For our last post of the month, we're tackling some big recent updates before we dive into weekend concert previews once again, including a
lot of updates/changes from a newer local hard rock band, and first, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for next month. Here's what you should know!
Local punk trio
Hails will play their first concert of 2024 when they headline at
The Distraction on Sunday, March 17th! Announced via
their official Facebook event page (yes, the band
finally has
a Facebook page of their own), this will be their first 100% public concert since releasing their debut EP
"Rock And Rolls" in July of last year. Physical print runs of the EP were teased last year, as have been upcycled band merchandise, so will fans be able to buy some Ha!ls CDs, tapes, and/or shirts next month? Head to the former Big Guns Barbershop on East Street to find out! Brent, Mikhal, and Keeghan will be joined on this night by Shane
"DJ Seith" Erickson, who is definitely an off-the-board pick for a punk band opener, but Seith is a very talented & established name who has been known to mix some heavier tunes into his DJ sets, so don't be late for him in a few weeks either! This all ages concert has doors opening at 6:00 PM, so don't let the scheduling on a work/school night scare you off of coming out.
As usual for shows at The Distraction, this has a "$5 or pay-what-you-can" entry model. It's great seeing more rising original music at this new downtown venue, and hopefully there's a big crowd on the 17th when Hails skid out of the scrapyard to rip it hard once again! Visit the above links for more details, and stay tuned for more from Ha!ls!
Next up, here's some big and surprising updates from Sault Michigan hard rock band Double Jack, starting with the reveal that they have changed their name to
Exit 808, as per
their Facebook page yesterday. Other than saying that they have "undergone a little makeover", a reason for the new name was not announced, but as far as I know, there is no real Exit 808 for them to take the name from, unlike with the former Highway 63 (perhaps they're calling out drum machines? I don't know). Aside from that, they have quietly parted ways with bassist Isaac Royer, though again, they have not publically given a reason for his exit. Iggy's departure is definitely a surprise, given that he and guitarist Nathan Webber both left
Tarnished and then co-founded Double Jack last year, but hopefully things are somewhat amicable, and that we see him back at it soon! Exit 808 are looking for a new permanent bassist, so message them at
this link for more details.
As announced before the name change (but not on the SMS yet), Exit 808's next gig will see them play outside of the Soo for the first time this Saturday when they head downstate to Alpena for
the Rock Recovery Battle of the Bands, where they will compete against a wide-ranging group of Northern Michigan bands, including the aforementioned Tarnished and Manistique hard rock cover duo
Fyrbird. $500 and studio recording time await the winners, and while the former Double Jack did outpoint Tarnished for third place at the LSSU battle here in November, that was with the band's original lineup, of which only Nathan and drummer Jackie Moon remain. Regarding their open bassist slot, they have enlisted Blaze Beairl (the 14 year old son of new frontwoman Amy Beach) to fill in for the battle, but he is not playing with the band permanently, partly as he's more of a drummer.
Presumably, him being just 14 years old would also complicate nightclub gigs. I'm not familiar with Blaze musically, but given his musical parents, I wouldn't be shocked to hear his name again in the near future! In any event, best of luck to Exit 808 and Tarnished on their 2 hour road trip on Saturday, and hopefully they do the Soo proud at the Alpena Events Complex! Lastly for the Exit 808 updates, Amy had uploaded a bunch of videos from their headlining debut at
The Merchants Bar last month in a batch post to her personal Facebook page at the time, but she only figured out how to share them to the band's Facebook page yesterday. Six videos from The Merch were uploaded here, including Nathan's guitar solo from Steppenwolf's
"Born To Be Wild",
a guitar solo by new guitarist Alex Zimmerman,
an original jam with Alex playing lead, and three fuller songs.
Those are covers of the Marilyn Manson version of The Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)", Kiss' "Rock & Roll All Nite", and as embedded below, the Eva Under Fire version of Journey's "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)". Amy was candid about this set not being perfect and somewhat rushed to get a full night's setlist ready, but everyone sounds good, and it's nice hearing some songs that are better suited to Amy's vocal range than in the initial videos from this concert! The overly red lighting is still more of a concern than the band is. See much more from Exit 808 on Facebook, and check out them and Isaac rocking out in the videos linked above & below, and good luck again at the battle on Saturday!
That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews on the site next! Thanks everyone!
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