LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Power Slug), An Inactive Band, And Much More!!

I hope you guys are continuing to enjoy the holiday season! As predicted, I assumed we'd have SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS today, so that leads off this post, but we also have a note on a band who's hit a year's inactivity for our band listings, a recent video posting, and more assorted notes, so read on below foe what you need to know!

Sault Michigan hard rock trio Power Slug will reportedly return to the stage for headlining dates at The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, we just heard about these gigs via frontman Chris Leask's personal Facebook page yesterday, and the shows have not been plugged on the band's own Facebook page. Fairly dormant over the last few months, these will be their first concerts that we've heard about since their Manistique road trip in September, and their first at The Rapids Lounge since at least the summer, and while we haven't heard much on why they took a break in recent months, it's great to see Chris, Bob, and Chris back in the saddle for one more weekend before the new year! You can take in their hard rock covers TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT at 9:00 PM, you must be 21 to attend either night, and there's no announced cover charge. Go chug your mug with Power Slug if you can this weekend, and here are the guys at The Bird!



Next up, we regrettably have a band to move to our inactive band links in the next few days, that being local/Toronto hardcore punk/classical trio RedD Monkey. While the guys have not officially announced a breakup, they haven't issued an online update since Boxing Day last year when they played at the former Roosevelt Hotel, with frontman Steve Mozarowski later confirming an indefinite hiatus (or worse) in interviews and Facebook postings. Active since their formation in Kelowna in 2009, RedD Monkey had grown to become one of the more prominent local punk bands of the early 2010s, which saw them go on tour a number of times, record three albums (though only two were released), and play a number of major local concerts like the first three Sewer Swampstravaganzas, Rotaryfest's 2010 Second Stage, and 2009's Algoma University Battle of the Bands. In the past year, Steve had stayed busy "songwriting" with The Apocalypse Afterparty, while his brother Pete has dabbled in solo cello work, and drummer Joe Bumbacco can currently be seen in the Toronto sludge band Larval Host.

RedD Monkey accomplished a great deal in their 5 year run, and while the circumstances behind their year-long inactivity were never publicized, their energetic and fast paced concerts have been missed in the past 12 months. I hope we see their third album "Opus 2" come out at some point at the very least, but for now, best of luck to Steve, Pete, Joe, and their other former drummers in the future, and fingers crossed we see them again!

Also, here's a new video from local grunge/hardcore duo Bad Back, who you can next see live opening for the Detroit reunion at The Algonquin Pub on Tuesday! Hyped as their "Sault Ste. Marie comeback show" (as they haven't played a public gig within city limits since opening for The Archaics in July), this video from drummer Nathan Sauve's YouTube channel on Monday will give you a preview at their setlist on Tuesday, as it compiles many strung together clips of originals & covers alike from a recent jam session. The audio quality is solid, but the camera angle leaves something to be desired due to it's high angle, fish-eye lens filter, and complete lack of Nathan in visible frame. It gets the job done though, so give Bad Back's newest video a look below!



Finally for today, here's three assorted shorter items from the last little while, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by band or store name:

• In their first Facebook page post in almost 3 months, local all-female hard rock quartet The Danger Cats revealed that drummer Calico Katie will be vacationing in England over the Christmas holiday, but they'll be back together in January to return to the stage. The girls haven't played live since September for unclear reasons, but hopefully they're back in action in short order, as they've been missed, and hopefully Katie has a great trip!
• Rudyard, Michigan hard rock cover quintet Exiled revealed on their Facebook page on Sunday that they're currently taking a break while drummer Justin Lawless and his wife welcome their new baby. Completely understandable, so look for them upon their return in the new year, and congratulations in advance to Justin & Anna on the coming arrival!
• Have you seen Facebook postings in the past week suggesting that Music Depot closed? A number of personal statuses suggested that the Gore Street music instrument store had it's last day on Saturday, but apparently, Music Depot just had an owner change and will be re-opening at some point soon, possibly next week. Hopefully that's all, as I know how much many local musicians like Music Depot! Our source is longtime staffer and Lucky 13 bassist Jeff Gray in a personal conversation.

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates over the weekend! Thanks everyone!