Friday, October 25, 2013

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Haggith) And The Rest Of The Halloween Weekend Concert Previews!!

Today's post closes the known hard rock/metal concert previews in the region (i.e. ones I can verify have a heavier band), including the return of two annual & seasonal concert events, but first, here's a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT regarding a prominent local band's surprising announcement about their impending last show.

Local grunge/alternative quartet Haggith have announced a headlining date at The Algonquin Pub on Saturday, December 7th that will apparently be their final live concert, with the band breaking up afterwards. The news was revealed last night via the show's Facebook event page, and though a reason for the impending dissolution has yet to be publically made, I do know it's amicable and related to a band member's personal commitments. Support will be provided by local alternative hard/blues rock quartet Sykotyk Rampage and newer all-female hard rockers The Danger Cats, both of which have shared the stage with Haggith this fall, so they're good lineup additions! This will likely be a 19+ event, but admission costs are yet to be finalized, and the listed start time of 8:00 PM sounds too early to be accurate. Check the above links for more details! This is really disappointing news, especially given how they've grown in prominence and success this year, and knowing the optimistic album plans that they've hyped to me in personal conversations, but hopefully all works out how it should!

At least this won't be the only remaining concert (TOMORROW'S Zombie Walk set and their New American show on November 22nd come first), but we'll of course keep you guys updated on this show and any preceding updates as they come in, and I just hope the guys all stay active in music after December 7th! Keep watch for updates, and note that I don't know what this means for the various other band & solo projects that members are in, but if I find out more, I'll let you guys know!

Now to the rest of our heavier Halloween weekend concert previews, starting with the 8th annual Halloween Party from local concert promoter J.D. Pearce (a.k.a. Johnny Pints), which makes it's first ever appearance at The Roosevelt Hotel TOMORROW NIGHT! After spending last year at The Algonquin Pub and the prior 6 at the old Coch's Corner, this annual tradition hits the West End for what will hopefully be an incident-free night of hard hitting metal & punk music, costumes, and good times! Like past years, there will be a costume contest (the winner gets a VIP ticket for the Fuckface Unstoppable show on December 14th), and while the band count drops back to it's usual amount of three, it will continue from last year in one way, as there will be an out of town feature band, that being Montreal hardcore punk legends The Ripcordz! Making their second local appearance of 2013 following their Algonquin show in April, their hard hitting and attitude fueled set should be a great way to cap off this Halloween party, so don't miss these local favourites in their return tomorrow night!

The local opening bands include hardcore punk quintet Destroilet (in their first appearance at this yearly event) and J.D.'s newer local punk/metal quartet Jack Spades, who are replacing his main band Frightlight at tomorrow's concert due to guitarist Rick White's ongoing recovery from injuries he suffered last month. Had Frightlight played tomorrow, it'd have been their 5th straight set at this event, but Jack Spades (featuring Bear Hunters & T-Rex Manning alumni) will bring a special Halloween-themed set to the proceedings, so no need to worry (and Destroilet's hard hitting sounds will be welcomed as well!) Admission is $10 in advance through local band members and at The Rad Zone, but the price jumps to $15 at the door (or $13 if you come with your Zombie Walk bracelet.) This is still a 19+ event, and doors open tomorrow at 9:00 PM. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! I haven't missed this event since my first of J.D.'s Halloween parties in 2010, so you know I'll be at this one!

Aside from Jack Spades' Justin Lam and Johnny Belanger, every band member tomorrow was a part of The Ripcordz's local show in April, and you know they all delivered there, so I'll see you guys at The Rosie tomorrow night, and fingers crossed nothing abnormal happens, besides the Halloween happenings! For a preview, here's The Ripcordz tearing up the stage earlier this year at The Algonquin Pub!



Finally for the proven hard rock concerts this weekend is the fourth annual Soo Zombie Walk afterparty TOMORROW NIGHT at Coch's Corner! With the majority of bands shifting to the afternoon before the walk (and the host venue moving to the Bushplane Museum), the afterparty has been downscaled and moved from The Grand Theater back to it's original host venue down the road at 708 Queen Street East. However, unlike the 2010 edition at the former Foggy Notions, the new afterparty will only feature two acoustic acts, as Coch's Corner has focused on all unplugged bands since moving to the Foggy's location last spring. As a result, this is the first concert with hard rock acts at Coch's Corner since February 2012 and at 708 Queen since 2011, so it's been a long time coming either way! The headlining band will be Sudbury acoustic hard rock trio Aggressive Acoustic, featuring former Sykotyk Rampage bassist Brian Cattapan (in his first local concert appearance in over 18 months) alongside fellow musicians Sean Trottier & Angie McBride, and their hard rock covers in an unplugged setting should be a nice change of pace!

A late notice opener has also been secured, as Project Legion bassist James Watterworth will play his second Zombie Walk set of the day tomorrow night (he opens the pre-walk band lineup at 2:00 PM also), so don't be late for his creative & impressive solo originals!  Doors open at 9:00 PM for this 19+ event, and while there is no cover charge with a Zombie Walk wristband, one may apply if you don't have one. For more details, visit the above links! Time will tell if the new Zombie Walk format & date prove to be successes, including the downscaled & all-acoustic afterparty, but it's nice to see Brian back in town & to see hard edged performers at Coch's/708 Queen again, so hopefully tomorrow night is a success! For a preview, here's Aggressive Acoustic covering Down's "Stone The Crow" in Sudbury!



That's all for today, but stay tuned for a new news post tomorrow before the Halloween Party! Thanks everyone!

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