LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Generations), New Videos, And More!!

Before we begin this post, just a heads up that local funk/hard rock sextet The Wyld Stallyns are not playing at Shooters Downstairs Lounge tonight. Other than saying on their Facebook page that they "had to cancel", they did not publically elaborate as to why they dropped out, but hopefully all's well in their camp! Pop rock cover band L!me (who were playing at Shooters tomorrow anyway) are stepping in to play tonight instead, and don't miss The Stallyns at the Festival of Beer next month! Now, here's new videos and SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS tied to a new local band!

We have a new local classic/hard rock cover band to add to our links, and they are Generations! This is the band that succeeded classic rock veterans Jus' Chillin, who only announced their dissolution earlier this month, with Generations re-appropriating their Facebook group as their own. This is not a renaming, Generations are considered to be a different band. Jus' Chillin never (knowingly?) crossed the hard rock line for SMS coverage, but Generations are getting off on the right foot in that regard, helped by former Obsession frontwoman Valerie Powley fronting this new group! We hadn't heard much from her in a rock band context since she left the now-defunct Obsession last summer, and she should fit in nicely in this new project! Their guitarist is recent Algoma University music program graduate Brandon Ruch, while long-time Jus' Chillin mainstays Pierre Anthony & Tony Santoro continue handling bass & drums here.

If you're curious, Jus' Chillin were a trio that whose guitarist appeared to change relatively frequently, though Brandon was on hand for their final gigs at Jay's Piston Broke Pub in February (they also often had guest musicians at their shows). Generations debuted at Jay's on April 7th-8th, and you can see videos from those nights on their Facebook group, including multiple shot by Sharilyn Van Scoy, including covers of Amanda Marshall's "Let It Rain", Linda Ronstadt's "When Will I Be Loved?", The Tragically Hip's "Little Bones" (with Brandon singing), and this song with Tony singing that I cannot make the words out for (which was also filmed by Dawn Santoro from further back). Dawn also shot them covering Stealers Wheel's "Stuck In The Middle With You" and a Brandon-sung take on Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' "Runnin' Down A Dream", but embedded below are two songs filmed by Mario Naccarato.

He taped covers of David Wilcox's "Riverboat Fantasy" with Pierre on vocals and The Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running" with Valerie singing. Generations' third show was a one-nighter at Reggie's Place on Saturday, and their fourth and fifth shows comprise those SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, as they debut at The Esquire Club TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, these shows were announced on their Facebook group on the 10th but I only added them to our full coverage today. It is worth noting that this weekend's shows were originally advertised for Obsession as part of their planned 2023 concert slate, which was listed through June while Valerie was still in that band, so the correlation is noted, if unintentionally! TONIGHT & TOMORROW'S shows are at 9:30 PM with 19+ age limits and no cover charges, as usual at this location.

From what I have seen and heard of Generations so far, I don't think they are quite as heavy as Obsession often got, but they do seem further in that regard than Jus' Chillin from what I knew of them, and with Valerie's input and very strong vocals, that can not hurt their existing formula one bit! Don't miss them at The Esquire Club TONIGHT & TOMORROW to see what Generations bring to the table, and see more from them above & below!

Finally for today, I again feel like the last person in the city to talk about this, but local alt-hard rock quintet Handsome Sandwich's third and final advance single for their upcoming debut album "Deconstructed" was released to major streaming services as scheduled on Wednesday, complete with a music video on their YouTube channel! This is for "No Entry", and while it was teased via "Reels" on their Facebook page, we don't have to settle for those now! I'll hold comment on the song proper pending our review of the entire album, but the video was filmed by former Shit Liver frontman Josh Penno and his filmmaking company Spacebag Productions, and Josh (credited as "Penno Cash") has an acting role in the video. It cuts between performance footage of the band and acted scenes of them going to see Dr. Penno, a plastic surgeon who promises to make the band "handsome" (well, if the sandwich is handsome already, it's a natural extension!)

Singer Taylor Emlaw gets the most screen time during her appointment, but I won't dare spoil what happens with her, Josh, and the band. Note that Wyld Stallyns saxophonist Josh Norling (who was previously advertised to be guesting on this song) does not appear on camera or in the end-of-video credits. Fun video and well shot by Josh and his team, so do give it a watch below, and look for this and much more to be played at their album release show at The Loft two weeks from tomorrow!

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