The Apocalypse Afterparty - "Bufflesnort" EP Review!!

At last, it's time for our 94th monthly CD review at The Sault Metal Scene, as we're finally taking a look at local rap/metal project The Apocalypse Afterparty's debut EP "Bufflesnort"! After being in the works since 2014, the EP received it's initial soft release on Thursday at the soon-to-be-relocated private venue Mellow D's Underground, with tracks recorded last year at Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones,and mixed by Simon Head at Insight Recorders. The Apocalypse Afterparty are represented here by singer/bassist Z, bassist x, and MPC effects board player z (pronounced "zed"), who totally aren't "songwriters" Paul Stanghetta, Sara Biedermann, and Amanda Brown. Drum tracks were recorded by Z, ex-drummer Amber McKay (now in The Noochin' Lanterns with Paul & Amanda), and "Sven Derful", while the EP appears to have been recorded in full before percussion/synth player "Lady Rito" joined the group. If I have anything written incorrectly or with gaps regarding The Apocalypse Afterparty's elusive masked lineup, let us know!

Full information on physical releases is forthcoming, but copies of "Bufflesnort" were first released on Thursday, and if last fall's projections line up, they will be available on USB thumb drives and old cell phones (no CD copies are planned), and albums notably have four different cover photos. Copies can be bought at public and private concerts from them and sister band The Noochin' Lanterns, and at venues to be clarified, prices not yet publically stated either, though you can also download it free at this link and stream it on Paul's YouTube channel. If they update fans soon on missing details, we'll update this, but for now, let's begin our review! Running for 14 minutes across 4 songs (all in the 3-4 minute range), let's start with the first song, "4th Liner", which is is the first song on the advance copy that I received last fall, your mileage may vary if streaming the EP.

Right away showcasing a bass & drum style with aggressive rapping by Z, this later does include some soulful singing, and while they lack a guitarist (like predecessor local band The Fury), the double bass work is melodic and funky underneath the vocals, and there is definitely a harsh tone at times during the rapping. "4th Liner" is a lively yet minimalistic opener overall, with fun lyrics and the first glimpse of the hockey theme that permeates most of the EP! Second is The Apocalypse Afterparty's cover of Saul Williams' "List of Demands (Reparations)", a prior Fury cover favourite that The Double Eh have re-titled "Better Than The Hives Did It", referencing the Swedish garage rock band's earlier cover of the song. Arguably a fuller track overall than "4th Liner", this has more of a grinding bass riff, fuller drumming, and more sung vocals, and it suits The Apocalypse Afterparty's established sound! The MPC also comes a little more into use here from z, and this is a fun and upbeat rendition with extra live familiarity for long-time fans!

Third is "Lace 'Em Up",  which uses extra sampling and backing audio compared to prior tracks (including what sounds like sonar in a submarine), and it's more of a fully realized song than "4th Liner", with a very fast pace and quickly rapped rhymes from Z, though at the sacrifice of far less sung vocals. Is it wrong to say that the bass riff sounds a bit like "Do I Wanna Know?" by The Arctic Monkeys at times? Z and x handle the strings just fine on this rapid-fire original, a definite highlight on "Bufflesnort" so far! The EP closes with "Stanley Cup (Top Dogs)", which was originally titled ".500 Hockey" in advance copies. Harbouring a bouncy riff with catchy rapping until the masks come off (lyrically), then it takes on more of a melodic alt-rock sound for choruses, which actually sounds very out of place when you consider the rest of the EP. If you didn't know better, you'd think it was a clip from a side project! The verses are nice and energetic though, and this is a solid closer to the EP, if a little short compared to prior tracks!

So, what are my final thoughts on "Bufflesnort"? Well, it's a very unique album that showcases the masked bandits having fun and doing what they want with their music, and you can't argue with that! The obvious musical comparison is The Fury, thanks to common "songwriters" and both groups harbouring two bassists & no guitarist, but The Apocalypse Afterparty differentiate with copious rapping, sample and effects usage, and lots of hockey references, and that doesn't even count their visual motif and stage identities. The whole rap/nu-metal craze in the mainstream is a thing of the past, but The Double Eh make it work without seeming forced, with Z's fast rap skills and sense of humour melding well with the bass & drum accompaniment, and it all comes together particularly well on "Lace 'Em Up"! That said, the MPC could have been used more effectively early on, I found the choruses on the last song to be too much of a departure, and the lack of guitars may be distracting for some listeners.

As well, the lack of older Fury-imported originals like "The Crowd" and "Rebel Scum" was disappointing, especially given that a studio version of the former was recorded early in this EP's recording stages, but I can appreciate the emphasis on brand new originals. If you're up for some creative rap/metal fusion tracks from this unique local group, then "Bufflesnort" is worth a listen, so do so above, and hopefully The A.A. end their 2 year+ hiatus from public concerts soon!

I hope you guys liked this month's CD review, but what's coming up next for our May album review topic? At this juncture, I'm not sure, but here's what we can say. In terms of new releases, almost any new hard rock, metal, or punk album is possible if released, though our next review will not be of a new or old Telephone & Address album, as I only just reviewed their newest CD in December (but Chris is fair game again in June!) Our next "Where Are The New Albums?" post makes the site on Tuesday, so give that a look for hints as to what might come next. In terms of archive reviews, The Din's live album "The Din Does Laundry" is possible given their busy month ahead, but with an unclear timeline for their second studio album sessions (I wouldn't want to delay a review of that album), an archive look at a Haggith or A Fall From Innocence CD could come next too. In any event, look for our next album review next month, and stay tuned for more news this week! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (April Wine & Beaver Slap), The Gutter Demons Concert Preview, And More!!

Alright, this will indeed be our final news post of April 2017! I was preparing to hold out until Monday, but we have two big LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS and a preview for a show on Monday as it is, so I thought I'd get these on the site now, plus some solo material from a prominent area frontman. Now, here's what you need to know!

Halifax hard rock legends April Wine and former Runaways guitarist Lita Ford will rock Kewadin Casino on Saturday, June 24th, but not the Sault Michigan branch, instead playing an outdoor event on the back lawn of The Kewadin Shores Casino in St. Ignace! I have never heard of a hard rock show of this scale at the St. Ignace Kewadin, let alone outdoors (Kiss' 2007 show was in the Soo), but Kewadin's Facebook page notes that this is the kick-off to their summer concert series, so keep that in mind whether it's solely at this new outdoor stage or scattered throughout their casinos. Very intriguing regardless! This will be April Wine's first local concert stop since headlining at The Dreammaker's Theater four years ago, and with hits like "You Could Have Been A Lady" & "You Won't Dance With Me" dating back to the 1970s, you know they'll have a lot to draw from for their (at least) third regional concert! They also played in Sault Ontario in 1985.

As for Lita Ford, she became a very prominent sight in the late 1980s with solo hits like "Close My Eyes Forever" & "Kiss Me Deadly", and it'll be really cool to see her in our area in June, so keep her set in mind as well! I know my uncle will be very interested. Presumably all ages and at 7:00 PM, this concert's tickets will go on sale on Friday online, at the in-person Kewadin box office, and at 1-800-KEWADIN, though prices have not been announced as of press time. Check the above links for more details on this intriguing April Wine & Lita Ford show, and stay tuned for updates as they roll in!

Next up, another new concert is official for the very same day in Saul Ontario, as all-female Barrie hardcore punk quartet Beaver Slap will make their local concert debut on Saturday, June 24th at The Algonquin Pub! These girls definitely have the hardcore punk style down, with their noisy crust-influenced originals sure to make a mark on local fans in June, and they should gain a lot of new fans when they rock the 'Gonq, so definitely check them out in advance! Local openers will include the Algonquin Pub debut of local doom trio AlgomA, returning to the stage following their recent European tour, while local punk/metal quintet Jack Spades will play a rare show from an outside promoter when they hit the stage for the second time with their new lineup. Solid choices, so don't be late for the local opening sets! Promoted by Six, Two, Oh. in their own Algonquin Pub debut, this 19+ show has a $7 cover charge and a 9:00 PM start time. Visit the Facebook event page for details, and stay tuned for updates!

Also today, let's get our preview of a special concert THIS MONDAY NIGHT rolling on the SMS, as Montreal psychobilly/punk trio The Gutter Demons will rock The New American Pub in two days' time! Note that the show was relocated last week from The Algonquin Pub for unannounced reasons, as per promoter J.D. Pearce on the Facebook event page, so keep the move to The New A in mind! Local fans have been waiting too long for a psychobilly headlining act on a local stage, and The Gutter Demons' punk-influenced and road-tested blend of styles should satiate genre fans when they rock the Soo on Monday! Local opening acts will include the second live concert appearance from new local punk/alternative trio Handsome Sandwich, as well as the 2017 debut of funk/hard rock favourites The Elements, with both bands notably featuring Jesse Cook & James White in their lineups. Both bands should provide a quality soundtrack to kick off the night, so don't miss out!

Notably the first promoted concert by J.D. Pearce of the year (and his first in six months), this show has a $10 cover charge, 19+ age limit, and a 9:00 PM start time. This should be a fun concert for fans of punk, funk, and psychobilly music, and there's a little bit of everything to enjoy with these three groups on Monday night, so visit the above links for more details, and here's The Gutter Demons live!

Finally, here's a new solo cover of Puddle of Mudd's "Drift & Die" from Banned frontman Alex Traynor! While we haven't heard from the Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock cover trio in a couple of weeks, Alex is staying busy in the interim with solo material of his own, even launching his own solo Facebook page to promote his own material, and in case you're worried, he confirmed there that he is still in Banned. Honestly, given how Alex has been the sole focus of Banned's Facebook imagery since 2014, you could say that these are de facto Banned recordings, but this recent solo material is branded separately under Alex's name. Said uploads include an original song named "Crazy World" on his Soundcloud page, and two shares of solo cover videos from his personal Facebook page, including "Drift & Die" and a rendition of Santana's "Smooth", both as filmed by Eric Cairns at Third Cinema Productions. So, how do Alex's new solo recordings sound overall?

Not bad, he has a solid grasp of the covers, with "Drift & Die" a good vocal match, and "Smooth" allows him to showcase his guitar skill! As for "Crazy World", it's an upbeat hard rocker, and it'll be interesting to see how far his solo work goes! In terms of adding Alex's solo project to our band links, I am waiting for more material to see if it's hard rock based, as I know some prior solo work of his diverged from our covered genres. Check out "Drift & Die" below, and stay tuned for more from Alex & Banned!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's Apocalypse Afterparty CD review next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Rad Zone Battle of the Bands), New Videos, And More!!

In what may be our last news post of the month, we have some big stuff to touch on today, including some assorted recent updates, new videos from two bands at recent Live705 concert events, and first, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT regarding a major concert event, so here's what you should know!

The first band is official for the Rad Zone Battle of the Bands at The Canadian Nightclub on Saturday, June 3rd, as local alt-punk quartet A Dire Setback will take part in their first ever battle in five weeks' time! No strangers to The Canadian in recent months, A Dire Setback have carved a big profile locally since their debut last fall, but how will they do in this third annual event? As you may surmise from their registration, interested bands can now pick up entry packages for this year's battle at Case's Music & The Rad Zone, as per sponsors Tidal Records on the Facebook event page, so if you want in, head down to either location! Bands must pay a $100 registration fee again to enter, but they will recieve 15 tickets to sell for the event (a'la the past two years), so if you sell 10 tickets, you make the money back, and have 5 more to make a profit! Click here for the front page of registration forms, via A.D.S.' Facebook page. "Limited slots" are available for competitors, but note that no one-night local battle since 2008 has exceeded 10 bands.

While no other bands are 100% confirmed at press time, local rock bassist James White showed interest on the event page towards his bands The Elements and Handsome Sandwich signing up, but nothing is official from them yet. The registration deadline for this year's Rad Zone Battle is Saturday, May 20th (two weeks from showtime), so check the above links for all current details, and stay tuned for continued updates on the lineup, admission, ground rules, prizes, judges, and more!

Next up, here's that other new video from local alternative hard rock trio The Din that we teased yesterday, plus one more update! As you may know, The Din will be rocking out at LopLops Lounge on Saturday, May 20th, and an opening band has finally been confirmed for that show, they being local indie rock trio The Autumn Roots! This was announced on that show's Facebook event page, and it reunites two of the bands from the NLFB Meltdown audition again at the same venue, so hopefully Jeremy, Chase, and Greg (sorry, Carlos) deliver a solid set before The Din rock the stage! As for that video, The Din's full one hour set at Live705's March Mash-Up at The Canadian was posted onto their YouTube channel back on April 18th, and we've delayed this one long enough, so what should you know? This was actually filmed by Shaw TV's Christian Lemay towards their future features from the show, and kudos to him for letting The Din share the full set!

In order, the set features The Din playing "Flux", Haggith's "75" (with "Leamington, Ontario" intro), "In Search of The Perfect Moment", "Alleyways & Apartments", "35's The Limit", "High Park", Mike's solo songs "Potato (Should Have Known Better)" & "Leon the Janitor", The Tragically Hip's "Blow At High Dough", Mike's solo song "We Met As Surrogates" (partly retitled as "We Met at The Circus"), and "Suburban Dream", so click each link to go to a specific song. Very well filmed and recorded, though there is some colourful language peppered within, so check out this full Din concert set below, and stay tuned for our Sky's the Limit concert preview next week!



Also today, here's a new video from local hard rock/blues trio Electric Church's headlining set at Live705's Easter Bash earlier this month! Posted to their Facebook page on Sunday, this is of their original "Take Me Away" from their delayed set, and while it was unfortunately filmed at the vertical cell phone camera angle, it captures this fast rising trio in good form, so check it out below, and don't miss them at The Sky's The Limit either!



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

• Following their largely well received European tour run, local doom metal trio AlgomA are back home, and were scheduled to play at Toronto's Bovine Sex Club on Wednesday (source here). However, the band has opted to cancel the show while guitarist Boyd Rendell recovers from surgery he had while the band was overseas. Out of respect for it's personal nature, I won't elaborate unless the band does, but stay tuned for word on AlgomA's local return show next month, and get well soon, Boyd!
• In a clarification note from our recent coverage of Gianni Gagoots concert videos, we can now confirm that recent guest guitarist & conga player "Ronnie Famiglia" is in fact Jaime Jacques, who has drummed in guitarist Liam Seymour's recent blues/country bands The Barn Board Trio and The Boatload Killers. When a guest performer gets his own Italian parody stage name, you know that's a good sign! Thanks to drummer Frank McCormick and fan Alex Moore for the confirmation!
• Local musician Rob Charlebois is again looking to start a local rock band, and while he's open to most styles, he does not want to play thrash, metal, or "Cookie Monster" (presumably meaning death metal growling.) If you're interested in jamming with him towards a new band project, message Rob at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from Saturday!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's CD review next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Soo Art Rocks), Plus Din & Apocalypse Afterparty Updates!!

Here's a surprise second post for your Thursday, as one of the stories relates to a private event going down tonight! Today, we have a new video and promotion for an upcoming show, an apparently impending EP release (finally), and leading off, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for an ambitious concert in two weeks time, so here's what you need to know, and check out this weekend's concert previews in the post below this one!

Live705's next promoted concert goes down at The Canadian Nightclub on Friday, May 12th, as they host "Soo Art Rocks", a hybrid concert event and local art exhibition! If you were wondering what the teased "interesting twist" was, now you know! Returning to their most frequent venue after this month's Rockstar Bar trip, Live705 have enlisted their biggest music lineup yet, and it includes local alternative/hard rock quartet Id Iota (in their Live705 debut), fellow alt-rock standouts The Din (more on them in a second),  Live705's own punk quartet A Dire Setback, newer alternative quartet Bizotic, death metal/punk duo Them (in their first public concert appearance in over a year), Stereo North frontman Andrew Pucci's current acoustic solo project (which finally has a Facebook page), and unidentified performers from the Soo York City rap collective, which has boasted familiar faces like Conika and DJ Seith in the past. As for the art side of things, what should you know?

Credited artists will include photographers Josh Pace (of recent A.D.S. events) and Chandra Barnett (who snapped pictures like this at the Fishbowl Festival's garage show), plus art from Aaron Knight and Lion Ride/Detroit alum Brenton Ellis, who will all be displaying and, in some cases, selling their wares on May 12th. Very intriguing, it will be interesting to see if the art angle is a hit! There will be a door prize as well, strongly hinted to be a print of one of Josh's concert photos. A 19+ show with doors opening at the conveniently specific time of 7:05 PM (get it?), this show is the third straight from Live705 to have a straight ticket & admission price ($10) with obtainable $2 off vouchers instead of $8 advance tickets, so this must be a working formula for the promoters if they've stuck with this experiment this long. If you're so inclined, you can get your vouchers from performers, and tickets are on sale at The Canadian Motor Hotel's front desk. For more details on Soo Art Rocks, visit the official Facebook event page!

From the art show angle to the wide ranging genre lineup to the continued voucher usage, Live705 aren't afraid to try new things and push boundaries with their events, so whether you're in it for the music or the art, there's a little something for everyone! Check the above links for much more on Soo Art Rocks, and stay tuned for updates if they come in!

Next up, it appears to be happening at last: The Apocalypse Afterparty's debut EP "Bufflesnort" will finally have it's initial soft release TONIGHT at a private concert at Mellow D's Underground! Their sister band The Noochin' Lanterns will reportedly have copies for sale at this show, which will have an open mic block too, and while there's no other confirmation of performers, I don't think The A.A. proper are on the band lineup. As per their Facebook page on Sunday, The Apocalypse Afterparty will have "Bufflesnort" available on USB thumb drives and a to be announced "variety of other media" (CDs not among them), with plans to unveil vendors tomorrow where you can buy your own copies. If things line up as planned, then it's great to finally see "Bufflesnort" released, as the EP has been teased to come out for months now, and has been in the works in varying forms for well over 2 years. Assuming it does come out as scheduled, look for our review of "Bufflesnort" this weekend, and inquire above if you want to check out the action at Mellow D's tonight!

Finally, here's some updates from the aforementioned Din, and yes, we will touch on their recent full concert video in the coming days as well! Today's updates all relate to their set at next week's second annual Sky's The Limit mental health fundraiser concert at The Tech, starting with a pair of new lineup confirmations, both returnees from last year who successfully auditioned again last week. One is Electric Church, the rising young blues/hard rock trio who first came onto our radar at last year's event (stay tuned soon for a new video of theirs as well), and Christian rapper Tristan "Bold Noize" Goslow, who performed as White Noize last year. Great to see both back for year #2 and the causes it supports! No word yet on the other performers, but remember that promoters never publically unveiled a performer lineup last year. As for The Din, they posted this new video onto their Facebook page on Tuesday, so what should you know on it?

The video features The Din hyping the show and what you should know as attendees, before realizing that Tristan is also there unannounced. The video ends with a parody "endorsement" from a public figure, and while I won't turn the site political over it, I'll say that it's funny, though not a perfect impersonation. Give it a look below, see above for info on how to attend The Sky's The Limit II at The Tech, and stay tuned for that full Din concert video!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and this month's CD review soon! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Stiffler's Mom & Mourning Wood), The Latter Band's End, And More!!

It's now time for our last concert preview post of the month, barring any further late notice announcements, and if you're wondering why we haven't covered either Live705's new concert or new Din videos, don't worry, they will be in our next news post! Now, let's kick things off with SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS from two bands, including the previously announced demise & merger of one of them!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Mourning Wood will end their local run with concerts at The Esquire Club TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, we were waiting for confirmation of which band name these shows would be under, which only came via the official Facebook event page yesterday. Three weeks after announcing their impending merger with sister band Soundcheck, Mourning Wood will cease operations under that name after this weekend's shows, with the event page confirming that they're dropping that name going forward due to "a lot of backlash", presumably for it's provocative origins. Technically, these will be Mourning Wood's only gigs with "new" guitarist Travis Sharpe, and with Steven Flint moving to drums to replace Glen Thomas, but these are Soundcheck shows in all but name, and you'll see the same lineup moving forward as that band, including at The Esquire Club on May 19th & 20th in two more new confirmations, albeit announced for Mourning Wood at the time!

Our source for the May weekend is this concert calendar from the venue, and if they are not being transferred to Soundcheck, we will remove the shows from our listings. TOMORROW, SATURDAY, and next month's Mourning Wood/Soundcheck concerts have 19+ age limits, no cover charges, and 10:00 PM start times, so check the above links for more details! Mourning Wood have been a very familiar sight at numerous venues since their debut in mid-2014, and while I often wished that they'd promote shows with more advance notice (or any notice at all for their country-tinged Reggie's Place gigs), they were always reliable in concerts for familiar classics & fan requests. Memorable sets at Rotaryfest 2015, two Toystocks, and their week-long Reggie's run last year were among their highlights, and I'm sure Terry, Paul, and Steven will carry that along with them with Travis in Soundcheck as 2017 rolls along. Best of luck to them, T.J., and Glen in the future, and here's Mourning Wood live!



Next up, local hard rock cover trio Stiffler's Mom will return to The Rockstar Bar for one night only THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! Again, apologies for the short notice, the band only announced the show on their Facebook page yesterday, though the venue's physical marquee board had advertised it for at least a day prior. After a month away from the local stage, this veteran party band will continue their recent Rockstar-only stretch of concerts to start 2017 with another night of familiar fan favourites on SATURDAY NIGHT, so don't miss out! No word though on who's playing at The Rockstar Bar tomorrow night, and if you're hoping to check out Stiffler's Mom outside of The Algonquin Hotel, remember that they will be back at The Esquire Club in June. Expect no cover charge and a 19+ age limit for this concert, and a 10:30 PM start time is likely for SATURDAY, so check the above links for more details, and here's Stiffler's Mom live!



Finally for today's currently known hard rock concert previews, veteran local hard rock singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will return to Gliss Steak & Seafood for his previously announced regular acoustic gigs TOMORROW & SATURDAY! Wrapping up another busy month at The Quality Inn's house restaurant this weekend, Tym's unplugged cover favourites should prove to be another solid musical backdrop for patrons and fans at this downtown location this weekend, so keep Tym's Gliss shows in mind if you want a more reserved night of classics! Remember that we will address his likely May concerts at this venue in time for next week's concert previews. In terms of tomorrow & Saturday, expect 6:00 PM matinee start times, no announced cover charges, and no official age limits, but remember where these shows are being held. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Tym live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and this month's CD review soon! Thanks everyone!

YouTube Channel Profile Series: FRANKIE BANALI & Amanda Brown

With a slow news patch and a forecasted quiet concert weekend ahead, I expect to do some condensing this week, so let's keep the site active with this month's YouTube Channel Profiles a day early! Our monthly spotlight of 1-3 randomly selected YouTube channels with at least 50% local metal, hard rock, and/or punk content has taken us to two channels this month, including one unfortunate video hyping a show that didn't happen, but more still from a unique local band who we haven't seen nearly enough of on stage. Here's what you need to know!
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FRANKIE BANALI (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBO9pKFVZd0rB-EtNqiwwbg)

Owner: Unknown (the channel is named for Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali, but I don't think he'd launch a YouTube channel solely to advertise a single concert.)

Channel Timeline: Launched on March 29th, 2013; Only video uploaded on March 13th, 2017

Channel Summary: Posted two weeks out from their planned headlining concert at The Machine Shop on March 30th, this short video features Frankie Banali hyping up Quiet Riot's intended local return show, as well as noting that tickets were selling fast. This video felt slightly rushed, but it was solid promotion for this show, straight from the metal legends' longest serving member! It's too bad that promoters CSA International indefinitely postponed the concert due to "reasons beyond our control", and it's not clear if the show will ever be re-booked, so keep that in mind when viewing this clip. Also, this channel has not been publically used otherwise.


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Amanda Brown (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBO9pKFVZd0rB-EtNqiwwbg)

Owner: Noochin' Lanterns drummer, Apocalypse Afterparty songwriter, and Smokin' Heroines co-founder Amanda Brown, a.k.a. Apocalypse Afterparty MPC sample player "z"

Channel Timeline: Launched on May 23rd, 2014; Videos posted from that August through December 2016

Channel Summary: Ostensibly a personal use channel, Amanda has devoted five of her six videos to early performances and songwriting by her band The Apocalypse Afterparty, though all of these videos precede the debut of "z" in their lineup. Her only other video is of her and boyfriend/bandmate Paul Stanghetta touring their new house this past December, and is not otherwise music related.

Why You Should Watch: You should give Amanda's channel a look primarily as a source for early footage of The Apocalypse Afterparty, before their public concert debut and expansion beyond two man sets, so if you're curious to see this elusive band in action, this is a good spot! However, this channel doesn't feature any content from The Apocalypse Afterparty's public concerts or later quartet lineups, nor does it feature footage of The Noochin' Lanterns, though Amanda's last noticeable usage of her channel isn't that long ago, so newer videos could easily turn up.

Our Recommended Videos To Check Out

The Apocalypse Afterparty- The Crowd: Four of Amanda's five Apocalypse Afterparty videos come from their set at Six, Two, Oh.'s private concert festival Das Bunkerfest in Garden River back in August 2014, where The A.A.'s initial duo lineup were among the openers for The Archaics. Featuring founding singer/bassist "Z" & former drummer "X" (a.k.a. Paul Stanghetta & ex-Smeltzer bandmate Steve Mozarowski), they're seen here playing two untitled songs (linked here & here), as well as a cover of Lorde's "Glory & Gore" and, in Amanda's most popular video, a rendition of "The Crowd" from Paul's old band The Fury. Solid crowd reception here for this masked twosome, complete with a British accent & a dress, and these videos capture The Apocalypse Afterparty's unique rap/metal hybrid sound in it's minimalist early months! FYI, their public concert debut occured the following month.



New song!: Shortly after her Das Bunkerfest uploads, Amanda posted this video of her and Paul working on a new song for The Apocalypse Afterparty, with Paul rapping and playing the piano one-handed, and both handling percussion. The song doesn't sound familiar to the four tracks that made the cut for their 2017 debut EP "Bufflesnort", but it has a lively sound for fans of The A.A.'s more hip-hop-based material, and Paul does handle the drums and piano fairly well given that he's doing them simultaneously!


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I hope you guys liked this month's YouTube Channel Profiles! Next month in this series, we'll again be looking at multiple profiles, as our next random selection gave us a channel with a single video, so we randomly chose one more channel with two distinct video types to round things out. That said, we'll look at YouTube user lukera81's channel (featuring a video from Kiss' Kewadin Casino concert in 2007) and local funk/hard rock quartet The Elements' official YouTube channel (featuring videos from two October 2015 concerts) next month, so look for these then, and stay tuned for more news and concert previews soon! Thanks everyone!

Noochin' Lanterns & Them Updates, Mellow D's Next Private Concert, And More!!

On this Saturday afternoon, we have some news and updates to touch on, largely focusing on a newer local concert site and videos from bands that recently played there, but we also have some shorter assorted items to round things out. Now, here's what you should know!

Here's some new videos of bands at new local private concert venue Mellow D's Underground, which returns for it's (at least) fourth event tonight! Just in terms of that event, it'll take place tonight at 7:00 PM, have "an underground whiskey bar", and at least three bands, including newer local power punk quintet The Noochin' Lanterns. For what it's worth, a shared post notes that "The Apocalypse Afterparty invite you to come join us" tonight, implying that they'll end their 2 year concert hiatus for this event, but that hasn't been referenced elsewhere. Message promoters and the involved bands above to inquire about the address and extra details! As for the videos, The Apocalypse Afterparty shared this Noochin' Lanterns video from frontman Paul Stanghetta's personal Facebook page on Wednesday where the band (sans Amber McKay) sit around on a front step listening to the first mix of an original song of theirs, implied to be via Dustin Jones at Mission Control Studios.

There has been no public confirmation yet on if The Noochin' Lanterns are working on a debut CD (we're still waiting on "Bufflesnort" release info), but it's a nice sample, and uniquely framed, so check it out above! The remaining new videos were all filmed by Them frontman Tyler St. Amour and posted to Mellow D's Facebook page on Wednesday, though these may actually be delayed uploads from their March 1st private gig, given the lack of Amber or new guitarist Tyler Gibson. Three videos (titles unclear) were filmed from this set, linked here, here, and below, and while they were all unfortunately filmed in portrait orientiation, these capture vibrant and energetic originals that Paul, Matthew, and Amanda handle pretty well! And yes, they have their pajamas on here too! Also, the setup reminds me a tiny bit of Sykotyk Rampage's "Cave" that they hold jam sessions in, just with brighter lighting. Give these new Noochin' Lanterns videos a look!



Next up, the aforementioned Them have some new videos of their own, courtesy of their set at the Mellow D's Underground private show on February 24th (unless they played a later one without a public acknowledgement!) Posted to the grind/punk duo's Facebook page on Wednesday as well, these constitute the band's first promotion of a concert set since opening for Gorod at The Oddfellows Hall almost one year ago, so it's great to see that Tyler and Anthony are back at it, albeit at a private venue! One video can be seen at this link, while the longer clip is embedded below. Unfortunately filmed at a vertical camera angle again (though it does work better for a two man band), these capture Them at a good ferocity and energy level, but Tyler could be clearer on the mic, and announcements of song names would have helped. It's great to see Them alive and well, and hopefully they return to a public stage sooner or later, but give their Mellow D's clips a look above & below, and keep tonight's event in mind if you're curious!

 

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

• We have updated the link on the SMS for Castlegar, British Columbia internet radio station Energy Rock Radio (which broadcasted locally from 2008-2011), as their old "Radio Last Call" domain is no longer active, in favour of the more expected www.energyrockradio.com. Now that's accurately linked again, and check out Ryan and the Brew Crew's original programming and metal playlist there for an alternative radio option with local roots!
• Have you been wondering why we didn't cover Tuesday's announced lineup reveal for June 18th's Rock The Border Music Fest? Assuming there's hard rock or punk on the bill, we would have, but the lineup announcement was postponed to yesterday as promoters CSA International were "waiting on one more contract", but yesterday's new deadline has came & went too. This event still has promise, especially as what looks like a larger scope rebound from CSA's postponed Quiet Riot concert, so stay tuned to the Facebook event page for updates! For what it's worth, the lineup will reportedly have an American, Canadian, and Australian band.
• I have reluctantly removed former local recording studio Stereo Soul Studios from our "Other Local Metal Links" section due to the apparent expiry of their website's domain name, and I can't find a comparable replacement for our links. Best known for producing albums from bands like Gates of Winter and Woods of Ypres throughout the late 2000s, studio head Miguel Gauthier has since found success in photography and film in Los Angeles. Hopefully he keeps up the great work, and he's definitely been missed up here!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes next week! Thanks everyone!

Eclipse/Hazytones Concert Preview, Jack Spades' New Bassist, And Much More!!

Here's another new post for your Friday morning, so what's on tap? Some assorted recent news and notes, new video footage from a concert this past weekend, and a newly confirmed lineup change in a prominent local band, but first, here's our promised preview of a special concert on Sunday that's nearly an encore of a concert from 8 months back!

Local hard rock quartet Eclipse will return to the stage THIS SUNDAY NIGHT, when they and funk/hard rock jam quintet Gianni Gagoots open for Montreal stoner rock trio The Hazytones at The New American Pub! After nearly 5 months away from the stage, plus a teased April 1st return show that never happened, Eclipse will finally be resurrected after a tumultuous break-up last fall, but how will Curt, Dan, Fred, and Chris fare in their return? Find out on Sunday night! Note that hashtags used in recent Facebook page promotion of the show reference Jimi Hendrix and Rush songs... are they dipping a little older for cover choices? Gianni Gagoots will continue their recent momentum with another set that will surely make some more fan of their creative improvised instrumentals, so keep them in mind as well on Sunday! And yes, the headlining Hazytones will make their second local concert appearance on Sunday, following a well received late notice gig in August at the same venue that Eclipse also opened, though K.I.C.K. were the second openers.

Though not a full "hard rock" band, The Hazytones' psychedelic and retro-styled originals left a solid impression on fans last summer, and they should be up to similar tricks at The New A in a couple of nights, so don't miss them either! Promoted by Six, Two, Oh. associate and punk rock bingo caller Brenton Ellis, this 19+ event has a 19+ age limit, and while there is no listed cover charge, note that last August's Hazytones concert had a $5 cover. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Eclipse live!

Next up, local punk/metal quintet Jack Spades have announced the addition of Talk Shit guitarist Steve Shaw to their lineup as their new bassist, replacing Justin Lam, as per their Facebook page on Wednesday. A reason for Justin's departure hasn't been publically announced, but when ex-drummer (and Bear Hunters bandmate) Johnny Belanger confirmed his own departure from the band in February, he didn't know at the time if Justin was leaving too or not, hence why we didn't call that on the site at the time. Justin has been a skilled component on bass since Jack Spades' 2013 debut, but don't miss him with The Bear Hunters when they return to the stage at Oddzfest in June! As for Steve, he has proven to be a solid addition to the reunited Talk Shit as a guitarist, but how will he do as a bassist with Jack Spades' new lineup? You can find out at the CKY concert in June, so don't miss that show, and stay tuned for the reveal of Jack Spades' new drummer!

Also today, here's some new videos from the aforementioned Gianni Gagoots' headlining concert at LopLops Lounge on Saturday, courtesy of YouTube user Alex Moore's channel! Previously known from posting Stiffler's Mom's demo there, "Mr. Evil Gobi" has struck again with almost 12 minutes of footage from the Gagoots' latest concert, with the longer 9 minute clip featured below (click here for the first shorter video.) Of note, their earlier teasers of having two drummers are even more true on these clips, as "Bergio the IceBurg" has not just the congas, but his own full drum kit beside Frank, so if you've ever wondered what a band with two drummers at once sounded like, here's a sampling! The loose informality is clearly on display here though, as mid-way through the longer video, guitarist Matt Sibilo randomly comes back after not playing in the first portion, and then an uncredited guest shows up to play the congas.

Alex noted that his camera's memory card filled up before this song wrapped up due to it's "intensity & epic-ness", so if an announcement was made regarding the guest conga player's name, it's not recorded. You never know what you'll get with Gianni Gagoots, and they showcase their fun jam/improv style here, so check out their new videos above & below, and don't miss them with The Hazytones & Eclipse on Sunday!



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

• Autumn Roots guitarist Chase Wigmore is looking for musicians to form an industrial band, part of a long-term ambition of his as a musician. He doesn't even mind if he only finds one singer willing to sign on (remember This Is Your Band On Drugs?), but additional musicians would be a bonus. Industrial metal isn't a genre we see a lot of locally, with Riverin one of the few recent examples of note, so message Chase at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from Tuesday if you're interested!
• According to personal Facebook postings, local alternative/hard rock quartet Id Iota featured ex-RedD Monkey cellist Pete Mozarowski as a guest performer during their set opening for Windigo at The New American Pub on Monday. That would have been cool to see, and Pete has been missed on local stages in recent months, so hopefully some video footage turns up!
• We have changed the name of the Facebook group for Jack Spades frontman J.D. Pearce's concert promotion agency back to Johnny Pints Presents in our "Other Local Metal Links", as the group's name had been switched back from Tidal Records Presents last month. J.D. is still on positive terms with Tidal Records, but maybe the name was causing confusion between events that Tidal management themselves were putting on? Either way, the link is updated now!

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

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (The 3 Day Millionaires), Weekend Concert Previews, And A Cancellation!!

Before we kick off this weekend's concert previews, we have a late cancellation to take note of, as tonight's Deathsticks-headlined concert at The Gore Street Cafe was quietly cancelled in recent weeks, as per the deletion of it's Facebook event page. A reason for the cancellation wasn't announced by the band or venue, but note that Deathsticks haven't posted on their Facebook page yet this month. This is the second time in six months that a Deathsticks show in the Soo was cancelled, but hopefully we see them here at some point down the road! Now, let's preview still-scheduled shows this weekend, starting with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires will return to The Rockstar Bar for one night only TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced via it's official Facebook event page on Tuesday. After taking the past two months off, this talented veteran outfit should be refreshed and ready to rock TOMORROW with a night full of familiar classic hits at their favourite recent venue, so don't miss out in advance of their Rock 4 Autism set next month! Note that this is a one night only event due to country veterans Bone Yard playing at The Rockstar Bar on Saturday night. TOMORROW'S 19+ concert has no announced cover charge, and a 10:30 PM start time is advertised. Visit the above links for more details, and here are The 3 Day Millionaires live last year!

Next up, we'll move to previously announced concerts with former Caveman Morrison frontman Tym Morrison's next round of Gliss Steak & Seafood concerts, as Tym will bring his acoustic hard rock covers back there TOMORROW & SATURDAY! His impressively enduring run at The Quality Inn's house restaurant shows no signs of slowing down, and his unplugged classic and hard rock renditions should provide another quality backdrop of music for fans and patrons at Gliss tomorrow and/or Saturday! As usual for this long-term arrangement, expect 6:00 PM matinee start times both nights, and while these shows don't have announced age limits or cover charges, be cognizant of where they're being held. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Tym Morrison live!



Now, let's head south to the Eastern Upper Peninsula for shows at Kewadin Casino lounges, starting with the return of Traverse City metal trio Scarkazm to The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino TOMORROW & SATURDAY! Though historically better known in our area for playing at the St. Ignace Kewadin, the Peril sister band will rock The Rapids Lounge for the first of at least three weekends in 2017 over the coming days, and it's great to see the guys further north once again! Unusually for such a weekend of live bands at a Kewadin lounge, Scarkazm's shows this weekend are themed, with Kewadin's Facebook page noting that this is an "80's Hair Band Rock Fest", complete with drink specials and awards for "the most awesome" 1980s costumes and best air guitar skills to be awarded. Honestly, I feel that Peril would better fit this theme, but it's an interesting pull regardless, so break out your hair metal and 1980s clothing if you're heading to see Scarkazm this weekend!

As usual for Scarkazm's local gigs (including their St. Ignace Kewadin gigs in two weeks), these shows have 9:00 PM start times, no announced cover charges, and 21+ age limits. Check the above links for more details, and here's Scarkazm playing assorted covers live!

Finally for today's previews, Sault Michigan classic/hard rock cover quartet Highway 63 will return to The Northern Pines Lounge at the Kewadin Shores Casino in St. Ignace TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Though not newly acknowledged by the band on their Facebook page, their own concert calendar posting from earlier this year confirms that they will be back in St. Ignace for their second weekend there in 2017 over the next couple of nights, which the casino's entertainment page also backs up. Henry, Nathan, Chris, and Ron should have another solid weekend of fan favourite and often heavy covers in store for St. Ignace fans, so don't miss Highway 63 there tomorrow or Saturday night! Like with this weekend's Scarkazm shows, expect 9:00 PM start times, 21+ age limits, and no announced cover charges. See above for more details, and here's Highway 63 live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates on the site next, including the Eclipse/Hazytones preview! Thanks everyone!

Last Month's Poll Results & Our Newest Poll!!

As promised, here is the results of last month's poll at the SMS, plus our newest poll! You'll probabl remember that we posed this question to you guys last month: What was the biggest local metal, hard rock, or punk news story of 2016? We only got 16 votes last month, which isn't as high as I was hoping, but we've had far less before, and there was a clear winner, so thanks to everyone who voted, and here are the final results!

A Dire Setback & Live705 launch in November (6 votes, 38%)

The Din release their debut CD "Give In To The Din" (2 votes, 13%)

Stegadeth make their local concert debut (1 vote, 6⅛%)

The Ripcordz headline all-ages show at The Canadian (1 vote, 6⅛%)

Gnaeus release their only CD "Meditations" (1 vote, 6⅛%)

The Pixo Control disbands (1 vote, 6⅛%)

Tidal Records acts tour Ontario in April (1 vote, 6⅛%)

Id Iota release their debut EP "Maudlin Fair" (1 vote, 6⅛%)

K.I.C.K. win the VM Radio Battle of the Bands (1 vote, 6⅛%)

Other (1 vote, 6⅛%)

AlgomA release split EP with Chronobot (0 votes)

Bay Mills Bands Together holds first fundraiser event (0 votes)

Bret Michaels returns to Kewadin Casino in November (0 votes)

Brian Davie returns to Scott & Brian In The Morning (0 votes)

Darren Emond's Iron Maiden comic book released (0 votes)

The Fishbowl Festival debuts at The Gore Street Cafe (0 votes)

Guy Thiffault's passing & tribute concert (0 votes)

Hedley returns to Sault Ontario in July at The Yard (0 votes)

Jay Perron's sudden passing (0 votes)

Jesse Merineau & Caroline Divine win the Speak Easy Battle (0 votes)

Pillory play their first live concerts since 2014 (0 votes)

 Project 421 & Eclipse part with singer Curtis McKenzie (0 votes)

Shit Liver go on their second Canadian tour (0 votes)

Sky's The Limit fundraiser held at The Tech in May (0 votes)

SNFU headline at The Rockstar Bar in September (0 votes)

Winkstinger reunite after a three year hiatus (0 votes)

What do you guys think? Well, I am surprised overall that over half of the listed choices went without a single vote, with any Sault Michigan items or musician passings surprising me the most by their lack of attention from readers who chose to vote. Aside from the winning option, votes were very spread out, but it seems that album releases and concert debuts were a favourite of voters, with only 5 votes going to options that weren't related to either (though I can't speak for what the "Other" voter intended.) I can see why most of these choices received a vote, but I do admit that Tidal Records' April tour run is a little surprising as, after all, this was a tour run that only partially took place in the Soo. The Din's CD release in August finished in second place, and honestly, when you launch an album with that much hype and at a formal auditorium, I would expect a good fan response, and deservingly so!

However, the poll winners were the joint debuts of A Dire Setback and Live705 in November, and given how fast they took hold in the local punk scene as a band, and in the concert scene in general as promoters, I can see how they'd win both this poll and the "favourite new band" poll from earlier this year! 2017 has already had a good start with A Dire Setback and Live705, and here's hoping more is on the horizon for both!

Thanks to everyone for voting! As for our next poll, we're getting into the home stretch of our "favourite _____ of 2016" polls by posing this question to you guys: What was your favourite local metal, hard rock, or punk concert in the second half of 2016? As is the annual case at the SMS, we have divided our poll on your favourite concerts of the year into two halves, with shows from January 1st-June 30th already addressed in our poll on last year's first half from July, so if you were hoping to vote for a late June concert, wait for our full year poll next month! I have chosen 20 concerts from July-December of 2016 for this month's poll, and to be included, the show must have had a lineup at least half populated by metal, hard rock, or punk acts. This notably excludes all Rotaryfest stage lineups, Six, Two, Oh.'s holiday funk show, and the Soo Zombie Walk, among others, but we have included "Other" as a choice if your favourite late-2016 concert didn't make the cut for any reason. There were a lot of big concerts to end last year, so here are your choices!

Bands: Hedley, The Beaches, and Dustin Jones & The Rising Tide
Venue: The Yard
Date: July 1st, 2016
Info: The second half of 2016 began with a bang when Abbotsford power pop/punk favourites Hedley returned to the Soo for the first time in 5 years as the headlining act for the first half of The Yard's Canada Day Kicker!  This well received show entertained many fans of the Juno-winners, while fans of The Rising Tide also rejoiced for the local openers' only Soo show of the year, complete with Mikey Hawdon back behind the kit! Would you cast your vote for Hedley's local return?

Bands: Cocaine Moustache, Gianni Gagoots, and War Baby
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: July 12th, 2016
Info: An intriguing meld of styles hit The New A in mid-July when touring Vancouver acts Cocaine Moustache and War Baby came east to give local fans a taste of their bluesy hard rock and grungy punk originals respectively! Sandwiched in between was the local concert debut of funk/hard rock instrumental group Gianni Gagoots, who began their local ascent with their creative improvised stage show for assembled fans! Would this show be your favourite of 2016's second half?

Bands: Pillory, Iskra, Rotopsy, and AlgomA
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: July 14th, 2016
Info: Despite an unusual lineup order that saw the headliners playing second and AlgomA opening, this all ages concert from July gave fans an aggressive blast of extreme metal, with Victoria grindcore veterans Iskra making their long awaited return to the local stage after 12 years away! Notably also featuring the first non-battle of the bands appearance at a normal concert venue by the reunited Pillory, this show definitely melted faces of attending fans, but did this one earn your vote?

Bands: Gnaeus & The Din
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: August 5th, 2016
Info: After months of preparation, now-defunct post-punk quartet Gnaeus launched their only CD "Meditations" with a highly anticipated release concert at The Rockstar Bar in August, with the show and album both getting a positive reception from fans! Also featuring an opening set from their friends in The Din, the release of "Meditations" was one of the highlights of the summer season for local music fans, and it's a shame they broke up, but would you vote for their release party?

Bands: The Din & Gnaeus
Venue: The W.W. Baldwin Auditorium at The Tech
Date: August 12th, 2016
Info: Just one week after Gnaeus' CD release concert, the two bands switched places when The Din launched their own debut studio album "Give In To The Din" at The Tech's auditorium, with Gnaeus now opening the proceedings. Despite a pre-show fire alarm at the former St. Mary's College, the show was also well recieved, even becoming the basis of Shaw TV's first OnStage episode, and The Din's CD also won praise from fans! Would you give in to this show in this poll?

Bands: The Ripcordz, Jack Spades, Project 421, and Eclipse
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: August 13th, 2016
Info: The idea of an all ages concert in the Soo with The Ripcordz as headliners had been teased for many months, and that came to fruition when Jack Spades frontman J.D. Pearce brought the Montreal hardcore punk legends to The Canadian in mid-August for another hotly recieved Soo show from Paul Gott and company! Also featuring a special guest appearance by Dayglo Abortions bassist Willy Jak(!) with Jack Spades, did this night of all ages punk & metal action top late 2016 to you?

Bands: SNFU, Jack Spades, and The Elements
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: September 1st, 2016
Info: You can always expect a raucous crowd when Mr. Chi Pig brings SNFU back to Sault Ste. Marie, and though total attendance could have been higher, fans brought the big show feel when the Vancouver hardcore punk legends rocked The Rockstar Bar to kick off September! Notably also featuring the final appearance of Jack Spades' classic lineup, and the first live set by The Elements in four months, will you open up and say "SNFU!" for your vote in this poll?

Bands: K-Man & The 45s, Artifical Dissemination, and The Elements
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: September 17th, 2016
Info: Making their fourth concert appearance in as many autumns, Montreal ska-punk fan favourites K-Man & The 45s brought their high energy original material and usual "Ska-Mones" covers back to the The New A for another concert for their growing legion of local fans last fall! Hamilton garage punk rockers Artificial Dissemination also made their way west for this concert, while the aforementioned Elements opened for a second straight year. Would you vote for this concert?

Bands: Gnaeus, DJ Seith, The Din, and K.I.C.K.
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Park
Date: September 24th, 2016
Info: Essentially a half-sequel to Tidal Records's annual Go Skateboarding Day events, they brought The Gnar-BQ to the skatepark outside of The John Rhodes Center, with three bands and DJ Seith as the musical backdrop for skateboarding demonstrations and contests, and true to the event's name, there was even hot dogs and other refreshments available! Notably featuring two battle of the bands winners and a runner-up on the same bill, did The Gnar-BQ earn your vote?

Bands: Castle, AlgomA, and Gianni Gagoots
Venue: 180 Projects
Date: September 28th, 2016
Info: San Francisco doom metal trio (and Juno Award nominees) Castle made their local concert debut last fall when they headlined at a rare metal show at 180 Projects, giving fans a taste of their dark yet psyhedelic originals! Also featuring local fan favourites AlgomA and Gianni Gagoots' first concert set with new guitarist Liam "Blanci Mangia-Cake" Seymour, this Gore Street concert definitely satiated attending fans, but were you among them?

Bands: Moon Tan, The Din, and The Elements
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: October 6th, 2016
Info: Though locally announced on less than a week's notice, this Six, Two, Oh. concert left a big impression on fans last October, especially helped by Winnipeg prog-funk trio Moon Tan, whose creative moon phase-themed costuming and technical skills helped them stand out among other headliners of late 2016 in the Soo! Also featuring well recieved opening sets by The Din and The Elements, would you vote for the Moon Tan concert in this poll over other options?

Bands: Norilsk, AlgomA, Pillory, and The Bear Hunters
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: October 28th, 2016
Info: A stacked Halloween weekend for local concerts was kicked off by it's heaviest show, as Gatineau, Quebec doom metal quartet Norilsk made their local debut with a brutal set of crushing original material for all ages! Featuring a stacked local openers lineup including AlgomA, Pillory, and the second & final concert set of 2016 by The Bear Hunters (who unusually played first), this show will have delivered for extreme metal fans, but would you concur with that?

Bands: The Black Mirrors, Eclipse (as "SSM of a Down") and The Elements (as "The Plaid Martens")
Venue: The Algonquin Pub
Date: October 29th, 2016
Info: J.D. Pearce's 12th annual Halloween party concert took place at The Algonquin Hotel's downstairs bar on October 29th, with a tribute band theme in full effect, including The Elements flashing back to the 1990s, Eclipse turning into System of a Down for a night, and ex-Fitswitch members reuniting for a late notice Misfits tribute set as The Black Mirrors. J.D. always delivers a fun show for the Halloween weekend, but would you vote for his annual party here?

Bands: Johnny 2 Fingers & The Deformities, AlgomA, and Rotopsy
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: October 30th, 2016
Info: The fifth and most recent installment of Six, Two, Oh.'s punk rock bingo series took place on Devil's Night last year, with Saskatchewan southern rockers Johnny 2 Fingers & The Deformities headlining in their first of two shows last fall, with local metal openers AlgomA and Rotopsy also playing to start the show on a heavy note. Whether you were in attendance for the music or the irreverent bingo with caller Brent Ellis, was this concert your favourite of late 2016?

Bands: Eclipse, The Elements, Project 421, and The Autumn Roots
Venue: The Rednecks Saloon
Date: October 31st, 2016
Info: Despite a mixed crowd on a Monday night, a talented lineup hit the former Nicolet Tavern on Halloween night last year for the Halloween Nightmare, with Eclipse and The Elements playing their second seasonal event in three nights, and indie rockers The Autumn Roots debuting on a local stage to kick things off. Notably featuring the last concert sets to date from Project 421 & Eclipse (though the latter will return later this month), did the Halloween Nightmare earn your vote here?

Bands: K.I.C.K., A Dire Setback, Electric Church, The Din, Talk Shit, Stegadeth, and Jizzy Baby
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: November 19th, 2016
Info: New local concert promoters Live705 and their featured band A Dire Setback made a big splash in November with their first concert and only Oddfellows Hall appearance to date, with a nice variety of local acts on display for fans! Notably also including the first live set from T-Rex Manning successors Stegadeth, punk quartet Talk Shit's first live set in seven years, and a breakthrough set from blues rockers Electric Church, did this intriguing concert top late 2016 in your eyes?

Bands: Bone Yard, The Peace Vibe, The 3 Day Millionaires, The Din, The Band Camp Rejects, The Elements, Mojo, Redundant, Guitars & Tequila, and Case's Music students
Venue: The Grand Gardens North
Date: November 20th, 2016
Info: The fifth annual Toystock fundraiser concert for Christmas Cheer took place at the former Riuniti Hall last November, with 10 bands again gathering to help raise funds and donations for those in need for the holidays, which is always great to see! Featuring sets by familiar bands like The Din, The Elements, and many more, plus an increasingly rare set by punk trio Redundant, and appearances by Santa Claus(!), did Toystock V and the Christmas spirit win your vote here?

Bands: Mike Mikus & Id Iota
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: November 26th, 2016
Info: Following a well recieved Ontario tour run, former Pixo Control frontman Mike Mikus debuted his new solo project on a local stage in late November when he headlined at LopLops, with alternative/hard rock quartet Id Iota (who joined him on tour) opening ith a set full of songs from their upcoming full length CD. The two acts played off each other well as Mike unveiled his pop rock solo project to local fans, but would this show earn your vote this month?

Bands: Gnaeus, K.I.C.K., and The Din
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: December 26th, 2016
Info: The second last collaborative concert from these three bands took place on Boxing Day when Tidal Records hosted their own holiday season concert at LopLops, fitting in neatly between The Gnar-BQ and Searchmont's Skateapalooza. The post-punk stylings of Gnaeus, alt-hard rock sound of The Din, and indie rock grooves of the Keep It Cool Kids were always welcomed on the same stage, and this show proved to be no different, but was it your favourite hard rock show of late 2016?

Bands: Bin Hawdon & The Taliband, Destroilet, Rotbottyrot, Talk Shit, The Business Suit Trappers, Nebraska Arms, AlgomA, Stegadeth, and A Dire Setback
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: December 27th, 2016
Info: The sudden passing of ex-Hangdowns frontman Guy Thiffault in December was extremely sad, but his friends and former bandmates quickly came together to host a benefit concert for his family over the holidays, which included returns to the stage after a year+ away from Bin Hawdon & The Taliband, Destroilet, and two of Guy's former bands to a raucous and emotional reception from attending fans. This was a huge concert to end 2016 with, but was it your favourite?

Other: Did we miss a show you'd rather vote for? For reference, bands like 1971, 9 Lives & Counting, The Anti-Queens, Astral Gunk, Big Brother, Bizotic, The Blackwood Sinners, Bloody Diamonds, Crucify the Whore, Debutaunt, Dumpster Mummy, The Franquilizers, Griphook, Havadder, Long Shot, Mourning Wood, Mulligrub, The Nailheads, Nameus (now Soundcheck), Northwest, Stiffler's Mom, Still of the Night, Sykotyk Rampage, Telephone & Address, That's Chester, Them, Tym Morrison, and Vintage Slang all played locally between July 1st and December 31st in shows not included in the poll otherwise. Did one of them have your preferred concert of late 2016, or perhaps a show featuring bands in the poll that isn't listed? Vote for "Other" if you need to!

VOTE TODAY! You guys have until May 18th to cast your votes, and remember, the (top?) vote getters will return for a full year showdown next month to determine your favourite local concert of 2016! That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes soon! Thanks everyone!