LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Frightlight), Garden of Bedlam & WLSO News, And An New Old Concert Video!!

It's time for some more news at the SMS before we devote tomorrow's post to our new poll (VOTE TODAY in our current poll while you still can) and possibly a concert review (Caveman Morrison?), so here's what's on tap this evening! We've got the latest news from an area radio station, a cool new classic concert video from a decade ago, and the latest news on Garden of Bedlam's Boxing Day return, but first, here's a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for next year!

The first metal/hard rock concert of 2012 in Sault Ontario is now confirmed, and it involves the return of Frightlight to the local stage! The horror punk/metal quintet will re-emerge after an almost 3 month break to open for Toronto-based Ramones tribute band The Merves at The Canadian Nightclub on January 14th in what should be a very interesting concert! This will be Frightlight's second local appearance & third show overall with new drummer Chris "FreaknStein" Thompson behind the drumkit, and I think it will also be their first concert ever at The Canadian Nightclub as well. You know their high impact brand of punk & metal will go over really well next month for this concert, as they've been missed around here! As for The Merves, they feature Lion Ride's own Mikey Hawdon on vocals & guitar, and it's nice to see him back in town! With the break since the last Lion Ride show here creeping up on 6 months, this could fill the gap well while we wait. For reference, The Merves also feature Maximum RNR guitarist Keith Carman (a bandmate of ex-Lion Ride bassist Brenton Ellis) & Mikey's Teenage X bandmate Phil Page on bass, adding to the local ties. By all accounts, their Ramones covers should get fans moving and rocking out all night next month, so don't miss them!

This concert is a 19+ event, there will be a $5 cover charge, and doors open at 10:00 PM on January 14th. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! This should be a fun night of punk rocking with some metal sprinkled in, and it'll be nice to see Mikey fronting a band locally again, even if it's not Lion Ride! The Canadian is right near my place, so hopefully I can make it out, and stay tuned for updates if they come in!

Next up, more official details are now out for Garden of Bedlam's CD release show at The Canadian Nightclub on Boxing Day, courtesy of this Facebook event page! Doors will open at 10:00 PM on December 26th for this event, there will be a $5 cover charge to enter, and as previously expected, it is a 19+ event. As well, Crank Sound Distribution will be on hand to ensure an awesome sounding concert from start to finish, so there's no worries on that front! However, like most of Garden of Bedlam's headlining concerts over the past year and a half, there is no announced opening band, in case you were wondering. And of course, Garden of Bedlam's first full length album "Everything Will Die" will officially be released on that day, though other release details (i.e. the album's price and where locally & online you can buy it) have yet to be officially confirmed by band sources. Check the above links for all current details on Garden of Bedlam's CD release show! Sounds good to me, I wish I could be there to rock out with all the fans and reap the rewards of the new CD! Hopefully I'll get it by the end of the month, but if not, stay tuned in January for my review of "Everything Will Die", and keep an eye out for more band updates!

Also new today is a new classic YouTube video upload by former BeeFMoutH member Boyd Rendell, who posted this almost 23 minute long video of Victoria, British Columbia grindcore band Iskra playing live at Foggy Notions (now Feedback) in the early 2000s on his YouTube channel! I couldn't reliably date this video beyond what Boyd put in the video comments, so it could be anywhere from 2000-2003. The video quality isn't high (likely from a VHS camcorder), and the audio has a muffled quality to it, but Iskra sound very heavy and brutal here, and there's a solid turnout of fans from what I can see! I'm not familiar with Iskra, but I know they'd fit in well here for a metal show if they ever came back, so take in this classic 23 minute video of Iskra grinding up Foggy Notions in the early 2000s below, and thanks to Boyd for uploading this!



Finally for today, are you a current student at Lake Superior State University in Sault Michigan? Are you interested in working as a DJ next semester, possibly for a metal show? Then WLSO: The Sounds of Lake State (90.1 FM) are looking for you! On Wednesday, I received an e-mail from current WLSO station manager Mark Collins, who told me that WLSO are searching for DJs for the spring 2012 semester, and he added that they'd love to have a metal show on the schedule. Preferably, Mark's looking for someone with a deep knowledge of metal that could play interesting, obscure, and brutal material on air. Other details, like times, format, and radio-related questions would probably depend on your schedule and preferences. So if you're gonna be an LSSU student next semester, and are at all interested in DJing (metal or otherwise) starting in mid-January, shoot an e-mail to Mark at endless.summer.radio@gmail.com! Metal's always had a presence at 90.1 FM at varying times with varying DJs, and it's be great to see it continue next semester, so if you're at all interested, give Mark a shout! Also, WLSO's website has had a major facelift complete with a new design, reversion to an old station logo, a new forum, a now playing list, a calendar, and much more, so check the above links for all the current details from 90.1 FM, The Sounds of Lake State!

That's all for today, but I might see you guys TONIGHT at Feedback for the Caveman Morrison concert, and either way, a new poll and last month's poll results are on the way tomorrow, so stay tuned! Thanks everyone!