The Newest Mikey & His Uke Cover, Plus Ripcordz Concert Videos!!

Upon doing this month's YouTube Channel Profiles earlier this month, I realized that I was far behind on recent videos from local metal, hard rock, and punk acts, so let's check a big chunk of this audiovisual backlog off from the punk side of things today! Along with recent concert videos, let's lead off with a star-studded new cover video, so here's what you should know!

The first Mikey & His Uke cover video of the fall season went online on the project's YouTube channel on September 21st, and it features Bookclub frontman/Inner City Surfers drummer Mikey Hawdon and another far-flung all-star band covering Cock Sparrer's "Because You're Young"! Yes, that is the name of that band. As usual, Mikey is on guitar and (initially) ukelele before dropping that pretense, and he's joined here by Toy Dolls frontman Michael "Olga" Algar, plus three alumni of The Bouncing Souls, namely guitarist Pete Steinkopf, bassist Brian Kienlen, and drummer Michael McDermott (now of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts). If you're at all a fan of The Bouncing Souls, don't miss this video! Uploaded in a very wide aspect ratio (almost Ultra Panavision 70), the cover is predictably strong from this talented fivesome, and Olga's sneer adds a little extra to the proceedings!

In terms of filming locations, note that both Pete & Brian are both playing outside on a beach (no idea if it's the same beach but their videos don't cross paths), while Mikey is playing in a bathroom. Expertly edited and put together, so punk fans will want to check these out above & below!

Next up, the ever prolific Christopher Paci was in attendance for the Ripcordz-headlined concert at The Loft at the Algoma Conservatory of Music on September 1st, and his videos belatedly went online on his YouTube channel two weeks ago! Unusually for a multi-band show like this, he only got seven videos, but all three bands were filmed multiple times, including the headlining Montreal hardcore punk legends. Chris got three videos of The Ripcordz in action, including of their songs "Girls In The Pit", "X", and as embedded below, two songs back to back, namely (most of) "The Fence" and "Let's Go". While the audio can be a little tinny, it's great to see The Ripcordz back on a local stage for the first time in almost four years, and Paul & crew had a very receptive audience on the floor for their set! Odd seeing them in such an upscale venue, but very welcome all the same, so check these out!

Of the local openers, Chris got two each from both bands, including local alt-punk trio A Dire Setback's middle set on the 1st, and they were filmed playing "Faded" and, as embedded below, "Catastrophe". The audio quality is fuller here, and Chris was front row for part of their set, so we get to hear some solid renditions of these staple Dire Setback originals, and we get a better view on "Catastrophe" overall. Give these two videos a look for yourselves above and below!

Finally for today, the openers on this night were newer local punk/hard rock quartet Far From Fine, with their set also getting filmed for two videos by Chris. One is a fast-paced punk song with singer Mike Gaetano doubling up on guitar, and while I don't know its title, the song embedded below is "This Way Again". Depending on what you're looking for out of Far From Fine (still featuring guest[?] drummer Blair St. John), you may prefer the skate punk stylings of the former to the slower alt-rock of the latter, but they definitely have range in their setlist, and hopefully they left a good impression on fans at The Loft on the 1st! Give their videos a watch as well!

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