on Monday! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Id Iota & Banned), A New Album Discovery, And More!!

I apologize for things being slow around here this month, November doesn't usually crash this hard for news after Halloween! That said, we have a full news post for your pre-Thanksgiving enjoyment, and it includes some assorted updates, extra info on our most recent CD review topic, and leading off, here's a pair of LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, one on SHORT NOTICE!

Kinross classic/hard rock trio Banned will play a special Wednesday night concert TONIGHT at the Dondee Lanes in Sault Michigan! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced via it's Facebook event page on Sunday. Alex, Don, and Wayne will be making very rare appearances at the local bowling alley's Sportsman's Lounge TONIGHT, with us last covering a Dondee stop from them in December 2015, so regulars and local fans will be overdue to take in this talented group at the South Mackinac Trail location! No word on why they're playing mid-week at the Dondee, but it could be related to holiday plans and/or venue closures over the forthcoming U.S. Thanksgiving weekend. If you're up for some pre-turkey hard and classic rock favourites, you know where to be TONIGHT! An early 8:00 PM start time is in effect for this 21+ show, which has no announced cover charge. See above for more details, and here's Banned live a few years back!

Next up, here's a Sault Ontario show with lots of advance notice, as local alternative/hard rock quartet Id Iota will return to the stage on Tuesday, December 26th (a.k.a. Boxing Day) when they open for local/Montreal pop rock solo artist Mike Mikus in his CD release party at LopLops Lounge! This show will end a 5 month hiatus from the local stage for both acts, each having played here last on July 15th, when each played at Rotaryfest's Stage 2 and then at Mike's local farewell show at LopLops. However, the former Pixo Control frontman will be home for the holidays to launch his self-titled debut solo album, so if you want to hear his current sound again and/or pick up his new CD and merchandise, be at LopLops on Boxing Night! It's also great to see Id Iota return from the studio with more of their fan favourite hard rock and funk-influenced originals, so keep their return in mind also! Another Stage 2 act from this year will open next month, namely indie/pop duo All Us Others, so keep their rising and talented sound in mind also!

All Us Others will kick off this 19+ concert at 10:00 PM, and admission  will be $10 at the door, but you'll get a digital download copy of Mike's CD if you pay $15 (no word as of yet on CD prices though.) This sounds like a great way to welcome Mike back home (if briefly) and to support his current solo project, and there should be lots of familiar faces and tunes all night on Boxing Day, so visit the official Facebook event page for current details!

Next up, I wanted to acknowledge a recent archive local metal album that I picked up a few months back, and if you saw our review of it from Monday, it won't be a surprise! The album in question is defunct local metal quintet Amethyst's self-titled cassette tape EP from way back in 1990, which was a lucky find at The Rad Zone, and given the band's stature and the tape's current rarity, it was worth the $25 price! I won't rehash much of what was in our review (again, check the post below), but the packaging was well put together for an independent cassette tape release, and the sound quality has held up in the past 27 years! The packaging includes a picture of Amethyst in a guitar surrounded by autographs from fans and friends, front cover artwork by Sean DeCourcy, full credits for performers, writers, and producers, and thanks to their supporters. This was one of those albums that I always hoping to track down, so it's great that I found this one, let alone on the same trip where I found Infrastrate's EP, which is just convenient luck!

In terms of streaming the whole album, you can hear our uploads of "Midnight Queen", "Waste of Time", the original version of "Sky", "Rock First, Roll Later", and the amusing bonus cover of "The Infernal Galop" (a.k.a. the can-can song) at these links, and hopefully the "Waste of Time" video resurfaces in the future also! Amethyst were a very solid band and a highlight of the local scene in the early 1990s, so give their debut EP a listen above & below, and stay tuned for our "Suburban Dream" CD review next!



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:

• Hamilton punk/grunge trio Doors & Fours were unfortunately unable to headline at The Algonquin Pub on Saturday, November 11th due to their tour vehicle breaking down while on the road. As a result, local openers Jack Spades & Stegadeth played on with unspecified "surprise guests", though no public word on who they were. As they say, "the show must go on", and hopefully things went over well!
• Sault Michigan classic/hard rock cover quartet Highway 63 announced on their Facebook page on Monday that they will be "taking a bit of a hiatus" after their December 22nd weekend shows in St. Ignace so they can learn new sets, and that "it may be a bit before we are back", but "we are gonna blow your socks off" when they return. At least we have a heads up, and hopefully the planned break is fruitful for 2018 concert plans!
• Band Camp Rejects bassist Ryan Bell is looking for a singer and/or keyboardist for a current band project that he's working on, that would play classic rock and blues music. I do not 100% know on if this is for The Band Camp Rejects or a new band, but note that the BCRs haven't played a public show since February, and in another Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from June, he was looking for guitarists in what could be the same band. If you're interested in trying out, message Ryan at this link or above!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews on the site tomorrow! Thanks everyone!

AlgomA/Shit Liver Concert Review!!

Hey guys, it's finally time for our review of Monday night's Shit Liver split release tour finale at The New American Pub, so what should you know about this one? Surprisingly, this was my first ever concert at The New A, so I should start with some thoughts on the venue as a whole. Overall, it's cozy (especially before organizers moved tables out of the way), and the bar's placement in the middle of the building took some adjustments, but it looks like it's fairly inviting and would be of good use for downtown patrons, complete with a few modern flourishes! Also, how many other bars have a popcorn machine? In terms of the "Trading Faces" cassette tapes, I got mine upon entry to the Bay Street venue, and this is a high-res recreation of the album cover in it's physical layout (I haven't found one via official sources.) Aside from dedications in the liner notes, there's no missing information that isn't already given on Bandcamp, but there is something satisfying about holding a newly released cassette tape in 2017! I just wish that the tape itself wasn't green, and perhaps had a track listing on each side.

Before getting to the bands, I did listen to the tape on a Sharp surround sound system from the 1990s, which seemed appropriate given the retro format, and it sounded great, though AlgomA's half seemed a little quieter than Shit Liver's. As the synthesized woman's voice said at the end of side A, "All I know is that it's good!"

The concert started with a set by local death metal favourites The Bear Hunters, who were up to their usual tricks with a brutal set of old and recent originals alike! Playing originals like "The Omen", "I Fear No God", and "The Dying Den" (though curiously not ending 'er with "Render This Void"), everyone sounded great, even frontman Nik Deubel, who noted being under the weather and having a rough voice to the crowd. Luckily, it didn't show, and he delivered another ferocious performance, with Mitch Sirie's solid lead guitar and Justin Lam's skilled bass work complimenting everything to a T! The only real surprise of the set was their Amon Amarth cover, trading "Guardians of Asgaard" for "Free Will Sacrifice", as a teaser for their upcoming tribute band turn at The Halloween Party under the name Mount Doom on Friday the 27th. Nik told us that they'll be playing the Amon Amarth album "Twilight of the Thunder God" front to back during their Halloween tribute set.

The other new public announcement is that The Bear Hunters have enlisted Jack Spades & Eclipse guitarist Daniel Horton to play rhythm guitar in "Mount Doom", marking a very rare instance where they've enlisted a guest guitarist rather than play as a quartet with Josh out of town. This will all  be very interesting to witness in a few weeks, but as Amon Amarth have two guitarists, this makes their set more true to the original band. Watch for Mount Doom on October 27th at The Algonquin Pub, and Monday night's tune up show was a good one for The Bear Hunters!

Next up were local extreme metal quartet Winkstinger, in the first time I've seen them since their latest reunion this summer, so what's different? Well, they've had more change than just the vocalist position, as it looks like former bassist Ryan Sherman is back in their lineup, replacing Andrew MacDonald. A reason for Andrew's apparent departure hasn't been publically announced, but keep in mind that the band's Facebook page is barely updated. Hopefully nothing bad happened, but it's great seeing Ryan back in the fold, assuming I have him identified correctly! This was also the first time that I've seen Winkstinger with Twistory's Josh Amendola on lead vocals, giving the band their most death metal-influenced vocals yet. Josh's vocal style suits the material, but it could be a little more distinct. That said, his stage presence was enjoyably chaotic & hard to photograph, and Josh was more at ease on stage than Keith was last spring, so he's off to a good start!

Of course, band mainstays Jesse Cook and Jonas Gasperas were on form, and while Jesse laid down some great solos as usual, he seemed a little restrained compared to some recent sets of his. One visible difference from Winkstinger's run of spring 2016 shows is that they seemed to play more originals than they did last year, with covers put on the back burner, so fans of Alan-era Winkstinger will appreciate the setlist. There's more polish to put on the wheels, but it's great to see Winkstinger back (again), and hopefully we hear more new stuff from them soon!

In a mild surprise, local/St. Catharine's grindcore trio Shit Liver hit the stage next rather than the headlining slot for their first local show in a year & a half, and they delivered a brutal assault of originals and covers that got the most packed crowd and mosh pit of the night! Alongside originals like "Sir-Osis", "It's Not My Problem", and "Matt Got Beat Up By Cops" (complete with sampled intro tracks for over half the set), they also played a handful of selections from their side of "Trading Faces" like "Blame It On God", though I was surprised that they didn't play more of it. No one seemed to mind too much, with a punishing onslaught capped off by Josh Penno, Mike Kyle, and Matt Baic' three-pronged vocals, while their punk-tinged death metal originals were as fast paced as ever, often flowing into each other nicely. It's not for everyone, but if you love brutal grindcore, Shit Liver gave you exactly what you wanted on Monday night, and hopefully we see them again soon!

Finally, your headliners were local doom metal trio AlgomA in their sole appearance of the "Trading Faces" tour due to doctor's recommendations following guitarist Boyd Rendell's recent health concerns. As a result, I wasn't sure if he'd appear to be 100%, but he was none the worse for wear during their set, playing his suitably heavy and down-trodden riffs with intensity, and even singing (well, screaming) to his usual standard on a couple of songs! Alongside older originals like "Fell Down A Well" and selections from older splits, AlgomA played their entire side of "Trading Faces" to end their set, which was a nice way to wrap the tour. Kevin Campbell was just fine with his pounding bass and gritty vocals for most songs, and Jamie Vincent's drumming kept the rhythm going at a slow pace, until their faster covers came in, and he transitioned just fine! It was great to see AlgomA back in full force, and who knows what their next album will be! Perhaps another split on a retro format? Maybe get your 8 track players ready?!

Overall, this concert was a crushing good time for fans of death metal, and as a relocated homage to old Rosie metal nights, you have to appreciate this lineup, as you don't see even three of these bands on stage together very much anymore! You can check out our photos from Sunday night at this link or via our Facebook page, and as for our videos, here's The Bear Hunters (or Mount Doom) covering Amon Amarth's "Free Will Sacrifice", Winkstinger playing their original song "From Bullshit To Buzz (Lies = Weed)", Shit Liver covering Dystopia's "Socialized Death Sentence" & Macabre's "Hitch-Hiker", and Algoma covering Kittens' "Great Dane"!









That's all for today, but stay tuned for this weekend's concert previews next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (If I Look Strong, You Look Strong), A New Local Band, And More!!

Here's another new news post for your Sunday afternoon, as we continue to get caught up following one extremely busy weekend of concerts! Today's post features some assorted recent updates, a new solo cover video, and a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for next month, but leading off, here's initial details on a debuting local band playing that very concert!

We have a new local band to add to our active band links, and they are Vol. (pronounced "volume"), so what should you know on them? Self-describing themseles as an "indie rock" band, they cite Alexisonfire, Queens of the Stone Age, City & Colour, and Dinosaur Jr. as influences, so I would assume that a high volume noise/hard-alt sound would not come amiss when media turns up. Specifically, Vol. indicated on their Facebook page that their sound has "high energy, crispy tones, (and) crunchy distortion", so read into that however you will. Their lineup features original Pixo Control bassist Steve Edwards on vocals & guitar alongside their mid-2015 drummer Matthew Thibert, with their ranks filled out by former Aldous guitarist Shane Storozuk. Solid lineup, and it's great to see that Steve and Matt stuck together following their abrupt Pixo departure! Vol. quietly launched last year, but when can you see them live and on stage for the first time?

On Tuesday, August 8th, for a newly announced New American Pub concert from Six, Two, Oh., that's where! Vol. will debut as local openers for a trifecta of out of town metal duos, including headliners If I Look Strong, You Look Strong (yes, that's their name), an experimental noise rock duo from Calgary. Very creative and progressive sound with punk and hardcore tinges, so definitely give them a listen in advance of this show! Moncton, New Brunswick "Middle Eastern mantra doom" duo Zaum will play the Soo for the first time since their Rednecks headliner in May 2015 as this show's co-headliners, and their blend of dark metal and chanting vocals should appeal to genre fans once again, so don't bypass Zaum next month either! The other touring two man band is Ottawa/Pembroke hardcore punk outfit Flying Fortress, whose sound is arguably the most accessible of the the three groups, but still heavy and relentless, so don't be late for their fast-paced originals either!

A 19+ concert, this show has a $7 cover charge and a 9:00 PM start time. While one would assume that Rotopsy, Them, or Twistory as openers would have fit the two-man-band lineup better, Vol. have a solid showcase ahead for their debut, surprisingly as the night's largest band, so definitely keep this rare Tuesday nighter in mind for August 8th, and visit the official Facebook event page for more details!

Next up, here's a new solo cover video from ex-Elipzis bassist Ryan Harrison's YouTube channel on Wednesday, surprisingly his first upload there this year! A cover of "Drown" by the Texas-based modern rock band Fighting Gemini, the well-bearded Ryan sticks to vocals in this cover, and he showcases a solid voice (as old Riot! By Night fans can attest), and it's nice to see him tackle a song that uses more vocal range with such ease! That said, the black and white colouring and the raindrop filter effect can be distracting. Give Ryan's newest solo cover a look below, and hopefully more comes soon!



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

• Following a positive reception for their YouTube video for their song "Straus", local progressive metal project Kraken Mara have announced that all of the songs on their upcoming self-titled debut EP will have a music video made for them, and are fielding fan suggestions for locations to shoot them at. Sounds like a good plan to me, so message Brendan and/or Jacob at the band's Facebook page to suggest filming spots!
• Just as a house-cleaning note, I've replaced the link for local subscription crate company Ma Lady Menace from their website (which is currently blank) to their Facebook page. This company was supposed to promote the ambitious CureCon concert/convention next month, but haven't issued any updates on venue, lineup, or specific details since May when indicating website maintenance, and it's not clear if the company are still actively operating. Ma Lady Menace had promising ideas, and hopefully more comes out!
• If you're wondering why we didn't cover this year's Ride For Sight motorcycle rally and attached concerts on the site, it's because the musical lineup didn't feature a hard rock band for the first time since the local arm of the rally began in 2012. This year's musical entertainment featured country quartet Bone Yard and their acoustic side project The Bearded Lounge, alongside 1960s-themed classic rock band The Peace Vibe playing out at Stokely Creek Lodge over the July 7th weekend. Hopefully everything went well, it's a great event for a great cause!

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

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Nameus), New Solo Cover Videos, And Much More!!

After a few quiet days, we are back with a new news post on this Tuesday, and below, you'll find some assorted recent news and notes, a pair of new solo covers recently uploaded to YouTube, and to kick things off, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT! Here's what you need to know!

New and online page-less local hard rock cover trio Nameus (yes, that is still their name) will headline The Rednecks Saloon's New Year's Eve bash on Saturday, December 31st! Announced well in advance thanks to it's seasonal trappings, this union of Mourning Wood's Terry Eaton & Steven Flint with Terry's ex-Carbon Black bandmate Travis Sharpe will tackle a set of 1980s hair metal and similarly retro covers for the occasion, so if you're a fan of Mourning Wood's heavier material, and/or Travis & Terry's long band history together, don't bypass Nameus at the former Nicolet Tavern to send out 2016! As this is a special event, these is a special $15 cover charge on December 21st, though there will be a buffet and champagne included with admission. You must be 19 or older to attend, and doors will open at 9:00 PM. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page!

Though the wait continues for the band to launch an online page, post public media, or announce a final name (I find Nameus is too close to the existing Gnaeus as it is), they are a good choice to headline Rednecks' New Year's party, as fans should know their talent from older bands and Nameus' first two weekends at this venue! Check the above links for more details, and stay tuned for updates!

Next up, we have a couple of new cover videos for your delectation, starting with the newest video from Stegadeth/ex-Jack Spades guitarist Tiffany Stocco's YouTube channel! Her first video posting since the summer, Tiffany covers Gob's "Give Up The Grudge" in this clip, she definitely has the song down, and while the video's audio quality is somewhat tinny, I blame that on the camera. Solidly done, so give it a look below, and keep your eyes peeled for Stegadeth's next shows!



Also, here's the newest solo vocal/guitar cover by ex-Elipzis bassist Ryan Harrison! The former Sault Michigan hard rock staple posted this surprising cover of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles' "Tracks Of My Tears" onto his YouTube channel yesterday. Very out of left field choice for a cover, but in his hands, it doesn't sound like a Motown standard, for better or worse. If anything, this song is a great workout for his vocal range, and though the beard says otherwise, he's hitting high notes better than I've ever seen him do! I don't see the point to the orangey filter though, but Ryan's definitely growing as a singer & guitarist, so give his new cover a look below!



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:

• Sault Ontario doom metal trio AlgomA will take a road trip to Quebec for headlining shows in Montreal and Quebec City this weekend! These are a bit of a surprise announcement given that they barely got a week's notice, but good luck to the guys as they bring the sludge to la belle province, and visit their Facebook page for full details! No word on if there will be any progress towards the release of their split with Hooded Menace this weekend though, but remember that it was teased to come out this month, and the specific date is still not announced.
• This may mean something or nothing, but defunct Sault Michigan alternative hard rock trio The Spendthrifts quietly changed their name back to Plastic on their Facebook page last month. A reason for the name reversion wasn't announced, but Plastic accomplished little publically under the Spendthrifts name before falling inactive in late 2014, and given that they've posted nothing since becoming Plastic again, it may have just been a posthumous acknowledgement of the name they had their successes under. Keep an eye out just in case they do re-emerge, and check out frontman Zac Crook's solo project for his recent music work!
• Din frontman Mike Haggith posted on the Musicians Wanted Facebook group yesterday to look for a band to open for one of Nameus drummer Steven Flint's local bands at The Rednecks Saloon on SATURDAY, as The Din can't due to work obligations. He didn't specify which of Steven's bands is headlining, but it's not The Band Camp Rejects, as they were never playing on Saturday, and the band in question curiously is only playing two sets, hence the opener search. If you're interested in opening, message Steven at this link or above, and stay tuned for formal public details on this show, assuming it fits our coverage range!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates later this week! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Gnaeus), New Sault Michigan Videos, And More!!

Let's launch a new news post for you guys on this Monday afternoon, so what's on tap? Some assorted recent updates, plus some long awaited new cover videos from a pair of Sault Michigan artists, but let's kick things off with a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for next month!

Local post-punk/garage-wave quartet Gnaeus will return to the stage for a solo headlining concert on Friday, November 18th at LopLops Lounge! The band hasn't confirmed this show publically yet (or posted on their Facebook page in three weeks), but the venue announced the show via their own Facebook event page yesterday, as part of a mass posting of event pages for upcoming concerts there. This is Gnaeus' first advertised concert since Tidal Records' Gnar-BQ last month, and their first LopLops appearance since headlining there in July. No word on if there's a special quirk or theme for this show, or if it is truly just a regular Gnaeus concert, but fans of their varied post-punk originals and select covers should definitely consider a trip down to LopLops next month! This show has a $5 cover charge, 9:00 PM start time, and a 19+ age limit. Check the above links for more details, and stay tuned for more from Gnaeus when it rolls in!

Next up, we have some new solo performance videos from Sault Michigan-area artists, starting with the latest cover postings from ex-Elipzis bassist Ryan Harrison's YouTube channel! In his first postings there in three months, Ryan (who now lists his "Moe Brown" alias on the channel's name too) posted vocal/guitar covers of Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" and, as embedded below, Matchbox Twenty's "Bright Lights" there last week. Both featuring color filters put on in post, these aren't badly done renditions, and Ryan's vocal range continues to get more confident, so check out his latest covers above & below!



Also new to YouTube is the first solo cover video from ex-Insipid Brutality/Swayze Train guitarist Scott Savoie's YouTube channel in over two years! No word on what took him so long, but this video is a cover of the guitar solo and outro from Pantera's "Floods", and doing so flawlessly from what I could tell! Scott was always a highlight among Sault Michigan-area metal guitarists, and hopefully we see him in a new band soon, but check out his take on "Floods" below!



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

• Former Why guitarist Chris Nielsen is looking for local bands to round out the lineup of a planned all ages concert at The Oddfellows Hall on Saturday, November 19th. 6 bands are scheduled, and as of this past Saturday, he had 3 enlisted to play 30 minute sets, though if Chris is playing in a (new?) band that night, I can't confirm their identity yet. There's even interest regarding a possible Fitswitch(?!) reunion, but if you're interested in playing, message Chris at this link or via his post on the Sault Ste. Marie All Ages group!
• Local classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires have quietly enlisted ex-Sneaky Pete rhythm guitarist Bill Brouillard to join the band, replacing Travis Sharpe, while bassist Steve Dowding is now credited as their full lead vocalist. A reason for Travis' departure wasn't announced, but he was quietly removed from their lineup and cover photo on their Facebook page over the past day. Hopefully nothing bad happened with Travis, but fingers crossed that we see him in a new band soon, and Bill should be a nice fit with the Millonaires, so stay tuned for the new lineup's debut!
• Tidal Records' songwriting contest at LopLops Lounge on Saturday was won by Thin Ice frontman Nathan Albidone, so he'll be recording his original song "Show Me What That Is" with Tidal Records in the near future. While a hard rock or punk artist would have been nice to see win, congratulations to Nathan on a well deserved victory! He's a talented country musician, as Thin Ice fans will attest to! For reference sake, the most recent postings advertising the contest didn't mention Jacob "Shit Creek Survivor" Quarrell as performing anymore, though if true, I don't know why he dropped out.

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes in the next while! Thanks everyone!

Two Inactive Local Metal Bands, Plus New Videos!!

Before we tackle this weekend's concert previews, here's a new news post that's half devoted to new videos from each side of the border, but first, here's some notes on a pair of bands that we've opted to move to our inactive band links (hopefully not for good), so here's what you should know!

I've reluctantly moved local metal quartet Garden of Bedlam to our inactive band links due to a year's inactivity. While the guys haven't officially stated anything regarding their status, they haven't played live since June 2015's Go Skateboarding Day event, and aside from a Facebook page post from last month plugging this year's installment, haven't made a public statement in over a year. Arguably the biggest local metal band of the early 2010s, Garden of Bedlam have made huge waves in the local scene since their debut in 2008, including winning the next year's Kiss Battle of the Bands, releasing two CDs, headlining Rotaryfest's Second Stage twice, and opening for bands like Kiss, Anvil, Kittie, Airbourne, and Inflict during their heyday. However, they have been very quiet since the end of 2013, with the band only re-emerging for a 2014 stag & doe and last year's Go Skate Day, and with frontman Erik "Buzz" Boissineau's move to Southern Ontario last summer, future activity isn't publically certain.

I don't believe Garden of Bedlam are officially defunct, and I have a feeling an on-stage return would be in the cards when possible, but their high energy, modern hard rock sound has definitely been missed in the past year (beyond if you weren't at last June's show), and we all know their talent and chemistry that they continually showed during their peak! Hopefully we see Buzz, Josh, Evan, and Derek back at some point in the future, and that they stay active in music in the interim!

Next up, we have also moved Sault Michigan epic metal quintet Integrated System of Machines to our inactive band links due to a year's inactivity. We haven't heard anything publically from I.S.O.M. since their reunion show at the P.O.D./Hoobastank concert at The Dreammaker's Theater on July 3rd last year, where they also released their self-titled second CD, but to be fair, the band didn't launch a new online page at the time to post public updates. With that said, drummer Bart "Black Trab" Rennels lives out of town, which might still complicate future band activity. Integrated System of Machines' reunion last July was well received, especially from fans who missed them since their original breakup in 2009, which followed a number of high profile local & out of town gigs in the mid-late 2000s, and the release of their original album "Apocalyptic Vision". However, fans can see members Bob Helsten and Art Dietz in their active (and also reunited) acoustic hard rock band The Creepy Little Coffee People, and Chris Leask with Highway 63.

It was great to see I.S.O.M. back for last July's huge Kewadin show, and it definitely would be nice to see them back one stage again (or at least restore an active online presence), but I imagine there are fans that still miss their more symphonic, death metal-tinged sound of their original run, especially as keyboardist Craig Harrison didn't take part in last year's reunion. I do hope to review I.S.O.M.'s new album in the future, and hopefully we see Bob, Chris, Jonathan, Art, and Bart back together at some point down the road!

We'll close with new videos, including this new solo vocal/guitar cover of Alice In Chains' "Nutshell" by ex-Elipzis bassist Ryan Harrison, as posted to his YouTube channel yesterday! Shot in black & white, this is his first solo cover posting in a month, and it's not badly done, but the vocals sound a little too upbeat compared to the original, if that makes sense. Ryan's done good work again though, so check out his newest solo cover below!



And to wrap things up, here's the latest video from Sault Ontario alternative/hard rock trio The Din, as posted to their Facebook page on Thursday! Another of their lighter videos, it starts with frontman Mike Haggith revealing that recording sessions for their debut studio "Give In To The Din" have finished, before guitarist Tammy Hill suggests that they should go on tour... much sooner than you think! Then, the two of them scout potential tour vehicles, decide on one in particular, and slowly discover it's pros and cons. Cute video that teases future band goals, so give it a look!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Redundant), Project 906 Concert Preview, And More!!

In what could possibly be our last news post of the month, we're tackling the last of our concert previews for this weekend, alongside some new cover videos, some assorted recent news and notes, and to lead things off, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT! Here's what you need to know!

Local punk trio Redundant and hard rock solo singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will both return for this year's Family Fun Day at Runway Park on Saturday, June 11th, as part of the Algoma Autism Foundation's annual Algoma Ride For Autism motorcycle rally! Much like the annual Ride For Sight, this fourth-year event aims to raise funds and awareness for autism charities, with a large motorcycle rally planned again through town for the cause, so check the above links for details on how you can enter the Ride for Autism next month! This will be Redundant's third straight appearance at the Family Fun Day (and just their second announced concert of the year), while Tym Morrison will be making his second consecutive appearance at this event, and will no doubt follow it with his regular Gliss Steak & Seafood show that evening,. For reference, last year's event also featured hard rock quartet Late Shift, but as of this writing, no other music acts are announced for this year.

Also, look for vendors, a sensory area, costumed characters, blow-ups, food, and more for the whole family on June 11th, so keep all of that in mind! This ALL AGES outdoor family event at 573 Airport Road has no announced admission fees (but be prepared just in case, especially if you're not riding in the rally), and while individual set times aren't listed, the Family Fun Day begins at 11:00 AM. This should be a fun and worthwhile event for the whole family, so don't miss out on June 11th whether you're affected by autism or just want to support the cause, and visit the official Facebook event page for more details on this year's events!

Next up, here's our final preview for this weekend's hard rock concerts (barring a super-late notice announcement), as Sault Michigan blues/hard rock cover quartet Project 906 will return to The Strongs Tavern in nearby Eckerman TONIGHT! Returning there for the first time in over a month, this will be Project 906's first show since the Bay Mills Band Together fundraiser in Brimley earlier this month, and after a successful stretch of recent shows, hopefully the guys keep up the strong vibes tonight at The Strongs Tavern! As usual for them, a 9:00 PM start time is in effect tonight, you must be 21 or older to attend, and there's no announced cover charges in effect. For more details, visit the above links, and don't miss Project 906 out east of the Soo in Eckerman tonight! here's Billy, Joe, Dustin, and Will live in Brimley earlier this year!



Also today, here's the latest acoustic vocal/guitar cover videos from ex-Elipzis bassist Ryan Harrison's YouTube channel, as uploaded on Thursday! Two are covers of Seven Mary Three songs ("Water's Edge" & "Lucky"), but embedded below is his version of Pearl Jam's "Black". Featuring various film reel and grain effects added in post (and with only "Water's Edge" in colour), these are solid covers once again, with Ryan's vocals especially fitting Seven Mary Three, and I like that his setup is getting more professional too, complete with a microphone in frame! See more from Ryan above & below!



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

• Local doom metal trio AlgomA's recent vinyl split EP with Saskatchewan's Chronobot was reviewed by Rodrigo Bueno of the Portuguese doom metal website Funeral Wedding yesterday (it is in the Portuguese language, so have your translator ready!) Giving the disc a 4/5 rating, Rodrigo noted that the EP was full of "edgy stuff", particularly praising Chronobot's half, so give it a look at this link, then get your preferred online translator if needed!
• Former Sindicate/Creatures of the Night guitarist Nick Rhodes is looking for a bass player to jam with, perhaps to join a new metal band that he's launched. The band already has two guitarists (who share vocals) and a drummer, but the bassist could sing as well, and they hope to record original material down the road. If you're interested in jamming with Nick's new band, message him at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from Thursday!
• Local hard rock quartet Skeyes of Seven have formally launched a public drummer search to find a replacement for the departed John Mignacca, as per frontman Cory Murchison's own Musicians Wanted group post on Wednesday. Cory noted that the band is finalizing their debut EP, and noted that they're working on covers of bands like Slipknot, Tool, and The Foo Fighters. There's already lots of visible interest, but if you want to trying out, message Cory at this link or bassist Alain Fletcher at this link!

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

Bay Mills Band Together Preview, Friday The 13th New Music On Werehold Records (Part 10), And More!!

Before we get to this all-Sault Michigan post, we have a concert cancellation to take note of, as local classic/hard rockers Mourning Wood are not playing at The Park Grille tonight. Frontman Terry Eaton confirmed the news on drummer Glen Thomas' personal Facebook page earlier today, saying that bands at the venue "are on hold until further notice." He, the band, and/or the venue haven't elaborated since, but hopefully this is a temporary measure, as the venue seemed to be well received, and don't miss Mourning Wood at Rednecks TOMORROW! Now, today's post has one last concert preview, a label's long awaited resurgence, and a new cover video, so here's what you need to know!

A number if local musicians will join forces for a great cause THIS SUNDAY NIGHT when they take part in Bay Mills Bands Together! at Pickles Bar & Grill in Brimley! This benefit show is in support of Maryssa Kronemeyer, an area high schooler who was seriously injured after being hit by a car in March. To that end, all proceeds will go to her and her family & the related medical costs, so definitely consider coming out to support the cause! In a unique format, Sunday's bands will be playing on two stages at Pickles, one acoustic and one for plugged in bands, so who all is scheduled? The main stage will feature headlining local hard/blues rock quartet Project 906 at 12:00 AM, with a mysterious band named The Whole Shabang (replacing or renamed from Brainstorm) playing at 11:00 PM, and online page-less metal quartet Stoned Ape Evolution hitting the stage at 10:00 PM. The remaining main stage bands will include the family band The Karstons at 9:00 PM and Broke On Sunday frontman Mark Bowen at 8:00 PM.

The acoustic stage will be headlined by Train Wreck alum Mitchell Willis and Brenda (last name not given) at 9:45, preceded by Infathom frontman Dillion Semasky with a solo (rap?) set at 8:40 PM, Ken Jahnke at 7:30 PM, Mitchell & Brenda again at 6:50 PM, and country/pop artist Caitlin LeBlanc opening at 6:00 PM. Door prizes and a 50/50 draw will also take place on Sunday to be drawn during the show, which has a $5 minimum cover, and this is presumably still a 21+ event. Though there's a lot of unknowns regarding the lineup, this should be a great event for Marissa and her family, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Project 906 live!

Next up, Sault Michigan independent record label Werehold Records has re-emerged for their seventh Friday the 13th music posting event! After mass artist "downtime" scuttled the November 13th plans, the label is back for their first Friday the 13th music since March of last year, but compared to past installments, this latest event is fairly lean. Label acts Awaken Eidolen, Drayton Fever, East Branch, Moss, Palaver, and Swampghas are all not featured, but we do have 2 songs to take note of,  including this new song from Werehold's flagship metal band Life's Eclipse! We were actually this close to moving them to our inactive band links if there was no Friday the 13th postings, so it's great to see that they're still active! Entitled "When The Night Falls", it's planned to be the first song on their album "The Dark Kingdom", and it has a nice dramatic opening and a melodic groove metal base, though in this form at least, it's an instrumental. A little repetitive, but it's very heavy, and the opening sets the tone well for the planned album, so give Life's Eclipse's newest song a look!



The other new Friday the 13th song from Werehold Records comes from label owner/Life's Eclipse mainman Jason Mills' solo side project The 1,000,000,000s Who Died, whose song is called "Beneath The Black". A short 1:50 number, it has a crushing riff at it's peak, but parts do sound artificial, and I'm not sure what the description comment of "stupid chorus" means when the song is an instrumental. It's a strong song while it lasts though, so give it a look below, and hopefully we see more from Werehold Records by the next Friday the 13th in January 2017!



Finally, here's the latest solo guitar cover from ex-Elipzis bassist Ryan Harrison's YouTube channel, this time a cover of The Beatles' "The Ballad of John & Yoko", albeit with completely different lyrics and the new title "The Ballad of Rocky & Lil" (perhaps this is a reference to friends of his?) Resembling an old webcam with the washed out colour and low framerate, the song itself is well done and is well suited to Ryan's vocal range, so give it a look below!



That's all for today, but we'll see you at The Rockstar Bar TONIGHT for Project 421's return to the stage! Thanks everyone!

Local Metal Video Showcase!!

Today's SMS post is 100% devoted to new videos from local artists, so let's begin with this teaser video for TOMORROW'S Sky's the Limit mental health fundraiser concert at The Tech, courtesy of performers The Din! Posted to their Facebook page on Monday, the video starts with drummer Brandan Glew outlining the show, location, and what to expect (complete with scrolling ticker), while noting that they'll debut a new song at the show. Mike Haggith & Tammy Hill give a demo of it next, and while I won't spoil it, it is a cover, and a flute comes into play! The irreverence continues with Brandan noting that his bandmates were missing, before we find out what actions Tammy takes to rectify the alternative power trio's absence from the concert poster. Cute video, if a little disjointed, but it's good press for this concert, so give it a look below, and stay tuned for our preview of this show next!



Next up, here's another new cover from ex-Elipzis bassist/Riot! By Night frontman Ryan Harrison's YouTube channel, this time of the Sault Michigan native covering R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion", which he described as one of his favourite tunes. Edited in post to make the video black & white with a dream-like filter, the song is slowed down from the original, and features some vocal distortion, but it's not badly handled, so give it a look below!



Also today, I wanted to give a long, long overdue acknowledgement to an extremely prolific Instagram page from a fellow Sault Michigan-area artist, that being Project 906 guitarist Joe Jenkins, who has posted dozens upon dozens of solo performance videos (and select band videos) there since 2014. Joe has shared a few of these as YouTube channel uploads too, but the lions share of his solo uploads are on Instagram, and I believe this is also the only public page where you can see footage of his recent defunct band Ten Kings anymore, so keep that in mind! Though this originally began as a personal account, Joe has actually developed a sizable following on Instagram, with 888 followers there to check out his assorted guitar videos, including covers, demonstrations, and original pieces alike, and even singing on a few! There's way too many to individually address and link to on here, but if you know Joe's recent band work and YouTube content, you'll know what talent and skill he has!

Be sure to check out and/or follow his Instagram account above, stay tuned for updates on Project 906's benefit fundraiser in Brimley next weekend, and here's Joe's newest video from last week, of him playing around with his new loop switcher pedal, which you may see used in concert!

A video posted by Big Joe Jenkins (@bigjoeguitar) on Apr 27, 2016 at 11:45am PDT

Finally for today, here's a video that is admittedly two weeks late, but I thought it was worth acknowledging on here, if only for the oddity factor. This is a video that Pixo Control frontman Michael Mikus filmed to promote their LopLops Lounge concert (Id Iota's EP release show) on April 21st, which was shared on the venue's Facebook page that same day. Presumably for humorous effect, the 14 second video is strictly focused on Michael's mouth, with him using a comical higher-pitched voice to plug the show, bands, and EP. It's definitely different, so give it a look below, apologies for this being so late, and stay tuned for our Sky's The Limit preview!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews next! Thanks everyone!

New Videos, Plus Lots Of Assorted Recent News & Updates!!

Today's post largely clears out a bunch of shorter and assorted recent news items, and we'll kick things off with some new videos, starting with a new webseries by Blood Shed Productions, entitled "BreakingSh!tWithBloodShed"! The title implies what you think it implies, with label performers and staff (namely, Blood Shed founders/Brutally Fatal bandmates Tyler Gibson & Austin McCrae, plus rapper Jean-Paul "Phat Boii" Archambault) breaking assorted objects on camera. Two episodes of the series are now on the Blood Shed Weekly YouTube channel, and they include the second episode where a pool table is broken, and the one embedded below where the guys break five chairs. If you're wondering what these have to do with music (aside from who's breaking everything), then you'll want to know that both videos feature new Brutally Fatal songs from their forthcoming CD "Blood of the Devil" as backing music, so fans of the goregrind intensity will like that! The videos themselves are escapist fun, and presumably good stress relief, so check them out above & below!



Next up, here's a new solo acoustic cover from RedStone Riot/ex-Elipzis bassist Ryan Harrison's YouTube channel from Saturday, this time a rendition of Prince's "Purple Rain", in tribute to the music legend following his death last week. Fittingly played "in the key of purple" (and even tinted that colour), it's a strong cover that Prince fans should like, and Ryan's voice is in top emotional form here! Give it a look below!



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

• Local doom metal trio AlgomA's split vinyl EP with Saskatchewan's Chronobot received a new review from Kai Ellerman of the German metal website XXL-Rock in recent weeks, though it is in German, so you'll need a translator to read it if you don't know that language. Receiving a rating of "L" (keeping with their motif of scoring by clothing sizes, basically meaning a 4/6), Kai favorably recommended the split to fans of Eyehategod and Neurosis, and said that AlgomA's half is "somewhat messy, but has charm." Give the full review a look at this link (but have a translator ready), and stay tuned for our review of the split very soon!
• This is more of a housekeeping note, but we had pencilled in a formal write-up today to roll in 2012-2013 local rock band Lazer Queen to our inactive band links finally, as they honestly should have been in our full coverage long ago given their membership & sound, but I discovered yesterday that their Facebook (and only online) page has been deleted. Featuring 3/4ths of Late & Loud alongside The Danger Cats' Kate Drew & Pillory's Bret Shuttleworth, Lazer Queen were a talented band that sadly didn't last too long, but be sure to follow members' more recent work!
• The closure of local news/video website Local2 and it's subsequent merger with sister website SooToday was finalized on Monday via this press release, which notes that existing Local2 links will now redirect you to SooToday, and that it's video programming (including Tuned) will largely continue under the SooToday banner, with archive videos also available there. It's a little sad to lose the former SooNews & LTV News after a lengthy run, but this makes sense as SooToday continues it's growth, and we have removed Local2 from our "Other Local Metal Links" as a result!
• Local grunge/alternative band The Pixo Control's headlining set on May 5th at the Sky's the Limit mental health fundraiser concert at The Tech will be an acoustic set sans drummer Keeghan Rosso, according to the band's Facebook page last night. A reason for the change wasn't announced, but hopefully it's just as simple as Keeghan not being available that night. This should still be a fun set for fans of Michael's unplugged sets, so keep it in mind for next Thursday, and stay tuned for more on the openers!
• The planned Summer Bash! concert at The Rockstar Bar THIS FRIDAY has been indefinitely postponed, as per Gnaeus frontman Aaron Alessandri on the official Facebook event page on Monday.  He cited "unforeseen circumstances" and the ongoing renovations at the venue for the postponement, which seems to imply that there's more going on at The Algonquin Hotel than just the downstairs bar (however, note that Kamloops folk band The Decoys are playing there on Saturday, so the "unforeseen circumstances" may be more to blame.) Hopefully Gnaeus, K.I.C.K., and DJ Fuels get a new date soon for the Summer Bash!
• Lake Superior State University's campus radio station WLSO (90.1 FM) announced the results of their recent naming contest for their forthcoming online station on their Facebook page on Monday, with the (oddly unidentified) winner's suggestion being The 46th Parallel, referencing the latitude circle that Sault Michigan lies on. It should be noted that the post mentioned that "our station name" will change to that next semester, implying that the FM station will also get the new name, but an extension past the new internet station hasn't been otherwise confirmed. We'll let you know if this is elaborated on at all!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews on the site tomorrow! Thanks everyone!

Local Metal/Punk Video Showcase!!

Today's SMS post is devoted to some recent video postings and the updates linked to them from four local acts, with a heavy dose of alternative-influenced bands for good measure, so let's get things rolling with lots of fallout from a recent tour run! (Updated at 7:00 PM)

We'll start this post with a look at new videos from the recent Skate By Day, Rock By Night tour from Tidal Records that saw local musicians and skateboarders hit the stage and streets in Southern Ontario, as there's a solid amount of clips to check out from there! Local post-punk/garage rock quintet Gnaeus made their first out of town concert appearances over the past weekend (debuting new drummer Alex Proulx in the process), and they posted two videos from the tour onto their Facebook page, including this clip where the guys announce their arrival in Toronto, and this video where they inspect their lodgings prior to their Bayfield concert. Light, but entertaining, and I'll tell you, I can't find Brad either! With that said, there are new live videos of Gnaeus to check out from their tour dates, so what should you know on them? One is a brief snippet of "An Exercise In Self-Awareness" from the Barrie show via tour-mates Id Iota's Facebook page on Friday (more on them in a second), but the best is yet to come!

Courtesy of fellow tour performer Conika's personal Facebook page, all 6 of her Gnaeus videos have since been publically shared by the band. With the exception of a Toronto clip of "Lovers", all of Conika's videos come from the Bayfield show, and they include Gnaeus playing a new song named "Hail Mary", their cover of The Cold War Kids' "Hang Me Out To Dry", their originals "Lovers" & "The Sound", and as embedded below, both "Mountains" & "Circles". Though the length & completeness of the videos isn't consistent, kudos to Conika for some solid quality footage of this talented quartet from a nice close angle, and Alex sounds good with Gnaeus! Check out Conika's videos above & below!



Next up, here's tour videos from alternative/hard rock quartet Id Iota, who played live for the first time since June during this tour run, debuted new bassist Dan Linklater, and released their debut EP "Maudlin Fair" in the process! Like Gnaeus, they too posted two non-concert clips to their Facebook page in recent days, including this clip of performers getting ready for the Barrie show, and this 6 second video of tour performers & contributors in a celebration after the Bayfield concert wrapped up. The aforementioned Conika filmed her own video of this from a separate angle (which Gnaeus shared on their page), and yes, she did get one video of Id Iota playing at the Bayfield show as well! Yes, the Habitat Shuffle successors did share this publically, and it's of their song "Permanence In Pencil" from their debut EP. The camera angle is further from the stage than on the Gnaeus clips (until the video's second half), but the quality's fine otherwise!

It's nice to hear this mid-tempo song in full in advance of the local release of "Maudlin Fair"! And if you're curious, I think frontman Christian Lemay is playing a melodica in the song's opening, which is sort of like a handheld organ powered by blowing into a connected tube. Is it played on the EP? Find out when Gnaeus, Id Iota, and headliners The Pixo Control rock LopLops Lounge THIS THURSDAY NIGHT, so stay tuned for our preview of it, and here's Id Iota live in Bayfield! (For reference sake, we will wait until The Pixo Control publically shares Conika's videos from their tour sets before featuring them here, respecting that they were uploaded to a personal account.)



Also today, here's a full concert video from local goregrind duo Rotopsy's return set at Thursday's Metal Massacre house show! Filmed by a combination of fellow Blood Shed Productions artists (Brutally Fatal's Austin McCrae and rappers Phat Boii & Mikey Thomas), this was uploaded to the label's YouTube channel on Sunday. It runs for 37 minutes, though due to some potentially offensive titles, we won't link them here. It's great to see Dylan & Tyler back, complete with some extra accoutrements, like a Blood Shed banner, and an American Dad! sample clip before their opener. This likely won't convert any detractors, but it's lively & does the job, so check it out below!

Finally, here's the newest solo performance video from local hard rock band alum Ryan Harrison (ex-Elipzis, Riot! By Night), who shared this video of him (on vocals & guitar) covering Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man" onto his YouTube channel on Friday... or more accurately, Shinedown's version of it, given how he's singing. I think the echo/reverb effect on the vocals here is a distraction, especially as he can sing fine without it, but he handles this cover fine otherwise, and the sepia tone is good for the mood! For reference sake, Ryan's recent Muskegon band RedStone Riot (who also feature fellow Elipzis alumni Rachel Kiger & Wally David) have been strongly hinting at a reunion in recent days on their Facebook page. This is encouraging to hear, but might RedStone Riot have a Sault Michigan show in the cards for when they do fully return? We'll let you know if anything comes out in that regard, and here's Ryan's new cover!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for a new news post featuring lots of new concert announcements tomorrow! Thanks everyone!

SweetKenny's Newest Album Release, Plus New Solo Performance Videos!!

For your Saturday viewing, we have another new news post on the SMS, mostly focused around recent cover performance videos by local musicians, but to lead things off, here's the latest on a newly released album from a Sault Michigan-area artist, so here's what you should know!

Dafter, Michigan solo hard rock musician Ken Sutton, a.k.a. SweetKenny, has released yet another solo album, his 18th full studio release! Entitled "In Your Face", it was posted on his Bandcamp page  earlier this week in advance of it's "official" release on April 18th, and was recorded once again at Waterfall Recording Studios. After focusing on instrumental albums for intended use in video game or film scores for his last 5 albums, "In Your Face" marks SweetKenny's first traditional release with vocals since "Fleabag Hotel" in June, with Ken describing it as a "bar band heavy rock album" and "just fun to me". The 11 song album includes the previously released original "Blue Jeans", with many featured songs focusing around women and the pursuit of them. Copies of "In Your Face" can be bought above for $7, and it's great to see SweetKenny back in the full rock band mode here, but when can you expect a review of "In Your Face" on the SMS?

At this point, our next SweetKenny album review will not come until at least July, due to our six month buffer period or our monthly CD reviews, as to avoid a potential bias, given that we reviewed his score release "The Hitman Files" in January. That said, "In Your Face" or a potential newer album is very likely for a review in July or later, so stay tuned for more from SweetKenny, and check out this album and much more above!

Next up, here's the latest solo video from prolific Sault Ontario rock bassist James White, as per his YouTube channel on Friday! Though currently known from his work with Redundant, The Elements, Caveman Morrison, and Nikkfitt, this is actually of an instrumental named "Primo" that he recorded with Preston St. Jules and Jamie Labreche, former bandmates of his in the defunct Blind River hard rock band The Disciples of Rock. This is a computer-generated version that he's playing along to (you can hear the three jam this song live in this video from 2009), but even in this form, James' bass playing flows nicely, and he's given lots of time show off his skills! See it below!



Also, here's the latest solo performance covers from ex-Elipzis bassist/Riot! By Night frontman Ryan Harrison's YouTube channel! Uploaded there last week, one is a cover of Coheed & Cambria's "Iron Fist", but embedded below is an 11 minute long medley of a few different songs, including The Deftones' "Passenger", Tool's "Sober", and in a surprising shift, Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back" interspersed into "Sober". Ryan shows his skill and improving singing voice on both of these videos, and you'd be surprised how well he merges the latter two songs, so give his new uploads a look above & below!



Finally for today, here's a new video from Sault Ontario solo guitarist & Audiofumes podcast host Mike Cliffe, marking his first video posting on his YouTube channel in about 2 months! A short acoustic cover of the opening of Uriah Heep's "The Wizard" with a spoken intro about the song and it's riff, this is actually a song that Mike recorded a studio version of back in 2011 alongside the Grand Rapids, Michigan folk/pop duo The Ducks (one of many international collaborations Mike has undertaken.) The new video is well played, if brief, but does the Audiofumes logo have to be so awkwardly placed on it? Still, give his Uriah Heep renditions a look above & below!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's Defunct Local Band Profile next! Thanks everyone!