YouTube Channel Profile Series: Blood Shed

It's now time for this month's YouTube Channel Profile, our randomly selected look at 1-3 (one this month) YouTube channels whose content is at least 50% devoted to local metal, hard rock, and/or punk artists and concerts! This month's random selection is of the channel of a local indie label whose content isn't for all tastes, visually or sonically, so bear that in mind just in case. That said, they have a loyal fanbase, many talented musicians within, and are celebrating their fifth anniversary this year, so read on below for this month's YouTube Channel Profile!
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Blood Shed (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Dw5V-Z54Mc2NNVv6sbDhQ)

Owner: Blood Shed Productions co-founder Tyler "Ringsnaps" Gibson, also well known from his vocal and multi-instrumental work with label-signed grindcore and metal projects Crucify the Whore, Rotopsy, Brutally Fatal, and Malignant Neoplasm, as well as bands like The Noochin' Lanterns, Tomgrindy, and T.E.N.

Channel Timeline: Launched on November 13th, 2012; Videos posted from that day through November 2016.

Channel Summary: The official YouTube channel for local independent grindcore/horror rap label Blood Shed Productions, this is one of the most prolific channels for uploaded content from local musicians, featuring (at last count) 227 individual videos! While some live performance videos have been included from jam sessions and concerts alike, including select performances from non-label acts, most content (especially earlier uploads) has been of audio content from released demos. About 2/3rds of the channel focuses on Blood Shed metal projects (largely projects featuring Tyler), with the remainder focusing on the label's rappers.

Why You Should Watch: While the divisive lyrical content, cover artwork, and presented metal subgenres will definitely not be to all readers' tastes (tread lightly if easily offended), the Blood Shed Productions channel will be essential viewing for long-time fans of the label, not to mention horrorcore rap, goregrind, and death metal, especially if you like your metal bands to have 2 members or less! It's very hard to single out individual videos on a channel this big, so if you're a fan, you'll have a good time combing through this one! That said, while the label is still active, 2017 has been a quieter year for the Blood Shed, and that has helped lead to no new uploads on their YouTube channel yet this year.

Our Recommended Videos To Check Out

Crucify the Whore - People These Days: The most viewed video on Blood Shed Productions' channel (and 6 of their top 10) comes from C.T.W.'s debut demo, though all of these songs have names and an album cover subject that may offend some readers, so I've chosen not to embed them here. Instead, here's the channel's most popular video with more a more benign title & visuals, and it's the October 2013 upload of C.T.W.'s song "People These Days", posted to preview the goregrind solo project's 2014 release "Welcome to Earth". This is quintessential C.T.W., with Tyler's brutal guitar work meshed effectively with programmed drums and pig squeal vocals, and while Blood Shed loyalists will be right at home, this will definitely not be all readers' cup of tea. The full album can be heard on this channel as well, but be warned that some song titles and the cover artwork may be offensive.



Rotopsy - Cops N Moms ( Uninvited Uninvited ): Most concert videos on the Blood Shed channel come from Oddfellows Hall concerts or house parties, but this video is featured here due to it's improved lighting and stage set-up, giving us a better look at goregrind/death metal duo Rotopsy playing their fan favourite original "Cops 'N Moms", inspired by noise complaints at a house party set of theirs. Filmed at The Primavera Hall during their set at November 2014's Sault Band-O-Rama concert, this song is one of Rotopsy's more accessible originals, with shouted vocals from Tyler and lead singer Dylan Taylor rather than growling, but it's an amusing number that easily gets a good response during Rotopsy sets! The studio version of this song has also been uploaded to this channel, courtesy of the label's 11-way split release in 2015, as have other live renditions.



Brutally Fatal - Stomp Your Feet (Live): I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge Blood Shed Productions co-founder Austin McCrae in this profile, given his own deep roots with the label as rapper Miracle Man and via his work in two different versions of his death metal project Brutally Fatal (initially spelled "Brutaly"), though each version's brief runs as Re-Born & The Revolution aren't documented on the channel. Otherwise, Austin's Blood Shed work is well represented here, including via jam session and live videos of both versions, with Austin on vocals & guitar or bass, and Tyler joining on drums for two stints with Mk. I. This video comes from a basement jam at label-signed rapper Phat Boii's residence in June 2015, capturing more of a punk-flavoured original that has lots of aggression and a unique side-stage angle! Videos of C.T.W. and Rotopsy have also been uploaded from this event, albeit with different camera angles.


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I hope you guys liked this month's YouTube Channel Profile! Next month in this series, we'll be taking a look at another randomly selected YouTube channel, and that random choice will be ForAllThatIsLost Fatil, better known as the official channel for the defunct early 2010s Central Algoma death metal band For All That Is Lost! Sticking with death metal here to kick off the fall, so look for that on or around September 26th, and stay tuned for more news and notes soon! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (The 3 Day Millionaires), A Dire Setback Updates, And Much More!!

Let's get some more news up on the site on this Friday afternoon, including some new video postings, a mysterious local band's latest updates, and first, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for next month that you might want to circle for your New Year's schedule!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires and new local punk band A Dire Setback will join forces to rock The Rockstar Bar's New Year's Eve party on Saturday, December 31st! Though not yet confirmed by the venue or the Millionaires, A Dire Setback announced the show yesterday via their Facebook event page. It's somewhat rare to see The 3 Day Millionaires having an opening act (not counting festivals and charity events), but The Rockstar Bar usually puts more into their New Year's Eve shows, and A Dire Setback made a solid impression in their debut concert last week, so hopefully they turn in a rocking good time to end the year! No word though on if this will be A Dire Setback's next show or not, as there is over a month to go in the interim, but we'll keep you posted. As recently usual for The Rockstar Bar's New Years parties, expect a $10 admission fee with advance ticket sales to be announced (expect them at The Algonquin Hotel's front desk), and this will be a 19+ show with a likely 10:00 PM start time.

This should be a fun concert to end 2016 with, so definitely check the above links for more details, but how about A Dire Setback's debut at last weekend's Live 705 Local Show at The Oddfellows Hall? We already covered videos uploaded to Live 705's Facebook page, but the band uploaded more and better videos of their co-headlining set onto their Facebook page over the past few days, so we can get more of a sense and look at the band so far! Five have been uploaded there, all apparently of original songs, including 18 seconds of an unlabelled song and the longer "Nightmares" (sadly both on a vertical camera angle), plus the landscape-shot "Wasting Away", "Kicking & Screaming", and as embedded below, "Catastrophe". A Dire Setback show good energy on these videos, which have elements of punk and melodic hardcore, and should appeal to fans of members' old bands! The band can be somewhat in the shadows, but these are our best looks yet at A Dire Setback, so see more above & below!



Also, the previously teased offical website for local rap/metal project The Apocalypse Afterparty has finally been unveiled, so what can we glean from it? Created using Wix, the site occasionally uses "The Double Eh" (get it?) as an alternate band moniker, it features streaming links to the band's material from their forthcoming debut EP "Bufflesnort", and it notes that they're the "proud bearers of the torch of Part Metal", while alluding to their public appearances and material releases so far as "sneak peeks". In terms of their lineup, the page confirms that "Sven Derful" (a play on "wonderful"?) has replaced Amber McKay as their drummer, confirming an earlier note that a drummer of that name plays on "Bufflesnort", but I can't confirm his full identity at press time. Also, the band has quietly added a percussionist & synth player named "Lady Rito" to their lineup as well, apparently making them a quintet. Again, I cannot confirm her identity, but if I hear more, we'll let you know!

The mysterious yet intriguing tale of The Apocalypse Afterparty continues, and with the most recent reports hinting at a February 2017 release for "Bufflesnort" in a non-CD format, the wait to see their new lineup may not be as long as you're thinking! Stay tuned for more from these masked bandits when it rolls in!

Finally for today, local goregrind solo project Crucify the Whore has re-emerged with a full audio recording from their set opening for Dumpster Mummy at The New American Pub in September! Recorded by Twistory frontman Josh Amendola and uploaded to label Blood Shed Productions' YouTube channel last week, this is of C.T.W.'s full 25 minute set, though individual tracks aren't given in the description. Not bad quality overall, albeit a shame that this isn't a video, but check it out below if you're up for some minimalist grind action, watch for a Cheesy Poofs cameo, and stay tuned for more from the Blood Shed soon!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's YouTube Channel Profile next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (The Nailheads & The 3 Day Millionaires) And Weekend Concert Previews!!

On this Thursday morning, let's tackle the first of another weekend's concert previews! Today's focuses on shows in Sault Ontario this weekend, including some SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, while we'll cover Sault Michigan shows in our next preview post. Now, here's what you need to know!

Montreal punk trio The Nailheads will return to Sault Ontario for a headlining concert TONIGHT at The New American Pub! Apologies for the short notice, the show was only announced via it's official Facebook event page on Tuesday, where they admitted themselves that it was super short-notice (the band listed this show on their official tour poster in July, but we received no local promoter confirmation until this week.) Last seen headlining in the Soo last October at The New A, this stop on The Nailheads' Too Cool For School Canada Tour will be their third in our neck of the woods, and their brand of old school punk rock should be welcomed TONIGHT, especially if you loved them in 2011 or last fall! Given the late local notice, promoters Six, Two, Oh. don't have a local opener secured, but will instead host an open mic before The Nailheads' set, so keep that angle in mind whether you're a fan or prospective performer. This 19+ show has a 9:00 PM start time (the headliners are pencilled in for 11:00 PM) and no announced cover charge, but bring $5 or so just in case. Check the above links for more details, and here are The Nailheads live!

Next up, local classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires will return to the stage for one night only THIS SATURDAY NIGHT at The Rockstar Bar! Again, apologies for the short notice, the band only confirmed the date via their Facebook event page on Tuesday. After taking the better part of a month off, this union of Havadder, Boxcar Junction, and Wishbone alumni should be in fine form to unleash their varied but often heavy blend of favourite songs onto fans at The Algonquin Hotel's upstairs bar on SATURDAY, so keep this show in mind for your weekend plans! Note that this is a one-nighter due to tomorrow's previously announced show by recent LopLops headliners Sulfur City.

THIS SATURDAY'S 3 Day Millionaires show has no announced cover charge, a 19+ age limit, and a 10:30 PM start time, so visit the above links for more details, and here are The 3 Day Millionaires live at The Rockstar Bar!

Moving to previously announced concerts, local acoustic hard rock singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will continue his long-term weekly concert arrangement at Gliss Steak & Seafood with more solo matinee gigs TONIGHT, TOMORROW, and SATURDAY! As the longtime Caveman Morrison frontman progresses his Gliss run week by week, his relaxing unplugged covers should keep fans entertained once again this weekend, especially given his hard rock pedigree, so don't miss out on Tym's extensive covers over the next three evenings at The Quality Inn's house restaurant! As usual for his Gliss concerts, these are all 6:00 PM affairs with no announced cover charges or age limits, but remember that this is a sit-down restaurant. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page, and for a preview, here's Tym Morrison live a few years back!

Finally for today's preview post, the guys at Six, Two, Oh. have one more show this week at The New American Pub (albeit with plenty of advance notice), as Toronto "ska-core" trio Big Brother will make their local concert debut there THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! The first of two "Ska Saturday" shows there from the promoters, this will be a great opportunity to check out Big Brother's hard hitting yet fun blend of hardcore punk and ska, so don't miss out during this stop on the band's swing of northern dates this weekend, and consider getting their new split cassette tape in the process! Local openers have also been recently confirmed via the official Facebook event page, and in a thematic reprisal of the Debutaunt show from earlier this month, Six, Two, Oh. have enlisted a Blood Shed Productions goregrind act and a stand-up comedian to open on Saturday night, they being solo goregrind project Crucify the Whore (replacing new local hardcore punk band The Eighties) and comedian Ray Lemieux.

While this is again a wildly varying lineup, there is a little something for everyone! This 19+ show will start at 9:00 PM, and has a $5 cover charge. See above for more details, and here's Big Brother live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for last month's poll results and our newest poll, plus more weekend concert previews, next! Thanks everyone!

Iron Maiden Comic Book Review, New Videos From Grindcore Acts, And More!!

Before we dive into our last weekend concert previews of the month, here's a new news post for your Wednesday, including some assorted recent notes, a new concert video, and some recent coverage of a popular local band, but first, here's a first for the SMS: A comic book review!

As you may remember, local artist Darren Emond launched the Iron Maiden comic book that he did the pencil artwork for at The Rad Zone on Saturday, and I absolutely came to get an autographed copy (this is a scan of mine), so I thought it was fitting to give it a review on here! One of a series of recent comic books from the Rock & Roll Biographies series from Acme Ink, the comic book is basically the Cliffs Notes version of Iron Maiden's band history, from the late 1970s through to the modern day, as nicely illustrated by Darren to a story by Paul Birch that covers most ground from their history. As well, the comic also explores a side-storyline on the band's mascot Eddie The Head and his efforts to protect the band and the titular Iron Maiden herself from evil forces out of the real world. The comic is solely in black & white, but the art pops, especially in the Eddie panels, and while some eras of the band are glossed over a bit in the story (the 1990s, in particular), the comic book is a fun way to explore Iron Maiden's history!

Note as well that Darren's last name is given as "Emmonds" in the credits, but everything else is well done and nicely laid out, with a tribute to late Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister even included. Overall, the Iron Maiden comic book is worth buying for $5 at The Rad Zone (if you can find it in the States, it's $3.50 there), so if you love Iron Maiden and/or comic books, pick up a copy A.S.A.P., and kudos to Darren on a job well done!

Next up, here's the latest from local/St. Catharine's grindcore trio Shit Liver, starting with an overdue note from their SooToday article from May 2nd, which bypassed us in our original write-up on it (my apologies), as Josh, Mike, and Matt will be performing in a Live at Six, Two, Oh. episode on Sunday! This occurs as Shit Liver return east from this latest Canadian tour, but unless there's a late notice show announcement, I don't believe they'll have a local concert this weekend. This should be a fun episode of the local recording studio's video series, so look for it on Sunday or later! Also from Shit Liver, their long awaited episode of Tuned with Donna Hopper went up on SooToday on Saturday, so what should you know on it? Filmed during the Motherfuckers-headlined concert last month, the episode features Donna interviewing all three guys about their move to St. Catharine's, what keeps them going, their work in the bluegrass band Dirtfight, and how they marry their bands' two genres, as set to video footage from both bands' tour dates last month.

Though the episode treads some of the same ground as the original article, it's a solid episode with some brutal clips from the Oddfellows Hall show, but the interview portion is badly drowned out when clips from Dirtfight's Gore Street Cafe show are featured (also, "Shitliver" is spelled without a space in the opening bug.) Still, this is some solid press for Shit Liver, so give the full Tuned episode a look above, and note that SooToday's video host still doesn't permit external video embedding.

Also today, here's some new concert footage from local goregrind solo project Crucify the Whore, as per the Blood Shed Productions YouTube channel yesterday! A 12 minute video with clips from C.T.W.'s set at the Metal Massacre 2 house party show on May 7th, the video captures some ferocious jamming from Tyler, with a receptive audience, but the video is compromised by being letterboxed when it doesn't have to be (it was already widescreen, why not upload it as such?) Give it a look below!



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

• After brief turns as Waterfront Legend & The River Cookhouse, the former Docks Riverfront Grill has again changed names & formats to the HD Sports Grill, as per this SooToday article plugging a recent job fair to hire new employees. Imee Yeun still owns the restaurant and former local concert venue, and it's unclear when the Foster Drive location re-opens, but part of the grill will include a golf simulator. Hopefully this theme and name takes for the long term at the former Docks, and we'll let you know if live bands return with it!
• Local musician Mario Gionet is looking for a singer for his new metal band that he's launched, as per his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from last week. No word on what he's playing in the band (I'm unfamiliar with him), but message Mario at this link or above for more details!
• In this SooToday article from Donna Hopper last week, downtown concert venue The Machine Shop is spotlighted to reflect on it's recent full launch as a public events site, it's upcoming restaurant, and the hiring of LopLops Lounge owner Stephen Alexander as the venue's events promoter (don't worry, he's still bringing bands to LopLops!) The article also serves to avoid confusion with St. Mary's Paper site locations from their development, as the Mill Square owners sold it in January, and it's not The Yard or The Tech either. Informative article, so get more above, and The Machine Shop's new website is now linked in our venue listings!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews and this month's YouTube Channel Profile next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Scarkazm) & More Weekend Concert Previews!!

On this Friday morning, let's finish up our previews of concerts on this busy weekend, so what's in store? A SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, related missed concert apologies, and a new video from one band, and show previews from three more events, so here's what you should know, and see our prior previews for this weekend in the post below this one!

Traverse City metal trio Scarkazm will return to Three One Three on Ashmun (the former Back Door) in Sault Michigan for one night only TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, we only heard about the show via the band's Facebook page on Tuesday. This show actually isn't it for their spring dates in Sault Ste. Marie, as we regrettably missed Scarkazm's shows on April 8th & 9th at Kewadin Casino's Rapids Lounge (which the venue never publically confirmed) and their Three One Three debut on March 4th for coverage on the site. I profusely apologize for missing them on here, there's no excuses on my end, but we will try much harder to stay on top of Scarkazm's trips north! It's interesting to see this talented trio playing a local venue outside of the Kewadin umbrella, but Three One Three has been more active as a concert promoter than The Back Door ever was, and it's great to see Scarkazm playing more regularly up in the E.U.P., so don't miss them!

Note that DJ Unforgettable is at Three One Three tonight, while Scarkazm are playing in Boyne City. A 9:30 PM start time is in effect for TOMORROW NIGHT'S 21+ concert, which has no announced cover. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page, and for a preview, here's a new video of Adam, Dave, and Jeff at Three One Three on Ashmun in March! A surprising cover of Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69", this cell phone video was posted to the venue's Facebook page, and while short, it captures a strong performance! The renovated interior looks nice too, so give this new Scarkazm video a look, don't miss them TOMORROW NIGHT, and apologies again for missing their spring 2016 concerts on here!



Next up, let's move to previously announced concerts, starting with Oshawa-based Bon Jovi tribute band Bon Jovi Forever, who will make their local concert debut TONIGHT at The Rockstar Bar! Fans of touring tribute bands (and Bon Jovi, naturally) should be eager to check out this band, whose faithful sounding and looking tribute to the New Jersey legends should be worth checking out tonight, be you a fan of their hair metal beginnings or more varied modern material! For reference, the Bon Jovi tribute that played at The Canadian twice in the early 2010s was Keep The Faith. Tickets are $10 for tonight's show, and while advance tickets were available at The Algonquin Hotel's front desk, door admission will jump up to $14. This is a 19+ event with an oddly early start time of 8:00 PM, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and for a preview, here's Bon Jovi Forever tackling "Living on a Prayer" a few years back!



Also this weekend, Twistory frontman Josh Amendola is hosting Metal Massacre II TOMORROW NIGHT, as a sequel to the well received house party concert at 124 Anna Street from April 14th! Another explosive night of metal is hitting this east end residence tomorrow, and with an expanded lineup with some new confirmations compared to three weeks ago, so who all is scheduled? Local doom metal trio AlgomA will make a rare headlining local appearance tomorrow, while most of last month's roster will return for the occasion as well, including death/thrash metal trio Pillory, Josh's new death metal duo Twistory (who still lack an online page), and new local death metal quintet Kaepora Gaebora, so come to see these new and returning bands once again! As well, two bands have been confirmed as late additions to the lineup, including Rotopsy bassist Tyler Gibson's goregrind solo act Crucify The Whore, as well as local extreme metal quartet Winkstinger (in their second show since their reunion.)

Strong additions that fit this house show nicely, so be sure to come early to see each band! Not too early though, as the teased acoustic afternoon set has been cancelled, but is planned to be revived for a future house show that Josh hosts, so keep posted for details on it. An 8:00 PM start time is in effect for this ALL AGES event, which will have "pay what you can" admission. This should be a fun show, especially for fans of last month's Metal Massacre, so keep this one at 124 Anna Street in mind, and here's AlgomA live!



Finally, we'll head back across the bridge for Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock trio Banned's debut at The Back Bay Grill & Games at Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley TOMORROW NIGHT! Continuing to expand their presence in the E.U.P., this is the first Brimley stop in memory from Alex, Don, and Wayne, and they should deliver a fun set of hard and classic rock songs for fans at this waterfront bar tomorrow! However, no word on why Banned aren't playing tomorrow, but for what it's worth, Project 906's recent date there was a one nighter. Also, as The Back Bay Grill has now hosted two distinct hard rock shows in a year's time, we have promoted the Bay Mills casino from our "Other Local Metal Links" to our Sault Michigan-area concert venue listings, so keep that in mind as well! Tomorrow's show starts at 10:00 PM (which is relatively late for them), you must be 21 or older to attend, and there's no announced cover charges. See above for more detals, and here's Banned live!



That's all for today, barring any super-late notice concert announcements, but stay tuned for more news and updates soon! Thanks everyone!

Id Iota & Highway 63 Updates, Plus Lots Of Assorted News & Notes!!

As we approach the middle of the month, let's clear out most of our backlogged news items on this Monday morning, so what's on tap? Lots of assorted updates from recent days, and a new live cover video, but let's begin with the latest EP and concert updates from a local band!

Local alternative/hard rock quartet Id Iota have confirmed that their debut EP will be titled "Maudlin Fair", and that it will officially be on sale during their upcoming tour dates! As per a post and video on their Facebook page this morning, copies of "Maudlin Fair" will first be available on Thursday during the Toronto stop of Tidal Records' Skate By Day, Rock By Night "tour petite", while Sault fans will have to wait until next Thursday (April 21st) during their local return show at LopLops Lounge, unless you contact members directly, one assumes. It's also not clear if "Maudlin Fair" will be available digitally or in stores in some form, but for reference, Id Iota's predecessor band Habitat Shuffle's only EP was released to Bandcamp, so Id Iota are familiar with putting EPs out there. It's great to see that Id Iota's long hinted EP is nearing it's release, and just in time for their long awaited return to the stage, so stay tuned for more on it, but how about the video that accompanied the reveal?

While this is the first public video of bassist Dan Linklater playing with Id Iota, it's just a short 15 second clip featuring the band playing part of an original track, with camera work by frontman Christian Lemay spinning around to each band member mid-song. Sounds good, if brief, so check it out below, and we'll keep you posted when more comes out on "Maudlin Fair"!



Next up, here's a new video from Sault Michigan classic/hard rock cover quartet Highway 63, courtesy of their gig at The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino on Friday! Posted to their Facebook page last night, it's a 79 second clip of them covering John Mellencamp's "Hurts So Good", and while it's obviously incomplete, this side-stage angle captures a strong rendition, with Henry Switzer's deep vocals adding some power to the proceedings! And yes, this confirms that they are still playing their announced Kewadin dates, despite not publically promoting shows on their Facebook page in the past couple of months. Give it a look below!



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

• Tyler Gibson's local goregrind projects Crucify the Whore & Rotopsy have both been added to the lineup of THIS THURSDAY'S Metal Massacre house show on Anna Street, as per promoter Josh Amendola on the Facebook event page yesterday. This will notably mark Rotopsy's first live concert appearance since July, but it's not clear if these were the hinted "other guests" or not. Solid choices, especially with Tyler & Dylan's past sets at this location, so see above for more details!
• Have you ever wanted to own a seat from the Sir James Dunn Collegiate auditorium where Dunnplugged concerts were held? An online liquidation auction is being held at this link where various paraphernalia from the inside of the now-closed high school is being offered to the highest bidder, and three lots of chairs from the auditorium are up for bids there! Two have no bids, one has $25, so if you're interested in some Dunnplugged memorabilia, see above for full details on how you can potentially bid!
• Three years after Village Media purchased local news website Local2 and turned it into an all-video site, the former SooNews.ca is being merged with it's sister news website SooToday in the next few weeks. In this press release, Village Media CEO Jeff Elgie cited this as "an important step in the evolution & expansion" of SooToday's local coverage, so videos can better compliment SooToday's existing work and reach a wider audience. This won't affect most existing Local2 programs (like Tuned), so we'll have to see how things continue to shape up, and we'll alter/remove necessary links on the site when appropriate!
• After a successful relaunch concert earlier this month, The Rednecks Saloon is apparently interested in hosting similar multi-band events on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, with Saturday, June 4th tentatively planned for the sequel, which may be longer with a partial all ages format. Co-promoter Terry Eaton revealed the news on two Musicians Wanted Facebook group posts yesterday, where he's looking for bands interested in playing this time around. There's already visible interest from many artists, so if you or your band want in, see the above links for full details!
• We have regrettably deleted local/London deathcore band Saints & Serpents from our band links due to the deletion of their Facebook (and only online) page at some point in the past year. The Valentine's Day Massacre successors were active from 2013-2014 & only played one show (in London) before quietly dissolving. I wish bands wouldn't delete their online pages like this, but given that The V.D.M.'s Facebook page was also taken down posthumously, I guess I should have expected it. Hopefully everyone stays active in music!
• We've also deleted The Searchmont Music Festival from our local concert festival listings due to the deletion of it's own Facebook page, and expiry of it's website. The festival (which only featured metal bands in it's inaugural year) ran from 2011-2014 before quietly being cancelled last year. Hopefully organizers can bring an event like this back to the ski resort in the future, as it's a great setting for concert events in the area!

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

AlgomA/Chronobot Split Release Details, Punk Rock Bingo III Preview, And C.T.W. Updates!!

We're nearing the mid-point of March 2016 already, and let's keep March going like a lion on this Monday morning with a post heavy on extreme metal content, including the latest from a prolific goregrind artist, a preview of the delayed third installment of a punk-themed event, and first, big updates on an upcoming split release from a talented local band!

The long teased split EP from local doom metal trio AlgomA and Saskatchewan stoner/doom quintet Chronobot will officially be released on Friday, April 1st through AlgomA's label Deadbeat Media! As recently revealed on their Bandcamp page, the split is visibly untitled (I guess "AlgomA/Chronobot Split" will have to do), and it will be released in both digital formats and on a 12'' vinyl record, with each band having a side of the record to themselves. AlgomA are contributing two new songs to their half, namely "Phthisis" and "Electric Fence", while Chronobot will include three songs on theirs (don't read too much into that, remember that AlgomA are no strangers to long and slow originals.) And yes, artwork for the split was provided by Adam Geyer, who also did the art for AlgomA's 2014 debut CD "Reclaimed By The Forest". You can pre-order digital copies now via the above links for $6 (no word on if that will jump upon release), though physical records will likely be primarily available through Deadbeat Media or at AlgomA concerts.

No word yet though on AlgomA's other teased split album with Hooded Menace, or if these AlgomA songs will be included on any future solo releases by the band. It's great to hear more on AlgomA's first of two split EPs, and it will be interesting to hear how this sounds and is recieved! Check the above links for more info, and get ready for April 1st!

Next up, here's our preview for the third installment of punk rock bingo at The New American Pub THIS WEDNESDAY, courtesy of AlgomA members' promotion agency & studio Six, Two, Oh.! After the late cancellation of February's planned third installment, things are back on for the delayed trilogy of this ongoing event, though for what it's worth, the Facebook event page notes that "this is going to be the first organized one." Like it's first two installments last year, punk rock bingo will see irreverent prizes for winners who get a line on their bingo cards (of which there's 9,000 ordered, with dabbers), and you could win everything from albums, movies, and video games to used clothing, artwork, skateboard decks, and.... breakfast with caller Brent Ellis at The Gore Street Cafe?! If that's a legit prize, it's a carry-over from the planned February bingo night. As usual, there is FREE admission (but cards are 50¢ each), this is a 19+ event, and everything starts at 9:00 PM.

Also note that reunited local extreme metal band Winkstinger were originally advertised to play their first public show in almost two years on Wednesday, but they have since dropped out of the event, possibly due to their ongoing singer vacancy. As such, this will be like the inaugural punk rock bingo via being just a punk-themed bingo night, not a concert with bingo (if you want that, be at The New A on April 6th), but it should be a fun & unpredictable time, so keep it in mind for Wednesday night, especially if don't plan to be at the VM Radio Battle of the Bands semifinals!

Finally, here's the latest from local goregrind musician Tyler "Ringsnaps" Gibson's solo projects, mainly Crucify the Whore! C.T.W.'s newest demo album "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature" was released onto their Bandcamp page on Saturday, featuring 20 songs (including a Mortician cover), and while the songs will please fans of their minimalist goregrind and death metal sound, the songs are a bit longer than average compared to older releases, with only 6 songs coming in at under 90 seconds in length. I won't list every song name here due to potentially offensive content, but some newer titles include "I Love Godzilla But I HATE Cloverfield" and "TEXAS". Physical copies are coming next month, but if you won't be chatting with Tyler in the interim, when are C.T.W. playing live next? In a post on their new Facebook page (more on that in a second) from last week, Tyler conceded that he hasn't "gotten as much set in stone" as he'd hoped, "but the word is still out there, and anything can happen."

Tyler did confirm that he'll be playing live at an event of some kind on Tuesday, August 2nd in the Soo, and he believes that C.T.W. or his two-man-band Rotopsy will be involved in a house show and maybe an Oddfellows Hall concert in April, and maybe a show in June, but the only firmly announced event at the moment is the Iskra-headlined concert at The Moose Lodge on July 14th. No word on if any of these potential shows will be courtesy of Heavy North Entertainment, who are still "no longer active until further notice", but one would imagine that Blood Shed Productions artists would factor into H.N.E. shows if do come back this year. And lastly, at some point since last fall, Tyler took down C.T.W.'s original Facebook page for unannounced reasons, and moved that project's activity in full over to his cybergrind project Malignant Neoplasm's page, essentially taking that page over.

This can't be a good sign for Malignant Neoplasm's future, but barring an official announcement regarding their status, we'll keep them in our active band links until at least August, and they're now linked on the SMS via their Bandcamp page. Though still as polarizing as ever, Crucify The Whore and Tyler's other active metal bands continue to do what they want without apologies, and fans should get a kick out of the newest C.T.W. originals, which are as heavy as ever, so check out more from them at the above links, and here's one of two new YouTube uploads of their new songs to the Blood Shed YouTube channel, namely "Organic Hipster Beer"! The other's title may be offensive to some readers.



That's all for today, but stay tuned for our preview of Wednesday night's last semifinal in this year's VM Radio Battle of the Bands at The Canadian Nightclub TOMORROW! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Griphook), New Videos, And More!!

I hope everyone's having a great day! For today's post, we're touching on a recent news article with a unique metal tie, a pair of new videos referencing two local acts, but first, here's a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for a veteran cover band's long awaited return to the stage!

Local hard rock cover quartet Griphook will return to the stage on Saturday, January 23rd for a headlining concert at The Rockstar Bar! After a six month stage hiatus (apparently to focus on learning new material), this talented veteran band will finally unveil the fruits of their recent labour for fans next Saturday, in what will be their first show of 2016, their first of any type since Rotaryfest last year, and their first at The Rockstar Bar since 2014! Remember, Griphook are the band featuring ex-100 Gran frontman Joel Syrette, ex-Bigsuit guitarist Brian Oja, ex-Hollow bassist Dan Beaupre, and ex-Gsis Murphy drummer Anthony Fabiano, and all have the chops for heavier material, so don't bypass them next weekend! And yes, this is a one nighter, no word on who's playing at the venue next Friday. There's a 10:00 PM start time for this concert, you must be 19 or older to attend, and there's no announced cover charge (but have cash on hand just in case.) For more details, visit the official Facebook event page!

Griphook's recent break was a little worrisome given the lack of online updates, but it's great to have the guys back at last, and hopefully 2016 is a much busier year (publically, at least) than we saw last year! Stay tuned for more from Griphook as it comes in, and don't miss their return to the stage next weekend at The Rockstar Bar!

Next up, here's the first ever music video from local goregrind solo project Crucify The Whore! Set to a new song from their upcoming CD "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature", this was uploaded to label Blood Shed Productions' YouTube channel yesterday. The song's title is what it is (and comes with the territory for C.T.W.), but the video itself isn't badly put together, featuring clips from live performances, some in-studio work, and various outside antics & camaraderie. It's short, but worth watching if you love some local goregrind, so check it out below!



Also, here's a new video of local skateboarders featuring The Pixo Control's "Scratch" as the backing audio! Uploaded by YouTube user Hooksane15 on Tuesday, this is more of a skateboarding video than anything else (compiling street footage from last year as a montage), but I thought I'd acknowledge it as it's a locally filmed and edited video, featuring boarders who you may recognize from the Tidal Records skate team, and "Scratch" fits the theme well! Give it a look below!

Finally for today, here's an overdue look at a recent SooToday article on a local artist who recently got a high profile gig with a major metal band! Last week, Wawa native and ex-Sault resident Darren Emond was interviewed for an article by SooToday's David Helwig which reveals that Darren was recently selected to draw the artwork in a forthcoming Iron Maiden comic book that will be published for their upcoming Book of Souls World Tour! I won't spoil the article proper, but it highlights the personal struggles that Darren dealt with in recent years, his path to becoming an artist, his artistic influences, and how he got the gig to work on an Iron Maiden comic (sketches of which are featured with the article.) This is an in-depth piece that nicely explores Darren's career trajectory, and if you're familiar with his art, you'll know he's a talent, as the sketches show! I don't personally know Darren, but he has a bright future ahead, so check out his SooToday article at the above links, and best of luck on the release!

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

Where Are The New Albums? (January 2016 Update)

As we continue to ring in the new year, here's our first monthly feature post of 2016, that being this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! Like before, this is our monthly look at the current release statuses of announced and at least partially recorded albums from local metal, hard rock, and punk bands, in order to keep fans updated as to where they are and when we might see them! This month, we've removed one album (The Pixo Control's "Probably Not") due to it's successful release last month, but we have a new addition and four updated entries, all noted with the title in italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
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AlgomA's untitled split CDs with Chronobot and Hooded Menace

Rumoured Songs (A): "The Electric Fence", "Phthisis", "Failed Stunt Fatality", "Canis Rabidus"

Rumoured Songs (C): Unknown

Rumoured Songs (H): Unknown

Background: In an interview with Vancouver webzine Not Your Scene on July 17th, Chronobot guitarist Dafe Landry revealed that the Saskatchewan space/doom quartet will be releasing a split album later this year with local doom metal trio AlgomA. Little was said about the album, but Dafe indicated a cassette release and a possible vinyl pressing might follow, and fans may remember seeing both bands together at past local concerts. Though updates haven't followed since from AlgomA's camp, they announced on their Facebook page on Monday that they were planning to release a separate split with Finnish death/doom metal quartet Hooded Menace later this year, to be released by Doomentia Records with art by Paolo Girardi.

Current Release Status: No idea for either, especially given that AlgomA's only public acknowledgement of the Chronobot split so far was a re-post of the interview on their Facebook page at the time, and the Hooded Menace announcement was just a few days ago. Things may be a ways off yet,but stay tuned as more comes in from either side of these planned splits!
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The Apocalypse Afterparty - Bufflesnort

Rumoured Songs: "The Crowd" (The Fury cover), "Rebel Scum" (The Fury cover), "Sweet F*ck"

Background: Before ever playing a public concert, new local rap/metal band The Apocalypse Afterparty announced on their Facebook page in August 2014 that they had begun working on their 3 song debut EP with producer Jamie Vincent (AlgomA), though they also alluded to recording the remaining songs with different producers. The song that they recorded with Jamie is "The Crowd", which you can hear in full at this link, though recent postings have hinted at recording said EP this year for a release and recording sessions at Tidal Records' own Mission Control Studios, albeit with a new lineup in tow. Though pubic updates have been sporadic as of late, the band announced last month that the title of the EP would be "Bufflesnort"

Current Release Status: As per the band's Facebook page on July 19th, they're "crushing the arrangements & compositions" for a planned 3 song EP of "entirely fresh material" with planned releases on mp3, USB sticks, and vinyl (no CDs?) This was all preceded by "songwriter" Steve Mozarowski's departure from the band and related lineup changes, but how that will impact things is unclear. It should be noted that The Apocalypse Afterparty's version of "The Crowd" is featured on Blood Shed Productions' recent 11-way split album, but at last word, the EP itself is still in the works. Hopefully more comes out soon on it!
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The Bear Hunters - The Dead Testament
 
Rumoured Songs: "The Void", "The Omen", "Neckbreaker", "I Fear No God", "Servitude", "Transcend Judgement", "For Glory", "The Wrath Of Angmar", "The Dying Den", "The Dead Testament", "Deception" (bonus rerecording), "The Forest of Forests" (bonus track)

Background: In tentative planning since 2014 under this title, local death metal quintet The Bear Hunters have been playing songs intended for their second full length CD for a few years now, but only fully began recording sessions for "The Dead Testament" on October 2nd. Following a brief fundraising campaign and the gradual unveiling of song titles, the band have been working with producer Dustin Jones at Mission Control Studios, and have shared sporadic updates on their Instagram page. Like on last year's "Eternal Hibernation", rhythm guitarist Josh Stephney is likely to record parts for the album despite living in Southern Ontario, but it's not yet clear on how bonus tracks will be handled.

Current Release Status: The band hasn't given any firm timetables for when to expect "The Dead Testament" in stores, but given that recording sessions only began in October, and that the band is aiming for a more professional sound and release for their sophomore effort, we might not see the full release until next year. Keep an eye out for updates though!
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Caroline Divine's debut album

Rumoured Songs: "Caroline Divine", "Looking For A Fight"

Background: After prior teases of recording sessions and the search for a spot to record, personal Facebook pages from members of newer local glam/power pop trio Caroline Divine have confirmed that they are indeed working on their debut album. The guys took the fall off from concerts presumably due to studio work, but greater details on the track listing, release formats, and so forth have yet to be made. Stay tuned to their Facebook page for more!

Current Release Status: No idea yet, especially as the band hasn't shown their cards yet concerning album progress, but follow the band to see when/if they announce anything!
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Crucify The Whore - The Beautiful Sounds of Nature

Rumoured Songs: "Don Q", "#1 Women's Rights Activist...", "It Is What It Is", "Banana Blast Beats"

Background: On their Facebook page last month, local goregrind solo project Crucify The Whore announced that their second full length release "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature" was in the works, with four songs from the planned disc already being posted on label Blood Shed Productions' YouTube channel. Presumably being recorded similarly to "Welcome To Earth", this release will apparently be about 40 minutes long, and will contain 20 tracks (which isn't a typo, C.T.W. originals are often very short.)

Current Release Status: The current target date for "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature" to be released is on March 10th, with copies being on sale for $5, so we'll have to see if that holds! Given the nature of Blood Shed releases, I'd have to imagine they have a good idea of what to do, but stay tuned for updates as they come in!
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Gates of Winter - Perihelion

Rumoured Songs: "The Stars Call My True Name", "Edin Na Zu", "Dimensions", "Time Warp", "Wormhole Mechanics", "Prometheus"

Background: Despite a hiatus from live concerts lasting over 7 years, Gates of Winter never broke up, and are slowly working on their follow-up to 2008's "Lux Aeterna". The first glimpse of the new album was unveiled in February 2010, when frontman/producer Lee Maines uploaded a snippet of their new song "The Stars Call My True Name" onto his YouTube channel, and he followed that up with more demo & rehearsal clips sporadically over the last couple of years, though all were later taken down. The band launched a new Facebook page in August 2010 to keep fans updated on the sessions, including the unveiling of a new song title, "Time Warp", and while Sault native Jon Morrison was announced as the album's drummer that fall, the album will feature programmed drums. In November 2011, bassist Steve Furgiuele confirmed in a YouTube video that the album, now titled "Perihelion", was planned for release in December 2012, with some older re-recordings likely for the summer, but Lee confirmed last month that the album would be delayed further, be retracted to EP length, and possibly be renamed. Other new songs, tentatively called "Wormhole Mechanics" & "Prometheus", was previewed in this video & this video that were uploaded in 2013 & last April respectively. Whether ex-keyboardist Brian Holmes will be included on the EP is currently unknown.

Current Release Status: Personal commitments and the like have slowed things down incredibly, but in the band's most recent preview video (featuring audio samples), Gates of Winter hinted that work was winding down on "Perihelion", including noting that "the silence ends soon". Good art takes time, and knowing Gates of Winter's talent and attention to detail, they won't want to release this until everything's perfect. I'll admit that I know a bit more on "Perihelion" than what I've posted here, but I'll wait until more public word comes out before elaborating, so keep an eye out for updates!
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Gnaeus - Loomings

Rumoured Songs: "An Exercise In Self-Awareness", "Lovers", "Fire", "When You're Gone", "Circles", "The Edge", "The Sound", "Mountains", "Crave", "Calling Out"

Background: Amidst various teases of recording sessions, local post-punk/garage rock quartet Gnaeus have confirmed in recent concerts that they are in fact recording their debut CD "Loomings" at Tidal Records' own Mission Control Studios, possibly stemming from their "Best Song" win at March's VM Radio Battle of the Bands. Though online materials remain quiet otherwise for progress on the album, the planned album cover and online sales location of "Loomings" can be found at this link, and details are sure to follow.

Current Release Status: Recent indications on Gnaeus' Facebook page mention that they hope "Loomings" will be out for Christmas, which has obviously came and went, but the band did note that and tracking was winding down as of October 20th. Gnaeus have been reasonably quiet online regarding album progress, but with cover art and various hints in recent months, hopefully we hear more soon!
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Redundant's debut CD

Rumoured Songs: "Miles Apart", "That December", "What You'll Do"

Background: Over two and a half years after their last documented studio sessions in the spring of 2012, local punk trio Redundant revealed on their Facebook page in November 2014 that they're finally working on finishing their debut CD, and will look to hold a CD release party for it upon it's completion. Details are otherwise minimal, including on if the guys will just package their older studio work for the release, or include new recordings, perhaps at bassist James White's studio White Wreckords. We'll keep you posted if we hear more!

Current Release Status: Though we don't know much on the new/revived album plans, Redundant did sound serious about completing their CD. That said, Redundant have only played once or twice in 2015 and haven't made any public statements regarding the album since 2014. If we hear any updates from their camp, we'll be sure to let you know!
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Telephone & Address - "Monster" and "The Early Tapes"

Rumoured Songs (M): "Unknown"

Rumoured Songs (E): "The Plumbers"

Background: Telephone & Address mainman Chris Shoust announced on their Facebook page last January that he's working on releasing "The Early Tapes", a compilation of songs from the first 4 Telephone & Address albums (2011's self titled album, and 2012's "Live", "No. 3", and "Broken Head"), all of which being released before their recent full integration into the local scene. Since then however, he quietly revealed on Facebook that a separate new album named "Monster" is done, with an advanced copy leaked to him by AlgomA drummer Jamie Vincent, which likely hints that Jamie helped produce it. No other details have been revealed yet, but some songs may be on their Soundcloud page, and when both are released, they're likely to turn up on Telephone & Address' Bandcamp page and on Interpunk, which Chris is also using to distribute physical copies.

Current Release Status: Chris indicated on the project's Facebook page that "Monster" would be pressed last fall, but if a release is coming soon or not isn't clear yet. As for "The Early Tapes", Chris revealed in March that it "will be delayed for some time", though he didn't elaborate on why specifically. It's also worth noting that Chris briefly announced collaborating with Boxes of Boom's Sam Decter as a drummer with Telephone & Address and under a new project name (Are You Now? or Have You Ever?), but references to Chris & Sam's work have quietly been removed from Facebook, and it's not known if this means anything for the "Monster" release. We'll keep you posted!
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I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! This series will return on February 2nd, and our next feature post (barring a flash album review) will be this month's Defunct Local Band Profile one week from tomorrow, so keep an eye out for them and more news as the year rolls on! Thanks everyone!

Local Metal Video Showcase!!

Before we get into this all-video post, just a quick apology for a missed concert, as Lucky 13 did indeed play last night at The Rednecks Saloon too. The band never indicated a Saturday nighter on the Facebook event page, and we didn't get concrete word about "round #2" until it was too late to plug it here. Our sincere apologies, hopefully both nights were awesome! Now, let's get some news and notes rolling again on the SMS with an all-video post, with concert video, two acts' studio material, and a solo performance!

We'll start with local alternative/grunge trio The Pixo Control, whose CD release parties were a success, if early word on social media is any indication! Of course, we'll touch on fallout from the shows proper when/if media or articles turn up, but both SooToday and The Sault Star posted articles about the release shows before they took place! SooToday's article just promotes the concert and the newly released "Probably Not" CD, but The Sault Star's Brian Kelly interviewed frontman Michael Mikus for this article on the concerts and album, so what should you know there? Within, Michael notes his reactions to finishing "Probably Not", and mentions that the final CD versions of their songs won't sound exactly as they do live, as you may have seen during "The 12 Days of Pixo". The article also confirms that cellist Emma N-K makes a guest appearance on the album, presumably on the song "No", which she has guested on with the band before.

Also, the article notes that The Rad Zone has copies of "Probably Not", but the band hasn't confirmed that yet. Solid and informative, so check both articles out above! As for the final two days of "The 12 Days of Pixo", the last two studio tracks from "Probably Not" went up on the band's YouTube channel on Thursday & Friday, including the aforementioned "No" and, as embedded below, the 9 minute long "Potpourri". We won't comment on the songs yet, pending our full CD review, but stay tuned for more from The Pixo Control when it comes in, and I hope the release parties went well, I wish I could have been there! Here's "Potpourri"!



Next up, local goregrind solo project Crucify The Whore have announced plans for their next full length release, with the oddly calm title "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature", but don't worry, they're still as brutal as ever! It's not clear if the picture of Tyler Gibson drinking is the final cover or not (especially given the dimensions), but he noted on the C.T.W. Facebook page that it'll be released on March 10th for $5, and will have 20 songs in between 30-40 minutes in length, indicating plenty of short songs once again. Two videos are on the Blood Shed Productions' YouTube channel with recordings planned for "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature", including one song whose name we won't give here as it's potentially offensive, but embedded below, here's two songs from it, entitled "It Is What It Is" and "Banana Blast Beats". Suitably heavy and minimalstic grind for fans and Blood Shed loyalists alike, so check everything out above & below!



Also, here's the latest videos from local classic/hard rock cover favourites That's Chester, whose future plans remain unclear, but have been staying busy posting daily "wake up songs" approved by the band and/or late guitarist Eugene Orlando. Some are just YouTube links to favourite songs, but three more concert videos have made their way online, all courtesy of guitarist Gabe Tessaro's personal Facebook page! I believe two of them are from the 2010 Rotaryfest (when they headlined the main stage on that year's Friday lineup), including renditions Deep Purple's "Highway Star" and April Wine's "Roller", and while the videos are a little fuzzy, the audio's great, and you get a good central angle of the band! The newest video, as embedded below, is from this July's Rotaryfest (That's Chester's last regular concert set before Eugene's death), and it's of them covering Deep Purple's "Hush".

Filmed from behind the band like on the prior Tommy video from this camera, you get a nice expanded view of That's Chester once again, so give these new That's Chester-approved wake up songs a look above & below!



Finally, former Ten Kings guitarist Joe Jenkins posted a new solo demonstration video onto his YouTube channel on Wednesday! His first video there in a month, this is of Joe testing some new guitar pedals that he got, and his playing sounds good with them! More of an informational video than anything, but fans of Joe's music will like it, so check it out below!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for much more this week! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Ten Kings), And New Video Uploads!!

I wasn't expecting to have a second post today, but with two more SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS that came to our attention earlier today, I got this mostly Sault Michigan-centric post ready! The rest of the content revolves around new videos, including a song from a Sault Ontario project, so read on below for what you should know, and check out more weekend concert previews and Sault Ontario updates in the post below this one!

Sault Michigan hard rock cover quartet Ten Kings will apparently return to the stage TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT at The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino! Apologies for the extremely short notice, we only heard about the shows via frontman Brandon Carr's personal Facebook page this afternoon (we missed their Facebook page's plug of them yesterday), and Kewadin's entertainment page still isn't updated to reflect October dates at The Rapids Lounge. After about two months off from public concerts, it's great to see this popular and very talented band back on stage, and believe it or not, this is their first announced concert weekend at The Rapids Lounge since February! Of note, Brandon indicated in the personal posting that TONIGHT'S show followed the annual Dancing With The Stars charity event for the Hospice of the E.U.P., and he's among the local celebrities and dignitaries who danced for the mirror ball trophy, so hopefully he got high marks at this great event earlier today!

Presumably due to the D.W.T.S. event's scheduling, TONIGHT'S show only will have a special 10:00 PM start time (TOMORROW'S will start at 9:00 PM as usual), and both have 21+ age limits and no announced cover charges. For more details, visit the above links, and don't miss Ten Kings' entertaining hard rock covers this weekend! Here they are live this summer!



Next up, local metal/classical project Theatre of Night have posted three new videos to their Facebook page last week, so what should you know? Two of them are just 10 seconds long each, and feature keyboardist Craig Harrison working on parts for new original material, and while they're too short to effectively comment on, you can watch them here & here! Embedded below though is a 2 minute clip of Craig performing an instrumental passage for a new song, this time with a stationary horizontal camera. Suitably dramatic (albeit obviously incomplete at this stage), it's good to see Theatre of Night staying busy, so give this video a look below, and see more from the guys above!



Also today, here's a new original song from Sault Ontario goregrind solo project Crucify The Whore, as uploaded to label Blood Shed Productions' YouTube channel on Monday! Entitled "Don Q", the song references Tyler's favourite rum brand (not Don Quixote, the rum's literary namesake.) Aside from a late hiccup of a different song entirely, this is a nice wallop of goregrind brutality for C.T.W. fans, and the song has been teased to be included on their next full length CD, planned to be released by the spring. Give it a listen below, and stay tuned for more from the Blood Shed!



Finally, here's a new solo performance video from Ten Kings guitarist Joe Jenkins, as uploaded to his YouTube channel on Sunday! It's the third version of his own solo composition "Pitch Black" to be posted there, and he noted in the description he re-recorded it for an uncredited friend that wants to add a drum track to it, and he does plan to upload that when complete. Sounds good as before, but definitely empty without added instruments. Give it a look below, and don't miss Ten Kings at the Soo Kewadin TONIGHT & TOMORROW! (Note that the Guitfiddlin reference is to an Instagram page that spotlights guitarists daily, Joe included.)



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