Before we begin today's post, yes, I am very aware of the rock radio bombshell that dropped in Sault Ontario yesterday. Let's just say that I've never listed to 104.3 FM so much in my life, and I'm taking a lot of notes towards full coverage on the SMS in a few days! Now, this post features the conclusion of this weekend's known hard rock concert previews, but first, here's two LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS for later this month!
Some of you may have heard about the recent passing of Spades GT guitarist Daniel Horton's mother Joy MacMillan, and the GoFundMe campaign to help put on a proper celebration of life for her. Well, the celebration of life will indeed take place on Saturday, January 25th at the Holiday Inn Express (click here for details). This strikes the SMS' radar though because the day's events will be capped off with a public concert at The Dive Gastro Pub, and it will feature a one-off reunion of Mike Haggith & The Din, plus acoustic sets by former Haggith frontman Curtis McKenzie and Dan's former Jack Spades bandmate Rob Speers! Joy was a warm and positive presence in her son's life, including his local band work in the 2010s, hence why musicians would wanna honour her in this way. While not 100% clarified, the Din reunion appears to be of their 2013-2014 acid jam/improv lineup that featured Daniel and Curtis backing Mike up.
As such, this will be Daniel's first local concert appearance since Spades GT opened for Josey Scott in August 2023, and the first Din-branded public set since the later power pop version's 2018 reunion gig. Despite the sad circumstances, this is a fun array of local musicians, so don't miss Mike, Curt, and Dan (and Rob) honouring Joy in a fitting way! My condolences are absolutely with Daniel and family too, and having lost my mother in 2020, I know the feeling all too well. The concert at The Dive will have a cash bar and refreshments, and it is a 19+ event likely starting at 9:00 PM. Visit the above links for more details, and R.I.P. Joy!
Next up, local classic/hard rock cover quartet Silent 9 will rock The Grand Gardens on Friday, January 31st when they headline the Alzheimer Society's 40th annual Making Memories Matter fundraiser! This event will also see a silent auction, cash bar, dinner and cocktails, and a "silent disco" (where you dance to music played through headphones), but Silent 9 are your headline act in their first announced concert of 2025. Alzheimer's disease is a huge and important cause to fight, so kudos to Silent 9 for helping out at month's end! While all ages with a 5:30 PM start time, admission for Making Memories Matter (listed as a "private event" on the band's website's concert calendar) is $60, which is a lot, but consider the charitable aims and what else is being included at the event proper. Visit the above links for more details on how to attend Making Memories Matter, and stay tuned for more on Silent 9's 2025 concert slate!
Now, let's wrap up this weekend's hard rock concert previews, and we'll start with local classic/hard rock cover quartet Generations, who will hit Gateway Casino for the first time this year TOMORROW NIGHT! One week removed from leading off their 2025 slate at The Water Tower Pub, tomorrow's one-nighter will be Valerie, the Tonys, and Pierre's first gig at the downtown casino since rocking out there just before Halloween. No costumes tomorrow, but you'll get a nice array of classic and hard rock covers from this veteran foursome, so keep this show in mind if you want some live rock n' roll! If you can't make it, they'll be in the west end at Jay's for two shows next week (three counting their Valerie-less turn as jam night hosts). Generations will take the stage tomorrow at 8:00 PM with no announced cover charge and a 19+ age limit. Visit the above links for more details, and for a preview, here they are live!
Finally, here's a special SUNDAY nighter at The Distraction featuring three acts making their first live appearances of 2025, with local crossover thrash/hardcore punk quartet Hails headlining! Three weeks after their planned December 21st show there was abruptly cancelled, Ha!ls will return to the former barbershop on East Street for their first live date since before Halloween, and they should unleash the fury after a couple months away! In a very encouraging surprise, Sault Michigan punk trio The Sole Aggressors will make a very rare cross-border appearance by an E.U.P. band in Sault Ontario as co-headliners. They're talented kids who won the inaugural Lake Superior State University battle of the bands in 2023, so don't bypass them, and who knows what could be in store if this goes well? Former Redundant/Scary Uncles bassist Andrew MacDonald's new space rock duo The Spaceship Opening will kick things off in their second live date.
No word yet on what they play, let alone Andrew's bandmate, but hopefully they launch some social media pages in this new year! This is an ALL AGES concert starting at 8:00 PM on Sunday, and admission is via a "$20 or pay-what-you-can" model. Some advertising included directions to the back door to get downstairs to the basement venue space The Stellar Door, but not all of the promotion is that specific, so I don't 100% know what floor the show will be on. Be prepared regardless! While this is on a work/school night, punk fans will have a blast on Sunday, let alone with the unique cross-border set, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Hails live!
That's all for now, but stay tuned for this month's Defunct Local Band Profile next! Thanks everyone!
1 comment:
this is P.J. venue owner at The Distraction 72 East Street. The venue is still called The Distraction, while scrapping the stellar door name we've simply moved all operations to the basement of the building with access off Gouin St. through the back. thank you so much for your coverage of us always! keep givin'er!
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