SweetKenny's New Album, New Solo Guitar Videos, And More!!

Before we post my review of last night's show at The Canadian Nightclub, we have a new news post on this Sunday morning! Today, we have assorted shorter recent news items, and a bunch of stories relating to local solo guitarists, including two new video uploads and a long awaited CD release, so here's what you need to know!

Dafter, Michigan solo hard rock musician Ken "SweetKenny" Sutton's new album "Cracks In The Wall" is finally on sale! After being delayed twice from the originally planned Halloween release date, his seventh original CD (and third of 2013) finally came out on Friday, and you can now buy it on CDBaby! The album goes for $12.97 on CD, $9.99 on mp3, or for 99¢ for each track individually, so check the above links to pick it up, or stream it for free at this location! Described as a "heavy rock blues style feel album", "Cracks In The Wall" (which was recorded this year at Waterfall Records) has just 6 songs, giving it the same EP length as "Doo Hickey" from earlier this year, but unlike it's preceding 2013 releases, the new CD is all instrumental with no credited guest performers. I got a good vibe from this CD on a first listen, so fans of SweetKenny's past work shouldn't be disappointed, but when is a formal review on the SMS coming?

As we just reviewed the slightly heavier & longer "Perception" earlier this month, a review of "Cracks In The Wall" won't happen until May 2014 at the earliest, as we don't review albums by the same band twice in a 6 month period out of fairness to other bands. Check it out though at the above links, as Ken's prolific and entertaining original material is well worth a listen!

Next up, here's a brand new video from prolific Sault Ontario experimental solo hard rock guitarist Mike Cliffe! Though he's kept busy with his AudioFumes podcast and many Reverbnation song postings in the interim, this is his first video posting on his YouTube channel in 7 months. Posted on Friday, this video is the result of crowd-sourced suggestions to build an original song, and he got some chords and time signatures for this improvised jazz rock instrumental, which he acknowledges and thanks AudioFumes listeners for suggesting and helping with in a 90 second introduction. The song itself is slow and has a neat atmosphere and essence, but it's very well performed and progressive (complete with some psychedelic visualizations laid on top), and fans of Mike's vast array of original material should like his newest video! Check it out below, and hear and see much more of his original music above!



Keeping with the theme of solo guitarists, Ashes To Dust's Alex Hemy posted a solo acoustic cover of Def Leppard's "Two Steps Behind" onto his YouTube channel on Saturday! I'm not a huge Def Leppard fan, but this is a well put together cover with nice layered backing vocals and camera angles, and Alex's singing voice fits the song & mood, so check out his newest solo cover track below!



Finally for today, here's three assorted shorter news stories from recent days, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by band name:

• According to the new official poster for the event by Destroilet drummer Matt Waples, the Crued concert at The Rockstar Bar next Saturday will have $8 advance tickets (they jump to $10 at the door), with no announced opening bands. Get your tickets A.S.A.P. at The Algonquin Hotel to see this exciting Motley Crue tribute band!
• Sault Ontario industrial metal project Riverin (featuring Dirty Virgin alumni Matt Hicks & Matt Clement) have had an official Twitter page since 2010, but we only just found it the other day! As of November 9th, they were working on new music and looking for label backing, so it's good to see the Matts staying active with this project, and here's hoping we hear more soon! Follow them at the above links!
• Prolific local drummer Johnny Belanger filled in on drums for T-Rex Manning in place of Rick White at Thursday night's Diemonds-headlined concert at The Algonquin Pub, as per bassist Bill Bennett on the Facebook event page. A reason for Rick's absence hasn't been publicized, but he hasn't played a live concert since getting injured in that Roosevelt Hotel incident almost 3 months ago, so that may be related. Sounds like the show went well though, and it's nice to see 3/5ths of Jack Spades together as a result!

That's all for now, but stay tuned for my review of last night's Amy Ellis benefit show at The Canadian later today, hopefully before the Biipiigwan show! Thanks everyone!