How much: 10 bucks in advance, 12 at door.

(Note if names are miss-spelled its not my error, but rather that of the person who wrote the idiotic press releases. *RETCH*)

I’m sincerely puzzled to how the press releases on this event can claim that they sold 1000 tickets, when only 300 showed up. Was there some sort of freak accident involving metal fans that I was not made aware of? Some strange nerve gas?

Perhaps they were hoping for a surge of ticket sales at the door, but when you have a major event like Precious Metal Meltdown that’s being sponsored and getting media coverage from X-FM, the place not to have it is the Carleton Place Arena. Carleton Place is decidedly in the middle of nowhere. Most people, outside of the Carleton Place region, if you ask them where Carleton Place is, you get the blankest stare of your life, followed by a distinct, “HUH???”

I heard a sad rumour that to break even with the concert they had to have 600 people in that arena. If the organizers had wanted 600, they should have had it in a place where 600 would show up; in Ottawa, not some valley town. Like most local concerts, the audience was comprised of mainly the friends and family of the various bands, which like I said, produced a pitiful turn-out.

Like all shows, it didn’t start on time, gear needed setting up, and sound checks galore.. The usual. Well not really. This time there was video cameras to set up, a GIANT soundboard which according to the technician was, “Like those little ones for the amps, except times 32!” He said grinning. So when it didn’t start until almost 9 I wasn’t entirely surprised. X-FM be damned, not even they can get it started on time. Not that they were doing anything to help, they hid in the back with one of the young ‘security personnel’ of the female persuasion. What they did back there is really none of my business...

Am I being mean? Possibly... Am I a *true* die-hard metal fan? Not particularly. Am I going to try my damnedest to give a decent review of this concert? Yes.

I got myself an official unofficial press pass to take pictures in front of the barrier and spent the night dodging a huge swing boom with a camera on it. Funnily enough the guy operating it nearly clocked band members several times. As a reporter stated, laughing. “That guy.. If he had moved an inch to the left.. Man!”

First up was Brothers of Simple Soul, a.k.a BOSS, from Carleton Place, which were pretty good, and a far cry from Damon Shannon’s(Guitar) last attempt at a band which played really bad Metallica covers. The central figure in BOSS was the lead singer and keyboardist, Geordie Brownridge who made this more than just a mere metal band, he added funk and style with his fast fingers and lyrics. Shannon however seemed to be the main focus of the camera man on stage who seemed content on watching his fingers.. Hmmm, hey camera guy? Yeah? Get a life!! Other members of the band were Kevin Bertram on Bass and Andrew Gordon on Drums.

After a little intermission complete with the XFM Emcees; Mauler and The Rush announcing the next band and giving out prizes of free subway sandwiches and cookies, TinGrin from Perth took the stage.. These guys were pretty cool, and it seemed that vocalist, Nathan Peebles’ hand had healed up pretty good after dropping an amp on it previously. I’d met the guy in the Perth video store with his hand all wrapped up, I asked what happened, he told me he dropped an amp his hands(OUCH) and broke his hands. I asked the stupid question of ‘are you in a band??’ and he told me about P.M.M at the arena. Which is how I heard of it, I never saw any of the supposed media coverage.

Now, back to the concert.. I had been taking pictures pretty steadily throughout BOSS’s set and something seemed strange as I was snapping off pictures of TG.. On a hunch I ran to a dark corner and opened my camera.. sure enough, my film hadn’t been advancing and that whole hour of ‘taking pictures’ was wasted. Totally pissed off I fixed the camera and finished taking pictures of TinGrin, who in the strictest sense of Metal wasn’t exactly metal either. Oh well they were good anyhow. TinGrin played some harder rock and finished off with some softer stuff, “A love song..” Awww.. The members also included; Mike Cooper on Guitar and Vocals, Scott Winter on Bass, and Chris Tuijtel on Drums.

After another intermission with Mauler and Rush and free coupons, the winners of the Band-a-thon, FATE from Arnprior stormed the stage. Now it’s easy to see why these guys won over the competition, not only did they have keyboards like BOSS, *but* they managed to combine the dance/techno beats of the keyboardist, Pat McIntosh, with the heavy rock of the rest of the band; Vocals and Bass; Steve Lamorie, Guitar and Vocals; Greg McIntosh, and Phil Elliot; Drums and Vocals. A tough feat, but they mastered it. I’m only sad that the prize was so pathetic. The award for the first place was a day’s recording at a studio. From what I’ve heard from different bands who have actually cut decent demos, a day isn’t even a drop in the bucket towards a good CD.

Finally came the last band in the battle and the only one that I’d actually classify as Metal: Aggressive Groove from Smiths Falls. This show, in part was the idea of Drummer; Liam Doherty who was struggling to find exposure for his band when he met with a COGECO community Smiths Falls TV volunteer and started discussing the possibility of a tv-broadcast concert.

These guys had the look and presence of a real Metal band, long hair, screaming guitar licks, a lot of head banging and a crazy freak jumping into the crowd with a guitar. Yeah, Aggressive Groove had it all, short of somebody sticking out their tongue, ala Gene Simmons. They got so into it that they introduced themselves and were about to play their first song, before the X-Fm announcers ran on-stage embarrassed, because the band had introduced themselves, and apparently by doing so had rendered poor Mauler and Rush obsolete.

At last the Headliners of the night; SHUNT leapt on stage and played to a slowly petering audience, one by one people left as they played the old favourites to the small crowd of die-hard fans who were straining against the barriers. They made for some interesting photo ops, with Bob Cage, the lead singer ripping off his shirt to reveal a diatribe written in magic marker all over his chest and back. Raph Storto, the drummer also ran around the stage in his underpants, while guitarist Scott Cameron ripped the crowd with amazing ear bleeding riffs. Also playing that night was SHUNT's bassist, Shane Brouse. I hate to admit but as soon as FATE was announced as winner of the band battles during the intermission, I packed away my camera, grabbed my bags and press kit and left. Yes I’m a rat..

Was it an okay show as far as benefit concerts go? Eh.. I guess so. Was it good enough for me to spend 10 bucks next year, like the organizer crowed to the small group of people left? No.. Not really. Too expensive. Knock the price down a tad, then yes.. Yes it would be worth it. Maybe next year they’ll take a hint. Either slash the exorbitant price or move it into Ottawa, where people don’t mind fishing over 10 dollars.

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