For this SMS post, we're heading over to Sault Michigan and the E.U.P. for some belated coverage of an event that I should have talked about on here last week, and one that I definitely didn't miss along the same lines, so here's what you should know on this Tuesday evening!
I wanted to start this post by profusely apologizing for missed concerts for coverage on the site, as there was a Music In The Park event and a battle of the bands during the returning Superior Whitefish Festival in Brimley on Saturday! To an extent, I think this falling off our radar so hard is due to two variables: I didn't expect it at all given that this festival hasn't been held in over a decade, but also, the known heavier bands to have played it didn't advertise it in advance on social media, alas. Two distinct concerts were at Riverview Park at 12099 West Lakeshore Drive on Saturday, and local punk/hard rock trio About:Blank (who haven't posted on their Facebook page since early June) played at 2:00 PM there, while fast-rising young Dafter singer/guitarist Molly Escherich (who recently participated in the Interlochen Center for the Arts' Popular Music Performance Camp) bookended that program at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM.
Two acts named Acoustic Beaches and Whistle & Fish performed at 4:00 & 3:00 PM respectively, and while I don't know a thing about the latter (bands of that name on Facebook are from out of state), Acoustic Beaches is a new unplugged cover duo from Exit 808 bandmates (and mother & son) Amy Beach and Blaze Beairl, with guest spots by Amy's nieces. Exit 808 fans may recall Amy playing acoustic gigs with varying performers on occasion, and hopefully they had a good set in Brimley! After Molly's last solo set, the battle of the bands commenced, with cash prizes of $1,000, $750, $500, and $250 awaiting the top four acts! Your performers in the battle were veteran local folk singer/guitarist Kevin Blakeney at 7:00 PM, pop rock solo artist Kaleb Shannon at 7:30 PM, hard rock quartet The Nameless (who didn't publicize their involvement in the battle on their Facebook page until after it was done) at 8:00 PM, ...
...a mystery band named Crush at 8:30 PM, and the revival of Molly Escherich's live band Molly & The Other Guys at 9:00 PM. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find complete results of who won beyond that Kevin finished in fourth place, and that The Nameless weren't in last place, but they had surprisingly strong cash prizes, so hopefully everyone performed well! It's worth noting that Molly & The Other Guys' lineup featured Molly alongside About:Blank guitarist Nathan Webber once again (much like we saw at the LSSU Battle of the Bands that they won last fall), but the rhythm section this time was young local bassist Destini Smith (who guested with Tarnished during the same battle last year) and Molly's brother Cayd on drums (replacing About:Blank's Kade DesArmo, ironically given the first names). Once again, I profusely apologize for missing the Superior Whitefish Festival's concerts for coverage on here! It's been a busy month.
It can be so easy for E.U.P. content to slip us by, but I hope a great time was had by all! If all goes well, I'm not done with it anyway, as I do want to find out more about Crush and Whistle & Fish (especially if the former placed in the top three in the battle), let alone who won what in the top three. I did find a video from the Whitefish Festival on a personal account of six young girls covering a Chappell Roan song on Saturday, but if they were Crush, they'd have to have been moved to first in the battle order given when it was uploaded. Stay tuned for more details when/if they roll in!
To close this post, why not discuss a battle of the bands that I haven't missed for coverage on the SMS, namely the third annual Lake Superior State University community battle of the bands, which takes place on Thursday, October 23rd at the Sault Ste. Marie university's on-campus Arts Center once again! First announced via the Arts Center's Facebook page on June 4th (notably with Molly performing in the graphic after winning last year) when publicizing their event schedule for the fall season, this post on Molly's Facebook page features hype for the battle from LSSU's own events calendar, including claims that it will be "bigger, louder, and more thrilling than ever". Admission will be $10 for general attendees, $5 for kids 10 and under, and free for current university students and faculty. We don't yet know how the format will be the same/different from last year, but in 2024, it was judged by professors and a student representative, and bands had 15 minute sets to play three or four songs apiece, with a $150 gift card awaiting the winners.
The runners up won a $50 gift card, and while eight acts (including solo musicians) were advertised, one dropped out prior to showtime. Trade war/tariffs pending, I'd love to come back for this battle again, as I had fun checking out the array of E.U.P. talent last fall, but I wonder why they're still holding this on a Thursday? No word yet on who we might see (audition info is forthcoming), let alone if Molly & crew will attempt to defend their title, but we'll let you know when more comes out on this battle! That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes on the site shortly! Thanks everyone!
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