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MARCH IS ONLINE-ONLY
Rita: Welcome to our annual
March online-only issue. We all know the importance of the Internet
in business today, so our March issue pays homage to that idea. Lolita:
Being a print media business gives us the edge over other online-only
media businesses because we get to be where computers aren’t. You
can find the Noise in clubs, record stores, recording studios,
rehearsal spaces, cool clothing stores, cafes, restaurants, and sometimes
even in the bottom of a birdcage or litter box. Rita: There was
one time I went to a party and saw issues of the Noise torn to
shreds on the floor. Lolita: I remember that. Seems someone didn’t
like the review they got in that issue. Rita: You’ve got to
have thick skin to be in this business of show. Lolita: That’s
why New England musicians have an edge on musicians from warmer climates—they
already have thick skin living through New England winters. So anyway,
I went out and asked local rockers what helped them get through the
long cold New England winters—and I asked this question without Rita’s
permission. Rita: Why would you go behind my back like that?
Lolita: Who made up the rule that every question asked had to get
your approval? Rita: I did. Lolita: How come I didn’t
get a say in it? Rita: You didn’t come to the meeting.
NEW ENGLAND WINTERS
Lolita: I miss one meeting and I end up with no say. I’ll have
to make up my own meeting. But never mind that, hey Liz—I almost didn’t
recognize you covered up like a polar bear—please tell me what helps
you get through New England winters. LIZ BORDEN (Liz Borden Band/
Lizzie Borden & the Axes): The only thing that gets me through the
winter is thinking about Memorial Day weekend and heading to the Cape.
By February I am going crazy. I also try to keep myself busy and plan
at least one trip to someplace warm. When all else fails, I have a drink.
*** SETH BAILIN (the Sinbusters): Always think, "Well, it
could be colder." *** KEN FIELD (Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/Birdsongs
of the Mesozoic/Agachiko): New England summers. *** SHAUN WOLF
WORTIS (Mardi Gras/ Gato Malo): Pickup football! As T Max has been
party to, I organize a group of intrepid fellows who gather each and
every Sunday morning to play in any and every weather condition: blizzards,
ice-storms, many feet of snow, frigid cold, solid ice. The fun of the
game aside, it's a serious high to conquer whatever nature throws at
us. Absolutely gets me through the winter. *** LINDA VIENS (Angeline):
Many cups of hot tea with milk and sugar, snuggling up with a good book,
Burdick's dark hot chocolate with whipped cream, bundled up walks in
the snow, crystalline night skies. *** MONIQUE ORTIZ (A.K.A.C.O.D.):
I'm all done with the winters of the northeast, which is why I'm moving
to Austin this year. *** Erik Lindgren (Birdsongs of the Mesozoic/Arf
Arf Records): Skiing in Vermont—just returned from a two-day trek
doing cross-country and hitting the slopes at Okemo. *** CORIN ASHLEY
(Corin Ashley & the New Lows): This winter has been greatly enhanced by
two new instruments that have kept my fingers warm and busy. I bought
a Wurlitzer electric piano on Craigslist and got my buddy Jay to tweak
it and, well, let's just say there's been a lot of Supertramp going
down at the Ashley house. I also got an old ’60s Hofner Senator bass
like Stu Sutcliffe played and that has really reactivated my bass playing.
It makes plaster fall from my ceiling. *** CASEY DESMOND (Casey
Desmond): ProTools, and never leaving my studio EVER. *** BILLY CARL
MANCINI (Bird Mancini): The best cure for the winter blues is to
leave! I was lucky enough to spend time in the Caribbean during past
winters. All ailments and bad vibes melt away as you're served Coronas
and piña coladas on white sands. Not to mention the half naked women
parading around. Oops, I mentioned it... *** CHUCK U. ROSINA
(WMBR/ WMFO): We are lucky enough to have a fireplace in our living
room. Keep plenty of wood handy as we cuddle by the crackling of the
fire. Very pleasant, indeed. *** DAVID KIRKDORFFER (UNDO/
The Blank Attack): A bottle of Chartreuse always helps. And when things
get really difficult, reading the political rants on the Noise Board
reminds me how lucky I am to be alive in such a generous and giving
society. *** TONY SAVARINO (Black Fortress of Opium/ Garvy J,/
Montgomerys): Going to see Kevin Barry at Atwoods on Tuesday nights;
taking a guitar lesson from Chris Cote where I learned the symetric
assholian mode; doing gigs with the very talented Jenee Halstead; recording
the new Black Fortress of Opium CD with Ajda and Brian Vigilone! ***
ALLAN SHEINFELD (Roy Sludge): Booze, booze, Netflix, booze, weed,
booze and booze. *** PETER RINNIG (QRST's): Lots and lots of
skiing with my family and friends. Nashoba Valley is the best! Exercise,
fresh air and drinks at 4:00 p.m—nothing can be better. *** MR.
CURT (Mr. C. Ensemble): Chained to academic servitude (school bus
driving), it's been just homegrown perseverance for over thirty years.
A few well-timed vacations and holidays through December to March also
do the trick. Once upon a time, it was an active nightlife... now we're
more sedentary. Personally, an evening cocktail immediately following
work always works its magic. Then another extraordinary meal with Ms.
D. kitty snugglin', and either some tunes or TV. Early to bed and then
early to rise. Day-in, day-out, waiting for spring! *** SAMMY MIAMI
(Houndstone): One pickaxe, two tennis rackets, three shovels, four ice
scrapers, five snow tires and six twenty five pound sand bags. ***
MARK BRYANT (Plimro Records): Drinking moderate amounts of liquor
at TBones Roadhouse in Plymouth and counting the days ’til Jazzfest
and getting the hell out of here. *** JIM COUNTRYMAN (Lovewhip/
Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers): Long, strenuous laps around our
practice space coupled with far off adventures under a heated blanket
with Empress Erin! As well as a new found love for whiskey and acoustic
blues. *** WALTER SICKERT (Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken
Toys) : A cuddle puddle of circus freaks, corset ladies, naked poets
and hot silver smoke otherwise known as band practice! *** ERIC BAYLIES
(Bad Motherfucker/ Baylies Band): I get through the cold New England
winters in two ways. One is by seeing great Providence and Boston bands.
The other is by touring as much as I can in the warm states. ***
AJDA THE TURKISH QUEEN (Black Fortress of Opium): Snuggling with
a handsome Italian guitarist! *** WILL DAILEY (Will Dailey):
Hot toddies. *** KEN LAFLER (the Weisstronauts): I grew up near
Buffalo, so... Lolita: So?… are you trying to say you were
raised by a buffalo family? Or that you know buffalo in the Biblical
sense? Or you were a hunter and wore buffalo skins to keep you
warm in the winter? Ken: I was raised by a Buffalo family, that’s
true. And yes, I knew buffalo in the Biblical sense (went to church
every Sunday). But I’ve never worn a buffalo skin while hunting. What
I should have said was that I’m from Buffalo. Do we have winter in
New England? I hadn't noticed... Lolita: Once the last snow is
gone, it’s like winter never happened.
NEWS & LONGHAIRED SINGERS
Rita: Lolita, sometimes your sense of geography scares me.
Lolita: It’s not my fault that I get a cryptic answer that set
my imagination racing. Maybe I’m slow in geography but I’m pretty
clever when it comes to boys. Rita: Speaking of boys, I have
a date tonight with a tall longhaired singer. Lolita: Well, have
fun. I’ll miss you at the meeting? Rita: What meeting? Lolita:
Don’t worry, it’s nothing. Don’t you have some news to read?
Rita: Why, yes I do. Here now the news… Rounder Records (Burlington,
MA) signed American legend, songwriter, actor, and social activist,
WILLIE NELSON. *** HAVE NOTS have just signed with Paper and Plastick
records. The label will be re-releasing the band’s first album,
Serf City USA, on vinyl in the spring and a new full release is
expected by fall. *** KAREN DeBIASSE (Girl on Top) has created
her first film, What on Earth is Happening? with MARK PASSIO.
*** ROGER MILLER teaches a course at RISD called Thweck. It's
a sound design course, that teaches you how to alter sound to create
amazing out of context sound environments. *** Wachtelligence is the
name of AJ WACHTEL’s column on bostonblues.com. Lolita:
Is that pronounced “what intelligence?” *** ERIC SCHMIDER
changed the name of his band from MOLLYCODDLE to THE ONE SMITH. ***
PIEBALD is getting together, but they’re not calling it a reunion.
It’s to celebrate the re-release of their out-of-print catalog.
Piebald: First Ten Years is a three-volume set with two discs in
each volume. Rise Records plans to release volume one in April, volume
two in May, and volume three in June. Here’s a new way to get your
music out to the public—write and produce a song for the release of
a book! That’s what THADDEUS HOGARTH did for MICHAEL PALMER’s
The Last Surgeon. *** The Real School of Music is a membership-based
music education and performing arts community, headquartered in Burlington,
MA. It recently merged with Allegro School of Music in Stoneham, MA.
*** "White Dress," a new song from KERMIT’S FINGER is featured
in the trailer for movie by Bill Doherty Jr. called Love Hurts.
*** *** Episode 17 of Quiet Desperation is online and our favorite
supporting actor, comedian SEAN SULLIVAN, continues to show the
true spirit of the warped personalities on the Noise Board as the character
Chippa. Lolita: In efforts to clean up the Noise Board, we’re
taking the trash out—all unruly characters with no sense of common
decency are being banned from the board. Chippa—for those comments
you made about ROB POTYLO (Robby Roadsteamer)—we’re sorry
to say, you’re banned from the Noise Board.
ST. PATTY WACK
Lolita: Well, without Chippa
on the Noise Board it might be a bearable place for me to play. I’ll
be hanging out there for a while. Rita, why don’t you come up with
a question to ask our musical friends? I’m tired of being the one
who always has to stand out in front of a club gathering answers.
Rita: Okay. What’s the big deal? Let’s see. March 17 is Saint
Patty’s Day. I’m going to see the GOBSHITES. I need to find out
some more information about this little known saint that has a holiday
all to himself. Hey Dave, tell me something personal about St. Patrick.
You know, something that not everyone would know. Like, we all know
he was an Irish leprechaun—give me something else. DAVE TREE
(SuperPower/ DrugWar/ Tree): St. Pat isn't Irish—he is English. He
was captured in an Irish raid and brought back to Ireland where he had
vision of Jesus while tending sheep, and converted to Christianity.
Proof positive that he didn't bring it to Ireland, it was already there,
probably out of Egypt. St. Pat escaped Ireland to Italy consecrated
a Bishop by Pope Celestine. Returned to Ireland in 432 during the reign
of high king Laoghaire where he performed miracles such as turning himself
and his followers into deer to avoid an ambush by Celtic druids. He
tried to convert his old master Miliuc but the old pagan lit his house
on fire and then entered it to be immolated in flames rather than be
converted to a new faith by his old swineherd. *** BOB GOBRON
(Shakyfoot): Not a lot of people know this but St. Pat's last name was
"McGroin." I heard this, bra! *** KIER BYRNES
(Three Day Threshold): While I love St. Paddy’s Day, I hate scally caps.
I look like a tool in ’em. Cowboy hats are good enough for me. My
favorite part about St. Pat’s is relearning all the Irish traditionals
I used to listen to as a kid. Lolita: No Kier, what do you know
about St. Patty? Lolita: No, Kier—tell me something personal
about St. Patrick, not something about St. Patty's Day. Kier:
I see. The question didn't make that much sense to me. Sorry. I never
knew the saint personally. *** SLIMEDOG
(the Noise): I know this is probably not unique but on St. Patrick’s
Day as a child my mother would dress me in a leprechaun outfit but for
some reason I confused Easter and Halloween with the day and dressed
in my green suit with pointy shoes. I would go from house to house with
an Easter basket hoping to collect candy from my neighbors. Needless
to say I was unsuccessful and the local bullies would throw rocks and
hit me with sticks until I headed home, crying and sobbing, where my
mother would soothe me with corned beef cabbage flavored candy. ***
ERIC SCHMIDER (the One Smith/ Mollycoddle): Well, being Jewish,
I don't know about this St. Pat's thing, but I have it from a very good
source, Matt Burwell (Irish drummer extraordinaire for the Pills, Corin
Ashley, and Daniel Cage) that St. Pat had a penchant for playing paddy
cake with young boys way before it was in vogue in Ireland and Boston.
I hope I don't get in trouble for saying this. Lolita: Rita,
where are the rest of your answers? Rita: It got really cold
outside and I only lasted ten minutes. That’s all the answers I got.
Besides I had to get ready for my date.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Lolita: Okay, while Rita gets
ready for her first date of the year, I’ll update you on the movement
of local musicians in bands. And if your band has added or subtracted
a member, please get in touch with us (write
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) and we’ll report it. In a word play
on A.K.A.C.O.D., ROGER MILLER, MONIQUE ORTIZ, and LARRY
DERSH equal AKA MOD! It’s unsure how many gigs they will take
on. *** WITCH has a live video online—in which drummer MARIO RUBALCABA
(Earthless) is sitting in for J. MASCIS. *** THE BLANK ATTACK
includes DAVID KIRKDOFFER (UNDO/ Super-Cannes) on guitar,
JON WOBESKY (Reverand Glasseye/ Womb to Tomb) on bass, ADAM CRARY
(Specimen 37) on vocals, and DAVE ROSS (Girl on Top) on drums. ***
THE J. GEILS BAND seems to be back in action. The band played six shows
in 2009 and one so far in 2010 where PETER WOLF called it the
"last" Geils show, but added "never say never."
*** MATT RHODES and ANNA PRICE (the Silver Lining) have
a new duo called the RHODEDENDRONS. *** CHARLIE SILVA has left
SHAKYFOOT to drum full time with NO ROOM TO BREATHE. *** JASON MATTHEWS
(Electrik Blue/the Kozmik Truth) is the new drummer for SHAKYFOOT. ***
DUPPY CONQUERORS is a Bob Marley tribute band consisting of CURTIS
KING on vocals, MARK FERRANTI on bass, JONAS KAHM
and TIM HUGHES on guitar, SARAH MENDELSOHN on drums,
CAROL NAMKOONG on keys, JEFF ROBINSON on sax/ keys, JOHN
FRAZEE on trumpet, and JOE STEWART on trombone. *** MIKE
GENT (the Figgs) is playing with a solo band called RAPID SHAVE.
Rapid Shave consists of JOHN POWHIDA. Lolita: I noticed
that John Powhida is playing with almost everyone I know. Rita:
Oh crap. I didn’t think he’d tell you. Lolita: Tell me what?
You mean your long-haired singer date is with JPo?!
OBAMA GOOD OBAMA BAD
Rita: I have to run right now—don’t
want to be late for my date. Lolita: But what about the third
Question of the Month? Rita: Here, I wrote it all down on this
napkin. Will you post it into our column? I really have to run. Lolita:
Well, ’bye Rita. Have fun with MY old boyfriend. Now that Rita is
gone, I’m going to hold a meeting for Our Eyes on You (that’s the
name of this column, in case you forgot). Those in favor of letting
Lolita make up all future Questions of the Month say aye. Aye.
All opposed… Well, now that that is settled, let see what Rita
wrote on this dirty napkin. Okay, her handwriting is really bad. I think
it says, Obama—best or worst action taken since being sworn in as
president. Here are the answers she scribbled down. JOEL SIMCHES
(Count Zero/ Joe Turner & the Seven Levels/ Axemunkee): Obama had
a meeting with Republicans to discuss partisanship and moving forward.
While he didn't use the opportunity to bash his opposition, he confronted
their rhetoric, answered their questions and was so successful in calling
them out on their partisan bullshit that FNC cut their feed! ***
KAREN DeBIASSE (Girl On Top): It's all bad. Obama, and any president, is
just a puppet, which makes the presidency of the United States a lie—so
how can we trust anything? *** MIKE LOCE (the Noise/ the
DoubleNecks): Here are a few of the best things I believe President
Obama has done: shaking stuff up by remaining solid, not apologizing
for holding fast to a pre-set plan when the choppy waters of American
media chaos crest around him; talking to younger people in real sentences,
not word phrases busting at the seams with maladjusted agendas; and
continuing to smoke and play basketball. Then again, he’s only been
in a year and a half so let’s see how it goes. *** TIM MUNGENAST
(Tim Mungenast & His Preexisting Conditions): The worst thing Obama
has done, or at least the worst thing he's done that nobody is talking
about, is making Admiral Dennis Blair our intel chief. This man aided
and covered up the Indonesian military's mass murder of Timorese civilians
and then lied to Congress about it. Obama also kept Bush's boy William
Gates, the guy who sold Saddam Hussein poison gas during the Reagan
years. Think about THAT one for a second. If Reagan was evil for letting
Gates do that, then what does that make Obama, whom I reluctantly voted
for? (I wanted to vote for Ron Paul but I was afraid that act of protest
would hand the de-facto presidency to Palin, whose Indian name is Shoots
Wolves From Helicopters.) *** SHAWN MARQUIS (Circle Circle Star):
Claim that he isn't accepting contributions from lobbyists for his campaign,
then hiring Teal Baker from the Podesta Group as a high-level director
of his efforts. *** IAN KENNEDY (Reverse): Worst thing: hiring
Summers and Geithner instead of Stiglitz and Krugman. Oh yeah, and the
torture. *** FRANK ROWE (Classic Ruins): The best thing he’s
done was to replace George Bush. Lolita: Now, that I can relate
to. People forget so quickly.
ALL GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER
Lolita: Rita, you’re back
from your date very early. What happened? Rita: Well, there must
have been some kind of mix up in our communication. JPo showed up with
his girlfriend. He thought it was just a get-together and anyone could
come. Lolita: Don’t let it get you down. Here… come out with
me. In fact, come out with me all month. Here’s our itinerary: Every Wednesday night in March at the Midway, CHANDLER TRAVIS PHILHARMONIC is in residency. *** JENNY
DEE & THE DEELINGQUENTS release their CD at T.T. the Bear’s on
Friday, 3/5. *** On that same night at Club Bohemia (downstairs at the
Cantab) we’re aiming to see GIANT TARGET. *** Saturday, 3/6, has BEFORE
THE CRASH at Uncle Eddie’s in Salisbury Beach. *** THE GOBSHITES are
part of the South Boston St. Patty’s Day Parade on Sunday, 3/14, at
1:00 pm. *** On Thursday, 3/18, the Get Up Git Down presents Beat
Train Sound System’s CD release party with a special appearance by
the Notorious P.U.S.S.Y. Galore Fly Girls at Zuzu. *** Same night APOLLO SUNSHINE return to play the Paradise. *** Hardcore fans
will be out to see RAZORS IN THE NIGHT play the Middle East upstairs
as part of Boston Rules, OK 2010, on Saturday 3/20. *** On that same
night disco fans will flood Johnny D’s to shake it to BOOTY VORTEX.
*** On Saturday, 3/27, a bunch of Harmonix (makers of Guitar Hero/Rock
Band/ Beatles Rock Band) bands play the Middle East Downstairs. ***
Looking ahead to April, the Cantab has two nights for the Rat Reunion,
Friday and Saturday 4/2 and 4/3. Rita: Well, thanks Lolita for
being so nice to me. You’re the best half-sister I ever had. Lolita:
Well, if our father didn’t fall in love with both of our twin-sister
mothers, you’d never be able to say that. Rita: I never thought
that was true. I think he thought they were both the same person. They
were pulling one of their twin jokes on him.
RIP: HOWARD ZINN (87) died of a heart attack while swimming laps
on 2/27/10. Boston University historian, political activist, and author
of the best seller A People’s History of the United States.
Here are his words: “No pitifully small picket line, no poorly attended
meeting, no tossing out of an idea to an audience and even to an individual,
should be scorned as insignificant. The power of a bold idea uttered
publicly in defiance of dominant opinion cannot be easily measured.
Those special people who speak out in such a way as to shake up not
only the self-assurance of their enemies but the complacency of their
friends are precious catalysts for change.”
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THE SWORD OF PEACE
Rita: Most people know that New Hampshire’s motto is “live free or die,” but do you know that the Massachusetts motto translates (it’s in Latin) to “by the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty”? I have to question the use of the word peace. If one uses a sword to seek peace, he is not acting in peace. I prefer what peace meant to Mahatma Ghandi. Those who kill and maim to achieve peace are not true peacemakers. Lolita: Well, thank you, Mahatma Rita, for that lovely piece of pacifistic cud, but I choose to follow the words and actions of our Nobel Peace Prize-winning president and the armed forces that he controls. Rita: An eye for an eye leaves us all blind. Lolita: I’ll have to talk to Blind Lemon Pledge about that. Rita: On another subject, did you know that Massachusetts is the only state that has two hospitals listed in the top ten best hospitals in the country? And those hospitals are Mass. General and Brigham and Women. I am very thankful for receiving my health care from Brigham and Women. Lolita: Should I worry that I count on Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show to cure what ails me? Rita: No, not at all, Dr. Hook is right up there with Dr. Spock. Lolita: Yes, I know his motto—live long and prosper. I’m still waiting to prosper. Rita: Well, maybe you need to put some pressure on T MAX as to which New England acts are covered in this here rag. Maybe if we wrote about Tufts University’s historic a cappella group Beelzebubs or someone from American Idol (who’s from New England?) we’d have tons of new advertisers clambering to throw money at us and you could do something besides live long. Lolita: You’re right. Hold that call to Dr. Hook, I’m going to ask my favorite local musicians to describe what type of band they’d like to see more of in the Noise.
WHO SHOULD WE COVER?
Rita: Go for it, girl. Lolita: Kier! Stop right there and tell me what type of band we should be covering in the Noise. KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold): I would like to see more coverage of Americana bands in the Noise. While roots rock has traditionally taken a back seat to all the other different genres of rock in this town, art, prog, punk, emo, metal and even ska, it recently has established a solid foothold in the scene thanks to places like Atwoods, Toad, Precinct, Passim, Plough & Stars and Church. Those interested in hearing some great country, bluegrass and folk rock should come check out the fourh Annual New England Americana Festival at Church February 25-27. *** AJ WACHTEL (Boston Gets a Grip): There are three types of acts I would like to see the Noise cover. They are: doo-wop, southern rock, and German Octoberfest polka bands. For too long the Noise has ignored the growing multitudes of long-time Dion & the Belmonts, Marshall Tucker, and wrestler Freddie Blassie (“Pencil Neck Geek”) fans who tremble with the latest gossip from their long-dead idols. *** ERIC WELSH (Chill House Studios/ Eman Music): I would like to see more about this modern reggae style movement in the New England area. We have been recording a lot of it. *** GENO JOHNSTON (Dead Friends): Personally, I’d like to see more features on acts that are excelling in the all-ages scene. I don’t feel it is terribly important for the members of bands themselves to be under 21 but, I think it’s important that we pay heed to acts that are tapping into the local under-21 crowd. These bands are helping to expose new, younger audiences to our local music media and venues because when the rest of us retire from the scene (rehab, wither away in strip bars, get fat), these bands will hopefully carry the torch for us and keep the Boston music scene loud and proud! *** AL SHEINFELD (Roy Sludge) I’d like to see more coverage on mine. But I’m being sarcastic. I like to read about Ray Neades (R.I.P.). Ray was a great guy, an amazing singer with a heart of gold. The last time I talked to Ray was about doing some show together and we got off-subject and wound up talking for, like a pricey hour and a half (him in L.A.). Sandy is an old friend of mine, and Sandy, if you’re reading this, I’m so sorry. Lolita: We have a story online about Ray Neades. Just look him up under previous cover stories on thenoise-boston.com.
NEWS OF ROCK
Rita: Did you hear about ROGER MILLER’s Exquisit Corpse games? He’s gathering people to play riotous mind-bending games that were developed by Andre Breton and his co-conspirators during the 1920s and ’30s heyday of surrealism. Lolita: Yes, I did hear about it. The first one was held at Joseph and Nabil’s Amory’s Café. I hope he does it again. *** OEDIPUS returned to the radio waves on Christmas Eve 2009—but wait—WBCN is off the air—that’s right, OEDIPUS went right over to his former rival—WFNX! *** The Midway got its permit for expansion that will up the capacity to 99. Expect to see grand re-openings in May 2010—that’s how long it will take to expand and add sprinklers and electronic fire prevention equipment. Congratulations to owners DAVE and JAY BALERNA. *** AJ WACHTEL (the Man who speaks) now has a monthly column in the Boston Blues Society Newsletter (online at bostonbluessociety.com) that will be connecting long time blues and rock stars (local and national) with today’s entertainment scene. *** NESN moved SCOTT MATALON’s Boston Boxing TV show up to six times a week. *** ADAM LEWIS’s Planetary Group has expanded, taking up office in L.A. They are now a true bi-coastal promotional organization. *** CORIN ASHLEY has decided that his backing group’s name will change for every gig they play. Lolita: Great! We can make up new names for Corin’s band and the public will never know. He-he. I’m going to see Corin & the Cobs! No—Corin & the Peas Activists! Corin & Harrison’s Uncles! Rita: Please stop. *** During THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES annual Hometown Throwdown, DICKY BARRETT invited a seven-year-old boy in Bosstones plaid on stage to sing “The Impression That I Get.” The crowd loved the young singer’s effort. *** In ROB POTYLO’s Quiet Desparation episode 19, the highly educated CHIPPAH from the Noise Board gets in his two cents. *** KENNE HIGHLAND gets a nod from STEVEN KING in his latest book, Under the Dome—“the memorable New Year’s Eve show in 2009 featuring the Vatican Sex Kittens” on page 337. *** In 2009 ERIC LAW (photographer) saw over 255 different bands play over 425 sets in 58 different places. Do we have any challengers for the biggest live music fan? *** How ’bout the Foxwoods contest? Have you checked out bethewonder.com? Hear T MAX and JASON DUGUAY’s old school R&B version and LOS WONDER TWINS DEL RAP’s cool rap version. There are other interesteing versions too. Vote for your favorite. *** MARK DOHERTY and GENO JOHNSTON (both of Dead Friends) contributed their talents on GANG GREEN’s latest upcoming CD on Taang! Records. *** THE TOKYO TRAMPS went home for the holidays—that means the costly trip of flying to Japan. The New Year is the most important time in Japanese tradition. *** In a classic CEO move, GAIL RUSH (the brains of Curve of the Earth) slipped and broke her arm with no health insurance. DES (the Magic Room) offered his room for a benefit. Catch MELLO BRAVO and BACCUS KING on Wednesday, February 3. *** On March 2, Rounder Records will release Rounder Records’ 40th Anniversary Concert to celebrate the label’s 40 years in the music industry. The live concert was recorded in October 2009 at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and will be presented as a PBS television special and released on DVD in May. *** X (Penis Fly Trap) had his amp head stolen. It’s a Marshall JCM 800 Lead Series 2210 100W head, serial number S/A -V06536. Write
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or call 617-787-6227. Lolita: Better yet, deliver the amp head and get a $200 reward! *** ASA BREBNER (Family Jewels) had his artwork hanging on the walls of Passim throughout January. Among other pieces was a painting made specifically for Noise publisher T MAX’s three-year audio project Why Do We Go To War? Asa sold one of his art guitars to PETER WOLF (J. Geils Band), who then took it and presented it to KEITH RICHARDS (the Rolling Stones) as a birthday present. *** NICK MORSE (son of journalist Steve Morse) had his paintings hang in Zuzu for the month of January. Lolita: We’ll be focusing more on the art and music connection in the pages of the Noise. So, if you’re a musician doing art that deserves attention, let us know about it.
MASS HEALTH
Rita: Did you know that Massachusetts is one of the healthiest states to live in? In fact, only Minnesota rates higher. This rating reflects access to health care providers, affordability of health care, and the general health of a state’s population. Lolita: Did someone give you a book on facts about Massachusetts? Rita: No, this is just information I’ve picked up while studying for the State Bar exam. Lolita: I never knew you were interested in becoming a bartender. Maybe we should ask a question about what you’d like to be when you grow up. Rita: Oh come on, musicians never grow up. Let’s just ask them if they have any hopes or wishes for 2010. Lolita: Okay, there’s Ajda eating figs. Let’s see what she’s hoping for… AJDA THE TURKISH QUEEN (Black Fortress of Opium): I hope to make it over to Europe to play shows after we put out our new album! *** CORIN ASHLEY (Corin Ashley & the Shy Five): It is my fervent hope that Scott Janovitz finishes and releases the Russians album he has been working on since the Clinton administration. I predict massive critical acclaim in the Noise and other publications. *** KEN FIELD (Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/Birdsongs of the Mesozoic): I wish everyone happiness, health, and success in the coming year. I hope to have the good sense to appreciate whatever level of these things I myself end up with. *** KAREN DeBIASSE (Girl On Top): My wish would be that we all have no fear and only positive thoughts for 2010 and beyond. Happy New Year everyone! *** DAVE BALERNA (the Midway): My wishes and hopes are that our dedication and commitment to the live music scene invades people’s spirit like the H1N1 virus and that the stewards of the scene can give there bodies a break and let the young and strong livers carry the ball. I want to say in 2020, “Remember when in 2010.” Lolita: Whose dedication and commitment? Dave: “Our,” meaning us old fucks—the dues payers. Ha-ha. *** DAVE TREE (SuperPower/ Drug WAR): My hopes for 2010 are we get the hell out of Iraq and Afghanistan, shut down Blackwater and put the guilty in jail, the passage of heath care bill so every American is covered, Rush Limbaugh has a heart attack on crack and dies a disgrace, and peace love and happiness for the world. *** JON MACEY (Fox Pass): I will be entering my fifth decade as a recording and performing artist. Yes, I started young. My wish is to continue to make music and to reach an audience. I also wish to continue seeing my long-term musical friends out there on the path, doing the same. On a larger scale, I hope LPs come back big and the Beatles get the whole top five on the charts again. *** FRANCIS DiMENNO (the Noise/the Wrong Hero): My hopes for 2010: That Democrats will realize that their obsession with fairness is every bit as oppressive as the injustices they’re supposedly attempting to ameliorate. That Republicans will realize that their fondness for unjust market forces is every bit as oppressive as the collectivism they’re blatantly attempting to suppress. And that Libertarians will get the help they so desperately need. *** SHADY (the Crushing Low/ the Noise): Wishes for 2010: Wars ending in Afghanistan and Iraq. Health and prosperity for the Noise readers and staff, and a shiny new Ferrari Italia 458 in my garage. Did I go too far on that last one? Lolita: I think there’s as good a chance that the Ferrari ends up in your garage as the war ending. *** ANDERSON MAR (Dark Sky Productions/ Sans Nomenclature): I’d like to see a repeal on the ban on all-ages shows. Which politician in this town do I need to sleep with to make that happen? *** BUBBA GRIMM (Danse of the Macabre): I hope that the economy gets better in 2010. Its decline over the past few years was a drastic blow to both musicians and the Boston music scene. Bar, club, and music venue closings have been very frequent. It has become a reality that musicians and bands do not have enough money to produce independent music, which has stifled the Boston underground. These problems affect everyone from studio owners to local fans who appreciate musical diversity within the local scene. *** SAMMY MIAMI (Houndstone): I wish WZLX would play the new Houndstone record. Is “hope” still a word? I think “cope” replaced it. *** CHUCK U. ROSINA (WMBR/WMFO): More justice, less war. It would be nice if the Democrats can develop a spine and stand up for our interests rather then caving to medical insurance companies and minority obstructionists (nothing personal, Mike Capuano). Is it just a pipe dream to imagine a better world is possible? I hope 2010 brings us a step closer to that. Lolita: Life is what you make it. And from what I can see, Chuck, you’re making this world a little better for all of us.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Lolita: Rita, I heard you picked up another job. Someone told me you’re a receptionist. Rita: No, you misheard. I’m a receptarist. Lolita: Yeah, that’s what I said; only I took the cake out of my mouth before I spoke. Rita: A receptarist is a collector of recipes. I happen to know that KELLY DAVIDSON (photographer) and ERIC SCHMIDER (Mollycoddle) are also receptarists because they are gathering recipes for a Boston rock ’n’ roll cookbook. Lolita: Wait a second. Back in 1987 we were in MONIKA BOLINO’s Boston Rock ’n’ Roll Cookbook. Rita: Well, good recipes need to be recycles—just like good musicians switching bands. Now let's get to our little game of musical chairs—whose been fiddlin' with who... KARA TROTT (x-Fluttr Effect) has hooked up with INCUS. *** BRIAN VIGLIONE (Dresden Dolls) is hammering the drums in THE CLIKS from Ontario, Canada. *** With the departure of the Duke in FREEZEPOP, ROBERT JOHN “BANANAS” FOSTER (aka Seth Damascus-Kennedy) and MARIE SAGAN have joined Boston’s long running electronic pop group. *** MIKE LOCE (the Noise) and JAMES GAUDETTE (Johnny Carlevale & the Rollin’ Pins) have formed THE DOUBLENECKS. No, they don’t play doublenecks. *** STEVE FARMER and JEFF DiBIASE of DRUNKS DON’T LIE have a new band called BLACKBELT DYNAMITE. *** GENO JOHNSTON (Dead Friends) has been wielding the axe in REFUSE RESIST. *** MATTY SANDONATO (Scrapes) is playing guitar in the new line-up of GANG GREEN. *** JJ & THEE CUBAN HEELS are JJ RASSLER (guitar/ vocals), MIKE YOCCO (bass/ vocals), JEFF NORCROSS (drums) and JULIAN HAMMOND (guitar/ vocals). *** PETE WEISS (Weisstronauts) played GEORGE HALL's twangy guitar lines on EDDIE JAPAN's latest CD. George couldn't make it to the session so Pete pinch hit. *** BILL HINKLEY (Tree) is playing with NEVER GOT CAUGHT. *** THE STONE STRANGERS are BOBY BEAR on drums, GERRY BELLEGRADE on bass, BOB METZGER on guitar, and KENNY CHAMBERS singing and playing guitar. Lolita: So they’re a new band? Rita: Well, they’ve been around for three years, but we just noticed.
THREE CENTS
Lolita: In this issue our contributors list their top ten for any and everything having to do with local music. We’d like you to add your two cents to this list, or in this case, your three cents. Rita: Ahh, William, that’s a nice haircut. Give me your top three in any category having to do with music in New England. WILLIAM DWYER (Neon God): My top three favorite local guitarists are Sarah Cronin (Drug Rug), Mike Baldino (66 Breakout) and Elias Carlston (66 Breakout). *** MONIQUE ORTIZ (A.K.A.C.O.D./ Monique Ortiz): Best guitarists: (1) Jim Moran (Bourbon Princess/ Monique Ortiz), (2) Milo Jones, (3) David Champagne (Treat Her Right). *** GLENN MATTO (All Mod Cons): Top three local beers? Oh, local bands. Of all time or current? How about this... I’ll do my top three still active local bands. Number one I’d have to give to Vivian Darkbloom for overall strength of material and musicianship. Two, I’ll say the Mystery Tramps who have been around for a few years yet are barely out of high school—a lot of upside there if they can keep it together. Gotta give kudos to the kids. And third I’ll say Gibby & the Buzzkills because their first CD was a pleasant surprise and they are darn good people. *** JJ RASSLER (the Downbeat 5/ thee Cuban Heels): The most influential person, place, or thing in on the Boston music scene is DJ Maxanne Sartori, midwife to Boston rock ’n’ roll. *** CHRIS PEARSON (Ekranoplan/ x-Green Magnet School): My top three local CDs are Caspian—Tertia, the Beatings—Late Season Kids, and Junius—the Martyrdom of a Catastrophist. *** ERIC LAW (photographer): We lost a couple of very very dear friends—Ray Neades and Michael Scagliarini (New Frustrations) this past year. A day has not passed that I don’t think of you. Here is my list of people I miss a lot. Your music lives on forever in my heart and soul. Alpo, Barb Kitson, Matthew Mackenzie, Lou Miami, Ray Neades, Hugh O’Neil, Ben Orr, Jimmy Reject, Michael Scagliarini, and B. Wilkerson. *** JIM GERDEMAN (Mercy James): My top three full-length local CDs of 2009: (1) Sidewalk Driver—For All the Boys and Girls. (2) Logan 5 & the Runners—Featurette. (3) ME and JOAN COLLINS—Love. Trust. Faith. Lust. *** MARK LIND (Mark Lind & the Unloved/ Ducky Boys): Best bands: (1) Death & Taxes; (2) Far From Finished; (3) The version of the Shods that played at Amy Archer’s wedding. *** JOHN POWHIDA (the John Powhida International Airport/ the Rudds): Best karma, gig enhancer: Wayne Viens. Best $2 pints plus Police box set on jukebox: Punters Pub. Best houseguest: Nash Kato. Lolita: Now John, we asked for local music subjects and you’re talking about some dude from Chicago known for crooning Neil Diamond’s “Girl You’ll be a Woman Soon”—did you have some crazy gender bending sex with him? John: Lolita, I am surprised at you! Nash simply needed a pad to crash after our most fun Toad gig. I must admit that I am always a bit awestruck in Mr. Kato’s presence and enjoyed my brief platonic bromance that included smokes and late night drinks on my porch.
ALL GOIN’
OUT TOGETHERRita: While Lolita fantasizes about Powhida’s bromance, I’ll fill you in on what’s happening in February. The benefit for GAIL RUSH (Curve of the Earth) is at the Magic Room on Wednesday, 2/3. *** Boston’s number one garage band (so says Little Steven Van Zandt), MUCK & THE MIRES, play Church on Saturday, 2/6. *** Same night EMMY CERRA celebrates the release of Tinderbox at All Asia. *** Thursday, 2/11 is the date for the V-66 reunion party at Boston’s House of Blues. *** On Saturday 2/13, Shaun Wolf Wortis’s 17th Annual Mardi Gras Ball will feature the Vudu Krewe Allstar Mardi Gras Band and loads of special guests at T.T. the Bear’s. *** Same night ASA BREBNER releases his new CD at Precinct. *** Again on that same night JEDDO STARS are at the Baseball Tavern. *** JONATHAN RICHMAN has announced a new run of 27 shows with drummer TOMMY LARKINS—including three nights (2/16 to 2/18) at the Middle East upstairs! *** The 17th Annual Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball & Zulu Parade of the Golden Blade is at Johnny D’s on Friday, 2/19. The Ball is headlined by the CHICKEN SLACKS and hosted by the Great Mardi Gras Maggid, MICKEY BLISS. *** On Saturday, 2/20, GRAND EVOLUTION headlines Boston Garage Night at Unle Eddie's. *** THE VARMINTS bring old school rock back to the Cantab on Saturday, 2/27. Lolita: Remember, next month we do our annual online-only issue. Rita: That’s right, every March we save a tree by reaching out to you digitally. Hope to see you in the flesh before then.
RIP: PHIL HAYNEN (the Dawgs) died of cancer on 11/19/09.
RIP: RAY NEADES (Beefy DC/ Lard Zeppelin) died in his sleep on 12/14/09.
RIP: DAN SALZMANN (the Maps/ Art Yard/ Flies/ Christmas/ the Binoculars) died of a heart attack on 12/16/09.
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RE-GIFT
Lolita: Okay, December may be a cold month, but when else do people so readily buy you presents? You know, I could use a pair of Steve Madden Pandita boots, guitar-pick earings, Parigina over-the-knee pattern tights, and a Woolrich pink plaid cowgirl shirt. Rita: While you’re at it, I’ll take a boiled wool cardigan sweater and a pair of green suede clogs. But maybe we should be asking what other people want. Lolita: Yeah, that’s the downside of December. Think of all the wasted money on terribly inappropriate gifts. That’s why I readily re-gift. Rita: I like to craft my own gifts to give. This year I’m working on driftwood mirrors with seashells. Lolita: I hope the mirrors are looking better than last year’s fruitcake. Was there really cement in that recipe? Rita: At least I don’t re-gift band’s promo CDs to the same bands that release them. Lolita: It’s obvious to me that the bands must like their own music—I just want to make them happy. Rita: Let’s see what will really make people happy—ask your friends what they want for Christmas. And if they’re Jewish, ask them what they want for Hanukkah—and just be ready to substitute in Kwanza, Winter Soltis, Ramadan, or the Boston Tea Party.
CHRISTMAS RECEIVING
Rita: Look there’s Sleazegrinder—he’s writing
for that British magazine—ask him what gift he’d like. Lolita:
Sure! Sleazegrinder—what would you like planted on you this holiday
season? SLEAZEGRINDER (Classic
Rock Magazine): Cracktorch
reunion. Or a Vincent Price shrunken head kit. Whichever is cheaper.
*** JORDAN VALENTINE (Sunday Saints/ Brownboot): For Christmas,
I shall require ten feet of sturdy rope, two chickens, ten pounds of
baker’s chocolate, a Mandarin-to-Portuguese translator, and seven
one-way tickets to Istanbul. Oh, and a new pair of cozy slippers. Thanks.
*** BILLY BORGIOLI (the Varmints): The gift I want is a Varmints
CD with the new line-up of Josh, Danny, and Fred. We have more than
enough songs! *** BEN DEILY (Varsity Drag): All I really want is an M136
AT4 shoulder-fired rocket launcher… and a pony. *** LISA DEILY
(Varsity Drag): Bail money. *** MATT
JATKOLA (the Bynars): All I
want for Christmas is Perfect
Strangers: Seasons 1 and 2
on DVD. *** BUBBA GRIMM (Danse of the Macabre): As always there are
many practical things that I could use for Christmas this year—clothes,
money for my bills, gift certificates. However, I always want the most
impractical thing out there. So what I want for Christmas this year
is a framed autographed photo of Vincent Price (The
Oblong Box) to match the autographed
photo of Christopher Lee (Dracula) that I received last year from my fiancé. Lolita:
Wow—Vincent Price actually carries some weight long after Halloween
is gone. *** LANTZ BOYLES (Regressing to Apes): I would like to see
the Dodge Street Bar & Grille stand as a catalyst for the North
Shore music scene and for all of us to be successful. There are
so many great bands that pass through here. *** LINDA
VIENS (Angeline): For Xmas I
would love plane tickets to someplace beautiful and exotic. *** PAUL ROBICHEAU
(the Improper Bostonian): An iPhone on the network of my choice...
okay, I’d settle for a new iPod. *** NANCY
NEON (Noise/ Varmints mgr.): My ideal Christmas present
would be a double bill of the Varmints and the Waldos starring Walter
Lure of the Heartbreakers in NYC, Boston, and Worcester. Talk about guitargasmatic!
*** RODRIGO VAN STOLI (BrownBoot/Noble Rot): I want a tailored suit,
an office bar with lots of vodka and a busty secretary screening my
calls. Yes, for Christmas, I want to be Don Draper from Mad Men.
Hold the disgruntled wife, please. *** ALLAN
SHEINFELD (ROY SLUDGE): February. Lolita:
That’s so thoughtful of you, Alan— you want to skip right over January
because you know the Noise isn’t published between Christmas and February.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
Rita: That’s a good thing to remind people. This
issue of the Noise covers both December and January—so look
for our next entertaining Top 10 issue in February, 2010. Lolita:
Wow. That’s really moving into the future with a number like that. Rita:
Yep, the future keeps coming, but all we have to do is live in the present. Lolita:
That reminds me of when my old rich boyfriend bought me a house for
Christmas—I was definitely living in the present. Rita: While Lolita baffles us with her consciousness,
or lack of it, I’ll deliver the news, even some international news—and
it’s more important than anything you’ll hear on TV. PERSIAN
BLUE’s drummer ZEKE was touring Malaysia with his band ZMP between
Persian Blue gigs. *** AMANDA
PALMER is selling out shows
in Singapore. *** HO-AG toured a good chunk of Europe (Spain, France,
Netherlands, Luxembourg) in November. *** RAZORS IN THE NIGHT has a
7” single clear vinyl single that is splattered with red (blood) released
in Germany. *** RICK HARTE has been stuck in re-issue mode with releasing
the MISSION OF BURMA catalog to Matador, doing the music for Burma’s
DVD, reissuing BIRDSONGS OF THE MESOZOIC material on Cuneiform, doing JOHN FELICE’s Pretty Nothing CD
for Norton, and the current release of THE NEATS on his own Ace of Hearts
label. Without the reissuing and transferring the vinyl releases to
CDs, Rick’s past work would be lost. *** In the “we forgot to give
photo credit” category—last month we messed up on some of our favorite
photographers. The photo of Mission of Burma was taken by BILL T MILLER;
the one of Billy Conway was taken by WAYNE
VIENS; and the photo of Susan
Tedeschi was taken by T
MAX. *** When RCA recording
artist LANDON PIGG arrived in town to play the Paradise he put
an ad in the Globe looking for musicians to sit in with him.
Violinist CLARA KEBABIAN (Mr. Curt Ensemble) showed up at soundcheck
and was picked to play on “Ghost” which will be included on a future
record. *** Look at all the New England acts that have their music
in the nationally released edgy teen feature film Sill
Green—THE CURTAIN SOCIETY,
FUTURE JOYNER, STEVE MAYONE, DJ KAZ GAMBLE, WAITING FOR SULLY, and ORANGE
ISLAND. *** The Phoenix Media Group and Foxwoods are looking for the
best new version of the Foxwoods theme song, “The Wonder of It All.”
Big prizes are involved. Go to www.bethewonder.com and download the
kit to get started. *** Plough & Stars celebrated their 40th anniversary
in November. *** SHADY (the Noise/Pure Fiction) done knocked up Jill and the
results, culminated on 10/27/09, was a 7 lbs., 12oz., 20.5-inch girl
named Madeline. *** WILLIE
ALEXANDER, JOHN POWHIDA, JAMES MONGOMERY and
many more New England icons will be part of the Rock ’n Soul Holiday
Concert benefit for the Music Museum of New England at the Regent Theatre
in Arlington, MA on Sunday, 12/13. *** Boston Music Spotlight is holding
a benefit for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation on Thursday, 12/3
at Hennessy’s Hooley House. Featured bands are CASSAVETTES, SHADWELL,
THREE DAY THRESHOLD, and TASTE. *** THADDEUS HOGARTH BAND celebrated
its 10th anniversary with the release of Live
at Bose II: The DVD—a follow
up to the award-winning Live
at Bose. *** JOHN
EYE got signed to H1 Massive
and has already created three videos. *** New England Sports Network
(NESN) made an offer to pick up SCOTT
MATALON’s new reality TV
show about a local Allston boxing club, Boston
Boxing, with a Fit Students
For Life charity program, and is offering prime airtime after the Bruins
games. Lolita: Wow, Scott is an active guy, with a tattoo
shop (Stingray Body Art), a band (Matalon), and a TV show! How does
he juggle it all?
THREE IMPORTANT
ATTRIBUTES
Rita: You know juggling is one of the most important
attributes I need in a man. Lolita: I need one with lots of money or lots of
talent. Rita: Let’s find out the three most important
attributes people want to find in a perspective mate. Lolita: Okay, P.J., you heard the question—what
you want in your perfect mate? P.
J. O’CONNELL (P. J. O’Connell
Explosion): (1) As the song goes, she must love how I love her; (2)
she must love Fenway Park; (3) Forgiveness is her middle name. *** FRANK STROM
(Noise): Black hair, Greek, and formerly pregnant.
*** SARAH RABDAU (Sarah RabDAU and Self-Employed Assassins/
Ad Frank & the Fast Easy Women): I started to make a list of the
three most important attributes, but it ended up being 15 points long.
In summary, I’m a handful and there is only one—Peter Moore… but
with more money. So, two points really. *** SUSAN
EMERSON (Gloucester Music):
Three things most important in a partner: (1) one who would be comfortable
giving a gift from a second-hand store; (2) one who would take time
to sort through my dusty bookshelf writing down a list of titles of
a given author, then take it to a used bookstore to search out one not
on the list in his hand; (3) one who would sit next to me on the floor
by the Christmas tree and kiss my neck just below my ear lobe, even
though I smelled like an Edmond Fallot blackcurrant French Dijon mustard.
*** FRANK ROWE (Classic Ruins): My love must have a full,
well-rounded body, a slim, graceful neck, and a wide, flat fretboard.
*** AJ WACHTEL (Boston
Gets a Grip): Easy question—for
me the three most important attributes I look for in a woman are: first,
she has to be blonde (and the collar should match the cuffs); second,
she must be deaf; and last she must be dumb (I enjoy having a mute girlfriend
but dumb as in stupid also works for me). Any interested woman who fit
the bill may contact me through T Max. Lolita: Luckily T Max prefers blonds that are smart
as a bell, like me.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Rita: Do I hear a bell? Oh yes, it’s that dumbbell
Lolita insisting that she’s the smartest thing. She’s not happy
enough being gifted with a perfect body and healthy teeth and a collection
of boots to die for. No—she needs to think she’s smart too. Okay,
enough about my less fortunate half sister, on with the news about band
members and their situations. WENDY
MITTLESTSDT (x-Cyanide Valentine)
is rehearsing with THE ELEVATOR DROPS for a big one-time-only reunion
on Friday, 10/18, at Middle East Downstairs. *** SCRAPES include at
least one member of GANGGREEN—and his name is WALTER
GUSTAFSON (see our incoming
mail section). *** WOODY GIESEMANN & FRIENDS includes WOODY GIESEMANN
(Del Fuegos) on piano, JON
COHAN on drums, RICHARD O’CONNELL on bass, with MIKE
PYLE and PHIL
KAPLAN on guitars. *** Out
in Los Angeles there’s an x-Boston supergroup recording at MICHAEL EISENSTEIN’s
(Letters to Cleo) studio—they’re called MATT BUNSEN & THE BURNERS,
and consists of TODD SPAHR (the Cavedogs), AARON
TAP (Paula Kelley), CRAIG MACINTYRE
(Wheelers and Dealers), and MATT
SILBERT (Seks Bomba). They
promise a Boston show in 2010. *** Members of FAT DAY are in EXSAMWA.
They’re not a very new band but we just noticed them. *** BROWNBOOT
is JORDAN VALENTINE (Sunday Saints) on vocals, ROD
VAN STOLI (Bang Camaro) on
vocals, JIM ZAVADOSKI (the Damn Personals) on bass, MATT SULLIVAN
(Cocked n’ Loaded) on guitar, and WES
NARRON (Noble Rot) on drums.
*** SEAN MORALES (bass) and MARCUS
SKAPARS have formed the new
rhythm section for DAVE CRESPO’S AFTER PARTY. *** BRIAN
VIGLIONE (Dresdens Dolls/ Nine
Inch Nails) is laying down drums on a BLACK FORTRESS OF OPIUM track
titled “Unraveling.” He’s also playing with THE CLIKS on Saturday, 12/12, downstairs at the Middle East. *** ASA
BREBNER, JASON KERN, JESSIE GRIFFITHS,
and JAY JANNERY are THE BRAMBLE JAM from the White Mountains
of New Hampshire. *** DOWNBEAT 5 have a new drummer in JEFF
NORCROSS (the Weisstronauts).
*** ROCKSTEADY SUPER SOUL REVUE consists of RIKKI
ROCKSTEADY on vocals, DICK TATE
(Slaves) on guitar, DUGGAN (x-Lost City Angels/ the Men) on bass, DAVE NORTON
(the Men/ Victory at Sea) on drums, and ISSAC
SUSSMAN on keyboards. *** ALEX NECOCHEA
(Bang Camaro) has joined TOWNSHIP and made his debut appearance with
the band at T.T. the Bear’s in November. ***BRITANICA has been invading
the North Shore with their Brit tribute—members include TED SOLOVICOS
(guitar/vocals), PETER
TENTINDO (guitar/vocals), RICHARD MEADER
(keys/vocals), ED McNIFF (bass), JIM
SIMONIAN (drums), and TOM PASCHETTO
(drums). *** JESSE GALLAGHER (Apollo Sunshine) is spinning for your ear
enjoyment now under the name NIGHTTIME GALLAGHER. Catch him at T.T the
Bear’s on Wednesday, 12/23. *** CORIN
ASHLEY (the Pills) has formed
the CORIN ASHLEY QUARTET along with BRIAN
KING (Oranjuly) on piano, CORY HARDING
(the Pills) on guitar, and MARR
BURWELL (the Great Bandini)
on drums. Lolita: Is that Brian King of What Time is it Mr.
Fox? Corin: I believe this is a younger fellow who did
some work with BLEU.
HEALTH CARE
Rita: What’s the most common question asked? Lolita:
Do you want to come home with me? Rita: No. It’s “How ya doin’?” Lolita:
I’m fine. How are you? Rita: My point is that the most common question
is about the health of a person. Lolita: Okay, I’m a little sniffily. Rita:
Let’s ask if people have any thoughts about healthcare. After all
it is currently one of the most discussed topic in Washington DC right
now. Lolita: Oh, did the swine flu break out big down
there? Rita: Just get people’s opinions about health
care. Lolita: Okay, but doesn’t everyone want to be healthy?
Okay, I’ll ask the question. Evan, do you have any thoughts about
health care? EVAN GAVRY (Three Day Threshold): I could sure use some!
*** MICHAEL EPSTEIN (the Motion Sick/ Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling):
I can’t even fathom why there are debates on whether or not health
care should be made available to everyone. That should just be
an accepted fact. The discussion and debates should be about how
to make that happen. I’d even be willing to accept a 10-year
implementation plan. *** DICK
TATE (The Middle East/ Rocksteady
Super Soul Revue): Yes I do! Birth control in the drinking water, take
a pill to GET pregnant. *** CHUCK
U. ROSINA (WMBR/WMFO): Thoughts
about health care? If you don’t need it, the system works fine. All
the Nay-sayers about single payer complain about government intervention
between patient and doctor. But what do we have now? For-profit-insurance-companies
intervening between doctor and patient. I’ll take the government over
that any time. Let’s go Canadian style! *** WAYNE
VIENS (Crown Electric Co./Valdez
the Sinner): I think it’s fine if the government wants to help people
who need health care, but I certainly don’t want them to tell me what,
how, and where, to get mine, and to force me to get it from, of all
places, our government. Just look at the VA. What a mess—and besides,
it already seems so confusing. Just imagine when they get ahold of it.
Sad to say, and it sure isn’t gonna be less expensive. *** JASON DUGUAY (Project
Sound): When I think back at all the crap I learned in high school it’s
a wonder that I can think at all. Though my lack of understanding hasn’t
hurt me none, I can read the writing on the wall. ***
TIM MUNGENAST (Tim Mungenast
& His Preexisting Conditions): I was going to talk about the ’66
Marshall Super 100 I wanted for Christmas, but the name of my band behooves
me to pass along a tip about healthcare: former Cigna VP Wendell Potter
told Congress that the industry is “beholden to Wall Street,” and
added, “I know from personal experience that members of Congress and
the public have good reason to question the honesty and trustworthiness
of the insurance industry.” What will happen to all that town hall
rage when those trusting conservative dupes finally realize they’ve
been played like violins? Lolita: I get it—you want a violin to play through
the ’66 Marshall Super 100. Will you play for me?
ALL GOIN’
OUT TOGETHER
Rita: As Lolita tugs on another man’s heartstrings,
I’ll tell you where we’ll be this month. THE RAGING TEENS throw
a Holiday Hoedown at T.T. the Bear’s on Saturday, 12/5. ***
Same night GENE DANTE & THE FUTURE STARLETS light up Church. ***
On Tuesday, 12/8, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER releases the
One at the Loft in Harvard
Square and will donate $1 for each CD sale to Children’s Hospital.
*** FREEZEPOP executes their electronic pop at the Middle East Downstairs
on Friday, 12/11. *** Same night FRANK BOOTH’S CAR releases their
CD at the Dodge Street Grill. *** On Saturday, 12/12, THE VARMINTS explode
at the Cantab. *** Boston area’s best songwriter, CHANDLER TRAVIS,
does his Christmas Cavalcade
benefit on Thursday, 12/17, at Johnny D’s. *** Friday, 12/18, has
THE LIZ BORDEN BAND at the Cantab. *** Same night at Johnny D’s catch
THE COACHMEN. *** It's also opening night for ULTRASONIC ROCK ORCHESTRA at the Regent Theatre (the show runs for three consecutive nights). *** THE KONKS bang it around at Great Scott on Saturday,
12/19. *** Same night in Haverhill, MR.E .FLOYD pays tribute to Pink Floyd at the Chit Chat. *** On Sunday, 12/20, HARRY & THE POTTERS host their fifth
annual Yule Ball downstairs at the Middle East (doors at 5:00pm).
*** Later that night FANTASY MIRRORS are smashing at Zuzu. *** Our favorite
soul band, THE CHICKEN SLACKS, is at Johnny D’s on Saturday, 12/26.
*** THE UPPER CRUST lets them eats cake on New Year’s Eve at Church.
*** TIGER SAW plays Great Scott on Thursday, 1/7. *** SANS NOMENCLATURE,
ANDERSON MAR’s new band is at the Cantab on Thursday, 1/14. ***
On Friday, 1/22, GEORGETOWN FATS & THE GROWLERS play Uncle Eddie’s. Rita:
Now go see a local band! Lolita: We’ll be back with our next issue in February
2010!
RIP: ALEX
LOB (49) drummer and founding
member of O Positive passed away on 10/20/09 from difficulties brought
on by diabetes.
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WEATHER COMPLAINT
Lolita: I’d like to file an official complaint
with the weather master. We did not get enough summer in 2009. Please
see to it that that doesn’t happen again. Rita: You do know there is no real weather master.
It’s not like there’s a Webmaster who controls weather. Lolita:
I’m glad you mentioned that because I know I’ve been told it’s
impossible, but right now I would like to predict the crash of the Internet
in 2018. I figured I’d mention it to ensure that AL GORE is ready
with a back-up file. Rita: Well, getting back to your original statement,
let’s ask a question that everyone can relate to. Lolita: Like, will we get as much snow in the winter
as we got rain in the beginning of the summer? Rita: There’s nothing like getting multi answers
of “yes” and “no.” Those answers won’t really fill out our
column very well. Lolita: Okay then let’s ask, do you sense that
Rita is unpleasantly sarcastic most of the time? Rita: Calm down Lolita, and go find some nice people
who’d like to tell you what they miss most about the warm weather. Lolita:
Yeah, that’s a pretty lame question, but maybe I can dress it up by
wearing a white bikini that shows off my tan while I ask the question. Rita:
Great idea—look there’s Chuck riding his bike with his dog on his
back—quick go ask him. Lolita: Right. I’m on it. Chuck—hey Chuck! Thanks
for stopping. Could you tell me the one thing you miss about the warmer
weather? And what’s your dog’s name? Chuck: Solo—wooof-woof.
MISSING THE
WARMTH
Lolita: The real question you need to answer is what
will you miss about the warmer months? Please feel free
to include a description of my white bikini. CHUCK
U. ROSINA (WMBR/WMFO): Swimming
outdoors—which I do until mid-October. *** SUSANNA
PORTE (the Cello Chix): Summer
bird songs, especially that of the hermit thrush. It’s the purest,
sweetest sound in the world. *** HOLLY
BREWER (HUMANWINE): I won’t
miss the warmer months because I’m outtah here until June. My winter
hat is off to those who tough it out year after year. *** LINDA VIENS
(Angeline): I will miss the way the warm air feels on my skin; it makes
me happy when there is very little between my body and the atmosphere. *** GUY MENDILOW
(Guy Mendilow Band): Aside from traveling, I’ll miss sitting on my
porch, with the smell of hops and barley wafting from the brewery across
the street, the sound of kids playing on their bikes, and a mug of tea
to start the morning. JP summers, I miss you already. *** GLENN MATTO
(All Mod Cons): Shedding clothing. Lolita: Isn’t my bikini small enough? *** JON MACEY
(Fox Pass): Alas, dear friends, I will miss all things about warm weather.
I do not function well at all in the cold and gray. I have often contemplated
moving somewhere where it is sunny all the time, but, yet, I have always
lived in Boston or New York. What does it mean? Where is the trap door?
*** SARAH RABDAU (Sarah RabDAU & Self-Employed Assassins/
Ad Frank & the Fast Easy Women): My sanity. *** BOBY
BEAR (the Greg Allen Complex):
In a word, the WEATHER! *** D-TENSION (Los Wunder Twins Del Rap): I will miss walking
up to hot chicks at the beach with my shirt off, belly-a-gigglin, hernia
protruding, eating a choco taco and asking them out. They laugh at first,
they even roll their eyes but then the charm kicks in and they often
say yes. If I didn’t have game, I’d still be a virgin. Lolita:
Well, I’ll miss seeing you on the beach too. And from what I remember,
you are pretty gamey. Not one person mentioned my white bikini. What
is this world coming to?
NEWS DE ROCQUE
Rita: While Lolita, flirts with her summer loves,
I’ll dig up the news they always forget to include on TV. Citywide Blackout, an online local music radio show, airs every
Thursday at 6:30pm on cyberstationusa.com. MAX
BOWDEN is your host. *** GAVIN
now hosts WZBC’s local show, Mass
Ave & Beyond, Fridays,
5-6pm. *** MIKE PATTERSON and EMILY
VIDES left SPRAINED ANKLES
to take on a family project. On September 26, Dylan Shea Patterson was
born. The project is going well. *** JUICE is doing an online local radio show to spotlight
songwriters on juicerocks.com. If you want to be considered for airplay
send a CD to Juicerocks, 41 Sawmill Road, Danville, NH 03819. Links
to downloads will not be considered. *** October 4th has officially
been named Mission of Burma Day by the City of Cambridge. *** BLACK
FORTRESS OF OPIUM’s video of “Afyonkarahisar Battle Cry” will
have its premiere showing in Boston on Saturday 11/7 at the Magic Room
Gallery. *** AMANDA PALMER has been asked back to Symphony Hall. She’ll
be there on New Year’s Eve with the Boston Pops, conducted by KEITH LOCKHART,
backing her up. Lolita: That’s a pretty cool gig. There aren’t
too many local musicians who could pull that off.
BAND RECOMMENDATIONS
Rita: I bet there are a lot of local musicians
good enough to play with the Pops. I’m going to ask my friends what
bands they would highly recommend—not for the Pops—just for anyone
to see. Excuse me, Carl, what local band would you recommend? CARL BIANCUCCI
(the Fighting Cocks): Without question, for me it’s the Upper Crust.
Yeah, I know, the aristocratic schtick may have run its course at this
point, but those songs still kick ass and their live show is always
an event in my book. *** DUNCAN
WILDER JOHNSON (x-Destruct-a-thon):
Motherboar. If you’re into seriously brutal metal, do not pass go,
go directly to a Motherboar gig. They’re finishing up their second
full length right now! *** LIZ
BORDEN (Liz Borden Band): My
Own Worst Enemy—great band. I love the songwriting. Melodic yet edgy.
Great lyrics and hooks. There is a darkness and a light quality to their
songs. They must be good because they do not have a bass just two guitars
and drums. As a bass player at first I found that disturbing until I
heard them play. Their last CD was one of the best I have heard in a
long time. Great people too. *** JOHNNY
BLACK (Faster & Louder):
Any combo with Al Sheinfeld, Billy Loosigian, or Duke Levine in it,
specifically Alvis, Willie Alexander & the Boom Boom Band, the Coachmen,
and the Dennis Brennan Band—with the Coachmen sometimes you get Al
and Duke playing together. *** KRIS
THOMPSON (Bobb Trimble/ Concord
Ballet Orchestra Players): The great Prince Rama of Ayodhya has left
town (sniff!) for Florida and the wide open road, but I’ve been digging
Quilt and Mind Yeti quite a bit. Quilt’s new cassette might remind
folks of a trippier version of Throwing Muses’ early demos. Mind Yeti
(ex-members of B.E.A.R.D.) is blissed-yet-rocking improv space-rock.
*** JASON DUGUAY (Project Sound): For local talent I would strongly recommend
checking out any one of the eleven Chief Dr. Kooffreh records. His prolific lyrical
insight and mastery of all things Casio and propane is truly a delight
for the advanced listener. *** DREW
KAZOO (the Sprained Ankles):
The local band that I would highly recommend to anyone would have to
be the Cam-peons—hands down. Not only do they cleverly incorporate
just about every style of music known to man into they’re rock ’n’
roll, but they’re absolutely hilarious—oh, and they annihilate
live! Miss this band at your own peril. *** ERIC
BETTENCOURT (solo artist/ Giraffe
Attack): Dominic & the Lucid. *** DAN
WEBB (… & the Spiders/
the Cold Beat): I would highly recommend the amazing band Movers &
Shakers. They are without a doubt my favorite group operating out of
the Boston underground. Above and beyond the great songs, the aesthetic
and ethic of the band is what I applaud most. They truly embrace the
DIY ethos. They print their own shirts, record their own records, book
their own tours, and manage to have a blast while doing so. They are
fun and unpretentious, and will break you in half with the amount of
heart that goes into what they do. That is why I love them so. *** SEAN MURRAY (Jake
& the Jakes/ the Dubious Brothers): There are loads of bands that
I could tell you to go see—like the Rationales, Brendan Boogie &
the Best Intentions, Frank Booth’s Car, Trucker Mouth, Fox Pass, Girls
Guns and Glory, the Luxury, 5 Point, Natalie Flanagan, the Brooklyns,
the Dirty Truckers, Township, the Fighting Cocks, the Neighborhoods,
the Gentlemen, Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents and so may more. There
is no shortage of great recommendable bands! *** DAVID
KIRKDORFFER (UNDO): I suggest
inhabitants of our solar system should all go see Hooray For Earth. Lolita:
I think Zortar will be very offended that he wasn’t invited.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Rita: Speaking of the alien Zortar—the body that
he inhabits (one of our writers), SLIMEDOG, is moving back to Massachusetts (from the
West Coast). Slimey tried to make it out in L.A. but Zortar was allergic
to palm trees and insisted that Mr. and Mrs. Slimedog return to New
England. Oh, and I must say that Mrs. Slimedog is our top reviewer who
is now publishing a magazine called the Beatle. She figured it worked with Rolling
Stone. Okay, I know that
that was very important information, so here now is the
latest news you need to know about bands and their members. DESTRUCT-A-THON
destructed on October 24 at the Midway. *** FULL BODY ANCHOR is made
up of members of DARKBUSTER, DRAGO, BLUE BLOODS, RAGING TEENS, 007 CLUB,
THROWAWAYS, and THE MARVELS. ***
ERIC SCHMIDER’s MOLLYCODDLE
played its last gig in October. That doesn’t mean Eric has stopped
playing music. He still plays with the DAVE AARONOFF BAND and is doing
a thing with JEFFERSON
DAVIS (Guitarzan/ Phil Aiken
Army). *** BRIAN VIGLIONE (the Dresden Dolls) is drumming with BLACK
TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL (from Brooklyn). *** PORT CHARLES QUINTET features CAM ACKLAND and DENNIS McCARTHY
(both of the Prime Movers). *** THE STOMPERS reunite for their 32nd anniversary
as a big band with three background gals (the Stompettes) and a full
horn section (the Tornado Alley Horns) at Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry,
NH, on Saturday, 11/28.
*** Noise writer from the past,
MIKE BALDINO, heads up BREAKOUT
66 with ELIAS JAMES (baritone guitar/vocals), and BILL DWYER
(drums/vocals). *** BOSTON BLACKLISTED is MICK
KEDDY on vocals, TOM VESCE
on guitar/vocals, BRIDGET
MURPHY on bass/vocals, and DAN DURSO
on drums. *** THE CHICKEN SLACKS enter a new chapter of their now eight-year
history, as the band’s founder and leader, JUSTIN
BERTHIAUME, is moving to San
Francisco. *** DINTY CHILD (Sessions Americana) is fronting FUNKY WHITE
HONKIES—a 27 piece band—if you don’t count the “contributing
kickin’ players.” *** BIG CITY ROCKERS include TOM
HAUCK and FRED
PINEAU (both of the Atlantics).
They’re playing at Church on Friday 10/20, part of the International Pop Overthrow with PASTICHE, ANDY PRATT, FOX PASS, THE STOMPERS,
and more. *** UNDERWATER AIRPORT includes PETER
SPELLMAN and RUSSELL
LANE (both
on drums), JIM
WHISENANT (bass
and Chapman stick), ED
BLOMQUIST (guitar), LYNDA STEPHENS (sax), and MARC
LISLE (projected
visuals). *** ROBERT PALMER ROBERT
PALMER is CHRIS COTE (Upper Crust/ Rock Bottom) and JOHN POWHIDA
(…International Airport/ the Rudds) and other members of THE NEIGHBORHOODS,
INVISIBLE RAYS, and DAMN PERSONALS. Lolita: Is this a tribute band? Rita: Why would you even think that?
FAMILY TALES
Lolita: Hey, Thanksgiving is coming up. Rita:
Yeah, I wonder if Dad will show up for dinner. Lolita: Well, my mother invited him. Rita:
Then you know my mom won’t show. Lolita: If you can figure out how Rita and I are
related, you can win a banner on thenoise-boston.com and thenoiseboard.com.
The first correct answer to reach T Max (
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
) wins the
banner for a week. Now, let’s find out something about other
people’s families. Rita: Hey Rick, tell me something about your family. RICK BERLIN
(himself): My sisters
fried up a can of Alpo and told Dad it was corned beef hash. Plopped
some over easy eggs on top—a morning hangover breakfast surprise.
Dad loved it. Ate the whole thing. Best he’d ever had. Never told
him. *** IAN ADAMS (solo): I am 13th generation American Adams.
My 11th great grandfather was the Patriot Samuel Adams. John Adams,
the second President, was 11th great grand uncle. My great great grandfather
Alvin B. Adams died at Andersonville Prison in the Civil War, at which
time his brother Franklyn married his Narragansett Indian wife Lydia,
who canoed up from Rhode Island through the Hockamok Swamp. My son is
named after his great great Grandfather Zepherin, who was one of Teddy
Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. *** JOHN
POWHIDA (…International Airport/
the Rudds): Well, this year my brother is not speaking with my mother
or my grandfather so I’ll hang with all of them at different times
there in Albany, NY.
*** ANDERSON MAR (Dark Sky Productions/Paul Green School of
Rock): My biological family (staunch business people with no inclination
toward the arts whatsoever) is still waiting for me to give up playing
rock star and go to law school; hence I consider the Industry my true
family nowadays. *** ERIC
WELSH (ChillHouse Studios):
During Thanksgiving my family pulls out the shotguns, crossbows, and
rifles and we start shooting wildlife that is overpopulated—mostly
deer because it’s deer season. We eat what we kill, otherwise
I wouldn’t take part and I personally refuse to shoot anything that
I will not eat. *** JIM
GERDEMAN (Mercy James): I have
no relatives living within 800 miles of here. But Thanksgiving still
has a real family vibe to it thanks to my great wife and kids. Usually
bake a pie. Maybe even jam a little with the kids (debut album coming
2014). And then it’s all about not electrocuting myself on aged Christmas
lights. Definitely better than my first holidays in town eating Chinese
food alone and freezing my ass off. *** CRAZY
EDDIE NOWIK (Bentmen): When
I was at Revere High School my dad and I would wake up every Thanksgiving
morning, head down to the local bar, and get trashed before the high
school football game. We would lose big time! Then over to eat the Thanksgiving
Day meal! Then fall asleep during the Detroit Lions game! EVERY YEAR!
Ahh... the magic of triptafen. *** NICOLE
TAMMARO (Nicole Tammaro Photography): The Tammaro-DiPietro family
has been a fixture in the cities of Somerville and Cambridge for over
60 years. My father was an altar boy at St. Joe’s in Somerville doing
Masses back when they were in Latin. My mom grew up in East Cambridge,
attending Ringe & Latin back when the school was separated—boys
in one school, girls in the other. I grew up in Somerville with my two
brothers and one sister, when Somerville was a blue color town and when
you went over your friends houses after school, most of their parents
didn’t speak English, or had an Irish brogue—these are the early
years. I will wait for another Noise question for more Tammaro
stories. Lolita: I wonder if Nicole will release
a book of stories on her family. Rita: It would be a good companion
to her Abbey
Lounge 2006-2008 book
of photographs.
ALL
GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER
Lolita: Okay, it’s time to go out.
Get your butt off the couch and socialize. Find out who’s creating
music you want to hear and which bands have a following of folks you’d
like to meet. It’s all about the community. Rita: Here’s where you can find
us in the beautiful month of November. NIGHTTIME
GALLAGHER (Apollo
Sunshine) spins on Monday, 11/2, at Zuzu’s Night
of the Living Deadhead. *** DEAD
FRIENDS (old school hardcore) release their CD at the Middle East on
Friday, 11/6. *** LOVEWHIP invites you to pray to the god of new wave—at
Church on Thursday, 11/12. *** Friday, 11/13, STATIC OF THE GODS release
their CD at the Middle East upstairs, while THE NEW COLLISIONS release
their CD downstairs. *** CRAZY DC (AC/DC tribute) rocks Uncle Eddie’s
on Salisbury Beach on Saturday, 11/14. *** There’s a CD release celebration
for CHANDLER TRAVIS PHILHARMONIC at Johnny D’s on Thursday 11/19.
*** NANCY NEON throws a party at the Cantab with THE PORT
CHARLES QUINTET headlining on Saturday, 11/21. *** ANDY
PRATT is at T.T. the Bear’s
on Sunday, 11/29. *** HUMANWINE plays every Monday in October at Great
Scott. Lolita: We’ll be looking for you to show up and
keep us warm. Rita: Support your favorite local band—and we’ll
promote them. Lolita and I will return in December with a double issue!
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ELVIRA & THE CRAWLING HAND
Rita & Lolita: Rita and Lolita from Georgetown, Massachusetts, at your service. Rita: We’re all settled into our new office now. We have a desk, filing cabinet, shelves, lights… Lolita: …including two lava lamps… Rita: …a fliptop Ampeg amp… Lolita: …we need to rehearse between paragraphs… Rita: …and a variety of birds that sing on the hour, every hour. Lolita: That’s our clock. Rita: We’re ready to deliver an outstanding Halloween column to you at this very moment. Lolita: I’m putting on my costume right now—don’t try to look around the page to see me half undressed. I need privacy while I transform into Elvira. Rita: I, on the hand, have a very creative costume. I AM the crawling hand. Did you ever see that one? Lolita: Was that you up my thigh on my last Match.com date? Rita: No! I mean the 1963 film about a hand that is able to live on it’s own. Lolita: Wow, does he have his own apartment and pay the rent? Rita: No! It was the detached hand of an astronaut whose mission was aborted and his hand was found in the wreckage that fell back to earth. Lolita: Oh, so he had to give up his apartment. Wait a second—does that mean that you are going to sever your body from your hand? Rita: No, my whole body will be one big severed hand. Lolita: That’s got to be one of the worst costume ideas I ever heard. Rita: Well, remind me to skip any treats for you. I’m placing you on my trick list. Hey, that gives me an idea for our Question of the Month. Lolta: Right. Are you going to ask, what’s the worst idea you ever had for a Halloween costume? Rita: No. Let’s ask some local musicians to tell us about Halloween tricks. Lolita—look! There’s your favorite Barnie. Quick—go ask Pete. Lolita: But I don’t quite have my push-up bra adjusted correctly—you think Pete will mind? Rita: Just go find out about his experiences with tricks!
TRICKS NOT TREATS
Lolita: Excuse me, Pete, have you ever given or received a Halloween trick? And I don’t mean what I offered you last October 31. PETE SUTTON (Barnies/ Temper): There was this bastard who lived on my street growing up... kind of like Roger Kaputnik from the old Mad magazine days. Every year we’d go trick or treat and he’d always answer the door and bark “Trick!” He’d laugh, give us something shitty, like an apple, which we’d promptly whip back at this house later on in the evening. *** GLENN WILLIAMS (Chill Groove/ Low Budget Records): I can’t believe I’m going to admit this, but when I was a kid I was actually invited to a Halloween party that didn’t exist—invitation and all. Ouch! *** DICK TATE (The Middle East/ the Rocksteady Super Soul Revue): One Halloween as a teenager, my mother gave me $10 to buy candy for the tricker treaters since she was going to be away that night. I bought a dime bag and put a sign on an empty basket outside my front door that read: “On your honor take one.” Amazingly, my house was not egged. *** JEFF BREEZE (Concord Ballet Orchestra Players): My senior year in high school I went out trick or treating with friends. We didn’t go door-to-door; we went out as vigilantes taking candy from the bullies that were stealing it from little kids and giving it back (minus a few 3 Musketeers). *** BRIAN KING (What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?): When I was about 12, my cousin dared me to stand in front of the bedroom mirror, say "I hate you Bloody Mary" and then light the candle she had placed there. Little did I know she had sprayed Aqua Net hairspray on the mirror. When I lit the candle and a quick blue flame engulfed the glass for an explosive second, I screamed like Diamanda Galas. *** ANDY MILK (The Vital Might): I was tricked last year by a cab driver downtown. In chilly weather, and dressed in Reno 911 short-shorts, we hailed down a cab after about an hour. When we said, “We’re headed to JP,” he told us to get out because he didn’t know how to get there. Now, THAT’S a trick! *** WILL DAILEY (Will Dailey): My first Halloween in a new town I went out trick or treating with Quang Ngyuen. Quang and I planned to egg other eggers, except when leaving my house with my four eggs in my jacket pocket, the screen door slammed on me and smashed all four eggs that ran down my side and destroyed my nurse’s uniform. Lolita: No, it didn’t fully destroy your nurses’ uniform—I retrieved it from your trash and gave it a thorough washing. Now I use it whenever I dress up to play doctor.
GENUINE NEWS
Rita: While Lolita, I mean Elvira, changes into her nurse’s uniform, I will read the latest news about real people—not the fake ones that are made up in corporate magazines and newspapers to make you think you really know what’s going on in your neighborhood, state, country, or the world. And did you ever notice that their news is always bad—the latest fire/ accident/ rape/ murder/ or maybe even someone caught with pornography on their computer! Excuse me; I just had to purge the excreta building up in the pit of my consciousness. Back to our healthy community news: JOHNNY BLACK (Johnny Black Trio) is getting married next June and has LOVE BOMB with ROBERT HOLMES (x-’Til Tuesday) playing the reception. *** STEVE FOLSOM (Jamspot) roamed for couple of weeks through Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Dublin, Gothenburg in Sweden, and Tromso in Norway (which is above the arctic circle) to mix BRIAN WILSON’s Summer Greatest Hits tour. While in Dublin he saw IZZY MAXWELL (Count Zero/ Death of the Cool) on TV being interviewed about the Beatles Rockband. *** NICK BLAKEY (the In Out) was in the hospital for 11 days with Crones. A benefit for him was held at Church on 9/6. *** JEFF ROYDS hosts Boston Garage Bands’ Halloween party on Saturday, 10/24, at a new club in Worcester—the Raven (251 Pleasant Street). *** PETER TENTINDO (Britanica) won the Danvers store finals in Guitar Center’s King of the Blues contest. *** Lolita: Congratulations Peter, and good luck moving further up in the competition. Okay—time for my observance of something that’s bugging me. Why was ICE CREAM SOCIAL the band that was asked to headline on International Talk Like A Pirate Day? Shouldn’t they have been featured at an ice cream fest? And why didn’t the pirate-talking-people approach BOSTON JOLLY PIRATES or Boston’s favorite bunch of swashbucklers—the SCALIWAGS? Okay, that’s all I have to say—I’m done. Rita: I’m glad you got that off your treasure chest. Now, Lolita, will you come up with a good question of the month that will get some decent answers. I have to run off to my speak-like-a-pirate lesson.
LOLITA’S DEBUT QUESTION
Lolita: Wow, this may be the first time that Rita has ever let me make up a Question of the Month without her assistance. Since I’m already in my nurse’s outfit, I’ll ask all my friends (my make believe patients) to give me their symptoms, and I’ll give each of them a diagnosis—free of charge. Hey! Evan—you look a little hung over—what are your symptoms? EVAN GAVRY (Three Day Threshold): Every once in a while I wake up in a cold sweat, with a headache and stomach pains. It’s usually after a Three Day Threshold gig. I think someone told me once it’s called the Irish flu, but WebMD doesn’t have any information on it. What do you recommend? Lolita: I’m glad you brought this up. Tell that diseased Betty O’Sullivan that you’re not a trampoline and you don’t enjoy being hit in the head with an ice hammer. If she cooperates, you should recover in a couple of weeks. If not, I recommend that you come to my clinic whenever you think she’s following you home. I will give you a free examination—I need someone to practice on with my scalpel anyway. Rita: Sorry, I forgot my eye patch. What’s this? Is Evan’s answer the only one you got? Lolita: I don’t understand. I tried to look really good to attract a lot people. I thought I was doing fine. I had a line that stretched from Mark Sandman Square to the EMF building—but when Evan ran away from me screaming, the entire line disbursed. Since I have no more answers maybe I can share with our readers that I’ve been enjoying open mics lately. They are all over the place. If you are running an open mic, invite us to it and we'll give you a plug. Rita: Are you expecting something in return? Lolita: Well, maybe I can just get up and sing. Rita: Well, isn’t that what’s supposed to happen at an open mic?
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Lolita: I’m through being a nurse. I want to be a flapper now. I like doing the Charleston. And while I dance, Rita will update you on new bands, new members, and reunions of bands. Rita: That’s right. If your band recently got a new member, let us know. Here’s what I got—THE ODDS featuring JJ RASSLER (x-DMZ/x-the Queers/the Downbeat 5) and PRESTON WAYNE (x-DMZ/ Preston Wayne 4) reunited after a 20-year rest on 9/12 at Precinct. *** We failed to mention last month that RICK BARTON’s new band, CONTINENTAL, includes his son STEPHEN BARTON on bass. *** The members of STARS CRASHING CARS are DEREK SCHANCHE (Señor Happy), PAT EMSWEILER (the Sterlings/ Space Shots), and TOM POLCE (Señor Happy/Letters to Cleo). *** THE DOWNBEAT 5 has picked up drummer JEFF NORCROSS (Weisstranauts/ Paula Kelly) and they’ll be coming back with a whole lot of new material. *** JOSH LATTANZI (Jen Trynin/ Señor Happy) joined the TINTED WINDOWS’ touring band. *** VOODOO SCREW MACHINE has added a new second guitarist, MR. B. TALLS. Catch his debut with the band on 10/10 at the Dodge Street Grill. *** The band EDITH is now known as THE VIVS. *** ERIN HARPE and JIM COUNTRYMAN (Lovewhip) have formed a new group around Erin’s acoustic blues called ERIN HARPE & THE DELTA SWINGERS. *** BARRENCE WHITFIELD & THE MONKEY HIPS feature AL SHEINFELD on guitar, JIM HAGGERTY on bass, TAURAS BISKIS on drums, MARIO PERRETT on sax, and of course, BARRENCE WHITFIELD on vocals. *** JJ RASSLER (the Downbeat 5) has a new project that he was going to call MONKEYLAND, but felt it was encroaching on Monkey Hips. So, even though they haven’t settled on a name yet, they’ll be debuting sometime around Christmas. Lolita: This is our Halloween issue. We’re not allowed to mention Christmas yet. Rita: But it involves monkeys. They could be those scary flying monkeys and they make me think of Halloween. Lolita: They are not scary—you probably could just throw water on them and they’d melt.
THE SCARIEST
Rita: Lolita, sit back in the land of Oz and watch a professional gossip columnist ask a proper question of the month. Gary, and the rest of you waiting on line outside the Middle East, would you please tell me about the scariest situation you’ve ever experienced. GARY WALEIK (Big Dipper): My stereo broke and I couldn’t listen to Pink Flag, Forever Changes, the Quality of Mercy is Not Strain’d, or the Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society for weeks. *** RICK BERLIN (on his own): Bahamas. College. 21. Slalom water skiing off the beach where Goldfinger was being shot. A gigantic white shark follows in my wake, fin like a sail out of water, close. Scary close. I realize this when the guy in the boat waves his arms in panic. I lean in towards the shore, skim into shallow water and skid up onto the sand heart in mouth. Shark slithers back out into the dark deep. *** CARLENE BAROUS (Carlene Barous/ Temper): The scariest situation I’ve ever been in is when a trusted person in the teaching profession kept me back in his office after hours, and continued to try to keep me there after much ado. I talked my way out of it, and once out the office, ran! And I was never so happy to see the silly little Ford Ranger my Dad had lent me, which started up immediately. This was my first get-away car for sure. *** ERIC WELSH (Chillhouse Studios): I went deep-sea fishing for shark and the boat caught on fire and sank about 15-plus miles out. Smoke started coming out of the fishing pole holders and the captain therefore opened up the bottom area where the life jackets were located and a bomb of smoke hit him in the face as he opened the door, like a back-draft. After many attempts with closed eyes, he was able to grab enough life jackets for everyone and we eventually jumped off the stern into an icy ocean. A boat picked us up before the coast guard arrived. *** IAN ADAMS (Ian Adams): Years ago I lived in an apartment on Hillside Street in Mission Hill. One night my girlfriend and I were awakened by the bed shaking so violently that we thought there was an earthquake, until we realized that nothing else in the room was moving. The whole incident lasted about five minutes. The next day we asked the housemates if they felt anything and they said “no.” After that we never slept in that bed again, and moved out within a week. Poltergeist? I dunno, but it freaked me the fuck out. *** KAREN DeBIASSE (Girl On Top): When I was very young we had company staying over and I was assigned a mattress on the floor by the front door. I couldn’t sleep that night for some reason—intuition. All of a sudden I heard footsteps approaching the door and then boom—the door kicked in, swinging back and forth from the force, and then footsteps running away. What the heck? *** ERIK LINDGREN (Birdsongs of the Mesozoic/ Arf Arf Records): While running audio at a video studio during a shoot in the early ‘80s, I briefly fell asleep at the mixing board and immediately woke up when the producer dug his fingers into my shoulder and said in a hushed voice “You fucked ... you fucked up...). The scariest part was that he was an ex-Marine and I thought he was going to kill me on the spot. *** FRANCIS DiMENNO (Wrong Hero/ the Noise): On March 2, 2007, in a blizzard, I skidded out on the Mass Pike eastbound about 15 miles out of Ludlow. Even though I took evasive measures, I thought for sure I was going to hit the guardrail head-on. However, both the guardrail and my bumper were coated with thick ice, and through some accident of fate I only skimmed it. I’ve been in worse fixes, but I though for sure that this was going to be the end. *** RAY MASON (Ray Mason Band/ Lonesome Brothers): On February 23rd, 1970 the band I was in was approaching Atlanta for a gig when we were fired upon from a vehicle in the passing lane on the highway. The guitar player, who was sitting next to me in the back seat, was shot in the head. He miraculously survived. Definitely the scariest situation I’ve ever been in! Lolita: Woha! Did you determine why your band was shot at? RAY: We think it was because we had long hair. After the shots, the car floored it. It was dark so we didn’t get a plate number or description. We then got off the next exit to a gas station and called for an ambulance. *** GLENN MATTO (All Mod Cons): My scariest moment I’ll keep to the basics. I was a 20-year-old novice skier who found himself on Killington’s highest peak with a couple of friends. We seemed to have ignored the signs “expert skiers only.” Once off the chair lift, we were forced to negotiate our way down double black diamond trails with catchy names like Plummet and Back Breaker. In Spinal Tap terms, these trails were all elevens. I eventually gave up skiing... and golf (that’s a whole other story). *** RUBY BIRD (Bird Mancini): My scariest story actually led to a song. “The Other Side” (from the CD Funny Day) came to me shortly after a near-death experience in the ocean, as the currents were pulling me out to sea faster than I could swim back in. Strangely, I was calm while thinking, well, this is it, but became quite freaked out after I was rescued and back on shore. It was a long time before I could sleep well again. I’m forever changed and now look at life through more grateful eyes. *** CORIN ASHLEY (himself): Why, just last week I was up in New Hampshire and we took wee Harrison to a ski resort so he could do some of the activities. They had a wading pool and a trampoline and he loved it. For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to take him on the chair lift (it was his idea), so my wife and I hopped on the ski lift with our boy and immediately realized that it was a truly terrible idea. For the next hour, we held onto our very squirmy three year old while we rode all the way up the mountain and all the way back, 60 feet in the air with nothing but that bullshit little pull-over bar to keep our only child from being dashed on the rocks below. I nearly shat myself. For real. *** SIMON RITT (the Darlings): The scariest situation I probably was ever was when I was held up at gunpoint while working alone, at night, at a Tenneco self-serve gas station in Central Florida. I don’t know who was more frightened, me or the robber, but after a brief struggle he was gone with 200 bucks in a black late model Buick Regal with red interior. Thanks to my level headedness and keen powers of observation the police apprehended him in near record time. He received a 27-year prison sentence. I quit the Tenneco and got a job at a record store. *** JAY ALLEN (… & the Archcriminals): Many years ago I was working the family business, a run-down, should-have-been-condemned, amusement park. An obnoxious real estate developer pressured us to close down and sell the property to him. My great Uncle Cap refused to sell. I was closing up shop one night when I heard some rattling and moaning. There was a legend regarding the haunting of this place, dating back to a Ferris wheel mishap where a couple of lovebirds had perished, but I has always dismissed as hogwash. The moaning continued until I thought I had seen the spirits of the two deceased. Scared the ever-lovin &^%* out of me. Later someone revealed to me that the “ghosts” were a hoax perpetrated by the scumbag developer. *** A.J. WACHTEL (speaking): I used to visit the Western Front regularly when I covered the scene. During the week it had reggae music and mixed crowds but on Sunday it was wall-to-wall Haitian and I would usually be the only white guy there. Once, the manager, Pam Sylvia, caught me and three new Haitian friends smoking herb out in the open and she “punished” us by locking us in the cooler with the lights off. There I was, in pitch black, with three angry Haitians bumping into me and all the cases of Red Stripe. I thought, “this could turn out ugly,” but one of them had a lighter, and I had my pipe, and then another discovered he had a can opener—so we continued to smoke herb and we opened up a few Red Stripes and waited about 20 minutes until Pam came back and opened the door. It was an odd situation and I WAS scared for a few moments. Rita: See, Lolita, that’s how to do it.
ALL GOIN’
OUT TOGETHER
Lolita: Last month JOHN KANAVOS won a banner on thenoise-boston.com and thenoiseboard.com by naming the reference used in the title of the final paragraph of our column. John’s answer was, “A Big Dipper song, and possibly the second greatest song ever written by a Boston band—the greatest being ‘Pancake’ by the Swirlies.” Rita: Now, if you’d like to win a banner, tell us which band reviewed last month had their show interrupted by the fire department? The first correct answer emailed to
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wins. Lolita: Now, here are the shows we think are worth your time and money… DIABOLIS IN MUSICA, our favorite 13th century band, is at King Richard’s Faire 2009 in Carver, MA, on Oct 17, 18, 24, and 25. *** MUCK & THE MIRES invade the Middle East upstairs on Friday, 10/9. *** The ultimate horror band, VOODOO SCREW MACHINE, spits up blood at the Dodge Street Grill on Saturday, 10/10. *** On Sunday 10/11, pray with THE BAGS at Church. *** Night of the Living Deadhead employs MARC PINANSKY (Township) at Zuzu on Monday, 10/12. *** We keep hearing good things about UKULELE NOIR. They’re at Johnny D’s on Tuesday, 10/13. *** LEO BLAIS opens the night at T.T. the Bear’s on Friday, 10/16. *** We'll meet you in Copley Square at 1:00pm on Saturday, 10/17, to protest against the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The ralley will be followed by a march through the streets of Boston. *** JAKE & THE JAKES take it to Uncle Eddie’s in Salisbury on Saturday, 10/24. *** Same night AD FRANK & THE FAST EASY WOMEN celebrate their record release at Great Scott. *** On Sunday, 10/25, the subtle ANAL CUNT plays shy, downstairs at the Middle East. *** There will be two sneak preview screenings of Drive-In Horrorshow at the Studio Cinema in Belmont, MA—Friday, 10/30 at midnight, and Saturday, 10/31, at 1:00pm. *** NANCY NEON throws her Halloween party at the Cantab on Saturday, 10/31, featuring GIRL ON TOP. *** PIXIES play the Citi Performing Arts Center in Boston on Friday, 11/27, and Saturday, 11/28. Rita: Go see a local band this week. Buy their CD and T-shirt. It will mean a lot to them. Lolita: We hope you experience more treats than tricks.
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Rita & Lolita
