LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (The Side FX), A New Local Band, And Huge Upcoming Concert Updates!!

As we clear out most of our remaining extant Sault Ontario metal/hard rock news items, we have some big stuff to get to today, including big updates relating to a couple of multi-band shows later this month (including quite a major band reunion), some assorted recent notes, and a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, but first, there's a new band to touch on, so here's what you need to know!

We have a new local band to add to our Sault Ontario band links, and they are The Side FX! Described as a "hard rock, alternative and metal-ish band", their Facebook page was just launched on Tuesday, though they've been jamming together for a year or so. Their lineup features a reunion of former Papa Fogals Chair & Sulfur bassist Mike Bird and drummer Derek Turner (also of Garden of Bedlam), alongside Rob Speers on vocals and Alex Walls on guitar (neither of which I'm familiar with musically, though Rob & Derek are co-workers.) Their Facebook page says that they play "high energy tunes for a high energy crowd", which will feature covers of everyone from Alice In Chains and Volbeat to Sublime and The Black Keys. Interestingly diverse selection of bands (though I admit hoping that the overplayed "Lonely Boy" doesn't turn up live too often), and while half of the lineup isn't familiar yet, it's great to see Mike and Derek back together in a new band, and if you're familiar with their past work, you know they've got chemistry! And no, this means nothing bad for Garden of Bedlam, you'll see them next opening for Airbourne next month!

Speaking of shows involving Australian bands, when can you see The Side FX in their live debut? On July 23rd (one week from Tuesday), as they're one of two local opening bands for Australian "psychoska" punk septet The Resignators that night at The Roosevelt Hotel! One of three out-of-continent bands that local promoter J.D. Pearce is bringing to the Soo this summer (joining Airbourne and Brazil's Sanitarium), I wouldn't classify The Resignators as metal, but ska-punk fans should get a big kick out of them, especially with their horn section and fun attitude, so check them out if you like the genre! The local openers are the aforementioned Side FX and local punk trio The Northern Tragedy (in their second show in four days, more on that in a bit), so there should be a solid and entertaining mix of punk and rock for attendees! Admission will be $10 at the door for this 19+ concert, with an announced start time of 9:00 PM in effect. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! This should be an interesting concerts, and I know you ska-punk fans will love it, but the debut of the Soo's newest hard rock band is of note also, so check the above links for more, and The Side FX are now in our active Sault Ontario band links!

Next up, here's the latest updates on a few upcoming multi-band concerts this month, starting with local musician Josh Stephney's farewell concert, the Oddzfest 2013 Metal Mash-Up two weeks from today! The lineup has been finalized and expanded, starting with the return of... Bring The Fallen?! Well over two years after their breakup, the popular local death metal quintet (and three-time battle of the bands winners) will return for what I assume is one final gig to help send Josh off in style before he moves to Brampton next month, and this has to be big news for local metalheads! If you missed them since their last shows in 2011, be at The Oddfellows Hall on July 26th to mosh out with Bring The Fallen one last time! Also in returns, newer local death metal quartet Crimson Crusade are back on the lineup, just days after suddenly breaking up, with the news coming via Josh on the Facebook event page last night! It's great to see that they're not done (albeit, they haven't officially confirmed this), but if they've worked through the things that caused them to break up, then that works for me, and I hope this is just the first of many more shows!

The remaining new band additions are local alternative/grunge rockers Haggith (who took Crimson Crusade's slot on the lineup during their brief breakup), and they should deliver an entertaining set in what's now their Oddfellows Hall debut! The other new act is ex-Blackwater bassist James Watterworth in a solo set, and while I have yet to find a page for his solo material, his sound is described as "slap bass solos" on the event page linked above. Now on two multi-band shows this summer, I'm definitely curious to hear what James has in store, so stay tuned in case we hear anything! With the lineup now complete with an expanded 7 acts, the full order for the Oddzfest 2013 Metal Mashup will see Bring The Fallen fittingly headline at 11:15 PM, and they'll be preceded by local death metal bands The Bear Hunters & Shit Liver 10:00 PM & 8:45 PM respectively. The other bands will only play for a half hour each, with James Watterworth playing at 8:00 PM, preceded by local stoner death metal band Giwakwa at 7:30 PM, Crimson Crusade at 6:45 PM, and Haggith opening the festivities at 6:00 PM.

Remember, this ALL AGES show is FREE for fans with local band merchandise (and $5 otherwise), so check the above links for current details! This sounds like the perfect way to send Josh off before his move, especially as all of his live local bands (March Into Regression aside) will be playing, and with such a talented lineup for (potentially) free, you won't wanna miss it! Stay tuned for possible updates!

Finally, here's the latest updates on a sooner multi-band concert, that being  Bushplane Musical Madness II one week from Saturday! The lineup has been finalized with one new act and one changed band, so what's different? Well, the aforementioned Northern Tragedy replaced fellow local punk band Redundant on the lineup on Wednesday due to "circumstances beyond their control", and while it is disappointing to see Redundant out, The Northern Tragedy's busier local schedule is good to see for punk fans! The new addition will see the public and Sault Ontario debut of Mike Haggith & The Din, the jam/hard rock band featuring 3/4ths of event hosts Haggith in swapped roles, and they should deliver a fun set as well, which you can preview at this link! The full performance order was also announced via the Facebook event page, and like last year, Sykotyk Rampage will headline this July 20th event at 11:00 PM, to be preceded by Haggith at 9:45 PM, The Suicide Kings at 8:00 PM, The Northern Tragedy at 7:15 PM, Mike Haggith & The Din at 6:15 PM, and the aforementioned James Watterworth opening at 5:00 PM.

Tickets are now available for just $5 at The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Center (obviously the host venue), The Rad Zone, Case's Music, and Northland Music, while the door price remains the same. This should be a great event, and a nice alternative to the covers and indie/roots-heavy Rotaryfest stages that day, so click here for more details, and stay tuned for updates as they roll in!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes this weekend, including some new Sault Michigan videos! Thanks everyone!