LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Castle), A New Local Band, And More!!

For the first time in over a week, we have a news post on the SMS that does not have any concert previews! We're over the Rotaryfest weekend hump, in other words, so what's in this post? Some assorted recent updates, a new cover video, and a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for the fall, but first, here's more info on a new addition to our band links!

We have a new local hard rock band to add to our band links, and they are Gianni Gagoots, who you may have seen debut at The New American Pub on Tuesday night! Finally launching a Facebook page after that night's Cocaine Moustache show, this curiously named quartet features Late Shift guitarist Matt Sibilo and his former Redfined bandmate Josh St. Amour on bass, alongside ex-Rising Tide drummer Frank McCormick, with the guys also listed under comedic Italian nicknames (Reggio Scorregio, Antonio Mattarats, and Gianni Gagoots himself, respectively.) As well, the band lists "Bergio the IceBurg" (a.k.a. Enzo Scanganatts) on "congas and percussion", though I have seen no references otherwise to confirm if "Bergio" is an actual band member. Describing themselves as "a thick funk from the heart of The Great Lakes", earlier public indications had Gianni Gagoots playing improvised jam originals inspired by punk and hard rock.

As of this writing, there's no public media from Gianni Gagoots set or elsewhere, so if you missed the show, their sound (and who sings, if anyone) is still a mystery, but the guys have a talented lineup featuring three familiar veteran faces in the local rock and punk scenes! A joking Italian theme appears to be a theme for Gianni Gagoots on social media, and it seems to be in a good spirit! Stay tuned for more on this new band as it comes in!

Next up, here's that LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, as San Francisco doom metal trio Castle will make their Sault Ste. Marie debut on Wednesday, September 28th at the aforementioned New American Pub! One of the final stops on their Canadian tour this fall, Castle (whose lineup is 2/3rds Canadian) may be familiar to local fans as one of the nominated bands for the Juno Award for Best Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year in 2013, which was the year of local favourites Woods of Ypres' posthumous victory. Castle's female-fronted blend of doom metal and 1970s-style rock should be more than welcomed in the Soo in September, so don't miss out then at The New A! Local doom/sludge trio AlgomA will return to the Bay Street venue as openers in their first announced show since last week's Iskra concert, while one more opening band is to be confirmed (and no, the video linked on the Facebook event page to the unannounced band is not of them, let alone any other musical act.)

A production of Six, Two, Oh., this 19+ concert will have $5 advance tickets (door admission is $8), while doors will open at 9:00 PM. Tickets will be available at the venue, The Rad Zone, Case's Music, The Gore Street Cafe, and at Big Guns Barbershop (the East Street salon owned by Danger Cats alum Paula D'Agostino), and presumably through AlgomA band members starting on August 1st, so keep that date in mind! This should be a fun night of doom metal intensity, and it will mean that 3/5ths of the 2013 metal Juno nominees will have played in the Soo (following Woods of Ypres and The Cancer Bats.) Stay tuned for updates on this show as they come in!

Also today, here's the sixth installment of local alternative/hard rock trio The Din's cover of the month series on their YouTube channel from Tuesday! A rendition of Matchbox 20's "Real World", this takes things back to basics, as it's just a performance video with no camera angle switches, solo shots, or major post-production. I'm not a Matchbox 20 fan, but Mike, Tammy, and Brendan do a good job with this well performed & shot cover, which fits their style, so give it a look below, and stay tuned for more videos from The Din!



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

• Troubled Mind frontman Mike Vincent has posted a new original song named "Times of the Unforgotten" onto his Bandcamp page, which he plans to be the first song of "part 2" of a full album (not the debut EP with song names starting with "S", that's separate.) The track notably features a guest appearance by his uncle, ex-Winkstinger guitarist Jason Ladouceur, which is a nice surprise, he's been missed locally since he moved! Not a bad instrumental, melodic yet heavy at the same time, so check it out above!
• Another new free "album" from local alternative/jam hard rock quartet Sykotyk Rampage was posted onto their Reverbnation page earlier this month! Entitled "Krazy", there are 14 tracks that contain more of their irreverent crash music, so be sure to give this new "album" a listen there, along with many more recent songs!
• Downtown outdoor concert venue The Yard is considering hosting a classic rock show next month, and they cited Styx, Trooper, April Wine, and Loverboy as possible bands (though their Facebook page post from last week wasn't clear regarding if they were considering booking one band or all.) All have played in the area before (Trooper last played at The Canadian in 2002, the rest have rocked Kewadin Casino between 2008 & 2013), so there is a ready-made audience here for all four, so if you're interested in having some or all come to The Yard, make your voice heard on the venue's Facebook page!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for last month's poll results and our newest poll tomorrow! Thanks everyone!