This Month's Poll On Your Favourite Shows Of The First Half Of 2017!!

We are past the halfway point of the year, so let's bring back our monthly polls by posing this question to you guys: What was your favourite local metal, hard rock, or punk concert in the first half of 2017? As usual, there were many eventful and notable concerts to start the year with, and it's always interesting to see what you guys liked the most out of them, so I have once again chosen 20 concerts (plus "Other") for your delectation! To be included in the poll, a given concert must have taken place between January 1st and June 30th, 2017 (so nothing held in July is included, such as Rotaryfest or the Canada Day Rockstar Bar event.) Included concerts must also have been held at a public venue (as such, the Fishbowl Festival garage show and any Mellow D's Underground events aren't listed), and they must have had at least 50% of their lineup comprised of metal, hard rock, and/or punk bands, so events like NLFB Meltdown and The Sky's The Limit are not included either.

Of course, if you want to vote for any of these shows, "Other" is available if you are so inclined! I hope I picked a good range of shows for this poll, so without any further adieu, here are your 20 choices!

Bands: Gnaeus, A Dire Setback, The Din, Stegadeth, Sleepwellcity, and The Autumn Roots
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: January 21st
Info: In their second promoted concert and first at The Canadian, then-new local promoters Live705 hosted the January Jam with a six band lineup of talented local artists, including one of Gnaeus' final concert sets, lots of punk/alternative action, The Autumn Roots' first gig with new guitarist Chase Wigmore, and the local debut of former local punk bassist Nathan Bouliane's Ottawa-based electronic project Sleepwellcity. Was the January Jam your favourite concert of early 2017?

Bands: Gnaeus, The Din, and K.I.C.K.
Venue: Searchmont Resort
Date: February 4th
Info: A midquel of sorts between promoters Tidal Records' annual Go Skateboarding Day events, the Searchmont Skateapalooza brought skateboarding demonstrations and live alternative and indie music to the local ski resort to kick off the month of February! In hindsight, the concert half of the Skateapalooza is most notable now for being the final local concert appearance from Gnaeus before the post-punk quartet's breakup, but would this event be your top choice in this poll?

Bands: Gianni Gagoots, Bizotic, and Handsome Sandwich
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: February 18th
Info: What started as the first headlining showcase for creative instrumental jam/hard rock project Gianni Gagoots soon evolved into a special showcase for them and two new local bands, including the second live set from alt-hard rock quartet Bizotic and the debut live appearance from punk/alt/no genre trio Handsome Sandwich. With three extremely original bands on hand, including the headlining sauce masters, it's easy to see why it was well received, but would you concur?

Bands: Garbageface, Pseudo, A Dire Setback, and Mikey Thomas
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: February 21st
Info: Though not promoted by Live705, this concert served as an inspiration for that agency's later punk/rap hybrid events, with both out of town acts even returning to the Soo for another joint concert in October. With Toronto's Pseudo and locals A Dire Setback uniting with fan favourite Peterborough doom rapper Garbageface and the Soo's own Mikey Thomas, this well received concert helped set future hybrid shows in motion, but was it your favourite of the year prior to July?

Bands: K-Man & The 45s, Stegadeth, and Bizotic
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: March 5th
Info: After 4 years of annual fall concerts in Sault Ste. Marie, a wrench was thrown into the pattern when Montreal ska-punk quintet K-Man & The 45s hit The New A in March, unusually soon after their 2016 concert here. Fans of their rousing originals and "Skamones" covers were out in full force once again for The 45s return, complete with high energy opening sets by Stegadeth and Bizotic (with new drummer Travis St. Amour in tow), but would you vote for this concert?

Bands: The Din & Andrew Pucci
Venue: The Gore Street Cafe
Date: March 10th
Info: The only public hard rock-featured concert in the sophomore run of The Gore Street Cafe's Fishbowl Festival in February and March, this acoustic event saw The Din return from their live CD recording event the previous year for another well received headlining concert at the laundromat. Notably opened by former Stereo North frontman Andrew Pucci as he continued his solo rise in the area, did this Fishbowl Festival event earn your vote here?

Bands: A Dire Setback, The Din, Electric Church, Pillory, Bizotic, and DJ Seith
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: March 11th
Info: The second Live705 concert of the year (and first to experiment with vouchers in lieu of advance tickets) saw 6 more acts join forces at The Canadian for their March Mash-Up, including a solid showcase from young blues/hard rock trio Electric Church, brutal death metal action from Pillory, and spotlight headlining sets from A Dire Setback and The Din. Another high quality concert from Live705, but was it good enough to earn your vote?

Bands: AlgomA, Pillory, and Chase Wigmore
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: March 30th
Info: Serving as both the kick-off show for their European tour in April, and as the de facto release concert for their vinyl split single with Hooded Menace, local doom metal trio AlgomA hit the stage for the first time in 2017 with this headlining show at The New A, which delivered more crushing brutality to fans to end March with! Also opened by the aforementioned Pillory and a rare solo set by Chase Wigmore on short notice, did this show win you over more than the rest?

Bands: Who Made Who
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: April 7th
Info: Arguably the most familiar touring hard rock tribute band to come to Sault Ontario in the past decade, Toronto-based AC/DC tribute band Who Made Who returned to The Rockstar Bar in April for their first local appearance in two and a half years, giving local fans another round of high voltage rock 'n roll! Who Made Who's faithful sounding and looking experience is always worth checking out when they come north, but did this show beat out the rest in early 2017?

Bands: Electric Church, The Noochin' Lanterns, A Dire Setback, K.I.C.K., Stegadeth, Shit Creek Survivor, and DJ Seith
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: April 15th
Info: Live705's only Rockstar Bar show to date, this Easter Bash was laden with giveaways and solid music from the assembled punk, alternative, and hard rock acts on hand! Despite late scheduling delays and post-show discussion therein, the show was very well received thanks to featured bands like A Dire Setback and Electric Church, and notably saw The Noochin' Lanterns' public concert debut as well. Was this Easter weekend show your favourite of this year so far?

Bands: The Hazytones, Eclipse, and Gianni Gagoots
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: April 23rd
Info: Montreal stoner rock trio The Hazytones returned to the Soo for their second headlining concert back in April, and like last summer, hard rock quartet Eclipse opened for them. This time around though, Eclipse's set was extra notable as it marked their first show back after a four month long breakup, and it was great to see the guys back after their contentious breakup last fall! They and Gianni Gagoots brought some hard rocking action to this one, but would you vote for it?

Bands: Bone Yard, Justin Langlois, and The 3 Day Millionaires
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: May 6th
Info: A fundraiser concert to help kick off this year's Algoma Ride for Autism and help buy sensory equipment for the Algoma Autism Foundation's Sensory Lending Library, May 6th's Rock For Autism was a well attended and recieved event for a great cause, with country veterans Bone Yard and classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires sandwiching a solo set by Redundant frontman Justin Langlois. Kudos to everyone for their support, but was this your #1 choice?

Bands: Id Iota, The Din, A Dire Setback, DJ Seith, Pointless, Bizotic, Andrew Pucci, and Soo York City rappers
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: May 12th
Info: Another creative Live705 event (not to mention their biggest one yet) took place on May 12th, when they hosted Soo Art Rocks!, a concert combined with a local art exhibition, with artists and photographers on hand to showcase and sell their wares. This show featured such sights as Id Iota's Live705 debut (with cellist Pete Mozarowski in tow), the public debut of Bill Priddle's new band Pointless, and three S.Y.C. rappers joining forces to open things, but did you find that Soo Art Rocked?

Bands: Northwest & Greg Callaghan
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: May 27th
Info: After a 9 month hiatus from the local stage, indie/punk quintet Northwest re-emerged from the studio with a headlining set at LopLops two months ago, reintroducing themselves to fans with their up-tempo originals that punk and indie rock fans can each appreciate! Opened in a solo set by guitarist Greg Callaghan's solo project, this concert received a solid reception, and surely gave fans a preview of their upcoming second EP, but can you vouch for it in this poll?

Bands: Ruptured Birth, Thekillingfield, The Bear Hunters, and Twistory
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: June 4th
Info: It was a night of returns when these four metal bands hit the stage on June 4th, as touring Northern Ontario extreme metal bands Ruptured Birth and Thekillingfield hadn't played here in 5 and 2 years respectively, while The Bear Hunters were ending a 7 month stage hiatus, and death metal duo Twistory hadn't been seen in a year themselves. Assembled fans got a nice throwback night of metal brutality as a result, but was this all ages Oddfellows show your pick here?

Bands: CKY, The Wild, Jack Spades, and A Dire Setback
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: June 8th
Info: Despite the late drop-out by the reunited As It Stands, fans flocked to The Canadian on June 8th for this highly anticipated concert, with Pennsylvania alt-metal trio CKY hitting the Soo for the first time with a set full of classic and new originals alike! Joined by Victoria, B.C. hard rock standouts The Wild, the new-look Jack Spades' first show since the fall, and a rousing opener from A Dire Setback, this concert won many fans over, but would you vote for it in this poll?

Bands: Handsome Sandwich, The Din, and Eclipse
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: June 10th
Info: With the summer season underway and their patio re-opening for the season, The Rockstar Bar welcomed Handsome Sandwich, The Din, and Eclipse (notably all featuring Haggith alumni) for their kick-off show for the summer, and all three delivered fun sets of original material and select covers for assembled fans! All three bands have solid fanbases locally, but were you among them to label this as your favourite concert of this year's first 6 months?

Bands: Electric Church, Speaker, A Dire Setback, Stegadeth, The Autumn Roots, Eclipse, and Soo York City rappers
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: June 18th
Info: Live705's first promoted concert with a touring out-of-town band, this Father's Day concert was the only multi-band hard rock event rocking the border on Father's Day this year, with Toronto hardcore band Speaker joining a stacked local roster including another Electric Church closing set, more punk action from A Dire Setback and Stegadeth, and a new group of S.Y.C. artists for good measure. Was this Father's Day show your favourite?

Bands: The Din, A Dire Setback, and Electric Church
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Park
Date: June 21st
Info: A free and all ages concert returned for a third straight year for Tidal Records' annual Go Skateboarding Day event at the John Rhodes Center's skatepark, with The Din returning from 2016 for another vibrant set of original hard rock action, as joined by recent live favourites A Dire Setback and Electric Church in rare outdoor appearances. All three bands rocked the top of the ramp while local skaters demonstrated their skills, but was this concert your favourite of the year so far?

Bands: Beaver Slap, AlgomA, and Jack Spades
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: June 24th
Info: This late June concert united Barrie all-female hardcore punk quartet Beaver Slap with Jack Spades' new lineup (including outgoing bassist Steve Shaw) and doom metal trio AlgomA's first post-tour local set, and fans on hand spoke highly of this union of punk and metal intensity at The Rockstar Bar! The headliners made many new fans, and the locals held up their end of the bargain, but did this show impress you more than any before it this year?

Other: Did we miss a show that you'd prefer to vote for, perhaps one with few or no metal, hard rock, or punk bands? Maybe one in Sault Michigan, or one we just forgot to include entirely? For reference, acts like The Band Camp Rejects, Curtis McKenzie, The Elements, The Gutter Demons, Mourning Wood, The Old Wives, Return For Refund, The River Jacks, Soundcheck, Stiffler's Mom, Telephone & Address, Tym Morrison, and Worst Days Down all played shows this year not otherwise included in the poll, not to mention shows only featuring bands who played in shows listed in the poll. If, for whatever reason, we missed your preferred choice, "Other" is for you!

VOTE TODAY!! You guys have until August 18th to cast your votes on this month's poll, and as always, it will be very interesting to see what show(s) come out on top! Cast your votes A.S.A.P., and stay tuned for more news and previews soon! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (If I Look Strong, You Look Strong), A New Local Band, And More!!

Here's another new news post for your Sunday afternoon, as we continue to get caught up following one extremely busy weekend of concerts! Today's post features some assorted recent updates, a new solo cover video, and a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for next month, but leading off, here's initial details on a debuting local band playing that very concert!

We have a new local band to add to our active band links, and they are Vol. (pronounced "volume"), so what should you know on them? Self-describing themseles as an "indie rock" band, they cite Alexisonfire, Queens of the Stone Age, City & Colour, and Dinosaur Jr. as influences, so I would assume that a high volume noise/hard-alt sound would not come amiss when media turns up. Specifically, Vol. indicated on their Facebook page that their sound has "high energy, crispy tones, (and) crunchy distortion", so read into that however you will. Their lineup features original Pixo Control bassist Steve Edwards on vocals & guitar alongside their mid-2015 drummer Matthew Thibert, with their ranks filled out by former Aldous guitarist Shane Storozuk. Solid lineup, and it's great to see that Steve and Matt stuck together following their abrupt Pixo departure! Vol. quietly launched last year, but when can you see them live and on stage for the first time?

On Tuesday, August 8th, for a newly announced New American Pub concert from Six, Two, Oh., that's where! Vol. will debut as local openers for a trifecta of out of town metal duos, including headliners If I Look Strong, You Look Strong (yes, that's their name), an experimental noise rock duo from Calgary. Very creative and progressive sound with punk and hardcore tinges, so definitely give them a listen in advance of this show! Moncton, New Brunswick "Middle Eastern mantra doom" duo Zaum will play the Soo for the first time since their Rednecks headliner in May 2015 as this show's co-headliners, and their blend of dark metal and chanting vocals should appeal to genre fans once again, so don't bypass Zaum next month either! The other touring two man band is Ottawa/Pembroke hardcore punk outfit Flying Fortress, whose sound is arguably the most accessible of the the three groups, but still heavy and relentless, so don't be late for their fast-paced originals either!

A 19+ concert, this show has a $7 cover charge and a 9:00 PM start time. While one would assume that Rotopsy, Them, or Twistory as openers would have fit the two-man-band lineup better, Vol. have a solid showcase ahead for their debut, surprisingly as the night's largest band, so definitely keep this rare Tuesday nighter in mind for August 8th, and visit the official Facebook event page for more details!

Next up, here's a new solo cover video from ex-Elipzis bassist Ryan Harrison's YouTube channel on Wednesday, surprisingly his first upload there this year! A cover of "Drown" by the Texas-based modern rock band Fighting Gemini, the well-bearded Ryan sticks to vocals in this cover, and he showcases a solid voice (as old Riot! By Night fans can attest), and it's nice to see him tackle a song that uses more vocal range with such ease! That said, the black and white colouring and the raindrop filter effect can be distracting. Give Ryan's newest solo cover a look below, and hopefully more comes soon!



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

• Following a positive reception for their YouTube video for their song "Straus", local progressive metal project Kraken Mara have announced that all of the songs on their upcoming self-titled debut EP will have a music video made for them, and are fielding fan suggestions for locations to shoot them at. Sounds like a good plan to me, so message Brendan and/or Jacob at the band's Facebook page to suggest filming spots!
• Just as a house-cleaning note, I've replaced the link for local subscription crate company Ma Lady Menace from their website (which is currently blank) to their Facebook page. This company was supposed to promote the ambitious CureCon concert/convention next month, but haven't issued any updates on venue, lineup, or specific details since May when indicating website maintenance, and it's not clear if the company are still actively operating. Ma Lady Menace had promising ideas, and hopefully more comes out!
• If you're wondering why we didn't cover this year's Ride For Sight motorcycle rally and attached concerts on the site, it's because the musical lineup didn't feature a hard rock band for the first time since the local arm of the rally began in 2012. This year's musical entertainment featured country quartet Bone Yard and their acoustic side project The Bearded Lounge, alongside 1960s-themed classic rock band The Peace Vibe playing out at Stokely Creek Lodge over the July 7th weekend. Hopefully everything went well, it's a great event for a great cause!

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

LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Pseudo & Bay Mills Bands Together), Darsombra Concert Preview, And New Videos!!

For the first time in almost a week, we have a news post on the site that isn't primarily focused on concert previews or inactive bands, though there is one concert preview to note for a rare Monday night concert in a couple of days. Alongside that, we have some recent tour videos from a prominent local band, and to lead off, LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS for this fall, so here's what you should know on this Saturday evening!

The third Bay Mills Bands Together fundraiser concert in nearby Brimley, Michigan has been announced for Saturday, September 2nd with a special Labour Day event that's unlike any that the non-profit organization has held yet! This benefit event will be in honour of recent Brimley High School graduate Brandon Mills, who was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year and has been undergoing treatments in Detroit. You can find out more about Brandon's fight at this link, and while there have been fundraisers already this summer for him and his family, this has to be the first one that's a joint concert and softball tournament! Instead of Pickles, this event is to be held at the Bay Mills Ballfield (roughly across from the Police Department building on West Lakeshore Drive) in order to facilitate the "Labour Day Rock & Jock Softball Tournament", and for full details on that aspect of the fundraiser, visit the official Facebook event page or the event poster on your right.

The only confirmed band at the moment is hard rock quartet Project 906 as headliners, returning from the last two B.M.B.T. concerts, with remaining sets intended for acoustic performers, including an afternoon open mic block. If you're interested in playing either, contact organizers via the above links! Timeslots aren't out yet, but the event will begin at 8:00 AM, with softball ending at 10:00 PM and Project 906 playing into the night. Food, a bat raffle, and a 50/50 draw will also be on hand for this FREE (competitors aside) & ALL AGES benefit, though donations will surely be accepted. It's great to see another huge fundraiser like this for Brandon and his family, so stay tuned for updates when they roll in!

Next up, here's one of three new Halloween weekend concerts that was recently announced (the other two are coming, but they lack a public venue at press time), as Live705 will host their first ever Halloween event on Saturday, October 28th at The Canadian Nightclub! As of this writing, the show only has out of town headliners confirmed to perform, but if you saw the February 21st Six, Two, Oh. concert at The New A, consider this a sequel eight months later, as Toronto punk trio Pseudo and Peterborough doom rapper Garbageface will return to the Soo for this event! Evidently, the two acts left a huge impression earlier this year to get re-booked together, and Garbageface similarly made many fans at the Vaultry show earlier this month, so prepare for another night of punk and rap action on October 28th!  Local opening acts have not been announced yet, but for reference sake, both A Dire Setback and Mikey Thomas opened the aforementioned shows in February and this month, alongside other acts in the latter case.

Given the Halloween weekend timing, expect a costume contest, drink specials, and giveaways during this concert, which has an advertised 8:00 PM start time, though ticket prices, voucher or advance ticket availability, and a prospective age limit (or lack thereof) are not public knowledge yet. There are a lot of unanswered questions as of yet, but Live705 have delivered regularly with their local concerts so far, and hopefully they can conjure up a scary good time on October 28th, so visit the official Facebook event page for current details, and stay tuned for updates!

Also today, here's our preview of a special concert taking place THIS MONDAY NIGHT, as Baltimore, Maryland psychedelic hard rock duo Darsombra will make their local concert debut with a headlining set at The New American Pub! An exceedingly creative and unique instrumental duo, don't expect singing or drumming from Darsombra, whose guitar/synth attack lends itself very well to their audiovisual stage show, replete with 10 minute+ extended jams that can be heavy, psychedelic, or droning at any given moment, so be sure to watch some Darsombra videos to see what's in store! Do not just listen, trust me! Local openers will include alt-hard rock quartet Bizotic alongside new local drone/noise trio Pointless (featuring Treble Charger's Bill Priddle alongside The Peach Thieves' Jordan Leach & David Peredun), so don't be late for their own unique original material! Promoted by Six, Two, Oh., this concert has a 19+ age limit, $7 cover charge, and 9:00 PM start time.

This rare Monday nighter should deliver a very intriguing and diverse blend of genres at The New A, and Darsombra need to be seen to be fully understood, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details on this night of trans-apocalyptic galaxy rock, and here's Darsombra live!



Finally for today, here's some overdue videos from local alternative punk quartet A Dire Setback's Facebook page last week, as they filmed some pre- and post-show videos from their Timmins road trip when they played there on July 8th! Apologies for the delay in these making the site, this busy concert weekend took up a lot of time. Three videos are considered parts of a series called "The Road to Timmins", with part #1 (embedded below) features an interview of sorts where bassist Matt Quinn asks guitarist Chris Nielsen about the show and trip while he drives one of their tour vehicles. Part #2 is about "the search" for frontman Larry Babic and drummer Nick Kainula during a stop, and without giving anything away, the search doesn't take very long! Part #3 features an amusing exploration of trees along the highways, and discussions about what a cockle is, while an epilogue video features Matt talking directly to the camera about how the show went, what the guys dodged on the road, and their trip home.

As well, a video posted by Chris' wife Heather onto her personal Facebook account was shared by A Dire Setback publically , and it features Chris & Matt singing a song about a little black crow on the side of the road. Nice to see some light and fun videos from A.D.S.' successful road trip, which I hope is repeated on future runs, so definitely give them a look above & below, and I wonder if anyone got any footage at the concert proper?



That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and updates in the coming days as we continue getting caught up post-Rotaryfest! Thanks everyone!

The Tea Party, Rotaryfest Stage 2, And LopLops Lounge Concert Previews!!

As promised, here's our third and final all-concert preview post for this stacked concert weekend (Darsombra on Monday aside, as it's technically next week), so what lies within this post? The third year of the current version of Rotaryfest's second stage, two linked 19+ shows from bands playing that event, and one more huge all ages event this weekend, so here's what you should know to close this huge weekend of concerts!

We'll start today's previews at LopLops Lounge for their first of two concerts this weekend featuring Rotaryfest Stage 2 performers, as local indie/punk quintet Northwest and indie/folk quartet K.I.C.K. will join forces TONIGHT before their Second Stage sets! Though the Keep it Cool Kids play later in the evening tomorrow, Northwest are the advertised headliners for this 19+ appetizer, marking just their second local concert appearance of 2017. Might they have some songs to share from recent EP recording sessions? Be at LopLops tonight to find out! As for K.I.C.K., this is their second show in a three day run of consecutive concerts, following their rainy set at yesterday's Downtown Street Party, and they should have some fun indie rock originals as well for fans tonight! A 19+ event, this show has a $5 cover charge and a 6:00 PM start time. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page, don't miss out on this Second Stage prelude tonight, and here's Northwest live!

Next up, let's discuss TOMORROW NIGHT'S twelfth annual Rotaryfest Stage 2, which returns to it's "redirected" Clergue Park staging beside the art gallery as a one night only event, so who can you look for? Headlining the expanded 8 band all-original lineup at 8:00 PM is local indie rock artist Jesse Merineau with a full backing band (including Electric Church's Spencer Pine & 2/3rds of the former Caroline Divine), with the aforementioned K.I.C.K. co-headlining in their second Second Stage set at 7:00 PM. Alt-hard rock trio The Din will return to Stage 2 at 6:00 PM as this year's highest placed heavier or punk band, while the also aforementioned Northwest and fellow punk quartet A Dire Setback will rock the 5:00 & 4:00 PM sets respectively. Alternative/hard rock quartet Id Iota (and guest cellist Pete Mozarowski) will hit the festival once again at 3:00 PM, as preceded at 2:00 PM by the final all ages set from pop rock solo artist Mike Mikus before his announced move to Montreal (more on that in a second.)

Opening at 1:00 PM are new local indie/pop outfit All Us Others, featuring two female singers and a full backing band, so come early to hear how they sound! Curated for a third straight year by Chelsie Parayko, this year's Stage 2 action is once again FREE & ALL AGES, so see the above links or click here for full details on the all-original stage tomorrow! With a lot of talented young artists this year (with no bands that played Stage 2 even two years ago), this year's lineup promises lots of entertainment for fans of the recent alternative movement locally, so don't miss out tomorrow night, and for a preview, here's The Din live at Rotaryfest last year!



Also this weekend, here's LopLops Lounge's second Rotaryfest weekend concert featuring Stage 2 acts, as the aforementioned Mike Mikus and Id Iota will join forces tomorrow night for what is billed as Mike's "final show in the Soo"! As first announced last month, the former Pixo Control and Fever Tops frontman is moving to Montreal in the near future, so he's throwing one last headlining concert event before the big move, which will see him, Dustin, and Keeghan play songs from his forthcoming studio album, old Pixo Control favourites, and possibly some surprises. If you've missed Michael's old grunge/hard rock days with The Pixo Control, and/or love his newer poppier originals, here's your last chance for the foreseeable future! Id Iota (and presumably Pete) will also pull double duty tomorrow as openers, and gold star to Dustin Goodall in advance for playing four full sets with Mike and Id Iota in a 12 hour span!

The two acts have been heavily linked since Mike went solo last summer, so who better to open his farewell show than Id Iota? Much like with the Northwest/K.I.C.K. show, this is a 19+ event with a $5 cover and a 10:00 PM start time, so visit the official Facebook event page for more details. If you've followed Michael's music work in the 2010s, you know his move will be a disappointing loss around here, and while I hope he'll come back home for shows on occasion, best of luck to him in Montreal for sure, and be sure to give him a huge send-off tomorrow night! For a preview, let's throw back to The Pixo Control, whose last lineup is identical to Mike's outgoing solo band!



Finally for today's previews, here's a huge FREE show taking place THIS SUNDAY NIGHT, as Windsor hard/world rock trio The Tea Party will make their long awaited return to Sault Ontario with a headlining set at The Roberta Bondar Pavilion! The fourth of 23 free outdoor shows taking place this summer during the Ontario government's ONTour concert series, the Soo's stop on Sunday will see two bands and now two solo artists rock out in honour of the province & country's 150th birthdays, and this is a great epilogue to Rotaryfest weekend, so don't miss out! Of course, The Tea Party are a platinum-selling, Juno nominated hard rock band, and need no introduction for fans of 1990s Canadian rock, but this is their first local stop in nineteen years, so prepare for hits like "Heaven Coming Down" and "Temptation" on Sunday in their long awaited return! Openers will include Toronto drum & bass duo Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker, in U.S.S.' first show here in six years, as well as two Sudbury solo acts.

They include country musician Andrew Hyatt (replacing the re-booked James Barker Band) and, in a new confirmation via the official Facebook event page on Tuesday, Francophone alt-pop artist McLean, who curiously is only listed as having a 15 minute set. Very diverse lineup to be sure, but there's a little something for many tastes, and The Tea Party will satiate hard rock fans and those who haven't seen them locally since 1998 when they rock the big tent downtown! This FREE & ALL AGES show starts at 5:15 PM on Sunday, so check the above links for full details on this show and other upcoming shows in the ONTour series, and here's The Tea Party live!



That's all for today, but we're not quite done with concert previews, as Monday's Darsombra show will be previewed in our next news post, so look for that then, along with other stories! Thanks everyone!

Rotaryfest Stage 1 & Sault Michigan Weekend Concert Previews!!

To stay ahead of things regarding this weekend's concert previews, we're doubling up on posts today, tackling shows taking place in Sault Michigan and for one stage of a major annual festival. If you're interested in previews of this weekend's Tym Morrison and (short notice) Soundcheck shows, or tonight's Downtown Street Party, check out this morning's post below, and if you're hoping for The Tea Party, Stage 2, Northwest/K.I.C.K., and Id Iota/ Mike Mikus previews, check back tomorrow! Now, let's continue this weekend's stacked concert previews!

This year's Rotaryfest began TODAY at Clergue Park in Sault Ontario, and that includes three days' worth of all-covers action on Stage 1, so what should you know about it's lineups this year? Unfortunately, this year's main stage lineup at our annual summer festival has noticeably fewer hard rock bands (partly due to That's Chester and Griphook falling inactive), and as a result, only tomorrow's lineup has bands whose genres fit our primary coverage. That said, many readers will be curious as to the full lineup, so here's who to look for tonight and Saturday! Tonight's schedule will be headlined by new Coverfly side project Encore, with country quartet Crossroad, local DJ Jeff MacNeice's Neil Diamond tribute band Hot April Night, classic rock veterans Flathead Ford, and blues/country mainstays The Algo Rhythms opening. Saturday night's lineup will actually be headlined by local country veterans Bone Yard, with Southern Ontario-based Keith Urban & Blue Rodeo tribute bands Ultimate Urban & Blue Radio playing featured sets prior.

Remaining local bands on Saturday will include R&B collective The Reptiles, blues rock standout Paul Dellavedova, Obsession frontwoman Valerie Powley's new Janis Joplin tribute band Janis Full Tilt!, 1960s-themed classic rockers The Peace Vibe, blues rock quintet Red & The Muscle, and improv jazz outfit The Jazz Cats. Solid lineup of local talent on these two nights, including many familiar and newer faces alike, and lots of tribute band action, so see the above links for more details, and click here for full set-times and band descriptions (or find your program from the mail!) 

As for TOMORROW's lineup (expanded from 5 bands to 6 this year), tomorrow's music at the main Clergue Park stage will be bookended by some hard rock action, so who can you look out for? Your 10:30 PM headliners are hard/party rock cover trio Stiffler's Mom in their third Rotaryfest set in four years, and they should end things with a bang as usual tomorrow night! Classic rock veterans and Rotaryfest regulars Obsession will co-headline at 9:30 PM, as preceded by a special Garth Brooks tribute set by local country artist Mark Tarantini at 8:00 PM, similiarly to his tribute last year that the former Mourning Wood served as backing band for. Classic rock quintet Mustang Heart's 13(+?) year streak of Rotaryfest Stage 1 sets will continue at 7:00 PM tomorrow, while veteran blues rock quartet Five Below Zero will return to the festival at 6:00 PM. Finally, classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will open the evening's action in their Rotaryfest debut at 5:00 pm, shortly before they hit The Esquire Club.

All three days of entertainment on Stage 1 are FREE & ALL AGES as usual, so check the above links for full timeslot and additional information on this year's first stage! While those who complain about Stage 1's covers-only focus and regular bands may not be won over, there's still a lot of variety within their range, with many new bands, a lot of tributes, and for the first time since 2009, out-of-town country bands, so there should be lots of classic tunes this weekend! Of course, if you want hard rock, I recommend coming tomorrow night, but give this year's bands a look to learn what to expect, and here's Stiffler's Mom live at Rotaryfest 2014!

Next up, let's touch on Traverse City, Michigan metal trio Scarkazm's return to The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino, as they'll return north for headlining shows TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Definitely Scarkazm shows after last month's confusion whether they or Peril were playing in the Soo over the June 15th weekend, these will be Adam, Dave, and Jeff's first collaborative shows in our area since headlining in St. Ignace in May, and first at The Rapids Lounge since April. Always great to see Scarkazm up north, so look for more heavy originals and covers this weekend! As usual for Scarkazm's local gigs, expect 9:00 PM start times, no announced cover charges, and 21+ age limits tomorrow and Saturday night. Scarkazm always deliver a solid night of hard hitting selections, so keep their return north in mind for this weekend, visit the official Facebook event pages linked here & here for more details, and here they are live!



Finally for today's previews, this weekend will see more out-of-town headlining action in Sault Michigan, as Marquette hard rock quartet Spun will return to The Satisfied Frog for shows TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT themselves! The Nudge successors will be making their third trip east on this busy concert weekend, and fans of their accessible and hard hitting covers should be out in full force at The Frog, so keep their local return in mind over the next two nights! As was the case during Spun's prior local bookings, expect 9:30 PM start times tomorrow & Saturday night, there are no announced cover charges, and you must be at least 21 years old to attend. Visit the official Facebook event page for more details on Spun's local gigs this weekend, and here they are live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for our third weekend concert preview post of this extremely busy weekend next! Thanks everyone!

The First Of This Weekend's Hard Rock Concert Previews!!

The busiest concert weekend of the summer begins tonight, so let's kick off what I anticipate to be three weekend concert previews posts with shows taking place today and/or tomorrow, at least in part! If a show you're expecting a preview on, don't worry, this is a busy weekend and I have to spread the wealth, it's coming! Now, here's what you should know to start!

Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck are reportedly rocking The Esquire Club with a pair of solo headlining concerts TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT! Apologies for the short notice, the shows were only first learned about via their listing on the Sault Music News Letter Facebook page on Tuesday, and had not been publically promoted by the Mourning Wood successors at press time. After over a month off from publically advertised concerts, Soundcheck will hit The Esquire Club for the first time since the June 2nd weekend, shows that we missed on the site at the time, partly due to the band not announcing the Friday gig until 9:34 PM that same night! Profuse apologies for missing their Esquire gigs last month, we'd have previewed them somehow had we known about them prior! Of course, TOMORROW & SATURDAY'S Esquire shows follow their Rotaryfest Stage 1 debut tomorrow evening, and our preview of the main stage is coming in our next preview post, so look for it then!

No word though on if recent Reggie's Place performers "Jute Box Junkie" are the same band as The Jukebox Junkies, the short-lived Mourning Wood side project from late last year. You can catch the ace as well as Soundcheck's classic and hard rock covers at this popular west end venue TOMORROW & SATURDAY NIGHT at around 10:00 PM both nights, with a 19+ age limit and no announced cover charge to be expected. See the above links for more details, apologies again for missing their June shows at this venue, and hopefully some public video turns up soon!

Moving to previously announced concerts, we'll next look at the  Downtown Street Party on Queen Street East (the entire Square One block from Pim to Dennis) TODAY, where local alternative-hard rock trio The Din will open one of the six stages! This annual community event will feature plenty of FREE & ALL AGES activities for locals to enjoy, including refreshments, fitness demos, downtown store discounts, games, kids entertainers, and much more, so be sure to visit the official Facebook event page for full details on this year's party (of course coinciding with day 1 of Rotaryfest!) The Din will open "Stage 5" at 6:15 PM today (exact stage location unclear, but maps will be on hand), with that stage being headlined by As It Stands drummer John Mignacca (credited as "Flo McNasty") in a rare solo set at 10:00 PM, with acoustic trio The Campfire Crooners playing in between at 7:15 PM. Note that the headliners were originally advertised to be John's hard rock band Skeyes of Seven, but that was quietly removed without word from the band. Hopefully nothing bad happened, they've been missed on the stage!

The other stages do not have an advertised punk or hard rock band, but here's who to look out for on them. LopLops Lounge will be the backdrop for "Stage 1", featuring indie rockers K.I.C.K., jazz rock quartet The Wild Iris, ex-Pixo Control frontman Mike Mikus, and young local solo artist Juliana Regan playing under a pop-up patio (get more details at this link.) "Stage 2" will be headlined by Bone Yard side project The Bearded Lounge and their acoustic country covers, with rock/violin quartet Sometimes Ange and an unidentified guitarist(s?) representing Konoba Tapas & Vino on Gore Street opening for them. "Stage H" (3?) will actually be headlined by Toronto ventriloquist Mark Crocker, with country veterans The Stumpy Coldwater Trio & The Bearded Lounge again as opening acts. Stage 4 is more religious in tone, with rapper Tristan "Bold Noize" Goslow and an unidentified band from The Summit Community Church as featured acts, with Mark Crocker opening there himself.

Finally, the stage at Queen and March Street will solely have local DJ duo Electric Therapy manning the turntables, so keep all of the musical acts in mind! All are playing between 5:30 PM and midnight, so visit the above links for full timeslot details. This sounds like a fun event to help invigorate the downtown with, and hopefully with all of this music and family entertainment, all who attend have a blast! Most non-musical events begin at 6:00 PM, and remember, this year's Downtown Street Party is FREE & ALL AGES! For a preview, here's The Din live at LopLops earlier this year!

Next up is an artist who's not playing the Downtown Street Festival or Rotaryfest, but will still have some musical entertainment downtown this weekend, namely prolific local acoustic hard rock frontman Tym Morrison, who will return to Gliss Steak & Seafood for solo shows TONIGHT & TOMORROW! Despite his seasonal return to Thursday night bookings beginning last week, Tym is only playing at Gliss twice this weekend, with his regular Saturday nighter postponed while he sees Iron Maiden live in Toronto. Should be a great concert, hopefully Tym has an awesome time! As such, fans can take in Tym's varied and often heavy array of classic renditions over these next two evenings, and for Downtown Street Partty attendees, keep in mind that Gliss & The Quality Inn are just a three minute walk from the corner of Queen and Dennis, so if you want to see Tym Morrison live, it's not an inconvenience at all to come over for his sets!

Expect 6:00 PM start times, no announced cover charge, and no formal age limit tonight or tomorrow, but remember that this is a sit-down proper restaurant. For more details on tonight & tomorrow's (but not Saturday's) solo concerts, visit the official Facebook event page, and here's Tym live!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for our previews of this weekend's Rotaryfest stages and more in the coming days! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Treble Charger) & Three Inactive Band Notes!!

Today's post is a step forward and three steps back in a sense, as relating to our active band links, but the first story today is also a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for later this month, so here's what you should know!

Local/Toronto indie punk veterans Treble Charger will indeed return to the stage on Thursday, July 27th for a headlining concert at LopLops Lounge! I was reticent to list the show on the SMS when I first discovered it on LopLops' website's concert calendar, as a band of this scope returning the stage after a two year hiatus should have more promotion than it does, but tickets are indeed on sale for $25 on LopLops website, so it looks like it's definitely a thing. Last seen on a local stage at The Machine Shop in February 2015 (and elsewhere in Belleville that July), we had listed the platinum selling quartet as inactive on the site for the past year, but based on LopLops' website's article on the show, this isn't a one-off return. Greig, Bill, and company are "threatening to unleash a brand new CD on the world" and are "ready to hit the road", so assuming things line up as projected, their local show in two weeks will help re-kick things off for them!

No word yet on potential opening bands, and also no word on if Richard Mulligan is their new touring drummer (as noted in a Wikipedia article edit, but I don't consider Wikipedia to be a source.) This 19+ show has an advertised 9:00 PM start time, and you can buy tickets for $25 at the above links or presumably at LopLops in person. I don't know if this concert is intentionally on the down-low for public promotion or if it just hasn't fully commenced yet, but tickets are on sale, so it's not a secret. It's great to see Treble Charger back in action, so stay tuned for updates on July 27th's return show, and they are back in our active band links!

Next up, we have three bands to soon move to our inactive band links due to a year's inactivity, the first of which being local classic/hard rock cover quintet That's Chester. The band has not announced anything online regarding their future status, but they have not issued a public statement on current or upcoming activity since their featured set at last year's Rotaryfest Stage 1 alongside numerous guest performers one year ago on Sunday. One of the most enduring bands covered on the SMS, That's Chester launched in 2004 and became a fan favourite sight at local concerts and festivals for the next decade, notably excepting a 2012-2013 breakup. Highlights of their run included nine Rotaryfest sets, appearances at numerous charity and community events (such as Toystock and Ride For Sight), regular gigs at various local bars through mid-2014, and their involvement in November 2015's local stage production of The Who's Tommy, which wrapped just days prior to the sudden passing of guitarist Eugene Orlando.

Though That's Chester focused their post-2014 attention on Tommy and Rotaryfest, their crowd-friendly brand of classic and hard rock was always worth checking out on local stages, and if they are now formally defunct, their Rotaryfest set last year was a nice way to give their run closure and pay tribute to Eugene's memory. Best of luck to Greg, Gabe, Aubrey, Ric, and their former singers in the future, and don't miss Bone Yard, Stiffler's Mom, Obsession, Mojo, Guitars & Tequila, and The Bearded Lounge to see what members are up to nowadays!

Also, another band being moved to our inactive band links are local classic/hard rock cover trio Havadder. Though the band has issued no public statements about their active status, they have not played live since headlining at The Rockstar Bar one year ago on Saturday, or posted on their Facebook page since promoting that concert. Active off and on from 2009-2016, and continually fronted by singer/guitarist Jason "Jugga" Roy, Havadder and their fluctuating lineups (including a sextet run from 2011-2012) were a reliable sight on local concert stages throughout the early-mid 2010s, which saw them frequent venues like The Rockstar Bar, The Rednecks Saloon, and the former Foggy Notions, perform at the Toystock fundraiser in 2015, bring live bands back to Studio 10, and even earn a spot at the 2012 Rock 'n Roar Festival in Spanish. In the past year, you may have seen Havadder alumni in bands like The 3 Day Millionaires, Soundcheck, Jack Spades, Project 421, Mid Life Crysis, and The Band Camp Rejects.

With a wide ranging set list that fit our coverage while entertaining general audiences, Havadder were always a welcome sight on local stages, and Jason's strong vocals and guitar work were always a constant no matter what form their lineup took! I'm unsure what happened to Havadder since last summer, but as Jason has shown before, they can always re-appear with a new lineup. Hopefully that does happen, but if you couldn't, you didn't! Best of luck to Jason, Travis, Scott, and other former band members in the future!

Finally, we're moving local classic/hard rock cover quartet Griphook to our inactive band links as well. While the band has not announced anything publically regarding their future, nothing has been stated by the band since they performed at Rotaryfest Stage 1 one year ago on Sunday themselves, notably alongside guest singer/guitarist Adam King while frontman Joel Syrette takes his own hiatus from the band to attend university out of town, as per their Facebook page last year. Debuting at November 2012's inaugural Toystock charity concert (notably alongside fellow 2012-2016 cover rockers Lucky 13), this union of Hollow, Bigsuit, and Gsis Murphy alumni quickly carved their own niche in the local scene with hard rocking renditions of their own at venues like The Rockstar Bar and The Roosevelt Hotel, plus turns at 2013's Rock 'n Roar Battle of the Bands in Spanish, the late Ray Brown's benefit show, and four consecutive Rotaryfest main stage lineups.

Whether you preferred Griphook with Joel or original frontman Jim O'Leary, this veteran quartet delivered their own entertaining blend of styles to local stages for the better part of 4 years, with hard rock augmented with some blues and alternative touches where need be! Griphook did leave the door open for Joel to pick up where he left off when his schooling wraps up, and hopefully that remains the case, but in the meantime, best of luck to him, Brian, Dan, Tony, and Jim in the future! That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and weekend concert previews soon! Thanks everyone!