LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Gatgas, Evilheart, Elements, And Hard Up!!)

In today's second post, we're 100% focusing on local concert promoter J.D. Pearce's new Gonqshow summer concert series at The Algonquin Pub, as there are plenty more concerts announced on it's Facebook event page through September for it! Four of the five shows that we hadn't touched on yet here are below in chronological order, so here's what you should know, and check out this weekend's concert previews (remember: Europe rock Kewadin Casino TONIGHT!) and more in the post below this one!

We'll start with the previously hinted concert on Saturday, June 27th at The Algonquin Pub, which we can now confirm will be headlined by London hardcore punk quartet Gatgas! The band featuring Sault natives Bob Bromley Jr. and Garry Ingram memorably made their local concert debut in September upstairs at The Rockstar Bar for Hardcore Homecoming, but they're the announced headliners this time, and their gritty and aggressive originals should find a similarly high reception in June! Actually, this may be considered a sequel of sorts to Hardcore Homecoming, especially as the announced openers both played that show too, they being local hardcore punk veterans Destroilet (in their third announced show as a sextet) and local punk/metal quintet Jack Spades, and they should fit in fine once again! I wonder if we'll see Garry join Destroilet again for another rousing cover of "Evil God Hater"? No word yet though on the Fistmagnet reunion show that was teased for June.

Like most of J.D.'s Gonqshow events, this concert has a $5 cover charge unless later stated otherwise, a 19+ age limit, and a 10:00 PM start time. For more details, visit the above links! Hardcore punk fans will want to sit up and take notice of this event, especially if you loved Hardcore Homecoming, so stay tuned for updates as they roll in!

Next up in the Gonqshow is a concert on Saturday, August 1st that will be headlined by Elements! No, not local funk rock quartet The Elements, I mean Edmonton hardcore metal quintet Elements, who will make their local concert debut this summer. Their hard hitting progressive-tinged originals should be welcomed by metalheads to kick off August, so be sure to check them out! Another touring band will join them in the Soo, that being Guelph progressive metal quintet Becomes Astral, and their own relentless brand of extreme metal has earned them a solid following that will hopefully grow even more in the Soo come showtime! One more (presumably local) band is to be announced, so contact J.D. A.S.A.P. if you want in, but imagine if the local Elements opened this one? Again, this is a 19+ show with a likely $5 cover and a 10:00 PM start time, so see above for more details, and give the out of town bands a listen!

Less than a week afterwards, The Algonquin Pub will also welcome a Gonqshow event on Friday, August 7th, and the headliners appear to be Montreal folk/punk quartet Hard Up! Also making their local concert debut, I believe, Hard Up mix punk and bluegrass together with stand-up bass and banjo thrown in for good measure, and if you like bands like The Rising Tide or The Brains, you'll find a lot to like with Hard Up! Local rap/metal quartet The Apocalypse Afterparty will open in their first announced concert apearance at The Algonquin Pub, and hopefully they add well with their diverse and creative sound for what may end up being as diverse a show as the AxMinister Gonqshow event! At least one more local band is being sought, so get on that if you want in. Like above, this will presumably have a $5 cover, a 10:00 PM start time, and a 19+ age limit, so see above for more details, and keep this show in mind!

Finally for today, here's one of at least two Gonqshow events at The Algonquin Pub in September, as Mexican blackened death metal trio Evilheart will make their local concert debut on Monday, September 21st (and yes, I meant the country Mexico!) Evilheart's brutal brand of death metal has alot of technicality and ferocity going for it, so metalheads should not miss this show, especially as how often do we see bands from Mexico play this far north? Fittingly, local death metal favourites The Bear Hunters will open the proceedings this fall, while the aforementioned Apocalypse Afterparty are also scheduled to open in a slightly surprising addition, but their entertaining stage show should find it's audience to kick things off! Unless later stated otherwise, expect a 19+ age limit, $5 cover, and 10:00 PM start time, but 5 months from showtime, a lot could change. Check the above links for more details, and don't forget about this show for your fall concert schedule!

There is one more September concert to announce here, plus some assorted updates for previously announced Gonqshow events, so look for those and more in the coming days, plus more news and notes! Thanks everyone!