Defunct Local Band Profile Series: The Scary Uncles

With a busy concert weekend looming, I don't want this to get lost in the shuffle, so here's this month's Defunct Local Band Profile! This ongoing monthly feature series is back with another profile on a randomly selected local metal, hard rock, or punk band in our links that is functionally inactive or dissolved, in order to spotlight them for modern readers! This month's random choice was a very prominent punk band in the scene of the late 2000s, so here's what you should know on them!
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The Scary Uncles

Genre: Punk

Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Members: (Members not in their last full lineup in italics.)

Justin Langlois (Redundant, Fitswitch), vocals/guitar
Andrew MacDonald (Winkstinger, Fitswitch), bass
Mark Mullin, drums
Matt Sibilo (Gianni Gagoots, Redefined, Late Shift), guitar

Audio/Video: Though a planned studio album was never visibly released, two demo recordings from those sessions ("Labatt 50" & "Andrew's Song") can still be heard via The Scary Uncles' MySpace and Reverbnation pages, though their old Supernova page was taken down when that site migrated in full to Facebook. Scattered videos exist on YouTube as well, with Justin's YouTube channel being the best source for uploads for both these and other original songs and select covers. Here's their trio lineup playing their song "Should've Known" at a 2008 jam session!

Info/Analysis: Formed by long-time friends (including 2 Fitswitch alums within them) in 2007, The Scary Uncles quickly became one of the most prominent pure punk bands in the Soo area of the late 2000s, which saw them open for bands like SNFU, Less Than Jake, and The Spades, as well as play notable events like Lion Ride's CD release party, the 2008 Skid Row Battle of the Bands (where they finished in second place), and charitable events like Algoma Hope 4 Haiti, among others. Surviving specifics on their run are in short supply today, but The Uncles disbanded after opening The Mark Rand Band's sole local concert in December 2010, with Justin carrying their sound over to his current punk band Redundant, who continue to play "Labatt 50" under the name "What'll You Do". While I admit that The Scary Uncles and Redundant are sonically very similar, the elder band delivered with their Green Day-inspired sets that were lively and aggressive when need be!

Currently available media showcases The Scary Uncles well, despite some mixed video quality from the chosen cameras, and compared to Redundant, this band did vary things a little bit via the mid-paced "Andrew's Song", and with solid chemistry and catchy originals, it's easy to see why they came close to winning the 2008 battle of the bands! Give The Scary Uncles a listen above, but look for new Redundant shows for similar modern day sets!
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I hope you guys liked this month's Defunct Local Band Profile! Next month in this series, our random selection will break us away from our recent lucky streak of punk bands from Sault Ontario, as we'll be spotlighting inactive local classic/hard rock cover quintet That's Chester next! Look for that profile on or around September 10th, and stay tuned for weekend concert previews next! Thanks everyone!