And yes, this band goes all the way to eleven. Read more below.
Every so often, a band arrives that reminds you why rock ’n roll still feels like lightning in a bottle. HEADF1RST, the latest affiliate of MorningStar Records, is that jolt. Their rise from a kitchen‑table jam to one of Northern Ontario’s most talked‑about live acts reads like classic rock folklore- except it’s unfolding right in front of our eyes, amps humming and crowds surging.
Picture Halloween night, 2022: a crowded house party, half‑empty beer bottles, and two roommates- Red and Liam- trading guitar licks for friends. Guitarist Rainey hears a spark in the casual covers, pulls them aside, and suggests they start a band. They hesitate- life and a decade‑long layoff from their high‑school PineTones days will do that- but a binge of Daisy Jones & The Six rekindles the fire. When Red’s sister Claire sits in on bass at the next rehearsal and locks down the rhythm like she was born for it, the trio realizes they’re onto something. One want‑ad later, drummer Anthony “MooseJaw” Boudreau answers the call, rocks their early set list, and solidifies the group's chemistry.
Lineup complete.
The quintet christened themselves HEADF1RST- fitting for a band that attacks every stage as though it might crumble beneath them. In 2023, they played anywhere with an outlet: garages fogged with amplifier heat, bars where the ceiling dripped condensation, a Toystock Christmas Cheer benefit so loud it rattled the donation boxes. Word spread. By the following year, they were leveling the biggest stages in Algoma; Rotaryfest, Pridefest, Go Skate Day, and Hilton Beach Community Day with sets that felt equal parts vintage and modern. That raw spirit is captured on their debut EP, Head Trauma, cut at Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones. Four tracks, zero filler. It was at the launch concert for this EP that MorningStar Records founder Mike Haggith first saw the group. He, like everyone else in the building, was immediately hooked.
HEADF1RST may be among the Sault's best high-energy rockers, but that doesn't mean they're content to coast on local buzz. They’ve already tested their mettle at Dunn’s Valley, Hilton Beach, and Sudbury’s storied Coulson, proving the chemistry travels well beyond city limits. And now, the group has their biggest weapon yet- a full-length face-melting 35-minute record titled Road Trippin', which was produced under the seasoned eyes and ears of hometown heavyweights Dustin Goodall and Treble Charger's own Bill Priddle.
MorningStar Records, the “label minus the label” known for championing artist‑driven projects, saw not only the potential, but the urgency as well. Affiliating HEADF1RST isn’t just an addition to the roster, it’s a shot of pure voltage. The partnership amplifies everything the group already does well; honest songwriting, adrenaline‑charged shows, and a community‑first ethos that mirrors MorningStar Records’ own roots. Tour dates are already being mapped for a busy summer, stretching through the Algoma District and into every Ontario town with a keg fridge and a half‑decent PA.
Expect midnight single drops, behind‑the‑scenes footage from the jam room, and merch hot off the press as the band ramps up its summer schedule; headfirst into every chorus, headfirst into every town: the name just fits. MorningStar Records couldn’t be prouder to tighten the cables, open the stage door, and watch this band do what it does best- set the night on fire, one power chord at a time.
Road Trippin' drops tomorrow, May 3, everywhere music is heard.
CD and LP units will be available soon through the MorningStar Records Webstore.