LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (AlgomA), A Dire Setback On Shaw TV, And More!!

Before we dive into another weekend of concert previews, here's some news and notes on this Wednesday afternoon, including a solo performance video, updates on what to see in a recent Shaw TV OnStage episode, and first, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, so here's what you should know!

Local doom metal trio AlgomA will hit the stage for the first time this year on Thursday, March 30th when they make a rare headlining appearance at The New American Pub!  The show is AlgomA's first at The New A since October, and it will serve as their kick-off event before they head across the pond for their first ever European concert dates, though the band hasn't publically acknowledged specifics yet. Very cool, hopefully the guys have a blast overseas and make lots of new fans! This is also AlgomA's first concert since the release of their split single with Hooded Menace, though the show isn't advertised as a release party, and they aren't hyping up sale of the split there (at least not yet.) The openers will be local death/thrash metal trio Pillory in what I believe is their New A debut, and they should shred some of their own brutality to kick things off, so don't be late! Obviously promoted by AlgomA's own agency Six, Two, Oh., this is a 19+ event with a $5 cover charge and a 9:00 PM start time.

Though this is a smaller show than usual for Six, Two, Oh., expect a concentrated blast of sludge & death metal at month's end, and hopefully it sets off their ambitious tour on the right foot! For reference sake, AlgomA drummer Jamie Vincent's personal Facebook page recently featured a video including the posters for two more upcoming Six, Two, Oh. concerts at The New A that have not yet been publically announced (as of press time.) When & if more comes out of a public nature, we'll let you know!

Next up, local alt-punk quartet A Dire Setback are featured in the third episode of Shaw TV Sault Ste. Marie's new live music performance series OnStage! Originally advertised to air last month via Shaw Cable's guide, it instead premiered this past Saturday, following the second episode from Jay Aymar's show at The Tech in December. The new episode is the first to be a composite from different events, and it includes well done pieces on local rap label Underground Empire Records and local radio DJ/country musician Jeff McNeice opening for Brett Kissell, but the rest comes from Live705's January Jam at The Canadian Nightclub, which Shaw TV had a heavy presence at. The OnStage episode includes segments on only three of that night's bands, excluding Stegadeth, The Din, and headliners Gnaeus. In terms of Stegadeth's exclusion, I theorize that they didn't make the cut because they only played two original songs that night (Shaw can't clear cover songs for air easily, so they are usually removed in post-production.)

As for The Din & Gnaeus, they were the sole focus of episode 1 of On Stage, via The Din's CD release show last summer, so it's probably too soon, but might their footage and Stegadeth's originals be used in some form in the future? In terms of what Shaw did include in the OnStage episode, you can check out over 20 minutes each of opening indie/folk trio The Autumn Roots (who debuted second guitarist Chase Wigmore that night) and the local debut of Ottawa electronic project SleepWellCity (featuring veteran local punk bassist Nathan Bouliane), and both are nicely recorded and edited as you'd assume, so be sure to check them out (plus U.E.R. and Jeff's segments) via the above links! Now to A Dire Setback, and before we get too far, note that the interview segment with Shaw that they filmed pre-show is not in this episode, no word on when that will make it's way online and/or to channel 10. That said, what does the 25 minute video capture from their set in January?

In order, you'll see A.D.S. playing their songs "Catastrophe", "Nightmares", "Wasting Away", their newer originals "Faded" & "Forget This Memory", and "Kicking & Screaming", so click each link to go to each song! Like with the Autumn Roots & SleepWellCity videos for OnStage, this is well filmed and edited on  multiple cameras, and A Dire Setback sound vibrant and energetic as ever, though note that their OneRepublic cover and some between-song banter has been cut from Shaw's airing. Solid performance and video all around, so check out A Dire Setback's January Jam set below, and don't miss them, The Din, and four other bands THIS SATURDAY at The Canadian!



Finally for today, here's the first new posting on veteran local hard rock guitarist & Audiofumes podcast host Mike Cliffe's YouTube channel in eight months! This is of an original song named "Crimson Pogostemon", so named because it features a pre-recorded drum track by Mississippi drummer Bill Ray named "Green Patchouli". Mike is on guitar and bass here, as tiled with some trippy visualizations, before an epliogue where Mike talks to the camera about some musical effects and tones that he added to this track with his computer. I'd have put that first to set up the song proper, but it's a quality psychedelic yet hard-edged instrumental, so check it out below!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews next! Thanks everyone!