LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Soundcheck) & The First Of Our Halloween Weekend Concert Previews!!

A typically busy Halloween weekend is upon us for hard rock and punk concerts, so let's dive right into our concert previews! To spread things out, we are holding our previews of Saturday-only events (namely the Wyld Stallyns' gig and Frightlight's reunion) for tomorrow's post, while remember that the Devil's Night Oddfellows Hall concert on Tuesday was cancelled earlier this month. Now, here's what you should know to start the weekend, leading off with SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will rock Reggie's West TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT as part of that venue's Halloween weekend festivities! Apologies for the short notice, these shows were only announced via their Facebook event page on Monday. While Soundcheck played outside of the former Roosevelt Hotel during the Ride For ARCH street party in August, these will surprisingly be Soundcheck's first ever concerts inside the venue, not counting their predecessors Mourning Wood's shows there. Bassist Paul Belair and drummer Glen Thomas are also presumably back in the fold after missing last week's Esquire Club one-nighter, so here's a second (and third) chance in the west end TOMORROW and/or SATURDAY! Given the seasonal setting, Halloween costumes are encouraged both nights, but the formal costume contest (prizes unclear) will be on SATURDAY, so keep that in mind if you're interested in competing.

A 9:30 PM start time is advertised for both nights, and these are definitely 19+ gigs with no cover charges. These don't feel like Soundcheck's first gigs at the Reggievelt proper, but their familiar hard rock classics should draw a fun crowd over the Halloween weekend, so visit the above links for more details, and here's Soundcheck live!



Next up, we'll move to previously announced concerts with a long awaited punk show TONIGHT at The Rockstar Bar, as California punk rock veterans Ten Foot Pole will hit Sault Ontario for a show years in the making for many fans! Underground favourites from popular originals like "Never Look Back" & "Racer X", among many others, Ten Foot Pole's melodic skate punk sound won them many fans locally over the past 20 years, and it'll be great to see them rock the Soo with old standards and tracks from their new CD "Setlist" tonight! Local punk/metal quintet Jack Spades will open in their first concert since the Michale Graves cancellation, while veteran punk trio Redundant will hit the stage for their first local concert since the release of their debut EP in July, making this their de facto release party. Redundant are also joining Ten Foot Pole for their other Northern Ontario gigs this tour, having opened for them on Tuesday, and with their Thunder Bay debut coming tomorrow night. Huge opportunity to be sure, hopefully all three dates are big hits!

This concert is the first of three this weekend promoted by Jack Spades frontman J.D. Pearce, and while there is no overt Halloween theme tonight, he will assuredly make up for that in the shows to come. Also, note that this concert was moved from the relaunched Harp Pub & Grill to the larger and more electric-friendly Rockstar Bar three weeks ago, despite The Harp remaining on the online ticket site. Admission is $15 via that link and presumably at the door, you must be 19 or older to attend, and a 9:30 PM start time is advertised. This should be a huge show for punk fans, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Ten Foot Pole live!



Also this weekend, we'll stick with J.D.'s busy slate of concerts, as his annual Halloween party returns for it's 14th straight year TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT at The Algonquin Pub! Alternately named "The Howling" this year, we'll only focus on tomorrow's concert here, with Saturday's coming in our next news post. Originally scheduled for Soo Blaster, these concerts were moved back to more familiar confines shortly afterward, returning his party to The Algonquin Hotel for the fifth straight year and sixth in seven years. As has been the case since 2015, this year's Halloween party is tribute band themed, and tomorrow's show will see (unnamed) tribute sets to The Distillers, H.I.M., and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Unusually, all three will be represented by the same band, a one-off group comprised of Jack Spades/Stegadeth bandmates Tiffany Stocco and Johnny Belanger alongside A Dire Setback frontman Chris Nielsen & Destroilet bassist Adam Larocque.

How will they handle three very different bands on the same night, and how far will they go to look like the three bands for the occasion? Find out tomorrow! Admission for this 19+ concert is $10 unless you buy a full weekend pass for $15, which will also get you into Saturday's second Halloween party, preview forthcoming. Of course, Halloween frills are expected both nights, and costumes are encouraged, but personal Facebook postings indicate that the costume contest proper will take place on Saturday only. This should be a fun concert to keep the punk rock action going in full force, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details!

We'll cap off today's preview post with a trip to Hessel, Michigan, where Kinross classic/hard rock trio Banned will return to The Runway Bar for their annual Halloween weekend concert TOMORROW NIGHT! With frontman Alex Traynor's work on his debut solo EP, a handful of Manistique & solo gigs, and E.U.P. Kewadin Casinos "going in a different direction", this will be Banned's first regional concert since their Kinross Speedpark gig early last month, as well as their first public gig in Hessel since February. Alex, Don, and Wayne's fan friendly range of covers should go over well at The Runway Bar again tomorrow, so if you're in the area, this would be a solid way to enjoy the Halloween season! Again, expect Halloween frills and themes galor tomorrow, and there will be a costume contest at midnight, as per the venue's Facebook page. A 9:00 PM start time is advertised for this concert, which has a 21+ age limit and no announced cover charge. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Banned live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for our Howling night #2 and Wyld Stallyns previews next, plus more news and notes! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Banned & Tym Morrison), Plus Soo's Got Talent Videos!!

With an unusually quiet concert weekend giving us no announced hard rock shows this weekend (unless something on supremely short notice comes up), we'll press on with a new news post today, including more videos from an ongoing competition, and some LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS on each side of the border! Here's what you should know!

Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock trio Banned will return to The Runway Bar in Hessel for their Halloween party on October 26th (a.k.a. next Friday!) Note that Banned have not confirmed this show publically at press time, but The Runway Bar confirmed the event on their Facebook page this morning. This fan favourite band has been laying low since the E.U.P. Kewadin Casinos went "in a different direction" last month, with singer/guitarist Alex Traynor working on his burgeoning solo project and debut album in the interim (plus, ironically enough, a St. Ignace Kewadin solo gig.) Banned regularly play somewhere over the Halloween weekend, and they'll head to Hessel this year for their first gig there since February, so look for more hard rocking covers from Alex, Don, and Wayne next week! No word on seasonal frills and/or drink specials for the occasion, but I'd have to assume costumes are welcome. This should be a 10:00 PM event with a 21+ age limit and no cover charge. Visit the above links for more details, and stay tuned for more from Banned (and Alex?) as it rolls in!

Next up, Sault Ontario hard rock solo musician Tym Morrison announced a couple of new gigs via Facebook event pages yesterday, but unfortunately, neither are for this weekend. One is a stag & doe next week, and if you've followed the SMS for years, you'll know that we traditionally don't cover stag & doe-hosted concerts on here due to that kind of event's personal nature, lest strangers show up just to see the band. However, the other show is fully public, as Tym will return to the relaunched Harp Pub & Grill for one night only on Friday, November 2nd! While this is another big event as "live music begins" at The Harp, Tym is no stranger to the venue, as he played there frequently from their fall 2013 re-opening through March 2016, including on a Gliss-esque weekly arrangement for a time. It's great to see Tym back at the former Madison's Pub, so don't miss out early next month for more unplugged hard rock classics! A 9:00 PM start time is in effect for this 19+ gig, with no announced cover charge.

Visit the official Facebook event page for details on Tym's Harp return, and as for the resumption of his weekly Gliss Steak & Seafood run, Tym has hinted on his personal Facebook page that he'll be back playing there regularly next week, but I'm taking that with a grain of salt for now, given that Gliss have not formally signalled their re-opening date yet. We'll let you know when things resume for Tym's weekly arrangement at Gliss' new Spring Street home when things are firmly public!

Also, here's some more relevant video content from the ongoing Soo's Got Talent competition at The W.W. Baldwin Auditorium at The Tech, as there is a qualifying round video on the event's Facebook page featuring the aforementioned Tym Morrison! Apologies for the belated write-up on this video (well after Tym's elimination), but we didn't get widespread word on The Soo's Got Talent until the second round lead-up. I watched all of The Soo's Got Talent first round qualifier videos (available at this link), and only two have an overt link to our covered genres. One starts with then-Re:Born singer Robert Nevitt & guitarist Rick Atkins covering Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man" in their qualifying round performance from August (they were eliminated in the first round), though no word if they and the absent Randy Russon have a band in the works. Not a bad rendition of this southern rock classic! The other video is embedded below, and features 11 advancing acts from the qualifying round, so who and what can you see in this lengthy upload?

These performers are singers unless otherwise credited, with song covered in brackets where available. In performance order, you'll see Michaela Lynn ("A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman), Allie Bouchard (Sam Smith's "Stay With Me"), Daniella Brewer (Elle King's "Ex's & Oh's"), magician Darren Emond, juggler Kyle Hicks, pianist R.J. Renner (The Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris", I believe), Lori Bouchard (Patsy Cline's "Leavin' On Your Mind), Tym Morrison playing a newer original song, Bethany Pelletier (Rachel Platten's "Fight Song", same as round 1), The St. Mary's College Singers (Cyndi Lauper's "True Colours"), and Hope Connor (Judy Garland's "Somewhere Over The Rainbow".)  For reference sake, Michaela, Daniella, Darren, and Bethany are all still in the competition and will be competing tomorrow at The Tech as part of the third round, while Kyle, Tym, and Hope were eliminated after last week's second round.

Lots of talent to find here, especially if you're a fan of modern top 40 music, and Tym's performance is solid as well, so this video is worth a watch to see what you missed during the private auditions last month and/or the first round competition! Remember, the remaining 7 acts compete tomorrow, with all 7 returning for the finale, whether still in the competition or not, so visit the above links for complete details, and here's this batch of round 1 performers, with Tym Morrison's song at 21:25!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes on the site in the coming days! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Banned), Pop Evil Videos, A New Album, And More!!

Here's a Sault Michigan-heavy post for your Friday morning, and it includes videos from a big recent concert, a surprise album release, and even a few Sault Ontario notes, but let's kick things off with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for readers in the E.U.P.!

Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock trio Banned will return to The Runway Bar in Hessel for one night only TONIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, Banned only announced the show via their Facebook event page late last night, though the venue's Facebook page has covered it since Tuesday. TONIGHT's show will mark Banned's first gig since taking a road trip to Engadine (outside of our coverage range) last week, and their first in Hessel since a deer season party in November. That said, this concert is also tied to special festivities, as it coincides with the annual Snowsfest in Hessel, with this taking place during the festival's annual Pub Shuffle, so if you like pub crawls and such, click here for full details on participating venues and the favourite bar contest! And in case you're curious, this year's theme is cartoons, hence the cartoon imagery on The Runway Bar's Facebook page when covering this concert, but if there's a hidden meaning behind only using underwater-set cartoons, I don't know it.

TONIGHT'S show at The Runway Bar (I mean, Bikini Bottom?!) has a 9:00 PM start time, no announced cover charge, and a 21+ age limit. Visit the above links for more details, best of luck with Snowsfest and the pub crawl this year, and here's Banned live!



Next up, here's (so far) the only public videos that I've found from the Pop Evil concert at The Dreammaker's Theater at the Sault Ste. Marie Kewadin Casino on Valentine's Day! Uploaded by YouTube user Om G shortly afterward, these videos are of the Muskegon hard rock quintet playing their songs "Boss' Daughter" and, as embedded below, "Ways to Get High". These aren't optimal looks at this concert due to the vertical camera angle, shaky visuals, and muddled audio, but while the vocals come through fine, Leigh's range doesn't hit the heights I'm used to from Pop Evil's studio versions. These work well enough though, so check them out above & below!



Also today, here's a surprise, as Dafter hard rock solo artist Ken "SweetKenny" Sutton has released yet another studio album to his Bandcamp page! Entitled "Music For The Body", this is officially SweetKenny's 25th official album, and his second of 2018 already, but it does depart from his recent formula of intended scores for other media. Instead, this is an EP-length release featuring 6 instrumental tracks, including his recent song "Bikini", and as it turns out, he's intended "Music For The Body" to be used for fitness purposes, specifically aerobic or Zumba workouts. That's an angle I didn't expect, but hey, it shows his diverse thinking! You can buy this EP at the above links for $7, and can stream it for free there as well. It's great to see SweetKenny release a new non-score album, even if it's a fitness EP, but might we see a review of it on the site? It's possible, but given that we just reviewed "The Dogs Are Watching" last month, it wouldn't be until July at the earliest due to our 6 month anti-bias buffer period.

As well, keep in mind that SweetKenny has released six studio albums since the beginning of 2017, so I'd be shocked if he didn't have anything else put out by July. Given that, a fitness-geared EP likely wouldn't be our optimum choice for a review over a potential full length album (score or otherwise) that follows, but stranger things have happened! Give SweetKenny's new album and more of his extensive back catalog a listen above!

Finally for today, here's three assorted shorter news items (all regarding Sault Ontario acts) from the last while, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by artist name:

• Local alt-punk trio A Dire Setback announced on their Facebook page last week that they have begun pre-production for their debut album, and will post updates on it along with "a few surprises." No word on when and where they'll officially begin recording tracks for it, but the guys did note that their planned next concert will be in May. Intriguing, so stay tuned for more from A.D.S. as it rolls in!
• Local indie/hard rock quartet Id Iota and DJ Seith took a road trip to Espanola for rare out of town concerts last Friday and Saturday as part of the Boogie Mountain Night Jam skiing event there, as cited at this link. Hopefully the shows were a hit, and that both Id Iota and Seith made some new fans out east! However, no public word yet on Id Iota's teased new bassist.
• Former Bear Hunters guitarist Mike Vincent posted the first track from his planned second solo album onto his Bandcamp page on Wednesday! Entitled "Apocalypse", this is a well recorded technical death metal instrumental that fans of his other recent solo material should like, so give it a listen above! For what it's worth, Mike still hasn't formally released "Ultimate Chaos" in an formal album packaging on Bandcamp or elsewhere that I've seen, with the songs still only posted as separate single tracks.

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates on the site in the coming days! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Banned) & Saturday Night Concert Previews!!

As promised, here's the second half of our weekend concert previews this time around! With news going slow this week, I reluctantly don't have a fourth full story to round things out, so this will be somewhat shorter than usual, but hopefully this doesn't become a trend. These previews reflect Saturday-only concerts, and we'll start with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, so here's what you should know!

Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock trio Banned will return to The Runway Bar in nearby Hessel for one night only TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced via the venue's Facebook page on Sunday, with Banned only confirming it on their own Facebook page on Wednesday. Two weeks removed from their most recent shows in St. Ignace, TOMORROW's Hessel trip will mark their first show there in almost six months, and this should be another prime opportunity to check out the Traynors and Wayne's often heavy blend of covers, so keep this show in mind! Note that Banned are branding this show as a "deer season party", referencing the recent start of Michigan's deer hunting season (with regular firearms), so note that angle as well if you're planning on coming out. TOMORROW'S concert has a 21+ age limit, 9:00 PM start time, and no announced cover charge. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Banned live!



Next up, we'll move to previously announced concerts TOMORROW NIGHT in Sault Ontario, starting with a big concert at The Rockstar Bar featuring some hard rock openers alongside headlining Montreal power pop band Dany Laj & The Looks! Fans may recognize Dany and company from their shows here in July and twice over the 2015/16 winter, though this will be their first time at The Rockstar Bar. While not a heavy band, The Looks' upbeat pop rock originals have found a solid audience locally over the past couple of years, so definitely give them a listen in advance of their last tour stop before heading to the States! A diverse lineup of opening bands will include local indie/hard rock quartet Bizotic, alt-punk trio Handsome Sandwich (in their first show in almost two months), and former Labour Of... frontman Brenton Ellis' new solo acoustic project Slumshine, so don't be late for any of their sure-to-be quality sets!  (No online page link for Slumshine yet, FYI.)

Co-promoted by Larry Babic and photographer Josh Pace (in the former's first promoted concert post-Live 705), this 19+ concert has a 9:00 PM start time, and while door admission is $10, advance ticket sales are listed for $8, so inquire at The Algonquin Hotel's front desk and/or with promoters on that front, as nothing's public on availability. This should be a fun time for fans of varying forms of power rock, including some heavier flourishes, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Bizotic live!



Lastly for known hard rock concerts this weekend, local blues/hard rock trio Electric Church will be among the openers at the long-anticipated K.I.C.K. CD release show TOMORROW NIGHT at LopLops Lounge! Of course, the main event here is the Keep it Cool Kids finally releasing their debut self-titled CD, and the buzz is high for the indie rock quartet approaching this concert, so expect lots of originals from the album as they launch it in style tomorrow! The aforementioned Electric Church will open in their first concert since the Sault College reunion event in September, so look for more hard hitting blues rock from them in a rare LopLops appearance, while folk/country duo The Crossroad Magdalenes will kick off the night with a set of talented numbers that should ease fans into everything well! This 19+ show takes place at 9:00 PM tomorrow, but K.I.C.K. have indicated on their Facebook page that this concert is sold out, which is an impressive feat in & of itself!

If any tickets open up, or if limited door entry is indicated in advance, then admission should still be at $10. With Tidal Records presenting and Crank Sound Distribution manning the controls, could you ask for a bigger launch for K.I.C.K.'s debut CD? Best of luck all around tomorrow, click here to give K.I.C.K.'s debut music videos a watch, and for a preview of the night's hard rock component, here's Electric Church live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for a full news post and more on the site soon! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Banned), More Weekend Concert Previews, And Show Cancellations!!

(Updated at 2:52 PM) As planned, we have our preview of tomorrow's Northwest show here, but with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, we're now leading off with that in this post! Also, we're rounding things out with one more preview for later this weekend, and a pair of big concert cancellations, so here's what you should know on this Friday morning!

Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock cover trio Banned will return to The Runway Bar in nearby Hessel for one night only TONIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, we only heard about this show via Banned's Facebook page yesterday, though the venue's Facebook page first announced the set via this photo last week. Banned haven't announced non-Kewadin shows with advance notice in months, which also explains why we missed their April 13th & 14th Hessel gigs for coverage on here last month (belated and profuse apologies for that), but The Runway Bar has announced both earlier than Banned has, so I'll have to pay more attention to their Facebook page in the future. In any event, Alex, Wayne, and Don should have another night full of familir favourites for fans out in Hessel TONIGHT, so don't miss out on all of this action! There is a 9:00 PM start time for this show, which has a 21+ age limit and no announced cover charge. See the above links for more details, here's Banned live, and we will stay more on top of Banned's future Hessel gigs, I promise!

Next up for this weekend, Sault Ontario indie/punk quintet Northwest will play their first public concert of 2017 when they headline at LopLops Lounge TOMORROW NIGHT! After taking a 9 month hiatus from the stage since opening for 1971 last August, this talented veteran outfit will take a break from their recent studio sessions to headline at LopLops with a show full of their established and newer originals alike, so don't miss out on Northwest's return tomorrow! Guitarist Greg Callaghan was confirmed as a late opening act via his personal Facebook page this afternoon, so don't be late for his often evil covers! Also, in case you were curious, Winnipeg country musician Richard Inman is playing at LopLops tonight. Tomorrow's Northwest show has a 9:00 PM start time, a $5 cover charge, and a 19+ age limit. For more information on this concert, visit the official Facebook event page, and here's Northwest live in concert last year!



Also, here's one more concert preview for later this weekend, as local alt-hard rock trio The Din will provide special acoustic sets during SUNDAY'S Family Market on the Greens at Crimson Ridge Golf Course! A very unique locale and event for our coverage, the Fourth Line West location will welcome dozens of local vendors and businesses to the golf course under provided tents to display and sell their wares, while the golf course proper and the on-site Hickory Bar & Grill will also be available to attendees, and there will even be a bouncy castle, games, and more to take in, so visit the official Facebook event page for full non-musical details! The Din will be playing scattered sets throughout the day as a two-piece sans drummer Brandan Glew for unannounced reasons, but as we have seen in the past, The Din acclimate well to an unplugged setting, with or without a drum kit or cajon present, so keep an eye out for Mike & Tammy on Sunday!

Events kick off on Sunday at 12:00 PM for the Family Market on the Greens, admission is FREE, and this is certainly an ALL AGES event. For more details on all of the entertainment and vendors on Sunday at Crimson Ridge, visit the above links, and for a preview, here's The Din live!

Finally, we have a pair of Canadian Nightclub concert cancellations for next month to take note of. One is the planned Rad Zone Battle of the Bands scheduled for next Saturday, with the event page noting that the event will be rescheduled for an unspecified later date. Promoter J.D. Pearce noted to me that slow band registrations were a contributing factor, which is definitely disappointing, but hopefully the battle gets a new date soon! A now-deleted post on the Facebook event page noted that the judges next week would have been Dustin Jones and myself once again alongside Pointless frontman Bill Priddle (replacing Rob Speers), and while I can't speak for potential changes for the new date, I'm happy to return if available! The other cancellation is for the Jesse Merineau/Din concert from Jeremy Hannah's new SaultMusicScene agency on June 30th due to an "unfortunate circumstance", as per the Facebook event page earlier today.

No word on what happened specifically, but Jeremy did direct fans to follow the July 7th Vaultry concert at the same venue from Live705. Hopefully Jeremy can get his concert bookings back off the ground, so be sure to stay tuned for updates on their next gigs! For what it's worth, blues/country outfit The Barn Board Trio had replaced Bizotic as tentative openers prior to the cancellation. That's all for now, but stay tuned for this month's YouTube Channel Profile next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Banned) & More Weekend Concert Previews!!

A busy concert weekend takes us to another weekend concert preview post, and believe it or not, we'll have a third one coming tomorrow, featuring our extended preview of Sunday's fifth annual Toystock charity concert, so look for that TOMORROW! Now, let's tackle a few more weekend concert previews, starting with a SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERT!

Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock cover trio Banned will return to The Runway Bar in nearby Hessel TONIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the band only announced the show via their Facebook page yesterday, partly as they have yet to post a new Facebook cover photo with new upcoming dates. Unless there was an unannounced gig in the interim there, this will be Banned's first Public show in Hessel in over nine months, so if you've missed Alex, Don, and Wayne's blend of fan favourite classics, head to The Runway Bar in Hessel TONIGHT! Note that this is a one-nighter due to Banned's previously announced road trip to Manistique to play at their Kewadin Casino branch tomorrow. As usual for Banned's regional concerts, expect a 9:00 PM start time, 21+ age limit, and no announced cover charge. Check the above link for more details, and here's Banned live a few years back!



Next up, we'll move to previously announced concerts with the latest gigs from Traverse City classic metal trio Peril, who will return to The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Advertised as their "last call for 2016 in the U.P.", these will be Peril's first regional stops since rocking the Sault Michigan Kewadin in September, but their first in St. Ignace since last year, so if you've missed seeing Jeff, Adam, and Brooks at The Northern Pines Lounge, don't bypass them this weekend! Unless there's a surprise announcement to come, we won't see Jeff Hudson's bands back in the E.U.P. until next year, so don't take Peril's next two shows for granted over the weekend! As usual for Peril's local stops, expect a 9:00 PM start time, no cover charge, and a 21+ age limit. Check the above links for more details, and here's Peril live!



To close by heading north to Sault Ontario, a big ALL AGES show goes down TOMORROW at The Oddfellows Hall, as put on by new local punk band A Dire Setback's promotion company Live 705! A throwback in many respects to the mid-late 2000s Oddfellows Hall shows that weren't death metal-centric, a diverse and intriguing lineup is in store for tomorrow night, so who's on tap? In descending order, your headliners are VM Radio Battle-winning indie rock quartet K.I.C.K. in their Oddfellows Hall debut, with the aforementioned A Dire Setback co-headlining in their first ever live concert, so stick around to hear how they do in their first go-around! Also on the lineup are young classic rock trio Electric Church (as seen at the Sky's The Limit fundraiser) and alternative hard rock trio The Din, while late 2000s punk quartet Talk Shit will play their first show in seven years before them, also marking guitarist Steve Shaw's live debut with that band. No online pages yet from them or Electric Church, and we'll let you know if any turn up!

The first band of the night is the live debut of new local punk/metal trio Stegadeth (replacing Eclipse), so if you miss T-Rex Manning, come early for their successors! The opening act is rapper Jasmin "Jizzy Baby" Sky, a recent regular at Soo York City events, so keep her in mind if you want some hip hop to set the tone. This ALL AGES concert has $8 admission, with tickets available at at Case's Music, The Rad Zone, the Thomas Walls School of Music, and directly from band members, though the price remains $8 at the door, and Jizzy Baby kicks things off at around 6:00 PM. This should be an exciting and diverse concert that will hopefully be a big hit for Live 705, especially with the wide array of new and returning artists on the bill! Can A Dire Setback deliver a strong performance in their live debut? Will Stegadeth pick up where T-Rex Manning left off? Will Talk Shit have stage rust after such a long hiatus? Can Electric Church leave a big impression on a largely new audience? Be at The Oddfellows Hall TOMORROW for all of the action, and here's Electric Church tackling Jimi Hendrix earlier this year!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for our Toystock preview and more next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (The 3 Day Millionaires), Sault Ontario Weekend Concert Previews, And A New Video!!

Another weekend is upon us, so here's out first weekend concert preview post! With a few Sault Michigan hard rock shows known for Saturday, including one big out-of-town headliner, we'll hold them for tomorrow's post, as well as any potential late notice confirmations, so don't worry, they're coming! Now, here's what you should know for this weekend in Sault Ontario, including a newly posted concert video to fill things out!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires will return to the stage for another weekend of hits TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT at The Rockstar Bar! Apologies for the short notice, the band only announced these shows via the official Facebook event page on Tuesday. Though The 3 Day Millionaires are two weeks removed from their last Rockstar Bar shows, members Travis Sharpe & Scott McLurg are entering their third straight weekend at this venue, following shows there with their sister band Havadder last week. The guys have been staying busy this weekend, and their hard and classic rock favourites should find another strong audience TOMORROW & SATURDAY, so keep both shows in mind! There's NO COVER for this weekend, you must be 19 or older to attend, and both shows have 10:30 PM start times. See above for more details, and here's The 3 Day Millionaires live!



Next up, we'll move to previously announced concerts, including the ongoing weekly concert arrangement at Gliss Steak & Seafood from local hard rock singer/guitarist Tym Morrison, which continues as usual TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Though Tym hasn't posted Facebook event pages for this weekend's shows as of this writing, they're surely coming for these latest gigs in his long-term run at The Quality Inn's house restaurant, and fans of his skilled acoustic covers should be ready for another busy weekend at Gliss! As usual for his run of matinee shows there, 6:00 PM start times are to be expected for these shows, and while there's no announced cover charges or age limits, remember that this is a sit-down restaurant. See above for more details, and here's Tym live!

Also, Tym will be keeping busy with one more show this weekend, as he'll return to Runway Park THIS SATURDAY as part of the musical entertainment at this year's Family Fun Day for the Algoma Autism Foundation's annual Algoma Ride For Autism motorcycle rally! Tym will join local punk trio Redundant (in their third straight appearance at this event), so if you've missed seeing Redundant live in the past year, this might be worth checking out for them alone! Like in past years, this fundraising event coincides with the annual motorcycle rally to raise awareness and money for autism charities, a'la the Ride for Sight, so whether you want to ride in the city-wide rally or just support the cause, see the above links for complete details! Alongside the above artists (no one else is publically advertised), family entertainment at Runway Park on Saturday will include live vendors, a sensory play area, costumed character meet & greets, blow up bouncy houses, food, and more, so there's a little something for everyone!

The Family Fun Day is naturally ALL AGES, and will be held outdoors, and while there's no admission fees, bring cash just in case, especially if you're not riding in the rally yourself. Individual music set times aren't listed, but the event itself will begin at 11:00 AM. This should be a fun event as usual for all ages, and there's some solid entertainment for hard rock and punk fans to enjoy as they support the Ride for Autism, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Redundant live!

Finally, here's a new live concert video from local doom metal trio AlgomA, courtesy of their set opening for Shit Liver during the punk rock bingo event at The New American Pub on December 23rd! This was only uploaded to the band's YouTube channel on Tuesday, with the delay possibly being due to editing together the multiple camera angles, one stationary from beside the stage, and two held by attendees in the crowd. The video features AlgomA playing their original song "Failed Stunt Fatality" (which isn't on any of their physical albums yet), and crushingly doing so, which you can check out below in this well edited clip, and visit their Facebook page for full details on their upcoming Ontario tour run, which will see them share the stage with familiar bands like The Golers, Archelon, and Striker later this month!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for Sault Michigan previews and more next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Redundant), Project 906 Concert Preview, And More!!

In what could possibly be our last news post of the month, we're tackling the last of our concert previews for this weekend, alongside some new cover videos, some assorted recent news and notes, and to lead things off, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT! Here's what you need to know!

Local punk trio Redundant and hard rock solo singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will both return for this year's Family Fun Day at Runway Park on Saturday, June 11th, as part of the Algoma Autism Foundation's annual Algoma Ride For Autism motorcycle rally! Much like the annual Ride For Sight, this fourth-year event aims to raise funds and awareness for autism charities, with a large motorcycle rally planned again through town for the cause, so check the above links for details on how you can enter the Ride for Autism next month! This will be Redundant's third straight appearance at the Family Fun Day (and just their second announced concert of the year), while Tym Morrison will be making his second consecutive appearance at this event, and will no doubt follow it with his regular Gliss Steak & Seafood show that evening,. For reference, last year's event also featured hard rock quartet Late Shift, but as of this writing, no other music acts are announced for this year.

Also, look for vendors, a sensory area, costumed characters, blow-ups, food, and more for the whole family on June 11th, so keep all of that in mind! This ALL AGES outdoor family event at 573 Airport Road has no announced admission fees (but be prepared just in case, especially if you're not riding in the rally), and while individual set times aren't listed, the Family Fun Day begins at 11:00 AM. This should be a fun and worthwhile event for the whole family, so don't miss out on June 11th whether you're affected by autism or just want to support the cause, and visit the official Facebook event page for more details on this year's events!

Next up, here's our final preview for this weekend's hard rock concerts (barring a super-late notice announcement), as Sault Michigan blues/hard rock cover quartet Project 906 will return to The Strongs Tavern in nearby Eckerman TONIGHT! Returning there for the first time in over a month, this will be Project 906's first show since the Bay Mills Band Together fundraiser in Brimley earlier this month, and after a successful stretch of recent shows, hopefully the guys keep up the strong vibes tonight at The Strongs Tavern! As usual for them, a 9:00 PM start time is in effect tonight, you must be 21 or older to attend, and there's no announced cover charges in effect. For more details, visit the above links, and don't miss Project 906 out east of the Soo in Eckerman tonight! here's Billy, Joe, Dustin, and Will live in Brimley earlier this year!



Also today, here's the latest acoustic vocal/guitar cover videos from ex-Elipzis bassist Ryan Harrison's YouTube channel, as uploaded on Thursday! Two are covers of Seven Mary Three songs ("Water's Edge" & "Lucky"), but embedded below is his version of Pearl Jam's "Black". Featuring various film reel and grain effects added in post (and with only "Water's Edge" in colour), these are solid covers once again, with Ryan's vocals especially fitting Seven Mary Three, and I like that his setup is getting more professional too, complete with a microphone in frame! See more from Ryan above & below!



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

• Local doom metal trio AlgomA's recent vinyl split EP with Saskatchewan's Chronobot was reviewed by Rodrigo Bueno of the Portuguese doom metal website Funeral Wedding yesterday (it is in the Portuguese language, so have your translator ready!) Giving the disc a 4/5 rating, Rodrigo noted that the EP was full of "edgy stuff", particularly praising Chronobot's half, so give it a look at this link, then get your preferred online translator if needed!
• Former Sindicate/Creatures of the Night guitarist Nick Rhodes is looking for a bass player to jam with, perhaps to join a new metal band that he's launched. The band already has two guitarists (who share vocals) and a drummer, but the bassist could sing as well, and they hope to record original material down the road. If you're interested in jamming with Nick's new band, message him at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from Thursday!
• Local hard rock quartet Skeyes of Seven have formally launched a public drummer search to find a replacement for the departed John Mignacca, as per frontman Cory Murchison's own Musicians Wanted group post on Wednesday. Cory noted that the band is finalizing their debut EP, and noted that they're working on covers of bands like Slipknot, Tool, and The Foo Fighters. There's already lots of visible interest, but if you want to trying out, message Cory at this link or bassist Alain Fletcher at this link!

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

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Banned), New Video Finds, And More Updates!!

With the holidays now behind us, let's get back to work with a new news post on this cold Monday, including some assorted recent notes, some new video finds from each side of the border, and first, LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS for across the river, so here's what you should know!

Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock cover trio Banned have announced their first concerts of 2016, and they do include a number of regional concert dates! Much like Banned alum Alex Schrovenwever's current band Steelhead have done in the past, the reveal was made via Banned's Facebook cover photo, and the new dates include dates at 4 of the 5 Kewadin Casino branches' bars, with all but Hessel on their early 2016 itinerary (though note that Kewadin's entertainment page has yet to confirm the dates.) We'll next see Banned in Sault Michigan on Friday, January 15th & Saturday, January 16th at The Rapids Lounge at the Soo's Kewadin Casino (with further shows coming there on March 11th & 12th), while they will still be rocking Hessel (at The Runway Bar) for a one-nighter on Friday, February 12th. Finally, their first shows of the year at The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino will be on February 19th & 20th, so keep those in mind as well!

The shows also join dates outside of our area in Engadine later this month, and for a weekend a month through March at the Kewadin Casino branches in Manistique and Christmas (nice to see Banned playing the Christmas Kewadin at last too!) All of Banned's regional dates have 9:00 PM start times, 21+ age limits, and no announced cover charges. Check the above links for more details, and stay tuned for more from this prolific trio as it rolls in!

Next up, here's a new video from local classical metal project Theatre of Night's YouTube channel, as uploaded yesterday, and it's of keyboardist Craig Harrison performing an instrumental piece in studio. Sounds pretty and suitably dramatic, and it should mesh well with the full song when complete, so give it a look below!



We'll close today back in Sault Ontario, including a new video find from one of the late Mike Case's Junior All-Star bands! Entitled The Mike Case Rockers, this incarnation of his student youth bands were active from 2012-2014, and memorably played at Rotaryfest's main stage in 2013, the Ray Brown benefit concert that fall, as well as at charity & community events. Mostly known for covering pop music from the likes of Katy Perry & Bruno Mars, a pair of videos on their Facebook page skew more to what we cover, and they include renditions of Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself For Loving You" & (as embedded below) Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train", both from a kids Halloween party of some type at The Canadian Nightclub in October 2012 shortly after their debut. Featuring three 13-15 year old students (including singer Alandra Brooks) backed up by the prolific T.J. Case on drums, and with guest appearances from Mike, these are well done for their age, and you can definitely sense promise!

The guitarist is really solid, and Alandra has a good melodic voice, so hopefully everyone stays active in music! Though mostly playing pop covers, they were developing well, and while Mike Case's junior bands are obviously no more following his tragic passing last year, it's nice to find a formal online page and media for one of them, so check out more from The Mike Case Rockers above & below!



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

• Local doom metal trio AlgomA's first announced concert of the year will see them rock Toronto once again at Coalition T.O. on Sunday, March 20th! They'll actually be headlining this concert alongside 3 out of town bands, including recent New A headliners IRN and Sudbury's Horse Lung. Sounds like a fun concert for doom & sludge fans, so click here for details in case you want to take a road trip for all of the action come March!
• In their first music-related Facebook page post since 2014, local progressive death metal veterans Gates of Winter announced earlier today that their upcoming third album "Perihelion" will finally be released this year, and they "have a lot more exciting news on the way". The post also came in the wake of the 8th anniversary of the release of their second CD "Lux Aeterna", which is also now available on iTunes and Spotify. Hopefully we hear much more soon, Gates have been missed!
• Local grunge/alternative trio The Pixo Control will play their first announced concert of the year on Friday, January 22nd when they headline at The Townhouse Tavern in Sudbury! This will be their first out-of-town show with new bassist Dustin Goodall, and there will be support acts to be announced. This should be a great concert too, so keep it in mind if you're out east, and click here for more details! (Also, they revealed there that the name of their CD "Probably Not" came from that being a frequent reply when they asked optimistic questions, which fit how Michael felt when writing their songs.)

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes in due course! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Mourning Wood & Highway 63), Sault Michigan Concert Previews, And Much More!!

Let's get another news post on the site on this Friday morning, including the last of this weekend's hard rock concert previews (barring any very late notice confirmations, we'll touch on them if possible), plus updates from a local band and their next show, and some assorted updates! Without any further adieu, here's what you should know, starting with SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS!

Sault Ontario classic/hard rock cover quartet Mourning Wood will return to The OLG Casino at 30 Bay Street TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the band only announced the shows via the official Facebook event page this morning (but at least there's an event page this time!) Fresh off of their Reggie's West show last week, this will be Mourning Wood's first concert weekend at our own downtown casino in four months, and consequently, their first there with their current four-piece lineup. The OLG Casino still isn't a venue that we touch on a lot for concerts here (only them and Glitch have played there for shows we've covered on the SMS), but hopefully this weekend's shows go well for Mourning Wood's varied & often heavy covers, so keep them in mind for TONIGHT & TOMORROW! Both shows have 9:30 PM start times (and appear to end early at 12:30 AM), you must be 19 to attend, and there's no announced cover charges. Check the above links for more details, and here's Mourning Wood live earlier this year!



Next up, Sault Michigan classic/hard rock cover quartet Highway 63 will return to The Rapids Lounge at the Soo's Kewadin Casino TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the band only announced the shows on their Facebook page on Wednesday, though Kewadin's entertainment page was finally updated in the past month to reflect Rapids Lounge gigs for this and next month, so the shows had been advertised there prior (for reference, these are the only full hard rock shows scheduled there at present.) Last seen at the Sault Kewadin last month (and elsewhere on Halloween), it's good to see Henry, Nathan, Chris, and Ron keeping busy, and fans of their varied and edgy blend of hard rock covers this weekend at the Soo's Kewadin branch! There's no announced cover charge for TONIGHT & TOMORROW'S 9:00 PM concerts, and you must be 21 or older to attend. Check the above links for more details, and here's Highway 63 live!

We'll close by moving to a pair of previously announced concerts in the Eastern U.P. this weekend, as Kinross classic/hard rock trio Banned are advertised as returning to The Runway Bar in nearby Hessel TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Fresh off of last week's Kinross gig, these will be Banned's first concerts in Hessel (an hour south of the Soo) in over 3 months, so if you've missed them there or in the St. Ignace area since then, definitely consider a trip to see Alex, Wayne, and Don live this weekend at The Runway Bar (or, go see them at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino next weekend or over the Christmas weekend!) Tonight & tomorrow's shows have 9:00 PM start times, no announced cover charges, and 21+ age limits. Check the above links for more from this talented trio, and here's Banned live!

We'll close today in Sault Ontario, including the latest from local alternative hard rock trio Mike Haggith & The Din, so what's new in their camp? Regarding their headlining concert next Saturday with Stereo North & Long Shot, the show has seen a slight venue shift, as it's been moved upstairs from The Algonquin Pub to The Rockstar Bar, as per the Facebook event page on Tuesday. A reason for the move wasn't announced, but given that it was just moved to a higher floor of The Algonquin Hotel, a scheduling conflict or opening may be to blame. All should work out well though, and I think this may be The Din's first ever Rockstar Bar appearance too! To hype the concert, the band posted this teaser video to hype the concert onto their Facebook page on Wednesday, which has Mike, Tammy, and Brendan energetically previewing the show, followed by outtakes that actually outlast the original clip! Fun and light, so give it a look below, and don't miss The Din's new lineup's first headlining show next Saturday!



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

• Following recent teases on their Facebook page, local glam/hard rock trio Caroline Divine have confirmed via personal Facebook accounts that they have indeed began recording sessions for a debut album! No word yet on any further details, but they have found a location to record at, and fans can hear songs from the planned release at the Pixo Control CD release concerts at LopLops on December 12th. Encouraging to hear, so stay tuned for updates!
• Local "blue Chinese metal crash punk" quartet Sykotyk Rampage have revealed that their 55th "album" will be entitled "Zombies 2: The Devil's Taint, Acoustic Sessions", which indicates that it will be a sequel to their 2011 album "Zombiez", though taking on the unplugged format that the band used at this year's Soo Zombie Walk. Though recent Sykotyk Rampage material has not been released for sale, "Zombies 2" is listed to come out next month as a free posting. This should be an intriguing collection of songs, and different from their norm, so visit their Facebook page for full details and the familiar album artwork!
• Mike Haggith & The Din guitarist Tammy Hill is looking for a drummer that is willing to jam classic rock originals and covers (she has a drum kit and practice space), but it's unclear if this references replacing Nic Buckner in the recently dormant Leaked, or if it's for a new project. In any event, message Tammy at this link or via her Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from yesterday!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news, updates, and profiles in the coming week! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Banned & Telephone And Address), Plus More Recent News!!

We haven't had what could be termed as a full "news" post on here since Sunday, so let's rectify that with a surprise second post on this Friday afternoon, but be sure to check out our Northern Vibe Festival & Biker Pirate Party concert previews in the post below this one! Now, we have new video postings, assorted updates, and LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS to take note of today, so here's what you should know!

Local punk/grunge solo project Telephone & Address will return to the stage on Monday, September 14th when they open for Victoria, British Columbia psych-pop band The Backhomes at The Gore Street Cafe! This will be Telephone & Address' first show since the IRN concert in July (that is, if they played, given that Chris' side project The Red & Black's debut may have replaced them entirely), and it might come in time for the release of their new album "Monster", which Chris noted earlier this week will be pressed next month. Keep that in mind, especially as "Rust Orchid" got a CD release show at The Gore Street Cafe earlier this year! As for The Backhomes, their spacey-sounding alt-pop is a good fit for the venue, and they have talent to display, so give them a listen to see what you think! This ALL AGES Monday nighter will operate under a "pay what you can" model, and it has a listed start time of 7:00 PM. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page, and stay tuned for updates on the show and "Monster"!

Next up, Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock trio Banned have announced their first concerts of the fall and winter, as per their Facebook page on Tuesday, so when can you see them next? After a road trip to Gould City tomorrow and a private wedding next weekend, the guys have no currently confirmed bookings until late October, but they're busy after that, with returns to The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino planned for October 23rd & 24th, November 27th & 28th, and December 25th & 26th (so if you want live rocking on Christmas, here you go!) They'll also be back in Hessel at The Runway Bar on November 20th & 21st. Curiously, there's no dates listed for the Sault Ste. Marie Kewadin, but they will take a road trip out to Manistique to play the Halloween weekend at their Kewadin branch. If more dates are announced, we will be sure to let you guys know, but all of these have 9:00 PM start times, 21+ age limits, and no announced cover charges.

Check the above links for more details on these shows, and also, a new live concert video of Banned was posted on their YouTube channel on Sunday! Filmed at The Sugar Island Music Festival earlier this month (making this the first video we've seen of them at this annual event in four years), this video is of Alex, Wayne, and Don covering AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long", with Don Traynor handling lead vocals, though Alex Traynor joins in for most of the choruses. Not a bad cover, the guys make it work, but it does sound a little empty with only one guitar. Well filmed too, so give it a look below!

Also today, here's a pair of new studio track uploads from Din frontman and prolific solo artist Mike Haggith! While we wait for his and The Din's next concerts, Mike uploaded two "single versions" of his recent solo original songs "We Met As Surrogates" and, as embedded below, "Of Cars & Criminals" onto his YouTube channel on Monday. Compared to the original "Warinside" versions, these are shorter by at least a minute each (including the removal of each song's non-musical intro), with Mike hyping them as condensed and more focused than the originals. Personally, I didn't find the original songs to be overly long, and I prefer the production and fuller sound on them, but hey, it never hurts to experiment, and the songs are effectively pared down! Note as well that Mike's original Facebook page post for the singles hyped that he and The Din were continuing their "studio progress", but no word what the end goal of that is. Give Mike's new single versions a listen above and below!



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

• The Canadian Nightclub is apparently planning to bring back regular live bands on weekends! In conjunction with Maxx Entertainment, the Pim Street venue will kick things off with country cover quartet Bone Yard in two weeks, but more local & out of town bands are planned, and there will apparently be NO COVER CHARGES. In lieu of the karaoke and "mix & mingle" nights on weekends, bands will play an hour early from 9:00 PM-1:00 AM, with DJs playing between sets and closing the night. Great to see The Canadian booking regular bands on weekends again, so stay tuned for updates, and see the above links for more info!
• Local independent label/studio Six Two Oh has launched a new performance video series called "Live @ Six Two Oh" that will feature performances by local and out of town bands from their headquarters. The first episode (recorded in June) features Edmonton garage rock favourites The Archaics from when they were in town for their headlining LopLops concert, though given Six Two Oh's usual genre focus, metal & punk bands are sure to follow if this continues. Check out the first episode above!
• Local pop punk quartet Stereo North are looking for suggestions for new covers to tackle in future concerts, even saying "the more outlandish, the better", as you may remember that they have no qualms playing non-punk songs in a punk style, like Katy Perry's "Dark Horse". If there's something off the beaten path that you'd like Stereo North to cover, mention it on their Facebook page!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and this month's CD review in the coming days! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Banned & Mourning Wood), More Weekend Concert Previews, And More!!

Here's likely our last weekend concert preview post on this busy weekend, but we'll begin with a late notice confirmation, as Gnaeus WILL join The Pixo Control for TONIGHT'S LopLops Lounge concert prior to their Rotaryfest Second Stage debuts TOMORROW! Our source is The Pixo Control's Fscebook page, as the official event page oddly doesn't list a second band. Good to see, they're a natural fit, so if you can't make Rotaryfest, head to LopLops TONIGHT! Now, we have LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (including SHORT NOTICE shows), the last of our previews, and some more notes, so here's what you should know on this Friday afternoon!

Local classic/hard rock trio Mourning Wood will return to The Rednecks Saloon for concerts TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the band only confirmed the shows via this Facebook event page overnight, marking a rare event page for one of their concert weekends. After a weekend off, it's great to see Terry, Steven, and T.J. back in their usually busy form, with this weekend's Rednecks sets bookending the guys' Rotaryfest debut on Stage 1 at Clergue Park, so if you prefer some all ages afternoon action, be at Rotaryfest at 1:00 PM sharp! On the event page linked above, frontman Terry Eaton also clarified the band's special guests for their Rotaryfest set, with local country singer Mark Tarantini and pianist/guitarist Scott Infanti joining them for apparently the whole set, clearly indicating their country ties, so if you like that side of Mourning Wood, this will be a nice treat! Mark will also join Mourning Wood for a set at Rednecks TONIGHT, so keep that in mind as well, but no word on if the Jeff McNiece guest spot listed in the program will still occur.

Also, if you were wondering about the labelling of the band as "The Woods" in the above photo, that appears to be just a nickname for the individual members and not a name change, as they're still credited as Mourning Wood on the event page. TONIGHT & TOMORROW'S Rednecks concerts are 19+ affairs with no announced cover charges and 10:00 PM start times, so check the above links for more details, don't miss their Rotaryfest set tomorrow either, and here's Mourning Wood live last year!

Next up, we'll head across the river to look at Kinross, Michigan classic/hard rock trio Banned's August concert calendar, as per their Facebook page on Wednesday! Following their previously announced Soo Kewadin shows over the July 31st weekend, Alex, Don, and Wayne will return to The Sugar Island Music Festival in nearby Sugar Island on Friday, August 7th, which will precede a show at The Runway Bar in Hessel on Saturday, August 8th, so if you're up for some Banned action at either this long running local festival or a headlining bar gig, you have options in a few weeks! For reference, The Sugar Island Festival's lineup is very similar to past years, with it's band roster mainly comprised of festival regulars with scattered newer talent, but click here for the full schedule. Following a road trip to Drummond Island on the 15th, Banned will also return to The Northern Pines Lounge at the St. Ignace Kewadin Casino on Friday the 22nd & Saturday the 23rd!

While nothing past August 1st is announced on Kewadin's entertainment page yet, it's great to see Banned back under the Kewadin umbrella again, so keep all of the above shows in mind! The Runway & Kewadin shows have 21+ age limits, no cover, and 9:00 PM start times, while the Sugar Island Festival is ALL AGES, admission is free for kids & $10 for adults for the whole weekend, with advance buttons available at Grooves Music&& Sugar Island merchants (click here for details!) Banned will be on at 7:15 PM, and are the fourth of eight Friday bands, joining such notables as Retro Troop, Missy Zenker, and headliners 3-Zip. Check the above links for more info, and stay tuned for more on Banned's upcoming shows!

Also today, here's our last of the weekend previews (barring an extremely late notice show), as local glam/power pop trio Caroline Divine and indie/alternative quintet Aldous will join forces after their Rotaryfest Second Stage debuts to rock LopLops Lounge TOMORROW NIGHT! Joining the spate of Stage 2 performers playing extra gigs over the Rotaryfest weekend (like TONIGHT'S Pixo Control/Gnaeus show at LopLops and the Stereo North/Long Shot show at The Rockstar Bar), this will unite two rising young bands at one of their favourite venues, with Caroline Divine's retro yet current take on hard rock and Aldous' fast-rising indie rock originals sure to impress as they round out their busy Saturday, so whether you want an encore or just prefer a nighttime bar concert, you have options! A 9:00 PM door opening time is listed for this 19+ concert, which has no announced cover charge. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page, and here's Caroline Divine's full set at Lopstock II last month!



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 event name:

• Edmonton pop punk quintet (and recent Gonqshow headliners) Calling All Captains are looking to play Sault Ste. Marie again on the way back home from their tour, with this Facebook event page hyping a "house/garage show" for Saturday, July 25th, or at least the intent that they'd like to play a show of at least that level next week. Heavy North Entertainment have reportedly expressed some interest in putting this show on, but if you can help out, message Calling All Captains above!
• In late updates to TONIGHT'S Man & His Machine-headlined house party concert at 124 Anna Street, the 11:00 PM headlining slot may not be booked for a local act (though rapper Mikey Thomas expressed interest), while the opening slot by local thrash/grind band Them will be retracted to a duo for unannounced reasons, which presumably means that bassist Austin McCrae won't be featured, even though he's playing tonight with Brutally Fatal. If we get any lineup confirmation, we'll let you know!
• In advance of their local concert debut at The Algonquin Pub this coming Thursday, Toronto metal band Vesperia are the focus of this new Sault Star article by Jeffery Ougler, where frontman Morgan Rider talks about the band's upcoming Wacken Open Air appearance and battle of the bands run at the hailed German metal festival, plus his music background and day job. It's a nice article to hype next Thursday's show, so give it a look at the above links! (Note that the article still lists Fractal Generator as opening, though they've since dropped out of the show.)

That's all for today, but I'll see you guys at Rotaryfest TOMORROW, as I plan to hit at least 4 bands on each stage, so hope to see some familiar faces out and about! Thanks everyone!