LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (The Pixo Control), A New Concert Video, And More!!

We're back on this Monday afternoon with our first news post of the month, so what's in store? Some assorted recent news and notes, a new concert video find, and first, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT and lots of assorted updates from the band in question, so here's what you should know!

Local alternative/hard rock trio The Pixo Control have announced a new local concert that will go down on Friday, February 12th at The Rockstar Bar! Announced on their Facebook page on Wednesday, the band didn't offer details on the show proper, but it's very likely that this is one and the same as the Valentine's Day-themed concert that Project 421 bassist Daniel Horton is promoting, though he hasn't officially revealed full details yet. If correct, this show will have 3 or 4 bands, and one will be local musician Jacob Quarrell's acoustic solo act Shit Creek Survivor (as seen at 2014's Sault Band-O-Rama), who confirmed his involvement for the same date and venue on his own Facebook event page last week. Nice to see him back out there! No word yet on the other band(s?) for next Friday, including possible involvement from one of Daniel's bands, but we'll let you know when there's a fuller announcement! Also, no word yet on a cover charge, but a 10:00 PM start time and 19+ age limit are to be expected. Check the above links for more details, and stay tuned for more!

Staying with The Pixo Control, the guys have been busy as of late, so what's new from them beyond this show? Well, they've announced their second mini-tour, which will see them head back to Southern Ontario for shows in Toronto and Barrie over the April 14th weekend, and it'll be great to see them back down south again! These of course follow three February shows in the Soo, including next week's Sheepdogs show at The Machine Shop, and the Like A Pisces show during The Fishbowl Festival on February 20th, so keep those in mind (also, note that Honest Job's Mister Tahti is no longer listed as performing on the latter show. Hopefully nothing bad happened!) Also, The Pixo Control's debut album "Probably Not" is now on sale via on iTunes, so if you want a digital copy, they cost $9.99 there, with individual songs also available! Finally for today, the guys have posted three more videos to their Instagram page, so what should you know about these?

All filmed around their Sudbury concert last month, one video has the guys jokingly singing The Spice Girls' "Wannabe" in their tour van, while another video has bassist Dustin Goodall's observations of some... "ribald" art backstage at the venue they played at (it's not linked here in case some find it offensive.) Embedded below though is a short clip of The Pixo Control jamming an acoustic version of "Land of the Moles", which is apparently part of more Sudbury footage to be posted that they filmed with Sudbury's Here Kitty Kitty Productions, which will apparently include more performance clips, and "a salty surprise". Sounds good, so stay tuned for more above & below!

What a weekend. We spent a lot of time in front of cameras so get out the popcorn, ya fucks. #loveisintheair #orisitpoop

A video posted by The Pixo Control (@thepixocontrol) on Jan 24, 2016 at 3:00pm PST

Next up, here's a new video from November's fourth annual Toystock fundraiser concert, this time of one-off punk cover band The Rude-Offs! This was uploaded to Facebook in December by guitarist Christian Foisy, and shared on their full-time successor band Killer's Facebook page as a sample of Killer's likely sound, but we still don't know a whole lot on Killer apart from Rude-Offs media. It's of the band (with Treble Charger's Greig Nori on lead vocals) covering The Pixie's "Where Is My Mind" at The Grand Gardens, and it's a solid rendition at a good angle, with fans enjoying it from what I can see! Hopefully we hear more from Killer soon, but check out this new Rude-Offs video below!



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

• Local concert promotion agency Heavy North Entertainment announced last week that their Facebook page is "no longer active until further notice". The post followed their November declaration of a hiatus due to schedule conflicts, but no word what happened internally to bring about this newest update. H.N.E. have not promoted a concert since September's Fuck The Facts show at The Oddfellows Hall, but hopefully Tyler and company come back to the promotion game if/when "further notice" rolls around!
• Former State of Misery drummer Nick Kainula is again looking for musicians for his next local band project, and now, he wants to find a singer and bassist for his yet-to-debut metal band. Nick hopes to jam and play shows again, so if you or someone you know is interested in trying out, message Nick A.S.A.P. at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from yesterday!
• In a house cleaning note regarding a Sault Michigan area concert venue, we've moved Timmy Lee's Pub in St. Ignace from our concert venue links to our "Other Local Metal Links" section, as it hasn't been visibly used for hard rock concerts in well over a year. Though it's still open, it's website is no longer up, so we've also changed it's link to it's Facebook page. Hopefully we see more bands there again in the future!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post next! Thanks everyone!

The Pixo Control - "Probably Not" Review!!

As a late Christmas present, here's our 78th monthly CD review, as we're taking a look at local alternative hard rock trio The Pixo Control's debut CD "Probably Not"! Released through Tidal Records on December 12th during their CD release parties at LopLops Lounge, "Probably Not" was recorded earlier this year at Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones, and was mixed and mastered by current bassist Dustin Goodall. The album features frontman Michael Mikus on vocals, guitar, and (in between lineup changes) bass, with Keeghan Rosso back on drums, and the CD also features guest appearances by ex-bassist Steve Edwards on "60" and cellist Emma N-K on "No". Copies of "Probably Not" are on sale for $10 at The Rad Zone, Case's Music, and at Pixo Control concerts, while you can also buy it online via Tidal Records' online store for the same price, and while you can stream the whole thing on the band's YouTube channel, support their work and buy a copy!

And yes, each song name below is linked to it's YouTube posting Featuring 12 songs running for about 56 minutes, let's begin with the first song, "Quick Little Quarter"! Opening with a catchy, siren-esque guitar riff and nice pounding drums, this song has effective building vocals from Michael, and a strong consistent tone that, if a little low early, nicely grows in vocal intensity and range! The song can be a little repetitive by it's conclusion, but it delivers what Pixo Control fans have came to love, and it's a fast paced yet casual number! Second is "Call Me A Liar", which opens with a Tool-esque stretch before settling into a lower and darker verse that probably translates well to acoustic performances, but I do find that the melodic chorus isn't a perfect mesh for the rest of the song's mood. Definitely channeling some classic grunge in the verses, Michael and Keeghan rock this one effectively and compliment each other well, but I'd have made the choruses angrier than they are on the final product. Solid track though!

Next up is "This Is Momentary, Forever", which maintains a steady, bass-heavy, 1970s-feeling riff until the verses kick in, with Michael singing in a low rasp overtop of low instrumentation, though the choruses ramp up the intensity and pace. Fun old school sound here, with the choruses definitely wanting to make you move, but a slow winding instrumental bridge late definitely drags the song down before picking up steam late, albeit sans vocals, which almost sound like they were accidentally left out of the second half. Still, this is a fun track that keeps things rolling! That's followed by "Land of the Moles", one of The Pixo Control's most familiar songs, and it maintains it's laid back yet edgy sound in studio form! Keeping a catchy rhythm and cadence through the verses, the choruses & bridge sound even grander here than they do live, which is an interesting shift! It's not a heavy or fast song, but it's memorable and catchy sound, and strong instrumentation, help it become a standout track!

The fifth track is "Reasons", which spends the majority of it's runtime as a reserved, folksy instrumental (by and large), with Michael providing echoed vocals, giving an eerie vibe of sorts before the full band finally kicks into their usual gear for most of the last minute, albeit at the same tempo. It's not a favourite track of mine just on personal preference, but it shows The Pixo Control's range and depth, and allows for some extra introspection and darker moods! Things pick up a bit more with the next song, "Vicinity", which has a Foo Fighters-esque vibe to it (I wonder if that was intentional?), but Michael and Keeghan acquit themselves well here, with an effective sing-along chorus, solid hooks, and strong drumming, even with a small solo spot in the bridge! A guitar solo might have helped break things up a bit, but this is another album highlight to be sure, and has that live intensity too!

Seventh is "60" (an abbreviated name for "Sixty Extra Chances Called Minutes"), which sees the only album credit for original Pixo Control bassist Steve Edwards, credited for fuzz bass. The song itself (another very familiar live track) maintains the same strong sound as we see live, including the bouncy guitar riff, strong raspy vocals, and a nice measured pace, and while not overly aggressive, it's alternative edge will appeal to many fans! Steve's contributions are nice to see and well done, and the song holds it's own well in studio form! Then we have "Tall Ships", a solid grungy original with nice vocal layering on the choruses and an authentic grungy feel that gives me a bit of a Nirvana callback! I like the addition of a guitar solo mid-way through this song, which is fairly reserved until the choruses, but Michael's vocals flow well, and it's another well performed track!

Ninth is the incredibly lengthy titled "Congratulations on Your Decision to Become a Pilot", which has a darker and gritter essence for the most part, but still retains the working Pixo Control flavour! Michael's singing has the extra note here to carry the lyrics, and there's some strong distorted guitar riffing before the song kicks into another gear for the final minute, taking on a fast and melodic theme that would be very fun to jam with live! The ending is a little abrupt though. The shortest song on "Probably Not" is next, that being "Scratch", and it's arguably the most punk-influenced song on the album to boot, harbouring a more aggressive sound that seems to have hints of skate punk on it, and it should appeal to fans who don't take to their alternative & grunge influences as much! Keeghan really shines on drums here, and Michael lets loose vocally in the second half, adding to arguably The Pixo Control's most explosive song yet, and it's a clear highlight on this CD!

The album's penultimate song is "No", featuring a guest appearance by cellist Emma N-K, who has joined The Pixo Control live on this song as well. If you liked "This Is Momentary, Forever", you'll take to the low melancholy vocals, minimal instrumentation, and slow pacing to start this song, but Emma's cello work does add to the dark feel early! The last two minutes build more to what I hoped "T.I.M.F." would have though, with more of a full-band presence, dramatic vocals, and a clear sense of purpose, before coming full circle at the end. Strongly done overall! The nine minute long "Potpourri" closes out the album, which opens (and closes) with the sound of radio dials being fiddled with. Building from Michael softly playing the riff to a mid-paced alternative jam, the song never really seems to get off the ground (and definitely feels overlong) until the last couple of minutes bring a higher energy performance, complete with a rare guitar solo, and a closer that feels like how live shows would! Fitting closer to the CD, but "Potpourri" still felt like it ran for way too long.

So, what are my final thoughts on The Pixo Control's debut CD? Overall, it's a very entertaining and diverse first release from this talented young band, and I will say that the production was excellent, with this album frequently maintaining the live concert feel from how the songs were performed! Some weren't identical to prior live versions (which we were warned about), but nothing was shockingly different. Michael Mikus showed a raspy yet well suited vocal style to go along with strong guitar and bass work that called back to his musical influences nicely, while Keeghan Rosso was a great and steady compliment on drums, so you can't go too wrong there! Songs like "Scratch", "60", and "Tall Ships" were among the highlights, but I would have liked to have seen more guitar solos, "Potpourri" was way longer than it needed to be, and at times, some songs could meander in one gear for an extended period. Originals like "Alphabetical Order" and "The Great Salute To Radio Edits" were also missed, but hopefully we see them in their next album.

The Pixo Control crafted a very good debut effort here, and this can only be a bright beginning for this promising trio, so here's to a huge 2016 and beyond! Buy "Probably Not" A.S.A.P., and I hope you guys liked this month's CD review! To kick off the new year, we will be reviewing a new local CD, but which one? As of right now, we're leaning towards a newer release from Dafter, Michigan solo artist SweetKenny, who released three new albums since our last review of his, but that may change pending other potential new CDs. In any event, stay tuned for updates, and for weekend concert previews next! Thanks everyone!

Local Metal Video Showcase!!

Before we get into this all-video post, just a quick apology for a missed concert, as Lucky 13 did indeed play last night at The Rednecks Saloon too. The band never indicated a Saturday nighter on the Facebook event page, and we didn't get concrete word about "round #2" until it was too late to plug it here. Our sincere apologies, hopefully both nights were awesome! Now, let's get some news and notes rolling again on the SMS with an all-video post, with concert video, two acts' studio material, and a solo performance!

We'll start with local alternative/grunge trio The Pixo Control, whose CD release parties were a success, if early word on social media is any indication! Of course, we'll touch on fallout from the shows proper when/if media or articles turn up, but both SooToday and The Sault Star posted articles about the release shows before they took place! SooToday's article just promotes the concert and the newly released "Probably Not" CD, but The Sault Star's Brian Kelly interviewed frontman Michael Mikus for this article on the concerts and album, so what should you know there? Within, Michael notes his reactions to finishing "Probably Not", and mentions that the final CD versions of their songs won't sound exactly as they do live, as you may have seen during "The 12 Days of Pixo". The article also confirms that cellist Emma N-K makes a guest appearance on the album, presumably on the song "No", which she has guested on with the band before.

Also, the article notes that The Rad Zone has copies of "Probably Not", but the band hasn't confirmed that yet. Solid and informative, so check both articles out above! As for the final two days of "The 12 Days of Pixo", the last two studio tracks from "Probably Not" went up on the band's YouTube channel on Thursday & Friday, including the aforementioned "No" and, as embedded below, the 9 minute long "Potpourri". We won't comment on the songs yet, pending our full CD review, but stay tuned for more from The Pixo Control when it comes in, and I hope the release parties went well, I wish I could have been there! Here's "Potpourri"!



Next up, local goregrind solo project Crucify The Whore have announced plans for their next full length release, with the oddly calm title "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature", but don't worry, they're still as brutal as ever! It's not clear if the picture of Tyler Gibson drinking is the final cover or not (especially given the dimensions), but he noted on the C.T.W. Facebook page that it'll be released on March 10th for $5, and will have 20 songs in between 30-40 minutes in length, indicating plenty of short songs once again. Two videos are on the Blood Shed Productions' YouTube channel with recordings planned for "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature", including one song whose name we won't give here as it's potentially offensive, but embedded below, here's two songs from it, entitled "It Is What It Is" and "Banana Blast Beats". Suitably heavy and minimalstic grind for fans and Blood Shed loyalists alike, so check everything out above & below!



Also, here's the latest videos from local classic/hard rock cover favourites That's Chester, whose future plans remain unclear, but have been staying busy posting daily "wake up songs" approved by the band and/or late guitarist Eugene Orlando. Some are just YouTube links to favourite songs, but three more concert videos have made their way online, all courtesy of guitarist Gabe Tessaro's personal Facebook page! I believe two of them are from the 2010 Rotaryfest (when they headlined the main stage on that year's Friday lineup), including renditions Deep Purple's "Highway Star" and April Wine's "Roller", and while the videos are a little fuzzy, the audio's great, and you get a good central angle of the band! The newest video, as embedded below, is from this July's Rotaryfest (That's Chester's last regular concert set before Eugene's death), and it's of them covering Deep Purple's "Hush".

Filmed from behind the band like on the prior Tommy video from this camera, you get a nice expanded view of That's Chester once again, so give these new That's Chester-approved wake up songs a look above & below!



Finally, former Ten Kings guitarist Joe Jenkins posted a new solo demonstration video onto his YouTube channel on Wednesday! His first video there in a month, this is of Joe testing some new guitar pedals that he got, and his playing sounds good with them! More of an informational video than anything, but fans of Joe's music will like it, so check it out below!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for much more this week! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Havadder & Lucky 13) And Weekend Concert Previews!!

We're back to tackle another weekend of concert previews in the Sault area, and in this post, we have a big CD release show(s) and some familiar faces from the cover side of things, including SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS, and yes, if anything with later notice comes up, we'll touch on it when possible. Now, here's what you should know!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Havadder will return to The Rockstar Bar for a headlining concert TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the show was only just announced via the official Facebook event page on Tuesday. Fresh off of their Toystock debut on Sunday, this will be Havadder's first gig at The Rockstar Bar in three weeks, and according to the event page, their last show there before Christmas. Jugga & company always entertain when they hit the stage, so don't miss their next concert TOMORROW NIGHT! For reference, they're not playing there on Saturday night due to a Cherry Crush concert (which is replacing a cancelled show from a U2 tribute band.) This 19+ concert has a 10:30 PM start time, and while there's no announced cover charge, bring $5 just in case. Check the above links for more info, and here's Havadder live!



Next up, fellow local classic/hard rock cover quartet Lucky 13 will also be playing live TOMORROW NIGHT when their "world tour" takes them back to The Rednecks Saloon! Again, apologies for the short notice, the band only announced the show via their Facebook event page on Tuesday. Last seen last week at The Rockstar Bar, this will be Ed, Jeremey, Jeff, and Roger's first concert at the former Nicolet Tavern in almost three months, so keep their return in mind for TOMORROW NIGHT for their entertaining range of familiar covers! No word though on if they're playing Saturday too, the event page leaves things vague, but we'll let you know if there's confirmation. Again, there's no announced cover charge, you must be 19 or older to attend, and a 10:00 PM start time is advertised. For more details, visit the above links, and here's Lucky 13 live at Toystock last fall!



Moving to previously announced concerts, let's tackle prolific local singer/guitarist Tym Morrison's latest shows in his now 6 month run at Gliss Steak & Seafood, which go down TONIGHT, TOMORROW, and SATURDAY! Now solely at the Quality Inn's restaurant weekly (his 2 year engagement at The Harp ended suddenly last month), Tym's long running solo acoustic gigs are still well worth checking out, even if our only current option is via restaurant matinees, so keep his latest Gliss shows in mind for this weekend! Tym knows tons of songs, and is very talented as a singer & guitarist, so never fear! There's no announced cover charges for this weekend (but again, this is a restaurant), there's no announced age limit either, and 6:00 PM start times are in effect. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page, and here's Tym live at The Machine Shop!



Last but not least, local alternative/hard rock trio The Pixo Control will finally launch their debut CD "Probably Not" with not one, but two CD release concerts THIS SATURDAY at LopLops Lounge! Presumably to include all fans, the band will headline an ALL AGES concert at LopLops at 2:00 PM that day, before closing with a 19+ concert at 9:00 PM, but "Probably Not" will be on sale at both for $10, so bring extra cash to be the first with a copy! Glam/power pop trio Caroline Divine will return to the stage as openers for both concerts, while rising post-punk quartet Gnaeus will be second on the bill for the 19+ show only, so if you want to check out their impressive originals, be at the 9:00 PM show! Of note, these will be The Pixo Control's first full concerts since August's Emergency Festival, their first since album mixer Dustin Goodall replaced Steve Edwards on bass, and will mark the return of Keeghan Rosso on drums following Matthew Thibert's brief stint this summer. How will the new lineup sound? Be at LopLops on Saturday to find out!

Also, personal Facebook postings confirm that the final album cover for "Probably Not" is indeed now just the mushroom photo that adorns the stage during concerts, rather than the former cover of that picture hanging on a gray wall. Seems obvious in hindsight now! Both of Saturday's concerts have $10 cover charges (albums are separate), and again, the 2:00 PM show is ALL AGES, and 9:00 PM's is 19+. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! It's great to see The Pixo Control finally releasing "Probably Not", and I hope to get a copy for a review on the SMS A.S.A.P., but don't miss Saturday's release parties (one or both!) For a preview, let's touch on the latest of the "12 Days of Pixo", as the band nears the home stretch of their daily free song posting from the CD onto their YouTube channel, so what's online now? The lengthily titled "Congratulations on Your Decision to Become a Pilot" and, as embedded below, "Scratch", with just "No" & "Potpourri" left to be uploaded today and tomorrow respectively.

We'll again hold full comment on these songs until our full review of "Probably Not", but check out the new songs (and old) above and below, stay tuned for the 11th & 12th Days of Pixo before Saturday's release parties, and don't miss The Pixo Control's return and new album then, all at LopLops!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post next! Thanks everyone!

Pixo Control CD & Lineup Updates, That's Chester Videos, And More!!

With December now upon us, let's not waste any time, so here's a new news post on this rainy Monday evening! Today, we have some assorted updates, new videos of a local band's recent engagements, and leading off, lots of updates on a rising young band, so here's what you should know!

Local alternative/grunge standouts The Pixo Control have launched their "12 Days of Pixo", which will see one of the 12 songs from their upcoming debut album "Probably Not" posted to their YouTube channel for each of the 12 days leading up to the CD release parties at LopLops Lounge on December 12th! Nice seasonal way to slowly unveil the album, so what should you know? Apparently released in order by the album's track listing, the first two songs are "Quick Little Quarter" (which is embedded below) and "Call Me A Liar", with the other 10 songs to follow being "This Is Momentary, Forever", "Land of the Moles", "Reasons", "Vicinity", "60" (presumably a short form for "Sixty Extra Chances Called Minutes"), "Tall Ships", the newer "Congratulations On Your Decision To Become A Pilot", "Scratch", "No", and "Potpourri". The videos so far credit frontman Michael Mikus on vocals, guitar, and bass, with original drummer Keeghan Rosso on drums.

Note that it's not publically clear if ex-bassist Steve Edwards will have any credits on the album following his split with the band, or if Michael re-recorded the bass parts, but I just hope things are more amicable than they once sounded online. Also, the previously posted album artwork (of the mushroom picture framed on a gray wall) has quietly been deleted from band pages, which seems to note a cover art change, with the green designs of recent posters now factoring in. Check out the new song below, and stay tuned for the third song tomorrow!



Next up, let's stay with The Pixo Control for the announcement of their new lineup, also via a new YouTube channel upload earlier today, so what should you know here? Courtesy of the video, we learn that Id Iota/ex-Free Beer guitarist Dustin Goodall (who mixed and mastered "Probably Not") has replaced Steve Edwards on bass, while the band has welcomed back Keeghan Rosso on drums (replacing his original replacement, Matthew Thibert.) Intriguing to say the least, and in one case, incorrect from my earlier guess! Dustin's talented and should fit in well, while it's nice to see Keeghan back in the fold as well! As for the video itself, it's a humorous story about how Michael, down on his luck with no bandmates, meets up with Dustin & Keeghan to round out their new lineup. It's funny and creative, with some innuendos for good measure, but I won't spoil the plot otherwise, so give it a look below, and stay tuned for the new lineup's debuts at LopLops next Saturday!

Also today, here's the latest from local classic/hard rock veterans That's Chester, and of course, I hope late guitarist Eugene Orlando's funeral went as well today... well, as much as a such an event could.  Two more videos from their engagement with the live local production of The Who's Tommy have came onto our radar, though neither are actually from the musical itself. One was actually shared on their Facebook page in July (apologies for it being so late) from their concert at Rotaryfest's main stage that month, which was their last normal concert with Eugene, and it's of their rendition of The Who's "Pinball Wizard" with the Tommy cast joining in on guest vocals. Filmed by drummer Ric Datson's daughter Rikki, it's on the vertical cell phone camera angle and somewhat shaky, but you get a nice close view of That's Chester and company tackling one of The Who's most famous songs during their big set at Rotaryfest, so give it a look at this link!

The other new video actually comes from a promotional event for the Tommy production at The Station Mall where Eugene and guitarist Gabe Tessaro were playing acoustic versions of songs from the rock opera alongside actors from the play on vocals (one being Obsession/Domina frontwoman Valerie Powley.) One of many videos from that day uploaded by Valerie's brother Keith (though the band only shared this one), this is of "Tommy Can You Hear Me", and it's an interesting unplugged version that is filmed well, so give it a look below, see more above, and R.I.P. Eugene!



Finally for today, here's three assorted shorter items from the last while, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by artist or promoter name:

• Brutally Fatal singer/guitarist Austin McCrae is looking for performers to play at a fundraiser that he's promoting in January or February. Pay is negotiable, and he's looking for 2 or 3 acts, but details on the fundraiser's purpose, host venue, date, or if it has any Blood Shed Productions affiliation are to be announced. For more details, visit Austin's post on the Musicians Wanted Facebook group from this afternoon, or contact him at this link!
• Recently dormant local alternative hard rock band Id Iota have parted ways with bassist Justin Girardi, as per his quiet removal from their lineup on their Facebook page. A reason for his exit wasn't announced, but keep in mind that the band hasn't made a public statement (or played live) in over 5 months. If we hear anything on Id Iota's status, we'll let you know, but best of luck to Justin in the future!
• While we await new media and concerts from them, local goregrind duo Rotopsy posted their full demo album from earlier this year onto YouTube last week, and you can hear it at this link! Due to cover art that some readers may find offensive, we won't embed the video here, but check it out above for more of Dylan & Ringsnaps' intense and minimalistic grind originals!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's Where Are The New Albums? post tomorrow, and more news to follow! Thanks everyone!

Toystock & Pixo Control Concert & Lineup Updates!!

Before we touch on this weekend's concert previews, let's clear out some big recent news on two (well, three) big upcoming concerts, including lineup details for each, and updates on an upcoming CD release! Here's what you should know, and check out this month's poll results below too!

Here's some overdue recent updates concerning the fourth annual Toystock at The Grand Gardens on November 29th, so what should you know now? In terms of the lineup, local classic/hard rock cover quartet Havadder have replaced classic rockers Nikkfitt on the bill, as per the new Facebook event page. A reason for Nikkfitt's withdrawal wasn't announced, but hopefully nothing bad happened in their camp, and it'll be nice to see Havadder in their Toystock debut later this month! Moving to the debuting Under The Influence, personal Facebook postings indicate that their lineup features singer/drummer Brent Royer (ex-Wishbone, Turner Up) alongside guitarist Mike Muto and bassist Ryan Bell, neither of whom are immediately familiar from local bands. No word as of yet on their genre(s) or if they have an online page, but we'll stay on top of it as we approach their debut at Toystock! Our source is Brent's personal Facebook page. As for the one-off seasonal punk band The Rude-Offs, we can now confirm their full lineup, so who all's involved? 

Basically a temporary side project from the members of Destroilet, their Facebook page confirms that Christian Foisy, Adam Larocque, and Matt Waples will reprise their guitar, bass, and drum roles from their main band, but in lieu of Mike and John, some special guests will join them on guitar and vocals on the 29th, they being Toystock promoter Greg Simpson (who's already singing with Bone Yard that night), and no less than Treble Charger frontman Greig Nori (you read that right!) This should be a very interesting set, and hopefully The Rude-Offs add some punk edge to this Christmas Cheer fundraiser at month's end! Finally, if you were wondering why Toystock moved from The Canadian Nightclub to The Grand Gardens this year, Greg noted on the Facebook event page that the move is intended "to attract more children and families", going with their yearly intent to "introduce the next generation to live music" (though Matt Waples also noted in a personal conversation with me that size concerns were a factor for the move too.)

This presumably references the clash of holding a family charity concert at a nightclub, which does make sense, but The Canadian felt like a natural host for the event in past years. Hopefully The Grand Gardens succeeds it well this year though! This concert should be a huge event for Christmas Cheer and fans of local music, especially with 10 bands in 10 hours once again, so visit the above links for all current details!

Next up, here's some updates regarding local alternative/grunge trio The Pixo Control's CD release concerts (remember, there's two) at LopLops Lounge on Saturday, December 12th, so what should you know? First off, their lineup will look very different from what fans saw this summer, as they've apparently parted ways with both bassist Steve Edwards & drummer Matthew Thibert. The band itself hasn't publically commented on any lineup changes, but their departures were indicated in a now-deleted thread on the new Facebook event page that had gotten somewhat heated between those that posted. I just hope that things aren't quite as bad as some of the replies indicated! The Pixo Control themselves haven't publically announced their new bassist or drummer yet either, and we'll let you know if we hear anything. Steve was a solid fit on bass, and I heard good things regarding Matthew at The Emergency Festival, so best of luck to both in the future, they're definitely talented!

Posts on the now-deleted thread also seemed to confirm that Steve recorded the bass parts on The Pixo Control's forthcoming debut CD "Probably Not" before leaving, but nothing concretely confirmed whether Matthew or original drummer Keeghan Rosso (or both?) recorded the drum tracks. As for the CD release party itself, the above Facebook event page confirms that local post-punk quartet Gnaeus are playing the 19+ 9:00 PM concert only, and are not playing at the all ages 2:00 PM concert (Caroline Divine are indeed playing both), so if you're 19 or older and want to see Gnaeus, come for the 9:00 PM show! Postings have also confirmed that "Probably Not" will be available for $10 separately from concert admission, and it's not free with paid entry, so make sure you have cash on hand for both next month! Finally, a 41 second teaser video for "Probably Not" was uploaded to the band's YouTube channel on Sunday, featuring text referencing the release next to footage of frontman Michael Mikus appearing to be reflected through a camcorder lens, plus brief clips of studio recordings from the CD.

Though the quiet lineup changes took me by surprise, I'm just glad to see that the CD is finally getting released next month, and I hope fans can look at the accomplishment of the release! I'm also curious to see who Michael enlisted to round out the new lineup, but the reveal might be intentionally being kept secret until next month. We'll know within the month, so check the above links for more from The Pixo Control's CD release parties on December 12th, and here's their teaser video!



That's all for now, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews next, including a late notice show that Pixo Control fans might want to pay attention to! Thanks everyone!

Project 421 Jam Session Recap, Emergency Festival Fallout, And More!!

Before we get too far into this post, we have a very late lineup change for TONIGHT'S Ballot Burner-headlined concert at The New American Pub, as local rapper Mikey Thomas has replaced grunge/hardcore duo Bad Back on the lineup, as per the Facebook event page yesterday morning. A reason for Bad Back's exit hasn't been announced, but seeing as frontman Jamie Vincent is still promoting the show, an external commitment for Nathan Sauve would make sense. Hopefully we see the guys back soon, and don't miss Mikey Thomas TONIGHT! Now, today's post features Emergency Festival fallout, some assorted updates, and first, a surprise jam session recap!

Due to personal family health matters, I haven't had a whole lot of time or opportunities to attend concerts recently, but that was partly remedied yesterday afternoon, as Project 421 guitarist Blair Burch invited me to check out their latest jam session! I don't live far from where they jam, which made things extra convenient! The roughly 2 hour jam was the first time that I've seen the guys with new drummer Chris Thompson, though guitarist Frank McGillivray couldn't make the jam due to personal commitments. As a result, the guys didn't play all of their regular songs, and some sounded empty without Frank's parts, but I got a first hand look at 4/5ths of Project 421 tackling classics from bands like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Dio, along with their newer original "Into The Darkness"! You can't judge a jam session on the same level of a concert, as a lot of it is meant for practicing and getting everything down for a show, but the guys sounded really good, and it's nice to hear Curtis McKenzie's impressive vocals back with the band!

Me and Blair chatted for a while after everyone left, and it was a nice break from the hectic personal stuff I've been dealing with lately! I also saw and heard some intriguing things concerning future plans, but we'll wait for official public word before saying anything here. I got a handful of photos from the jam that you can see at this link or via our Facebook page, and here's Project 421 (minus Frank) jamming their song "Into The Darkness"!

Next up, here's some fallout from yesterday's second annual Emergency Festival at Rocky DiPietro Field, which appeared to be a hit (despite the hot weather) according to early social media reports! First, there was an act that dropped out of the festival, that being Saskatoon country artist Zachary Lucky due to bronchitis, as per his Facebook page on Friday, though he hopes to play here again later this year. Disappointing for fans, but at least he let everyone know beforehand! As for the festival itself, it was MCed by SooToday's Donna Hopper, and of course, she got lots of great (and colour) photos from the show that you can check out at this article! They include 5 photos of headliners The Fast Romantics, 4 photos each of Gnaeus, Northwest, and The Poor Young Things, 3 each of The Pixo Control, Tasman Jude, and The Sunparlour Players, 5 of concert attendees, and 4 of art vendors on site. Excellent work as usual, and I like how nightfall made the closing set seem like it was at a different venue entirely!

A likely Tuned episode is forthcoming, but Local2 cameras were on site for this (unembeddable) video from The Emergency, which features abbreviated video footage from The Fast Romantics, The Sunparlour Players, Tasman Jude, and Gnaeus' sets (I wonder why The Poor Young Things and the other locals didn't make the cut?) Strong footage, and nice to see fans dancing up front for The Fast Romantics, so give this video a look above!

Lastly for current festival fallout, here's the latest from local alternative/grunge trio The Pixo Control, as we can finally confirm that their new drummer (replacing the departed Keeghan Rosso) is named Matthew Thibert, who made his public debut with the band on Sunday. The band has yet to confirm this on their Facebook page, but photos from the show confirm his identity. I'm not familiar with Matthew from past local bands, though he did once play with the defunct Bawating Collegiate jazz band Reverse Fozmosis shortly before the school's 2010 closure, alongside The Boatload Killers' Liam Seymour and others. I'm curious to see how he does live with Michael & Steve in The Pixo Control, so stay tuned for more on the new lineup! And we were holding this for when we mentioned their new drummer, as the cover art for the band's upcoming debut CD "Probably Not" is now posted on Facebook!

Similarly to the defunct Habitat Shuffle's EP, it's of a picture hanging on a wall, but this picture of mushrooms will be familiar for Pixo Control fans, as a framed copy of it has sat on stage for the band's recent concerts. I'm unsure of the symbolism, or if it connects to the name "Probably Not" at all, but it's recognizable and to the point! Stay tuned for more from the guys this week!

Finally for today, here's three assorted shorter items from the last while, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by artist or venue name:

• Just as a general site updated regarding our sidebar links, I've finally added The Emergency Festival and The Northern Vibe Festival to our links concerning concert festivals in the Sault Ontario area, while amending information on venues and dates for existing festivals, mainly concerning events impacted by this year's Downtown Association debate and cancellation of Queen Street East outdoor events. Hopefully things are updated there now!
• Sault Michigan bar/concert venue Golanka's Bar (commonly known as The Bird) has closed at some point in the last two years, though their (now-deleted) Facebook page wasn't updated frequently enough to post a statement on why that I've seen. According to London Gentlemen guitarist Mike Libertoski in a Facebook conversation, the East Portage Avenue building was bought by new owners who are turning it into an outdoor retail store of some kind. The Bird hadn't hosted a hard rock concert that we'd heard of since early 2013, but it's sad to see it go, and hopefully Yoopers have good memories of The Bird!
• Sault Ontario alternative hard rock duo Infinity Grinder have posted seven new demo recordings on their Soundcloud page in the past 3 weeks, which confirm that they play improvised jams as well as original songs, Brad & Terrence both handle drums and guitar parts in studio, and that they formed last year. The songs are solid, often hard-edged, and nicely varied, but only "A Few Weeks" has vocals. Give them a listen above, and don't miss Infinity Grinder's New A debut TONIGHT!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for last month's poll results and our newest poll tomorrow! Thanks everyone!