EVENT PREVIEW: WAMM Magazine's One Year Anniversary - One Party, Two Venues!

With much of the local mainstream media virtually ignoring the local arts scene (music, film and visual art) or, at very best, tucking it away in small mentions or short clips, Windsor has long relied on local persons to be their voice, a source of "alternative news".

In the early 1990's, ROOM Magazine erupted to a whirlwind of fanfare and became the local rag of choice for issues that to many of us, truly counted. Not only a staunch supporter of the local arts, ROOM Magazine brought forth many of the political issues that affected the younger markets and ones that, at the time, the mainstream usually shrugged away.

By the early 2000's, ROOM had vanished, replaced by Upfront Magazine, who's biting satirical approach to the local news was for some a blessing in disguise and for others, a notch above bathroom wall scribblings. But no matter the view, Upfront's often controversial journalism (they had several articles end up in legal battles over their exposure), Upfront was anything but satirical when it came to promoting Windsor's arts communities. But, in 2008, Windsor was suddenly left without an "alternative voice", when Upfront shut its doors and moved on to Ottawa, where it's biting attacks on Canadian politics would face a greater crowd.

But in April of 2008, Stephen Hargreaves, a local graphic designer and long-standing member of Windsor's music scene (in such bands as NOT_Digital, Children of Laudanum and Sukubus) emerged on the scene with a brand new magazine that ushered in the next wave of local arts news media. With its in-depth coverage of Windsor's arts, music and film scene's, written by those in the trenches, WAMM (Windsor Arts & Music Monthly) Magazine became the voice Windsor had been waiting for.

A year has passed, and through its ups and downs and finding its legs, WAMM Magazine has endured and is now Windsor's premiere voice for its overlooked and underappreciated arts communities.

TONIGHT, WAMM Magazine is throwing it's One Year Anniversary party at not one, but TWO, venues, with a great event planned for you to come out and raise a glass to the voice of Windsor arts, and, more importantly, to the people who comprise our arts communities - for without all the talented musicians, artists, film makers and writers who make up these communities, WAMM would be nothing but pretty toilet paper.

One party is at Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West), where all the entries from the 1st Annual WAMM Video Contest will be screened, with the winner announced following the screening. There were some fantastic entries and tonight everyone will have the chance to view all these videos. Doors are at 8pm and it will be a social party for artists of all types to mingle and catch up, with the Video viewing scheduled to start at 11pm. And they'll be having their usual cheap pints of beer special as well!

The other party is at The Whiskey (300 Ouellette Ave., below A-Channel), coinciding with WAMM/The Windsor Scene's monthly Indie Showcase. The cover is only $3 (which is all going to the bands for their services this night) and there are $3 whiskey drinks as well. The bands feature some up and coming stars of the local scene, starting at 10pm sharp with The Mindframes, a new rock and roll outfit featuring some vets of Windsor's music scene, such as Andrew MacLeod, Paul Loncke (of The Locusts Have No King), Aaron McKinley, Brent Reaume and Mike Dube. There will be a break in the music from 11 to 11:45 as the Video Viewing goes on at Phog, followed by more music at The Whiskey. Death or Comber is a band that has been on a sky rocket rise in the Windsor music community, bringing an edgy-yet-melodic style of songwriting reminscent of bands like Shudder To Think or Built To Spill. This young band has been picking up bandwagons of fans of late and it's only a matter of time before there shows are standing room only. Closing out the party at The Whiskey is the "got-to-see-to-be-believed" stage show by The Peace Leeches. Although from Blenheim, this electro-pop duo has been playing Windsor more than anywhere, quickly cementing a hardcore following, based on their energetic and unbelievable live shows and catchy songs. Doors are at 9pm for this showcase.

Unfortunately, both shows are 19+ shows.

A time table line-up for tonight's festivities:

10:00 - 10:45 ... The Mindframes, live @ The Whiskey

11:00 - 11:45 ... Video Screening of Video Contest Entries, live @ Phog Lounge

11:45 - 12:30 ... Death or Comber, live @ The Whiskey

12:45 - ??? ... The Peace Leeches, live @ The Whiskey