Life, love and lies at the Canadian Night Club (photos)

A recent addition to the Universal Republic Records family, Vancouver's State of Shock has already left its mark on the Canadian music landscape.

The single Money Honey from the band's 2007 sophomore release Life, Love and Lies has garnered praise, awards and high rotation on radio and video stations nation-wide.

Drawing approximately 130 fans to the Canadian Night Club Friday night, an older crowd than expected at an all-ages show, State of Shock launched an hour-long set of pop-infused alt rock which included the majority of Life, Love and Lies.

Early into the set, front man Cam Melnyk invited one avid fan to travel to Sudbury with the band on the tour bus after he told them he would be making the trek to the Nickel City to catch State of Shock's show there.

I'm not sure if this actually came to fruition, but the invite surely made the guy's night.

State of Shock's irresistible high energy left the pumped audience hoarse at the end of the night, saving Money Honey for the last song of the set.

Touring with State of shock as support, Econoline Crush rocked it's third appearance in Sault Ste. Marie in less than six months.

Possibly a bit fatigued, compared to its opening slot for Three Days Grace in January and follow-up headlining show at the Canadian Night Club in March, this recent performance by Econoline Crush was a bit more lack-luster than the Sault has become accustomed to.

Singer and founding member Trevor Hurst, however, wrote the book on how to work an audience.

"I've been doing this for years," he told the crowd. "And Sault Ste. Marie is the loudest city we've ever played."

Kicking the night off with a bang was the Sault's own Sense of Truth, who now finds itself in high demand after dominating a recent battle of the bands hosted at Algoma University.

With a heap of original rock material, Sense of Truth is poised to become a new local favourite.

Sunday, June 22 at 10 p.m., The Canadian Night Club hosts Metallica tribute band, Sandman.

For more information about upcoming shows, call (705) 253-3257.