More New Videos & Assorted Updates!!

With no hard rock concerts on the local schedule this weekend (even social distance regulation-infused ones), let's cover some recent news and notes on this Thursday night, including a handful of assorted stories from the last few days, and leading off, some new videos, including a new performance clip from local/Thompson, Manitoba alt-hard rock musician Mike Haggith! Posted onto the Shaw Community Link YouTube channel on Saturday, this was uploaded as one last bit of promotion for that day's Thompson Winterfest virtual concert that he hosted on their Shaw Spotlight affiliate, and it just so happens to be our first on-demand glimpse of his new single "To Be With You"! As of this writing, it's studio copy remains exclusive to The Borderline Radio, so if you don't want to wait for it in it's regular rotation, this video will be extra notable! No, he didn't play this song during Winterfest proper.

I don't know if this will be part of a new album he's working on or if it will be a standalone single (it is not from his delayed next CD "Bridges"), but in this acoustic format, it's well performed and suitably emotional, and it will definitely please fans of Mike's softer material! Give it a watch below, and stay tuned for more from Mike's camp when it rolls in!

 

Next up, here's another new video from ex-Sense Of Truth/Skeyes Of Seven frontman Cory Murchison's YouTube channel on Sunday, uploaded not long after we covered his rendition of Seether's "Broken" on the site that same day. This vocal/guitar cover is of Weezer's acoustic ballad "Butterfly", and was uploaded in black & white for a change. Not a bad rendition, Cory does capture the feelings of the original, but his vocals do sound a little forced on some of the softer verses. Check it out for yourself below!

 

 

Also, here's some videos from local southern/hard rock cover quintet Fort Creek's Facebook page that we missed out on entirely during the second Ontario lockdown, so I apologize for the delay in these making the site! On January 24th, a friend (spouse?) of the band filmed in their jam room and got an interview of sorts with bassist Robin "Bones" Lee while he was practicing, and he gave his thoughts about the lockdown and their hopes to play live again and record a planned EP, while also playing a sample that he was working on towards new original material. Two days later, drummer Anthony Fabiano posted a black & white video where he talked to fans on much the same tract as in Robin's video (e.g. stay safe, we'll be back soon, we have plans to record an album), but this video has more of a musical base, featuring overhead shots of him drumming. Solid work behind the kit, as you'd expect!

Lastly, singer Justin Grayson posted a video on January 29th from his vehicle where he acknowledged that his bandmates covered the same ground he wanted to talk about, but he did reiterate the CD plans and their hopes to come back on stage (for what it's worth, he does not sing anything here.) Of course, we can next see Fort Creek live at Reggie's West in three weeks, and it was nice of the guys (minus Shane & Matt) to update fans during the lockdown like this! Check out Robin's video below, and see more above!

 

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

 

• I have moved Sault Michigan hard rock cover quartet 415E back to our inactive band links due to a year's inactivity. The band from Nixxon Dixxon & Splitshot alumni had returned from an 18 month hiatus for concerts in 2019 through February 2020's one-off Leap Day gig in Sugar Island, but have been AWOL online since (pandemic acknowledged.) Hopefully we hear from Dave, Chris, Brett, and Jason again when proper concerts resume in the E.U.P.!
• Revived Sault Ontario progressive metal duo Kraken Mara have posted four original studio songs on their website, presumably for their debut EP, including the previously public "Stratus", the title track "Vibe Check", and new songs named "MinMaj" & "Moon's Haunted" (a fifth song named "The Woodward" has quietly been removed for unannounced reasons.) Presuming that the EP is finally coming out soon, I'll hold comment for now, but remember to watch the premiere of the "Vibe Check" playthrough video next Friday!
• In their latest non-TikTok updates from their Facebook page, Sault Michigan hard rock band Tarnished have been plugging the progress of their new single "SDR&R" (possibly standing for "Sick, Drunk, Rock & Roll"?), and the date of Friday, March 26th has been teased in conjunction with said postings. This is the song they were seeking gang vocals from fans for. A post on February 18th also noted that Tarnished are planning a run of their debut EP "Down To The Wire" on cassette tapes. Stay tuned for updates on both fronts this month!
  

 

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes on the site by Sunday! Thanks everyone!