LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Nostalgia) & Weekend Concert Previews!!

On this final concert weekend of May 2023, let's dive into this weekend's concert previews, including a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, so here's what you should know!

New (and currently online page-less) local classic/hard rock cover trio Nostalgia will make their public concert debut TOMORROW NIGHT at Reggie's Place! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced via its Facebook page earlier today. Nostalgia are essentially the belated successors to defunct local hard rock cover band Caveman Morrison's 2012-2013 lineup, with singer/guitarist Tym Morrison (ex-Hollow/Carbon Black) and ex-bassist Randy "Dutch" Vanderploeg (ex-Browbeat) joining forces once again, now joined by Dutch's old Nikkfitt bandmate Chet Dziergas on drums. We don't yet have 100% knowledge on what Nostalgia will be playing, but if you recall Caveman Morrison's late 2000s-early 2010s relaunch, that should give you an idea, and if you've missed Tym playing in a full band setting, this will be especially notable! I don't think he's played a publically advertised set with a full band since 2016.

No word on why they're not playing on Saturday (let alone if someone else is), but come down to Reggie's TOMORROW NIGHT to see what kind of nostalgia that Nostalgia are bringing to the table! This show is at 9:00 PM with no cover charge and a 19+ age limit. See above for more details, and we'll let you know when/if videos and/or an official band page turn up!

Next up, let's preview some concerts that did get advance notice, starting with a unique event TOMORROW NIGHT at The Art Hub on Spring, as local/Barrie alt-hard rock solo musician Mike Haggith and Sinister Hearts frontman, folk singer/songwriter, and Borderline radio host Brian Tremblay will join forces for a special concert named Face To Face! This event is basically themed like the old VH1 Storytellers series, where talking about the inspiration behind each song is as important as the songs themselves, but here, the rapport and camaraderie between Mike & Brian is also being hyped up. I get the sense that there isn't a firm blueprint of what to expect set-wise, just some fun rapport and entertaining music, and it seems like a low-stress way for Mike to return home! That said, Mike (and Brian?) will be releasing a live album from this show that will get a vinyl pressing, so keep that in mind!

Complimentary food and beverages will be available for attendees of this all ages, 7:00 PM concert, and you can buy tickets at this link for $22.63 (presumably $20 at the door too). This sounds like a fun evening for fans of Mike and/or Brian's music, and you'll get to know more about them as people and composers along the way in a new-ish, intimate locale, so definitely visit the official Facebook event page for more on Face To Face, and here's Mike live!

Also in Sault Ontario this weekend is the return of new local classic/hard rock cover quartet Generations to The Esquire Club for concerts TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Fresh off of gigs at Reggie's last week,these should be a fine opportunity for fans of Valerie and/or Jus' Chillin to get their classic cover fix from this new union, and hopefully there's a solid audience both nights! Note that a comment on their Facebook group indicates that Generations will be playing at Rotaryfest Stage 1 in July, but we typically wait for the official schedule reveal from organizers before addressing them here. Stay tuned though! As usual for weekend cover gigs at The Esquire Club, expect 9:30 PM start times, no cover charges, and 19+ age limits as usual. Visit the above links for more details, and for a preview, here's a new video shared to the band's Facebook group from their Reggie's gig this past Saturday!

Filmed by attendee Josie Weir, the video sees Generations covering the Janis Joplin version of "Me & Bobby McGee", which Obsession fans will recall Valerie doing with that band. Sounds good to me with strong instrumentation, though the vertical camera angle does it no favours. This is exacerbated by drummer Tony Santoro being blocked from view, and the band seems to be playing in an oddly narrow space given where Josie was filming, but everything sounds solid, so check it out for yourself below!

Finally, let's hop across the border to Sault Michigan, where local hard rock/classic metal quartet Tarnished will take the stage for concerts TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT at The Rapids Lounge at the local Kewadin Casino! Their Grand Rapids tour run last month aside, these will surprisingly be Tarnished's first announced shows in the Eastern Upper Peninsula since opening for Scotty Austin at The Savoy Bar in March, and their first at The Rapids Lounge since earlier that same month. While not yet announced on their Facebook page at press time, Kewadin's entertainment page had us covered (assuming nothing bad happened in the interim), and hopefully the guys deliver the goods with their solid originals and hard rocking covers this weekend! As usual for Tarnished's weekend runs at Kewadin Casino, these gigs have 21+ age limits, no cover charges, and 9:00 PM start times. Visit the above links for more details, and here's Tarnished live!

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