LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Full Throttle), A New Local Hard Rock Band, And More Concert Previews!!

As promised, we're touching on Sault Michigan-area weekend concert previews today, but be sure to check out this weekend's Sault Ontario hard rock show previews (including a new confirmation) in the post below this one! There's live metal bands in both the Soo and St. Ignace this weekend, but first, here's some SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS tied to a brand new local band with a familiar name!

Remember how Sault Michigan hard rock quartet The Bottom Line have been teasing a breakup in recent weeks due to bassist Jack Slater heading out of town again for college? Well, it's been confirmed, as their Music & Art Dockside Festival set last weekend in Hessel was indeed their last show. That said, remaining members Ryan Kitzmiller, Joe Jenkins, and Will Storey aren't stopping there, as they've formed a new successor band named Full Throttle.....wait a minute, wasn't there already a local band named Full Throttle? Yes, but it's a complicated story. Ryan had originally joined a local hard rock cover band named Full Throttle in late 2012, but early last year, there was a major split in their lineup, with Ryan, guitarist Nathan Switzer, and bassist George Belleau leaving to form the short lived RamWagon, while remaining members Jason Lamoreaux & Mark Gillotte maintained Full Throttle with a new lineup (now including Donny Newell, Steve Pevarnic, and Chris Gurnoe) through last August, when they issued their last public update.

Fast forward to almost a year later, and the remaining local members of The Bottom Line have decided to re-purpose the Full Throttle name for their new band, with Ryan's former bandmate George Belleau replacing Jack on bass, so it seems likely that the old Full Throttle are defunct now, and/or allowed Ryan & George to use the name again. Somewhat confusing timeline, but it will be very interesting to see how the current Full Throttle does in the area! No word on how they sound yet, but you can get your first taste TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT, as the new Full Throttle will make their live debuts this weekend at The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino! They'll also be playing there next weekend (August 1st & 2nd), and again on September 26th & 27th, and it should be noted that these shows (which Kewadin's entertainment page has yet to confirm) all appear to have previously been London Gentlemen gigs, with next weekend's bookings once belonging to RamWagon earlier this year.

And yes, apologies for the short notice, especially as they were all announced two weeks ago, but they got lost in the shuffle until now. All six shows have 21+ age limits, 19+ age limits, and no announced cover charge, so check the above links and each weekend's Facebook event page (here, here, and here) for more details! The Bottom Line recieved a positive reception from what I remember, and if the new Full Throttle can build on that, they should do just fine in the area! Don't miss them at The Rapids Lounge THIS WEEKEND, so stay tuned for more as we hear it, and best of luck to members of the old Full Throttle in the future!

Also this weekend, Charlevoix classic metal trio Peril will return to The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT for another weekend of hard hitting covers! Last seen in St. Ignace two months ago (though they've played at the Soo Kewadin since), Peril are local favourites from their frequent trips up north, and while Jeff Hudson's other projects have been making inroads to our area lately as well, a good old Peril weekend never hurt anybody, and if you're up for some classic metal action, a trip to St. Ignace would satisfy that nicely! As usual for their Kewadin dates, there's no announced cover charge, you must be 21 to attend, and a 9:00 PM start time each night is likely. For more details, check the above links! If you can't wait until October to take in some U.P. Peril intensity, be at The Northern Pines Lounge this weekend, and for a preview, here are the guys live in Vanderbilt!



Finally for this weekend's known previews, Munising metal quartet Infathom will play a rare solo gig in Sault Michigan THIS SATURDAY NIGHT at The Savoy Bar & Nightclub! Last seen headlining at LemmaFest last month, this show is likely the penultimate in The Savoy's Summerfest outdoor concert series, which has seen bands like Power Slug, No Decision, and Ricochet playing shows outside in the West Portage Avenue bar's parking lot over a 6 week period, with Plastic closing the series next weekend. No word on why Infathom (featuring ex-Half A Man singer Dillion Semasky) aren't playing tomorrow night too, but keep in mind, they are from out of town. It's not often where we see Infathom play in our area without other bands joining them, but their modern metal covers are explosive and skilled, and you can catch them this Saturday at around 10:00 PM! You must be 21 to attend, and there's no announced cover charge. Check the above links for more details, and for a preview, here they are covering Godsmack in Brimley last fall!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and features this weekend! Thanks everyone!