The Soo's Got Talent 2024 Auditions Recap!!

The fifth annual The Soo's Got Talent is ongoing at Soo Blaster, and just completed its second elimination round at Soo Blaster last night! Alas, it also seems like an annual occurrence that our coverage of it is delayed, so I do apologize for not covering anything from this year's festivities until now. Once again, T.S.G.T. is benefiting a deserving local charity, and this time, it's the Second Chances Animal Rescue, which only launched in Sault Ste. Marie last summer. An animal shelter is a wonderful cause, and hopefully this year's talent competition goes a long way towards helping Second Chances out! Remember, while we don't cover karaoke and singing-only competitions on the SMS, The Soo's Got Talent is open to musicians, bands, and other artistic performers, but who all advanced into October 11th's first round action this year? The auditions were also held at Soo Blaster, with night #1 taking place on Friday, September 20th.

On that day, judges sent six performers to the first round, and all were filmed for The Soo's Got Talent's Facebook page, with videos uploaded in a batch post four days later! The six advancing contestants are all singers only who performed cover songs, and they included 2019 competitor Andrea Dantzer (Thomas Aquinas' "Panis Angelicus"), Nicolette Rebello (Joy Woods' "My Days"), Rebekah Moran (Barbra Streisand's "I'm The Greatest Star"), 2023 semifinalist Kristina Sagrak (Ariana Grande's "Almost Is Never Enough"), and local electro-synth musician Owen MK (Radiohead's "Creep"), though Owen's video is only shown in excerpts due to a copyright flag. Yes, he will be opening for Skoff at The Eagles Club's Halloween concert tonight, but expect Owen to be playing more of his usual repertoire there. Embedded below is the sixth advancing contestant on the 20th, so who is that?

None other than former Re:Born singer Robert Nevitt, who covered Seven Mary Three's "Cumbersome" as his audition song. Good to see him back out there beyond karaoke nights, and he sings this 1990s hard rock cover well with good energy, so it's obvious why he was sent through! Not a lot of heavier content from audition night #1, but there's a lot of clear talent on display, so check these videos out above and below!

Day #2 of the auditions was on Saturday, September 21st, where judges sent four performers to the competition level, and if you're seeking something beyond borderline karaoke, you'll like that three of the four to advance here played an instrument too! That day's contestants moving on included singer/guitarist Celeste Burton (her own original song "Live Like Nobody's Watching"), Rebecca Wabigwan (the hymn "Amazing Grace" while playing a hand drum), and singer Elena Fera (Olivia Newton-John's "Let Me Be There"), though like with Owen-MK, be advised that Elena's video was only uploaded in excerpts due to Facebook content matching the song. Embedded below is 2023 semifinalist Arin Karki, who was only filmed once officially for T.S.G.T. last year doing a Billy Joel vocal cover. Here, he's adding to his repertoire by playing acoustic guitar, and SMS readers will like that he covered Motley Crue!

This unplugged rendition of "Home Sweet Home" isn't badly handled, and Arin shows off a solid hard rock voice that suits him better than how he did "Vienna" last year, and I know from experience that judges will like that he's playing an instrument this year after just singing previously! Daring choice to wear white after Labour Day too (I'm joking!). Nice to see a more diverse array of talent advancing for the second day of auditions, so give these videos a watch above & below as well!

The third day of auditions was on Friday, September 27th, with six contestants stamping their ticket to the first round here, and all here are singers doing covers. Moving on that night were Abiguale Lacroix (Andra Day's "Rise Up"), a singer monomyously credited just as Theo (Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud") Lime frontwoman/2018 T.S.G.T. finalist Madii Schomogyi (Fiona Apple's "Paper Bag"), 2023 finalist and reigning Shooters Talent Quest champion Demoy MacSamuels (his own original song "Heart Cry"), Haley Alopaeus (Bishop Briggs' "River"), and 2022 contestant Ricky Roy (Mike Posner's "I Took A Pill In Ibiza"). Nothing too hard rock-friendly there, but the talent is very clear, and Demoy will instantly be a favourite this year! I will note that I am surprised that Madii didn't do any of her original songs that she unveiled in her "Miss Madii" set at Rotaryfest Stage 2 this year, but she could be saving those for later.

Finally, seven acts were sent through during the last round of auditions on Saturday, September 28th, starting with Chloe Tessier covering Morgan Wallen's "Sand In My Boots". The next three were lumped together as excerpts in the same video, including two returning first round qualifiers from last year, including Elizabeth Budge covering Christina Perri's "Jar Of Hearts" and magic act Mxsterious (Brooklyn Coghill alongside Nicholas Gingras) doing a trick with help from the judges. The third act in that clip is singer Sheena Matchett covering Mindy McCready's "Maybe He'll Notice Me Now". Another combined video sees successful auditions from Jennifer & Abigail Joseph (clearly family), with Jennifer playing acoustic guitar while singing Little Big Town's "Sober", then playing guitar for Abigail's cover of Lady Gaga's "Look What I Found". Last up was Corey Marques, who was actually a co-MC of the finals last year!

This is a bit of a hybrid performance here, as Corey (known locally as a poet and publisher with AwakenInk) was performing a "read rap", which basically amounted to inspirational and motivational beat poetry over a musical beat. Definitely a change of pace, but a unique original performance will play well with judges! No word on if any of the audition level contestants got a "golden buzzer" this year, for the record. We'll pick things back up from The Soo's Got Talent V soon when we look at what happened in rounds 1 & 2, but there's a lot of promising talent on display, so don't bypass the audition videos above! Thanks everyone!

A New Video From Mike Haggith & Much More Recent News & Notes!!

(Updated at 6:12 PM) Before we begin, I wanted to give our belated condolences to the family & friends of Soo Profile Magazine founder and publisher James Mancuso, who passed away on August 20th of last year at the age of 58. You can read his obituary at this link, as well as The Sault Star's article about him, and he was survived by his wife Pon, his mother, two brothers, and other extended family. The Soo Profile was published from July 2009 until July 2019, and was available to read for free at various local businesses. Covering local history and culture in a way other publications weren't doing in the 2010s (especially post-Townies), the magazine occasionally intersected with The Sault Metal Scene, notably via late 2010s cover stories on local musicians like Greg Simpson, Ric Datson, and Tammy Hill. In it's early years, I even sent in concert listings for them to include in issues, for which I thank James for the early exposure!

Beyond the Soo Profile, James lived a full life, including a stint as an English & art teacher in Taiwan, establishing the Mancuso School of Fine Arts locally, and working in news video production in Halifax. Sadly, The Soo Profile has not continued production under a new publisher, and their website's domain name has expired, but you can still see covers and issue fragments from their decade-long run on their Facebook page. I didn't know James well, but he was a kind and talented person in multiple avenues, and he is definitely missed by those that met and worked with him. R.I.P. James!

Now, today's post features new videos from two familiar sights & some more news, but we'll start with local/Thompson, Manitoba solo musician Mike Haggith's fourth #LockdownLive after-show, which live-streamed on his Facebook page on Sunday night! As teased in this video to promote what to expect for this episode, the 33 minute video starts with us meeting Mike's cat Artemis, before discussing what went down in #LockdownLive X the previous day, and addressing the share contest where whoever shared yesterday's live-stream the most would pick a song that Mike has to cover on #LockdownLive XI on Saturday. This time, the video was shared 593 times, and the winner with 181 shares was Re:Born frontwoman Elly McWatters for a second straight week! Mike called her to announce the winner again, and she nominated "Sugar Daddy" from the musical Hedwig & The Angry Inch, specifically mentioning the Neil Patrick Harris version at the Tony Awards.

The amusing discussion about how Mike will approach this cover is worth a listen alone, so we'll have to see how things look on Saturday! Mike also lets Elly pick a song from "If Ever Comes The Day" to perform to help end the video, and she chose "Take Back The Moon", but commenters also requested "2145", so he ended up playing both, before wrapping the video and teasing the next #LockdownLive and possible changes to the share contest. Entertaining and informative video all around, so give it a look below, and stay tuned #LockdownLive XI on Saturday night!



Speaking of Re:Born, I was contacted via e-mail recently by that band's original lead singer Robert Nevitt, asking if I'd be interested in featuring some recent videos that he's posted on his personal Facebook page. These haven't been publically shared elsewhere, but as Robert asked, that's appropriate consent to feature them here! Since we last saw him on stage with the now defunct Big Mistake (their Facebook page was taken down, in any event), he has posted three videos of him covering songs for 45+ minutes, karaoke style, which you can watch here, here, and embedded below. I won't give these a blow-by-blow recap given how they were uploaded, but it's great to see Robert staying busy and keeping his solid vocals sharp! In the video below, you can hear him cover The Tragically Hip, The Barenaked Ladies, Rehab, Otis Redding, The Isley Brothers, Elvis Presley, Seven Mary Three, AC/DC, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, among many others there and above.

Unless you saw one of his few live appearances with his old bands or at The Soo's Got Talent 2018, you may not be familiar with his vocal style, but he has a nice melodic tone and good grit when need be, and he definitely has a diverse range of material that he can do, so his karaoke videos at home are definitely worth checking out above and below!



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

• Sault Michigan hard rock band Tarnished did not play a live-streamed concert on Facebook at all last week due to Alex and Josh moving their at-home live-stream setup to their regular recording studio, as per their Facebook page on Thursday. They plan to announce more details this week, which will reportedly involve full-band live-streams of some kind, so if you've been curious to see Nathan and Gary take part too, keep the above information in mind!
• I have deleted local recording sudio Scholomance Studio from our "Other Sault Michigan Metal Links" due to the closure of it's Facebook group, and there are no equivalent pages to replace it with. Launched by Werehold Records founder Jason Mills back in 2014 towards releases by label acts, the studio was primarily active through 2015, and was one of the presumed casualties of Werehold's closure in 2018. Look for new music from Jason in his current project X's & Y's soon, hopefully!
• I have deleted Sault Ontario live event sound company Twin City Sound & Entertainment from our "Other Sault Ontario Metal Links" section due to the deletion of their Facebook (and only online) page. Led by then-Mourning Wood bandmates Terry Eaton & Steven Flint, Twin City Sound worked assorted concerts from at 2014-2016, including the 2016 Speak Easy Battle of the Bands, but updates were slim to none in the late 2010s, even before Steven left Soundcheck. Hopefully we hear more from both guys soon! 

That's all for today, but stay tuned for this month's Defunct Local Band Profile on the site tomorrow! Thanks everyone!

YouTube Channel Profile Series: ThisIsTheEndGame

Now is the time for this month's YouTube Channel Profile installment, as we continue our monthly spotlight on YouTube channels whose content is at least 50% comprised of metal, hard rock, and/or punk concerts and/or musicians, in order to showcase them and encourage viewership and subscriptions of them! This month's randomly selected channel is from a prolific local musician that will be very familiar to metal fans of the mid-late 2010s, so here's what you should know regarding this month's selection!
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ThisIsTheEndGame (http://www.youtube.com/thisistheendgame) 

Owner: Pillory frontman, Peach Thieves guitarist, Id Iota bassist, and Twistory drummer Robert Sartini, also previously known from the bands Crimson Crusade, Roadkill, Shadowthrone, and Gorrifier

Channel Timeline: Launched on July 9th, 2010; Videos posted from August of that year through July 2014

Channel Summary: Robert's channel is almost half devoted to solo guitar performances of his from the early 2010s, with remaining videos including jam session footage of Pillory and Roadkill, plus the 5 songs on Pillory's 2013 debut EP "Cringe at the Cross". The sole video on Robert's channel that doesn't feature him performing is it's first upload, his personal ranking of Metallica's top 10 guitar solos.

Why You Should Watch: Fans will most want to check out this channel if they were fans of early thrash-era Pillory and/or Robert's early years as a prominent local musician, with his talent and potential clear even at this stage! While Robert still uses this channel for personal needs, no footage has made it's way there from his current projects, nor from any past live concerts, in case that changes your mind on subscribing.

Our Recommended Videos To Check Out

Roadkill - Speed Therapy (Original): Before launching Pillory, Robert and drummer Jarrod Sachro performed together in a two man metal band named Roadkill, with four videos from mid-2011 jam sessions being posted to this channel at the time. These include a cover of Diamond Head's "Am I Evil?" and three original songs, namely "2083... E.D.I.", a self titled original, and, as featured here, "Speed Therapy". Sort of a prototype of Pillory's early sound, Jarrod hangs well with Robert on these instrumental jams, but the chemistry isn't quite there compared to with Bret, and the rough nature of the recordings doesn't help matters. Still, these are an interesting early look at Robert in action before he became a familiar presence!



Pillory - Shattered By War: In August 2012, Pillory launched to the public with 4 jam session videos on Robert's channel, including three early originals ("Onward To Death", "Fatal Woods", and "Shattered By War"), plus a cover of Megadeth's "Hangar 18". At this stage, Robert was joined by longtime drummer Bret Shuttleworth and former Bear Hunters guitarist Andres Duchesne, who suddenly passed away just four months later. While not an optimal look at Pillory's 2012-2014 run as a thrash outfit (partially due to the lack of a bassist at that time), these instrumental jams showcase the fast paced technicality that would come through so well in the live concerts ahead, and Andres is a solid presence! Studio versions of these songs from the next year's "Cringe at the Cross" EP can also be heard on this channel.



Putrid Pile - Blood Fetish (Guitar Cover): After previously posting nine thrash metal cover videos onto his YouTube channel from 2010-2012, Robert's uploads focused on Pillory until mid-2014, when he uploaded three covers of death metal bands, including Dying Fetus' "Your Treachery Will Die With You", and two Putrid Pile songs ("Food For The Maggots" and his most popular video, "Blood Fetish".) Though not labelled as such, these were likely intended to reflect on his then-death metal solo project Gorrifier, and they do foreshadow Pillory's transition to that sub-genre after their 2015 relaunch. The more brutal and technical renditions benefit from better recording quality, and the evolution of Robert's musical skill and proficiency is impressive when comparing these to his early uploads!


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I hope you guys liked this month's YouTube Channel Profile! We're looking at multiple channels to end the summer with next month, as our first randomly selected channel only has one video, so we added a second channel with only two distinct videos to round things out. As such, the random choices coincidentally all focus on Kewadin Casino concerts, as we'll be looking at the YouTube channels of Jolene Barens (featuring a Theory of a Deadman video from last year) and Reckage35 (featuring videos from the Shinedown and Pop Evil shows here in 2013.) Look for these on or around August 26th, and stay tuned for this month's CD review next! Thanks everyone!

Local Metal/Punk Video Showcase!!

For our first news post of 2017, we're dipping into the video well for this all-video post, as we're tackling a handful of overdue videos from a selection of talented local musicians, including a full album posting, a cover video, and a recent live clip, but let's begin with the latest from a fast-rising trio!

We'll start with local alternative/hard rockers The Din, who are continuing the push towards their Toronto debut THIS FRIDAY when they rock The Revival Bar during Landmark Events' Showcase Festival that night! The Din have been hosting a contest on their Facebook page where if you like or share the designated post, you will be entered to win e-tickets to watch the live stream of their set on Friday, which is a nice bonus for fans who can't make the trip south, so see above for details on that front! It's also worth noting that this festival is a battle of the bands of sorts, with winners moving onto a semifinal showcase at The Mod Club in Toronto, so if The Din really turn heads, they might be back! Click here for full details on the festival proper. As for their new video, this was posted to their Facebook page on December 22nd where they hyped up the Toronto show, so what's within this clip?

It starts with an amusing prologue where drummer Brandan Glew plays a bouncer continually asking for tickets from Mike and Tammy who were the only people to purchase any tickets to enter, before transferring to serious hype for the concert, as they really can't buy all of the tickets, with the three making things as simple as possible for how you can buy an e-ticket to watch from afar. Good promotion, complete with a nice look at their merchandise trunk, so give it a look below, and click here to get your $13 e-ticket for Friday's show (they're only $1 more in advance in person!)



Next up, local post-punk quartet Gnaeus posted their entire debut CD "Meditations" onto their YouTube channel for free streaming on December 30th! Rather than go the Bandcamp route, fans can now hear all 9 songs of their solid freshman effort via this video posting, complete with hotlinks to each individual song in the description, so give "Meditations" a listen below, and stay tuned for much more from Gnaeus over this new year!



Also, here's a pair of new Facebook video uploads from newer local funk/hard rock instrumental quintet Gianni Gagoots, as uploaded to their Facebook page shortly after their set opening for The OM Sound at The New American Pub last week! There is more to share from YouTube in the coming days, but for now, let's tackle these two clips (one linked here), as filmed by an uncredited attendee. Sadly both filmed on a vertical portrait camera angle, the shorter clip features a fun sing-along of the band's name, while the latter has an intriguing mid-tempo composition. Fans do get in the way, but it's nice to hear some solid new footage, so check everything out below!



Finally for today, here's a new YouTube channel upload from former WFO/Nikkfitt guitarist Robert Ross! His first video in four years, this is of Robert covering Ozzy Osbourne's "Over the Mountain", or as he noted in the description, "trying to do Randy (Rhoads)." The mix of the audio could be cleaner, as it sounds very muddy, and I'd have pointed the camera lower so you can see all of Robert's playing, but he definitely has the song down for the most part, and it's nice to see a new video from him! Give it a look below!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news, notes, and updates soon! Thanks everyone!

YouTube Channel Profile Series: Robert Ross

It's time to end another year for our YouTube Channel Profile Series, which remains our monthly look at 1-3 randomly selected YouTube channels featuring at least 50% local metal, hard rock, and/or punk-relevant videos, in order to spotlight them and encourage readers to watch and subscribe! This month's random choice is the channel from a veteran local guitarist who will be familiar to many readers from a few years back in particular, so read on below for what you should know!
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Robert Ross (http://www.youtube.com/megegegon1)

Owner: Ex-Nikkfitt/WFO guitarist Robert Ross

Channel Timeline: Launched on December 10th, 2007; Videos posted from May-July 2012

Channel Summary: A personal use channel, Robert posted two archival videos of his from shows he played with what appear to be WFO, as well as one solo performance clip.

Why You Should Watch: This channel is worth watching for fans of Robert's local band work, which is sadly under-represented online, though the lack of information on the videos may not appeal to casual viewers. Note that Robert hasn't used this channel since 2012, and did not include any footage from his work with Nikkfitt here either, in case that changes your mind about subscribing.

Our Recommended Videos To Check Out

rock n roll all night: One of Robert's two live videos is WFO (I believe) & two guest backing singers covering Kiss' "Rock & Roll All Nite" at a circa 2000 installment of Hempfest during it's original run in nearby Ophir, Ontario. I can't 100% identify the singer, but their lineup included Robert alongside guitarist Brian Turco, ex-J.A.B. bassist Dan Jones, and ex-Sneaky Pete drummer Mike Oakley. Robert noted in the description that they were playing to 2,000 people during this set, which is totally believable during the former local marijuana culture festival's peak years. Solidly done cover with enthusiasm, and the singer has a nice command of the stage!



Blue Oyster Cult cover of Godzilla: Robert's other apparent WFO video is of them covering the Blue Oyster Cult classic "Godzilla" at the Harmony Beach Lakeview Resort in 2000. Unlike on the Hempfest cover, this used multiple cameras, non-stationary cameras, color changes, transitions, and other post-effects to make this have a little more visual pop. The original cameras weren't high quality compared to what we have now, but they have a good handle on this B.O.C. cover, and fans of WFO should take to this video! Note that the woman in the thumbnail image for the video is not in the band, she just entered the frame mid-way through and was left in during editing.



G-Minor Improv.mov: Robert's most popular and oldest video is also his only solo performance video,in which he improvises in G-minor, apologizing for any potential mistakes in the description. Well performed, it has a bluesy drama to it, and seems like it has some emotional heft, whether implied or not. If the bright glare through the window isn't distracting, this is well worth watching, and hopefully we see Robert in a new band at some point!


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I hope you guys liked this month's YouTube Channel Profile! Next month (and year) in this series, our random selection has taken us to Gates of Winter/ex-Woods of Ypres guitarist Bryan Belleau's YouTube channel, which should be a very cool channel to explore to start 2017, so look for that on or around January 26th, and we'll see you guys TONIGHT at the Guy Thiffault tribute show! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Tym Morrison), Ten Kings Videos, And Much More!!

I wasn't expecting to have a second post today, but with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, here we are! To round things out, we have the first known videos from a major recent concert and lots of assorted recent updates, so here's what you should know!

Local hard rock solo singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will in fact play his usual Harp Bar & Grill show TONIGHT! Apologies for the very short notice, Tym confirmed that he would be playing there tonight on his personal Facebook page earlier today, and the Facebook event page was updated on Thursday night to confirm that, after our initial preview post went up. It made sense before that Tym was only playing yesterday given that The Harp usually broadcasts UFC pay per views when they occur, and there's one tonight (UFC 189), but the operative word is "usually", as Tym has played a handful of Saturdays despite a major UFC event being held. If you love live acoustic hard rock music more than the fights, this will be good news for you! I will apologize thought for missing one of his show, as Tym apparently played a matinee at Gliss yesterday too according to that show's event page, which completely slipped us by, but he definitely isn't playing there today.

Tym will be on at 10:00 PM TONIGHT, there is no announced cover charge, and you must be 19 to attend. For more details, visit the above links, and here's Tym live at The Harp!



Next up, here's our first videos from last night's Theory of a Deadman-headlined concert at The Dreammaker's Theater at The Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino, though surprisingly, not of the headliners, as they're courtesy of local openers Ten Kings! Filmed by at least two attendees on cell phone cameras, the band shared three clips from the show last night, though none last more than 51 seconds. Two (posted to their Facebook page) are of portions of their renditions of Collective Soul's "Shine" and a song that I can't place the name of, but the other (embedded below) is shared from guitarist Joe Jenkins' personal Facebook page, and it's a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition", with the filmer mainly spotlighting Joe's guitar solo. We don't really get a lengthy glimpse at Ten Kings here (most of their own videos so far are very short), but what I can make out looks good and energetic, and guest bassist Chris Hubbard blends in well! Give Ten Kings' new videos a look above & below, and stay tuned for more from them!



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

• Local doom metal trio AlgomA have officially released their first band t-shirts, and you can buy them online at this link, through band members, or at their next local concert (the Golers show on August 9th, unless something is announced in the interim.) There are two designs available, both for $15, so definitely consider buying these to show your support and love of AlgomA!
• Would you like to see Toronto epic death metal band Crimson Shadows headline the July 23rd Gonqshow concert at The Algonquin Pub? Financial constraints are why they're not on the show already, so Mitch Sirie has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund $150 to cover necessary fees so that the Napalm Records artists can join Vesperia, Ruptured Birth, and The Bear Hunters on the lineup. Mitch is $25 down on his goal, so to help really bolster this show with Crimson Shadows, visit the above links!
• We have changed local metal quartet Garden of Bedlam's link in our band listings from their website to their Facebook page, as their website's domain name expired during their hiatus. No word on if it will return at all, but Facebook works fine, and hopefully we hear more from them in short order!
• The Pixo Control's long-teased first tour run will see them play shows in Toronto, Barrie, and St. Catharine's in two weeks! Short, but you've gotta start somewhere, so click here to see the full poster and announcment! No word yet though on if this will coincide with any debut album plans from the young alternative trio, or if that will be later on this year.
• Thrill Junkies/ex-Turner Up guitarist Robert Brown is looking to fill in with existing local bands or potentially start a new band, with him on guitar or bass, as per his post on the Musicians Wanted Facebook group on June 26th. He says he won't do metal, punk, "cheese pop", or disco, but that does leave open hard and classic rock like in his recent band work. No word on if this means anything negative for The Thrill Junkies' status, but if you're interested in more details, message Robert at this link or above!
• In more of a reasurrance note than anything, local goregrind duo Rotopsy have confirmed on their Facebook page that despite frontman Dylan Taylor's recent tendon injury in his ankle (which will impair his walking for at least six months), the band will not have to cancel any dates, and will still be playing at the Man & His Machine house show this coming Friday! No word on if Dylan will be performing on crutches or sitting, but it's good to see Rotopsy keeping the slam going!

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

Another Local Metal Video Showcase!!

As an extremely busy July winds down, we have enough videos to do another local metal video showcase post on this Wednesday morning, so what's on tap? Recent concert videos of the public and private varieties from each side of the border, plus new footage from a pair of linked local artists, so read on below for what you need to know on these!

Video footage of Munising, Michigan metal quartet Infathom's Summerfest appearance outside of The Savoy Bar & Nightclub in the Soo this past Saturday can now be checked out online! Uploaded by attendee Michael Cole on Sunday (and joining his videos of Infathom's Nick Cam Jam set in our area last fall), he shot 21 videos during the concert, so what can be seen within? All covers, the videos (in rough upload order) include renditions of Puddle of Mudd's "She Hates Me", Black Sabbath's "Paranoid", Lit's "My Own Worst Enemy", Black Stone Cherry's "Lonely Train", Papa Roach's "Lifeline", "She Loves Me Not", and "Between Angels & Insects" (the latter two uploaded in one video), Three Days Grace's "(I Hate) Everything About You", Disturbed's "Down With The Sickness", Pantera's "Domination", Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train", Creed's "My Sacrifice", Alter Bridge's "Open Your Eyes", Guns 'N Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine", Bowling For Soup's "1985", Buckcherry's "Lit Up", Avenged Sevenfold' "Gunslinger", System of a Down's "Toxicity", Seasons After's "Gettin' Even", and A Day To Remember's "Right Back At It Again", plus a between-song jam, so click each link to see each performance!

Note that the Creed & Alter Bridge videos are also combined into one video, and followed each other likely due to the original bands sharing mostly the same lineup, sans lead singer. Better quality videos than we usually see from The Savoy just from the proximity to the band alone, these videos must capture the vast majority of Infathom's show, and their talent and chemistry is evident, though some songs sound a bit empty and tinny without a second guitar, and Dillion Semasky's vocals do tire on some more aggressive tracks.  Infathom fans (especially ones who don't see their full solo gigs often) will definitely enjoy these videos, so check them out above, and here's Infathom covering two Papa Roach songs!



Next up, remember how we shared two videos from a recent private metal concert on the site on Friday featuring out of town metal bands? Well, we can complete that July 21st trifecta, as a video of local openers AlgomA is now viewable via singer/bassist Marty Chase's YouTube channel last week (though AlgomA's own channel has it's own copy too.) Filmed at the exact same high angle as his Disabler & Bushwhacker videos, this captures AlgomA playing their newer original "Phthisis" followed by "Electric Fence", so click each link to go direct to that specific song! Just as intense as fans will have come to expect from AlgomA, the guys sound extra brutal and make the most of their familiar surroundings, though the audio remains a bit muffled. Check out AlgomA live at "Six Two OH" below!



We'll close today with two new videos featuring Pillory frontman Robert Sartini, including this clip of his newest band Shadowthrone playing a new original song! Uploaded to guitarist Sabrina Strange's YouTube channel last week, the song is entitled "Hatred Flows For The Harlot", which was also recently uploaded in audio form to the band's Reverbnation page. Though instrumental at present, intended lyrics are included in the info section on YouTube, and the song has a doomy groove to it at this early stage! The video's slightly grainy looking though, and you can't see much of Sabrina at this angle. Check out Shadowthrone's new song above and below!



Finally is Robert's newest solo guitar cover video, which is of another Putrid Pile cover, specifically their song "Food For The Maggots", as uploaded to his personal YouTube channel on Monday! Not explicitly labelled to his Gorrifier solo project (which appears to be original-centric), Robert described his equipment and tuning well in the info section, and remarked that he learned this song by ear. It turned out well, and it's got a nice brutal tone, sounding very close to the original track! Check it out below, and stay tuned for more news from his active projects as we hear it!



That's all for now, but stay tuned for this month's CD review in our likely next post! Thanks everyone!

A New Local Internet Radio Station, New Videos, And The Suicide Kings + Karaoke?

I'm back from St. Joseph Island a day earlier than expected, so we have a new news post for you guys today covering stuff missed over the break! In this post, we have new videos from both sides of the border, an intriguing new live karaoke project from some familiar faces, and first, news concerning a new addition to our local radio roster that you might find intriguing, so read on below for what you need to know, and make sure to read our Jack Spades EP review and 5150DOA YouTube Channel Profile that both went up as auto-posts over the last few days!

If you've been following SooToday recently, you may have noticed that two of their recent polls related to music, specifically one poll about if you'd listen to a local internet radio station, and a follow-up relating to readers' musical preferences (country & rock ran away with almost 60% of the votes combined.) Well, the polls weren't just hypothetical, as SooToday's Facebook page has revealed that their parent company Village Media is currently developing an online streaming radio station called VM Radio! Plans are for it to have a local focus and planned airtime for local original music, so if you're interested in submitting your own music for consideration on this station, drop them off at 642 Queen Street East (or via the mailing address on Facebook), or e-mail digital copies to arts@sootoday.com. No word on a launch date, programming details, or anything similar yet, but we'll keep you posted, especially in regards to possible hard rock/metal inclusion!

This won't be the first internet radio station founded in the Soo (Energy Rock Radio launched here before moving to British Columbia), but a local news-backed station that could serve as an alternative to the current FM stations would be a nice addition! Myself, I'd like to see a variety for everyone so that it attracts as wide an audience as possible, but keep an eye out for how VM Radio shapes up in the coming months!

Next up, while not technically a new local band in the traditional sense, all 4 members of local hard rock band The Suicide Kings (Mike Gaetano, Steven Flint, Mitch Sirie, and Ben Boudreau) have announced a new live music project named URawk that will serve as the hosts of Sault Ontario's first ever karaoke night with a live backing band rather than pre-recorded tracks! Covering genres from metal to country, they have a wide setlist ready for fans to come on stage and sing along with, while you can also request songs for the guys to learn in advance of one of their live appearances, and cash prizes are also planned. Current plans involve Urawk hosting live karaoke nights at The Rednecks Saloon (the former Nicolet Tavern) each Thursday at 10:00 PM for the foreseeable future, though no word yet on if we'll see them at other venues or on other days. Their debut night will be on Thursday, June 26th, and their wide ranging setlist (which has a number of metal songs, but doesn't emphasize them) is sure to grow, especially if URawk takes off!

No word yet on what roles Mike will serve with URawk, especially as the emphasis is on karaoke singers to sing with the band, but Mike is a guitar player too, so he could take on that role if need be. I've heard of the live band karaoke concept in bigger cities, and I'm very curious to see how well it goes, as this could be a way for many local music fans to let out their inner rock star without the band commitment, or maybe test the waters to get involved in a band further! You should know how talented The Suicide Kings are, and hopefully they bring the same intensity and focus to URawk, so keep their debut in mind next month!

We'll close today with new videos, including a new preview video relating to Sault Michigan-area label Werehold Records' next Friday the 13th music posting spree next month, this time courtesy of label owner & Life's Eclipse frontman Jason Mills! Posted to the label's YouTube channel on Friday, this is a 39 second clip of Jason playing guitar for a new Life's Eclipse original that will be unveiled on June 13th, playing overtop backing programmed drums. Short, but it's a nice tease for the new material to come, so give it a look!



Finally, Pillory/Crimson Crusade guitarist Robert Sartini posted another solo guitar cover onto his YouTube channel on Wednesday! This time, he covered Dying Fetus' "Your Treachery Will Die With You", and though you can barely hear his guitar over the original backing track, he definitely knows this brutal death metal track well, and it shows in the clip! Check it out below, and stay tuned for more from his channel and band work!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news this week, plus this month's Saultites In Out Of Town Bands Profile tomorrow! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Kiss'd), New Videos, And More!!

Before we head off to TONIGHT'S Jack Spades EP release show, we have a new news post for you guys today, so what's on tap? Some assorted recent notes (including a concert cancellation), a new cover video, recent coverage of a major all ages show, and first, LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS for across the river this summer, so here's what you need to know!

Continuing the recent influx of Charlevoix, Michigan metal musician Jeff Hudson's bands into Eastern Upper Peninsula concert dates, his Northern Michigan Kiss tribute band Kiss'd will hit The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino on Friday, July 4th and Saturday, July 5th! Note that these shows are still to be announced on Kewadin's entertainment page, but I imagine it's just a little behind. Joining already-announced 2014 dates for Jeff's other bands Scarkazm, Audio Circus, and (of course) Peril at our regional Kewadin branches, these will actually be Kiss'd's first announced shows on their Facebook page since 2012, though I'm not sure if they've played a show unadvertised there in the interim. Featuring Jeff on vocals and bass as "Paul Stanley", Kiss'd have a faithful sound that fans of Kiss should take to if their older videos are any indication, though the vocals aren't always close ringers with the original songs. Be sure to check them out in July though! You must be 21 to attend, there's no announced cover charge, and there are nightly start times of 10:30 & 9:00 PM, so check the above links for more updates on how to get Kiss'd!

Next up, we have some recent local coverage of last weekend's fourth annual Sewer Swampstravaganza at The Oddfellows Hall to share on here! Posted to the YouTube channel of local event promotion and entertainment website Sault Online on Tuesday, this features video footage of Sudbury unplugged hard rockers Aggressive Acoustic covering Monster Magnet's "Space Lord" during soundcheck, which bookend a minute long interview clip with promoter Steve Mozarowski outside of the hall, so what is discussed there? Steve talks about how he started the annual event in 2011 as a RedD Monkey tour fundraiser, though it has since transitioned into a showcase for youth-centered local talent, while he'll also look into grants for next year's event and the possibility of free admission. Aside from the windy conditions impairing the interview, it's a solid promotional sample for the event, and the Aggressive Acoustic footage is well shot! I wonder what became of the Brutaly Fatal video footage that the same Sault Online correspondent filmed that evening?

Also to note: Steve described RedD Monkey as "broke up" in the video, though official Facebook statements only go so far as to say they're on a hiatus, so we'll go on that until/unless something else is stated. As well, the video description incorrectly lists both Ashes To Dust & Pillory as playing that night, misspells Aggressive Acoustic, and accidentally calls Haggith "Haggard", but hopefully that all gets fixed! Nice to see some new local media coverage of the Swampfest, so check out the full video below!



Also today, Pillory frontman and Crimson Crusade guitarist Robert Sartini posted a new cover video onto his YouTube channel on Wednesday! His first video there in 5 months (and first solo cover video since last August), this is a guitar rendition of Wisconsin death metal band Putrid Pile's "Blood Fetish" that he learned by ear. Though I'm not too familiar with Putrid Pile, this a solid rendition, but I think the original backing track is a bit high in the video. This should tide Pillory fans over while we wait for public news from their camp, so give Robert's new video a look below!



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

• Former(?) Social Suicide guitarist Anthony Boudreau is looking for a high school-age guitarist who can play anything from old school rock to progressive metal for his new local band project. If you're interested in trying out, message Anthony at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from May 7th!
• The Die Mannequin concert scheduled for June 14th at The Rockstar Bar has been cancelled, as per updates to the Facebook event page by promoter J.D. Pearce on Tuesday. A reason wasn't announced there beyond J.D. saying that it was "out of my hands", but while this is disappointing, does the survival of the event page lend hope for a possible rescheduling? We'll have to wait and see!
• A 14 year old local metal guitarist named Jordan Attoni is looking to jam in a local metal project. He has played guitar for 4 years, and is influenced by bands like AC/DC, Metallica, and Avenged Sevenfold, so if you're interested in trying out or getting more details, message him at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from last week!

That's all for today, but I'll see you guys at The Rockstar Bar TONIGHT for Jack Spades' EP release show! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (The Danger Cats), Haggith Concert Preview, And Much More!!

Keeping the news coming on this Tuesday afternoon, we have a special mid-week concert preview, a new solo performance video find, and more assorted news items to touch on, but first, here's a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for next month, so read on below for more details! (Updated at 9:04 PM)

New all-female punk/hard rockers The Danger Cats will make their Roosevelt Hotel debut on Monday, October 7th when they open for Montreal ska-punk quintet K-Man and the 45s! Though not a metal band, K-Man & the 45s are well known for their party atmosphere and energetic live shows, along with last year's Ramones tribute album, so where else will you hear ska covers of those legends in the Soo? Interesting contrast having The Danger Cats open, but their debut last weekend was well received, and they have a unique sound (plus some new songs) that should find a solid audience, so don't miss out! This show (which is promoted by J.D. Pearce) has a $7 cover charge, 19+ age limit, and 9:00 PM start time, while nothing has been said about possible additional openers. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! There's definitely an interesting mix of styles for this show on the 7th, but The Danger Cats will bring some harder edged stuff, so keep this one in mind for next month, and stay tuned for updates!

Next up, here's a special preview for a concert TOMORROW NIGHT, as local grunge/alternative quartet Haggith will kick off a run of one show a month through the fall season at The New American Pub House on Bay Street! This recently renovated downtown venue has really started opening things up to heavier bands in recent months, and though it remains to be seen how successful this run of shows will be, Haggith's fun and edgy original material & covers should be welcomed tomorrow! Local punk trio The Northern Tragedy and local solo alternative bassist James Watterworth (replacing  the newly reunited Havadder) will also make their New A debut (and first live appearances of the fall) tomorrow as the openers, and they should fit in well themselves, so don't show up late! Admission tomorrow night will be $4, you must be 19 to attend, and there is a 9:00 PM start time. For more details, check the above links!

Hopefully this is the start of a solid relationship for Haggith at The New A, so if you can't make their shows next month, you should make a point to be at this one! Stay tuned for updates (including confirmation of their rumoured return to the Soo Zombie Walk afterparty), and for a preview, here's Haggith at The Oddfellows Hall earlier this summer!



Speaking of Haggith at The New A, here's a recent video discovery from a member of their openers on October 20th, as Nikkfitt guitarist Robert Ross has a YouTube channel with some SMS-fitting videos from his past music work! Two of the videos are of live band performances that we'll touch on in an upcoming post, but this first video (from May 2012) is of him playing an improvised guitar piece in G minor, and it's really good! Very clear talent and ability, and this is a good sign for Nikkfitt's live show, though we're still waiting to find out what exactly they play. Check out Robert's solo guitar video below!



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

• Remember CML Productions, the film production company ran by Christopher Lance that helped produce Garden of Bedlam's early music videos? They appear to be back in operation (as per this Facebook page), albeit with a completely new focus, now generally doing only wedding cinematography. Interesting shift, but their new work is well done in it's area, so if you're getting married, keep CML Productions in mind!
• I've renamed inactive Central Algoma hard rock sextet Durera to their older name The Diego Experience in our local band links, as they were more successful and active longer under that name. In the cases of defunct/inactive bands with name changes in our links, I try to list them under the name they'd be best known for, such as for Stillbroke, who did not attain the same successes or longevity under their last name Borderline Divine. So in case anything looks different, now you know!
• Asylum Country guitarist & local metal band alum Terry Eaton is looking for a rock singer "with a good set of pipes", as per the Musicians Wanted Facebook group on Friday. I assume this is for a new rock band he's starting (perhaps heavier), but few details are known beyond that. Message Terry at this link or above if you're interested in trying out!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews and more updates this week! Thanks everyone!

A Big New Outdoor Concert's Band Search, A Notable Band's Likely Status, And Much More!!

Here's some more news for this Sunday morning, and there's some notable stuff to address and cover! Today, we've got updates to one of our monthly feature series, a bunch of assorted news and notes, videos of a local metal guitarist, and the likely status of a local metal band, but first, here's some information on a planned major concert event that YOU can apply to play on!

Are you or your band interested in playing at a multi-band outdoor concert in the Sault Ontario area next summer? Applications are being taken right now for some sort of concert event to be held in June 2013, as per postings by organizer Rita Slater on our Facebook page, and a related "Sault Ste. Marie Outdoor Concert" Facebook page that she's launched. Rita is the general manager of Laird International Raceway and the organizer of the relaunched Hot Rides Cornfest that was held there this month & last August, and from what I can gather, this event (which may also be a festival) would likely take place in Laird as well, though it's not planned to be country music-centric like Cornfest is. Details are otherwise scant on this planned event, but headlining bands will apparently be announced later this year, and she's hoping to find 10-12 local acts to perform. If you or your band are interested in playing this outdoor concert event in Laird next June, e-mail Rita A.S.A.P. at theboomboomshow@hotmail.ca! I know the new Cornfest has been successful, but a new music festival in the area with rock integration (and hopefully some metal) would be neat, especially in June rather than later months where it'd have more competition. I'd say take Rita up on this offer to apply for this event, you never know how big it could be, so send your e-mails A.S.A.P., and stay tuned for updates on this event!

Next up, I wanted to note a band that we're regrettably moving to the inactive band links on the SMS, that being local classic metal quintet Sativa Rose. Though we're not at the one year-inactivity threshold for them (they were last visibly active in December via some concert video uploads), an immediate future for Sativa Rose is unlikely due to members Andrew Angelic & Adam Veale's planned move to London for college early next month. Nothing official has ever came out regarding Sativa Rose's status, but with Andrew & Adam focusing on the also-moving Valentine's Day Massacre, guitarist Anthony Orazietti now in Winkstinger, and drummer Alex Palmer living out of town himself right now (I think), the writing seems to be on the wall. It's disappointing to see Sativa Rose fall into inactivity, especially knowing their musical talent and the unrealized potential that their final lineup (including singer Marisa Valois) had following that lineup's first & last show in November. No matter what, they gave us a lot of great shows and originals from their summer 2010 debut through last fall, and classic metal fans had a lot to like and headbang with! Best of luck to Marisa, Andrew, Anthony, Adam, and Alex in the future, and maybe Sativa Rose will pop up again in some form down the road!

Thirdly today, remember how we shared videos from new Sault Ontario thrash metal band Pillory and their 2011 predecessors Roadkill on Thursday? Well, guitarist Robert Sartini has posted 10 solo thrash covers aside from his recent band work on his YouTube channel as well! With one exception, these were all filmed last year, and they include covers of Metallica's "Jump In The Fire" and the solo from "Disposable Heroes", and Viking's "Case of the Stubborns", but the rest are all Megadeth, including versions of "In My Darkest Hour", "Set The World Afire", "Victory", "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due", and the solo from it in a separate video, so click each link to see Robert in action! He has skill at metal guitar work for sure, but his guitar is tuned a bit weirdly on some of the videos, and there are some rough patches. He does have talent though, and I'm curious to hear more from Robert in Pillory or solo uploads, so check out his cover of "Holy Wars" below, and see more at the above links!



Fourthly, here's three assorted shorter news stories from the last little while, and as always, these are in alphabetical order by band or musician name:

• Local classic metal quartet Late & Loud have quietly uploaded their entire upcoming debut EP to their Reverbnation page! It's good to hear all of these songs in full, but as always, I'll hold on full thoughts until it's hopeful release. Check all five tracks out at the above links, and stay tuned for their long awaited return at the end of the month when they open for Skull Fist!
  
• Former Bear Hunters/Skull After Betrayl guitarist Mike Vincent is looking for a hardcore/metalcore vocalist for his new project, which will apparently cover bands like August Burns Red and Whitechapel. This could be interesting if it gets to the level of Mike's older bands, but I don't know a whole lot on them yet. If you're interested, message Mike at this location or find his post on the Musicians Wanted Facebook group from August 6th!
• Also new on the Musicians Wanted group, local hardcore band With Blood Builds Character are officially looking for a drummer (they had temporarily enlisted Travis St. Amour for their debut show.) Frontman Jeremy Hannah indicated in a post late last month on the group that they're hoping to tour in January, so make note of that. If you're a technical metal drummer and are interested in joining W.B.B.C., message Jeremy at this location or read more at the above links!
  

And finally for today, here's some updates to our YouTube Channel Profiles, to make that monthly feature series more accurate and current! On the profile of YouTube user AshTraynor's channel (which is centric towards Kinross hard rockers Banned), I updated references to their current lineup (namely the return of Alex Schrovenwever as their new second guitarist), and made lineup adjustments accordingly, along with some date fixing. On the StateOfMisery2011 channel profile, I updated it to reflect State of Misery's latest breakup from earlier this summer, and finally, I edited the GardenofBedlamBand channel profile to note the current amount and usage of newer band channels, as it's been replaced twice over in the last 3 years. That's all for that latest batch of updates, but as more updates come up relating to our monthly feature series, I'll let you guys know so you don't miss anything that's added, removed, or switched! That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes shortly, including our next YouTube Channel Profiles and our Dead & Divine concert preview in a few days! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Hempfest), Christmas Weekend Concert Previews, And More!!

Hey everyone, here's another stacked post as we inch closer to Christmas! Today, we have previews of this weekend's metal concerts (Concerts taking place Monday-Wednesday will be previewed on Boxing Day), a "Christmas surprise" upload or two, and kicking things off, a very big LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!

Remember last August, when we mentioned that local marijauna culture/music festival Hempfest returned under new ownership under a new location in Moonbeam, Ontario? Well, brace yourselves, as Hempfest is coming back home! New Hempfest host/organizer Robert Neron has officially launched a Facebook event page to hype the return of this long running local festival to it's original home in Ophir, Ontario, which is roughly 45 minutes from town! Robert describes everything relating to the lead-up, changes, and expectations for Hempfest 2011 in very great detail, despite noticeable grammar/spelling issues, so if you doubt the return, he should cover your questions! He explains that previous host Robert Waddell offered the festival to him last year, and he hosted the 2010 Hempfest in his hometown of Moonbeam due to time constraints and to preserve it's annual status. He calls this "a new era" for Hempfest, and he's already started mass preparations for it! Robert plans to print 3,000 tickets for the 2011 edition of Hempfest, with hopes for at least 2,000 in attendance. and free promotional tickets to be offered to certain establishments and radio stations.

He announced some major changes as well. Firstly, if you're a federal exemptee for medicinal marijuana with a photo ID exemption card, admission is FREE! Secondly, there are NO vendor fees this year, all you have to do is register through Robert Neron to secure your vendor's booth! For more vendor details and news on non-musical entertainment, click here! And finally, Hempfest will now be an around the clock event! Bands will be on from noon to midnight, with live DJs spinning music in the middle of the night and the morning. With that said, there won't be any parties at the river this year, and attendees who wish to sleep are recommended to camp further away from the stage.

Other than the above changes, the rules aren't too different from past Hempfests. Luckily for us, Robert is actually telling us announced bands for Hempfest, which the last local Hempfest in 2009 did not do officially. And it's not too early to mention confirmed bands, as a few have been announced! Burlington reggae rockers The Killin' Time Band and West Virginia rap outfit Northern Lights have been confirmed, along with two local hard rock bands! First, we have local horror punk quartet Frightlight, in their first ever Hempfest appearance! Nice to see them taking part, their sound should work well! Also making their Hempfest debuts are local hard rockers Half Past, in their first announced concert since this spring! I imagine more will be announced before August next year, but take note regardless! More are sure to be announced, as there are three days of music to fill! When more bands (and a full schedule) come out, I'll let you guys know! Tickets go on sale on June 3rd at http://planetarypride.com and http://chezwillysplace.com for $40 for a full weekend pass. There's no listed single/two day rates or physical ticket locations at present, and the ticket price jumps to $50 at the gates, with dogs costing $10 each if you bring them. For complete Hempfest details and for contact information for the event, visit this location! It's great to see Robert bringing Hempfest back, and he has great hopes for this year, so hopefully it's a huge success! Stay tuned to the SMS for all the updates you guys need for Hempfest over the next eight months!

Now for previews of the two known metal/hard rock concerts taking place over Christmas weekend! Most of the weekend bar hard rock bands appear to have the weekend off for the holidays, but if you desire to rock out, two shows will have you covered! And first, we head to Foggy Notions tomorrow for a Christmas concert like you don't tend to see anywhere else! Called "The Green Christmas After Party", it features five local rock bands converging for a night of diverse local music! And on the heavier side of things, there are two bands you guys should know about! One is local classic metal cover trio Sativa Rose, fresh off last night's show at The Roosevelt Hotel! They always impress with their take on many hit metal songs, so look out for them smack dab in the middle of tomorrow's concert! Right before they take the stage, local experimental grunge trio SBD return to the stage for the first time since August! It's been a while for them to hit the stage again, and expect a good impression from their unique brand of sonic experimentation tomorrow night! Who knows, they may even have CDs with them! Three other talented rock bands are on for this show, including headliners RedD Monkey and The Fury! Both of these talented trios featuring Smeltzer alumni will be sure to bring a lot of creative rock music to their fans tomorrow night, whether you want two bassists or a cello! They are your main attractions at this concert, with another new local band opening the show as well! That band is Whiskey Skidoo, a stoner rock band who made their live debut last month. I don't know much about their sound yet, but keep an eye on them! Check the above links for more on the confirmed lineup!

This concert begins at 9:00 PM tomorrow night, with a 19+ age limit and no cover charge! For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! This should be a fun night of music from these five talented local rock bands! There's a little something for everyone, and for free, it's a nice Christmas present for any local music fan! Check the above links for more, and for a preview, here's Sativa Rose covering Dokken's "Dream Warriors" from their September show at GLOW Nightclub!



Meanwhile, Caveman Morrison frontman Tym Morrison returns to Foggy Notions on Sunday for a Boxing Day acoustic solo concert! This is his last officially announced solo concert of 2010, but with weekly arrangements at both Foggy's and The Big Cheese now in place, expect official word on his January dates (at least) very soon! Foggy Notons is the place to be this weekend for rocking concerts, and Tym will cap the weekend on a high with his acoustic covers of songs from all genres, including a healthy selection of metal and hard rock songs! This show should start at around 10:00 PM, there is no cover charge, and you must be 19 to enter. It's always a good night of music when Tym Morrison takes the stage, so if you want some live music on Boxing Day, you can't go wrong! Confirm your attendance at the official Facebook event page, and for more, check out Tym's official website and this video of Tym covering Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" from this past weekend!



And finally, here's a couple Christmas surprises for you guys! I would cap the post with the concert previews, as it's about as long as I would normally make it, but you know what? It's the Christmas season, I'll treat you guys to a little extra something! Do you guys remember Sue Inside? From their local heyday, you'll remember them as the experimental metal duo featuring singer/guitarist Shane Lipsit-Fraser and drummer Jeff Vogel. I best remember them from their entries in local battles of the bands between 2007 and 2009, though I'm fairly certain they had more gigs than that. Since their relocation following Shane's move to Oil Springs (roughly 45 minutes southeast of Sarnia), they've become a trio following the addition of bassist Adam Veen, but you'll likely better remember their two man local era! Over time, the band have deleted and added material from past and present band pages, but I've had a few older songs from Sue Inside's local tenure in my music collections, and as a bit of a Christmas present, I've uploaded them to The Sault Metal Scene's YouTube channel!

These songs, entitled "Bigtop" and "Burned Tilant", were 2 of their heavier songs, and since the deletion of older songs and their older internet pages, they've became unavailable on the internet. These are all I have from their past material (my foresight sucks), but give them a listen, as you can't hear them online anywhere else! Their sound will likely be polarizing (you'll either like them or you won't), but give them a listen! I have more Christmas surprises in store too, but for now, check out these two Sue Inside songs from their local era!





That's all for now, but stay tuned for more tomorrow, including more Christmas surprises from the SMS, and hopefully some more news! Thanks everyone, and may Santa Claus bless you with tons of metal gifts!