Happy President's/Family Day, depending on which side of the border you're on! Today's post on the SMS is loaded with some recent news and material from Sault Ontario, including a new album release and linked new solo video, and another new performance clip, but let's start with videos from last Tuesday's Big Wreck concert at The Machine Shop! While videos from this one are surprisingly scant on YouTube, Rock 101's Facebook page has things covered again, with videos of both of last week's bands being uploaded mid-show. One was of opening Winnipeg alt-rock trio Attica Riots playing their song "Misery" from a distant corner angle to the stage, and while it sounds good and lively for the genre, the vertical camera angle and stage setup don't help the view (at least the filmer zoomed in!) As for the headlining Toronto/Boston hard rock quartet, WSUE filmed Big Wreck playing "That Song" and, as embedded below, "Look What I Found", so how'd they turn out?
Both filmed from the back of the crowd section, these are again on a vertical camera angle, but the audio comes through fine, and it's nice to see both a single and a deep cut from "In Loving Memory Of..." filmed for Rock 101's page! Give each clip a look above and below, and hopefully there's some more footage floating around from this show!
Next up, here's another new album release already for this still-young new year, as defunct local alternative hard rock trio The Din released their posthumous live album "Suburban Sendoff" to their Bandcamp page on Friday! They only announced the release date on Wednesday, so when they teased it was coming soon, they were true to their word! Recorded via soundboard audio at the album's eponymous farewell concert at LopLops Lounge on October 21st, this purportedly comprises of the entire concert's audio without edits, but as they noted in the description, "the human element is on full display." The extended 19 song setlist features every song from The Din's two studio albums, except for "The Rose", plus frontman Mike Haggith's old solo original "We Met At The Circus" (or "...As Surrogates".) In a mild surprise, they also left in the encore cover of The Tragically Hip's "Blow at High Dough", despite previously axing the four external covers from the Bandcamp release of "The Din Does Laundry" last year.
No word on if it's in continued tribute to Gord Downie, worth the copyright hassle to keep the set intact, or a combination therein, but it's welcome to see it make the final cut! "Suburban Sendoff" is available on a "name your price" model through Bandcamp, but consider paying an amount to support The Din's hard work, even after their breakup! With all of that said, when can you expect to see a review of "Suburban Sendoff" on the SMS? Honestly, with our self-imposed 6 month anti-bias buffer period between reviews of albums from the same act, it can't come until June at the earliest, as we just reviewed "Suburban Dream" in December, which was itself delayed a couple of months for similar reasons. That said, our album review schedule is set for the first half of the year (May aside), assuming nothing gets delayed! Also, there is new solo cover video from the aforementioned Mike Haggith from his current Thompson, Manitoba home base, so what should you know on it?
The first posting on his YouTube channel in almost two years, this is an acoustic cover of Stephen Stills' "Love The One You're With", and it's an entertaining cover of this folk classic, with the well-bearded Mike handling this with a light and optimistic air! Give it a look below, and check out his new Thompson pop rock band Between the Ditches!
Finally for today, here's a new video of local acoustic hard rock duo Rob Speers & Jesse Cook (a.k.a./p.k.a. The Kariokeheads) from their show at Room 21 on December 16th, as uploaded by the venue's Facebook page shortly afterward! However, the cover performed is not what you may expect, with the Elements bandmates playing a surprise unplugged version of Khia's "My Neck, My Back" alongside Rob's wife Christina (I think) on guest vocals, and Rob's Jack Spades bandmate Daniel Horton on guest guitar. I'll just say that everyone's got a sense of humour, and it's a nice casual performance, so give it a look if you want below!
That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates on the site this week! Thanks everyone!
This weekend's concert previews are here for your delectation, and just a disclaimer: This is a shorter post than usual due to recent quietness for other news, and a relatively quiet weekend for hard rock and punk shows ahead. Of course, we'll touch on next week's Pop Evil and Big Wreck shows early next week, but it's way too soon to preview them now, so look for them on Sunday or Monday. Now, let's start with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!
Elements bandmates Rob Speers & Jesse Cook will join forces for an acoustic concert at The Rockstar Bar TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced via it's official Facebook event page earlier this week, though it was previously advertised on the venue's physical marquee board as a Rob Speers solo concert. Making their first live appearance in this setting of the year, fans may recall Rob & Jesse playing as "The Kariokeheads" at Room 21 late last year, but that name is used nowhere on the event page. No word on whether they've dropped it, they're not incorporating live karaoke TOMORROW, or if the name was Room 21's idea, but it's the same base act! Now describing their sound as "bluesy acoustic rock", but surely with a harder edge akin to their electric bands, Rob and Jesse will be playing covers for assembled fans, and expect guest appearances from their friends and bandmates, as well as Rob's wife Christina, who guested with them at one of their Room 21 shows.
No word on why they're not playing on Saturday, but Rob & Jesse/The Kariokeheads are on at 10:00 PM TOMORROW, you must be 19 or older to attend, and there is no announced cover charge. Visit the above links for more details, and hopefully the guys launch an online page or post some public media at some point!
Moving to previously announced concerts, fans can take in another two matinee concerts from ex-Caveman Morrison frontman Tym Morrison also as his weekly concert arrangement continues for shows TOMORROW & SATURDAY! Only playing at Gliss this weekend (Wednesday open mics at The Canadian aside), this weekend's shows should provide fans and restaurant patrons alike with another entertaining pair of evening concert sets from this prolific veteran performer, so don't miss out at The Quality Inn's house restaurant tomorrow and/or Saturday! As usual for Tym's long-term gigs at Gliss, these are 6:00 PM events with no announced age limits or cover charges, but mind the non-traditional locale (well, outside of Tym's shows, at least.) Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Tym live!
Lastly for known hard rock concert previews this weekend is a big show for blues rock fans, as Sault Michigan hard rock/blues quartet Project 906 will be among the openers for Ann Arbor blues rock singer/guitarist Laith Al-Saadi as he makes his local debut on SATURDAY NIGHT at The Dreammaker's Theater at the Soo's Kewadin Casino branch! Entitled “The Best of Michigan Blues”, fans will recognize Laith as a finalist on The Voice in early 2016, but don't judge on that, as he has since carved his own path in solo music with a rich and skilled blend of blues rock, so don't miss out on Laith's headlining set on Saturday! Fellow Ann Arbor blues/funk act The Chris Canas Band will co-headline with their own powerful take on the blues, so definitely keep them in mind, especially with how well their shows tend to be recieved! Project 906 will add a hard rock touch to this show, which is just their second announced gig with new drummer Tommy Korcal, so see how they do on this big stage on Saturday!
Reunited local blues group Chord On Bluz (featuring Clownsack alumni) will open this show as well, and it'll be nice to see them back on a local stage! Despite an earlier rumour, this show (presented by U.P. Beat Entertainment) is not cancelled, and will go on as scheduled for Saturday night at 7:00 PM, with tickets going for $30 at this link, at 1-800-KEWADIN, or at the in-person box office. At press time, seats are still available from the second row and back, so act A.S.A.P. for the best possible spots! This should be a fun time for fans of the blues, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Laith live tackling a Jimi Hendrix classic!
That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's Defunct Local Band Profile on the site next, in all likelihood! Thanks everyone!
Another weekend of concert previews is upon us, so what's going down for hard rock and punk fans over the next few nights? We have shows on both sides of the border to touch on today, including SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS on each side, and if you're wondering about this weekend's Theatre of Night shows, we are holding them for tomorrow's post to give them proper emphasis given their advance notice, non-Friday placement, and overall scope. Don't worry, they are coming! Now, here's what you should know for this weekend's concerts!
Marquette hard rock cover quartet Spun will return to The Satisfied Frog in Sault Michigan for one more 2017 concert weekend TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, these shows were announced late last month via their Facebook event page, but they bypassed us until this week. Coming three months after their last Frog stops, this fan favourite band should have more hard rocking covers ready to go TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT, so don't miss the Nudge successors one more time (or two) before the year's out! They'll be playing in Baraga and in Wisconsin to end the year, FYI, and we'll approach 2018 gigs when confirmed by Spun. TOMORROW & SATURDAY'S shows have 21+ age limits, 10:00 PM-ish start times, and no announced cover charges. Visit the above links for more details, and for a preview, here's Spun live!
Next up, here's one more new announcement, as new local acoustic hard rock duo The Kariokeheads will return to the stage THIS SATURDAY NIGHT at Room 21 above Low & Slow! Again, apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced via the official Facebook event page on Monday. As you may recall, The Kariokeheads (not Karaokeheads) was the name given on venue advertising when Elements bandmates Rob Speers & Jesse Cook played a special acoustic show there three weeks ago, but at the time, we called it as an Elements concert, as that band publically promoted it as if it was their own. Well, the venue is again advertising The Kariokeheads for SATURDAY, and the band hasn't plugged this one online at press time, so it looks like they're an official side project now (if they get an online page, we'll add them to our active band links!) Again, the theme here is acoustic covers, with attendees encouraged to sing karaoke with Rob & Jesse, so keep that angle in mind if you're planning to come out to the Albert Street West venue on SATURDAY!
Note as well that Rob's wife Christina is advertised to perform as a guest for one set on Saturday, and while I can't confirm what her role will be, note that she has stage experience. A one night only show due to tomorrow's traditional karaoke night at Room 21, SATURDAY'S show has a 10:00 PM start time, no cover charge, and a 19+ age limit. Visit the above links for more details, and hopefully some videos of The Kariokeheads turn up!
Also we'll cap off a quiet weekend for hard rock shows on this side of the border with these remaining shows, as acoustic hard rock singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will return to Gliss Steak & Seafood for three more matinee concerts TONIGHT, TOMORROW, and SATURDAY NIGHT! Concluding a busy run of nine evening restaurant gigs in a ten day span with these three shows, Tym will continue his ongoing weekly run of Gliss shows with another triple header of familiar hard rock covers at this downtown locale, so fans of his tried and true brand of unplugged rock should keep his latest Gliss engagements in mind for the next few days! As usual for this ongoing arrangement, expect 6:00 PM matinee start times, no announced cover charges, and no age limits, but keep in mind that this is still a formal sit-down restaurant. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and for a preview, here's Tym live a few years back!
Finally, we'll head back to the Eastern U.P. for today's remaining shows, starting with the final 2017 appearances from Traverse City, Michigan metal trio Scarkazm, as they'll be returning to The Northern Pines Lounge at the Kewadin Shores Casino in St. Ignace TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Two months removed from their last gigs at both regional Kewadin branches, this weekend's shows will be the last of 2017 for any project of Jeff & Adam's (including Peril), so if you want to check out their hard rocking covers and originals for the new year, head down to St. Ignace this weekend! Fans can witness this favourite touring outfit tomorrow and Saturday at 9:00 PM, these are 21+ concerts as usual, and there are no announced cover charges. Visit the above links for more details on Scarkazm's last call for the year, and here they are live!
That's all for today, but stay tuned for our Theatre of Night previews and more next! Thanks everyone!
I had originally planned this post for tomorrow, which includes our Toystock preview and a surprising removal from our active band links, but with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT hitting the wire for TONIGHT, I've bumped it up to today. With that said, here's what you should know!
Half of local funk/ska/hard rock quartet The Elements will play a special acoustic concert set at Room 21 at 480 Albert Street West TONIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced this morning on the venue's Facebook page, with the band's Facebook page following suit this afternoon. A rare appearance at this intimate unplugged venue for a hard rock-leaning act, TONIGHT'S show will see Elements frontman Rob Speers and guitarist Jesse Cook unite in an unusual musical setting for them, with Rob even breaking out a guitar of his own for their sets. Room 21 have teased many familiar covers for Elements fans, and even suggested that fans may be able to "pick up a mic and sing along", so keep that in mind for TONIGHT as well! Mystery guests are also teased for TONIGHT, with Room 21 specifying that they'll include bandmates of Rob's and Jesse's from Jack Spades and Handsome Sandwich, plus at least one member of Eclipse, so come on out to see who turns up!
Note that the official Facebook event page gives Rob & Jesse's project name as "Kariokeheads Unplugged" (sic), but The Elements promoted this show publically as if it was their own. TONIGHT'S show at Room 21 (the new nightclub above the barbecue restaurant Low & Slow) has a 10:00 PM start time, no announced cover charge, and a 19+ age limit. See the above links for more details on hat should be an intriguing concert TONIGHT, and here's The Elements liv, albeit in full, last year!
Next up, here's our preview a big concert taking place THIS SUNDAY that had lots of advance notice, as the sixth annual Toystock charity concert is fast approaching! Returning for it's third straight year at The Northern Grand Gardens, Toystock VI will once again feature a day's worth of family entertainment to help pile together lots of toy, food, and cash donations to Christmas Cheer, with the Stuff-A-Bus once again returning for the cause too! Santa and Mrs. Claus will stop in to meet the kids (of course, this is ALL AGES), and there will be numerous prize draws, plus food and drinks from the Grand Gardens will also be available. Visit the official Facebook event page for full non-musical details! As usual, Toystock will welcome 10 local music acts in 10 hours on Sunday, and for the first time, the event will welcome back six bands from prior installments, with 4 other groups debuting in the festival on Sunday, so who can you look for in a couple of days' time? As this schedule indicates, Toystock VI will be headlined at 9:00 PM by country rock quartet Bone Yard, in their record fifth appearance at this event and fourth straight as headliners, so country fans won't want to miss them!
1960s-centric classic rock quartet The Peace Vibe will co-headline for a second straight year at 8:00 PM, while inaugural Toystock performers Cherry Crush will finally bring their pop rock covers back for a 7:00 PM set on Sunday, as preceded by blues/country veterans The Algo Rhythms (themselves returnees from 2015's Toystock) and the festival debut of blues musician Paul Dellavedova's solo band at 6:00 & 5:00 PM each. The hard rock portion of the day will see classic/hard rock quartets The 3 Day Millionaires (returning from last year) and Soundcheck (debuting if you discount Mourning Wood sets) at 4:00 & 3:00 PM respectively. The 2:00 PM slot belongs to acoustic country duo The Bearded Lounge in their festival debut, with their set replacing one by sister band Mojo & guest singer Annette Bouchard for unannounced reasons. That said, all of Mojo are in Bone Yard that night, so keep them in mind! Unidentified Case's Music students will also return from last year at 1:00 PM, though I can't confirm their identities.
Toystock VI will open at 12:00 PM on Sunday with the festival debut of The Jeff & Jeff Show, a new acoustic duo featuring Country 104.3 DJ Jeff McNiece, so come early to hear what they have in store! Admission is FREE with a toy, food, or cash donation to Christmas Cheer, and this should be another great holiday concert for fans of all ages to donate to a worthy cause and check out some talented live music! Visit the above links for more details, and here's The 3 Day Millionaires live at Toystock V!
Finally for today, we have a very surprising band to remove from our active band links, they being local improv/jam/hard rock collective Gianni Gagoots. Their Facebook (and only online) page was quietly taken down for unannounced reasons at some point in the past two months, coinciding with the quiet removal of almost all of their official YouTube video uploads, including from their Northern Vibe Festival set in August, none of which being positive for their active status. Debuting last summer, the Gagoots soon became a unique fan favourite attraction at numerous local concerts with their extended instrumental jams, fake Italian stage names, sense of humour, and fan engagement at sets through the OM Sound show in September of this year, with many later concerts being self-promoted through their own Like Ten! Productions Banner. I have no idea what happened to Gianni Gagoots, but everything I've seen pointed to a fun live band that had to be seen in person for the full experience!
Best case scenario is that the page was automatically de-activated like what happened with Destroilet's page earlier this year, but the lack of shows since early September and the video deletions don't paint a positive picture anyway. Hopefully we see Matt, Liam, Josh, Frank, and Bergio out there again in the future, and don't miss Liam's blues/country band The Barn Board Trio! That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates on the site soon! Thanks everyone!
Happy President's/Family Day, depending on which side of the border you're on! Today's post on the SMS is loaded with some recent news and material from Sault Ontario, including a new album release and linked new solo video, and another new performance clip, but let's start with videos from last Tuesday's Big Wreck concert at The Machine Shop! While videos from this one are surprisingly scant on YouTube, Rock 101's Facebook page has things covered again, with videos of both of last week's bands being uploaded mid-show. One was of opening Winnipeg alt-rock trio Attica Riots playing their song "Misery" from a distant corner angle to the stage, and while it sounds good and lively for the genre, the vertical camera angle and stage setup don't help the view (at least the filmer zoomed in!) As for the headlining Toronto/Boston hard rock quartet, WSUE filmed Big Wreck playing "That Song" and, as embedded below, "Look What I Found", so how'd they turn out?
