LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Jackyl), Jack Spades On Tuned, And More!!

It's been a few days since we've had a proper news post at the SMS, so let's rectify that this afternoon! Today, we have a new preview video of a local band, a bunch of updates and changes concerning a newer project, and the latest episode of Local2's Tuned webseries, but first, here's a huge LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for later this summer!

Georgia heavy metal quartet Jackyl will return to our area for a headlining concert at The Dreammaker's Theater at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino on Thursday, August 21st! Best known for songs like "Down On Me" and "Push Comes To Shove", this will be their first local stop since headlining at The Essar Centre in May 2008, and their southern rock & AC/DC influenced sound will be great to see again in a couple of months, especially with some expected chainsaw action! Opening for them at this show will be New York glam metal notables Winger, who (I think) will be making their first regional concert appearance at this show. Best known for hits like "Headed For A Heartbreak" and "Seventeen", late 1980s hair metal fans should be right at home with Winger's energetic and talented originals in August! This show has a 7:00 PM start time and no age limit, but tickets don't go on sale until June 14th, and I haven't seen a price confirmation yet. In any event, you can buy them then at this link, 1-800-KEWADIN, or at the in-person box office.

Click here for more details! This should be an entertaining concert, especially if you loved Jackyl's 2008 Sault Ontario gig, which was a very fun show! I just hope this current one has lower ticket prices, as that was a factor in the low turnout in 2008. Stay tuned for updates on the ticket release and show in general as they come in!

Next up, the newest episode of Local2's music video profile series Tuned with Donna Hopper went up on Saturday, so what should you know for it's newest episode? This installment is focused around local punk/metal quintet Jack Spades' EP release show at The Rockstar Bar from May 16th, with the first two minutes showcasing concert footage of opening bands Project 421 and The Elements (though Johnny Belanger & Jesse Cook's acoustic opening set isn't featured.) After that, we get most of an interview that host Donna Hopper hosted outside of the venue with the members of Jack Spades and producer Jamie Vincent, so what's discussed? After introductions, we hear about topics like frontman J.D. Pearce's draw into punk music and initial plans for forming Jack Spades, the individual members' musical talents and styles, Jamie's recording process for the EP sessions, the album's packaging and release plans, and more, so definitely give that 6 minute segment a look! It's a fun interview, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves!

The concert calendar segment after the interview plugs the Heart/Jason Bonham show at The Essar Center on June 20th, and that's followed by a couple minutes of concert footage from Jack Spades' set at the release show, and then some bloopers. Awesome footage as usual, and everything's covered in solid detail, so Jack Spades fans will want to check the new Tuned episode out for sure! As Local2's video host doesn't allow external embedding, give it a look at this link and above!

Also today, here's the latest updates from local doom/punk trio The Revolution (formerly the second Brutaly Fatal), so what's going on in their camp? Apparently, the band has left Blood Shed Productions to sign with Haggith's label PaperClip Productions, which is surprising given that frontman Austin McRae co-founded Blood Shed, but their new sound is a better fit on the PaperClip roster, for what it's worth.  I'll note that Blood Shed Productions' statement on the matter didn't sound too amicable, but hopefully things aren't that bad. A photo confirming the new deal is up on the PaperClip Facebook page, and if anything, it's really surprising how detailed and official their label contract is! Leading from that, The Revolution's first concert under their new name will come on June 24th, as they've replaced the departed Pillory as the local openers for the Anciients/Havok show at The Canadian that night! Very interesting choice, hopefully they've shored up their sound and are ready to rock, so don't miss The Revolution at this huge ALL AGES metal show in 3 weeks, and click here for further updates!

Finally for today, local punk/metal quartet Chronic Demonic launched their own YouTube channel last week, and there is some new sneak peak footage at their current sound there! While we wait for their full live debut, the new-ish band featuring Gates of Winter, Bear Hunters, Fitswitch, and Faithless Sin alumni have posted both a YouTube copy of their latest preview clip and this new sample, which is shot in the same location as before, albeit in a sepia tone filter. Like before, this reminds me of one of Kevin's punk-influenced bands, but with death metal vocals, which is an interesting hybrid, but at just 49 seconds, there's still many unanswered questions. Check it out below though, and see more of Chronic Demonic above!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and concert previews this week! Thanks everyone!