Last Month's Poll Results & Our Newest Poll!!

As promised, here is the results of last month's poll at the SMS, plus our newest poll! You'll probabl remember that we posed this question to you guys last month: What was the biggest local metal, hard rock, or punk news story of 2016? We only got 16 votes last month, which isn't as high as I was hoping, but we've had far less before, and there was a clear winner, so thanks to everyone who voted, and here are the final results!

A Dire Setback & Live705 launch in November (6 votes, 38%)

The Din release their debut CD "Give In To The Din" (2 votes, 13%)

Stegadeth make their local concert debut (1 vote, 6⅛%)

The Ripcordz headline all-ages show at The Canadian (1 vote, 6⅛%)

Gnaeus release their only CD "Meditations" (1 vote, 6⅛%)

The Pixo Control disbands (1 vote, 6⅛%)

Tidal Records acts tour Ontario in April (1 vote, 6⅛%)

Id Iota release their debut EP "Maudlin Fair" (1 vote, 6⅛%)

K.I.C.K. win the VM Radio Battle of the Bands (1 vote, 6⅛%)

Other (1 vote, 6⅛%)

AlgomA release split EP with Chronobot (0 votes)

Bay Mills Bands Together holds first fundraiser event (0 votes)

Bret Michaels returns to Kewadin Casino in November (0 votes)

Brian Davie returns to Scott & Brian In The Morning (0 votes)

Darren Emond's Iron Maiden comic book released (0 votes)

The Fishbowl Festival debuts at The Gore Street Cafe (0 votes)

Guy Thiffault's passing & tribute concert (0 votes)

Hedley returns to Sault Ontario in July at The Yard (0 votes)

Jay Perron's sudden passing (0 votes)

Jesse Merineau & Caroline Divine win the Speak Easy Battle (0 votes)

Pillory play their first live concerts since 2014 (0 votes)

 Project 421 & Eclipse part with singer Curtis McKenzie (0 votes)

Shit Liver go on their second Canadian tour (0 votes)

Sky's The Limit fundraiser held at The Tech in May (0 votes)

SNFU headline at The Rockstar Bar in September (0 votes)

Winkstinger reunite after a three year hiatus (0 votes)

What do you guys think? Well, I am surprised overall that over half of the listed choices went without a single vote, with any Sault Michigan items or musician passings surprising me the most by their lack of attention from readers who chose to vote. Aside from the winning option, votes were very spread out, but it seems that album releases and concert debuts were a favourite of voters, with only 5 votes going to options that weren't related to either (though I can't speak for what the "Other" voter intended.) I can see why most of these choices received a vote, but I do admit that Tidal Records' April tour run is a little surprising as, after all, this was a tour run that only partially took place in the Soo. The Din's CD release in August finished in second place, and honestly, when you launch an album with that much hype and at a formal auditorium, I would expect a good fan response, and deservingly so!

However, the poll winners were the joint debuts of A Dire Setback and Live705 in November, and given how fast they took hold in the local punk scene as a band, and in the concert scene in general as promoters, I can see how they'd win both this poll and the "favourite new band" poll from earlier this year! 2017 has already had a good start with A Dire Setback and Live705, and here's hoping more is on the horizon for both!

Thanks to everyone for voting! As for our next poll, we're getting into the home stretch of our "favourite _____ of 2016" polls by posing this question to you guys: What was your favourite local metal, hard rock, or punk concert in the second half of 2016? As is the annual case at the SMS, we have divided our poll on your favourite concerts of the year into two halves, with shows from January 1st-June 30th already addressed in our poll on last year's first half from July, so if you were hoping to vote for a late June concert, wait for our full year poll next month! I have chosen 20 concerts from July-December of 2016 for this month's poll, and to be included, the show must have had a lineup at least half populated by metal, hard rock, or punk acts. This notably excludes all Rotaryfest stage lineups, Six, Two, Oh.'s holiday funk show, and the Soo Zombie Walk, among others, but we have included "Other" as a choice if your favourite late-2016 concert didn't make the cut for any reason. There were a lot of big concerts to end last year, so here are your choices!

Bands: Hedley, The Beaches, and Dustin Jones & The Rising Tide
Venue: The Yard
Date: July 1st, 2016
Info: The second half of 2016 began with a bang when Abbotsford power pop/punk favourites Hedley returned to the Soo for the first time in 5 years as the headlining act for the first half of The Yard's Canada Day Kicker!  This well received show entertained many fans of the Juno-winners, while fans of The Rising Tide also rejoiced for the local openers' only Soo show of the year, complete with Mikey Hawdon back behind the kit! Would you cast your vote for Hedley's local return?

Bands: Cocaine Moustache, Gianni Gagoots, and War Baby
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: July 12th, 2016
Info: An intriguing meld of styles hit The New A in mid-July when touring Vancouver acts Cocaine Moustache and War Baby came east to give local fans a taste of their bluesy hard rock and grungy punk originals respectively! Sandwiched in between was the local concert debut of funk/hard rock instrumental group Gianni Gagoots, who began their local ascent with their creative improvised stage show for assembled fans! Would this show be your favourite of 2016's second half?

Bands: Pillory, Iskra, Rotopsy, and AlgomA
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: July 14th, 2016
Info: Despite an unusual lineup order that saw the headliners playing second and AlgomA opening, this all ages concert from July gave fans an aggressive blast of extreme metal, with Victoria grindcore veterans Iskra making their long awaited return to the local stage after 12 years away! Notably also featuring the first non-battle of the bands appearance at a normal concert venue by the reunited Pillory, this show definitely melted faces of attending fans, but did this one earn your vote?

Bands: Gnaeus & The Din
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: August 5th, 2016
Info: After months of preparation, now-defunct post-punk quartet Gnaeus launched their only CD "Meditations" with a highly anticipated release concert at The Rockstar Bar in August, with the show and album both getting a positive reception from fans! Also featuring an opening set from their friends in The Din, the release of "Meditations" was one of the highlights of the summer season for local music fans, and it's a shame they broke up, but would you vote for their release party?

Bands: The Din & Gnaeus
Venue: The W.W. Baldwin Auditorium at The Tech
Date: August 12th, 2016
Info: Just one week after Gnaeus' CD release concert, the two bands switched places when The Din launched their own debut studio album "Give In To The Din" at The Tech's auditorium, with Gnaeus now opening the proceedings. Despite a pre-show fire alarm at the former St. Mary's College, the show was also well recieved, even becoming the basis of Shaw TV's first OnStage episode, and The Din's CD also won praise from fans! Would you give in to this show in this poll?

Bands: The Ripcordz, Jack Spades, Project 421, and Eclipse
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: August 13th, 2016
Info: The idea of an all ages concert in the Soo with The Ripcordz as headliners had been teased for many months, and that came to fruition when Jack Spades frontman J.D. Pearce brought the Montreal hardcore punk legends to The Canadian in mid-August for another hotly recieved Soo show from Paul Gott and company! Also featuring a special guest appearance by Dayglo Abortions bassist Willy Jak(!) with Jack Spades, did this night of all ages punk & metal action top late 2016 to you?

Bands: SNFU, Jack Spades, and The Elements
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: September 1st, 2016
Info: You can always expect a raucous crowd when Mr. Chi Pig brings SNFU back to Sault Ste. Marie, and though total attendance could have been higher, fans brought the big show feel when the Vancouver hardcore punk legends rocked The Rockstar Bar to kick off September! Notably also featuring the final appearance of Jack Spades' classic lineup, and the first live set by The Elements in four months, will you open up and say "SNFU!" for your vote in this poll?

Bands: K-Man & The 45s, Artifical Dissemination, and The Elements
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: September 17th, 2016
Info: Making their fourth concert appearance in as many autumns, Montreal ska-punk fan favourites K-Man & The 45s brought their high energy original material and usual "Ska-Mones" covers back to the The New A for another concert for their growing legion of local fans last fall! Hamilton garage punk rockers Artificial Dissemination also made their way west for this concert, while the aforementioned Elements opened for a second straight year. Would you vote for this concert?

Bands: Gnaeus, DJ Seith, The Din, and K.I.C.K.
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Park
Date: September 24th, 2016
Info: Essentially a half-sequel to Tidal Records's annual Go Skateboarding Day events, they brought The Gnar-BQ to the skatepark outside of The John Rhodes Center, with three bands and DJ Seith as the musical backdrop for skateboarding demonstrations and contests, and true to the event's name, there was even hot dogs and other refreshments available! Notably featuring two battle of the bands winners and a runner-up on the same bill, did The Gnar-BQ earn your vote?

Bands: Castle, AlgomA, and Gianni Gagoots
Venue: 180 Projects
Date: September 28th, 2016
Info: San Francisco doom metal trio (and Juno Award nominees) Castle made their local concert debut last fall when they headlined at a rare metal show at 180 Projects, giving fans a taste of their dark yet psyhedelic originals! Also featuring local fan favourites AlgomA and Gianni Gagoots' first concert set with new guitarist Liam "Blanci Mangia-Cake" Seymour, this Gore Street concert definitely satiated attending fans, but were you among them?

Bands: Moon Tan, The Din, and The Elements
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: October 6th, 2016
Info: Though locally announced on less than a week's notice, this Six, Two, Oh. concert left a big impression on fans last October, especially helped by Winnipeg prog-funk trio Moon Tan, whose creative moon phase-themed costuming and technical skills helped them stand out among other headliners of late 2016 in the Soo! Also featuring well recieved opening sets by The Din and The Elements, would you vote for the Moon Tan concert in this poll over other options?

Bands: Norilsk, AlgomA, Pillory, and The Bear Hunters
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: October 28th, 2016
Info: A stacked Halloween weekend for local concerts was kicked off by it's heaviest show, as Gatineau, Quebec doom metal quartet Norilsk made their local debut with a brutal set of crushing original material for all ages! Featuring a stacked local openers lineup including AlgomA, Pillory, and the second & final concert set of 2016 by The Bear Hunters (who unusually played first), this show will have delivered for extreme metal fans, but would you concur with that?

Bands: The Black Mirrors, Eclipse (as "SSM of a Down") and The Elements (as "The Plaid Martens")
Venue: The Algonquin Pub
Date: October 29th, 2016
Info: J.D. Pearce's 12th annual Halloween party concert took place at The Algonquin Hotel's downstairs bar on October 29th, with a tribute band theme in full effect, including The Elements flashing back to the 1990s, Eclipse turning into System of a Down for a night, and ex-Fitswitch members reuniting for a late notice Misfits tribute set as The Black Mirrors. J.D. always delivers a fun show for the Halloween weekend, but would you vote for his annual party here?

Bands: Johnny 2 Fingers & The Deformities, AlgomA, and Rotopsy
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: October 30th, 2016
Info: The fifth and most recent installment of Six, Two, Oh.'s punk rock bingo series took place on Devil's Night last year, with Saskatchewan southern rockers Johnny 2 Fingers & The Deformities headlining in their first of two shows last fall, with local metal openers AlgomA and Rotopsy also playing to start the show on a heavy note. Whether you were in attendance for the music or the irreverent bingo with caller Brent Ellis, was this concert your favourite of late 2016?

Bands: Eclipse, The Elements, Project 421, and The Autumn Roots
Venue: The Rednecks Saloon
Date: October 31st, 2016
Info: Despite a mixed crowd on a Monday night, a talented lineup hit the former Nicolet Tavern on Halloween night last year for the Halloween Nightmare, with Eclipse and The Elements playing their second seasonal event in three nights, and indie rockers The Autumn Roots debuting on a local stage to kick things off. Notably featuring the last concert sets to date from Project 421 & Eclipse (though the latter will return later this month), did the Halloween Nightmare earn your vote here?

Bands: K.I.C.K., A Dire Setback, Electric Church, The Din, Talk Shit, Stegadeth, and Jizzy Baby
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: November 19th, 2016
Info: New local concert promoters Live705 and their featured band A Dire Setback made a big splash in November with their first concert and only Oddfellows Hall appearance to date, with a nice variety of local acts on display for fans! Notably also including the first live set from T-Rex Manning successors Stegadeth, punk quartet Talk Shit's first live set in seven years, and a breakthrough set from blues rockers Electric Church, did this intriguing concert top late 2016 in your eyes?

Bands: Bone Yard, The Peace Vibe, The 3 Day Millionaires, The Din, The Band Camp Rejects, The Elements, Mojo, Redundant, Guitars & Tequila, and Case's Music students
Venue: The Grand Gardens North
Date: November 20th, 2016
Info: The fifth annual Toystock fundraiser concert for Christmas Cheer took place at the former Riuniti Hall last November, with 10 bands again gathering to help raise funds and donations for those in need for the holidays, which is always great to see! Featuring sets by familiar bands like The Din, The Elements, and many more, plus an increasingly rare set by punk trio Redundant, and appearances by Santa Claus(!), did Toystock V and the Christmas spirit win your vote here?

Bands: Mike Mikus & Id Iota
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: November 26th, 2016
Info: Following a well recieved Ontario tour run, former Pixo Control frontman Mike Mikus debuted his new solo project on a local stage in late November when he headlined at LopLops, with alternative/hard rock quartet Id Iota (who joined him on tour) opening ith a set full of songs from their upcoming full length CD. The two acts played off each other well as Mike unveiled his pop rock solo project to local fans, but would this show earn your vote this month?

Bands: Gnaeus, K.I.C.K., and The Din
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: December 26th, 2016
Info: The second last collaborative concert from these three bands took place on Boxing Day when Tidal Records hosted their own holiday season concert at LopLops, fitting in neatly between The Gnar-BQ and Searchmont's Skateapalooza. The post-punk stylings of Gnaeus, alt-hard rock sound of The Din, and indie rock grooves of the Keep It Cool Kids were always welcomed on the same stage, and this show proved to be no different, but was it your favourite hard rock show of late 2016?

Bands: Bin Hawdon & The Taliband, Destroilet, Rotbottyrot, Talk Shit, The Business Suit Trappers, Nebraska Arms, AlgomA, Stegadeth, and A Dire Setback
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: December 27th, 2016
Info: The sudden passing of ex-Hangdowns frontman Guy Thiffault in December was extremely sad, but his friends and former bandmates quickly came together to host a benefit concert for his family over the holidays, which included returns to the stage after a year+ away from Bin Hawdon & The Taliband, Destroilet, and two of Guy's former bands to a raucous and emotional reception from attending fans. This was a huge concert to end 2016 with, but was it your favourite?

Other: Did we miss a show you'd rather vote for? For reference, bands like 1971, 9 Lives & Counting, The Anti-Queens, Astral Gunk, Big Brother, Bizotic, The Blackwood Sinners, Bloody Diamonds, Crucify the Whore, Debutaunt, Dumpster Mummy, The Franquilizers, Griphook, Havadder, Long Shot, Mourning Wood, Mulligrub, The Nailheads, Nameus (now Soundcheck), Northwest, Stiffler's Mom, Still of the Night, Sykotyk Rampage, Telephone & Address, That's Chester, Them, Tym Morrison, and Vintage Slang all played locally between July 1st and December 31st in shows not included in the poll otherwise. Did one of them have your preferred concert of late 2016, or perhaps a show featuring bands in the poll that isn't listed? Vote for "Other" if you need to!

VOTE TODAY! You guys have until May 18th to cast your votes, and remember, the (top?) vote getters will return for a full year showdown next month to determine your favourite local concert of 2016! That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes soon! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (The Din), The Next Local Battle Of The Bands, And Much More!!

Originally, I planned to double up two posts on the SMS tomorrow, but with a big announcement regarding the Soo's next battle of the bands, I thought it was prime time to get this on the site while the news is still fresh! Also, you will find lots of assorted shorter news items to cap things off, but first, here's a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for next month!

Local alternative/hard rock trio The Din will play a headlining concert at LopLops Lounge on Saturday, May 20th! Heading to this popular Queen Street East venue for the first time since their NLFB Meltdown audition set earlier this month, this appears to be just a regular headlining set for Mike, Tammy, and Brandan, so prepare for a full set's worth of high energy alt-rock originals and select covers in a months' time! An opening band is to be announced, and we will let you know when they are confirmed (for reference sake, Mike Mikus is playing at LopLops on Friday the 19th.) The Din's show on May 20th is a 19+ event with a $5 cover charge and a door opening time of 9:00 PM. If you're ready to give in to The Din once again, then keep this show in mind for next month, and visit the official Facebook event page for current details!

Next up, the annual battle of the bands from local concert promoter J.D. Pearce is returning for year #3, but with big changes, so here's what we know so far! After two years as the multi-night VM Radio Battle of the Bands in March, the battle (presented by Tidal Records) has been contracted to a one night event to be held on Saturday, June 3rd, and with Village Media not credited on the Facebook event page, The Rad Zone have stepped in as the battle's new title sponsor. However, the battle will be held at The Canadian Nightclub once again, which is always a great choice! Plans call for a $1,000 cash prize for the winning band (as was the case in 2015), with professional recording time, industry professional feedback, and more on the line. Listed sponsors will include Twin City Sound, photographers RAD.imagery, and Sudbury's CSA International, the promoters behind this June's Rock the Border Music Fest (whose lineup will reportedly be announced tomorrow), among many others. Keep those components in mind come June 3rd!

Details regarding band registrations, individual prizes, audience admission, ticket sales, judges, and more are forthcoming, but for reference, look up the results and recaps from last year's battle for a potential idea of what to expect. A start time of 6:00 PM is in effect, and this will presumably be a 19+ event. Though things have been retooled since last March, the newly titled Rad Zone Battle of the Bands should be a great event with a lot of intrigue, especially given the relative lack of one-night judged battles in the Sault Ontario in recent years, NLFB Meltdown aside! Check the above links for all current details, and stay tuned as updates come in!

Finally for today, here's six assorted shorter news items from the last while and as usual for these short item groupings, these are in alphabetical order by band, company, or series name:

• Memphis hard rock quartet Devour the Day have been added as a second opening band for the Alter Bridge/In Flames concert at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino on May 16th, as per promoters Allstar Promotions' Facebook page on Sunday. This is a bit of a makeup date for Devour the Day, who Allstar had previously advertised to open for Shinedown locally in July 2013, but they were on a separate tour and were replaced in the Soo by fellow Memphis rockers Prosevere. It's great to see Devour the Day finally rock The Dreammaker's Theater, so get more details on this expanded concert above, and tickets are still available!
• As per their Facebook page on Sunday, Sault Ontario punk/metal veterans Jack Spades have enlisted former Winkstinger/Sativa Rose guitarist Anthony Orazietti (a.k.a. Tony AO) for their new lineup, restoring them to a quintet for the first time since Tiffany Stocco's departure last summer. It's great to see Anthony back in a local band, he showed skill in his short runs with recent groups, so hopefully he adds well with Jack Spades starting at the CKY concert! Stay tuned for the identity of their new drummer!
• After an 8 month hiatus from public updates, local indie/punk quintet Northwest resurfaced on Tuesday via some photos shared to their Facebook page taken at Mission Control Studios, one with producer Dustin Jones at the controls while bassist Mike Smykacz is playing. This heavily implies that they're recording new material, but is a second album in the works, or is something else afoot? Stay tuned for updates, but it's great to see Northwest back regardless!
• Wondering where local goregrind duo Rotopsy have been lately? Well, the guys revealed on their Facebook page in December that a new EP release named "A Worthless Collection of Aggressive Sounds" is in the works, with a full length release also planned for later in 2017. The planned cover art is even online, and in a surprise, it is safe for work, showcasing Rotopsy at The Oddfellows Hall with a red colour filter and a surprisingly happy crowd. Check out current details at the above links!
• SooToday's music webseries Tuned with Donna Hopper returned after a 2 month hiatus with a new episode yesterday, spotlighting the aforementioned NLFB Meltdown audition/battle at LopLops on April Fools Day, in which Donna was a judge! The video is solely about winning performer M.D. Dunn, who talks about his victory, preparation, and songwriting, and while no other bands are featured, Donna did ask Mark about his thoughts on the night's other bands. Entertaining episode, especially for fans of M.D. Dunn, so click here to give it a look, and good luck in Sudbury! I wonder if SooToday filmed the other bands that night?
• In a related note from our coverage of the former VM Radio Battle of the Bands, it appears that VM Radio proper (Village Media's local internet radio network) was quietly shut down in the past 5 months, as per the closure of it's website, and we have removed their rock station VM Rocks from our links. A reason for it's ultimate demise wasn't given, but VM Radio hadn't been actively promoted for reasons other than battle sponsorship in many months. With the lack of Canadian-produced FM radio in this market, VM Radio seemed to fill a void upon launching in late 2014, but hopefully the concept resurfaces in some form down the road!

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

Live705 Easter Bash Concert Review!!

Hey everyone, let's get our review of Saturday night's Live705 Easter Bash up on the site at last! Marking the promoters' first ever appearance at The Rockstar Bar, the show was well attended, especially by A Dire Setback's set, though much of the night saw the bands competing for fans' attention with the Maple Leafs game, especially as it went into the overtime periods. The teased giveaways were in the form of door prizes raffled between bands as the night rolled along, with free Domino's Pizzas, A&W gift sets, Tidal Records hats, A Dire Setback buttons, and a "golden ticket" for free entry to 3 upcoming Live705 shows all up for grabs (I didn't win anything, but I was 6 digits shy on a hat/button combo.) A.D.S. frontman Larry Babic even indicated that there were Easter eggs hidden throughout the bar, but I never saw such a thing, so I'm not sure if he was being facetious or just picked good hiding spots. Overall, the show has a nice atmosphere for Live705's venue debut, and there was even pizza on sale for fans to partake in, so things were set up very well!

The opening act and house DJ was supposed to be Douglas "Deejay Elementz" Agawa, but he dropped out of the show on late notice due to "unforeseen circumstances" (no one was any more specific.) Hopefully nothing bad happened, but Live705 found the perfect replacement, as Shane "DJ Seith" Erickson replaced him for the night, reprising his March Mash-Up role without breaking a sweat! Though advertised to begin at 8:30 PM, he more or less began when doors opened at 8:00 PM, mixing tunes for a nice long time for early fans! If you've seen Seith live, you'll recognize some of the songs from prior performances like his "It Takes Two"/Lyn Collins mix, and he did bring back some of the hard rock action missing from March, like Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, and even some sound bytes from the movie School of Rock. DJ Seith was on point despite the short notice, and by set's end, he was getting suitably intense, even mixing songs with his hands behind his back!

Starting after the next set, DJ Seith also played between bands in a house DJ role, setting up his turntables away from the stage. He was fine in this role (we know he's done this before), and it extended the good vibes from his formal set throughout the night. Overall, entertaining for fans of turntable mixing, and Seith continues to show why he's a key performer in this area!

Next was folk rock solo artist Jacob Quarrell, and true to the show's advertising, he only credited himself by his initials J.Q., rather than his established solo project name Shit Creek Survivor. No word on why that name wasn't used, especially as it's still the name of his Facebook page, though for what it's worth, he hasn't posted there in over a month. Regardless of name, Jacob played a quality set for fans familiar with his original material, including tracks like "Swinging", "When This Is Done", and "1,075". Showcasing a natural ease on stage, and a sound bigger than his small guitar would imply, J.Q. has an effective voice and a good casual rapport, though at times, some backing instrumental accompaniment would be an asset at times. Not a bad set to ease early fans into the groups to come, and hopefully we hear more from Jacob/J.Q./Shit Creek Survivor soon!

The night's first band was local punk trio Stegadeth, who played to their usual standards with a fun set of familiar covers and an increasing amount of originals! Tackling classics from acts like The Ramones, GG Allin, and Bad Religion with conviction, the band also showcased their sound on originals like the debuting "The Song Not Called 'The Wire'" and their fan favourite adoption of T-Rex Manning's "She Banged The Mayor", with friends of the band singing along during the choruses. Fun to see, especially with at least one visiting from out of town! Stegadeth continued to showcase their talents and chemistry on Saturday night, with Bill Bennett improving steadily on vocals, though Tiffany Stocco needs to project her own voice a little more, and she and Bill could both stand to be more active and lively on stage. Solid set overall, and hopefully Stegadeth continue to build on things this year!

The Easter Bash hit it'd midpoint with a set by local indie rock quartet K.I.C.K., and if you're anxious to hear their upcoming debut CD, you'll have been happy to hear all of the newer songs that they played on Saturday night! Though the guys were coy late in their set about songs that would or wouldn't be on the album, they still stuck to a set that (by & large) contained songs I hadn't seen them play live before, like "Love/Hate", the unusually heavy "Never Want To See You Again", and "You'll Never Find Me", among many others. The lighting on stage seemed to be getting to frontman Simon Shearsby early on, hence breaking from the band's buttoned-shirt motif, but he sounded good, and he and Tyson Letang handled the guitar work fine on these new songs, with Aaron Dunn keeping up things on the drumming end himself! The Keep It Cool Kids did indeed keep it cool on Saturday, and best of luck as their CD nears completion!

Live705's flagship band hit the stage next, as A Dire Setback brought their punk/alternative originals to the stage with an enthusiastic and high energy set of their own! The guys played 8 originals like "Forget This Memory", "Nightmares", and their new self-titled track, alongside their punk cover of OneRepublic's "Counting Stars", and they attracted the liveliest crowd of the night, as seen with the fans on the floor late in their set! If you've seen A Dire Setback live, there won't have been many surprises, but everyone delivered a solid performance, with Larry Babic's singing fitting in as nicely as ever, Chris Nielsen a sparkplug of activity throughout on guitar, and Nick Kainula's drum work was steady and a very suitable compliment! Title track aside, there wasn't a lot new to add, but A Dire Setback delivered a fun set that wasn't a setback for them as a band, and hopefully there's more to come from them soon!

Now, there's a lot of divisive talk about the last two timeslots online today, so this is what I will say about things. On Saturday night, there were huge delays before The Noochin' Lanterns' set, leading to them only starting their set at 1:00 AM, 45 minutes behind schedule. This resulted in their set being chopped to just 4 songs, and Electric Church not beginning until after 1:30 AM. I will not pass judgement on anything else that happened on Saturday, or throw anyone under the bus regarding the set times or delays, other than to say that I hope things can be worked out by all parties.

As for The Noochin' Lanterns set (their first ever at a public concert), they sounded good, and had a fun look also, with everyone dressed in pajamas for their set! If nothing else, they were comfy. If you're not familiar with the former Noochy Lanterns, their sound resembles that of frontman Paul Stanghetta's old band The Fury, just with guitars and more of a power pop style that even featured a bit of rap, and on the closer, a "Pumped Up Kicks" sample?! Paul actually played guitar rather than his usual bass role (Matthew Forster handled that), and he and Tyler Gibson played off each other well, even though this is a huge departure from Tyler's grindcore roots. Also, props to new mom Amanda Brown, who's showing promise on drums! Unfortunately, The Noochin' Lanterns set was cut short before new synth player Amber McKay could play for the set's intended second half, but hopefully we hear from the band's full lineup soon, and despite the hang-ups, it'll be interesting to see where things go for them!

FYI, there was no public reference made to the planned release of sister band The Apocalypse Afterparty's "Bufflesnort" EP on Saturday. It's possible that The Noochin' Lanterns' set's abbreviation eliminated the chance, but The A.A. haven't posted on their Facebook page since then either to elaborate on the EP. In other words, stay tuned for presumed updates!

With the delays, Garden River blues/hard rock trio Electric Church's abbreviated set began later than anticipated, but the crowd chanting their name pre-set indicated that they were still eager to see the guys in action, and they delivered! I couldn't stay for the full duration, but with originals like "Muddy Waters" and "Ain't Got None" in their repertoire, you know that they had remaining fans' interest! Compared to their March Mash-Up set, they largely delivered a similar set, and while I wish the guys showed a little more energy on stage, the late start time may have impaired that. Spencer Pine's guitar skill is still beyond his years, and his smooth voice fits their songs very well, while Elijah Nielsen and Beau Whitfield were solid on bass and drums in tandem, and when you consider how young these guys are, imagine how good they'll be as the years roll along! Solid way to end the night, and hopefully we hear much more from Electric Church soon!

Overall, this was a fun concert, despite the late delays, and everyone played to their strengths for a good night of entertainment! It's worth noting that, in a throwaway line between bands, DJ Seith indicated that this event would be occurring monthly. If that's true, that'll be very interesting, so stay tuned in case that's elaborated on! You can check out our photos from the show at this link or via our Facebook page, and as for videos, here's DJ Seith mid-set, Jacob Quarrell playing "Daddy's Little Girl", Stegadeth playing "Kingdom of Ashes", K.I.C.K. playing "You've Got It Bad", A Dire Setback playing "Everlasting Despair", The Noochin' Lanterns playing "2, 3, 4", and Electric Church playing "Carey Baby"!















That's all for now, but stay tuned for more news and this month's poll results and new poll next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Spun), An Inactive Band Note, And New Videos!!

Before we post our review of last night's Live705 Easter Bash, here's a new news post for your Easter Sunday, as we tackle some recent topics and discoveries in the local metal, hard rock, and punk scenes! Today, you'll find a recent concert teaser clip, a Wayne's World homage for a great cause, and a reluctant band move to our inactive links, but first, here's LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS for next month!

Marquette hard rock quartet Spun will make their local concert debuts with shows at The Satisfied Frog in Sault Michigan on Friday, May 5th & Saturday, May 6th! In case you're not aware, Spun are basically the successors to fellow Marquette rockers Nudge, who frequented The Frog during their decade-long run, and it's great to see Tim Prisk, Bob Libick, and Bob Crawford back together on a local stage! As best as I can tell, Tim is the band's primary lead singer, with Doug Pennala enlisted as their second guitarist in place of ex-Nudge frontman Danzo McCracken. Nudge fans will be right at home with Spun, whose setlist and genre ranges are very similar, and they should fit in fine at The Frog next month, hopefully the first of many shows to come out east! You can take in Spun on May 5th & 6th at 9:00 PM, there are no announced cover charges, and you must be 21 or older to attend. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and check out Spun above to hear what's in store for their first local stops!

Just as a related reminder, Danzo and ex-Nudge drummer Tim Kusmirek have since launched a new band named Reality Bites that play 1990s rock covers, though not as hard rock-focused as what Nudge or Spun play. Reality Bites are actually releasing an original CD soon, and have played here multiple times since launching, including at The Frog and at Kewadin Casino lounges. Keep Reality Bites in mind to see what Danzo and Tim are up to!

Next up, we have a band to soon move to our inactive band links, they being Sault Ontario punk/country quintet The Billy Bastards. Public updates last came to their Facebook page one year ago this coming Tuesday in a post hyping that they hit 400 likes, and beyond that, The Billys have only played one public concert since the end of 2013, when their full quintet lineup travelled to Ophir to perform at the inaugural Northern Vibe Festival in August 2015. Over their decade-long (though increasingly sporadic) run in the local scene, The Billy Bastards became a fan favourite sight with fans of punk and country alike, notably headlining The Rockstar Bar's first ever concert, opening for notable local and out of town acts, and competing at 2009's Kiss Battle of the Bands (in which many fans still think they should have made the finals.), Their three CDs were all popular releases locally as well, if elusive to find online in a full copy, but hopefully we can review one on here soon.

While I'm not an ardent fan of country music, The Billys melded it with punk as well as you can imagine, giving the punk swagger and aggression to their originals in a way that worked with fans of either genre, as attendance of their packed concerts will attest! Given the band's late-era nature, a reunion set could occur at any time, but for now, best of luck to Aaron, Greg, Paul, John and Charlie in the future, and don't miss John with Destroilet!

Closing with new videos,  here's a charity video of Case's Music employees covering Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" a'la Wayne's World! Part of the ARCH Hospice's Cartime Karaoke Challenge where local businesses and teams sing karaoke in a car a'la the popular James Corden segments, this video features Case's Music staffers Carrie Suriano, Jake Rendell (Machines Dream), Josh Norling (The Elements), and Jenny Gauvreau (Honest Job) alongside Cartime Karaoke host and LopLops bartender Leo Moore, who picked them up and drove for the duration. Competing teams will have a final faceoff at Dragonfly Day on June 17th downtown at the canal, so click here for full details on the event and how you can donate or attend. Dressed the part with flannel shirts, ball caps, and even drum sticks and a mini-keyboard, this is a fun rendition that overcomes a slightly nervous and uneasy opening, and it's well worth checking out whether you're a fan of Case's Music, Queen, Wayne's World, or The Late Late Show, and you can check it out below!



Finally, here's an amusing teaser video for last night's Electric Church headlining set at Live705's Easter Bash, courtesy of their Facebook page yesterday afternoon! Apologies for this being late on here, it came when we didn't have time to rush a post to include it. The clip features the fathers of frontman Spencer Pine and bassist Elijah Nielsen hyping the show in lieu of their sons, and while some of the information is a little muddled, this is an amusing and unexpected way to hype the concert! Give it a look below, and stay tuned for our review of the show proper next!



That's all for now, but once again, look for our review of Live705's Easter Bash on the site next! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Oddzfest II), Windigo/Id Iota Concert Preview, And More!!

Here's one more SMS post before Easter Sunday, so what's in store for today? A few assorted news updates, our preview of a special Easter Monday concert, and to kick things off, a big LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for this summer, so here's what you should know!

Remember Oddzfest 2013 Metal Mash-Up, the all ages Oddfellows Hall metal concert that helped send off Bring The Fallen's Josh Stephney & Nolan Rainville prior to their moves out of town that July? Well, after a nearly four year wait, Josh is promoting a sequel, as Oddzfest II goes down on Saturday, June 17th! Headlining this show are Toronto death/groove metal quintet Sludgehammer in their local concert debut, and their brutal and fast paced aggression combined with diverse vocals should helped them pick up where West of Hell left off four years ago, so definitely give them a listen! Local/St. Catharine's grindcore trio Shit Liver will return to the local stage for the first time since last April as co-headliners, while local death metal veterans The Bear Hunters will return to the stage themselves for their first concert appearance of 2017, and first set with Josh on rhythm guitar since May of last year. We've definitely missed both bands on the local stage in recent months, and it just feels right to see them sharing the stage at Oddzfest again, so don't miss out in June!

Local death metal quartet Exploring Detritus are also scheduled to play at Oddzfest II in their first concert appearance in about a year, and their first since parting ways with guitarist Daeson Lesage & changing their name from Kaepora Gaebora. No idea where they've been, but it's great to have the guys back, especially with the tie of having Josh's former Bring the Fallen bandmate Dan Souliere on guitar! Bear Hunters drummer Johnny Belanger's new punk/alternative trio Handsome Sandwich will open in their Oddfellows Hall debut, so come early to see what they hype is all about! This is an ALL AGES concert, and while a start time of 4:00 PM is currently advertised, I'd honestly be surprised if that held up, as 2013's Oddzfest I had one more band and started 2 hours later. No word on admission prices yet, but 4 years ago, entry was $5 (though wearing band merchandise got you in free.) I'd also be surprised if that deal recurred, but stay tuned for confirmation on admission in any event!

This sounds like a fun concert for death metal fans, and it's a nice throwback lineup to boot, especially with Shit Liver and Josh Stephney having moved out of town and The Bear Hunters not performing as often as they used to (did you know that they only played live twice in 2016?) Visit the official Facebook event page for more on Oddzfest II, and stay tuned for updates as they roll in, including on recent queries on if this should become a 2 day event?!

Next up, here's that preview of a special concert THIS MONDAY NIGHT, as local alternative/hard rock quartet Id Iota will return to The New American Pub when they open for Calgary psychedelic pop band Windigo & New Jersey surf rock group Dentist in both bands' local debuts! This show will be a nice capper for a busy weekend for Id Iota, who stepped out from the studio on Friday to open for K.I.C.K., and they should have another fun set of new and old originals ready for their first New A stop of 2017! The headliners don't largely fall into our typical genre ranges on the SMS, but Windigo's often trippy and creative pop rock sound should find an audience on Easter Monday, and Dentist do have some punk-influenced material in their sets that will appeal to fans, even if you're not high on surf rock! Apparently self-promoted by Id Iota (though Six, Two, Oh. & Ears and Eyes are given special thanks), this 19+ concert has a $5 cover charge and 9:00 PM start time.

Though officially called an "indie Easter show", there's enough hard rock and punk-tinged material on display to keep SMS readers happy on Monday at The New A, so keep this show in mind to end the season with! Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Id Iota live!



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

• In their belated first reveal of a new band member on their Facebook page, local punk/metal favourites Jack Spades have announced the addition of Eclipse guitarist Daniel Horton to their new lineup, replacing the already-departed Jesse Cook. Daniel's a solid choice that should add a lot to the band, so don't miss his debut with Jack Spades at the CKY concert in June! No word though on if his addition means anything for the active status of Project 421, who have not issued a public update since February, or played live since October.
• Pillory bassist Jordan Leach (going under his full last name Leach-Berube) is now offering his services as a session bassist for live concerts and recording projects, and he does have his own gear. Jordan is a talented artist in different rock genres, so message him at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post from last month if you're interested in working with him in some form!
• New private concert venue Mellow D's Underground will host an "Easter Eafterparty" (sic) TONIGHT after Live705's Easter Bash! This is a private event with the the address obtained by personal request at The Rockstar Bar after the show, but it will be a concert with live bands, including The Noochin' Lanterns and mystery guests, plus an open mic component. This is a licensed event, but it is also all ages. Invite-only as it may be, keep it in mind if you want to extend the bash into the wee hours of the morning!

That's all for today, but I hope to see you guys at The Rockstar Bar TONIGHT for Live705's Easter Bash! Thanks everyone!

Live705 Easter Bash & Project 906 Concert Previews, Plus An Album Release!!

As promised, here is the remainder of this weekend's concert previews, but with the first concert having a lot to say, and a newly confirmed album release within it, we're extending our preview of it to give everything proper emphasis. I know there's a few other recent topics awaiting coverage on here, but trust me, they (and our preview of Monday's Id Iota show) are coming next! Now, here's what you should know for concerts tomorrow!

We'll start with the Live705 Easter Bash, which goes down TOMORROW NIGHT at The Rockstar Bar! Hosting their first ever show at this venue, and breaking from past bi-monthly concert scheduling for one even sooner, Live705 have stacked the deck beyond bands to include giveaways of some description, including band merchandise, A&W paraphernalia, and tickets to upcoming concerts, but what are the specific prizes? Be at The Rockstar Bar tomorrow to find out! A suitably familiar but diverse lineup will be headlined by young blues/hard rock trio Electric Church in their own Rockstar Bar debut, with new local pop/hard rock quartet The Noochin' Lanterns making their public concert debut, as well as their first live appearance since officially changing their name from The Noochy Lanterns for unannounced reasons, and their first set of any kind with new guitarist Tyler Gibson & (in a new confirmation) former Apocalypse Afterparty drummer Amber McKay on the synth.

With a (somewhat) new name and expanded lineup, how will The Noochin' Lanterns do on Easter Saturday, especially in comparison to their private trio sets? Come on out tomorrow to find out! Flagship Live705 alt-punk favourites A Dire Setback will also play tomorrow, joining indie rock quartet K.I.C.K. (in their second show in as many nights) and rising punk/metal trio Stegadeth to round out the evening's band portion. Folk rock solo artist Shit Creek Survivor (promoted under Jacob Quarrell's initials J.Q. for still unannounced reasons) will also perform tomorrow, with Underground Empire Records' own Deejay Elementz mixing tunes to kick things off, so don't be late for all of the action! It's also worth noting as a linked note that local rap/metal project The Apocalypse Afterparty will finally release their debut EP "Bufflesnort" TOMORROW, and copies will be available at this show, given the involvement of their "songwriters" with The Noochin' Lanterns!

Select stores will apparently have stock too, but where will those be, and what formats will the apparently non-CD release be sold in? All will apparently be revealed tomorrow, but it's certainly been a long time coming for "Bufflesnort", especially with The Apocalypse Afterparty not playing live for over two years, so kudos to them for finally getting this EP on sale, and yes, it's very likely for a review on the SMS this month! As for the Live705 Easter Bash proper, this 19+ concert will start at 8:00 PM, and admission is $10, unless you have one of those $2-off vouchers obtained from performers, or found one of the Easter eggs on bulletin boards plastered throughout town (if you have one, you're in free.) The Easter Bash sounds like a fun way to spend Easter Saturday, and with this being a holiday weekend, why not come out and enjoy the music, including a heaping amount of punk and hard rock? Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and for a preview, here's a new video of Electric Church in action!

Filmed live and personally uploaded by A Dire Setback guitarist Chris Nielsen, and then shared by the band on their own Facebook page, this comes from Electric Church's set at The New American Pub last week when they opened for Return For Refund. This actually has over 18 minutes of their set from last Thursday, including 4 songs like "Ain't Got None" and a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady". Despite being filmed in portrait orientation, Chris got good audio of this talented trio at their hard edged bluesy best, so check it all out below, and be sure to check them out tomorrow at Live705's Easter Bash!

Finally for today, here's one more concert preview, as Sault Michigan hard rock quartet Project 906 will return to The Strongs Tavern in nearby Eckerman TOMORROW NIGHT! The only full hard rock show of the weekend that we can find in the E.U.P., this will mark the Ten Kings successors' first concert in Eckerman of the year, and first show anywhere in two weeks. Project 906 are continuing to entertain fans as they've entered their second year together, and their hard rocking covers should provide a solid musical backdrop at The Strongs Tavern tomorrow, so don't miss out! A 9:00 PM start time is advertised for this concert, which is a 21+ event, and does not have an announced cover charge. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page, and for a preview, here's Project 906 live!



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

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Gianni Gagoots & Soundcheck) And Most Weekend Concert Previews!

An intriguing weekend of hard rock and punk concerts is ahead locally, so let's kick off this round of concert previews on this Thursday morning! Due to the amount, we'll be previewing Saturday night's Live705 Easter Bash at The Rockstar Bar tomorrow, while Monday's Id Iota concert at The New A will likely be previewed in a post over the weekend, closer to showtime. Now, let's begin with a pair of SHORT NOTICE LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS!!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will return to The Rockstar Bar for one night only TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced via it's official Facebook event page on Sunday. Last seen in Spanish last Saturday at this year's Rock 'N Roar Battle of the Bands (which they unfortunately did not place at), this will mark the Mourning Wood successors' second show at this venue in a three week span, and just their second local concert appearance with new bassist Paul Belair. This should be a great opportunity for fans to take in this veteran outfit on familiar ground, so don't miss Soundcheck's fan favourite 1980s covers TOMORROW at The Rockstar Bar! A one-nighter due to Saturday night's Live705 Easter Bash (more on that in tomorrow's SMS post), Soundcheck will be on at 10:00 PM TOMORROW, with no announced cover charge and a 19+ age limit in effect.

As for the Rock 'N Roar Battle, that was won for a second straight year by Sudbury classic rock band Unfinished Business, with young Lively classic rockers Pop Machine, 2016 third place act Cold Shot, and Sudbury rock band Jekyll's Secret all placing as well. Congratulations to them on making the Rock N' Roar Festival proper this August, and hopefully we see another Sault Ste. Marie band back there in the future! See above for more on Soundcheck's show TOMORROW, and we'll let you know when/if public video footage turns up of the guys in action!

Next up, local funk/hard rock instrumental jam quintet Gianni Gagoots will return to LopLops Lounge for their own one-night-only concert THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! Again, apologies for the short notice, this show was only announced on Sunday itself, courtesy of the venue's Facebook event page. After taking Maerch off from the staage, this creative improvised quintet (or "The Royal Order of The Zucchini") will make their way back to LopLops for another night of entertaining jam rock that will once again contain "Bergio" and Frank's "double barrel demi-John drum attack". Their stage show needs to be seen to be fully appreciated, so don't miss out on SATURDAY at LopLops! A $5 cover charge is in place for this 19+ concert, which begins at 9:00 PM, with no opening bands advertised. Visit the above links for more details, and for a preview, here's some new live footage of "the Gagoot-sez" in concert earlier this year!

Courtesy of attendee Savanna Dee's YouTube channel once again, she filmed seven videos of Gianni Gagoots live at LopLops when they played there in February, as part of additional recent videos with guitarist Liam Seymour's other band The Barn Board Trio. Filming about a half hour of footage splintered throughout her uploads of this concert, these are again untitled instrumental jams, but the longest clip is embedded below, featuring guest guitarist "Ronnie Famiglia" (real name not given.) Solid footage from a generally side-stage angle, and there's even some bluesy flourishes in a few clips, so give them a look above & below!



Moving to previously announced concerts, we'll stay with LopLops Lounge for the Queen Street East venue's Friday night concert TOMORROW, as local alternative hard rock quartet Id Iota will return as openers for indie rock quartet K.I.C.K.! Last seen at their NLFB Meltdown audition set on the 1st at LopLops, this will kick off a run of two shows in four days for the Free Beer successors, with our preview of Monday's concert with Windigo & Dentist at The New A coming over the weekend. With recording sessions for their second CD in full effect, definitely don't bypass Id Iota's shows over the next few days, including tomorrow's! Headliners K.I.C.K. have been busy in studio themselves as of late, so they should have some fresh material in store for fans of their alt-indie sound either tomorrow at LopLops or on Saturday at The Rockstar Bar (preview coming in our next post!) You can check out the Keep It Cool Kids and Id Iota tomorrow at 9:00 PM, there is a $5 cover charge in effect as well, and you must be 19 or older to attend. 

This should be a fun concert for indie and alternative rock fans, especially with albums imminent from both bands, so visit the Facebook event page and the above links for more details, stay tuned for our previews of both bands' next local shows in the coming days, and here's Id Iota live!



Finally for today's previews, you can check out former Caveman Morrison frontman Tym Morrison's ongoing weekly concerts at Gliss Steak & Seafood, as he will return there TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! After three straight weeks of pairing his weekly matinees at The Quality Inn's house restaurant with a nighttime show elsewhere, Tym will solely be playing at Gliss this weekend, so if you were hoping for a Barrelhouse or Roadhouse return over the Easter weekend, be patient! Tym's ongoing shows at Gliss continue to be a reliable site for his acoustic hard rock covers, so definitely keep these next two shows of his in mind if you want a more reserved evening of favourite songs! As usual for Tym's long-term arrangement at this downtown restaurant, expect 6:00 PM start times, no announced cover, and no official age limit, but remember where these are being held. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details, and here's Tym live!



That's all for now, but stay tuned for our Live705 Easter Bash preview and more next! Thanks everyone!