LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Ride For ARCH & Soundcheck), Plus New Videos!!

Here's a new news post for your Saturday morning, featuring some new videos, and to lead off, some LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, one on SHORT NOTICE with attached apology, so here's what you should know!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will return to The Esquire Club TONIGHT, after previously playing there last night! Profuse apologies for the short notice and for missing last night's concert on here, they were only announced last night on their Facebook page, less than two hours before showtime, and we didn't hear about them until it was too late for a second post. That said, the late public announcement mirrors the online promotion of their last shows at The Esquire Club three weeks ago, so this isn't shocking. Regardless, Soundcheck's hard hitting and fan favourite covers have proven to be a fun attraction locally, and hopefully lots of west end fans can pause their ace-catching TONIGHT for some live music, as they hopefully did last night too! Soundcheck's plug of this weekend's shows mentions that drummer Steven Flint will be on bass in place of an absent Paul Belair for unannounced reasons, though they didn't indicate who'd be behind the kit.

For what it's worth, Soundcheck featured ex-Turner Up/3 Day Millionaires drummer Scott McLurg on guest drums at The Water Tower Pub in June (as seen in the preview video below), but I can't confirm if he's filling in again. TONIGHT's (and last night's) Soundcheck concert is a 9:30 PM affair with a 19+ age limit and no cover charge. Visit the above links for more details, here's Soundcheck live, and apologies again for missing yesterday's show, we'd have covered it here had it received more notice!



Next up, here's a Soundcheck show in the west end with plenty of advance notice, as they'll be among the performers at a Korah Road street party outside of Reggie's West as part of the Ride For ARCH charity motorcycle rally on Saturday, August 18th! Though similar in format and aims as the Rides for Autism & Sight, live music hasn't crossed our radar the same for this Algoma Residential Community Hospice fundraiser since it's 2015 debut, with only The Band Camp Rejects (featuring Soundcheck's Steven Flint) playing there in 2016 among heavier bands in the past. Well, as part of this special outdoor street concert, Soundcheck will rock out for a great cause at 8:00 PM in two weeks time! Headlining that night are country rockers Bone Yard at 9:30 PM, while remaining bands include their acoustic sister band The Bearded Lounge at 5:00 PM (with prize announcements following), Wild Iris side project Stone Orchid at 3:30 PM, and classic rockers The Algo Rhythms opening at 2:00 PM.

Also, Amanda Jeffreys is credited a "special guest" at 3:15 PM, and as far as I can tell, she's a teenage singer who recently performed in Korah Collegiate's Grease production. Hopefully she impresses with her short set! Given the outdoor street party nature, I imagine this concert is FREE & ALL AGES, but regarding the actual rally and fundraising for it, visit the official Facebook event page for complete details on the Ride for ARCH. This is a great event for a great local estalishment that does needed and compassionate work in the area, so whether you're a biker or music fan (or both), visit the above links for complete details on this year's rally!

We'll close with some videos, starting with a rarity: The first new video upload from Chronic Demonic in almost four years! The long gestating death metal quartet featuring Gates of Winter, Fitswitch, Bear Hunters, and Time of Ruin alumni only tend to post son their Facebook page to reassure fans that they are still a thing, acknowledge their slow pace, and plug members' other projects, but this video of guitarist Kevin Powe should give fans some extra hope! It's of Kevin playing a familiar (but uncredited) cover song that is reportedly in Chronic Demonic's repetoire, and while there's not much else to say on it, the performance sounds good, so give it a look below!



Finally for today, here's a new solo cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" by Highway 63 frontman Henry Switzer, as shared to their Facebook page via his personal Facebook page this morning! Henry has been working to relaunch the Sault Michigan classic/hard rock band with an apparent new lineup (we await details on the new members), and even showcased new stage lighting that he bought in a separate video, but this cover is an apparent teaser to how "the new Highway 63 project" will sound. It's a solid rendition that puts Henry's vocal range to good use, so if you like Journey and miss Highway 63, give his newest cover video a look below!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes in the coming days! Thanks everyone!