Defunct Local Band Profile Series: Murder By Romance & Outshined

It's now time for this month's Defunct Local Band Profile, but with a late notice change. In preparing our intended & randomly chosen profile of mid-2000s punk band Mayadevi, I learned that the band is actually one and the same as Ashoka At The Show, who have newly reunited, albeit now based in Elliot Lake. We'll definitely acknowledge their revival in full on the site next week, but that means they don't fit for a profile on a defunct or inactive local band now. As a result, I've picked the next closest alphabetical Sault Ontario band we haven't featured in the series yet, and as they don't have enough for a full profile, I've randomly picked a Sault Michigan band in a similar state to fill things out. Now, here's what you need to know!
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Murder By Romance

Genre: Punk/Emo

Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Members: (This information is incomplete. Let us know if you can fill in any blanks!)

Aisha Day, vocals
Brianne Fournier, guitar/vocals
Misty ?????, guitar
Katie Niskanen, drums

Audio/Video: Murder By Romance never posted any material or played live, but their their Tripod page features an extensive potential setlist that a friend suggested (including such bands as CKY & Fall Out Boy), and given that they posted it there, it must be a decent sign as to some material that they were eyeing. Other than that, I have no hints as to their sound, as none of their members are familiar from other bands.

Info/Analysis: Publically active for just a few months in mid-late 2005, Murder By Romance were unique as one of the few all-female bands playing alternative genres at the time, similarly to Apocrytha from the same time period. As of their final public update, they were still looking for a bassist and drummer, and while they didn't get much further off the ground, frontwoman Aisha Day later became known as a local concert promoter. Given M.B.R.'s lineup and sound, they'd have been a unique attraction in their day, and hopefully there's some recorded media out there so we can hear what we missed at some point!
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Outshined

Genre: Christian Hard Rock

Hometown: Rudyard, Michigan

Members:

Jacob Zeeryp (Chained Memories), vocals/keyboard
Caleb Peters, guitar
Jacob Peters, bass
Jamie Brown, drums

Info/Analysis: Active from roughly 2007-2009, Outshined were a rare example of a Christian-themed rock band in the Soo area, and they were definitely heavier than the better known SeeKing Reverence. Aiming to "praise God and lead others to worship" through their music, the band played at church gigs here and as far as Reed City in Central Michigan, as well as competing at a Yoopers Got Talent event in Rudyard in January 2008, but remaining details are in short supply. Sonically a better fit for Rock 101 than Smile FM or The Promise, Outshined took influence from post-grunge for a good sound and chemistry, but some songs could be a little repetitive or sloppy, and the recording quality of their MySpace page's four songs varies. If you're looking for a heavier side of religious music, this might be your best bet, so check out their heaviest & fastest song "Tragedy" below, and hopefully everyone is still active in music!


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I hope you guys liked this month's Defunct Local Band Profiles, and for those hoping for Mayadevi, we'll cover Ashoka at the Show's reunion next week and their current activity going forward, so stay tuned! As for next month's Defunct Profile, our random band selection take us back to Sault Ontario for a single band profile, as we'll be looking at late-2000s indie punk favourites Nebraska Arms, just a few months removed from their one-off reunion at late frontman Guy Thiffault's tribute concert! Look for that profile on or around April 10th, and I'll see you guys TONIGHT at The Canadian for March Mash-Up! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Grady and 40 Sons), And Two New Sault Area Bands!

How's everyone enjoying this weather? If you're no fan, this might cheer you up: LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS!!! Both are kinda short notice, as they're both this month, but I just found them today! Stay tuned afterwards for two more Sault-area bands I've found to share with you guys! So let's get this post going!

First up, Hamilton hard rock band 40 Sons are coming to Sault Ontario! They will be at Coch's Corner on October 23rd, and will take the stage at 9:00 PM that night! As it is Coch's Corner, there's no admission price, just make sure to buy something and have your ID ready. No word on any openers, I don't think there are any. I've never heard of 40 Sons before today, but after some listens, they sound pretty good. Radio rock with the appropriate heaviness, and unique vocals for their style! I'd say hit this show if you can, especially with the lacking promo for it. Check out more from 40 Sons at their official MySpace page!

Then, just two days later, a metal band will mark their return to Sault Ste. Marie! Grady, the Austin, Texas "country metal" band fronted by former Big Sugar frontman Gordie Johnson, will be playing at The Canadian on October 25th! They were last seen here in April of last year at the same venue. They will be supported by Winnipeg metal band Domenica, who you may remember from a cancelled Foggy Notions concert earlier this year. The show will take place at 11:00 PM that night, though I have no current word on ticket prices. Confirm your attendance at the official Facebook event page!

This may seem a bit of a diversion from normal SMS band discussion, but Grady definitely are metal, just with a more Southern/country edge. If you get past any preconceptions you have about them being a country band, you'll find some heavy catchy metal underneath their Southern appearance! Check them out on MySpace to hear some of their material, they are not bad at all! As for Domenica, they're really good too, I'd been hoping to see them when they had the Foggy Notions booking, but now we'll get a chance to see them! Heavy female-fronted metal with a wide array of influences, hear some of their stuff on MySpace! I might hit this show, we'll have to see!

And to cap off this post, I have found a couple new Sault-area metal/hard rock bands! I've really been trying to cover more of the immediate area around the Twin Saults (i.e. places you can drive to in a half hour), and in doing so, I've found a couple new bands from the Sault Michigan area to tell you guys about!

First, we have Outshined, a hard rock band from Rudyard! They formed in 2007 and still play shows here and there! Now they happen to be Christian rock, and they are pretty strong in their beliefs, but I don't let religious affiliations detract from my musical enjoyment, so try not to hold that into account when checking them out. That being said, they're still a good hard rock band! They play the kind of music that would fit well on Rock 101, though some songs are a touch repetitive. Still worth checking out, just don't immediately write them off for their religious message. Hear some of their songs on their official MySpace page!

And finally, here's another metal band I've found, this band from Eckerman (which is also the hometown for fellow area hard rockers Bent Rollercoaster.) They are Life's Eclipse, and though they've been inactive since June, they have some excellent stuff! They formed in 2006, and were planning to record an album, entitled "Shadow Over Superior" (album cover pictured.) They have two demo songs posted on their official MySpace page, and damn, they're heavy as hell. "Not Dead But Dreaming" is epically good, and "Red Dawn" is hardcore fury at it's best! Great riffs and solos! I hope they get Life's Eclipse going again, because they have loads of potential! Check them out for yourself on MySpace!

So there's what you guys need to know for today! Amazingly, I didn't mention a certain platinum selling facepaint wearing hard rock band at all, but I imagine I will in a day or so! More news and updates coming very soon! And remember to go see Spliff65, Sykotyk Rampage, and/or Garden of Bedlam this coming weekend!