LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Promonium Jesters), Sleep When You're Dead Preview, And More!!

As we slowly wind down the month, we're back with some news and notes today, with a lot to say related to three stories about upcoming multi-band shows, so what's on tap? We have new band confirmations for a major returning event this summer, and a preview for a special all ages show TOMORROW, but first, here's a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT in a little over a month that's unlike anything you've seen lately in the area, so here's what you should know!

A unique blend of genres and not-often-seen styles will hit The Rockstar Bar on Saturday, July 6th, including Uxbridge, Ontario psychedelic industrial rock band The Promonium Jesters in the headlining slot! A seven-piece band that had previously looked for a local booking in 2010, they mix techno influences and heavier Nine Inch Nails-esque sounds into a prolific (though hard to describe) package, but it's all definitely heavy and a nice change of pace! They'll be joined by Southern Ontario techno/electronic project Defense Mechanism, who aren't quite metal, but they have a lot of darker electronic imagery & cool use of samples (almost a mix of industrial, goth, and 1980s synth rock), and I'm into what they're doing! Two local bands will be in on this show, including local progressive rock quartet Machines Dream (featuring Gates of Winter alum Brian Holmes on bass & keyboards), and they're among the most talented bands in the area for musical ability alone, so don't miss their set! The other scheduled act is Johnny Dillinger, which is the alias used by As It Stands drummer John Mignacca for his instrumental electronic material!

Though far removed from his local hardcore drumming, this will be John's first live stage appearance in almost a year (where have A.I.S. been?), but hopefully Johnny Dillinger makes some fans at this unique concert! This 19+ show (which is promoted by J.D. Pearce) will go down at 9:00 PM on July 6th, but ticket prices and details have yet to be unveiled. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! This could be one of the most original multi-band shows of the year locally (only the Rabid Whole-headlined show was remotely similar), so don't miss it come July 6th, and stay tuned for updates!

Next up, here's a preview for a special mid-week concert, as the first metal-headlined Oddfellows Hall concert of the year goes down TOMORROW NIGHT, including out of town headliners Sleep When You're Dead! A metalcore quintet from Oshawa, their energetic and brutal sound should appeal to metalheads and hardcore fans in the midst of their Tear It Up & Start Again tour, so don't miss their local stop tomorrow! Three local bands will open tomorrow's festivities, including the long awaited return of local extreme metal band Winkstinger, in their first local concert in 10 months! This will also mark the debut of their current four-piece lineup, which now features Jason Bourcier on bass (and no rhythm guitarist), but after such a long break and the obvious changes, how will things shape up? I'm curious to find out! Also joining them is local stoner/death metal quartet Giwakwa (replacing RedD Monkey) in their Oddfellows Hall debut, who should be ready to melt faces with their sludgy and brutal originals following their debut shows last month, so be there for their set!

Finally, local punk trio Redundant will open the festivities with their fun originals & covers, and despite not matching the other bands' genres, their talents will speak for themselves (and they have metal chops!) Redundant will open things at 7:00 PM tomorrow, there's an $8 cover, and like promoter Jamie Vincent's other recent shows, this is ALL AGES! For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! I will absolutely see you guys there for this hard hitting blend of hardcore, death metal, and punk, and how can you miss this relatively unique mix of bands at this price? For a preview, here's the music video for Sleep When You're Dead's single "Three Lights Madoc"!



Finally for today, here's the latest lineup news for the third annual Sewer Swampstravaganza at The Oddfellows Hall on August 21st, as two more bands have been confirmed for this all ages multi-band marathon concert, including young local hard rock quartet Ashes To Dust! This will mark the guys' first non-Superior Heights concert since... last year's Swampstravaganza, so if you're not a Steelhawk, it'll have been 13 months since we last seen them, which is too long! As well, this will be A.T.D.'s first non-school show with their current lineup, which now features frontman Noah Morden on bass, and Liam Yeomans on rhythm guitar, but fingers crossed all lines up for a better set this time around! The other new confirmation is local punk trio The Northern Tragedy in what may be their Oddfellows Hall debut, and their rising original sound should be a fun addition to this concert! Note as well that it'll be drummer Terrence Gomes' second Swampstravaganza appearance, as he played at the 2011 installment during his debut set with Changing Waves.

Now 7 bands strong, I'd assume 3-5 bands are to be added to the lineup, so click here for current details, and stay tuned for updates! That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news (and weekend concert previews) shortly, and if nothing comes tomorrow, I'll see you guys tomorrow night for Sleep When You're Dead and three exciting local opening bands! Thanks everyone!