Two New Local Bands, Plus Much More Recent Updates!!

After our first off day of the year, we're back in swing of things with a packed news post, and yes, this month's Defunct Local Band Profiles are coming either tonight or tomorrow! For now, we have plenty of assorted news items and not one, but two new local bands, so here's what you should know!

One new-ish band to add to our band links are Orange, a post-punk/rockabilly duo featuring Telephone & Address frontman Chris Shoust! Also referred to as Orange: The Band in some instances, this project appears to be a revival of an earlier run at an undisclosed time, with a posting on Chris' other two man band The Red & Black's Facebook page last month implying that they're "now defunct." Orange united Chris on drums with guitarist Matt Zook (now living in Toledo, Ohio), who jammed in a series of "Sunday sessions" that took place in a local church "at the end of East Street" (do they mean St. Andrew's?) Orange's Facebook page was launched on December 29th, where they revealed that they will have an album released this year, though it's not established there whether it will be the split album with The Red & Black that they teased last month, or if Orange's album plans have drifted away from the split concept. In any event, four "Sunday sessions" tracks can now be streamed on Orange's Soundcloud page, so how does everything sound?

Very lo-fi like Chris' other recent bands, this music is reminiscent of some Telephone & Address work, but it's all instrumental. His drumming fits Matt's guitar playing, which has raw qualities and some melody, as well as a punk bite, and while it looks like Orange's revival is mainly to put out old material, at least they're getting more of a profile! I don't have a clue on when they were first together. Give Orange a listen above!

The other new band to add to our links today is Ten Kings, a new Sault Michigan hard rock quartet with some familiar faces! Just launching their Facebook page on Thursday, this new band (whose name is inspired by conspiracy theories involving a "New World Order")  haven't done much publically yet, but Nixxon Dixxon fans may want to pay attention, as their singer Brandon Carr is making his long awaited return to a local band with Ten Kings! We haven't heard much from Brandon since Nixxon Dixxon broke up in 2010, so it's great to see him back in the saddle! Their lineup is rounded out by former Bottom Line bandmates Joe Jenkins (also of Exiled) and Will Storey on guitar and drums respectively, while ex-Scofflaw bassist Barney Gravelle is also on board. Very solid lineup so far, but what will Ten Kings play? All that they've said so far is that they'll play modern & classic rock covers, so if you recall what Nixxon Dixxon & Exiled have played, Ten Kings shouldn't stray too far.

It's obviously too early to comment on how Ten Kings sound, but hopefully they establish a local foothold, as the talent is obviously there! Stay tuned for more as we hear it, and like Orange, they're now in our active band links!

Finally for today, here's six assorted shorter news items from the last little while, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by artist, show, or company name:

• This is overdue, but I've moved Sault Michigan bar and occasional concert venue The Back Door to our "Other Sault Michigan Links" section due to their recent closure after their final New Year's party. Facebook postings have indicated that The Back Door was bought by new owners, but it's not yet publically known if the venue will remain as a nightclub or not, let alone any other changes.  For now at least, we won't consider it as an active concert venue, but if the new owners keep things going there, we'll let you guys know!
• Frasiers frontman Charlie Derrer is once again looking to start a new band, this time confirming an intended genre of pop punk, as per his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post on Tuesday. It'd be great to have more punk bands in the Soo, so message Charlie above or at this link for more info!
• New local goregrind duo Das Skalpell Kampf posted a new song named "Handing Out Headshots" onto their Bandcamp page on Tuesday! Sludgy and lo-fi, it sounds like it should be a lot longer than it's 52 second runtime, but if you love similar Blood Shed acts, give the song a listen above, especially as it may be on the upcoming 11-way split!
• Sault Ontario cannabis culture store Planetary Pride have put feelers out on their Facebook page regarding a possible new summer music festival (more or less, a spiritual successor to Hempfest, which moved 8 hours away to Moonbeam last year.) If they were to put on such an event, tickets would be $150 for the weekend, though other details are to be confirmed. There's some positive feedback already, but comment on Planetary Pride's Facebook post A.S.A.P. to voice your opinion!
• Local doom/punk band The Revolution have announced the addition of Haggith bassist Jordan Leach to their lineup, replacing the already departed Rainey Vincent. The news was announced on their Facebook page on Tuesday. Slightly surprising given how recently he joined Haggith, but this is great news for Jordan, and hopefully he contributes well with both bands!
• Long running Rock 101 morning show Scott & Brian In The Morning finally has it's own official Facebook page! As you may know, Scott Cook & Brian Davie play rock hits, discuss the news and "infotainment", and keep fans entertained on the morning drive from 6:00-9:00 AM weekdays on 101.3 FM, and it's great to see them get their own Facebook page! Become a fan above, and the show's now in our "Other Sault Michigan Links"!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes soon, and this month's Defunct Local Band Profile later today, if all goes well! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Shit Liver), Mike Haggith's Next Album, And Much More!!

Anyone want some more news? I have some new stories from the Sault Ontario side of things today, including a great classic video, an interesting performance from last week, and a newly announced local hard rock album, but first, here's a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!!

I was waiting for official word from promoters before announcing this show here, but I have verified proof from multiple sources about it, so hopefully it won't hurt to push it now! The sixteenth Roosevelt Hotel metal night appears to be set, and here's what you should know about it! THIS THURSDAY, three more local bands will take the stage for the first all-local Thursday metal show since last month, but who's playing? From the lineups I've seen, grimecore trio Shit Liver are the listed headlining band, in their 6th Thursday night show at The Rosie! Good to see them out there again, they'll be sure to leave an impression! Also scheduled are classic metal quartet Sativa Rose, who'll be rocking out that night in honour of guitarist Anthony Orazietti's 25th birthday! The band even launched a Facebook group & event page in honour of the celebration. Sounds good to me, what better way is there to spend a birthday? The other scheduled band is hardcore quartet Changing Waves, who had also mentioned their involvement on Facebook on Wednesday. They have confirmed the debut of two new songs on Thursday night, and they also plan to distribute a demo of some kind, though details weren't added concerning it.

As always, this show on Thursday should begin at around 9:30 PM, you must be 19 to enter, and there's no cover charge. Check the above links for more details! Nice to see a slightly different band lineup this week, Dismembertainment have done good once again! Pencil me in to attend this concert, and I'll hopefully see you guys there!

Next up, have you been wondering where local solo guitarist Mike Haggith has been in recent months? As you can see on his Facebook page, he's been working on some of his Windsor bands, a contest for free copies of some of his albums, and another open mic night performance at The Outback. Since the release of "Suspended Animation" & the cancellation of his planned "Blue Album", details on new solo material have been scant, but his next studio album has officially been announced! A concept album entitled "Space 82" is now scheduled as his 44th studio album, with a tentative release date of September 1st! The album will feature tracks that all relate to a form of human experience, and will have a "jam" structure with some longer tracks. 4 songs are now confirmed for the album, including the single "Limb Coast" that Mike posted earlier in the year, so recording has technically started for the album's tracks. This should be interesting, and it's good to see Mike's prolific solo project back in the studio! We'll absolutely feature "Space 82" in next month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post, and if the release project holds up, a review of the album in the fall should be in the cards! Stay tuned for updates!

We'll close today with two videos, and firstly, here's a very cool upload from a classic local band! You may have seen the videos that CML Productions' Rick DellaVedova has been posting from Garden of Bedlam concerts, but as you may recall, Rick was once a prominent local musician as signer for the defunct classic metal quintet Amethyst, under his stage name Rick Widow! That said, he posted a video onto his YouTube channel in October for a music video he edited together in 2005 for the Amethyst song "Snakeye Strut", from 1994's "Innocent As Hell"! Well edited, and it's a solid metal track for sure, I'd have been at their shows if I was around back then! This is currently the only "video" of Amethyst that's publically viewable (the "Waste of Time" music video from their original cassette was sadly made private), so definitely check it out below and get a blast from the past! Kudos to Rick for the upload!



Finally, here's an interesting video I found online over the weekend that you should get a kick out of! Did anyone notice anything peculiar in the parking lot of The Canadian Nightclub on Wednesday? Well, if you did, was it a guy playing drums on a bouncing drumkit in the back of a truck? Here's what I've found out. If you follow the country/rock scenes in the Victoria, B.C. area, you may have seen a drummer named Charlie Rose at concerts for bands like Varmint & Altered. His unique feature is that, since 2000, he's drummed on a self-made bouncing drumkit made from a converted oil barrel suspended by some heavy duty springs. After lots of practice and live experience, he's developed all the right moves and methods, and now he and his "Boingy Boingy" drumkit are touring eastward to Toronto to appear on the CBC series "Dragon's Den" to pitch the Boingy Boingy on the show! On the way through Ontario, Charlie stopped in the Sault on Wednesday for at least long enough to give a drum solo on the Boingy Boingy for an "ambush" set to a small audience, and the video is below!

Now, I'm aware his musical background isn't metal, but if I wouldn't have said anything, would you have been able to tell? He's really good, especially given the task of having to ride a drumkit that bounces! If I hear in advance that he's playing anymore impromptu gigs in the Sault on the way back from Toronto, I'll let you all know, but here's his drum solo from Wednesday outside of The Canadian!



That's all for now, but stay tuned, as I may have a book review coming up next! Thanks everyone!