A New Album Release, More Anvil Concert Fallout, And Swampstravaganza Updates!!

We're back with a stacked news post today, including big updates from an upcoming all ages show, more notable fallout from a recent event, and leading off, updates on a new local hard rock album release and our spring CD review schedule, so here's what you need to know!

Dafter, Michigan solo hard rock artist Ken Sutton (a.k.a. SweetKenny) has officially released his eighth studio album "Ink!", over a week ahead of schedule! Originally slated to come out this coming Monday, Ken confirmed on his Facebook page yesterday that the new album can now be purchased on CD Baby at this link for $9.99 in digital formats, $12.97 on CD, or for 99¢ for each individual song, so visit the above links for more details! Self described as a heavy rock & fun album, "Ink!" has 10 songs, no credited guest perfomers, and features vocals again after not including any on last fall's "Cracks in the Wall". Ken also recently confirmed on his website that his ninth album "This End Up" (artwork here) is now in the writing & recording phase, and it is currently projected for a July release, though further details are not yet public. With all of that said, when can you guys expect a new SweetKenny album review at the SMS?

I had originally projected May (the earliest point after our 6 month buffer from our "Perception" review clears), but if another new album does indeed come out in July, I may hold it until then to determine whether "This End Up" is heavier than "Ink!" or not. There's still time to figure out scheduling for the late spring, so stay tuned as we hear anything, and check the above links to buy or preview SweetKenny's new album! As for this month, unless I get a copy of Telephone & Address' "Rotten EP" this week (or there's a flash new release), I've decided to give a long overdue review of Woods of Ypres' "Allure of the Earth" vinyl single this week, so look out for it shortly!

Next up, here's some more Anvil concert fallout, as the show is spotlighted in the third episode of Tuned with Donna Hopper, Local2's new music spotlight webseries! Posted on Saturday, it's the first Tuned episode to feature metal bands outside of their concert calendar segment, and it features excerpts from host/SooToday reporter Donna Hopper's interview with Anvil frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow (which you can watch in full at this link) before moving to Donna's interview with promoter/Jack Spades frontman J.D. Pearce, which also was previously online at this link. The "What's Happening" concert calendar segment spotlighted last weekend's Medifest fundraiser show at The Grand Theater and the upcoming fourth Sewer Swampstravaganza in May, before closing with some exclusive Anvil footage of Jack Spades' set! Coming from at least two songs (including their cover of The Ripcordz' "X"), 4 different video clips are included, and they capture the individual members well! Check out the full new Tuned episode (plus outtakes at the end) at the above links!

Lastly for our recent Anvil show fallout is YouTube user Christopher Paci's last concert video from the show on March 15th, this being opening classic metal quintet Project 421's cover of Iron Maiden's "Powerslave"! Filmed at a similar angle and clarity as his Suicide Kings video (partly thanks to lower crowd levels on the floor), the video captures their talents well, and Curtis McKenzie handles the song well on vocals, so give the full clip a look below!



Finally today, we have a bunch of updates for the aforementioned fourth annual Sewer Swampstravaganza at The Oddfellows Hall, which has been postponed a week from May 3rd to May 10th, as per the Facebook event page two weeks ago. A reason for the date change wasn't announced, but it had came out a few days prior that the show was booked on the same day as the well anticipated A Tribe Called Red show at Sault College, so that could be related. The postponement is a bit disappointing, but no full bands had to drop out since, which is good, so hopefully things go well on the 10th instead! In terms of the lineup, this year's Swampstravaganza has actually gained two bands, one of which being local thrash metal quartet Pillory! Fresh off their late notice set opening for Commencing Human Desperation at the same venue, this will be this rising young band's first appearance at this annual event, though frontman Robert Sartini did play last year's installment as Crimson Crusade's guitarist. Very nice to see them staying active, hopefully they tear it up this year!

The other new band addition is young local hard rock quartet Ashes To Dust, who you may remember from numerous Superior Heights Collegiate performances and at the 2012 Swampstravaganza (which is still the only non-school event I've heard of them playing.) They quietly dropped out of last year's show, and I haven't heard a public update on their Facebook page since then, so how different will things look from their camp come May? We'll hopefully find out soon! Last for lineup alterations, the previously announced joint set credited to the reunited Ye Olde Mold Pickers & their Grand Rapids-based successors The Filthy Cur has been contracted into just a Ye Olde Mold Pickers set for unannounced reasons, though remember that only Mickey MacKenzie of The Filthy Cur wasn't a Y.O.M.P. member, so he might be unavailable. Disappointing, but a full Mold Pickers reunion will be welcomed by many! Currently sitting at 9 bands (same as last year), the Facebook event page still advertises a band search, so if you want to see if your band can play on May 10th, message promoters above, and stay tuned for updates!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news this week, along with this month's Saultites In Out Of Town Bands Profile and this month's CD review! Thanks everyone!