Rita: Ahhh, November is here—time to kick back, throw on a coat you love, and get involved with your favorite cause. Lolita: So, you’re gonna get political on us? Rita: I like being involved with real people. It beats the hell out of sitting behind my computer all day talking with my fingers. Plus I like the touch of a human. Lolita: Sometimes after too many hours of work, I just want to kick back, relax, and do something illegal. Rita: You’re so bad. Lolita: No I’m not. People like you and I make up laws that affect others in harmful ways. Why the hell is pot illegal when alcohol is not? It doesn’t make any sense. People are in jail because they enjoy smoking pot. Smoking pot is a harmless act. Why don’t those who say pot leads to harder drugs consider other acceptable addictive drugs (caffeine, sugar?) and say the same of them? Eating chocolate might as well be against the law. Rita: Okay, calm down. Let’s ask our friends to tell us stories about the evil illegal weed.

THE EVIL WEED

      Lolita: The view from up in this gigantic tree is amazing. Send our friends up to me and I’ll ask them to tell me a story that involves pot. Hey Dave! See if you can get as high as I am. DAVE PINO (Powerman 5000): When I was in high school I used to sell tape cassette cases packed with joints. It was awesome because teachers just thought my friends and I were trading music. *** DAVID AVERY (Powderfinger Promotions): When I was 16 my buddies took me fishing, and to my surprise, smoking. At first it was fun, but then we wanted to catch the flying ducks flying with our fishing lines. One of my friends accidentally snagged the other in the chest with the three fishhooks. When half his chest skin was ripped off and gushing blood, it became much less fun very quickly. In retrospect it seems funny, but then, we were all convinced that he was going to die and that our parents would probably kill the survivors. Fortunately, we all lived, though some with less chest hair than others. *** KAREN DiBIASSE (Girl On Top): One time Dave and his friends had two pounds [of pot] under the front seat of his old Dodge Challenger. Someone hit them from behind, and sent the car into a 180-degree spin. All of a sudden local police from Medford, Malden, Saugus, and state police surrounded them.  Dave and his friends were shittin’ bricks thinking they’re going to jail for life as the other driver approached their window. He was a cop and apologized for hitting them.  He told them to be careful; they were looking for a felon—that’s why there were so many cops around. *** ANDERSON MAR (Dark Sky Productions/NE PGM Fest): The funniest pot related story I can recall was when my Deadhead friend John, who had a bit of a “green thumb” so to speak, called me in the middle of the night in tears because his Maine coon cats had eaten every single one of his pot plants that he’d been tending diligently for months. I wonder if the cats had a serious case of the munchies thereafter? *** DAVE BALERNA (The Midway): We were having an event at the Midway when a local drug dealer ran through the club with the cops in tow. They ended up arresting him but never found his stash of cheeb—but we did.  Community policing—you got to love it. *** WALTER SICKERT (…& The Army of Broken Toys): Two years ago I lost a great friend to cancer. It was the fifth time in his life that it had returned. Being only 23, cancer had followed him his whole life. After scores of strong legal drugs pumped in to him, there was nothing that would let him eat and gain weight, and nothing to stop the pains and aches—nothing, except his baby blue two-foot glass bong. Pot gave him hope, acceptance, and the ability to eat a cheeseburger and not puke. Eventually he lost the use of his hand, but his friends were there to pack and spark and we had many wonderful days before we lost him. SO WHY THE FUCK IS IT ILLEGAL?? *** AJ WACHTEL (Boston Now): When Mickey O was booking Bunratty’s 20 years ago, he introduced me to a grey haired man with a young blond on his arm at the Beat around 3:00 am. There were drugs all over the place. I asked the man where he knew Mickey from; did he own a bar? They laughed and he pulled out his badge. He was an undercover cop. Soon after, the officer walks into Bun’s, pulls me into the waitress station, and says “I just pulled over a kid driving and he had this... and I thought of you,” and he tosses me a baggie with about an ounce of grass. Boston’s finest—supporting my drug habit. *** CHRIS PEARSON (Ekranoplan/ x-Green Magnet School): Recently a member of Spacemen 3 played the Middle East and my pals [names withheld for legal reasons] offered to get him baked.  We were in the alley behind the club, smoking the kind bud and conversing about the difference between U.K. and U.S. drug laws when lo and behold, Sonic whipped out these packs of methadone pills from his man purse, about 25 boxes or so, which would have quite a bit of value on the grey market. I honestly wondered how the hell he got that amount of dope through customs.  It was truly a surreal moment. *** LIZ BORDEN (The Liz Borden Band/ WAAF): I have many stories about pot. One is from my childhood and my mother reminded me of this story. She was trying to get me interested in other activities as a child in addition to music. She supported the music thing but thought I should have a few other interests. She tried horseback riding, painting, etc. and then she said one day I found my niche—gardening and taking care of my houseplants. She said I would take such good care of them and she was so proud. Until she took a closer look at the plants once they grew a bit. Then she knew why. *** CHUCK U. ROSINA (WMFO/ WMBR): You want me to tell you a story that involves pot? But pot makes you spacey and forgetful, so how am I supposed to remember a story? A good example is this year’s annual Freedom Rally which calls for the legalization of pot.  It took place on Boston Common on 9/15. But I am such a spaceshot, I thought it was 9/22, and booked myself for out of town work the weekend of 9/15. I usually cover this event for local radio news. To make matters more embarrassing, this year MassCann (the sponsoring organization) gave out awards.  I received the Best Indy Radio Personality award, but wasn’t even there to receive it!  Lolita: Congratulations! I hope you eventually got your award. They are real nifty looking modern trophies. We were surprised to receive one for best local magazine. It’s the first award we’ve received since Curve of the Earth gave us a Curvie (an orange eight track tape cartridge with sloppy handwriting on it) award for Best Zine, Longest Running Zine, and Best Band Featuring Publisher (Max).  *** LINDA VIENS (Angeline/ Cosmic-Trigger):  A couple of years ago. I was smoking a lot of killer weed with my main crew in Woodstock, New York.  The six of us spent the entire day wearing these gigantic, fake teeth that we purchased. We asked people for directions, stopped people on the street, shopped at the grocery store, and bought movie tickets. We were in hysterics every time we watched another interaction in public. Pot encourages us to be unafraid and to be ridiculous at times. That is why I still love it sooo much! *** JOE COUGHLIN (The Noise): Providence Civic Center, Blue Oyster Cult, ’70s. Lit up a joint and this hairy bastard next to me says, “Gimme one of those.” Not, “Can I have a hit?” or even “Got any for sale?” I ignore him. He gets up and knocks my hat off. I step into the aisle and call him out. He suckers me hard, and I go rolling down the stairs full-speed from about three-quarters up in the loge all the way down to the floor. He gets away, but BOC was great, and my high-school sweetie thought my massive shiner was kinda bitchin’ the next day. *** SIMON RITT (The Darlings): This is a trick question, right? Lolita: Trick? You’ll have to meet me after hours for that. And bring a lot of money.

ROCK NEWS

      Rita: Maybe I’ll play a trick. Is this the real local rock news or am I just making it up?  CASEY DESMOND won the Vision4Music songwriting contest. She was handed $10,000, studio time in Nashville and online promotion tools. Plus she’s currently on the cover of the Improper Bostonian’s music issue. *** ANNA PRICE and MATT RHODES (The Silver Lining) became parents when Ethan Antonio Rhodes entered the world on 10/4/07 weighing in at 9 lbs. 9 oz. *** SAM BLACK CHURCH sold $1000 in CDs and another $8000 in merch at their reunion in September. *** JONNY P (White) was attacked from behind on Lansdowne Street and had his skull fractured. Keep an eye out for benefits on the myspace pages of Somacity and Tester. *** IAN ADAMS (Rock City Crimewave) landed a job on a DANE COOK movie, Bachelor No. 2, and was pleased with the amount of money he could make. Days later he was involved with some light horseplay at a Beatings/Black Helicopter show at the Middle East and upper arm bone (humorus) popped into two pieces. Say goodbye to the fun, good-paying job. A benefit is being put together for him at Great Scott in late November. *** American Laundromat Records out of Stonington, CT, is releasing Dig For Fire—A Tribute to Pixies (CD and 7” colored vinyl) that includes 20 different artists. Go to alr-music.com/shop.php if you’re interested. *** Rolling Stone’s 2007 Hot Issue features a two page spread saying that “Boston’s BANG CAMARO has crafted a boundary-breaking line-up that is sure to secure a long lasting place in the music scene.” *** DAVID GINSBERG is no longer the program director for WBOS.  You can read his final blog at wbosprogramdirector.blogspot.com posted on October 17. *** HOORAY FOR EARTH was featured in October on Fearless Music TV performing the song “Take Care.” *** DAVE WELLINGTON (WBCN) is looking for a new host for the station’s local music show—Boston Emissions (Sunday night 10:00-12:00). *** The Paul Green School of Rock was founded in Philadelphia in 1998, and now there is a branch located at 120 Elm Street in Watertown (617-923-3434). Kids from eight to 18 are welcome to learn how to rock. *** Photographer ALLAN TANNENBAUM has put together a coffee table book called John & Yoko A New York Love Story. Tannenbaum was scheduled to meet John and Yoko for a photo shoot on the day that Lennon was shot to death. *** If you want a book that is more local—try BRETT MILANO’s Sound of Our Town.It’s a complete history of the Boston music scene. *** Musicians looking for a deal should note that Mr. Music in Allston is selling a lot of goodies at discount if you bring in the coupon from their ad on page 11 in the print version of this issue. ***APOLLO SUNSHINE toured the U.S. with DR. DOG in October, playing 21 shows in 24 days. Rita: Wow, that’s a lot of traveling. I wonder if they had any problems on the road. Lolita, gather answers to what was your worst travel experience?

BUMPS IN THE ROAD

      Lolita: What? I can’t hear you. If you want me to ask another question, send people over here. I’m under my car fixing my muffler. ARTHUR FREEDMAN (Boston Music Chronicler): I was on a flight over the Pacific, returning from being chased by bulls while I was looking for ’shrooms. The plane hit turbulence and banged me right out of the seat. This went on for an hour or longer. I was so stoned on Maui’s best that I couldn’t find the hotel I had parked at and had to pay the driver from the totally wrong but similarly sounding hotel’s parking facility. I got my van back... and had a swell ride home on Rte 66. *** AUDREY RYAN (Audrey Ryan): While touring solo in the U.K. I was sandwiched between two cock rock bands in a smelly club outside Manchester. After my set, sausage rock men swarmed me trying to get a piece of the American. At first it seemed nice that they wanted to buy my CD, but then it became clear that one wanted to ravage me in some dark pit of the basement. I fled the club after calling him a fucking douchbag. At the bus station I waited ’til 3:00am for a bus back to Manchester but none came. Moral of story: don’t go to Manchester, U.K. if you are a female alone. *** TIM FARRELL (Miskatonic): Hmmm... so many to choose from, and they all involve airlines! I’d have to say it was when I was coming back from DC. We got delayed three hours in the terminal, then two more on the tarmac, with the toilet overflowing! I was lucky enough to be in the back seat next to it. Lovely aroma. Then the stewardess announces that even though we don’t know when we’ll be taking off that we’ll have to hold it until we get to Boston, because they’ll cancel the flight if we have to go back to the gate to use the bathroom. Nice! *** JASON HALOGEN (The Luxury/ Mad Science Studios): On the first Halogens East Coast tour, we played a mind-blowing show in what at first appeared to be a family-friendly restaurant in Virginia, but by show’s end had turned into an orgy of “lesbian lip-lock” and “underwear modeling” contests (with a noted absence of actual underwear), followed by a fantastic after-party. We finished the tour the next day in New Jersey, following one of the worst bands ever (www.wheresmary.com), where we literally played for the doorman, bartender, and one friend from New Jersey. We didn’t talk much on the way home, but most of the talking centered around how we clearly should have gone straight back home after Virginia. *** SHADY (The Crushing Low/The Noise): A few years ago I had to go to Europe for work—I was completely psyched ’cause I had never been. My plane was delayed for 10 hours at Logan—an hour at a time. By the time I got to the U.K., it was 8:00am, so I had to go directly to the office. Sleep? Maybe an hour on the plane. Good times. *** SEAN MURRAY (Jake & the Jakes): On my way to visit friends for Thanksgiving in Chicago, I was on my twelfth hour of driving on about two hours sleep. I decided to pull off and get some rest in a dive motel. When I got to my room I almost immediately passed out from being exhausted. Two hours into my coma rest I heard a car speeding in the parking lot—it hit parked cars then SLAMMED into my side of the building two doors down. After all said and done that was the only two hours of rest I had for the night. Nobody died. The driver was arrested. *** JIMMY FOX (Poverty Line Old Time Band/ Nazzcar Rain Delay): We had an afternoon gig in Buffalo and wanted to relax but were without a plan. We noticed a dude standing beneath an apartment building window on his cell phone and suddenly something would drop down. He’d pick it up and walk away come back and call again. We talked to him and bought a $20. Unfortunately he sold me sugarcoated oregano. We were bummed, but had to play our gig. As we were loading out the guy comes strolling by us. He didn’t recognize us, but when he did, we got our money back after a good chase! *** GAIL RUSH (New Alliance / Curve of the Earth Records): We were trying to return a Budget rental car before our flight out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although we were running two hours early, the map supplied by Budget led us to a new condo building instead of their agency, plus their phone number was disconnected. We were forced to go to the airport and follow their bus back to the location. “Old map” we were told—apparently YEARS old. We missed our plane and were forced to wait six hours for the next flight to Chicago, then a few more hours in Chicago. They gave us a $25.00 voucher for future car rentals for our discomfort. *** DJ MATTHEW GRIFFIN (The Noise): My family went to New York City for Christmas Eve in 1982. We sang in a men’s and boy’s choir and my brother and I sang a duet of “Silent Night” in German at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Nerve wracking enough? On the ride back there was a snowstorm. The car was on its last legs and my father had ropes tied to the clutch and brake pads. Every time he needed to shift gears or break, he had to pull one. The windshield was freezing over and my mother would press her hands to the glass to try to thaw it. *** GENE JOHNSTON (Splint):  Even though my fear of flying can only be surpassed by my wife, Sheila, we decided to vacation in Cancun.  Things were dandy until we got on our connecting flight in Florida and got a heavy turbulence warning over the intercom from the pilot. Next thing we know, the plane is flipping through the clouds like a fallen leaf. Then the oxygen masks dropped down, things are breaking, Sheila is crying, attendants are crying, barf bags are hitting the floor and the pilot is again on the intercom talking about a turbulence related death in Japan.  Good times. *** STIX SIGMA (The Allstonians/The Hammond Group): Two Allstonians incidents come to mind—the 17 hour van ride to Philadelphia during a major blizzard where we finally arrived at the club only to be greeted with “well, the local band didn’t even make it tonight but why don’t you set up and play anyway?” And the East Coast tour where our guitarist at the time had borrowed Nigel’s prized Rickenbacker electric, only to leave it at the club in DC. Two weeks later on the day of the final drive home we had to wait around for hours for the club to open in order to claim the guitar. *** EMSTERLY (The Noise): Although I suppose I should consider myself lucky that this is the worst thing that has happened to me throughout my travels: the worst travel experience I can remember is going to Italy with my dad two summers ago because everyone kept thinking I was his wife. Eww!  *** MIKE DIPLOMAT (The Flashing Reds): After falling asleep in the back seat for a few hours with my previous band while returning from Quebec, I wake up and see ocean.  Now, I don’t recall salt water between Quebec City and northern New Hampshire.  I tell the bass player/ asshole/ driver that I need to be back for Monday to take a test— so he pulls over and asks some lumberjack directions.  From the car I hear that annoying French laugh.  If anyone is curious as to what is north of Quebec City, you guessed it—nothing.  I made it back late Monday in just enough time to flunk the exam and break up the band. *** FRANCIS DiMENNO (Wrong Hero/ The Noise): I’ve criss-crossed the United States several times by bus and train, but the first time I was ever on a plane was in 1971, on Northwest Orient to Minneapolis/ St. Paul. I was seated between two chain-smoking sailors who told me never, never, under any circumstances, to join the Navy. It wasn’t a very pleasant ride, but it was eminently sound advice. *** IAN JAMES (Ian James): My worst travel experience was in 1998, on a trip to Mexico City alone. I had just turned 21 and didn’t have a credit card yet. The palace that I stayed in didn’t accept travelers’ checks as a method of payment, so I went there with $1600 in cash for my expenses. Three days before I left for the trip, the Wall Street Journal ran an article about Americans being kidnapped in Mexico City and tortured for ransoms. Needless to say I was paranoid as soon as I landed with all that money in my pocket (one U.S. dollar equaled eight pesos). Plus I didn’t think it would be safe for me to eat there. Everything turned out fine for me, but it was the scariest trip of my life. *** ROBIN UMBLEY (The Noise): I don’t have bad travel experiences—I work for an airline, so after all, I cause them! I have the exalted power to create bad weather, air traffic snarls, lines, understaffing, bad government policies, pay cuts, and low morale. I can even send luggage through warps in the space-time continuum. I control that mysterious force that causes perfectly sound airplanes to have mechanical problems and make pilots call in sick. And it was my idea to make people walk barefoot through the metal detector just for the sheer amusement of it all. I must, ’cause so many passengers have told me so. Lolita: Thanks for fessing up, Robin. Now I know who to blame everything on.

MUSICIAL CHAIRS

      Rita: People love to blame others for things like bands breaking up. But when bands break up, new bands are formed from those who find themselves free agents.  Here’s what’s happened with some of those free agents. THE DOOM BUGGIES are now a quartet with the addition of x-Moving Targets/Golden Arrows guitarist CHUCK FREEMAN. *** DAVE PINO has been on tour with POWERMAN 5000 who will have a new album out soon. *** PETE CHVANY (Lylac Ambush) has a solo project called DIRIGIBLE EGO. *** CHIPPAH has replaced I-MAN on bass in WILDZERO. Although I-man has moved to New York, he’s still in the band—he’s now playing second lead guitar. *** JASON MARCHIONNA (Fluttr Effect) has joined up with MEandJOANCOLLINS on drums. *** PROGZILLA includes members of SPECIMEN 37, SUTRA, FUNF, THE RUDDS, BRETT ROSENBERG PROBLEM, VOODOO SCREW MACHINE, LARRY BANNILOW, and THE BUCKNERS. *** BRIAN VIGLIONE (Dresden Dolls) is touring Europe with JESSE MALIN. *** JOSH BOUGHEY has a new solo electronic music project called PHINEUS. Lolita: I bet Josh’s project would expand if he would just try to let others play with his Phineus. *** BEN HEDLUND isn't sitting behind the drum set for THE RUSSIANS anymore. *** ANDY BROOKS (Mittens) has a side project that’s called ANDY MENUDO. *** CARTER TANTON rarely plays with TOWNSHIP now because he's focused on his other band, TULSA, that was recently reviewed in Rolling Stone (the one with Hunter S. Thompson on the cover). *** East Coast session man, MATT SMART,has joined up with TOWNSHIP on guitar. *** THE TENAFLY VIPERS need a bass player. If you think louder is better, go to myspace.com/thetenaflyvipers. Lolita: If you try out for the band and they ask you something—respond with, “What?” They’ll be very impressed that your ears are blown out.

WRECK OF IRAQ

      Rita: Blown out, thrown out—no, let’s just get the troops out. We need a good solution to what is going on in Iraq. Lolita, ask everyone what should be done about that Bush-of-a-mess. Lolita: Okay, let me throw on my fatigues first. TIM MUNGENAST (Tim Mungenast & His Preexisting Conditions): Iraq? Here’s what I’d do: immediately begin a phased pullout with an unannounced timetable of about six months, and give our troops some much-needed rest. Then I MIGHT redeploy in Afghanistan, if a sober analysis actually shows that we could help for real. Blowing up bad guys is not enough by itself... it never was. With the money and lives we save, we may actually have a functioning National Guard again, just in time for the next category five hurricane! *** JIM SULLIVAN (Phoenix/ http://jimsullivanink.com): Well, we found the WMDs and totally destroyed the terrorists, so that’s good. I hear tell we’re beatin’ up on the Iraqis pretty good now, and should have the country conquered and safe for democracy in another dozen years or so. The only problem is we need to start another war with that other Ira- country over there, Iran, and are we going to have enough cannon fodder—I mean soldiers—to do so? Perpetual war is a bitch. At least it keeps our tax dollars away from those pesky poor people who are always asking for handouts here in America. *** ADAM AUFIERO (Shööt The Möön): What can you do? This war, and all others, is based on an instinctual level. This is the way the planet is at the moment... in time we will realize that, as a whole, when we evolve, that war is not what suits our best interest as a human race. If everything is as it should be, then nothing can be done... this is part of a step we take in evolution. This happens to be a very long step for us. Lolita: Adam, I like your attitude of acceptance but please don’t equate our “planet” with “the human race”—our planet is doing it’s best to shake off all mankind and spin peacefully, free of the cancerous-like humans, in its orbit around the sun. *** NANCY NEON (The Noise): I agree with Governor Bill Richardson. I’m for TOTAL and IMMEDIATE withdrawal from Iraq with no troops left behind. To elaborate, this does set him apart from other Democratic presidential candidates. As much as I like my homeboy John Edwards from North Carolina, his exit strategy has a date of about 2013. Hillary Clinton is talking about 2017. I don’t know what date Obama is working toward, but Bill Richardson is the only one talking about ending the war and bringing home ALL the troops IMMEDIATELY. On that issue alone, he should be seriously considered as a presidential candidate. *** JOSH BOUGHEY (The Blind King/ Phineus): When the U.S. was fighting in Vietnam my Dad got so pissed he moved us all to Canada.  Though I’m mad at our government too, right now I mostly just feel awful for the families who are losing their children and sisters and brothers and mothers.  Wow, “sisters.”  “Mothers.”  Before (in this country at least) all the dead heroes were boys.  When I was 18 only us guys had to sign up for the draft.  My cousin did ROTC and now he’s a doctor with kids.  So much has changed and I’m not even that old yet.  What exactly is it about Iraq, anyways?  Oh, yeah, the oil.  Fuck Bush.  And build a hydrocar. *** DICK TATE (The Prime Movers/ Middle East): I think the U.S. government should cancel or postpone all major league sporting events until our troops are brought home.  Maybe then Americans might realize there’s a fucking war going on. *** CLAY N. FERNO (Wild Zero): Just like bad, uncomfortable sex with a stranger, or an abusive four-year relationship, the best advice is to PULL OUT. *** STEPHIE PEEKA (Stephie Peeka & The SeeKing 7): If I knew what to do about this mess then I would be the first woman president. Another Vietnam?! Lolita: I’m not sure why you think being president has anything to do with knowing what to do. Seems to me just the opposite is true.

CLUBLAND

      Rita: It’s natural for your life balanced with joys and woes. So after the woes of war, get yourself out and see a local band. It’s the best deal you can get on live entertainment. Here are some shows we recommend. THE DOOM BUGGIES’ CD release party is at Great Scott on Saturday, 11/3. *** Saturday, 11/10, is a benefit for STEPHEN FREDETTE (it’s also the Middle East 20th Anniversary Party) with HALLELUJAH THE HILLS headlining—and yes, it’s at the Middle East. *** Same night, same club, but downstairs, CHAUNCEY plays a reunion. *** On Saturday, 11/17, JOHN HOVORKA (x-Turbines)will be in town with his DAWN OF MECHANIZED FARMING at the Cantab. *** BEATLEJUICE plays all Beatles at Johnny D’s on Friday and Saturday, 11/23 & 11/24. *** On Friday, 11/30 the Cantab features a show with all female lead bands—APPLE BETTY, LIZ BORDEN BAND, GIRL ON TOP, and THE CELLO CHIX—and although he’s not female, T MAX will be there too with a medley from the show Why Do We Go To War? *** WILD ZERO celebrates the release of the new EP at O’Brien’s on Saturday 12/1. *** Same night THE SPRAINED ANKLES release their CD at the Abbey Lounge. *** After a whole lotta touring, MOBIUS BAND celebrates the release of Heaven at the Middle East Downstairs on Sunday, 12/2. *** The anti-war project that brought 44 of Boston finest singers together is releasing the End War Now DVD on Saturday, 12/8, at the Abbey Lounge.

      Rita: Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox for winning the World Series. We want to thank them for a great season of entertainment. Big hugs and kisses to Papelbon, Lowell, Beckett, Ellsbury, Youkilis, Varitek, Ramirez, and Ortiz—okay, Kielty you too! Lolita: If you baseball heroes are looking for more than hugs and kisses, email me. And as for the rest of our readers—see you in December!  I love that song.

Rita: Welcome to my favorite issue of the year—the dark Halloween issue. This issue is so dark it will leave black on your hands. Lolita: The black organic soy ink is delicious and serves well with blood. I’ve made a habit of dicing up a Halloween issue and sprinkling it on my black rice. And this issue is especially delicious since I managed to bring back some of Paris for the cover. Those skulls and bones are from the catacombs that are deep under the streets of Paris. Rita: Yes, Lolita, you needn’t remind us again that you went to Paris. Let’s get back to what’s delicious about this issue—find out what people like to eat. Please get out of the sewer and ask everyone about their favorite thing to eat.

FAVORITE FOOD

Lolita: Okay, but it would be nice if you helped me out of this sewer—I thought there might be some bones buried under Dorchester. I know, you don’t want to hear about it—just ask, what is your favorite thing to eat? Since I can’t get out, could you please send people down here to give me their answers—it’s getting dark down here—do you have a flashlight? Oh, thank you—oh, it’s you Linda—tell me—what are you doing down here? No, forget that, what is your favorite thing to eat? LINDA VIENS (Angeline/ Cosmic-Trigger): My favorite thing to eat is warm, dripping, seared, juicy hunks of roasted meat... of any kind! Grrrrrrrrrr. *** MR. CURT (Mr. Curt Ensemble): LOBSTAAAH, which made the recent scarcity so hard to take, coupled with that ridiculous rise in cost. But in the past month, we’ve dined at a more respectable rate at least five times. Maximum-yum! *** MAX HEINEGG (Max Heinegg): My favorite thing to eat is a dumpling, so I’ll say dim sum, especially at China Pearl in Chinatown. It’s kinda cheating, like saying tapas is your favorite, but dim sum rules for dumplings: shrimp, pork, lobster; it’s also short money and kids love it because it’s loud, bright, and the servings can usually be eaten in a few bites. I usually go before 11:00 to avoid the big crowds and occasionally can snake free parking at that time. *** WALTER SICKERT (… & the Army of Broken Toys): There’s only one thing I need this time of year—one perfect food, one thing that makes everything okay, one thing that’s on my mind and yours—BRAINS! *** FRANK ROWE (Classic Ruins): My favorite thing to eat (with the intention of digestion) is the number five special at the El Phoenix, with the two cheese and onion enchiladas, a bean burrito, refried beans and that funky yellow and brown rice, plus a Rolling Rock, nachos and salsa, all for $6.00. I realize I need a time machine to get it, but I can make a pretty close approximation myself. *** NICOLE TAMMARO (Nicole Tammaro Photography): My favorite thing to eat is my home tomato sauce. *** MICHAEL BLOOM (Tim Mungenast & his Pre-Existing Conditions): That’s easy—ice cream (although I might not give the same answer to a non-family magazine). Lolita: So, you think we’re a family magazine? If I didn’t know you were ill with your pre-existing condition I’d come over there and show you how I play bingo with whips, pins, and clamps. *** MIKE HIBARGER (Desolation Bells): Favorite thing to eat? That’s such a difficult question, one cannot dine on morels and toro (tuna belly) everyday... and Quisp cereal is hard to find in the grocery store these days.

*** GENE JOHNSTON (Splint): I love to eat spaghetti and meatballs from Tutto Italiano. It’s a family run Italian specialty shop so all their sauces and meatballs are homemade and they import their pasta. A glass of red, some stuffed cherry peppers and spaghetti and meatballs. Mmmm... *** FATHER ABRAHAM (The Indefinite Article): M&Ms and those little stick pretzels. Not the rods; don’t be ignorant. The little sticks. Not the little pretzel-shaped mini-pretzels, either. Christ. Has to be the little sticks. One stick for each M&M, or two for two, or three for three. Four for four would be kind of ridiculous, but you’re welcome to go ahead and try. Just don’t do it at like an important business meeting or something. That wouldn’t be professional. *** DUNCAN WILDER JOHNSON (Destruct-a-thon/ Thrashachusetts Records): Pussy. Lolita: Oh my God! I’m going to have to save all those poor cats in Duncan’s neighborhood. And then I’ll stop by to tease Duncan with my most sought after feline. *** DANIEL BON (…& The Future Ghosts): Taka-Su... baby octopus seasoned with vinegar. *** TERRI CHRISTOPHER (27/ Angels of Meth): Celentano vegan eggplant rollettes: tofu, broccoli, and spinach tightly rolled in breaded slices of eggplant in a zesty tomato sauce. I then de-veganize them by putting a ton of grated Pecorino Romano cheese on them. Delicious. *** A.J. WACHTEL (Boston Now): My favorite thing to eat is either a pepperoni pizza at Santarpio’s or else a hot dog at Simco’s on the hill in Mattapan. I am usually the only white person at Simco’s but no one has EVER bothered me because they know I am either a musician or a crazy dangerous ex-con capable of inflicting much damage between bites. When I am there I can usually feel this excitement in the air (because all the people are staring at me in disbelief) and it is often more satisfying to me than walking off stage after a red hot set. *** ERIC WAXWOOD (Auto Interiors): Being a diabetic, of course it has to be chocolate. That’s why insulin is my best friend ever. *** ANDY HALL (STATE YOUR MIND): I enjoy Anna’s Taqueria’s Super Quesadillas (chicken, cheese, lettuce, salsa, hot peppers, hot sauce)—they’re unreal. *** BRIAN MICHAEL ROFF (The Underpainting): This question sounds like a set-up to me... but I am going to answer in an extremely nerdy way. My favorite thing to eat, especially at this time of year, is anything and everything LOCAL. This farmers’ market season I’ve been obsessed with heirloom tomatoes—the uglier and lumpier the better. Lolita: Then Brian Michael, if you ever have to choose between Rita and me—you’d prefer Rita.

ROCK NEWS & EVENTS

Rita: You know Brian Michael would never pick you because he gags whenever he breathes in that French perfume—Scent de Sewer. And yes, the timing of our deadline stinks too; we don’t know exactly what’s going on with the Red Sox and the playoffs. So, we’re offering up our version of the Fenway wave with a photo of Noise Board slugger EMSTERLY who’s actually better known for her sweater puppies than her cut at the plate. *** The Noise was honored to be the recipient of the Best Local Magazine award at the MassCann/NORML award ceremony—a new event that was held (the night before the Freedom Fest) at the Bulfinch Yatch Club. *** SHRED (x-’BCN) picked up a DJ job in Glens Falls, New York, at WKBE. No more WBCN. What does this mean for the future of Boston Emissions and The Rumble? *** Gibson.com is currently using CATHERINE CARTER’s photos in rotation on their home page. *** SHILO McDONALD has joined the hosting team for WMFO’s On the Town with Mikey Dee (Wednesdays 9pm-midnight). This local show is still looking for a good engineer to help out. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you can do the job.*** Beginning on October 26, the ULTRASONIC ROCK ORCHESTRA brings its production of A Night At The Rock Opera to the theater district, and will perform a run of ten shows at The Wilbur Theater. *** ED “MOOSE” SAVAGE’s Uncle Hank Shulman did the camera work and cinematography on the first American surrealist/ experiment film, Dreams The Money Can Buy (1947). Ed showed it in Pawtucket and we hope he’ll bring it to Boston. *** THREE DAY THRESHOLD’s “I Must Admit” is being played in the soundtrack of MTV’s newest show, Real World Sydney. *** HOORAY FOR EARTH headlined Obamapalooza, a rally and concert in New York City for Democratic hopeful BARACK OBAMA. Lolita: I think they should have called the event Obamapawinner. It’s a name with a more positive attitude. *** October 5-7 marks the return of Honk! in Davis Square, Somerville with 20 honk bands (street bands with horns) from all over the world (a handful of them represent the New England states). The Honk parade is on Sunday and is led by CLICK & CLACK from WBUR’s Car Talk. This event is multi-faceited event—so go to honkfest.org to get the lowdown. *** THE BOSTON BABYDOLLS own VITA LIGHTLY (a.k.a. Sarah) is one of the 13 contestants competing on the new season of America’s Next Top Model. *** MATT FARLEY (Moe’s Haven) stars in a low budget horror movie, Freaky Farley, that shows at Coolidge Corner on Monday, 10/8, at 8:30. *** MARK SCHLEICHER (Quintaine Americana) is bound for New Jersey so it’s time to go to Church (the place to drink, not the place to pray—hint: it’s where the Linwood use to be) on Saturday, 10/20, for Schleicherfest. ROADSAW, MESS WITH THE BULL, THROTTLEROD, THE HUMANOIDS, CORTEZ, ROCK CITY CRIMEWAVE, and many more are scheduled for the going away party. *** The 4th annual Mass. Morgue combines dark electronic music, Gothic bellydancing, physical comedy, and a macabre on-campus tale at the Cantab on Sunday, 10/28. *** CBS selected THE VITAL MIGHT’s “Don’t Mind Me” to air on its Emmy award-winning daytime drama The Young and the Restless. “Don’t Mind Me,” off the band’s debut album Obsidian features Morphine’s DANACOLLEY on saxophone. *** WACKASS EGYPTIANS have updated “When I Say Patriots” with new lyrics, and special guests GARY TANGUAY, SCOTT ZOLACK, and ANDY GRESH (The WBCN Pats pre/post game show hosts) on backup vocals. *** ALVAN LONG (New Alliance) has his artwork hanging in The Sherman Café (257 Washington St., Union Square, Somerville) ’til 10/31. *** Being a New England based ’zine we cover all bands and artist who are based in this area, or made their name here. That is why we’ll go beyond the local starving musicians to include JAMES TAYLOR’s plead to the Navy to stop using high decibel mid-range frequency sonar that kills whales. He’s only asking the Navy to develop safety measures when training without compromising military readiness. Go to nrdcactionfund.org for more details. Lolita: You better be careful in the clubs—some high decibel bands use a lot of mid range—and, Rita, you may be the next whale to go belly up.

MEMORABLE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Rita: What’s got you so full of venom? The funny thing is that I’m getting a whale costume together for Halloween. You could go as a sewer rat and you wouldn’t need a costume. Now how ’bout you get asking our friends what Halloween costumes have etched their way into their memories. Lolita: Okay, line ’em up and tell me about your favorite Halloween costumes. CASEY DESMOND (Casey Desmond): I was Captain Planet in high school; I had a green mullet and blue skin and wore the red super hero undies on top of my blue body. The Power is YOURS! *** CHUCK U. (WMFO): I have two most memorable costumes. In 1995, the year of the 50th Anniversary of the Atomic Bomb droppings on Japan, I dressed in Japanesse sandals, an authentic kimono, and a grotesque face mask with an eye falling out its socket. I said I was a Habaksha—survivor the atomic bomb. It made people cringe. More recently, I let my feminine side show, and dressed as a female pumpkin. That is I wore psychedelic leotards under an orange mini-skirt, a bright orange pumpkin shirt, and a headband with two springy pumpkin Martian antennas. Not scary like the previous, but rather amusing. *** MICHAEL EPSTEIN (The Motion Sick/ Okay Thursday): I wore a yellow shirt and green pants and pinned a tissue to my head. I was snot on a tissue. It’s both a condition and a costume. *** MONIQUE ORTIZ (A.K.A.C.O.D.): I think it was back in ’98, Bourbon Princess played the Halloween show, upstairs at the Middle East. I went “tarred & feathered,” wearing nothing but black liquid latex with feathers pressed into it. Needless to say, it was a hit, but by the end of the night I had to borrow a trenchcoat because all the boys were peeling it off throughout the night... much to my extreme pleasure! I’ve since developed an allergy to latex. I knew there’d be a price to pay. *** TIM EMSWILER (The Noise): I was a girl for Halloween once when I was a kid, but that was traumatic for me, so instead I’ll talk about the time when I dressed up as a decomposing corpse. I truly looked disgusting, and as I walked through the streets of Allston on my way to a party, I reveled in the looks I was getting. I stopped at Store 24 to buy smokes, and had to remove the fake rotting teeth to make myself understood. The guy behind the counter was freaking out. He practically threw the cigarettes at me and said, “Here! You take these and go! NOW!” *** DICK TATE (The Prime Movers/ the Middle East):After serving in The Strangemen for five years, only wearing a costume on Halloween seem pretty tame. Try walking into a bikers bar with a two-foot high blonde wig and a silver suit on in the middle of August if you want scary. *** DANA COLLEY (Twinemen/ A.K.A.C.O.D.): The one Halloween costume that has remained purely conceptual is this: dressing up as a Taliban member with my soprano sax and going as Kenny Jihad. *** MIKE MacDONALD (…& the Widow Makers): A few years back I went as Lt. Dangle from Reno 911—short shorts and all. It was a hit with the ladies. *** PETER CHOYCE (KXLU.com): Instead of dressing up in elaborate, expensive costumes, I went the other way and won the contest when I was at Emerson. I put on a 99-cent witch’s mask from Store 24 and the rest of me wore NOTHING. You know me. The prize was about 100 dollars, too. The rich bitches at Emerson who spent so much on their walking condom costume were SO pissed at me and said the contest was unfair. Ha! *** SUSAN SCOTTI (Last Call Agency): I was dressed as Monica Lewinsky the year the story broke. I had on a blue dress with a “stain” on the front and wore a beret. I also handed out cigars. I won some sort of prize for the costume but I don’t remember what it was. *** SCOTT HARRISON (Burnt Fur): One year I attached extra arms to a shirt under the actual arms. Then I filled them with stuffing and fastened them with gloves to wrap around my waist. Then I painted my face blue and was “choking” for Halloween. *** STEPHIE PEEKA (… & The SeeKing 7): When I was a wee lass my brother made a dead on costume for me of Boba Fett (Star Wars) out of a motorcycle helmet complete with jet pack on my back. Lucas then gave him a job in the special effects department of ILM. Or should have. *** STIX SIGMA (The Hammond Group/ The Allstonians): My favorite Halloween costume was improvised at the last minute and borne of desperation—Drunk the Clown! A full Afro wig, clown make-up, pseudo-clown clothing, and several 40s of Haffenreffer were the answer to the annual question “what am I going to do about a costume?” *** NICHOLE CLARKE (Orange Nichole): One Halloween I attended a big party dressed as Clara Rockmore, theremin virtuoso. This may sound a little obscure now, but it was right after the movie Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey had come out and many of my friends had seen it. I arrived at the party and found to my surprise that my friend Mel was also dressed as Clara! Likely the only party ever with two Clara Rockmores. *** SAMMY MIAMI (Shööt The Möön): As a kid, I usually went as a member of Kiss. My mom’s mirror belt was the centerpiece for every costume. Now I wear it on stage! However, the most memorable costume I ever wore was after the second divorce when we moved into a bachelor pad on Halloween night. Upset that I was going to miss trick or treating without a costume, one of the roommates let me borrow his party costume. I remember it well because all the neighbors were appalled to see an eight-year-old kid dressed as a four-foot tall Miller Lite! Lolita: Sammy, it’s good to get started early, so you can learn how to deal with hangovers.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Rita: Speaking of drunk, I bet every one of the people mentioned in our Musical Chairs section has experienced that special time when their alcohol level rose to the point of forcing them to bow to the porcelain god. MATT HUTTON and PAT MacDONALD (The Red Telephone) have put together BIRDWATCHERS OF AMERICA with ADAM GOODWIN (Permafrost) on drums, and the wizard pedal steel player BOB NEW. *** Hey, there are some new associate editors at The Noise—welcome long-time writers NANCY NEON, TIM EMSWILER and KEVIN FINN. *** 27 has decided to add a new member each month so they get mentioned in this column on a regular basis. This month’s new member is GREG MOSS (x-Common Cold/ Polaris Mine) on bass. *** EDDIE JAPAN consists of DAVID SANTOS (Mercury Quartet), CHRIS BARRETT (Logan 5 & the Runners/ Tiger Saw), JIM COLLINS (Buckners/ Brett Rosenberg Problem), BART LoPICCOLO (Scatterfield/ The Din), JASON BALDOCK (Hit Squad), and GEORGE HALL (Weisstronauts/ Seks Bomba). *** SCOTT LERNER (x-Pure Fiction) and MATT BELYEA (x-Happy the Clown) are part of a new band called THE CRUSHING LOW. And they’re opening for the return of SCARCE. Lolita: That’s right, one of the most exciting bands to come out of Providence is back—at T.T.’s on Saturday, 10/6. *** KOSEI FUKUYAMA has filled the open seat at the drums for TOKYO TRAMPS. *** BIPOLARCOASTER features CRAIG ADAMS and GINO ZANETTI, both x-Dents, but this band is metal. *** THE SPRAINED ANKLES are DREW PILARSKI and MIKE PATTERSON (x-Wrong Side of the Tracks), HENRY RYAN (The Skels), RYAN LOGSDON (Elena James Band), and PADDY KEYS (The Larkin Brigade). *** BLEU, MIKE VIOLA, and DUCKY CARLISLE have formed a new (super) group called THE MAJOR LABELS. Rita: Will the major labels be going after The Major Labels? Or visa versa? Lolita: Do you mean like the top shelf labels at a bar?

TOP SHELF TALES

Rita: Yes, Lolita, that’s exactly what I meant—will those fine musicians drown themselves in the best whiskey in town. Now be a good sewer rat and ask our friends to describe someone they saw who was very drunk. Lolita: Stagger into place and spit out a drunken tale… SEAN MURRAY (Jake & the Jakes): I was staying over a friend’s house after a long night of drinking, my brother and his friend stayed over as well. My brother, who is not known for getting sick, got sick in the bathroom during the early morning and left it since everyone was asleep. My brother’s friend, who is known for getting sick, figured he did it and though he couldn’t remember doing it. He cleaned it up. My brother and I were in hysterics and still are. *** NICK BLAKEY (The In Out/ Church): Someone redecorated their bathroom organically, shall we say, via horizontal frontal blasting. This was followed by a slip on the bedroom rug and an upended full body crash (ever seen 235 lbs do that?) Moral of the story: NEVER follow a Rochefort 10 with an Avery Maharaja and finish off with a Stone Double Bastard after you’ve already had a few strong ones. I was in a good deal of physical pain for weeks afterwards. *** TIM FARRELL (Miskatonic): Once my friend Ed and myself were getting hammered at a bar when he sees this table full of cute girls and buys two pitchers of beer and starts heading for them, dancing and spilling beer the whole way. Amazingly he makes it to the table with the pitchers in tact, slams them down on the table and says, “let’s drink!” Surprisingly they were totally psyched! Unfortunately, he then lost his balance, fell into the table and sent the beer flying everywhere. Then he just gets up and walks away. I was laughing so hard I nearly peed myself. *** SHAUN WOLF WORTIS (Gato Malo): Once saw a guy make love to a bed of flowers. He had dug a hole in the dirt and was pumping away. Granted, he was on MDMA at the time, as well as being drunk. *** EMSTERLY (The Noise): At a party last winter, a really drunk girl decided to do a somersault over the beer pong table. Next thing I knew, there was blood everywhere and she had to be rushed to the hospital. She ended up with two missing teeth, lots of hospital bills, and her jaw wired shut for six weeks. I guess she was lucky because she was so drunk at the time that breaking her jaw didn’t hurt too much. *** TIM CASEY (Chillgroove): I saw a drunk take a dump on the trolley stop at Brigham Circle. He was shuffling along while kind of wiping his rear against the jersey barrier, so he was leaving a trail against the wall and droppings on the platform. I was in high school; it was a searing hot day and everyone was sweating profusely on the bus I was riding. That was the grossest experience I’ve ever had. *** SIMON RITT (The Darlings): Once an uninvited drunk person entered the old, upstairs dressing room at Bunratty’s moments before whatever big show I was about to play. It was a small space and he was stoned, smashed, loaded and loud. After briefly raising some good-natured hell he split. As he stumbled out the door I looked next to me on the small couch where Mr. Drunk Guy had just been sitting and found the large bag of marijuana that moments before he had been waving around like a big shot. That night I played like a god! *** PETER RINNING (QRSTs): A long, long, long time ago... an ex-girlfriend had just bought a new Honda CRX and we decided to celebrate. As the evening wore on, she became too drunk to drive (I was less drunk). As we were driving home, she was in the passenger seat and was not in good shape. She had to throw up and thought her window was open—but alas, it was not! She puked all over her brand new car. Nice way to break it in. *** KEN FIELD (Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/ Birdsongs of the Mesozoic): A number of years ago in an unnamed city, a member of a group I was playing with got very drunk after a gig. We were staying at the home of a well-known musician with whom we shared the bill. Two of us were crashing in that musician’s garage recording studio. In the middle of the night I heard some noise—my fellow band-member had gotten up to relieve himself against the side of the garage, but apparently he was too drunk to realize that he was doing so from the inside, not the outside, of the garage. *** JOHN BLOUT (Watts): I witnessed a drunk girl climb up into the rafters during one of the Stones shows at Fenway. She lost her grip and fell from the highest point she reached. She somehow landed on her feet and shattered her ankles. She’s lucky that’s all she shattered! *** MIKE DIPLOMAT (The Flashing Reds): After a solid night of drink at the Middle East, I saw a friend of mine pretend that he was a car in Central Square. He kept running into Mass. Ave. saying, “I need to make the light, I need to make the light.” He finally came to his senses when one of the Cambridge renegade bikers (you know, pro-environment/ car attack dogs) almost ran him over. It is safe to say that I was able to straighten him out with a little cheese wiz (take that ozone layer) before he crashed on my couch—shaved eyebrows is so 1986. *** GLENN WILLIAMS (LowBudget Records): I once saw a guy at a house party take a big bite out of this plant with huge green leaves on it. It turned out to be this super poisonous thing from the Orient. His face blow up and his gums began to bleed. To top it off the alcohol enhanced the reaction. We all thought he was a dead guy. Thank goodness he pulled through, but the idiot was sick for three weeks. Moral, never mix wild vegetation with booze. At least oriental vegetation. *** JOHN BEAUDETTE (Destroy Babylon): One night during a kegger in the suburbs, my friend and I thought it would be funny to try on the dog’s electric collar and run as fast as we could through the electric fence. We dropped like drunken flies once we got past the invisible line, and needless to say, we were wasted enough to just barely feel the giant welts left on our necks. Lolita: I hope you got that on videotape. I’m sure it could end up in one of those masochistic movies or at least America’s Funniest Home Videos.

CLUBLAND

Rita: Now here are some shows that may just want to videotape. BAKER releases their CD at T.T’s on Friday, 10/5. *** Same night the Midway celebrates 20 years with LOVEWHIP and the Whippettes. *** On Wednesday, 10/10, CASEY DESMOND sings in four octaves at Great Scott. *** LIZ BORDEN & THE AXES’ CD release is at Church on Friday, 10/12. *** Same night JOHN POWHIDA’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT takes off at the Lizard Lounge. *** Hardcore fans will check out GANG GREEN at the Basement on Friday, 10/19. *** Wednesday, 10/24, at the Abbey is The Fall Progtacular featuring the Boston progressive rock tribute band—PROGZILLA. *** On Friday, 10/26, SARAH BORGES plays Johnny D’s. *** GIRL ON TOP headlines the Club Bohemia Halloween show on Saturday, 10/27, in the basement of the Cantab. *** HO-AG does the Butthole Surfers on Tuesday, 10/30, at the Middle East. Lolita: See you there.

Rita: The Noise needs your support if you’d like to see it continue into 2008. Lolita: We keep our ad rates low so bands and small businesses can afford effective promotion in a magazine that doesn’t have its nose so far up in the air that it can’t smell its own shit. Choose The Noise, or lose The Noise. We count on your support.

LOOKING BACK ON THE SUMMER
Keep it goin’ on strong and straight

And use your heart and all your might
and all your weight
and all your power
Do what you can
to make it last for many hour
Because once your dead
you’re done, you don’t come back.
~Mr. Butch

Rita: Wise words from a wise man whom we will miss. Do you know that one day Mr. Butch found $300 on the street and handed it out to strangers? Fourteen people received $20 that day—Butch kept $20 for himself. Lolita: Wait a second—he gave me $20 once—I thought it was because he wanted my services. He was quite a man, if you know what I mean. Afterwards I gave him the $20 back—the experience was well worth it. Rita: You’re such a slut and you don’t even care. How was your Paris vacation? Lolita: I ran out of euros after two days but luckily I found Pigalle, the sex center of Paris, and made enough pocket change to support the rest of my vacation. There may be enough demand now for me to publish La Noisette in Paris. Rita: You know noisettes are hazelnuts in France. Lolita: Maybe I’ll change my name to Hazel for that trés bon ’zine. Rita: Hey, enough about your new French ’zine, let’s find out what other people did this summer. Lolita: Okay, line ’em up—let’s hear about the highlight of your summer…

ADAM LEWIS (The Planetary Group): Posing for The Noise centerfold, of course! Much better than my vacation in southeast Asia. Lolita: Some people may wonder why Adam was chosen for our Big Shot (no longer known as the centerfold)—he lost 180 lbs. in the last year. *** BILLY CARL (Bird Mancini): We host a backyard jam every year with all our musical and nonmusical friends. This year it decided to rain on us complete with thunder and lightning. We pulled the plug and played under a tent with everyone crowding around us smiling, laughing, singing and dancing. Even though the tent was supported by lots of metal poles we escaped electrocution (but think of the press we would have gotten if we had all been electrocuted!). A mini Woodstock in our own yard. *** TIM MUNGENAST (Tim Mungenast & His Preexisting Conditions): There have been a lot of great things going on this summer, but the highlight for me was our annual trip to the Cape with my wife and daughter. We collected rocks and shells on the beach, lounged in the shade eating ice cream, dined on good touristy fried food, and cruised for LPs in the thrift shops (okay, the LPs were my obsession and mine alone). Anyway, it was a great time and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. *** SEAN MURRAY (Jake & the Jakes): The highlight of my summer this year was vacationing on a beach house up in Seabrook, NH. Body surfing/boogy boarding seven to ten hours a day, building/sculpting sand castles and other things for the kids, every day for the last couple of weeks was great. It allowed me to remember what’s truly important and how blessed I have been throughout my life to enjoy these moments and understand what it all means. I look forward to these moments as much as possible in my life. *** JOHN POWHIDA (The Rudds/ John Powhida International Airport): Recording and releasing my first solo CD, John Powhida’s Star Spangled Banner, and the residency for the John Powhida International Airport at Toad that followed! And by the way it’s John Powhida International Airport not THE John Powhida International Airport. Lolita: John, if you don’t want us to screw with your name, you have to show us with better example. Your first sentence uses “the” where it shouldn’t be. *** KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold): The highlight of the summer for me was riding a mechanical bull while watching the gorgeous (and scantily clad) ladies of The Boston Babydolls dance up a storm. Throw in some free booze, free BBQ, lots of ladies, then crank the heat up to 125 degrees and that’s one hell of a night. *** PATTI JONES (music attorney): I was the only American civilian at two ceremonies in July in France honoring American soldiers who died in World War II. The ceremony in Chatelmontagne, a small village in the middle of France, was grandiose with a military marching band and representatives of the French regional government and military. It was held in honor of six U.S. Air Force officers who died in a plane crash on a hill near the town. Their mission was unknown and still a mystery. We toured the site where remains of the plane are still embedded in the earth. I posed for newspapers photos and was wined and dined like a celebrity just because I was American! For everybody who thinks the French don’t appreciate what we did in WWII, their treatment of one civilian American was testimony that the French really do still love us! *** FRANCIS DiMENNO (The Noise): The most interesting day of my summer was July 6th. My sister Mary came up for a visit and I took her to Island Park Beach in Portsmouth, RI, We ate at the original Flo’s Clam Shack on Park Avenue, and drove back to Providence via Fall River and Seekonk in a hailstorm. The most interesting five minutes was when I had four RI state troopers come to my door on August 1 at 7:35am, asking about an escaped felon. *** MAX G (Max G & the Spots): The Spots and I finally went on a little Northeast tour in Shawn’s conversion van. We passed a store in Danbury, CT, “Dollar Max.” The slogan was “Your dollar buys Max here.” Sweet! *** MONIQUE ORTIZ (A.K.A.C.O.D.): Being able to spend a lot of time at Hi-N-Dry with Dana and Larry, finishing our debut record! Awesome! *** BRIAN CHURCH (Tristan Da Cunha/ Electric Clawjob): Summer highlights, besides finally releasing a new record, included helping the sassy warlords of Clawjob decimate Worcester, wielding the Asgaard Scimitar with Ernesto and Eric, experiencing the new direction of Paper Thin Stages, dressing up as trees and posing in front of the reflecting pool at the Mother Church, taking the guy who used to be in Sparks and his Swedish vocalist to Walden Pond only to be turned away by a high bacteria count sending us back to hang out at Papa Gino’s in Allston, bonding over a mutual love of The Rutles... playing a show with these blokes was pretty swell as well. *** NANCY NEON (The Noise): My summer highlight was July 23 when my fun, fashionable friend, Eva Destruction and I traveled to New York City for the Mode Merr’s Burlesque Brunch at Marion’s Continental at Bowery and 4th Street. We met up with our friend Gillian, also from Boston, and our NYC friend, Ron Ross. While Eva and I were already fans of Angela’s designs, Gillian was readily converted over Fashionista (ruby red vodka and grapefruit juice) cocktails and the delish food. We three gals got the satin “panty line” skirts in different colors. (Mr. DeMille, we’re ready for our close up!) I’m planning to bring the Mode Merr show to the Baseball Ball Tavern in the fall! *** PETER RINNIG (QRST’s): I’ve had two highlights so far this summer. One was taking my daughter to see the B-52’s on a Saturday night and then the next day seeing the Beach Boys (her favorite band!). What a contrast in bands —seeing a cool hip old band and seeing an old band. You can decide which is which. The other highlight was going on a whale watch and seeing this one whale breech over and over again (shooting straight out of the water) and making a HUGE splash when it came down. *** PETER C. JOHNSON (Peter C. Johnson): Traveling in Italy, eating wonderful food, and contemplating the demise of our civilization while walking amidst the ruins of ancient Rome. *** JOE KOWALSKI (Onlyone/ Funf): In July, I got to go with my dad, my uncle John, and my brother Jim to Citizens Bank Park in Philly. It was my first trip to the stadium, and we saw the Phillies lose their 10,000th game. It’s a great park. On that trip we also got to see a lot of other family, so that’d have to be a highlight of the summer. *** ROB HUGHES (Charlie): The highlight of my summer was most definitely touring. We went out for two weeks and it was one of the best experiences of my life, you really learn a lot about yourself and your friends/bandmates. We experienced so many things and met so many awesome, kind and genuine people it’s unbelievable. To any band that hasn’t yet had the pleasure of touring I highly recommend it; if you can afford it, it’s not hard to book. You just need time and diligence. *** [MUNK] ([munk]/ Planet Killers): Being a happy newlywed. Rolling like a pimp with the drop top in my new Jeep. Going back to guitar lessons for real and learning humility—GAWD, I suck! *** JAKE HALL (The Self Righteous Brothers): The highlight of my summer, without a doubt, was nursing a stray cat back to health. I found it on my porch nearly starved to death. I brought it inside, warmed it by the fire, and gave it fresh goat’s milk. Over the next few days it regained its strength and became quite energetic. Boy was this cat was SMART! Not only did I teach it to read Braille, but I also taught it to perform fellatio on me. What a giver! Alas, I did what I had to do and set the cat free. I’ll always remember those warm summer nights spent with Ethan. *** ANDY MILK (The Vital Might): I was able to single-handedly resurrect the late-night dance party in many locations: Boston, Cape Cod, Long Island, NYC, San Fran. Goal for this fall is to expand it south and west. *** GREG JACOBS (Verona Downs): Being a rock dad, I’d have to say taking my two boys to my hometown in upstate New York for a long weekend to visit with their cousins. Not too exciting, I know, no booze or chicks, but there was lots of swimming, trampoline jumping, s’mores. And they were so well-behaved on the plane, which was a huge accomplishment. *** CHARO SOFIA (Charo Sofia): The part where it didn’t snow. That was unexpected. Lolita: Charo, you don’t have to worry about snow in the summer anymore. With global warming it will be the heat waves in the winter that may feel strange.

ROCK NEWS

Rita: But part of living in Boston is having license to complain about the weather, or then again you can just wait five minutes. And now the local news… Hi-N-Dry recording studio is moving over to the Center for Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave, Somerville), owned by Nabil and Joseph Sater. The move should be complete in October. *** NICK BLAKEY (The In Out) played bass for THE NIGHTINGALES (from the U.K.) on their European tour this summer. Nick is also booking Church, a new club/restaurant that use to be the Linwood. Contact Nick at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it *** WILL DALEY performed at the annual Boston Red Sox Picnic in the Park—yes, the park was Fenway—and not in the section of Fenway where the tall reeds are cut out to make little rooms for men to enjoy outdoor sex. *** PURE FICTION played their final gig at the Middle East on 6/30/07. *** After 21 years with Lyons Group, JEFF MARSHALL accepted a new position with the German based Media/ Entertainment Company headed by former Lycos CEO Alfred Tolle. *** KAY HANLEY (Letters to Cleo) is in the running for president of Red Sox Nation. We urge you to vote for her. *** KELLY DAVIDSON (Liz Borden Band) celebrated her birthday by playing the Cantab—she handed her guitar to CHRIS MASCARA to let him smash it to pieces. Then Kelly smashed a guitar piñata that was full of panties. Quite a smashing party. *** HO-AG’s Elektro EP recreates their own tunes using the following tools only: Moog Rogue, Alesis SR-16, MPC, Prophet, Juno 6, Korg Vocoder, HAL Robot Voice, Boss Dr. Sample, and more secret devices. No drums, guitars, or bass. *** ROGER MILLER is giving guitar lessons. This is a major opportuninty for guitarists of all abilities, beginners to advanced students, to improve their understanding of their instrument from a local underground icon. Go to myspace.com/rogercmiller to sign up. *** Anderson Mar of Dark Sky Productions, former talent buyer for the now-defunct Skybar, has accepted the position as branch manager at the Paul Green School of Rock (120 Elm Street, Watertown, MA). *** BRET MILANO’s new book The Sound of Our Town will be available in September. It’s a history of Boston rock ’n’ roll that starts back in the ’50s. *** MIKE GALVIN has opened a new recording studio in Cambridge. Check it out at groovefactorystudios.com. *** “End War Now” by DREAMERS WANTED spent the better part of the summer in Neil Young’s Top 10. Check out neilyoung.com for many anti-war songs. *** CASEY DESMOND picked up an endorsement from Daisy Rock Guitars. *** CHRIS TRAPPER (The Push Stars) wrote “Long Hot Summer” specifically for NESN’s new reality/comedy series Sox Appeal that started airing in August. *** BONE GUNN has filmed for the Fox TV show Fearless Music fearlessmusic.tv that is syndicated to fifty cities across the country and all direct TV customers. The band has also been invited to do a live broadcast on the TV show Evolving Artists. *** In the “we screwed up” department, photographer DOUG DESPRES (pronounced Day-Pray) had his name spelled wrong in July’s Big Shot (previously known as the centerfold). But maybe the mistake was made purposely so we could print another shot from KATE O’BRIEN’s photo shoot. *** FREEZEPOP has made more than 50,000 friends on myspace.com/freezepop. They release Future Future Future Perfect on Sept 25. *** GRAND EVOLUTION lost all their equipment when their rehearsal space, Bernat Mill, burned in a fire on July 21, 2007. *** On August 1, HOORAY FOR EATHER taped a live set and interview for Fearless Music TV (FOX 5 in New York City). *** NEMO is skipping their convention/award event in 2007 to make their 20th anniversary in 2008 bigger and better. *** KALVIN KOOLIDGE apparently has stepped down from the presidency (hoping someone else might get the hint), and changed the name of their band to ROGUE HEROES. Lolita: Can we capitalize the HOPING SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT GET THE HINT please?

BEST REVIEWS

Rita: How ’bout we balance out the bad reviews our president is getting with the best reviews that local rockers have gotten. Lolita: Sounds good. Okay everybody, get in a single line and let me know about the best review you ever got. JOHNNY BLACK (Stinkin’ Lincolns): After a Johnny & the Jumper Cables gig, some dude came up to me and said “You’re almost good enough to play the blues.” Considering how hard it is the play the blues well, I took it as a supreme compliment. *** CHANDLER TRAVIS (Chandler Travis & the Guys Who Play With Chandler Travis Sometime): I love (and occasionally, under a pseudonym, even write) reviews, and your own Joe Coughlin and Francis DiMenno have written some beauties on us over the years. The most accurate review I ever got was also the first, which covered a Travis Shook & the Club Wow show at Paul’s Mall, maybe even in ’69 (!)—some guy from the Phoenix (sorry, don’t know who offhand) nailed my bass playing as “ham-fisted,” which it has remained to this day. But, damn, we got a spectacular one just yesterday, from Rob Conery of the Cape Cod Chronicle (a writer I’m completely unacquainted with), who said (among other things) that our version of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” on Tarnation & Alastair Sim “...feels like you’ve duct-taped blown 1985 Walkman speakers to your head and had a drunken rhinoceros push you on a rope swing.” *** MIKE LANGLIE (Twink): From an album review at diskant.net: “I kind of like this, if for no other reason than it seems so entirely deranged.” *** ARTO PAYASLIAN (Mishima USA/ The Kent 100s): Pitchfork gave “Hold My Breath” a 7.9 rating, which was really a great treat. Higher than Death Cab For Cutie, The Shins, and The White Stripes! Even though we say those ratings and reviews don’t matter... Thanks Pitchfork! *** MICHAEL EPSTEIN (The Motion Sick/ Okay Thursday): A Herald blogger said that I look like “50 percent Morrissey, 50 percent Woody Allen.” *** SHAUN WOLF WORTIS (Mardi Gras/ Slide): Well, one of the VP’s at Epic said I had the “greatest voice” he’d “ever heard.” I’d have to say it was hyperbole, as Epic didn’t sign us... The Euro version of Rolling Stone said that Slide was better than the Black Crowes. That too may have been hyperbole. Billboard put Wilco and us on their cover, prophesying the next big thing. Again, (alas), hyperbole! I’d have say the best “review” may have been from an old Korean guy who said I reminded him of the shamans he witnessed as a boy in Korea. Now that was pretty cool! *** MIKE COMITE (Sallyboy): I was called a “future Boston rock star waiting to happen” in a live review of Sallyboy at the WBCN High School Battle of the Bands, in March of 2006. *** E. ADAMS (Rock City Crimewave): From a train-hopper punk at a show we played in Ashville, NC, in an abandoned auto dealership: “I just came here to beat people up, but you guys were pretty good, so I danced.” *** DAVE RAND (Robot Goes Here): Best review: “Your music makes me want to set my house on fire beat up my mom then eat woodland creatures but dance while I’m doing... you rock!”—Dan, Revere, MA. *** KRIS THOMPSON (The Lothars/ Concord Ballet Orchestra Players): Hard to pick just one, so I won’t! Reviewing Abunai!’s The Mystic River Sound in Rolling Stone, David Fricke said “you’ll swear it’s midnight at the Boston Tea Party in sweet ’67.” The Playboy review of The Lothars’ Connected said our music “sound(s) like elegies for Martians, or love songs for robots.” And then there was what may have been Joe Couglin’s most bizarre review ever—the one of Abunai!’s Round-Wound in The Noise (#207). 90 percent of it was a violent drug-fueled fantasy, followed by a few short sentences that commented directly on the music. *** CHUCK U. (WMFO/ Urban Ambience): The best review I ever got wasn’t an actual review. I played in this noise/art band called Urban Ambience through the late ’80s and ’90s (with Michael Bloom and Bob McCloskey). We were not a rock band, so our gigs at the Middle East, Johnny D’s, Green Street Station, and other clubs about town did not fare so well. Places like Zeitgeist were much more appealing, as was performances on Access TV and local radio. On one such performance at CCTV, we had lots of live psychedelic effects mixed in. The engineer on duty at the time was blown away by our performance. When we finished, all she could say was, “You guys make me want to smoke pot again.” We took that as a compliment. *** MARTY WHITE (Mr. Curt Ensemble): It was July 30, 2005 and there I was on stage at the Paradise Rock Club, the stage that any aspiring Boston musician dreams to play on. I was playing the thirtieth reunion tour with the legendary Third Rail, me (Mr. Curt), Gary Soprano, Mike (Dog) Powers, David Birmingham, and of course, the man, the myth, the legend, Richard Nolan himself. The next day I read that Third Rail played to a full house and the audience response was overwhelming. It really helps when you have your bandleader writing your reviews. *** DOUG FULLER (The Silver Lining): My best [personal] review was when Jonathan Perry said I was “discreetly superb.” I didn’t know what to think of that at first but then realized that, as a drummer, there is no higher praise. I also think he may have been hitting the bottle when listening to the record... not that there’s anything wrong with that. *** DAVE TREE (SuperPower/ DrugWar): The best recent review I got was from The Noise’s own Mr. Joe Hacking. His first review of SuperPower was his first time seeing us and was very kind. The most recent review shows us he gets what we are trying to do and digs it. Cheers. *** MRS. SLIMEDOG (The Noise): Slimedog once said I was good at sex, he gave me four stars! *** ZORTAR (The Noise): Slimedog once said I was good at (simulated) sex, he gave me four stars! *** SLIMEDOG’S CAT (The Noise): Slimedog once said I was good at sex, he gave me four stars! *** SLIMEDOG (The Noise): Once someone suggested I go fuck myself. In fact, if was a thouroughly enjoyable experience. I gave myself five stars! Lolita: If Slimedog entertains you, you might want to attend the going away party for the Slimedogs at the Abbey Lounge on Friday, September 14 starting at 8:00pm, $7 admission, and there’ll be food. Bands include: Friends of Joe Zippo (Zippo Raid songs), Over the Edge (reunion), Thunderhog (debut), The Dimwits, The Spoilers, Rock City Crimewave, The McGunks, and Bass Camaro.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Rita: Bass Camaro—that’s funny—do they have 18 bass players like BANG CAMARO has 18 singers? Lolita: I don’t know, but if I did this would be the place to list their names. Here’s info on other new bands and new band members. 27 lost NEILCOULON to New York City where he’s getting married and they gained TERRI CHRISTOPHER (Maria’s sister) to take Neil’s place on the drums. *** CHRIS MASCARA can be seen filling in on bass with ME&JOANCOLLINS. *** ASGAARD SCIMITAR includes members of TRISTAN DA CUNHA, SHORE LEAVE, and KETMAN. *** MONGREL has added a second guitarist, T.S. MOTH (Transdusk/ x-Hate the Living), and drummer, ED LOGUERCIO (x-Broken Toys). *** DARK MARK WHITE and “CRAZY” EDDIE NOWIK are no longer FUTURE STARLETS (in Gene Dante & the Future Starlets). Taking their place are TAMORA GOODING (Ziaf) and JIM COLLINS (Brett Rosenberg Problem). *** CLOUDS features members of CAVE IN and they’re on Hydrahead Records. *** BILLY BORGIOLI has put together a new VARMINTS with ANDY EXCUSE on bass, DEE STROY on guitar, and JIMMY BIRMINGHAM on drums. *** DrDK has joined LUCRETIA’S DAGGERS on keyboard. *** Lead vocalists SARAH KORVAL has assembled a new OKAY THURSDAY that includes MIKE EPSTEIN on guitar (The Motion Sick), MATT GIRARD on bass (The Motion Sick), TRAVIS RICHTER on drums (The Motion Sick) and NIKKI DESSINGUE on vocals and synth (Where The Land Meets The Sea). *** MATT SANDONATO switched from THE KEVIN MacDONALD BAND to GANG GREEN. *** Drummer TOM LANDERS has joined FOX PASS. *** APUNKALYPSE NOW is SLADE (x-Freeze/ Beefy DC) on guitar, CRAIG ADAMS (x-Dents/ Beefy DC) on bass, PAUL DALENO (x-Mung) on guitar, KEVIN PICKERING (Golden West Motor Lodge/ x-Dents) on drums, and SCOTT MOULAISON (x-Straw Dogs/ Freeze) on vocals. *** After a six-year absence, Portland, Maine’s RUSTIC OVERTONES are back with a CD. *** CHRIS MASCARA has accepted full-time bass duties with ME & JOAN COLLINS. *** AXEMUNKEE is a new eclectic instrumental rock band that features guitarist CATHY CAPOZZI (All The Queen’s Men/ Ziaf), bassist CHRIS FARRELL (AQM, The Charms), electronic percussionist TAMORA GOODING (AQM/ Ziaf), and keyboardist JOEL SIMCHES (Count Zero). *** BLOW YOUR FACE OUT is a J. Geils tribute band starring DEE STROY (Mach 5) and DAVE TREE (Superpower). Lolita: They played at the Model Café and PETER WOLF showed up and sang “Looking For Love” with them.

FREE ADVICE

Rita: Wow, that’s a good idea to start a tribute band for some local start and hope that they’ll show up at your show. Here’s some other good advice that local rockers have for new people to Boston. PETE SUTTON (Temper): Walk as much as possible... the more you drive around here, the dumber you become... and the T will break your balls the way the Sox break your heart. *** JOEY BOY (Red Invasion): Go see live bands and support DJs who spin rock ’n’ roll, cause “ironic” hipster hip-hop dance parties are over-priced, lame, and filled with tools. Yeah, I said it. *** LINDA VIENS (Angeline/ Cosmic Trigger): The great thing about Boston is the nature right around us a bike ride or short car ride away... spend a day walking around the Mt. Auburn Cemetery, the Arboretum, or Jamaica Pond. Hop in the car and hit Walden Pond, Nastasket Beach, or Rockport. Hike the Blue Hills, the Fells, or the big rocks at Gloucester’s Forge State Park. So much natural beauty, so very close! *** DICK TATE (Middle East/ The Prime Movers): Buy a bicycle and move to Cambridge or Somerville ASAP. *** SUSAN SCOTTI (Last Call Agency): The advice I would give to a new resident of Boston would be to don’t take personally the initial rudeness, coldness, and aloofness you will encounter...eventually you will find your way and that there are lots of great peeps here. Also, don’t stop pronouncing your R’s to fit in. *** SAMMY MIAMI (Shööt The Möön): The blue and red lights over the old John Hancock building downtown forecast the weather. Steady blue: clear view. Flashing blue: clouds due. Steady red: rain ahead. Flashing red: snow instead, except in summer, flashing red means Red Sox are cancelled. *** CHRIS BRAT (The Acro-brats): 20 percent, unless the service was unusually good (or bad). Ha ha—“service.” *** NICK PASTEL (Why Twist the Hair): The advice that I would give to someone new to Boston is to study the history of this place. It becomes that much cooler when you notice that what surrounds you has an absolute and relative meaning to your present life. *** NICOLE TAMMARO (Nicole Tammaro Photography): Don’t shop at Demoulas supermarket, it’s loaded with rude-ass shoppers. Lolita: Oh Nicole, how would you like it if someone said not to use you as a photographer because there was a bunch of rude people at a show you were shooting? We’re sure the people who run Demoulas are not happy with rude people who choose to shop there. Wait a second—I shop there—are you talking about me?

CLUBLAND

Rita: While Lolita questions her relationship with Nicole, let’s see who’s playing where. WMBR’s Late Risers’ Club celebrates its 30th anniversary at the Basement (Baseball Tavern) on Saturday, 9/8. All your favorite DJs of the ’80s will be there. *** On Monday, 9/10, go to Zuzu for BRETT MILANO’s Birthday Bash. *** CHEATER PINT holds their CD release party on Friday, 9/14, at T.T. the Bear’s with THE GRAVEL PIT and THE FIGGS. *** Same night MassCann and NORML hold an award ceremony at the Bullfinch Yacht Club in preparation for the Freedom Rally on the Boston Common on Saturday, 9/15—be there at high noon (bands listed on page 2). *** We love the Freedom Rally—but if you can possibly head down to Washington D.C. on the 15th to march for peace, we urge you to do so. Buses leave from Northeastern at 10:30 the night before. Go to www.sept15.org for more info. *** On Thursday, 9/20, Ducky Boys play T.T. the Bear’s. *** At the Cantab on Friday, 9/21, MICKEY BLISS continues Club Bohemia and brings you CHAZ & THE LEGENDARY MOTORBIKES. *** If you didn’t get enough Brett Milano’s birthday cake, come to his book release party (The Sounds of Our Town) at the Middle East on Saturday, 9/22, with Willie Alexander, Liz Borden, Asa Brebner (leading house band), Dennis Brennan, Ellie & Joe (The Charms), Andrea Gillis, Robin Lane, Lyres, David Minehan (The Neighborhoods), Muck & the Mires, Nervous Eaters, John Powhida (The Rudds), Andy Pratt, JJ Rassler (The Downbeat 5), and Kevin Stevenson (The Shods). *** FREEZEPOP’s CD release party is at the Middle East on Thursday, 9/27. *** Experience the blues on Friday, 2/28 with the TARBOX RAMBLERS at Johnny D’s. *** Brookline Tai Chi (1615 Beacon St, Brookline) now offers a very eclectic variety of music every Friday night (8:00-10:00). Rita: See you next month with our best Halloween issue ever. Lolita: That’s only because I brought back some real skulls from the Catacombs in Paris. Rita: Need I remind you we only cover Boston skulls in this fanzine. See you next month.

RIP: Mr. Butch (Harold Madison Jr., Sept. 11, 1950 – July 12, 2007) passed away at Brigham & Women’s Hospital after a tragic scooter accident.

Lolita: I’m going to France!  Rita: Good for you. Lolita: T Max is taking me there. Rita: What!? He didn’t ask me. Lolita: Seems like T wants to experience freedom fries first hand. Rita: But why with you, and not me? Lolita: I guess because I’m blonde. And don’t worry; there are a lot of other places you can go. Rita: Like where? Lolita: Well, we could ask our friendly local rockers for that kind of advice. Our Question of the Month can be—where would you like to tell Rita to go? Rita: Very funny. Go ask people where have they have traveled. And we only need to know about the good places.

TRAVEL TIPS

KEN FIELD (Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/Birdsongs of the Mesozoic): I had the opportunity to perform some of my music a month ago in Budapest, Hungary.  It’s quite a beautiful city, and the people I met were incredibly friendly.  I climbed to the top of a hill with a great view of the Danube and the city.  Halfway down I went into a reverberant cavern/chapel where two monks in white robes were chanting prayers.  At the bottom were some very old hot spring baths with beautifully tiled walls, cherub sculptures, and fountains.  The whole thing was pretty magical.  Oh, and the performance was in an old theater where Beethoven had once performed! *** KIER BYRNES (THREE DAY THRESHOLD): I’d recommend traveling to Redbones in Davis Square for the best barbecue and beer selection north of the Mason Dixon line. *** JAKE HALL (The Self Righteous Brothers): If I had to recommend one travel destination, it would have to be Saugus.  I just recently discovered this hidden gem while I was one my way to the Jewelry Exchange in Sudbury.  Turns out this rustic getaway has been right under my nose all along!  During my stay I marveled at the likes of an enormous Salvation Army, a world renowned mini-golf course, and even a Jordan’s Furniture where I ended up spending the night with other travelers who came from as far as Methuen and Dracut.  Looking for adventure Noise readers?  Let Rt. 1 show you the way. *** PETER C. JOHNSON (Peter C. Johnson): To the inner mind. *** LINDA VIENS (Angeline/ Cosmic-Trigger): One of the most joyful experiences in the world is traveling west on lush and green Route 117 out of Waltham to the Dairy Joy in Weston (one of the last, authentic roadside food stands) on a hot summer day and having french fries and hot dogs and a creamy creamsicle soft serve ice cream cone... divine! *** INGE BERGE (Inge Berge): I would very much like to go back to Japan. I had the chance to play my guitar for Tokyo audiences for a five week run of The Who’s Tommy last year, and, man—are those people into music. I’ve been a working musician all my adult life, but never have I felt like a true rock star like the way the Japanese made me feel. Granted, it was a grandiose show of classic material put on by a New York producer—I was just a hired guitar-gun—but the experience led me to believe that my own music would go over big there, too. And I miss the late night convenience store dried octopus snacks. *** BILLY CARL MANCINI (Bird Mancini): Liverpool is it for me.  It’s Mecca for a Beatlehead like myself.  Of course it was raining when I was there but that just added to the mystique. The city is like a giant shrine to The Beatles, rock ’n’ roll and the whole culture of musicians it spawned. *** ALANNA QUINN (Medicated Kisses): I would have to say that one of my favorite places to visit would be San Diego. I went to visit family there last summer and was digging my nails into the walls of the jetway while my father dragged me onto the plane back to Boston. The weather is so perfect even the malls are outdoors. Hit up Coronado Island and you will never want to leave. That is, if you can stand the outrageous conservatism (T-shirts with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s face under The Govenator) and inexplicable freezing of time (’97 Blink-182, lip ring, knee length dickie shorts, mid-calf tube socks). *** KAREN DeBIASSE (Girl On Top): I went scuba diving in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.  I especially liked the beach at Tulum with the ancient Myan pyramids overlooking.  It is tempting to buy a piece of property there but I’m opting for a new vacation spot each time.  My love for the Caribbean started at seven years of age when my father brought us to Barbados.  I fell in love with all the beauty of the tropical fish, reptiles, enormous plants, warm water and piña coladas. I have also been all over Jamaica and Bermuda. *** CHUCK U. (WMFO/ WMBR): I love San Francisco.  And this being the 20th anniversary of the 20th anniversary (It was 20 years ago today that it was 20 years ago today), the city is planning a season long festival to commemorate the Summer of Love.  If you’ve never been, it’s worth the trip; If you have been, then you know what I mean! *** MICHAEL BLOOM (Tim Mungenast & his Pre-Existing Conditions): Since you mention it, I just got back from a couple weeks in Brazil. I’m quite fond of the city of Recife, which resembles Boston in several ways: it’s in their northeast, it dates back to the early days of European colonization, and it’s actually a double city. Its across-the-river equivalent of Cambridge is called Olinda, and it too is an artsier, funkier, more bohemian community. They have a carnaval that’s less centralized than Rio de Janeiro’s, with giant puppets and street-level art and more general anarchy. Unfortunately, they’re also pretty poor, and there’s not a lot of English. (Gotta work on my Portuguese!) Lolita: It’s good to know that some rockers get out of New England. So how ’bout report some worldly rock news?

ROCK DU LA NOUVEAU

Rita: Doesn’t that mean Rock of the New? Lolita: Yeah… so. Make believe it says Worldly Rock News while you read this:  MUCK & THE MIRES have a new 7-inch 45 of “I’m Down With That” with “One of These Days” and  “All I Really Want To Do is Cry” on the B-side—releasedon Dirty Water Records (London). *** ORCHESTRA LUNA’s 1975 self-titled album has been re-released in the U.K. by Market Square under license from Sony U.K. *** ZIAF is touring through Switzerland and France and will be back in September for the last Boston show. *** MISSION OF BURMA is held in high regard at Mass MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams)—the first thing you see when you pulling to the parking lot is a gigantic banner featuring the band playing live. *** ELI “PAPERBOY” REED & THE TRUE LOVES launched their first national tour in support of their new single, “The Satisfier”/ “It’s Easier.” They’ll be hitting New York, Asbury Park, Albany, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Bloomington, Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. *** Maybe you can figure out what is missing from the DRESDEN DOLLS’ latest video, “Shores of California.” Give us the right answer and we’ll give you some kinda prize. *** The band of youngsters you called BULLSEYE are now known as WHO SHOT HOLLYWOOD. Check out the live review of them in this issue. *** THE MYSTERY TRAMPS’ “You’re So Alone” was chosen for Boston Song of the Week on WBCN in late May. *** WBZ awarded THREE DAY THRESHOLD with a 2007 WBZ TV “A-List” Award in Arts and Entertainment Awards for Best Stage Presence. *** We thought it was great when T MAX’s DREAMERS WANTED landed “End War Now” into the new listings of NEIL YOUNG’s website (neilyoung.com) but it was even more exciting to see JAKE BRENNAN’s “Sexy Jihad” climb the chart to #12, but then we heard from JEFF CONLEY whose band, TIN CAN TELE, held the #1 spot on that same chart with “Tin Can Call.” Lolita: My favorite song on Neil Young’s Living With War site is “Bring ’Em On” on by JOHN HUGHES. *** Speaking of Neil, he and his superstar buddies Bob and Bruce did their own version of “End War Now” and the question of copyright infringement will have its day in court. Follow the proceedings on myspace.com/dreamerswanted. *** GONE ’TIL NOVEMBER signed a development deal with Epic Records. *** THE ATLANTICS have released Atlantic Live—a recording of their show at the Paradise on 3/25/79. *** Hold True Records put together a series of shows (on July 14, 20, 28, at 16 Greenwood Street in Worcester) to benefit both the Military Kids Emergency Food Program (for military families without food) and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (which give scholarships to children of fallen Marines). *** A benefit at P.A.’s was put on for MONA ELLIOT (Victory At Sea) to help pay for her cancer treatments. *** Just heard that the Skybar is closing in July. *** Newly declassified documents show the Ohio Air Force lab asked for $7.5 million in 1994 to develop a chemical weapon that could turn enemy soldiers into homosexuals and make them more interested in sex than fighting. *** RadioShack is using a GIRLS GUNS & GLORY song in their TV commercial that plays during Red Sox games. The song is “Big Man” from the album Pretty Little Wrecking Ball. The commercial shows a man with his family in their car stuck behind a flock of sheep. The man clears the sheep off the road by dialing up a video of a wolf on his cell phone. Then “Big Man” comes on his car radio as he drives away pleased with his accomplishment. *** PAPERMOON got their “Last Laugh” played during a Sox/Rockies game on 6/12/07 that was tied 1-1 in the seventh inning.  Sox won it 2-1. Keep playing that song. *** The Noise has an HD radio show called Rock Around Boston: The Noise Radio Show—on Thursday nights 7:00-9:00pm. Link to it through myspace.com/radioyouboston. JOE COUGHLIN hosted the first one and LEXI KAHN is doing them now.  Lolita: Joe and Lexi play all the Boston-area bands you wish you could always hear on the radio.

REUNITED

Rita: You mean like SENATOR WHATLEY? Lolita: Well, that’s not exactly what I meant. Rita: I guess you didn’t hear about all the pressure that was put on Senator Whatley to do a reunion by their fan(s). Lolita: Whatley? The senator of what state? Rita: Senator Whatley—the band. I wonder what other bands people would like to see return?  Lolita: How ’bout I just ask them? MAX G (Max G & The Spots): I’d like to see HYBRASIL play a reunion. Christian never plays “Devil’s Luck” with his current band, and I want to hear it. *** JOHN HESS (Awakening Stick/ The Noise): I would most like to see a reunion by TRIBE. Aside from being a great band, they were incredible to watch. My favorite songs are “Jackpot,” “Vigil, Daddy’s Home,” “Outside,” and “Joyride.” But then anything they did was really good. *** CHANDLER TRAVIS (Chandler Travis Philharmonic): CHRISTMAS. *** SAMMY MIAMI (Shööt The Möön): Gööd God, there’s so many. Boston is notorious for harboring bands that almost make it to stardom and then disappear. AXMINSTER, ’TIL TUESDAY, O-POSITIVE, TRIBE, BALL AND PIVOT, BIG CATHOLIC GUILT, GRIP, PURRR... It also has its share of bands that can’t continue or reform due to member deaths. It sickens me to accept the fact that I’ll never have the privilege of hearing BENJAMIN ORR, MARK SANDMAN, or BRAD DELP sing live. On the bright side, all the members of THUNDERTRAIN are alive and well—Mach’s even got a new set of bionic pipes. All aboard! *** AJDA THE TURKISH QUEEN (Black Fortress of Opium): I would cherish a reunion show of THE MOORS. What a thrill it would be to hear them do “Dea Noctu.” *** LIZ BORDEN (The Liz Borden Band): I would love to see HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE play again. They were way ahead of their time. Their vocals and harmonies were unique. Their dancing was choreographed and their lyric content was shocking, beautiful and real. The musicianship was amazing. Casey, Dini, Larry, Wendell, Rich, Malcolm, and Chris, really put on a show. They crossed boundaries that no one else dared and they did it well. “Jackie O” was one of their hits, along with “Butt Fuck” and many more great songs. They got signed but America was not ready for them! *** SAM BIGELOW (Sam Bigelow): Kimon Kirk showed me an early ’80s video of NRBQ headlining at the Paradise with The Incredible Casuals opening. While the crowd looks hilariously dated, the music is timeless. I’ve seen both bands but to see them back in the day— when NRBQ had Big Al Anderson on guitar and the Casuals drummer, Rickie Bates, still went by Vince Valium—just seems like it would’ve been off the charts. I’d love to hear NRBQ do “Green Lights.” *** OEDIPUS (Noise Hall of Fame): Reunions don’t interest me as they can never capture those moments in time when you experienced them and the transcendence of those experiences.  I need and desire to be transported to different realms by new artistic explorers. *** DICK TATE (The Prime Movers/The Middle East): Barry & The Remains, because I missed their last reunion.  I’d love to hear “Why Do I Cry” or “Once Before.” *** SCOTT MATALON (MONOLITH): THE WELL BABIES!  And I’d pay in blood to hear “Wheelchair Jesus” again! *** TONY SCHINELLA (Noise Radio Chart): I would love to see Curious Ritual again and I can think of a slew of songs I would like to hear, including “Bottle,” “Get With It Girl,” “It All Falls,” and so many others. *** DAVID KIRKDORFFER (UNDO): I’d love for THINK TREE and DOGZILLA each to reunite—perhaps they could do a mash-up of “The Moon” and “The Ratman of Paris”? *** JIM COLLINS (The Buckners/ Eddie Japan):  I had the great fortune to see one of Boston’s premier power pop bands, THE CAVEDOGS, play an out-of-town reunion gig (in L.A. at The Troubadour) a few years ago.  I would be so psyched to see another reunion show by these guys, anywhere, anytime.  Although probably not considered by some to be one of their catchiest songs, “Tarzan and His Arrowheads” totally rocks, and is a big live favorite of mine.  Todd Spahr’s opening chordal guitar riff is blistering! Lolita: Yeah, The Cavedogs were one of my favorite Boston bands too. They went on to form a number of bands that got mentioned in…

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Rita: You remember the game where you walk around the chairs while the music is playing? Well, that’s not what we do here at all. Bands break up and the fallen members form new bands. This is where those new bands get mentioned.  MARLENE THOLL put quite an impressive band together for her CD release party in May—DOUG VARGAS, DANNY LEE, JOEY PESCE, and TRISTRAM LOZAW. *** JOYCE RASKIN (x-SCARCE) is back with an outfit called THE LEFTOVERS. *** CORTEZ combines members of FAST ACTIN’ FUSES, SIN CITY CHAINSAW, and SUPER SOUL CHALLENGER and they signed with Buzzville Records. *** JAY ALLEN (Clam Disc) has a new band—JAY ALLEN & THE ARCHCRIMINALS. The Criminals are CHRISSIE DOWNIE and RANDY TARTOW (both Killer Abs). *** PET GENIUS includes members of OCTAVE MUSEUM and THEE ELECTRIC BASTARDS. This may have something to do with OCTAVE MUSEUM breaking up. *** EDDIE JAPAN consists of GEORGE HALL (Dogzilla/ Seks Bomba), CHRIS BARRETT (Christians & Lions/ Logan 5), JASON BALDOCK, DAVID SANTOS, BAT LoPICCOLO (Scatterfield/ Din), and JIM COLLINS (Paula Kelley Orchestra/ Brett Rosenberg Problem). *** ROGER LUSSIER (Appreciation Post) plays with KEVIN FOWLER in  PRESIDENT’S FITNESS. *** AARON BELYEA (Alphabet Arm Design) has released a CD, Nice Guys Finish, with STEPLADDER. *** GARY CHERONE’s latest band is called HURTSMILE. MARKUS CHERONE, JOE PESSIA, and DANA SPELLMAN round out the band. *** CHERYL ETU (Angeline/ Pear), DAVID GELLER (x-Elk/ Pear) and JUDITH HEICHELBECH have formed BITTERS. Lolita: A bitters is a preparation of herbs and citrus dissolved in alcohol. So I guess this band will be fueled by pot, oranges, and whiskey.

FOOD

Rita: Isn’t that what I saw you have for breakfast today?  No, I take that back—you didn’t have an orange. Let’s find out what some of our good friends eat in the morning. LIZ LINDER (photographer): Eggs, salsa, tortillas—fried, fresh, warm, and all folded over. *** MR. CURT (Mr. Curt Ensemble): Well, in addition to strong dark coffee, this can have a two-part answer: cereal on workdays or Ms. Donna’s scrumptious frittatas on non-workdays. Since I’m up so early (5:00 am) as a school busdriver, I usually skip early eats, preferring to repast with a bowl of cereal melange when I get home at 10:00 am. When I’m up much later on days off, a million-dollar-omelette stuffed with potatoes, veggies, spices, some meats should suffice until dinnertime. Yowsa and mmmm-mmm good! *** NICOLE TAMMARO (Nicole Tammaro Photography): Portuguse sausage at the neighborhood restaurant in Union Sqare, if I can get by all the barnies that have invaded my hometown and think Somerville is a cooler version of Cambridge... maybe I can get back there soon for a big plate. *** DIANE YOUNG (The Center for Arts in Natick): I love a well-toasted Homestyle Eggo waffle with butter and tons of Vermont Maid maple syrup. *** PETE SUTTON (Temper): Even though I rarely eat in the morning, my favorite morning food is Wheaties... one of the few foods they haven’t fucked with...yet. *** JAKE HALL (The Self Righteous Brothers): The nature of morning foods has really changed since the latest miracle diets have come along.  In the old days, people followed the basic tenets of the mysterious Ancient Egyptian Food Pyramid.  We have now come to learn that this is a very foolish way to eat.  That’s why I South Beach to keep my weight in check.  My associate, Max, has been on the Atkins diet for over five years—and he looks great!  So to answer the question, the perfect morning food? Large meatball sub, extras cheese, no bread.  Oh, and a bag of salt and vinegar chips... but only to smell. *** MICHAEL EPSTEIN (The Motion Sick):  If I eat anything before 11:00 am, it inevitably results in pain and suffering.  I guess I just don’t “get” breakfast. *** DOUG FULLER (The Silver Lining): Without a doubt the best morning food is...well, pretty much anything because breakfast kicks ass.  Going to a good breakfast place and pigging out is better than sex (and I’m talking even good sex).  No, really.  That said, I’d like an omelet with jalapeño cheddar, salsa, and mushrooms and some homefries, thank you very much.  Although a properly grilled [proper] bagel can kick a bit of ass, too.   Can’t go wrong with blueberry pancakes either.  Did I mention waffles? *** MATTHEW MARCHESI (Skybar): My favorite morning food is probably not appropriate for print. I used to get a plain bagel with cream cheese and chocolate milk, but now I always go to Einstein Bros. for a cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese and a blackberry lemonade. If they toast it, I freak. Don’t toast my bagel! Thank you. *** SARAH KORVAL (Okay Thursday): Egg and cheese wraps. They’re heaven in a burrito, hell on the hips. Fuck the hips, though. I can’t resist the damn things. *** STEPHIE PEEKA (Stephie Peeka & The SeeKing 7): Pancakes—plain or with fruit on them, in them, or around them, pancakes, dang it. And another thing... where the frak have all the IHOPs gone? I have to go to Bourne rotary to get my bloody pancakes. Bad enough the Bickford’s are disappearing. Anyone know where to get pancakes after gigs in Boston at 2:00 am? *** ROGER LUSSIER (The Appreciation Post): I have a corn muffin and some coffee... y’know... keeps me regular. *** ANDERSON MAR (Dark Sky Productions/The Skybar): When cold leftover Hawaiian pizza isn’t an option, IHOP’s Harvest Grain ’n’ Nut Pancakes with butter-pecan syrup washed down with an entire carafe of black coffee seems to do the trick nicely. *** JASON MARCHIONNA (Fluttr Effect): While in the UK, my favorite morning dish was consumed on the last pre-morning/dawn before catching the plane home: Sophi’s beautiful British eggs sunnyside up, a side of Austrailian arse de Claire, and a cup of sexy mother f*&ker on the side (no cream or sugar). *** P. J. O’CONNELL (P. J. O’Connell & the Lords of Eastham): Animal Crackers. You are what you eat. *** MERCYJAMES (Mercy James Gang): In the morning I like black coffee, a tin of Altoids, another black coffee, perhaps some Tic Tacs and an extra large black coffee.  Then later I’ll have another black coffee or two or three or four. *** TIM MUNGENAST (Tim Mungenast & His Preexisting Conditions): I like a nice heaping bowl of hippie food—granola and milk. To me, cereal is better when you can look at it and actually recognize what grain it was made from. I also like depleted uranium nuggets and a big block of flaming goat cheese with one of those magnetic crankcase drain plugs on top. *** SUSAN SCOTTI (Last Call Agency): My morning meal usually consists of two sugar-free Red Bulls... on weekends I do love going to a lazy brunch somewhere for eggs benedict and hash browns though. *** PETE WEISS (The Weisstronauts/ Sool): I really like a fresh chocolate croissant with strong black coffee.  I don’t have it very often, but it’s a pretty potent combo.  Angers up the blood, in a very lovely way. *** SLIMEDOG’S CAT (The Noise): I have diabetes management cat food and crunchies every morning, I also have that every night. But what I would love to have is tuna, turkey, or any kind of meat any time of day. I also eat most vegetables. *** ZORTAR (The Noise): My favorite breakfast food is Cherry Garcia ice cream. I have that everyday along with my diabetes management cat food they seem to complement each other. *** SLIMEDOG (The Noise): I like to have tuna, turkey, or any kind of meat with vegetables for breakfast but usually there’s no food in the house so I settle for diabetes management cat food. Lolita: Don’t remind me of that breakfast you served me. You really know how to get rid of a girl quickly. I’m sorry if Mrs. Slimedog reads this. And tell her I’m also sorry for staining her reception top. Rita: Maybe you should offer to take Mrs. Slimedog out and appologise to her in person.

CLUBLAND

Lolita: Well, if she wants to tag along, here’s where I’ll be: THE BIG DISAPPOINTMENTS release their self titled CD at P.A.’s Lounge on Friday, 6/29. *** MASCARA plays KELLY DAVIDSON’s birthday party at the Cantab on Saturday, 6/30. *** LIZ BORDEN BAND  hosts a performance of “End War Now” on Friday, 7/6, at the Baseball Tavern. *** ELI “PAPERBOY” REED is at the Middle East on Tuesday, 7/10. *** KETMAN releases their CD at Great Scott on Thursday, 7/12. *** Assembling Peace V is a benefit for the Greater Boston Stop the Wars Coalition at Spontaneous Celebrations (45 Danforth St., Jamaica Plain) on Friday, 7/13. JIMMY RYAN is one of the many performers. *** TURPENINE BROTHERS play Zuzu on Thursday, 7/19. *** JOHNNY ANGEL (Blackjacks/Thrills) and ROBIN LANE (Robin Lane & the Chartbusters) are on the pub stage at the Abbey Lounge on Saturday, 7/21.*** WORLD’S GREATEST SINNERS invade Johnny D’s on Friday, 7/26. *** Rita: Enjoy summer. Lolita: Enchanté d’avoir fait votre connaissance.