This Weekend's Local Metal/Hard Rock Concert Reviews!

As we wave goodbye to June and the first half of the year, a new month is upon us, and we have lots of concerts this weekend to mark the midway point of 2011! I don't know of any metal or hard rock shows in Sault Michigan this weekend though, so let me know if there's some going on, as it's a lot harder for me to get show information across the river. Also, if you're curious as to the lack of Titan's Eve or C'mon previews, I'll have them later in the weekend to spread the shows out better, likely on Sunday. So, let's get to the previews of the 5 shows I know of between TONIGHT and Saturday!

First, it's the 22nd Roosevelt Hotel metal night TONIGHT, and two bands are currently confirmed for the show! The announced headliners are local classic metal quartet Sativa Rose, who will be looking to build on recent momentum stemming from their successful opening slot at the Dayglo Abortions show earlier in the month! With lots of exciting originals and covers in store, get ready to enjoy Sativa Rose's proficient classic metal assault tonight at The Rosie! Also announced are local hardcore quintet As It Stands, making their first Thursday metal night appearance in a month (and record-tying 10th overall), following recording sessions in Mississauga and a last minute opening slot for Versus The Nothing at The Rockstar Bar earlier in the month. These guys should be psyched to get back on stage tonight, so definitely make sure to see them tonight as well, as they're always good for a moshpit! A third band has yet to be officially announced, but I will keep you posted if Dismembertainment announce anyone before today's show. As always, there will be no cover charge, a 19+ age limit, and a 9:30 PM-ish start time, possibly later if it's just the two bands. Check the above links for more details!

This should be a good show, though I'm sure many of us are curious as to if a third band will be added. Not sure if I can hit this one, but I'll definitely be seeing Sativa Rose on Monday! (More on that in our next news post.) Head out to The Rosie TONIGHT for some great local metal, and for a preview, here's Sativa Rose covering Ozzy Osbourne's "Bark At The Moon" earlier this month!



Now to a band hitting the stage this weekend for double shows tomorrow night & Saturday night, but first, I have (at least temporarily) removed Full Circle's announced shows this weekend at The Nicolet Tavern from our concert schedule. If you remember correctly, the band announced a pair of short notice shows at The Nic last weekend, but nothing has been even implied for this weekend, which originally had Nicolet concerts as per the old Turner Up Facebook group. It looks like the band and/or The Nic's management opted to bump Full Circle up one weekend, and as such, I doubt they're playing any shows this weekend. If I hear differently, I will let you guys know, and remember to check them out next weekend at The Rockstar Bar!

If you're looking for some classic influenced hard rock, I do know of a spot you can hit this weekend though, as Sneaky Pete are playing a double weekend set for the first time! The rising local quartet will hit The Roosevelt Hotel tomorrow & Saturday night for a weekend full of hard rocking covers that should get fans moving and grooving! Nice to finally see them play two shows in the same weekend, I know they'll make lots of fans at both concerts! Both shows have 10:30 PM start times, neither have a cover charge, and you must be 19 to hit both. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details! Sounds like a fun weekend of hard rock from Sneaky Pete! I know Mike, Mario, Bill, and Sean have loads of talent and experience to deliver some great covers this weekend, so definitely check them out if you can! Visit their Facebook group linked above for some live videos that, though unembeddable, are worth a watch!

Also scheduled for Saturday is Caveman Morrison frontman Tym Morrison, who begins a brand new weekly concert arrangement that day with two separate sets at Service Grill Pizza on Korah Road, not far from The Rosie! After sporadic solo shows following the end of his last weekly arrangements in March, we're in for a lot of acoustic hard rock goodness this weekend and beyond through the summer, especially given that Tym will play TWO shows daily! One at 3:00 PM and one at 10:00 PM, going for around 4 hours each like usual. Neither set on Saturday has an announced cover charge, and at the very lest, the matinee at 3:00 PM should be all ages. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! It's great to see Tym back for some regularly scheduled solo shows, make note of this Saturday summer schedule, and as new dates are officially announced, we'll have them here! So go see him at 3:00 or 10:00 on Saturday, and for a preview, here's Tym covering Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" last year at Foggy Notions!



And finally, it's the weekend's likely biggest metal show, as Lion Ride are back home on Saturday night! Almost three months after last rocking the local stage, the local favourites will be back at The Rockstar Bar once again to deliver their punk/metal attack with their trademark speed and attitude that we've come to enjoy so much since their 2007 debut! This show will cap off the band's short "Summer Kick-Off Tour" in style, with the band sure to unleash originals like "Slapdance" and "Snail Trail" along with select covers! Also scheduled are local roots duo The Boot Hill Crooners (featuring Sheldon & Marshall Jaaskelainen of The Wild Turkeys), who are another talented openers choice, though not the best genre matchup. I should note that The Rockstar Bar's Facebook event page lists them as the headliners, which sounds odd given Lion Ride's prominence, and that Lion Ride themselves have never publically acknowledged any other bands for Saturday, so I'll have my eye on that for sure. A $5 cover charge is likely for Saturday night, you must be 19 to enter, and a 10:00 PM-ish start time can be assumed. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page!

This should be a great concert, hopefully I can make it out if I'm free that night! Lion Ride never cease to impress, and The Boot Hill Crooners will be at least interesting to see and hear for the first time live! Hopefully I'll see you guys there, and for a preview, here's Lion Ride playing their song "Stick It In" in Kitchener in January!



That's all for today, in all likelihood, as I don't have enough faith in my computer to trust it to work consistently given the weather forecast. Dirk from Sykotyk Rampage is apparently coming by Friday to take a look at it, so hopefully we can finally fix the overheating issue! I'll be back soon with a new news post though, including the openers for Monday's Titans Eve show (and our next "Where Are The New Albums?" post), so stay tuned for all of that! Thanks everyone!