Lots Of Inactive Band Notes, A Prominent Drummer's Retirement, And More!!

Here's a new news post for your Tuesday morning reading, as it happens, it mostly inactive artists, including bands being moved out of our active links, as well as a noted drummer retiring from the scene, but we do have a new video from an active band tfill things out. Here's what you should know!

We have regrettably moved local hard/party rock trio Stiffler's Mom to our inactive band links. While the band has not formally acknowledged their active status, they haven't issued a public update since their Esquire Club concerts over the weekend of September 9th, 2017, past our one year cut-off point for active bands. One of the longest running hard rock bands in the city, Stiffler's Mom had been active in varying permutations and names since 1996 (save for a brief 2011-2012 breakup), becoming fan favourite attractions at solo nightclub concerts, festivals, and other community events during that span. Fans may recognize Stiffler's Mom from their 2004 demo CD, 2007's INXS concert, their finals run in 2009's Kiss Battle of the Bands, three Rotaryfest Stage 1 gigs in the mid-2010s, and the first two Toystocks, among many other events. In the past year, singer/drummer Greg Simpson has stayed musically active with his country cover bands Bone Yard & The Bearded Lounge.

I don't know what happened to Stiffler's Mom, but they've always been a reliable and fan-friendly band over the years, something apparent even when seeing them rock a Bawating Collegiate dance about 14 years ago! Their brand of party rock and their old originals have served them well with local audiences for over two decades, and hopefully we haven't seen the last of Stiffler's Mom on stage! Best of luck to Greg, Michael, and Jon in the future!

Next up, we have some sad news regarding a veteran local musician, as prolific hard/classic rock drummer Scott McLurg has left Soundcheck and retired from performing in bands due to health concerns. Scott's last show with them was at The Water Tower Pub on August 25th, and while Scott had suffered a heart attack back in 2015, I don't know if that's related to this current news. Scott had replaced Steven Flint as Soundcheck's drummer in recent months, and will be very familiar to SMS readers for his work with bands like Turner Up, Havadder, The 3 Day Millionaires, Wishbone, The Thrill Junkies, and Full Circle, plus bands that predated the site, like Generation Gap, One Bad Habit, Lois Lane, Blender, and Big River. This news is definitely a bummer, as Scott's always been a talented and prolific sight in our coverage over the past decade, while being friendly and cordial to me over the years as well. That said, his health obviously comes first.

Hopefully his musical retirement goes as smoothly as possible, and our best wishes go out to Scott and his family, he'll be missed behind the kit! Also, no word on Soundcheck's (still?) open drummer position, we'll let you know when they confirm a replacement and/or hit the stage next!

Also today, here's a more positive story via a brand new upload to Sault Michigan classical metal band Theatre of Night's YouTube channel! This is a YouTube copy of their rendition of the Christmas carol "What Child Is This", featuring German classical singer Gaby Koss, who was an official studio member of the band in the early 2010s. Though not a new recording, this is an effective symphonic metal performance, with Gaby's vocals excellently suited to the song, and the dark snowy visuals are a good match as well! Give it a look below, and stay tuned for more from Theatre of Night!




Finally, here's three assorted shorter news items from the last while, all regarding bands moved out of our active band links in recent days. As usual, these are in alphabetical order by artist name:

• I have removed local metal solo project The 1,000,000,000's Who Died from our active links due to the quiet deletion of their Facebook page in recent months (it's possible it was deactivated for disuse, but either way, it's their only online page.) Led by Werehold Records founder Jason Mills, this project was best known from songs during the label's old Friday the 13th music events, last posting a new song on the Werehold YouTube channel in January. The Billions Who Died had some solid instrumental tracks, and hopefully Jason revisits the project down the road!
• We have also moved Sault Ontario hard rock cover quartet Griphook back to our inactive band links due to a year's inactivity. While they haven't been seen on stage since Rotaryfest 2016, Griphook announced the end of their then-year+ long hiatus on their Facebook page last August, an announcement that had no public followthrough. They were a solid band in their original run, and hopefully Joel, Brian, Dan, and Tony actually return down the line!
• Also, we have moved Sault Michigan metal quartet Stoned Ape Evolution to our inactive band links, as they haven't posted on their Facebook page regarding band matters since their Bay Mills Bands Together concert in Brimley on September 2nd, 2017 (though they continued sharing memes unrelated to the band through January.) A mid-2010s effort to bring a large-scale theatrical metal band back to the area (complete with Clownsack-esque usage of masks and hidden member identities), Stoned Ape Evolution had clear promise and originality, and hopefully John, Melvin, and company bring this group back in the future!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and concert previews in the coming days! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Jock Tears & Stiffler's Mom), "Trading Faces" Split Details, And The Loud & Proud Preview!!

I am back home from a trip visiting family, and while I wasn't expecting to have a second post on the SMS today, I came home to SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, so here's what you should know on those, as well as one more new show, an upcoming split's content and release details, and a preview for one more shows this weekend!

Local classic/hard rock cover trio Stiffler's Mom will return to The Esquire Club for headlining concerts TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Profuse apologies for the short notice, these shows were only announced on the band's Facebook page this morning, and I was on the road back to the Soo for much of the afternoon. After taking a nearly two month break from public concerts, these will be Greg, Mike, and Jon's first advertised shows since their Rotaryfest Stage 1 sets back in July, and first at the Second Line West venue in three months. Despite the very short online notice, this will be another fun weekend of hard rocking cover favourites for fans and Esquire regulars alike, so don't miss Stiffler's Mom's first shows of the fall season TONIGHT & TOMORROW! Expect 10:00 PM start times, no announced cover charges, and 19+ age limits each night. See above for more details, and here's Stiffler's Mom live!



Next up, here's another new show with lots of advance notice, as Vancouver pop punk quartet Jock Tears will make their local concert debut with a headlining date at The Gore Street Cafe on Thursday, October 5th! This gender-equal group meld pop punk with indie and folk rock pretty seamlessly, and they should be a fine fit at the laundromat next month, so keep Jock Tears' short but sweet originals in mind locally next month! The opening act will be local indie/hard rock quartet Bizotic in their first date of the fall season and first Gore Street Cafe stop since July, and they're a solid choice to kick off the evening's action on October 5th, so don't be late for their set! This ALL AGES show is once again a "pay what you can" event, as usual for the landromat, but there is a suggested admission fee of $10 in place. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and don't miss the indie-tinged punk and hard rock action next month at The Gore Street Cafe!

Also today, here's new details on the AlgomA/Shit Liver covers split album and joint local concert at The New American Pub on Monday, October 2nd! In terms of "Trading Faces", the whole split saw it's online release as scheduled on Tuesday via both AlgomA's and Shit Liver's Bandcamp pages (each band uploaded the whole thing), and the split is available on both pages via a "name your price" model, so consider paying an amount for their hard work! Of course, cassettes will have a firm cost to be announced, likely on September 17th when the physical release was previously teased, but no later than tour kickoff day on the 22nd. AlgomA's Bandcamp page also confirms the recording dates and studios for each half of the split, each appearing to have been self-recorded at home studios earlier this year, though Shit Liver's version of "Fell Down A Well" sounds like the 2015 version (at least, the first half.) Full tour details can be found at the tour's Facebook event page, whose related links confirm that familiar acts like Buried Out Back and Uncle Ray will join the two local bands on specific dates.

As for the October 2nd date at The New A, what can we now learn about that event? Well, the opening acts will be local death metal standouts The Bear Hunters and extreme metal quartet Winkstinger, who are excellent choices to open the night! The show will start at 9:00 PM flat, and there is a $7 cover charge, not including tapes. Visit that show's Facebook event page for full local details, but buy the "Trading Faces" split at the above links if you can't wait for the tapes, and look for our review of it in the coming weeks!

Finally for today, here's one more concert preview for this weekend, as local alternative/hard rock trio The Din will return to The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Center THIS SUNDAY as musical entertainment for this year's Loud & Proud kick-off event for the Soo's fourth annual Pridefest! The first of six shows in The Din's farewell run of concerts prior to their planned breakup next month,  their set on Sunday is in support of the Sault Pride Community's annual LGBTQ awareness and support festival, and their first of two shows for this year's Pridefest, joining their outdoor family picnic set at the locks in two weeks. Of course, fans may remember seeing the former Mike Haggith & The Din rock the Bushplane Museum in their acid jam days back in 2013, so it's great to see their tighter and more formal sound hit this venue one last time on Sunday, and for a great cause! Their set will be at 2:00 PM, as sandwiched between local performer and singer Tim Murphy's drag show at 1:00 & 3:00 PM, while there will also be children's entertainment and vendors on site.

Events kick off at 12:00 PM on Sunday, and this is a FREE & ALL AGES event, which should be a great way to kick off Pridefest, so visit the official Facebook event page for full details on Loud & Proud, and here's The Din live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for our review of TONIGHT'S Project 421 concert at The Canadian next! Thanks everyone!

Rotaryfest Stage 1 & Sault Michigan Weekend Concert Previews!!

To stay ahead of things regarding this weekend's concert previews, we're doubling up on posts today, tackling shows taking place in Sault Michigan and for one stage of a major annual festival. If you're interested in previews of this weekend's Tym Morrison and (short notice) Soundcheck shows, or tonight's Downtown Street Party, check out this morning's post below, and if you're hoping for The Tea Party, Stage 2, Northwest/K.I.C.K., and Id Iota/ Mike Mikus previews, check back tomorrow! Now, let's continue this weekend's stacked concert previews!

This year's Rotaryfest began TODAY at Clergue Park in Sault Ontario, and that includes three days' worth of all-covers action on Stage 1, so what should you know about it's lineups this year? Unfortunately, this year's main stage lineup at our annual summer festival has noticeably fewer hard rock bands (partly due to That's Chester and Griphook falling inactive), and as a result, only tomorrow's lineup has bands whose genres fit our primary coverage. That said, many readers will be curious as to the full lineup, so here's who to look for tonight and Saturday! Tonight's schedule will be headlined by new Coverfly side project Encore, with country quartet Crossroad, local DJ Jeff MacNeice's Neil Diamond tribute band Hot April Night, classic rock veterans Flathead Ford, and blues/country mainstays The Algo Rhythms opening. Saturday night's lineup will actually be headlined by local country veterans Bone Yard, with Southern Ontario-based Keith Urban & Blue Rodeo tribute bands Ultimate Urban & Blue Radio playing featured sets prior.

Remaining local bands on Saturday will include R&B collective The Reptiles, blues rock standout Paul Dellavedova, Obsession frontwoman Valerie Powley's new Janis Joplin tribute band Janis Full Tilt!, 1960s-themed classic rockers The Peace Vibe, blues rock quintet Red & The Muscle, and improv jazz outfit The Jazz Cats. Solid lineup of local talent on these two nights, including many familiar and newer faces alike, and lots of tribute band action, so see the above links for more details, and click here for full set-times and band descriptions (or find your program from the mail!) 

As for TOMORROW's lineup (expanded from 5 bands to 6 this year), tomorrow's music at the main Clergue Park stage will be bookended by some hard rock action, so who can you look out for? Your 10:30 PM headliners are hard/party rock cover trio Stiffler's Mom in their third Rotaryfest set in four years, and they should end things with a bang as usual tomorrow night! Classic rock veterans and Rotaryfest regulars Obsession will co-headline at 9:30 PM, as preceded by a special Garth Brooks tribute set by local country artist Mark Tarantini at 8:00 PM, similiarly to his tribute last year that the former Mourning Wood served as backing band for. Classic rock quintet Mustang Heart's 13(+?) year streak of Rotaryfest Stage 1 sets will continue at 7:00 PM tomorrow, while veteran blues rock quartet Five Below Zero will return to the festival at 6:00 PM. Finally, classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will open the evening's action in their Rotaryfest debut at 5:00 pm, shortly before they hit The Esquire Club.

All three days of entertainment on Stage 1 are FREE & ALL AGES as usual, so check the above links for full timeslot and additional information on this year's first stage! While those who complain about Stage 1's covers-only focus and regular bands may not be won over, there's still a lot of variety within their range, with many new bands, a lot of tributes, and for the first time since 2009, out-of-town country bands, so there should be lots of classic tunes this weekend! Of course, if you want hard rock, I recommend coming tomorrow night, but give this year's bands a look to learn what to expect, and here's Stiffler's Mom live at Rotaryfest 2014!

Next up, let's touch on Traverse City, Michigan metal trio Scarkazm's return to The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino, as they'll return north for headlining shows TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Definitely Scarkazm shows after last month's confusion whether they or Peril were playing in the Soo over the June 15th weekend, these will be Adam, Dave, and Jeff's first collaborative shows in our area since headlining in St. Ignace in May, and first at The Rapids Lounge since April. Always great to see Scarkazm up north, so look for more heavy originals and covers this weekend! As usual for Scarkazm's local gigs, expect 9:00 PM start times, no announced cover charges, and 21+ age limits tomorrow and Saturday night. Scarkazm always deliver a solid night of hard hitting selections, so keep their return north in mind for this weekend, visit the official Facebook event pages linked here & here for more details, and here they are live!



Finally for today's previews, this weekend will see more out-of-town headlining action in Sault Michigan, as Marquette hard rock quartet Spun will return to The Satisfied Frog for shows TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT themselves! The Nudge successors will be making their third trip east on this busy concert weekend, and fans of their accessible and hard hitting covers should be out in full force at The Frog, so keep their local return in mind over the next two nights! As was the case during Spun's prior local bookings, expect 9:30 PM start times tomorrow & Saturday night, there are no announced cover charges, and you must be at least 21 years old to attend. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details on Spun's local gigs this weekend, and here they are live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for our third weekend concert preview post of this extremely busy weekend next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Rotaryfest Stage 1), Plus Second Stage Updates!!

For a second day in a row, we have a news post heavily focusing on next month's Rotaryfest and the musical entertainment therein, so let's get things rolling with a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT relating to this year's installment of the Soo's annual summer festival!

Two days following the Rotaryfest Stage 2 lineup reveal, we now know the complete Stage 1 lineup for Clergue Park's main outdoor stage from July 13th-15th, courtesy of the official Rotaryfest program! That said, this year's covers-only lineup isn't quite as heavy as it has been in years past, with only Friday's lineup containing a band I'd classify as "hard rock", but here's a look at who to expect across the main stage this year! Thursday, July 13th's five band roster will be headlined by Coverfly side project Encore at 10:00 PM in this general "party rock" group's Rotaryfest debut, preceded by country quartet Crossroad's fourth straight Stage 1 set at 9:00 PM, local radio DJ Jeff MacNeice's new Neil Diamond tribute band Hot April Night at 8:00 PM, classic rock veterans Flathead Ford at 7:00 PM, and veteran blues/country group The Algo Rhythms playing their first Rotaryfest on record at 6:00 PM.

The lineup on Friday, July 14th will be of the most interest to regular SMS readers, and is also extended to 6 bands this year after running with only 5 for the past three years, so who's on that night? Headlining at 10:00 PM are veteran hard/party rock cover trio Stiffler's Mom in their third Rotaryfest set since 2014, and second straight Friday headlining set. Solid choice to return, so look for more hard rocking renditions from Greg, Mike, and Jon on the 14th! Classic rock veterans Obsession will play their ninth Rotaryfest set in the past decade as the 9:00 PM co-headliners, while local country musician Mark Tarantini will play a special solo tribute set to Garth Brooks at 8:00 PM, much like the one that Mourning Wood members played last August, though he has a new backing band this time around comprised of out of town artists. Classic rock quintet Mustang Heart will continue their run as the iron men & woman of Rotaryfest with their (at least) thirteenth straight Stage 1 set at 7:00 PM, so keep them in mind also!

Veteran blues rock quartet Five Below Zero will hit the main stage for the first time since 2013 (and at least fourth time total) with the 6:00 PM set, while newer classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will make their Rotaryfest debut to open Friday's lineup at 5:00 PM. Solid lineup overall for classic rock and country fans that's well anchored by some veteran hard rock groups, so don't bypass Friday if you want a bit of heavier classic rock action!

As for the Saturday, July 15th lineup, that will actually be headlined at 10:30 PM by veteran country quartet Bone Yard (playing the festival for the first time since their 2010-2013 run), while previously announced Southern Ontario-based Keith Urban & Blue Rodeo tribute bands Ultimate Urban & Blue Radio will play featured sets at 9:00 & 7:30 PM respectively, and R&B big band The Reptiles will play their seventh festival set since 2009 at 6:00 PM. Blues rock singer/guitarist Paul Dellavedova will reprise his solo cover action from 2015 at 5:00 PM, while Obsession frontwoman Valerie Powley will front a one-off Janis Joplin tribute called Janis Full Tilt! at 4:00 PM, and 1960s-centric classic rock quartet The Peace Vibe will return from last year with a set at 3:00 PM. Finally, newer blues rock quintet Red & The Muscle and improv jazz/R&B quintet The Jazz Cats will play their first Rotaryfest sets on record to open at 2:00 & 1:00 PM.

While the general musical range hasn't changed much for fans who wish for more variance on Stage 1, keep in mind that half of this year's 20 acts have not played a recorded Rotaryfest, and the out of town country tributes mark the first touring country acts to play our summer festival since The Road Hammers in 2009, so that alone is different from the recent norm if you're a country fan! Also, note that recent regular bands like Coverfly, Griphook, Mid Life Crysis, and That's Chester are not back for 2017. All three nights of Stage 1 are FREE & ALL AGES, so visit the above links for full details on this year's Rotaryfest, and stay tuned for updates when & if they roll in!

Finally for today, here's some updates to this year's Rotaryfest Stage 2 lineup at the "redirected" stage beside the Art Gallery on Saturday, July 15th! Courtesy of the mini-write ups on each band in the program linked above, we can glean a little more on some of the band's sets and recent activity, including the first firm public acknowledgement that indie/punk quintet Northwest are working on their second EP! The guys have been busy at Mission Control Studios in recent months, but hadn't 100% stated that a new album (their first with current drummer Marc Santos) was in the works until now. Very encouraging to hear, hopefully more comes out on it soon! Also, the program confirms that alt-hard rock quartet Id Iota will once again feature ex-RedD Monkey cellist Pete Mozarowski as a guest performer for their Rotaryfest set this year, with the program even listing him as if he's a band member, though Id Iota's Facebook page does not list him as such... yet? Either way, Pete should add a neat element once again, so keep his involvement in mind!

The program also notes that headlining indie rocker Jesse Merineau's set will be our "only chance" to "preview the huge project he has been working on", while new opening band All Us Others is a six-piece indie/pop band (not just a duo) with two female singer/songwriters joined by a full backing band, even including a keyboardist. Hopefully they make a good first impression in under three weeks! Be sure to check the Rotaryfest program and above links for full details on the musical and non-musical events for this year's summer festival, and stay tuned for more news and updates soon! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Tym Morrison) And Weekend Concert Previews, Including CKY!!

A quality weekend of hard rock concerts is upon us, so let's preview this weekend's announced heavier shows today! Nothing is on the public docket for SMS-covered bands in Sault Michigan this weekend, but there's some big things going down on this side of the border, so read on below for your previews, starting with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!

Prolific local hard rock singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will return to The Barrelhouse Wine & Whiskey THIS SATURDAY NIGHT for a regular nighttime solo concert, joining his previously announced Gliss Steak & Seafood matinees TOMORROW & SATURDAY! Apologies for the short notice on the Barrelhouse concert, it was only just announced via it's official Facebook event page on Monday. Returning to the Queen Street East tapas restaurant for his eighth announced solo concert there, this will be a good opportunity to see Tym at a more typical nighttime setting, especially if you missed last week's Roadhouse return or his last Barrelhouse gig three weeks ago, while his usual weekly evening gigs at Gliss should appeal to regulars and fans alike at that fellow downtown restaurant!

Expect SATURDAY'S Barrelhouse show to be a 19+ event with no announced cover and a 10:00 PM start time, while tomorrow & Saturday evening's Gliss double header is all ages with no cover and a 6:00 PM start time, though note the location of these shows. Visit the above links and this link for more details on Tym's latest round of unplugged hard rock solo shows at both The Barrelhouse and Gliss, and here's Tym live a few years back!



Next up, we'll move to entirely previously announced concerts with the highly anticipated Canadian Nightclub concert TONIGHT headlined by Pennsylvania alt-metal trio and video series namesake CKY! This popular band will be very familiar to many fans for songs like "96 Quite Bitter Beings", "Flesh Into Gear", and "Knee Deep", and even without long-time frontman Deron Miller, their unique hard rocking originals should provide a set full of quality rock for fans at The Canadian in their local debut, so don't miss out! Kelowna, British Columbia southern hard rock quartet The Wild will co-headline in their own local debut, and their free-wheeling brand of intense Jackyl-esque originals should provide a solid prelude to CKY, so keep them in mind! Local openers will include the return of punk/metal quintet Jack Spades after a nine month stage hiatus, with frontman & show promoter J.D. Pearce now joined by Daniel Horton, Anthony Orazietti, Steve Shaw, and a drummer to be confirmed (possibly Chris Thompson.) How will the new look lineup sound? Come on out tonight to find out!

Fast-rising local alt-punk quartet A Dire Setback will open with another high impact set of original favourites, so come early to ensure you see them! Note that the previously announced reunion set from As It Stands has quietly been removed from the official Facebook event page, and there has been no public reasons given as to why. Hopefully nothing bad happened, as their reunion has been eagerly awaited! A 19+ concert, tonight's show starts at 6:30 PM, and limited tickets will be available at the door for $20 for this huge show, so don't miss out on thie one, and get knee deep with the quite bitter beings TONIGHT! See above for more details, and here's CKY live last year!



Also going down this weekend is the return of local party/hard rock cover trio Stiffler's Mom to The Esquire Club for concerts TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Previously announced via the venue's own calendar for bands in the second quarter of 2017, this weekend's shows will mark the guys' first stops at the west-end bar and venue of the year, last rocking out there in December. It's great to see Greg, Mike, and Jon playing a recently rare set of gigs outside of The Rockstar Bar, and hopefully they deliver fun nights worth of hard hitting and fan favourite covers over the next two nights! As usual for Stiffler's Mom's live sets, expect a 19+ age limit, 10:00 PM start time, and no announced cover charge. Check the above links for more information, and here's Stiffler's Mom live!



Finally for today's previews, we'll head to The Rockstar Bar for that venue's kick-off to their summer season with a triple header of rising alternative bands THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! New local genre-less but alt/punk-esque trio Handsome Sandwich (in their Rockstar Bar debut), alternative hard rock trio The Din, and  hard rock quartet Eclipse will join forces for this show, which unites a nice selection of familiar performers in bands ranging from reunited to established to still new, and there's a nice selection of sounds to take in from the three on Saturday! Is it worth noting that all three bands on Saturday feature a former Haggith member in their lineups? This show is also notable as it will help kick-off the re-opening of the Rockstar Bar's outdoor patio for the summer, so keep that in mind if you enjoy the patio in between the bands.

A $5 cover charge is in effect for this concert, which has a 10:00 PM start time and a 19+ age limit. This should be a fun concert featuring three talented local bands, especially if you haven't seen Handsome Sandwich or Eclipse post-reunion yet, so visit the Facebook event page for more details, and in lieu of a public Handsome Sandwich video, here's The Din live!



That's all for today, but I'll see you guys TONIGHT for CKY! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Stiffler's Mom & Mourning Wood), The Latter Band's End, And More!!

It's now time for our last concert preview post of the month, barring any further late notice announcements, and if you're wondering why we haven't covered either Live705's new concert or new Din videos, don't worry, they will be in our next news post! Now, let's kick things off with SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS from two bands, including the previously announced demise & merger of one of them!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Mourning Wood will end their local run with concerts at The Esquire Club TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, we were waiting for confirmation of which band name these shows would be under, which only came via the official Facebook event page yesterday. Three weeks after announcing their impending merger with sister band Soundcheck, Mourning Wood will cease operations under that name after this weekend's shows, with the event page confirming that they're dropping that name going forward due to "a lot of backlash", presumably for it's provocative origins. Technically, these will be Mourning Wood's only gigs with "new" guitarist Travis Sharpe, and with Steven Flint moving to drums to replace Glen Thomas, but these are Soundcheck shows in all but name, and you'll see the same lineup moving forward as that band, including at The Esquire Club on May 19th & 20th in two more new confirmations, albeit announced for Mourning Wood at the time!

Our source for the May weekend is this concert calendar from the venue, and if they are not being transferred to Soundcheck, we will remove the shows from our listings. TOMORROW, SATURDAY, and next month's Mourning Wood/Soundcheck concerts have 19+ age limits, no cover charges, and 10:00 PM start times, so check the above links for more details! Mourning Wood have been a very familiar sight at numerous venues since their debut in mid-2014, and while I often wished that they'd promote shows with more advance notice (or any notice at all for their country-tinged Reggie's Place gigs), they were always reliable in concerts for familiar classics & fan requests. Memorable sets at Rotaryfest 2015, two Toystocks, and their week-long Reggie's run last year were among their highlights, and I'm sure Terry, Paul, and Steven will carry that along with them with Travis in Soundcheck as 2017 rolls along. Best of luck to them, T.J., and Glen in the future, and here's Mourning Wood live!



Next up, local hard rock cover trio Stiffler's Mom will return to The Rockstar Bar for one night only THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! Again, apologies for the short notice, the band only announced the show on their Facebook page yesterday, though the venue's physical marquee board had advertised it for at least a day prior. After a month away from the local stage, this veteran party band will continue their recent Rockstar-only stretch of concerts to start 2017 with another night of familiar fan favourites on SATURDAY NIGHT, so don't miss out! No word though on who's playing at The Rockstar Bar tomorrow night, and if you're hoping to check out Stiffler's Mom outside of The Algonquin Hotel, remember that they will be back at The Esquire Club in June. Expect no cover charge and a 19+ age limit for this concert, and a 10:30 PM start time is likely for SATURDAY, so check the above links for more details, and here's Stiffler's Mom live!



Finally for today's currently known hard rock concert previews, veteran local hard rock singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will return to Gliss Steak & Seafood for his previously announced regular acoustic gigs TOMORROW & SATURDAY! Wrapping up another busy month at The Quality Inn's house restaurant this weekend, Tym's unplugged cover favourites should prove to be another solid musical backdrop for patrons and fans at this downtown location this weekend, so keep Tym's Gliss shows in mind if you want a more reserved night of classics! Remember that we will address his likely May concerts at this venue in time for next week's concert previews. In terms of tomorrow & Saturday, expect 6:00 PM matinee start times, no announced cover charges, and no official age limits, but remember where these shows are being held. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Tym live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and this month's CD review soon! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (The Gutter Demons & Stiffler's Mom), Plus New Videos!!

For the first time since April 1st, we have a new news post on the SMS that has no imminent concert previews! This has been a long time coming, but I'm back home, and we have some big stories to touch on regarding recent video uploads, and first, LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, so here's what you should know!

Montreal psychobilly/punk trio The Gutter Demons will make their way to The Algonquin Pub for a headlining concert on Monday, May 1st! It's been too long since the last psychobilly headliners in the Soo, but The Gutter Demons will help fill the void with their creative fusion sound, as seen during numerous live concerts over the past 15 years, so prepare as they tear up a local stage in three weeks time! The local openers will notably both feature guitarist Jesse Cook and bassist James White, with their new punk/alt-rock trio Handsome Sandwich rocking out in their second live concert appearance and Algonquin debut. If you missed their debut at LopLops in February, keep this show in mind, especially as this uniquely named band has yet to post media of their sound! The advertised opening band are local funk/hard rock favourites The Elements in their first concert set of the year, so if you've been waiting patiently since Toystock, here's your next chance!

Promoted by Jack Spades frontman J.D. Pearce in his first announced concert of the year (nice to see him book his old bandmates as openers!), this show has a 19+ age limit, $10 cover charge, and 9:00 PM start time. Fans of punk, alternative, and psychobilly would be well served to check out this show at the beginning of next month, despite it's unfortunate Monday scheduling, so check the official Facebook event page for more details!

Next up, local party hard rock trio Stiffler's Mom will return to The Esquire Club for shows on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th! Announced with unusually long notice, these actually come from a concert calendar shared on the venue's Facebook page for shows in the second quarter of 2017, presumably also distributed in person at the venue, so if you're curious as to who's playing there through the end of June, give it a look! We'll likely see Stiffler's Mom elsewhere before June, but this will mark the guys' first concert weekend at this west end venue since December, and just their second weekend there in the past year. Greg, Mike, and Jon should be in their usual fine forms come June, so don't miss their fan favourite covers then at The Esquire Club! As usual, expect 10:00 PM-ish start times, no announced cover charges, and 19+ age limits for both nights. Visit the above links for more info!

And yes, I am aware of Mourning Wood concerts being listed on the above calendar, but given their teased assimilation into their newer Soundcheck project "very soon", I am waiting for public confirmation regarding whether these shows are now Soundcheck concerts, or if they're using the Mourning Wood name in transition. Stay tuned!

Closing with some new videos, remember how local alt-punk quartet A Dire Setback were interviewed by Shaw TV Sault Ste. Marie prior to their headlining set at the January Jam at The Canadian? Well, it has finally aired on channel 10 and was posted to Shaw TV's YouTube channel last week, so what should you know? Aired as part of Shaw's "Community Producers" program and produced specifically by frontman Larry Babic, this features all four band members passing the mics to talk about their inception, original material, songwriting, and more, complete with on-screen graphics to credit band members, though they misspelled guitarist Chris Nielsen's last name. The interview is also interspersed with concert footage from A Dire Setback's set at the January Jam (as seen in full at this link), though we await Shaw TV's premiere of their footage from last month's March Mash-Up concert, which A Dire Setback headlined.

The interview proper isn't too long, but it's a fun and light way to introduce casual fans to A Dire Setback,who are on the fast track locally, and given their hints in the interview towards future recording sessions, hopefully they keep on their current trajectory in the local scene! Give their Shaw TV interview a look below, and stay tuned for more from their camp!



Finally, here's a new YouTube video featuring Sault Michigan classical metal project Theatre of Night, as set to footage of the video game Elite: Dangerous! Uploaded to the band's YouTube channel on Saturday, this is of a new 7 minute long demo instrumental named "3303". The song is appropriately epic for the space adventure setting of the game footage, giving things a suspenseful and grandiose feel without getting boring, and hopefully Theatre of Night can build on this with some more orchestral metal epics soon! Give it a look below, and see above for links regarding the game!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates as the week rolls along. Thanks everyone!

Stiffler's Mom - "The Demo" EP Review!!

Now is a good time to post our 93rd monthly CD review at The Sault Metal Scene, and with no new hard rock or punk releases to look at this month, we're dipping into the archives for a look at the only EP from veteran local hard/party rock trio Stiffler's Mom! As they played live just this past weekend, they're a perfect band to tie in a review for, so what should you know about their CD? Entitled simply "The Demo", this was independently released back in 2004, though surviving online details on it's original release are minimal at best. Stiffler's Mom's current and classic lineup is present on "The Demo", including singer/drummer Greg Simpson, guitarist Michael Davies, and bassist Jon Ferguson. This album is long since out of print now, and I doubt that Stiffler's Mom sell stock of it at modern concerts, but fan Alex Moore did upload the whole EP to YouTube last year, and song titles below are linked to his uploads of them. With four songs running for a robust 19 minutes, let's begin our review of the elusive Stiffler's Mom demo!

The opening song is actually a cover, namely their version of Gordon Lightfoot's classic ballad "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". Aside from extra guitar flourish from Mike & some vocal harmonizing, this is a fairly faithful rendition of the original song for the first 2 and a half minutes, but after some ocean effects, the full band kicks into usual Stiffler's Mom gear with a heavier and faster pace. Musically speaking, I should prefer this, but it really takes away from the somber tone of the disaster, before the 6 minute track ends on a melancholy note. To me, the fast heavy stretch is really out of place, and it should have started the song, then became gradually more melancholy. Next is the album's shortest song "Yesterday", an altogether more fun and successful performance that shows Stiffler's Mom at their fun and lively best! Greg's melodic singing suits the tone, and his drumming also matches well, though Mike's guitar solo doesn't show his true abilities, and the song can be a little repetitive. Strong recovery overall though!

"Pearl's Necklace" comes next, and ignoring the obvious innuendo of the title, the song is a solid track, and at times, the vocals remind me of the verses on Inner City Surfers originals, so make of that what you will! The song has a catchy drum beat, Jon shines on bass, and Mike's guitar solo is way better and more diverse, adding up to the EP's most entertaining song yet, though I will say that the pre-solo break and it's near ska-sounding ambiance is too jarring of a shift, and the song ends way too abruptly. Still, it's my highlight so far on "The Demo"! This release ends with "Enjoy The Show", a song carried over from Stiffler's Mom's predecessor band Sin Stereo (their version linked here), and the new version doesn't alter much from Sin Stereo's, aside from the chorus, with the backing vocals sorely missed in this version's melody. You could argue that this is both bands' signature original, and it's hard to argue, especially with another solid guitar solo and catchy verses, but it's not quiet at it's predecessor's musical level.

So, how do I sum up Stiffler's Mom's 13 year old demo? Overall, it's a fun and high energy release that showcases the guys' skill as original songwriters, and might be of special note to fans who aren't aware of their original music background! Greg Simpson's melodic singing and solid drumming were a nice compliment, Michael Davies laid down some solid guitar solos, and Jon Ferguson's bass work was ever present, and things came together at their peak on "Pearl's Necklace", but there were points to address. I preferred the choruses of the Sin Stereo version of "Enjoy the Show" to the Stiffler's Mom remake, the guitar solo on "Yesterday" paled compared to the later ones, and most jarring of all, the heavy & fast section of the Gordon Lightfoot cover was not well suited to where it was in the song, and if you have to have it, I'd have started the song with it, before the disasters began. Overall though, this was a nice studio debut for Stiffler's Mom, and it would be interesting to see them release a second CD (perhaps with "Sweet Juanita"?)

Give Stiffler's Mom's demo EP a listen at the above links, and I hope you guys liked this month's CD review! As for our April CD review, I am not 100% sure what we are reviewing next month, but here's what I can tell you. A new CD release will take precedent, and while both The Apocalypse Afterparty and Skeyes of Seven have complete EPs in the can, neither have seen a paid public release yet. If one comes out by late April, they'd be next, but check out our next "Where Are The New Albums?" post for more clues! However, if a Telephone & Address album comes out soon, it will not be next month's review topic, as we only just reviewed their latest album in December. Given bands playing live next month, our next review choice could easily be an album from A Fall From Innocence (tied in with A Dire Setback's Larry Babic) or Haggith (tied in with Eclipse members), but time will tell if either is up next.

In any event, look for our next CD review at some point in April, and stay tuned for more news and features next week! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (The Din, Soundcheck, And Tym Morrison), And Weekend Concert Previews!!

Another weekend is soon to commence, so let's tackle this weekend's hard rock concert previews today, plus the first news on a returning all ages concert event later this spring! Before we get too far, yes, I do know about the huge concert announced for this summer at The Canadian (click here for early details), but I want to give it proper emphasis as a headline story, so we'll tackle that in our next news post, 100% guaranteed! Now, let's kick things off today with LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, most on SHORT NOTICE!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will return to The Rockstar Bar for one night only THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the show was only confirmed via the official Facebook event page on Monday, and the former Nameus still don't have an online page to plug concerts with. This is the third show in as many weeks for this newer veteran band, whose 1980s-centric covers should entertain attendees once again on SATURDAY, so don't miss out on their next gig! Also, we can at last confirm the identity of their new fourth member, that being Lucky 13/ex-Thin Ice guitarist Robin "Bones" Lee, who appears to be taking over the bassist role, leaving Terry Eaton and Travis Sharpe to focus on guitar. Robin has guested with Terry & Steven's other band Mourning Wood in the past, and he played with Terry in a (one off?) band named The Jukebox Junkies a while back, so he's a fine fit with Soundcheck, as you hopefully saw last week or the week before!

Our source for the above information is The Rockstar Bar's Hayley Warnock on the event page. FYI, I have no idea what Soundcheck's busy schedule means for Mourning Wood, who haven't played live in over a month, but if we hear anything, we'll let you know! A one nighter due to tomorrow's Stiffler's Mom show that we're previewing later in this post, SATURDAY'S Soundcheck concert has no announced cover charge, a 10:30 PM start time, and a 19+ age limit. Check the above links for more details, and if you know where to look on Facebook, see if you can find a personal video of Soundcheck covering Billy Idol at Rednecks with guest guitarist Mike Muto!

Next up, here's one more late notice confirmation, as local hard rock solo singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will return to The Barrelhouse Wine & Whiskey for his fifth announced solo date there THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, joining his usual Gliss Steak & Seafood matinees TOMORROW & SATURDAY! Again, apologies for the short notice on the Barrelhouse gig, Tym only just announced this show via it's Facebook event page yesterday. With the spring now officially begun, you could always warm things up after a long winter by checking any of Tym's three concerts this weekend, including his first gig at the downtown tapas restaurant in two weeks on SATURDAY, or via his regular weekly gigs at The Quality Inn's restaurant, so keep all three in mind for acoustic hard rock cover action! The Gliss shows remain 6:00 PM affairs with no cover or age limit (but remember where they're being held, this is a formal restaurant, not your standard nightclub.)

As for SATURDAY'S Gliss show, expect a 10:00 PM start time, no announced cover, and a 19+ age limit. For more details, visit the official Facebook event pages linked here & here, and for a preview, here's Tym live!



Lastly in new show announcements, remember the Sky's The Limit mental health awareness concert from Algoma Family Services that took place at The Tech last May? Well, it is coming back for a second go-around on Thursday, May 4th, and local alternative/hard rock trio The Din are headlining this year! No audition required this time for Mike, Tammy, and Brandan, who will succeed the defunct Pixo Control as this year's top billed act at The Tech's W.W. Baldwin Auditorium, as part of Algoma Family Services' Children’s Mental Week activities. The Sky's the Limit serves to bring awareness and raise funds for mental health programs at A.F.S., which is a great gesture, and kudos to The Din for offering their services once again! The opening lineup will again be filled out via live band auditions, which will be held at The Tech on Wednesday, April 19th & Thursday, April 20th at 6:00 PM both evenings. Like last year, auditioning musicians must be district residents between the ages of 14 & 29, and these are private auditions, not public concerts, so keep that in mind just in case.

To book audition times or get more details, call (705) 945-5050 (extension #2301 or 2318), or submit a video for consideration by e-mailing footage to chmw@algomafamilyservices.org! For reference, last year's Sky's the Limit fundraiser also featured such acts as Electric Church, Aldous, rapper White Noize, and at least three other youth groups. This ALL AGES event has $5 admission or $20 for family groups of 5 or more, and a 7:00 PM start time is advertised. This should be a fun night of rising young talent for worthy local causes, so hopefully there's a great turnout once again, stay tuned for updates, and visit the official Facebook event page for current details!

Finally, we'll close this weekend's currently known hard rock concert previews, we'll return to The Rockstar Bar for the return of local hard/party rock trio Stiffler's Mom to the stage TOMORROW NIGHT! Announced with surprisingly long notice earlier this month, this one nighter will be Stiffler's Mom's first show since playing the same venue over a month ago, and it'll serve as a rocking way for fans to help Greg, Mike, and Jon ring in the season, so keep tomorrow's show in mind to check out some Stiffler's Mom action! Remember, this is a one-night-only event, Soundcheck are playing at this venue on Saturday. As usual for Stiffler's Mom's trips to The Rockstar Bar, tomorrow's show has a 10:30 PM start time, no announced cover charge, and a 19+ age limit. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Stiffler's Mom live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for some big news regarding today's major concert announcement tomorrow! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Stiffler's Mom & Redundant), Plus New Videos!!

As we continue to clear out a recent glut of news and updates at the SMS, here's a new post for your Sunday morning! This is half devoted to new videos, one being a live clip and one that certainly isn't, but first, here's a pair of LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS for the spring season!

Local party hard rock cover trio Stiffler's Mom will return to The Rockstar Bar for one night only on Friday, March 24th! Announced with an unusually good amount of notice, we first heard about this concert via this March concert calendar photo from singer/drummer Greg Simpson's promotional company (Choose) Maxx Entertainment's Facebook page yesterday, which also confirms that his country cover band Bone Yard will be playing each of the next three weekends beforehand at varying venues, so keep those in mind if you're a country fan. No word as of yet who's playing at The Rockstar Bar on Saturday the 25th (or why they're not doubling up that weekend), but Stiffler's Mom's fan favourite covers should keep things rocking all night in three weeks time, so don't miss out on the 24th! A 10:00 PM start time is advertised, you must be 19 or older to attend, and there's no announced cover charge. Check the above links for more details, and stay tuned for more from Stiffler's Mom!

Next up, the aforementioned Bone Yard will join local punk veterans Redundant and classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires at The Canadian Nightclub on Saturday, May 6th for a special fundraiser concert entitled Rock 4 Autism! The show is being treated as a kick-off event for the fifth annual Algoma Ride For Autism motorcycle rally (which returns in June), and attendees can pre-register for the rally at The Canadian that night, while all proceeds will be used to help buy sensory equipment for the Algoma Autism Foundation's Sensory Lending Library, so keep that worthy cause in mind! Redundant in particular are no strangers to Ride For Autism-related events, having played the rally's Family Fun Day each of the past three years, and it's great to see them playing their first announced show of 2017 in May, while the Millionaires (in their apparent Canadian debut) and Ride For Sight veterans Bone Yard should provide their own entertaining cover favourites as well in two months!

An oddly early start time of 8:00 PM is listed for Rock 4 Autism, which will have $10 advance tickets (sale details to be announced) and a presumed 19+ age limit. In a way, this is like a mini-sequel to Toystock, given that all three bands played the annual Christmas Cheer fundraiser last fall, and the guys' continued charitable natures is awesome to see, so don't miss Rock 4 Autism on May 6th, and visit the official Facebook event page for full details!

We'll close today with new videos, starting with yet another video from The Din's headlining concert at LopLops Lounge last month, as per their YouTube channel on Friday! The fifth of their videos from this show, this is the local alternative/hard rock trio's rendition of frontman Mike Haggith's solo song "Of Cars & Criminals", which is only played live occasionally and isn't on their studio album (though it is on "The Din Does Laundry".) The quality is precisely the same as their other videos from this concert, but it is a solid performance, and the staggered release of the videos means that each gets it's own spotlight, so I give them that! Check it out below!



Finally, here's a somewhat cryptic new video from newer local concert promotion agency Live705's YouTube channel on Wednesday, and it's a 19 second computer-animated clip of a futuristic lighted platform being turned on, with a previously unseen band logo in the center. The logo feels pasted on as an afterthought, but what does this video mean? The title implies that it's an "intro", but for what? Are they planning to have a title bug before future videos, or perhaps in concert with a screen? I have no idea, but give it a look below, and don't miss their next show at The Canadian on SATURDAY!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates as the week rolls along! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Stiffler's Mom, Tym Morrison, And Souncheck), Plus More Updates!!

Before we kick off this weekend's concert previews (plus some assorted recent news), I wanted to note that, yes, Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rockers Banned are playing a rare concert in Newberry on Saturday at Zellar's Village Inn, but Newberry actually falls outside of our coverage range (it's 77 minutes from here, we stop at one hour from the Soo.) If you're out in Luce County though, consider going to see them this weekend! Now, let's kick off our previews, largely comprised of SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS!

Newer local classic/hard rock cover trio Soundcheck will return to The Rockstar Bar for one night only TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the show was only announced via it's Facebook event page earlier this week, and remember that the former Nameus still don't have an online page of any kind. Just a week removed from their most recent gigs at The Rednecks Saloon, this Mourning Wood side project has slowly been gaining steam with their 1980s-centric covers since debuting late last year, and their return to The Rockstar Bar should provide more fun covers TOMORROW NIGHT! No word on if they're not playing Saturday because of a scheduling conflict, or they're filling in due to one, but we'll touch on Saturday's show in a second. As usual for Soundcheck's Rockstar Bar stops, expect a 10:30 PM start time, no cover, and a 19+ age limit. Check the above links for more details, and again, hopefully videos turn up at some point!

Next up, we'll break up the late notice Rockstar shows with the latest from prolific local hard rock solo artist Tym Morrison, who will add to his regular Gliss Steak & Seafood shows TOMORROW & SATURDAY with a return to The Barrelhouse Wine & Whiskey at 476 Queen Street East THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! Again, apologies for the short notice, Tym only announced the Barrelhouse show via it's Facebook event page on Tuesday. While this is Tym's second straight Saturday nighter at the former Embers Grill location, he told me in a personal Facebook conversation that he's filling in for a performer that couldn't play on SATURDAY, hence the sudden re-booking (if there's a possible weekly run there in the works, it hasn't been 100% acknowledged.) This show joins his regular weekly matinees at Gliss, which continue with his recent redaction to Fridays & Saturdays only, so if you're up for an earlier or later blast of acoustic hard rock covers, you have three options!

Tym's shows at Gliss are both 6:00 PM shows with no announced age limit, while SATURDAY NIGHT'S Barrelhouse show is at 10:30 PM and is presumably 19+, and though none have an announced cover charge, remember that both venues are sit-down restaurants first. Check the above links for more details, and here's Tym live a fee years back!



Finally for weekend concert previews, here's who's playing at The Rockstar Bar THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, namely local party hard rock trio Stiffler's Mom! Once again, apologies for the short notice, the show was only announced earlier this week via it's own Facebook event page. We last saw Stiffler's Mom a month ago when they filled in for Bone Yard at the same venue, and their fan favourite covers should again provide an entertaining backdrop at The Rockstar Bar on SATURDAY, so don't miss Greg, Mike, and Jon then! Again, no word on whether they couldn't play Friday, or if Soundcheck wouldn't have been available for night #2. As usual for Stiffler's Mom's frequent Rockstar stops, SATURDAY NIGHT's concert is a 19+ event with no announced cover charge and a likely 10:30 PM start time. Check the above links for more details, and here's Stiffler's Mom live!



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

• A local musician named Dave Giulietti is looking for a drummer for his new band project that would play funk and rap rock with some blues, citing bands like The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine as influences. If you or someone you know are interested in trying out, message Dave at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from Friday!
• We surprisingly haven't acknowledged this on the site before, but inactive local progressive metal band Gates of Winter shared a 29 second sample of a new original named "Eta Carinae" to their Soundcloud page in January 2015! It sounds like the opening of the song (named after a star system), and is suitably heavy and orchestral, but there has been no follow-through there, and it's never been acknowledged on their Facebook page. Very promising, and hopefully the full version (and "Perihelion") will be heard at some point down the road!
• On March 4th, local alternative hard rock quartet Id Iota will join forces with Pixo Control alum Mike Mikus and folk musician/promoter Jackson Reed for a Fishbowl Festival-featured concert, but it will not be at The Gore Street Cafe due to DJ Seith's ReFind show that night. While the concert is publically announced (here's the Facebook event page), it will instead be a "garage show" of which the address must be requested in private messages, though the description hints that it may be in Garden River. Intriguing, so see the above links for details! As the address is not public, we can't include it in our concert listings.

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

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Stiffler's Mom & Project 906) And Weekend Concert Previews!!

Before we begin this post, I wanted to note that a new band featuring Mourning Wood's Terry Eaton & Glen Thomas and Lucky 13's Robin Lee are playing at Reggie's Place downtown this weekend under the name The Jukebox Junkies. Now, while Mourning Wood have played this country-leaning venue before (remember their week-long run there?), I can't confirm if The Jukebox Junkies fall into the same vein or if they're a full country band, but keep in mind that all three have been in full country bands previously. Now, let's talk about this weekend's verifiable hard rock concert previews, starting with SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS!

Sault Michigan blues/hard rock cover quartet Project 906 will make their Kewadin Casino concert debut when they rock The Rapids Lounge at the Soo's Kewadin Casino TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the band only announced the shows via their Facebook event page on Tuesday, and the venue's entertainment page isn't updated yet regarding shows at their lounges. This weekend's shows will mark Project 906's first of 2017, and first in over a month, following their Bay Mills Casino gig in early December, and it's great to see Billy, Joe, Dustin, and Will continuing to spread their wings to some newer venues! Hopefully their hard rocking covers will find a solid audience at The Rapids Lounge TOMORROW & SATURDAY! There's no announced cover charges, a 21+ age limit, and a 9:00 PM start time. See above for more details, and here's Project 906 live last year!



Next up, Sault Ontario party hard rock trio Stiffler's Mom are advertised to rock The Rockstar Bar THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! Apologies again for the short notice, this was only announced via the venue's Facebook event page on Monday, though note that the band itself hasn't publically acknowledged the show as of this writing. Stiffler's Mom are filling in for singer/drummer Greg Simpson's country cover band Bone Yard due to "unforeseen circumstances" on SATURDAY, so hopefully all's well in their camp, and Stiffler's Mom should be in fine form for their first announced concert of 2017! For reference, this is a one nighter due to tomorrow's previously announced concert from Vancouver's Harpdog Brown & The Travelin' Blues Band, so keep that in mind if you love the blues or missed them at Reggie's West today. SATURDAY'S Stiffler's Mom concert has a likely 10:30 PM start time, no cover charge, and a 19+ age limit. See above for more info, and here's Stiffler's Mom live!

Moving to previously announced concerts, local hard rock solo artist Tym Morrison will continue his long-term weekly concert arrangement at Gliss Steak & Seafood with three more solo acoustic shows TONIGHT, TOMORROW, and SATURDAY! Playing his 4th-6th shows of 2017 this weekend, Tym's vocal & guitar skills should be on fine display again at The Quality Inn's house restaurant over these next three evenings, so if you're up for an evening of unplugged hard rock classics, you know exactly where to be this weekend, and if his concert calendar is to be believed, weekly through 2020! As usual for the Caveman Morrison frontman's lengthy Gliss run, expect 6:00 PM start times this weekend, no announced cover charge, and no age limits, but remember where these are being held. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Tym live a few years back!

Finally for this weekend's currently known hard rock shows in the area, we'll head south to St. Ignace, Michigan, where Traverse City classic metal trio Peril will play their first shows of 2017 by rocking The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! The first of just two concert weekends from Peril through March (both at The Northern Pines Lounge), this weekend's shows should provide some solid metal favourites from Scarkazm's sister band, so definitely keep Jeff, Adam, and Brooks in mind for tomorrow and/or Saturday night! They nor Scarkazm will be back until the spring, after all. As usual for their E.U.P. trips, expect these shows to take place at 9:00 PM, you must be 21 or older to attend, and there's no announced cover charges. Check the above links for more details, and here's Peril live in concert a few years ago!



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