LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Handsome Sandwich & Soundcheck), Spades GT Updates, And More!!

Plans for today's SMS post changed when a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (and missed show needing an apology) fell into my lap this morning, so that leads off today's post along with one more new show and some other recent updates. Here's what you should know!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will rock Jay's Piston Broke Pub TONIGHT after previously playing there last night! I profusely apologize for the short notice and for missing yesterday's show, the band did not publicize them on their Facebook page, while the venue only announced them on theirs yesterday morning. I really must do a better job at checking out venue pages when bands don't get the word out themselves, I apologize again, and hopefully yesterday's show was a hit! Same for jam night at the former Reggie's West on Thursday, but we've never covered those as "concerts" here. If you'd prefer to hear Soundcheck's classic and hard rock covers outdoors, then good news, as they'll reportedly be the musical entertainment at TOMORROW'S returning Cruisin' The Dub car show at the newer A&W at 659 Great Northern Road! Again, apologies for the short notice, official promotion does not mention a band.

Late notice or not, Soundcheck have played at multiple car shows at this A&W, and hopefully they deliver the right soundtrack for all of the classic cars, especially as proceeds go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada! Both TONIGHT'S (and last night's) Jay's shows are/were 9:00 PM events with no cover charge and 19+ age limits, while TOMORROW'S car show gig is a 1:00 PM matinee affair for the entire family with no cover. 9&10 News is calling for mostly cloudy weather at 22° during the car show, which isn't as hot as we have had lately! Visit the above links for more details, apologies again for missing last night's show at Jay's, and here's a brand new video of Soundcheck (with no guests)! Uploaded to drummer Glen Thomas' YouTube channel last week, this was filmed at The Esquire Club the night before their Obsession tribute gig there, where they covered Kenny Chesney's "Young".

A staple of their set since Cameron Oliver joined the band, he is solely on vocals here and is not playing guitar. Unfortunately, the filmer of this video was shooting vertically, leading to a lot of panning between 3/4ths of the band and Terry from where they were standing, but this cover comes through well, at least from what I know of this song! I'm not a big country fan, but it sounds on par with Soundcheck's prior filmed versions for the performance quality. Give it a watch below, and don't miss them at Jay's TONIGHT and at the car show TOMORROW!

Next up, local alternative hard rock quintet Handsome Sandwich will make their Water Tower Pub debut on Saturday, July 8th! Their first true solo gig with no support or external headlining bands of 2023, this event will come fresh off of their appearance at the Poutine Feast one week from tomorrow, so these two gigs will literally bookend July's first full week. Still riding the momentum of their "Deconstructed" album release, look for a long night of originals and covers not unlike what fans would have seen from the Sandwich in early-mid 2022 gigs, albeit before Rafael came on board! This is definitely a one-night-only gig, as The Water Tower Pub historically books separate acts on Fridays and Saturdays, but if you're curious as to who's playing on Friday the 7th, keep tabs on the venue's Facebook page, where announcements are usually made a few days prior. This 19+ show has an 8:00 PM start time and no cover. Visit the above links for more details!

We'll close with updates from Handsome Sandwich members Jesse Cook & Johnny Belanger's old band (Jack) Spades GT, who play their first concert in Sault Ste. Marie since 2019 tonight at The Machine Shop! In terms of their recent daily run of (to me) annoyingly restrictive "Reels", those ran until June 14th, with the last four including three more Indie Night In Canada videos from the same filmer (one focused each on singer J.D. Pearce, guitarist Daniel Horton, and bassist James Roy Daley), closing with this preview "Reel" to hype the "Sewer City Radio" album being on "all streaming platforms" (quite an accomplishment if "all" is true!) Again, "Reels" can't be embedded externally, are only uploaded vertically, and can't be played on background tabs, so click above to see them! In terms of the Indie Night In Canada gig proper, Spades GT's set was highly praised by Jay Broderick of LoudTO in this article.

If this doesn't sell Spades GT on the unitiated, I don't know what will! While they said that Indie Night In Canada on June 5th would be their last Toronto show for "some time", I guess "some time" is code for "thirteen days", as they played at See-Scape there this past Sunday to open for Dogo Suicide. Hopefully that later notice gig went well! Lastly, Daniel hyped their show in Cambridge that night using this "Reel" with lots of mirrored and rotated copies of the same footage. Was the chef's kiss well placed? Click here to see, but hopefully the show was a hit! Stay tuned for more on their July plans soon, don't miss them at The Machine Shop tonight, and look for more on the site soon! Thanks everyone!