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ONE HELL OF A WINTER!
Rita: Wow, what an exciting
winter it’s been! Lolita: Yeah, exciting if you like being
run off the road by snowplows, slipping on ice, or getting frostbitten
toes. Rita: That’s not as bad as throwing your back out from
moving mountains of snow off your driveway with a plastic shovel.
Lolita: Why didn’t you just wait for the snow to melt? Rita:
Because in early February I
needed to get the Noise delivered all over New England. You know,
it’s like “the mail must get through”—the Noise needs
to find its readers so they can know the latest CD releases, what New
England acts are drawing crowds, and who are our latest musical discoveries.
Lolita: A boyfriend tells me the Noise is the most effective
birdcage liner around. Rita: Have your boyfriend send in a photo
of his bird for our Pet of the Month. It’s great that he recycles
the Noise. Maybe other people have good ideas on how to make
our lives greener. Lolita, hop on it, get out there and retrieve answers
to my inquiries.
A GREENER LIFE
Lolita: Yooohooo, Chandler!
Put that shovel down, I have a very important question for you. What
effort have you put into making your life greener? CHANDLER
TRAVIS (…Philharmonic/ Catbirds): Does shoveling snow count? Probably
not—lawn looks like hell anyway. Lolita: You should try this
green spray paint. It really freshens up a lawn. And you might want
to use this white spray paint on those big yellow spots in your snow.
*** MICKEY BLISS (Club Bohemia): I use public transportation
and ride a bike rather than driving an automobile, I recycle as much
as possible, and I don’t turn on the heat in my house unless the temperature
drops to lower than 32 degrees. *** KAREN DeBIASSE (Girl on Top):
It's important to do everything we can to guard against poisons being
put into our land, water and air, which all cause serious health problems.
The only problem is what most people are not aware of is that the "green"
movement has been hijacked and is being used as a way to control the
population and raise taxes (carbon taxes), which we will be seeing in
the near future. So, do everything one can to make the earth a better
place, but be careful not to be duped into becoming a member of the new
age mother earth pagan one world new religion they're trying to indoctrinate
us all into. *** KEN FIELD (Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/ Alto
Army): There's a lot that's "green" in Cambridge, and
I've done my small part by being a volunteer member of the Cambridge
Bicycle Committee for the past bunch of years, and Chair of the Committee
for many of those. We advise the city on bike lane/ path/ parking
issues, with the overall goal being to encourage people to bike instead
of drive. It's working: since 2002 the number of bicyclists
in Cambridge has doubled! *** WILL DAILEY (Will Dailey): I stopped
buying bottled water. I've cheated a couple times when someone handed
me one or I was in the green room of a show and really thirsty. Other
than that no bottled water is my contribution to the war on plastic. ***
A.J. WACHTEL (the Allston Brothers Band): I’m smoking greener
pot in larger quantities. *** KRISTEN MILLER (Kristen Miller):
Greenest thing I ever did was have a kid. I know, you're thinking, but
kids use so much stuff and make such a mess. You're right, of course.
But my son is a fiend about reusing stuff, and will not throw anything
away without first making it into an art project. Or a necklace. Or
a mobile. Or a cape. You get the picture. *** SAMMY MIAMI (the
Welch Boys): I joined a predominantly Irish punk band. *** SIMON
RITT (the Darlings): To make my life greener I removed all the toxic,
mercury filled fluorescent light bulbs (manufactured by communist Chinese
slave labor) from my home. I ended up with a box full of those curly
suckers. Knowing enough not to dispose of them in the regular trash I
mailed them all to the East Anglia University in Norwich, Britain...
let those eggheads figure out what to do with them. *** DREW KAZOO
(the Sprained Ankles): How do I make my life greener? Arts and crafts!
Shredded plastic bags make a great filling for stuffed animals. Cardboard,
tape, and paint can make you a sweet picture frame. You can also draw
pictures on your heavy plastic items... cut them into pieces and BAM!
Instant puzzle! *** LINDA VIENS (Angeline): In our house we recycle
everything we can, and a couple of years ago we started composting—even
in the city, even if you only have a teeny yard, you can use the beautiful
rich soil that comes out of the composter under bushes, in beds, etc.
or for indoor potted plants. It's reduced our trash by over half! Last
summer I was planting with soil that smelled like coffee and oranges.
Lolita: I would have shipped that soil to a poor third world country,
like Argentina, where people are starving. I think those starving Argentineans
would appreciate a handful of coffee/orange dirt to strengthen their
digestive system. Rita: I really don’t think that would work,
Lolita. When Elaine on Seinfeld tried to give away muffin bottoms
to the homeless shelter, the recipients complained about half the muffin
missing. Don’t you think the Argentineans would want to know where
the fruit of the orange was? Lolita: You’re right. I should
ship it to Luxembourg.
NEWS
Rita: Now that Lolita has solved
that problem, we can move on to the most important information we’ve
gathered over the last month—the news. And first is some news related
to our Question of the Month—the Cape Ann Farmers’ Market is now
accepting applications for its 2011 Backyard Growers Program, which
helps Gloucester residents grow fresh vegetables and save money on their
grocery bills by growing gardens in their own backyards. To download
a 2011 program application, please go to www.capeannfarmersmarket.org/backyard-growers. The application deadline is March 11 for
a limited number of spots. *** TIM CASEY’s Transmission Hour
(music/interview BNN-TV show) is cablecast on Channel 23 in Boston every
Sunday at 8:00 pm. *** JULIE DOUGHERTY broke her right wrist
and had to cancel some gigs—and get someone to play guitar for her
on some other gigs. Hope your wrist heals quickly, Julie. *** 11-year-old
Boston-raised blues guitar prodigy QUINN SULLIVAN releases his
first album on Buddy Guy's new label in March. *** Seven acoustic guitarists
play surrounding their audience—that the premise of the GUITAR CIRCLE,
at Spontaneous Celebrations (Jamaica Plain) every Sunday through May
15. *** The grand opening of Aviary (48 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA) on Thursday, March 3, will present Sound on Sight: Photography of Boston Rock, an exhibition of photos taken by local musicians. MILO JONES will provide the live music. *** The new Hard Rock Boston night club (22-24 Clinton St., Boston)
opened on 2/11/11. *** Drummer GERARD BEAUDOIN (the Sounds of
Growing Up) is son of jazz/blues guitarist GERRY BEAUDOIN, who
is a member of GUITAR SUMMIT with DUKE ROBILLARD and J. GEILS.
*** DAN HALLAS is on the road in Japan with ESPERANZA SPAULDING
after being thanked, by name, in her acceptance speech for the best
new artist Grammy. *** DEEK (Age Against the Machine) was the lead story in the New York Times Home and Garden section with his Microhouses. *** DIANE YOUNG (Rock Off Main Street) is
receiving the Natick Education Foundation Harriet F. Siegel Shining
Light Award the enormous value of community service. *** The Passim Iguana
Music Fund awarded grants between $500 and $2,000 totaling $30,000 to
musicians with an affiliation to New England for specific career building
projects. This years winners are ROSE POLENZANI, MARGARET GLASPY,
NIKOLA RADAN, DAVE GODOWSKY, AMANDA KOWALSKI, DAMI NOAH, MARIA SANGIOLO,
KRISTIN ANDREASSEN, KIMBER LUDIKER, AUSTIN NEVINS, ZACHARIAH HICKMAN, NASEEM
KHURI, MICHAEL J. EPSTEIN, RANDALL WILLIAMS, HANNEKE CASSEL, MARK ERELLI,
and ANDY CAMBRIA & SARAH GREEN. Club Passim holds a night
for the winners on April 20, 2011. *** JOHN MESSINA (Michael
Messina) has resurfaced and is preparing for his sixth wedding. ***
The Massachusetts House and Senate have concurred in referring the Cannabis
Regulation and Taxation Act, H01307 to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
The Committee’s Senate Chair, Cynthia Creem (D-Newton) is on record
as agreeing with her constituents to support regulation
and taxation. Mass Cann’s president, Michael Crawford of Cambridge,
said, “Mass Cann applauds Senator Creem, lead sponsor Representative Ellen
Story (D-Amherst) and co-sponsors Representatives Ruth Balser (D-Newton),
Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead), and Anne Gobi (D-Spencer). *** Former frontman
for THE LINES, BOB WHITELOCK, has two country CDs out: This
Time Love's For Real and Hired Guns. His brand new video
shot in Nashville, "Momma's Going Honky Tonkin', " sports
a cameo by x-SWINGING ERUDITES vocalist SUZIE KERR WRIGHT. ***
The Dog Bar (Gloucester, MA) will re-open (with FUNBUCKET) on March
18. They’ve been closed for renovations. *** On March 26 GARY BACKSTROM’s
ROAD TO UTOPIA (Utopia tribute) and JOHN POWHIDA’s the HERMITS
OF MINK HALLOWEEN (Todd Rundgren tribute) be performing at Church—that’s
the night before the real TODD RUNGREN plays Berklee Performance
Center. *** Moontoast Impulse is a Facebook application that provides
performers social commerce storefronts that give them the ability to
play, share, and sell digital tracks. A recent update lets artists sell
other merchandise, including ticket to their shows. Lolita: Maybe
I could start selling tickets for me. I mean—everyone likes me. Most
guys love me. I’m sure I could sell a few tickets. Rita: What
are you actually selling? Lolita: The thought of me—it’s
gotta be worth something. Maybe $7.50 a thought.
THIS IS OUR ANNUAL MARCH ONLINE-ONLY
ISSUE
Rita: You can PayPal your $7.50
for a “thought of Lolita™” by following the advertising
link at the bottom of the homepage of the site you’re on right now.
If you haven’t noticed yet, this is our annual March online-only issue.
Every March we emphasize the use of the Internet, how it has made communication
faster, and how it brings New England acts in touch with a wider base
of fans. Lolita: Local people like JEFF ROYDS (New England Garage Bands), MARK KAYE (Hear Now Live), and PETER & VIKKI VAN NESS (Gimme Sound) are all active web entrepreneurs dealing
with New England music. In today’s world every business has to have
web presence. That is why the Noise advertisers come together
to run their banners in March to show off what they are doing to attract
you to their business.
INTIMACY
Rita: Now that we’ve made
it clear that you are not reading a print issue of the Noise,
we can move on to our next very intimate Question of the Month. And
it is—what is the hardest part about an intimate relationship? Lolita,
be my guest and ask every one of the hundred or so that have gathered
in this room. Lolita: Yes, ma’am. Everyone, listen up. What
is the hardest part about an intimate relationship? [Ten-second pause]
That was quick. Here are the answers I got… DAVE DUNCAN
(WFNX): Cleaning up. *** WALTER NOONS (Walter Noons): Being yourself.
*** LEE TODD LACKS (Radio Pü): My part. Rita: Wow—three
male answers and a total of six words. Lolita: Just shows you
that men are not willing to open up and talk about their intimate relationships.
Oh wait… here’s a last minute entry… CHRIS DUDE
(the 3:27s): The hardest part of an intimate relationship... I might
have known you'd ask that. Isn't that just like you? Every time… how
many times have we been over this? No, I can't. I'm sorry, no.
I can't go through all of that again. You know, I told you, it was a
mistake. I know that. I know I screwed… hang on a sec… sorry I had
to put my phone down. I might lose reception in a bit, just a heads
up. No, I know, I'm sorry. Baby, I told you, it’s not like that…
hello? Babe? What about the show tonight? Hello? Lolita: Chris,
I asked you to keep that between us. And no—I’m not going with you
to the show tonight! Get rid of one, and here comes another—Jonathan—no
I don’t want you to answer the question. Okay—but please don’t
say anything about our shared record collection. JONATHAN PERRY
(Boston Globe): Getting her to understand why, even after sharing
so much, you need to keep your record collection separate from hers. (It's
not you, it's me!) And no, a marriage license changes nothing. Lolita:
I asked you nicely not to mention the stupid record collection. And
a marriage license would have made a big difference. My name could have
been Lolita Perry! People could have nicknamed me LP! Rita:
I want to know why none of the fifty women in the room answered our
intimacy question? Lolita: I guess they don’t want their partners
to find out about their intimate relationships.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Rita: I can’t believe it,
but a handful of those fifty gals have tugged Lolita to the back of
the room and are roughing her up. I’m not going to get involved. She
asked for it. I’ll just tell you about the latest situation in the
ever-changing world of bands. LE MISTRAL is MARNIE HALL, DAVE WESTNER,
ED RIEMER, and JIMMY RYAN. They started out as a recording
exercise project and now they’re playing live shows. *** MUNK
has a new band called THE RADIO SAYS that features TONY SAVARINO
(guitar), GUILLERMO DEL NOCHE (bass), and either LOU PANICCIA
or MICHAEL CAFASSO (drums). *** TRIPP HELIX (Vega/ Overmind)
is the new vocalist for END OF AGE. *** THE RODS (a Rod Stewart tribute
band) includes TOM and MAUREEN KAVANAUGH LEGER (the Brooklyns),
JON METTERS, SCOTT BRESSLER, and DAVID WEISER. ***
JOHN POWHIDA’s HERMITS OF THE MINK HALLOWEEN features members
of the SARAH BORGES BAND, TOWNSHIP, THE WHITE OWL, JENNY DEE & THE
DEELINQUENTS, THE RUDDS, and of course, PETER MOORE (Count Zero)
sits in on keys when he can. Lolita: Yes, and I understand that
this Hermit band plays all TODD RUNGREN material. And a little
birdie told me that Todd himself might be sitting in when they play
at Church on March 26! Is my fat lip making it hard for you to understand
me?
TECHNICAL GADGETS
Rita: When will Lolita learn
to keep her big trap shut? I think someone should invent a lip lock
and Lolita should be forced to use it. Lolita: And if I did shut
up, you’d never get any answers to your never-ending list of silly
questions. Oh yeah, I better ask one more question. How ’bout, how
will that lip lock contraption actually work? Rita: No. Ask all
the people lined up at the bathroom about their most recent technical
gadget purchase. Lolita: Excuse me, I know you’re next in line,
Dave, but can you please hold it a second and tell me about your most
recent gadget purchase? DAVE WESTNER (Woolly Mammoth Sound):
A four-foot by eight-foot piece of cold rolled steel sheet metal to
be used in a new piece of audio equipment that Ed Riemer (the Darlings/
Wheelers & Dealers) is putting together. Lolita: Dave, I’m
beginning to think that you are Ed’s promotional manager. *** JIM
SULLIVAN (Boston Herald, jimsullivanink.com): A Sony Walkman.
No more lugging around turntables and LPs for me! I can just pop a cassette
in, affix my headphones and I'm good to go. You can usually get a full
album on one side of a C-90, but the quality's a little poorer than
the C-60s. Excellent for riding on the subway and tuning out that noisy
world. *** KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold): Since
my old cell phone didn’t have international calling and data, I just
picked up a Blackberry Bold. As my band is touring northern Africa and
the Middle East for most of February, I’m gonna need that phone to
text Rita and Lolita some hot, Brett Favre-style pics of me in the desert.
Lolita: Ooo ooo, I want a photo of you bare-chested in front of
the pyramids. Rita: I heard that Kier inspired the people’s
fight for democracy in Egypt by singing freedom songs though his Blackberry
Bold that were transmitted to the streets of Cairo. *** CLAY N. FERNO
(Middle East/ LeaguePodcast.com): Archos 101 Internet Tablet running
Android. I'll never have the dough to buy an iPad, this guy does the
same at half the cost! Plus I can read comics on it! *** RICK BERLIN
(the Nickel & Dime Band): I spent five hours in the Dedham mall
awaiting installation of remote starter for my new Kia (seizes up in
when it's below 20 and sometimes doors won't open). And yes, malls are,
as advertised, weird, dead-eyed, and of late, empty. But I did get to
see The Fighter (awesome), burn my lips on soup at Au Bon Pain,
have my hair done at Black and White hot chixen salon for the first
time in a year and a half, and read myself to sleep at Borders. I am
being swallowed up by things. *** CORIN ASHLEY (Corin Ashley):
Oh man, I'm totally into the latest gadgets and gizmos, always lusting
after the most current hip new thingy. Check this out: I just got an
MCI 1" 8 track reel-to-reel machine and get this: it's on wheels.
So, you know, you can move it around. That's gonna be the hot new thing
this spring, just wait and see. Lolita: I’m gonna have one
of those thingies custom built into my iPod. Maybe I can have wheels
added too. *** JASON DUNN (the Luxury/ Dirty Bombs): My most
recent acquisition of technology was an iPhone 3G from the Lights
Out's Matty King, who picked up an iPhone 4 to satisfy his $10K annual
Apple product addiction. I hacked it but didn't add a 3G card, so it's
basically a 16GB iPod touch that can go on the Internet if I'm in a
hotspot, like Starbucks or McDonalds. Add Angry Birds and a Zippo app
to that and it's totally fucking sweet. *** CHELSEA BERRY (Chelsea
Berry): My most recent technical gadget purchase? A cheapo car phone
charger that is so crappy I think it drains the juice in my iPhone
rather than replenishing it. Lovely. Best $7.50 I've ever spent.
Rita: I hope Chelsea isn’t comparing her purchase to the “thought
of Lolita™” for $7.50 that has already started raking in more cash
than print advertising for the Noise. *** MR. CURT (Mr.
Curt Ensemble): When is a gadget not just a gimmick? Lolita:
Please don’t insinuate that “thought of Lolita™” is a gimmick.
When it serves to express your conscious desires! [Lolita:
I know men have conscious desires every time they think of me.] I just
got a very light electric piano, a Casio Privia PX-330, for gigs, a
nice diversion from years of guitar slinging. Tried the keyboard approach
once before and it was magical. And, as a bonus, Clara Kebabian (our
violinist) is now also playing acoustic guitar. Changes the entire feel
and scope of the group. Like wow! Lolita: Sounds like a gimmick
to me—now maybe “thought of Clara™” might be more workable.
*** CHUCK U. ROSINA (WMBR/ WMFO): Most recent? The 21st
century, though still young, has seen some amazing inventions. It’s
hard to remember, but less then 10 years ago, there were no iPods or
flash recorders. These devices are my two favorite inventions of this
century thus far. iPad? I haven’t got one yet. Diane (my wife) says
we should wait for the next generation, when they put cameras and mics
on them. Wouldn’t that be a cool invention? (Are you listening, Apple?)
Did I answer the question? Lolita: No, but maybe someone from
Apple is reading and will take credit for your idea. Rita: It’s
more likely that someone at Apple will start selling “thought of Steve
Jobs™” for $29.50.
ALL GOIN’
OUT TOGETHER
Lolita: To keep up with the
competition, I’m now offering “two thoughts of Lolita™” for
the same low price of $7.50. The second thought is yours free, because
I care about the people who are willing to spend money on me. And because
this winter I’ve been climbing the walls higher than I have ever before,
I’m rarin’ to get out and see a lot of my favorite entertainers.
Rita: Here’s where you can catch Lolita or me—maybe both of
us if you get lucky. JONATHAN RICHMAN & TOMMY LARKINS
play an all ages show at the Somerville Theatre on Thursday, 3/3.
*** Same night FOX PASS does Johnny D’s. *** THE BANDIT KINGS are
at the Dolphin Striker (Portsmouth, NH) on Friday, 3/11. *** On Sunday,
3/3 at 5:00pm, the Regent Theatre (Arlington, MA) holds an SOS (save
our soundboard) benefit that includes ERIN HARPE, SARA WHEELER,
GUY MENDILO, and more. *** DIGNEY FIGNUS celebrates his new
CD, Last Planet on the Left, on Tuesday, 3/8, at Scullers. ***
On Friday, 3/5, THE RODS (a Rod Stewart tribute) sing “Maggie May”
and “Shapes of Things” at the Cantab. *** On Friday, 3/11,
SASQUASH & THE SICK-A-BILLYS drop psychobilly sounds on you at the
Midway. *** On Saturday, 3/12, hardcore fans will be at the Middle East
for RAZORS IN THE NIGHT. *** Same night CLASSIC RUINS deliver old school
rock at the Cantab. *** On Wednesday, 3/16, Team Shred presents the death
metal of SCOURGE at Great Scott. *** Cellist KRISTEN MILLER performs live soundtracks to three of Maya Deren films (from the 1940s) at Cape Ann Community Cinema (Gloucester) on Sunday, 3/13. *** THREE DAY THRESHOLD, straight from
their Spread Democracy tour across North Africa and the Middle East,
party hard on St. Paddy’s Day (3/17) at Precinct—it’s a Noise
30th anniversary party that also includes COMANCHERO and the NEW ENGLAND AMERICANA ALL STARS (performing traditional Irish music). *** One of the semi-finals for the
Rock Showdown at TCAN (Natick, MA) is set for Friday, 3/18. ***
Over at the Midway, BARRENCE WHITFIELD & THE MONKEY HIPS unleash
some rock ‘n’ roll madness on Saturday, 3/19. *** Next night, Sunday, 3/20, the ALLSTONIANS lead
the charge with This is New England Not L.A. at Church. *** APACHE
STONE featuring MICHAEL LOMBARDI (Lexi’s brother) of FX's
Rescue Me is at T.T. the Bear’s on Friday, 3/25. *** Also on that
night Hear Now Live presents HOT MOLASSES at Johnny D’s. *** And still on 3/25 is HILLBILLY HOLIDAY playing country music at the Cantab. *** THE GROWN
UP NOISE plays their CD release party at the Middle East Downstairs
on Saturday, 3/26. *** Same night AMBER SPYGLASS opens for some heavy
hitters at the Cantab, *** MR. CURT has put together the Noise 30th anniversary for April. He’s got RICK BERLIN's NICKEL & DIME BAND, BIRD MANCINI, THE GROWN UP NOISE, JON MACY & STEVE GILLIGAN, and YANI BATTEAU BAND on Saturday, 4/16 at the Midway. Lolita: I heard that there will be a story on the Midway in our the April print issue too! Rita: And this just in, T MAX has been added to the bill. *** DAVE SAGS holds a Blues Party every Thursday
night in March at the Rhumb Line (Gloucester). *** The New England Americana
Festival is at Church Boston and runs from Wednesday, 3/30, through Saturday, 4/2.
*** The Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble is back with ANNGELLE
WOOD at the helm of this Boston Emissions’ event. The preliminaries
run Sunday, 4/3 through Saturday, 4/9 (with Wednesday a day of rest).
The semis are set for the following Thursday and Friday (4/14 &
4/15), and the finals are the Friday after that (4/22). The 24 competing
bands will be announced on 3/6 (10:00 pm) on Boston Emissions
(100.7 fm). The speaker slashing, back stabbing, and bribing of
judges all takes place at T.T. the Bear’s. *** Early notice:
THE DEL FUEGOS reunite to support Right Turn addiction services at the
Paradise on June 23. Lolita: But don’t wait ’til then to
purchase your “two thoughts of Lolita™,” because I’m sure this
special item will be sold out long before Dan, Warren, Tom, and Woody
(will Steve be there?) take the stage. Rita: See you in
April when we’re back in print and getting that black ink on your
fingers. Maybe by then I’ll build up my
ego enough to be selling “thought of Rita™.”
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Rita: Hello fans of New England music—we’re
back with a fresh issue of the Noise. Lolita: I remembered to say rabbit rabbit on the
first day of the year so I am bound to be profitable, healthy, happy,
and lucky for the entire decade. Rita: Hold on—what’s this about rabbit rabbit? Lolita:
Well, the whole deal is that you say “hare hare” the last thing
at night of the last day of the month and then say “rabbit rabbit”
upon awakening—with nothing said in between. If you can accomplish
that, you might as well say goodbye to any problems for that month. Rita:
Why don’t you say, “cow cow” and “moo moo”? Lolita: Cows and moos will do nothing for you. This
is an old English tradition that dates back into the 1800s. It’s connected
to a rabbit foot being lucky and hopping into the future. Rita:
I’ll give it a try. But let’s get to our friends who are waiting
outside on a line to answer the question of the month. Lolita: Yeah, I saw them when I came in—they were
all shivering. Rita: The cold helps build character. So ask those
characters what they would like to see happen in 2011. Lolita: Yes boss…
PREVIEW 2011
Lolita: Hey Dave! You are keen on observation
and advice—tell me what you’d like to see happen in 2011. DAVE TREE
(Blow Your Face Out/ SuperPower/ DrugWar/ Tree): What I would like to
see in 2011 and beyond is people becoming more self-sufficient, growing
and building more for themselves and for other people—more gardens,
more food, grow your own kindness, build a network of support in your
community. It’s really the true American way and not the selfishness
and greed that gets celebrated in this country as success. *** KAREN DeBIASSE
(Girl On Top): Besides the basic things like all wars to end, the economy
to get better, and that false terror come to a half, it sure would be
nice to see the Boston music scene get a boost. *** RYAN
LEE CROSBY (Ryan Lee Crosby/
Faces on Film/ Mr. Sister): I’d like to see Floyd face his fear and
meet Manny in the ring. *** SLIMEDOG (the Noise): What I would like to happen in 2011 is to
see the giraffes take over the planet and enslave mankind. We would
be forced to only listen to Uriah Heep and be made to wear plaid leisure
suits. Not only do I fervently wish this, but I believe it’s very
possible that this will happen. *** BOBY
BEAR (Boby Bear): This will
come as no great surprise to anyone—but I’d like to see Elvis Presley
step forward and give a final, late in life public statement about his
departure from the public eye. If it ever happens, he’ll most likely
be flanked by Priscilla and Lisa Marie, who still refer to him very
much in the present tense, especially Priscilla. She just did it again,
blatantly, in a recent on-camera interview. ***
KEVIN FINN (the Noise):
I would like to see the Bruins finally win the Stanley Cup. *** TIM MUNGENAST
(Tim Mungenast & His Preexisting Conditions): What I want to see
in 2011 is Joe and Jane Lunchbox waking up and realizing what a huge
mistake they made giving the GOP (Greedy Oil Plutocrats) more power
in 2010. I hope they open a big can of that righteous Tea Party rage
on the folks who held their tax breaks and unemployment benefits hostage.
I also hope they stop the GOP newcomers’ pledge to eliminate the EPA,
because “the environment” is not some vague ivory-tower concept:
the environment is simply WHERE WE LIVE. Nobody wants brown drinking
water, right? *** IAN CLARK (With A Bullet/ Razors in the Night): I’d
like to not get banned from any more bars in Boston… I’m running out
of places to drink. *** BONNIE
BARRISH (Bonnie Barrish): First,
I want to see us get out of the war, and for there to be peace again.
Second is on a personal level, and that is to have more performances,
and opportunities. The third thing is that I am hoping that we can start
an open mic, where we can invite different performers to have the opportunity
to do their thing, in all different art forms, and to bridge the stratification
of different kinds of music, and art, and allow it all to be performed
and shown in the same venue, and under the same roof. *** HENDRIK DAVID GIDEONSE XIX (Indecent Music): Looking forward to the arrival
of our first daughter and wondering how that will impact the recording
studio in the basement! Lolita: Well, if you don’t have the basement properly
soundproofed, I’m sure you’ll get cute baby cries on some of the
recordings. *** SHAUN WOLF
WORTIS (18th Annual Mardi Gras
Ball): I’d like for Boston to finally start thinking about a signature
sandwich. We have none. Philly has several. New Orleans several. New
York many. Even Louisville has one. Boston none. It’s time this was
rectified. A signature sandwich needs to be unusual, distinctively regional,
popular, and available everywhere. *** LEE
TODD LACKS (Rootlock/ Radio
Pü): Above all else, I hope that my wife and I may continue to love
the wonderful little boy who came into our care five months ago. *** CHUCK U. ROSINA
(WMBR/ WMFO): What I would like to see in 2011? How about a cease-fire
in Afghanistan, an end to corporate greed, and a reversal of the Supreme
Court decision on money equals speech. As Jimmy Tingle says, “that
means a lack of money equals lack of speech.” Poor, working, and middle-
class people are left without a voice in government. It’s a lot to
ask for in one year. “You can say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m
not the only one.” *** DJ
MÄTTHEW GRIFFIN (the Noise):
I’d like to see more people in our community going out to support
local live music. *** MICHAEL
P. AROIAN (Elsewhere): I would
like to see everyone in the Boston music scene continue to be passionate
about music, yet at the same time not take themselves too seriously.
Too many times there are too many people (often times non-musicians) who
try to drag the rest of us down with their self-importance. Let’s actually
serve the song for once. The other thing I would like to see happen is
time travel, so we can go back to 1999 and give the music industry a
second chance at trying to develop a viable business model using the
Internet and technology. *** KRISTEN
MILLER (Kristen Miller): I
would like to hang out more with you, Rita. It’s been forever, and
that’s just too long. Lolita I see plenty, since she cleans my house
and I take care of her dog. But really, Rita, this is getting ridiculous.
Also, I would like all of us to get wildly rich and famous. Rita:
But I thought you were rich and famous. Just compare yourself to kids
from some remote country and you’ll realize we are all rich and somewhat
famous.
THE
FAMOUS NEWS
Lolita:
Our news is famous because it is about our famous community—if you
are reading this, you are part of that community.
ANAIS MITCHELL is now employing
new casts for her successful folk rock opera, Hadestown, when she’s on the road. She’s done NYC
Sings Hadestown, California Sings Hadestown, London Sings Hadestown,
Glascow Sings Hadestown, and on 2/17 to 2/20 she does Virginia Sings
Hadestown. *** NICK BLAKEY has returned to Church and is now the sole
booking manager there. *** ROB
POTYLO (Robby
Roadsteamer) recently scored second place in the 2010 Andy Kaufmann
Comedy Awards. His TV show Quiet
Desperation
is produced by Allston-area actors, musicians, and comics and airs on
Friday and Saturday nights at 11pm into 2.6 million homes on MyTV New
England. *** Longtime DJ and booker of New England bands, SHRED tied the knot on center ice
with Rachel between the second
and third periods of the Worcester Sharks vs. Portland Pirates AHL Atlantic
Division match-up at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, on Sunday, 1/23/11.
*** BOBY BEAR has a new online radio show called Bear With
Me (unregularradio.com) produced by CARMELITA. *** AXEMUNKEE’s “Acid Django” was featured
briefly on History Channel’s American
Pickers show. *** MARK MCKELLAR (Age of End) will be one of the characters
in an online video game Play Live! Play Loud! that uses his band’s
song, “the Awakening.” *** MASON VINCENT
(Cannible Kings) has created a graphic magazine/comic entitled Tales of Captain Black. It’s available at www.amazon.com/dp/B004C446AK.
*** JOHN
SURETTE is writing a rock opera
about a punk rock super hero who once played in a band called Boy’s
Life. The musicians include DENNIS
McCARTHY (drums), BO BARRINGER (bass), DAVID MINEHAN
(guitar) and JOHNNY BLAZE (vocals). *** DAVE
MORRISON (the Trademarks/ True
Blue) has released Clubland (Fighting Cock Press), a collection of poems
about the Boston rock ’n’ roll scene written in verse. *** TIM CATZ
(Roadsaw) and IAN ADAMS both worked behind the scenes on The Fighter starring MARK
WAHLBERG. *** D.J.
McLEAN won Marblehead’s Got Talent competition.
*** Narragansett Beer celebrated its 120th anniversary in
2010. *** Blackburn Performing Arts in Gloucester closed on December
18. But we’ve heard rumors of new plans for that same space. We’ll
have more details next month. *** Despite a successful benefit show
to keep the Horror Business in Allston open, it just didn’t do the
trick—the place closed on January 2. *** ROADSAW will release
their “comeback” record on 3/22. It’s on Small Stone Records and
produced by SEAN SLADE and the Boston Music Awards’ current best
producer BENNY GROTTO. Lolita: See, we do have famous people and the famous
things they do in our news section.
TOP
THREE
Rita: As is it every February,
this is our Top Ten issue. Elsewhere in these pages you’ll find lists
of Noise contributors’ top 10s for 2010. Now we offer
our friends a chance to play along by asking them to share their top
three for 2010. There is the famous Mr. Curt! Tell me your top three
for 2010. MR. CURT (Mr. Curt Ensemble): With no order specified:
a) CD: Anais Mitchell’s Hadestown folk opera was an absolutely confident &
supreme effort from a local talent. Superb music, incisive lyrics, great
cast, and all-encompassing styles and themes. b) Musician: our violinist,
Clara Kebabian released her debut album collection, Symbiotica, which crystallizes her abundant talents with
many local acts. And lastly, c) The scene: maintaining and sharing friendships,
music, and concerns with many of the older Boston scene members who
refuse to go quietly into that dark night of retirement by creating
new and stimulating music. Bop ’til you drop, indeed! Rock on! Hooray
for heritage! *** WARD
HADEN (Girls Guns & Glory):
The top three Boston bands/artists I learned about in 2010 (that subsequently
begin with the letter L) are: 1) Love in Stockholm. 2) Lady Lamb the
Beekeeper. 3) Lake Street Dive. *** LUCRETIA
X. MACHINA (Lucretia’s Daggers):
It was a productive band/music year for me and my partner, Jason Skulls
(Mortuus Ortus): 1. Acquiring Otto von Kinzel (Chemical Distance) as
LD’s new guitarist/ synth programmer/ backup vocalist extraordinaire!
2. Seeing Skulls join punk rock metal outfit Electric Mummy as their
new bassist, Brain Dead! 3. Seeing Skulls join Anderson Mar’s band
Sans Nomenclature as guitarist and one of her part-time bass teachers
at the Paul Green School of Rock! *** MASON
VINCENT (the Cannibal Kings):
I discovered that all kinds of restaurants and a lot of clubs have jam
nights that are pretty well attended. They make a few bucks on the jammers
and friends and the locals. As for the jammers who come in all shapes
and sizes and levels of play, the draw is a chance to play out and with
other musicians live for an audience. Most are older musicians without
a band, but many are acoustic guitarist and rock bands that want to
try out their presentation and network. 2010 was the rediscovery of the
jam scene. *** KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold): Top three things that didn’t happen to my
band in 2010: No one got arrested; our band’s drink tab was smaller
than band earnings; and best of all Three Day Threshold’s guitarist,
Evan Gavry’s house did not burn down this year. Rita: Kier’s top three things that didn’t happen
to his band goes together with his top ten things that did happen to his band—see if you can find it
in this issue.
MUSICAL
CHAIRS
Lolita: In this section we
let you know what’s going on with new bands that have formed and bands
that have taken in new members. Rita: But first we’d like to announce some changes
in the staff of the Noise. New England’s longest running music magazine
has four new associate editors! DJ
MÄTTHEW GRIFFIN, ERIC BAYLIES, JULIA DeSTEFANO,
and AJ WACHTEL have all been promoted for their work above
and beyond the call of duty. Lolita: Congratulations to all—but don’t think
for a moment that I will get your morning coffee for you. Here now,
our game of musical chairs: KENNY CHAMBERS & THE MAIDS debuted in January
at T.T.’s. Kenny is playing all new songs that cross the Clash with
the Beatles. The Maids include ANDY
BAKER on drums, STEVE CARAWAY on
bass, and CURTISS FLORCZAK on guitar. *** ANDY
MILK (the Vital Might) has
a side project called WESTERLY WALES. *** JET FUEL is the new band from JET (Sam
Black Church). *** KEN
FIELD leads the ALTO ARMY,
where he gets as many of his alto sax buddies to join in to play ambient
and trance long-tone sounds. *** ERICH
THALER (Stompbox) and GLEN
and CHUCK STILPHEN (Gang Green) have formed NUNS OF PUNK and
released the single “First Nickle.” *** As of December 2010, OTTO von KINZEL
(Chemical Distance) has joined LUCRETIA’S DAGGERS as guitarist/ programmer,
replacing guitarist ELUCID (Streak). *** TOXIC NARCOTIC is on hiatus,
and while they are, SAMMY
MIAMI will be playing drums
with THE WELSH BOYS. *** SULLY
ERNA (Godsmack) has a solo
project called AVALON that includes LISA
GUYER (vocals), TIM THERIAULT
(guitar), CHRIS DECATO (Keys), CHRIS
LESTER (acoustic guitar/bass), IRINA CHIRKOVE
(cello), NIALL GREGORY (drums), and DAVID
STEFANELLI (drums). *** CHRIS MASCARA
(Mascara) has joined BIRDSMAKEBIRDS, playing bass and doing some background
vocals. Lolita: Good luck to al the new bands and new members
and congratulations to our new associate editors.
CHANGING POINT
Rita: In our final question
of the month we’d like to know of a changing point in your life. Lolita:
I’ll go ask it. Ken, I love that red jacket you have on—can I have
it? No wait—that was the wrong question. I need to know a changing
point in your life.
KEN FIELD (Agachiko/ Revolutionary
Snake Ensemble/ Birdsongs of the Mesozoic): I joined the psychedelic
funk band Skin in the mid-’80s. Man, those guys were crazy!
But what really changed things for me was recording my first solo CD Subterranea
in an underground room in Roswell, New Mexico, about 10 years later.
No space aliens, but it was a blast to do, and I still dig the disc.
*** RICK BERLIN (Nickel & Dime Band): Playing with these
guys (who grew up and played music together in JP) takes me to a place
I’d sworn off—band-as-genre. Total fun, happy, rock strong, big
drums, three guitars, awesome musicianship. Feel like I found E-Street
in the hood. For the first time ever, people actually dance to this
stuff. Nickel & Dime play for the song, period. Resurrected my love
of bands after years of doubt and drama. *** RICK
BARTON (Continental): The big
change for me came over the course of this past year when I finally
let go of the worldly pressure that I succumbed to since about fifth
grade! But not just saying it (like now), or thinking it, but actually
feeling it! Knowing it’ll be all right! *** LARRY
LITOGOT (Penis Fly Trap/ Jay
Allen & the Archcriminals): In August of 2010 I bought a bicycle.
I hadn’t ridden a bicycle in more than 20 years but soon discovered
it was just like riding a bike. This changed my life because now I can
get to local rock shows in 15 minutes and I’m not always Jay Allen’s
date at the end of the night. It also keeps me in great shape as long
as I don’t get crushed by a bus. Then I’ll be flat-shaped. *** LINDA VIENS
(Angeline): A hugely changing point in my life was about four years
ago: in emotional agony and searching for answers, I turned to the ancient ways of
meditation and yoga, and began to practice consistently. Within the
quiet of both I have processed untold griefs, losses, and childhood
pain, and my body, heart, and brain have grown new muscles/cells/DNA
that are encoded with a kind of pure optimism, love, and strength. I
am grateful beyond words. *** MELVERN
TAYLOR (… & His Fabulous
Meltones): A major changing point in my life was the first time I heard
Guns N’ Roses. When I was 15 I was the personification of hate and
fury and Appetite for
Destruction seemed like it
was written just for me. I literally listened to nothing but Gn’R
between 1987 and 1989. Then Lies came out and I loved the acoustic sound of
it so much that it sent me down a totally different road. Eventually,
I traded in the hate and fury for good old-fashioned misery. Thank goodness
for dollar beers! *** MELISSA
GIBBS (Andrea Gillis Band/
Coffin Lids): 2010 had a few changing points. My husband, Charles Hansen,
and I had a baby in November. We also became small business owners; we
opened a music store—Mass Ave Music—in Porter Square, together with
Joe Klompus. Lolita: Wow! Congratulations on becoming a mom! And
it’s great to hear that a music store upstairs from where Cambridge
Music used to be (1904 Mass. Ave., Cambridge).
ALL
GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER
Rita: Time
to plan your winter outings—here’s our advice. CHELSEA
BERRY is in residency at Alchemy
(Gloucester) every Wednesday night. *** LENNY
LASHLEY (Darkbuster)plays the
Middle East on Wednesday, 2/9. *** CASEY
DESMOND is part of a good sampling
of musicians at T.T.’s on Thursday, 2/10. *** ERIN HARPE & THE
DELTA SWINGERS swing at the Cantab on Saturday, 2/12. *** Same night
BIRD MANCINI soares at Cat in the Cradle (Byfield, MA). *** AD FRANK
& THE FAST EASY WOMEN play the Middle East on Friday, 2/18. ***
Saturday, 2/19, is the time shake it with BOOTY VORTEX at Johnny D’s.
*** Same night THE BANDIT KINGS play the Rhumb Line (Gloucester). ***
Our February Big Shot, RYAN
LEE CROSBY, opens for MARISSA NADLER
at Passim on Sunday, 2/20. *** On Thursday, 2/24, ME&JOANCOLLINS
does it at the Middle East. *** TIJUANA SWEETHEART win your heart at
the Noise’s 30th anniversary February party at the
Middle East on Friday, 2/25. Also on the bill are BLOW YOUR FACE OUT (Dave Tree's J. Geils tribute band), JASON BENNETT & THE RESISTANCE, and MIKE SAVITKAS & MARK LIND. *** On Saturday, 2/26, ENTRAIN rolls into
Johnny D’s. *** Thursday, 3/3, has JONATHAN
RICHMAN on stage at the Armory.
*** THE ALLSTON BROTHERS BAND reunites with their Live
at the Fillmore East album
at the Bangkok Paradise (Salem, MA) on Friday, 3/4. *** THREE DAY THRESHOLD
drinks straight from the barrel at the
Noise’s 30th anniversary
March party at Precint on Thursday, 3/17. Yep, that also happens to
be a St. Paddy’s Day celebration! Playing with 3DT are COMANCHERO and NEW ENGLAND AMERICANA ALL STARS (perfoming traditional Irish music). Rita: Hope to see you there. Lolita: Remember—every March issue, our next, is
online-only.
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Rita: I sat watching President Obama being interviewed
on 60 Minutes and although the majority of the conversation
was about the poor economy, there was not one mention of the biggest
drain on our economy—THE WAR! Why??? Lolita: Everyone is focused on the economy. They
don’t hear about the war so it’s easy to make believe it doesn’t
exist and it has nothing to do with our economy. Rita: How can we win a war against terrorism when
our occupation of foreign countries only inflates the membership of
terrorist groups? Lolita: I know… maybe we should talk about music
in New England. Rita: Okay, get out there and ask our large family
of peace-loving music-related friends what they are looking forward
to in the way of a performance or CD release coming up in December.
There’s Kier! Lolita, quick grab him!
WHAT’S HAPPENING
BABY
Lolita: Kier, what’s up—anything happening out
there that we should know about?
KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold):
I’m looking forward to the New England Americana Festival held at
Church that runs from Wednesday, March 30 through Saturday, April 2.
There are so many great acts that take part in this festival year after
year; it’s great to catch them all in one place. *** SCOTT
MATALON (Matalon): Rob “Roadsteamer”
Potylo is releasing Something
Happened at Horse Lake at the
Middle East Downstairs on December 4. I am working with Rob on his TV
show, and I think his music is great and deserves more local attention
and support—and this album is great! *** CHRIS
BRAT (the AcroBrats/ By the
Throat/ the Spoilers/ Jason Bennett & the Resistance): Tenafly Vipers’
CD release! They’ve got two release shows because they’re greedy
attention-whores—one North Shore, one in Boston. It’s been forever
since a new Vipers disc and I think this CD has, like, 62 songs on it.
And only seven of them suck! Sick vocal cameo from Troy (Razors in the
Night) plus the recording process was so grueling that one Viper pissed
his pants while in the studio. For reals. Your
Event Horizon—already best
CD of 2010 and it isn’t even out yet. *** MELVIN
O (the Noise): On December 10th, White
Lighter by Joe Fletcher &
the Wrong Reasons will finally be released. Thanks to all those who
contributed to this project through Kickstarter. *** DARRON
BURKE. (Makeshift Studio/ Vac-Ume-Pakt
Records): Well, I just say this... If you’ve seen Carl Plaster around
lately, you’ll notice he only seems to be able to mutter one thing:
Kiling Joke, December 4th, Paradise. Nuff said. *** OEDIPUS
(Oedipus): The Decemberists’ album The
King Is Dead due in later January.
A vital American band. *** STEVE
“ACE” McARDLE (Skull Hammer):
They have been teasing us in the U.S. with the “Big Four Tour” (Megadeth,
Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax). Will they tour the states or won’t they?
We know a DVD is coming, but I’d love a chance to see all these bands
together in one night. *** PAUL
ROBICHEAU (the
Improper Bostonian): Kelli
Scarr at the Rosebud December 19. Several years ago Kelli was the soulful
voice driving trip-hoppy local rockers Moonraker before the band moved
to Brooklyn and broke up. She became a mom, collaborated with Moby,
and stripped down to singer-songwriter mode for her subtly enchanting
recent disc, Piece. So this is a different sort of homecoming.
*** PAT WALLACE (Natalie Flanagan Band/ Trick Wallace Trio):
Tons of new stuff, from Wire, Social D, Steve Wynn, Mogwai, the Decemberists—not
to mention that highly anticipated all-acoustic Justin Bieber record—counting
the minutes! Lolita: Yeah, don’t you wish you could sell as
many CDs/downloads as Justin.
NEWS
Rita: Big or small—we’re all stars. At least
in our own minds. Here’s the big news I managed to wrangle up lately. Last
month’s Noise Big Shot ALLEN
ESTES was given his own local
TV show—the Local Music
Seen. It will feature him and
local musicians from the Gloucester music scene. *** ERIC
SCHMIDER’s “Ordinary Life”
aired on Terriers (FX Network). *** THREE DAY THRESHOLD
won Boston Magazine’s award for best local band. Bandleader KIER BYRNES tells
us that he’s set up a tour in the Middle East (not the club in Cambridge)
for early next year. *** TIM
CASEY (Low Budget Records)
hosts a new TV show—Transmission
Hour. The show is broadcast
on Comcast channel 23 in Boston. It’s filmed at Boston Neighborhood
Network’s Egelston Square studios. *** MUNK has had his music aired on half time for the
2010 Super Bowl. He also scored the independent feature film Conned,
directed by ARTHUR LUHN (Eyeth Films). *** Our favorite café with
live music in Portland, ME, closed—that’s the North Star Café.
*** THE DRESDEN DOLLS had a big write up and review of their Halloween
show at Irving Plaza in Spin. *** THE WEISSTRONAUTS toured the mid-South
in mid November. I wonder if they played “Dueling Banjos” to remind
them of Deliverance. *** Get in the Christmas spirit with Infinite Santa—watch
a new episode each week at www.infinitesanta.com. ERIC
WELSH (Chillhouse Studio) is
mixing the audio and composing the music. He’s also adding more sound
effects in post-production. Lolita: I always thought post-production had something
to do with manufacturing parts of fences.
THE REAL MAIL
Rita: While Lolita is admitting her ignorance,
I’ll join her in saying I always though there was something inherently
wrong with the term military intelligence. The smart men I know don’t
kill people they disagree with. But that has nothing to do with the
next question of the month. Ooo—I can try it out on Melvern—tell
me, Mr. Taylor, what was the most recent significant snail mail you
received? MELVERN TAYLOR (… & His Fabulous Meltones): Wilco tickets
and a silicone vagina. *** NICHOLE
FERREE (Orange Nichole): Last
spring a relative mailed me a kazoo. A fancy, custom-made one in its
own velvet pouch. One of the more unexpected and significant pieces
of mail I’ve received in a while. *** DAVE
WESTNER (Woolly Mammoth Sound):
A box of 200 pairs of earplugs. Boring, but necessary. *** AJ WACHTEL
(the Noise): I don’t know if significant is the right
word but I once got an interesting letter when I lived at 30 Francis
Street in Brookline. Within walking distance and sight from my house
was 30 Francis St. in Boston and occasionally I would get my mail delivered
to the wrong address and vice versa. My 90-year-old grandfather sent
me a letter and addressed it to J. Wachtel. Apparently, there was a
Joanne Wachtel at the other address and got my grandfather’s letter
by mistake. She called me up and told me she would deliver it and I
remember waiting to see what this woman looked like. Looking down from
my second floor window when she arrived I saw a very blond woman walk
up my steps and all was cool until soon after we met and she said to
me, “Gee, if we ever get married, I wont even have to change my name.”
We never married. *** DAVID
KIRKDORFFER (UNDO/ the Blank
Attack): The last snail mail I received was probably from my dear old
mum, and anytime she writes it’s significant. *** KRISTEN
MILLER (Kristen Miller): Our
son gets all the good snail mail. He is in kindergarten and gets tons
of birthday party invites. I love that they still come in the mail,
the old fashioned way. *** JON
MACEY (Fox Pass/ Acoustic Storm
Cellar): The last significant snail mail was yesterday—my auto insurance
company lying to me about the fact that I am getting the best rate and
the state putting in a booklet about competition that is supposed to
convince me that I am not being completely ripped off by these insurance
companies. I do get other heartfelt mail from credit card and other
corporations that steal from everyone. But yet, we can’t pay to put
addicts in treatment or feed kids. *** RAY
MASON (Ray Mason Band/ Lonesome
Brothers): I recently received the great new Bob Jordan CD (The Meaning Is...) in the mail. I had no idea Bob had a new
one out so it was a very pleasant surprise. Always a treat to find a
new CD in your mailbox! *** BILL
DWYER (Bill Dwyer Band): I
just got a cool paper ’zine in the mail from my friend Liza. She just
moved from Rhode Island to California with her young daughter on a whim
for a life change and to be able to surf more often. She’s a small
engine mechanic, musician, surfer, and finds time to create and mail
out her own ’zine, on top of being a single mom. Amazing, very cool
person. Cheers to you Liza! *** D-TENSION (Los Wunder Twins Del Rap): I received a nice letter from the IRS informing
me that all of the shows that I booked for a club near Kenmore Square
for a period of three-years were “inadvertently” not reported by
said club. Now they want me to pay taxes on every show. When the IRS
called to follow up, I told them that I never got their letter because
I don’t consider snail mail to be significant. *** WALTER
SICKERT (…& the Army
of Broken Toys): A fan of the band shaved her head to one of our songs
and sent me her hair in a large envelope with lipstick kisses and ponies
drawn on the outside. Edrie knitted the hair into a tea cozy. *** RUBY BIRD (Bird
Mancini): I got a royalty check! However small, it’s significant to
me. Oh yeah, and a coupon for free panties from Victoria’s Secret! Whee! A
good day. Lolita: Wow, I didn’t know you were part of the
royal family. Do they really check on you to make sure you are wearing
underwear?
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Rita: While Lolita is poking around in people’s
under garments, I’ll go underground and report the movement of musicians
in some relatively new bands. MIDATLANTIC has added ROB
FUSCO (drums) and JOHN MILEHAM
(keys). *** DIRTY BOMBS is one part the LUXURY, one part CONSERVATIVE
MAN, and two parts TELEVANDALS. *** JASON
BALDOCK has taken over the
drummer slot that WES NARRON
JR. held in BROWNBOOT. ***
THE RADIO SAYS is MUNK (guitar/vocals), TONY
SAVARINO (guitar), GUILLERMO DEL NOCHE (bass), and MICHAEL
CAFASSO (drums). In November
they were still auditioning keyboard players and possibly violin and
mandolin as well. *** KEN
FIELD, SCOTT GETCHELL, DANA COLLEY,
RUSS GERSHON, JOHN FERRY, TIM SPRAGUE,
and ETHAN MEYER make up the BILLY RUANE MEMORIAL BRASS BAND
and played at Billy’s wake. *** THE LUXURY has picked up MATT GRABER
(Sarah RabDAU/ Mascara) on drums. *** NARCOTERROR (a band that existed
from 2005-2006 featured members from BLACK OPIUM FORTRESS, ABUNAI!,
and MAGIC SHOPPE. They are reuniting on 12/9/10 at P.A.’s Lounge.
*** DUB APOCALYPSE is comprised of musicians from JOHN BROWN’S BODY,
MORPHINE, G LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE, and NATE WILSON GROUP. *** SAL BAGLIO
(Stompers/ Urban Caravan) heads THE BEAUTY & DISTURBANCE ORCHESTRA
with DANIEL ROWE (cello), CLARA
KABABIAN (violin/ vocals), SETH PAPPAS (percussion/
glockenspiel/vocals), JOHN
RYDER (upright bass), STEPHEN GILLIAN
(mandolin/ vocals), and LEONARD
SHEA (percussion/ vocals). Lolita:
The Beauty and Disturbance Orches-tra?—that sounds like an oxymoron.
Reminds me of “political solutions.”
LESSER KNOWN
FACTS
Rita: Ooo—my favorite oxymoron
is on my amplifier—there’s a slave master! Now onto our final question
of the month… Tell us and interesting lesser-known facts about your
town or city.
NICOLE TAMMARO
(Nicole Tammaro Photography): I
have to direct this one to all you hipsters that have invaded my hometown
of... Somerville. To the same d-bags that in the ’70s and ’80s that
called it scum-aville, slum-aville. You have driven up our rents and
made Somerville move to “resident only” parking on most streets.
You have caused all the Italian, Portuguese, Irish, and Greek familys
to move to the burbs! Ending rant now before I really get angry.
*** DAN KING (DMKG/ the Bandit Kings): A great piece of
Gloucester folklore is that the term bash for a wild party derives from this Cape Ann
city. This bash was an acronym for the events put on by Buswell,
Andrew, Sleeper, and Hammond who were all wealthy landowners at the
time and whose names are still associated with the city. Examples are
Hammond Castle, Buswell Pond, the Sleeper House and A. Piat Andrew Bridge. *** JEN D’ANGORA (Jenny
Dee & the Deelinquents/ the Downbeat 5): Every Thanksgiving Day,
protesters gather at the top of Cole’s Hill in Plymouth (where I used
to play as a kid), which overlooks Plymouth Rock. This is in honor of
Wamsutta James, who, in 1970, was the first person to demonstrate at
Cole’s Hill and protest the injustices of Native Americans, who have
labeled Thanksgiving “National Day of Mourning.” *** MUNK (the
Radio Says): I’ll give you two, cause it’s all my tiny town has.
Whitman is the smallest town in Mass. and is where the tollhouse cookie
was born. Small town but big yummy contribution to fat people everywhere.
*** TED DROZDOWSKI (Scissormen): My current hometown is Nashville,
and a lot of people don’t know that Nashville is home to the best
hot chicken in the world. Not buffalo wings or hot wings, but hot chicken,
which is a more African-American experience and makes vindaloo seem
like it’s for rookies. It needs to be ingested with white bread and
sweet tea, ideally, and the first few bites are challenging, but when
the endorphins kicks in it is pure epicurean bliss. *** MONIQUE ORTIZ
(Secret Trains): Women going topless at local swimming holes is perfectly
legal here in Austin! *** BRETT
MILANO (writer): Guitar legend
Mike Bloomfield once visited the pre-fame J. Geils Blues Band at the
house they all shared; he found them via the blues records they were
blasting out the window and they sat up all night doing Lord knows what…
This happened about two blocks from my house on Inman Square. *** TIM MUNGENAST
(Tim Mungenast & His Preexisting Conditions): My adopted town, Watertown,
MA, was the home of the Stanley Steamer automobile. *** ANDY MILK
(the Vital Might): The Village of Barnstable is inside of the Town of
Barnstable, which is inside the County of Barnstable. *** CARL BIANCUCCI
(Classic Ruins): Arlington Massachusetts has become the rock ’n’ roll mecca of Middlesex County.
You can’t throw a guitar pick in Arlington without hitting a member
of the Neighborhoods, the Rudds, JJ & the Cuban Heels, Classic Ruins,
Gozu, the Killer Abs, Rock Bottom, the Doom Buggies, or the Bags. All
this plus a pizza joint on every block! *** IAN
ADAMS (Ian Adams): The high
school I went to in my home town, Whitman, MA (the school has since
been demolished and moved) was built on the site of a former smallpox
cemetery, and was sinking at a rate of about two inches a year into
the swampy earth. *** DAVE
PINO (Powerman 5000) : According
to my History of Waltham
Class, the industrial revolution
started in Waltham with the factory BMC. Legend has it, owner Francis
Cabot Lowell stole engineering designs from a factory in London by drawing
what he saw onto napkins. *** PETE
SUTTON (the Vivs): Three fun
facts about my hometown of Agawam, MA. 1. It is the first zip code in
the nation— 01001; 2. It is the only town in the state with no
official town center; 3. In 2005, it listed as its residents no fewer
than five retired TV weathermen—of which my dad was one. *** KEN FIELD
(Billy Ruane Memorial Brass Band): I grew up in Tinton Falls,
NJ, (then called New Shrewsbury). Next door to my house was an
underage alcohol-free music club called Le Teendezvous where Bruce Springsteen
played several times with his early trio, Earth, with my classmates
John Graham on bass and Mike Burke on drums. *** FRANK
ROWE (Classic Ruins): Few people
know that my town, sleepy Winthrop, once boasted a death camp and several
slave plantations. During King Philip’s war (1675-6) all of the non-combatant
Christian convert Winnisimmet and Wampanoag in Mass. Bay Colony were
herded onto Deer Island, part of Winthrop, to die of starvation and disease,
which they did in numbers approaching 2000.This did not interrupt the
labors of the African slaves working half a mile away on the Floyd,
Pierce and Bill plantations, whose names were mostly forgotten when the
slave cemetery was plowed under for the construction of Fort Banks.
*** LINDA VIENS (Angeline): Somerville is the most densely
populated city in New England according to the 2000 Demographics of
the United States. In November 1997, the Utne
Reader named Davis Square in
Somerville one of the 15 hippest places to live in the U.S. and in 2009
Somerville was an All-American City Award recipient. I have also heard
that we have more artists per square mile than any city in the world
except New York, though I can’t back that up with hard data. *** JIM COUNTRYMAN
(Erin Harpe & the Delta Swinger/ Lovewhip): Our hometown of Jamaica
Plain is named after plain white rum not some grassy field and most
of that rum money was made by selling slaves. Not so PC for such a liberal
PC place. *** PETER RINNIG (QRST’s): 1. Conan O’Brian (Team Coco)
is from Brookline. His parents still live here. 2. John F. Kennedy was
born in Brookline. 3. Brookline was named Brookline from when it was
annexed from Boston because the muddy river was the dividing line—hence
brook-line. 4. In 1873 Brookline became an exclave when the neighboring
town of West Roxbury was annexed by Boston. Brookline refused to be
annexed by Boston after the Brookline-Boston annexation debate of 1873.
*** BRUCE ALLEN (the Doom Buggies): I live near Pine Grove
Cemetary in Lynn. It is surrounded by the second longest continuous
stonewall in the world. According to the Guinness Book of Records, only
the Great Wall of China is longer. *** CHUCK
U. ROSINA (WMBR/ WMFO): My wife and I have lived in
Medford for eight years. We’re just north of Davis Square, right next
to Tufts, so we really feel like we are in a spacious Somerville. One
of Medford’s claims to fame is that the song, “Jingle Bells,”
was written in a tavern in Medford Sq. over 200 years ago. The tavern
is long gone, but the song remains. *** IAN
CLARK (With a Bullet/ Razors
In the Night): Marblehead has more drunks per square mile than anywhere
in the world. Rita: I thought that title belonged to Nantucket? Lolita:
I read it was Cape Cod.
ALL GOIN’
OUT TOGETHER
Rita: Where ever you drink—please do it responsibly.
And make sure you have fun when you go out to any of these shows… Joestock
starts at 1:30pm on Saturday, 12/4, and goes all day at the Cantab with
the ALLSTONIANS and a whole lotta other great bands. *** A.K.A.C.O.D.
returns on Wednesday, 12/8, at Plough & Stars. *** THE BANDIT KINGS
celebrate the release of their CD at T.T. the Bear’s on Thursday,
12/9. *** Same night STEALING EARTH is at the Dog Bar in Gloucester.
*** KRISTEN MILLER performs her score to At
Land at the Cape Ann Community
Cinema on Saturday, 12/11. *** BIRD
MANCINI plays the Midway on
Tuesday, 12/14, at the newly expanded Midway. *** CHANDLER TRAVIS’s
annual Christmas Cavalcade Benefit is at Johnny D’s on Wednesday,
12/15. *** On Thursday, 12/16, the Noise anniversary party continues at T.T. the Bears
with JASON BENNETT & THE RESISTANCE leading the charge. *** THE
JAMES MONTGOMERY BAND is at Longfellow Square in Portland, ME, on Friday,
12/17. *** THE LUXURY is part of a great holiday show at the Middle
East upstairs on Saturday, 12/18. *** In January, the Noise anniversary party continues at Precinct on
Saturday, 1/15, with COFFIN LIDS headlining. *** CHELSEA
BERRY is playing at Carnegie
Hall with the Turn Up the Peace World Music Tour on Tuesday, 1/25. *** Rita:
Look for a complete story on BILLY
RUANE (Citizen
Ruane by Francis DiMenno) on
www.thenoise-boston.com. Lolita: Have the greatest of holidays! We’ll be
back with our next issue in February.
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FEAST DAY COMETH
Rita: This is a great time of the year for musicians
and artists to finish up their latest contributions to society that
will hopefully turn into monetary rewards. Lolita: And don’t forget the big family feast day
that’s drawing closer. I usually don’t eat for two weeks before
Thanksgiving so I can pig out. Rita: That’s right, Thanksgiving is a time when
families come together. Let’s find out more about some people’s
families. Lolita, go ask them to tell you something unique about their
family. Lolita: Sure. Hey, there’s Mickey Bliss riding
his bicycle down Mass. Ave. Hoe, Mickey! Oh no, there’s a puddle!
Ahhhh! You’ve… got my… dress all muddy and wet! Okay, calm down—I’m
supposed to ask you… can you buy me a new dress?
UNIQUE FAMILY
Lolita: Okay, forget the dress. Tell me something
unique about your family. MICKEY BLISS
(Club Bohemia): My family is not so unique—just an average middle
class family—though my dad is still alive at 86, still has a full
head of hair, and still works 50 hours a week. *** MATT
PAQUETTE (Mudflap Junior Jones):
My mother makes absolutely the best stuffing for Thanksgiving. It is
a French Canadian recipe she learned from her mother, made with pork
and Bell’s seasoning. This once-a-year treat combined with a trip
to the Haverhill High School football game makes for a superfantabulous
day of giving thanks! *** JOE
COUGHLIN (the Noise): Five kids with virtually nothing in common,
none of whom have reproduced. One brother got the end of his nose bitten
off by a horse and never did anything about it. He also got mad at his
computer once and threw it in the lake behind his house. Mom was clairvoyant,
a great singer, and expert (though untrained) handwriting analyst. We
saw a UFO together once, a legit unexplained sighting which was confirmed
to me by a former government worker many years later. And it gets a
lot weirder. *** SAMMY
MIAMI (Houndstone): My family
is scattered all over the country so we can’t all sit down at the
same table. The Thanksgiving I’ve grown accustomed to is more or less
a gathering of the misfits. The festivities involve my father serving
up a home cooked meal for brothers and sisters with different last names,
aging bachelors, ex-cons, and pretty much any folks that were kicked
out by their spouses. It’s kinda like an AA/NA/SAA meeting with gravy.
*** KEN FIELD (Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/ Agachiko/ Birdsongs
of the Mesozoic): My wife is uniquely awesome. *** ZORTAR
(Body inhab-itor of Slimedog/ the Noise): I think my family is unique in the fact
on my planet we are all of one sex and reproduce quite like in a manner
that you humans know as photosynthesis. We are quite amused with all
your fervor over same sex marriages. My partner is named Bauzie and
on your planet he would be known as a transvestite. We, of course, have
nothing you know as children but we do have a waste disposal unit that
we are quite fond of. *** DAVE
BALERNA (Midway): My grandfather
came over from Italy in the1920s where hunting wild mushrooms is all
the rage. He brought this art to America with him and I am the only
one out of a family tree of over a hundred to still pick the mushrooms.
I have served them at the Midway a la Davy style (garlic butter sautéed)
to some of your readers, I’m sure. They are gourmet ’shrooms that
can go for 30 bucks a pound at market. We enjoy them with Thanksgiving
dinner with full knowledge and respect for tradition. Bon appetit! Lolita:
I could never imagine my family all sitting around doing ’shrooms
on Thanksgiving Day. Rita: I don’t think the mushroom hunter was serving
psychedelics.
MUSIC NEWS OF NEW ENGLAND
Lolita: Speaking of mind altering states, on September
18, I went to the Freedom Rally at high noon. Two hours before AGE AGAINST
THE MACHINE got on stage to play their slot, their bass player was taken
to the hospital (he had near fatal dehydration). The promoter announced
to the 50,000 in attendance that the band needed a bassist. A few showed
up—they made use of three. Guitarist BILL
BRACKEN smashed his guitar
in a rage at the end of the set. *** GUSTER’s new video single “Do
You Love Me” (Universal Music) was produced by CHAD
CARLBERG. It landed in the
iTunes video pick the week slot. *** Newbury, Massachusetts, native ERIC CLEMENZI
(Kangaralien) took second place in Guitar
Player magazine’s Superstar
competition. His prizes include being featured in Guitar
Player, a collection of guitars,
amps, pedals, and more than $100 worth of guitar strings. *** ERIN HARPE
& THE DELTA SWINGERS won the 23rd Annual Boston Blues
Society Challenge and will be headed to Memphis in February to compete
in the International Blues Challenge. SATCH
ROMANO & CINDY
DALEY won the solo/duet category.
*** JAMES MONTGOMERY’s next CD (due in early 2011) will include
guest artists JOHNNY WINTER, BRAD
WHITFORD and JOEY
KRAMER (Aerosmith), DMC,
and JAMES COTTON. *** CAT (The
Cheap Seats, WICB Hyannis)
has teamed up with MARK
BRYANT (SeaSound Recording
Studios in Plymouth) to create a charity compilation CD specifically
for kids. The proceeds will benefit children who require hospice, cope
with terminal health problems, or deal with the loss of a parent. ***
In September MUCK & THE MIRES toured Spain, now they’re out again
on the other side of the pond—this time in the UK—highlighted by
the 2010 Dirty Water Club Festival London. *** The International Songwriting
Competition (ISC) has extended its deadline for entering to December
3, 2010. *** MORGAN HUKE (WMFO) suffered a stroke and there was a benefit
for him in Gloucester in October. If you’d like to help Morgan out,
send a check to: Lisa A. McLaughlin, 14 Truman Rd. Peabody, MA 01960.
*** Berklee College of Music and MIDEM today announce a long-term partnership
that will debut with the first Rethink Music conference (rethink-music.com),
April 25-27, 2011, at the Hynes Convention Center, in Boston, MA. ***
Check out CLAY N. FERNO comic book podcast at LeaguePodcast.com *** Harpers
Ferry had it’s final show on Halloween 2010. Will it become Don Law’s
Brighton Music Hall? *** Walking
and Talking the Blues, the
latest documentary by famed roots-music filmmaker ROBERT
MUGGE starring SCISSORMEN (TED DROZ-DOWSKI’s
band) debuts at the Starz Denver Film Festival on 11/5. *** Boston rap
artist MC HOLY GHOST performs in Essen, Germany on 11/20. *** Our July
cover girl ANAIS MITCHELL is touring the UK and Italy. Lolita: But she will be back in Boston on Thursday,
11/11, at the Middle East Downstairs.
ONE NATION WORKING
TOGETHER
Rita: The One Nation Working Together mass mobilization
on Oct-ober 2nd assembled hundreds of thousands at the Lincoln Memorial
in Washington DC to demand jobs and economic relief from the effects
of the recession. Lolita: Rita has to show off her awareness of current
events, but all we really want to know is how the recession is affecting
you? DAVE TREE (Tree/ Drugwar/ SuperPower): I have said before
I am rock ’n’ roll dirt poor, so the recession hasn’t effected
me as much as it does my family and friends and neighbors. The work
is scarce and the wages are low if you are looking for work, if you
have work you have to worry about your job, and if you work for yourself
you are working double time for less dime. Everyone is up to their eyeballs
in debt and people are freaking out—drugs, booze, depression and despair
is everywhere. People need to recognize that its is not entirely their
fault, the bankers have designed it so you will always be in debt, that
there will always be a war, and when they control the money, profit
off war and put you in debt and in fear they can control you. *** DAVID KIRKDORFFER
(the Blank Attack/ UNDO): Belt-tightening and hunger have combined in
equal measure so as to avoid flabby over the top belly-bulge and other
risky button-popping protuberant behavior. Also, my sock darning business
has taken off. *** MARK
KAYE (Hear Now Live): The recession
has affected me in many ways... there is a lack of consumer confidence
in the local club scene. A lot of patrons have decided to come to shows
but not drink or try and sneak in. The clubs are hurting right now and
I see it getting worse going into the winter. I have been trying to
create ways to give people incentives to get out to the clubs. *** SHAUN WOLF WORTIS
(VUDU KREWE): I have no doubt this has been one, if not the, most stressful
time for the country in my lifetime. Not simply because of our financial
demise, but because I think so many are questioning whether the structure—the
very fiber of our economy, our culture, our sense of country can survive, never mind flourish, again. I
guess I’ve been personally lucky—I still have work—but the stress
has indeed still been intense. *** MICHAEL
P. AROIAN (Elsewhere): I have
fortunately been able to keep my job and provide for my family but I
know several people who have been laid off and its very disconcerting
to see them try to find work in vain. After awhile, one develops both
a greater appreciation for what one has while at the same time becoming
almost paranoid for ones own job security. The key is not to focus on
the latter. I have also noticed how companies are trying to squeeze
as much from their employees as they can and this too can be maddening.
*** BILL BRACKEN (Age Against the Machine): The recession pisses
me off. A major cause of it was greed. People were living way beyond
their means. Banks and mortgage companies were approving $500,000 home
loans to people only making $40,000 a year. They are now out of work
or unemployed. I blame the banks, but mostly the people who accepted
the loans. If they are in hard times now, it is their own fault. I made
a good living in the past 10 years. Because of the recession, my wife
and I were both laid off from good jobs. A great station, WBCN, went
out of business after 41 years because of a stupid overpaid G.M. Let’s
call him the George W. Bush of Boston radio, but that’s another story.
But life goes on; you fall down and get back up stronger than before.
Rock ’n’ roll keeps me young. So fuck the recession! I can take it and come out
winning! Lolita: That’s what I like to hear.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Rita: Do you know how many talented musicians there
are in New England? Every time I turn around there’s another one asking
me to pass the sugar. Lolita: Do you mean that literally or figuratively? Rita:
You’ll have to figure that out, sweetie. Here now are just some of
those musicians with new projects… JAVELOCE consists of MIKE LOCE
on guitar, KEVIN WYMAN on six-string bass, BRYAN
THOMAS on drums, STEVE DAHLGREN
on baritone sax, and MYLES
MORIARTY on baritone/tenor
sax. Mike Loce said, “When the two horns harmonize in a strong fifth,
it sounds like a mighty trailer truck or tugboat coming through. ***
THE MARTHA’S VINEYARD FERRIES are made up of ELISHA
WIESNER (Kahoots), BOB WESTON
(Shellac/ Mission of Burma), and CHRIS
BROKAW (Come/ the New Year).
Their new EP In the Pond is available on Sick Room Records. Lolita:
I wonder if you have to wait in a standby line before you hear them
play. *** AUX served as the backing band for DAGGER OR A DRAM, but is
now a band all its own. *** BY THE THROAT is a hardcore punk outfit
made up of players in BLOOD VESSELS, THE ACROBRATS, THE DIMWITS, and
BURIED IN LEATHER. Look for their debut 7-inch EP pressed in black and
green marbled vinyl. *** SAM COHEN (Apollo Sunshine) now heads up YELLOWBIRDS.
They have a new single, “The Rest of my Life,” now available on
iTunes. *** SHAWN MARQUIS (Circle Circle Star) has taken over the drumming
position for COUNT ZERO. *** Members of the innovative BANG ON A CAN
(not to be confused with Bang Camaro) include DAVID
LANG, a 2008 Pulitzer-prize
winning composer; MARK
STEWART the music director
for Paul Simon; and DAVID
COSSIN a drummer for Sting.
The band has picked up a three-year residency at MIT. *** BROWNBOOT,
one of those bands that originally started as a one-off, displays the
artistry of RODRIGO van
STOLI (vocals), JORDAN VALENTINE
(vocals), JASON BALDOCK (drums), MATT
SULLIVAN (guitar), and JIM ZAVADOSKI
(bass). Lolita: Oh, any band with Jim Zavadoski on bass has
to be great.
IS CLEANLINESS
IS NEXT TO GODLINESS?
Rita: Let’s see if there is anything to this
old saying… hey Clay—when was the last time you cleaned your living
space? And what kind of cleaning was it? CLAY
N. FERNO (Middle East): I live
in what Rob (Cocked n’ Loaded) calls a “dude apartment.” So we
did the smart thing. We hired a service to clean our place once a month.
Reasonable price, and we all know that neither Kyle (Cocked n’ Loaded)
nor I are going to get all friendly with the toilet brush. *** LINDA VIENS
(Angeline): I enjoy keeping my living space neat and clean but comfy
and cozy; you have to be able to live in your space and have fun. My last big cleaning
project was my overcrowded pantry, which was overrun with food moths.
I kept putting if off because I dreaded seeing those awful worms, but tis done now
and I feel so much better! *** CHRIS
BRAT (the Acrobrats/ By the
Throat/ the Spoilers/ Jason Bennett & the Resistance): I only really
moved into my current place a month ago, so I haven’t cleaned anything
yet. I spilled some Beefaroni on the floor and wiped it up with a sock,
if that counts. *** KAREN
DeBIASSE (Girl on Top): Very
often lately. We’ve been doing mudding, sanding, painting, and more
mudding, sanding, and painting. As we own our own cleaning business,
Maid For You, I really like to keep a tidy home. What I’ve done in
the last year is get rid of any and all clutter and simplified my life
so that it is much easier to keep clean. Being an artist I love to be
in a beautiful space. I don’t own a lot of things, but the few things
I do own must be artistic. Eye candy abounds everywhere I gaze. *** DJ MÄTTHEW GRIFFIN (the Noise): All day today, I cleaned twelve eight foot
lancet arched bay windows! I have a small acting roll in a scene from
Thomas Nöla’s new psychedelic masterpiece, Eviva
il Coltello! This particular
scene is being filmed in my home. Though depression sometimes holds
me back, I know I have to clean the house regularly. I live alone in
a beautiful two-bedroom condo with my big black Maine coon kitty. It’s
a former schoolhouse from 1898 and it sits, facing a park, between a
church and a convent. You ever tried to hang 12-foot bordello red curtains
on a 14 foot wobbly ladder while hung over? It’s hell! *** EVAN GAVRY
(Three Day Threshold): Once a week I park my Harley in the living room
and rev the engine to scare out the rats, all the while drinking hard
liquor and burning incense to ward off bad mojo. Then I sweep all the
stems, seeds, and roaches into a casserole dish and put them in the
oven to clambake the place while I alphabetize my Duane Eddy 45s and
rare Who imports. Finally, I autograph the dirty sheets and pillowcases
and tell the girls from the night before to take them as souveneirs before
burning my laundry in the front yard. *** A.J.
WACHTEL (the Noise): The last time I cleaned house was when I
got divorced and threw my wife out. *** CHELSEA
BERRY (Chelsea Berry): The
last time I cleaned my living space? I live in a friend’s attic. I
burrowed a tunnel through the clothes, stacks of the Noise, cables, shoes, and camping gear two weeks
ago. I found the bed, slept in it, woke up the next morning, and then
took off for another vagabond adventure in my equallypacked Subaru Outback. *** KRISTEN MILLER
(Kristen Miller): Lolita, are you being coy? You know you clean my house
weekly wearing those fabulous boots of yours. And thanks for that, by
the way. Lolita: At this point I’m doing anything for some
extra cash. I guess you didn’t know that those fabulous boots are
written into your house cleaning contract. Maybe you should talk to
Mr. Miller about that.
ALL GOIN’
OUT TOGETHER
Rita: Remember how much you love hearing great
live music? Here are some shows we recommend: EMPEROR NORTON’S STATIONARY
MARCHING BAND invades the Cantab on Saturday, 11/6. *** BLEU starts
his U.S. record release Four Tour on Tuesday, 11/9, at T.T. the Bear’s.
*** Two thirds of SCARCE (Joyce and Chick) play the Plough &
Stars on Wednesday, 11/10. *** Cover girl CHELSEA
BERRY is at Johnny D’s on
Thursday, 11/11. *** LOVEWHIP is up in Portland, ME, at Geno’s on
Friday, 11/12. *** Same night BLACK HELICOPTER blasts the Middle East
upstairs. *** Saturday, 11/13, is the second consecutive night for Deep
Heaven Now 2, an ambient/psych rock festival, at Precinct and P.A.’s
Lounge. *** JOHN POHIDA’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT plays the Midway on
Saturday, 10/20. *** Same night COUPE DeVILLE plays the Chit Chat Lounge
in Haverhill. *** On Monday, 11/22, the Middle East continues its Rock
Shop: Less Rock, More Talk series—this one is on design. *** LENNY
LASHLEY’S GANG OF ONE hits the Midway on Wednesday, 11/24. *** BENEATH
THE STONE mixes Brazilian rhythms with metal at the Middle East on Friday,
11/26. *** Future cover boy SAM
ADAMS raps at the House of
Blues on Saturday, 11/27. *** THE DIRTY WATER BRASS BAND plays the Cantab
on Thursday 12/2. *** The Boston Music Awards will be held on Sunday,
12/5, at the Liberty Hotel in Boston. Rita: We will see you at one of these great events. Lolita:
Yeah, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Tell your uncle, “Lolita
says hi.” I’m sure he will remember me.
RIP: BILLY
RUANE (52) was loved by all
that met this crazy man. He expressed his love for music unlike any
other. He died on 10/26/10.
RIP: MAGGIE the golden retriever who was the Noise mascot
in many Noise ads (circa 2004-2006) passed away with inoperable
cancer.
RIP: MARK
SHEEHAN (Out Cold), 41, of
Dracut died unexpectedly on 10/1/10.
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MEANING OF HALLOWEEN
Lolita: Witches, pumpkin heads, black cats, scary spooks, and black bats, oh it’s Halloween! Rita: It’s almost here and it is our job to make sure you have time to explore costume possibilities before you dip to the last-minute pathetic get-ups that deserve violation fines from the costume police. Lolita: I will never receive a summons from the costume police. Come see for yourself… we’re continuing our tri-decade festivities (in Worcester this month) with an afternoon 18-plus show! This eight-band punk show is at the Raven in Worcester on Saturday, October 9th (doors at 3:00). Rita: It already sounds awesome. And I mean that. Too many people use awesome to label something great. And although this show IS the greatest, it is awesome because it inspires fear—perfect for October—the month of the Hallowed Ween. Lolita: You mean like the Hall of Weens? Rita: No. Lolita: Oh, you mean like a hollow weenie? Rita: No. Lolita: Oh wait, I remember, it’s All Hallow’s Eve. Rita: Nope, not that either. I break it down like this: hallowed, as in holy, and ween—abbreviating between. To me, Halloween is the holy space between heaven and hell—some call it purgatory. Lolita: Oh yeah, I’ve been there—kinda like waiting for the Green Line at 2:00 AM—one step in the wrong direction and you’re embarrassingly straddling the tracks. Rita: But keep your nose clean and let your higher power steer the train—you’ll soon forget about greasing palms to bypass hell. I’m glad we got that straightened out. Now let’s talk to our friends and find out the scariest thing that ever happened to them. Lolita: Ooo, there’s Duncan. I know just by the name of his bands that he must have something scary to share.
SCARED SHIRTLESS
Lolita: Duncan, please tell me about the scariest thing that has ever happened to you. DUNCAN WILDER JOHNSON (Bring the Knife/ Destruct-a-thon): I fell off of a fucking house with my dad, dropped 25 feet, and broke a ton bones! *** KRISTEN MILLER (Kristen Miller): Wow, girls, that’s an easy one. The scariest thing ever? Glenn Beck and his games of telephone logic. And even scarier, all the little sheep that listen and regurgitate the nonsensical sound bytes. And scariest for the future: maybe a Beck and Palin presidential ticket? I think I just threw up a little. Happy Halloween! *** MARK KAYE (Hear Now Live): Last year at Precinct we had our annual Halloween Hangover Show and someone showed up with a real sword. I started speaking with the guy and he was there alone and didn’t know anyone in the bands. He started telling me that if he had to use the sword than he would... he then started following me around all night and when I went to the bathroom I opened up the bathroom stall and there he was sword out of its sheath and doing some kind of prayer... needless to say I ran out of the bathroom and got the security guards to get him the hell out of there. *** DAN KING (KBMG/ Bandit Kings): One snowy winter’s eve I pulled out of my driveway on the top of a hill in East Gloucester and turned downwards toward route 127 by the traffic lights. It didn’t take long before I was sliding out of control picking up speed into traffic coming from both directions. Miraculously I skidded across the street into a parking space missing oncoming traffic on both sides. Timing is everything! I certainly used up a life that day. *** A.J. WACHTEL (the Noise): Long ago, I hung out regularly with many different groups of people, including the Hell’s Angels in Salem/Lynn. One Angel had a girlfriend about a quarter mile away from where I lived and. one night I ran into her at a bar and she was as drunk as I was. I ended up at her house after the bar closed and after screwing her for awhile, I sobered up and figured I’d better get out of there quickly in case he showed up. So I go home about 7:00 am and find my friend IN MY BED sleeping. “Hey A.J. Get lucky?” Momentarily, I thought he somehow knew I screwed his girlfriend just hours earlier and that I was doomed. *** CAPTAIN MUTHERFUCKER (Fog Wizard): The exorcism I saw as a child was terrifying! My parents took me to a tent revival when I was 10. One night a lady there began freaking out. Preacher told us she was possessed and he needed people to help. We circled around her as preacher started the exorcism. As she writhed and moaned, the preacher compelled the demon to leave her. Suddenly, she lurched forward and the Preacher told us to leave for the demon was free and we should pray all the way home. I never prayed so much in my life. *** DJ MATTHEW GRIFFIN (the Noise): In 1985, I was playing with a butcher knife and nearly severed my right index finger off completely. Ever heard of the Six Million Dollar Man? My Father used to call it “the $5,000 dollar finger.” *** BILL GOFFRIER (Big Dipper/ the Embarrassment): Once upon a time I was on the road with Big Dipper and bringing the van in for a landing at Indianapolis or some equally nondescript city-at-night. Suddenly we witnessed a mushroom cloud reaching skyward on the horizon. I tingled all over as I contemplated our last few minutes on this earth. Needless to say the end wasn’t near, and the local news reported the explosion of a power substation. Lolita: That must have been the inspiration for the song, “All Goin’ Out Together.” Bill: No, that song was already in the set, but I think the image figures into a later song of mine, unreleased. Lolita: Wow—inside future information. I bet the song is called is “After the Mushroom Peaks,” or “Indianapolis Mushoom Ignites” or “Big Dipper Explodes”!
NEWS – THE NON-TV TYPE
Rita: Well, Lolita is continuously looking for a reason to get invited out—whatever the cost. She’s always landing in the back seat of someone’s car. I’m not making this up—check out this month’s 5/10/15/20 column—she outright admits to it. Now, before I get any further off the track, let me share the news with you that you will not hear anyone on TV talking about… In Washington D.C., WOODY GIESSMANN (Right Turn) was presented with the Addiction Professional of the Year Award by the National Association of alcohol and drug addiction counselors (NAADAC). Lolita: That was mentioned on TV. *** Quiet Desperation, the hit online comedy show starring ROB POTYLO (formerly Robby Roadsteamer) will be airing to 2.8 million homes in New England on MyTV at 11PM on Fridays. Eighteen half-hour shows are planned to run, starting Christmas Eve, 2010. Lolita: That obviously will be on TV. *** Okay he’s not a musician, but JIMMY TARANTINO of Gloucester landed on this season of Survivor. Lolita: That too! *** In celebration of Diesel:U:Music’s 10th anniversary, they’ve joined up with Sonicbids and are in search of a band and fan to take the coveted Stupid for Music World Cup title. The competition includes a series of heats and knockout rounds where fans ink a band name on their body, build a band shrine, use their favorite band’s poster as street spam, video tape their reaction if the band were to break up, etc. More info at www.music.diesel.com. Lolita: Sounds like it’s destined to become a reality game show on TV. *** M-Work is re-launching their online newsletter—if you’d like to receive it, go to www.m-works.com. Lolita: As advertised on TV. *** ILYA, a bilingual (Russian/English) Bostonian, has created I Heart Noise—the ultimate music encyclopedia. Check out http://ihrtn.com. Lolita: And thank you Ilya, we love you too. Rita: I wonder when Ilya first read the Noise. T Max: Ilya’s website has nothing to do with loving our magazine. Lolita: But how do you know for sure? T Max: He emphasized it when he was interviewed on TV.
I FIRST READ THE NOISE IN…
Lolita: I still wonder when a lot of people started reading the Noise. When they started tells a lot about when they were really active in the music scene. Hey Linda! How’s Ruby? And when did you first start reading the Noise—and at that time who was your favorite band? LINDA VIENS (Angeline): I started reading the Noise in 1982 and my favorite band at the time was Robin Lane & the Chartbusters. Almost 30 years later and I still am being inspired by the people who were in that band! *** MICHAEL P. AROIAN (Elsewhere): It’s hard for me to place exactly when I started reading the Noise but I want to say it was around August, 1993, before our first show at T.T. the Bear’s. At that time (or more like a couple years after that), my favorite local bands were Mistle Thrush, Bison, Blau Zur, and Underball... these were mostly bands that had either a progressive leaning or who knew how to rock the fuck out! An honorable mention also goes out to Machinery Hall, who were so capable of taking over a crowd with their simple but majestic songs. *** ERIC BAYLIES (Baylies Band/ Temple of Bon Matin): I started reading the Noise in high school around ’83, though I could not get every issue. Favorite acts then were Throwing Muses, Mission of Burma, Proletariat, Salem 66, Robin Lane, Blue Hollow, Holy Cow, Lyres, Dredd Foole, and Lou Miami. *** MAX BOWEN (Citywide Blackout): Around a year ago, and at the time my favorite local act was Planetoid. I had just gotten their CD, Shadow of the Planetoid, and thought it was fucking awesome! *** DAVID KIRKDORFFER (The Blank Attack/ UNDO): I probably started reading the Noise in 1992 after Womb to Tomb broke up. My favorite local bands at the time would have been Dogzilla, Think Tree, SEKA, Common Ailments of Maturity, and Bullet LaVolta. *** BOBBY GAUDREAU (the Queers/ Bobby Gaudreau & the Blue Spotlight): The year was 1981 or early 1982. My favorite local band was definitely the Outlets. The local music scene was unbelievable then. I was still in high school. I would have been more tired but had a natural high from the previous night’s show at the Rat, Cantones, or the Channel. I played my first two nightclub gigs with the Outlets. There was lot of camaraderie back then so it was the norm to become friends with your fave bands and play shows with them. *** AJDA THE TURKISH QUEEN (Black Fortress of Opium): I began reading the Noise in 1997, and my fave local act at the time was Turkish Delight. I had heard about them all the way back in Texas! *** DAVE DUNCAN (WFNX): I first picked up the Noise somewhere around 1997—my favorite local bands back then included the Gravel Pit, Helicopter Helicopter, and some new band called the Sheila Divine. *** MR. CURT (Mr. C. Ensemble): I’ve been faithfully following the Noise since issue #1. And I truthfully don’t remember if I had a fave band, just a lot of friends making music together in our wonderful music scene, which you have promoted with vigor and wit. Trés bien! *** ERIC WELSH (Chill House Studios): I first started reading the Noise sometime around 1992 and my favorite local act was Concussion Ensemble. I remember going to see them downstairs at the Middle East. Lolita: Oh yeah, I remember all those bass drums lined up at the front of the stage would make body feel like it was in a boxing match when they started to play. *** JOHN POWHIDA (the Rudds): I’ve been reading since June 1st, 2000 the day after I moved to Boston. Ms. Pigeon. Happy birthday Noise! I’ve read every one since that fateful June day! *** WILL DAILEY (Will Dailey): In 1998 I started reading and my favorite band was Expanding Man. *** JON MACEY (Fox Pass/ Boston Acoustic Collective): I started reading the Noise mid-1980s, near the beginning. I had just returned from New York City. My favorite act was Barry Marshall & the Rockin’ Robins. I like girl singers. The Beat was the other big local music mag. Anybody seen Chuck White? Lolita: We haven’t heard anything about Chuck White since dirtywater.com folded. But we do have A.J. Wachtel (Beat writer) on board at the Noise. Rita: That reminds me of a hillbilly song that the two top Noise editors wrote called “If It’s Good, It Can’t Be Beat.” Francis, do you remember any lines from it. Francis DiMenno: Near as I remember, the one of the verses went, “The articles are oh so smart and written up by sages/ I like to use the magazine to line my old bird cages.”
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Lolita: Oooo—I saw Francis DiMenno and T Max perform that one live. There might have been camaraderie between bands but the ’zine-folk didn’t cross lines much. Rita: Band members are always crossing lines—and sometimes just staying there. Here is some line crossing that we’ve recorded lately. Members of THE WEISSTRONAUTS, FRANCINE, BABY RAY, THE RUDDS, THE BARNIES, and TWEETY UK have united and hit the big time. They are called HILLBILLY HOLIDAY. Lolita: No, they are not a backwoods hootenanny tribute band to BILLIE HOLIDAY. *** LARRY DERSCH (Binary System/ Angeline) and JIMMY RYAN (… & Hayride) have formed LOWRIDE DUO. *** Drummer NANCY DELANEY (A Confederacy of Dumpsters/ x-Cello Chix) has joined the STEVE WALTHER ORCHESTRA. *** Multi-instrumentalist JOEL SIMCHES has rejoined BLACK FOREST OF OPIUM on bass. Lolita: Did you know that Joel also heads up booking and the engineering of On the Town with Mikey Dee on WMFO? Rita: For any of our new readers, MIKEY DEE does not host that radio show—the name of the show was kept in tact after Mikey passed away. The late Mikey Dee has gone down in history as the most enthusiastic supporter EVER of Boston area music. He dedicated his entire life to promoting bands in every way possible—working at WMFO, the Planetary Group, and the Noise. The word is out that DAVD ACKERMAN is putting together a documentary film on the life of Mikey Dee. It should be very entertaining.
FAVORITE CHARITY
Rita: Like Mikey Dee always did—it is always better to help others before you help yourself. Lolita, let’s find out who our friends help out. Ask them what are their favorite charities. Lolita: Okay—I just happen to have Kier Byrnes of Three Day Threshold with me—and I wasn’t making out with him. Kier, I know that you play a special event every year. Tell me about your favorite charity. KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold): My band has been hosting a big concert that has sold out the Paradise the past several years called Rodfest. All profits go to a scholarship named after my cousin Greg “Rodney” Moynahan, who was tragically killed in a car accident just after graduating college. Though Rodney’s death was an undisputable tragedy, Rodfest and the scholarship are our attempt to make the best a tough situation; by bringing friends and family together, helping people in need and supporting local music. So far we have raised over 60K for the cause but we aren’t stopping there. We already have big plans for Rodfest 9! *** JOE CANNATELLI (On the Fringe Studios, Inc): Our favorite charity is Lyrics for Life. It is an outstanding non-profit organization that bring musicians together to help fight the battle against pediatric cancer. Sister Hazel’s front man Ken Block founded it. This charity unites musicians and celebrities for concert events, auctions, and other fundraising efforts to help find a cure. A worthy charity for any musician. *** KENNY LAFLER (the Weisstronauts/ Hillbilly Holiday): Year Up is an intensive job-training program for urban young adults, located in downtown Boston. I’m a mentor, which means I meet regularly with a student in the program to offer advice on navigating the world of work. If you’ve held a job, you can be a mentor too—so do it! *** ANDY MILK (the Vital Might): We lost my mother to breast cancer last year after a brave nine-year battle. Most don’t make it nearly that long. Any charity that supports awareness, early detection, treatment, and research towards a cure for breast cancer are my favorites, including the Dana Farber Cancer Institute which I’ve run the Boston Marathon for twice and the Avon Walk, which my fiancee and family are participating in this year in memory of those we’ve lost. *** KEN FIELD (Agachiko): Tutoring Plus of Cambridge provides free tutoring services to kids in Cambridge’s Area 4. There’s a fundraiser on October 28—info is at http://tutoringplus.org. *** WOODY GIESSMANN (Right Turn): My fave charity is my agency, Right Turn. We provide addiction services to creative people and operate under a 501(c)3. We are always faced with challenges to keep the doors open to so many people that need help. There is not funding at the level of state for our services. The budget has been cut too much. The way we choose to manage our annual budget is with the SuperGroup Annual Concert. This helps us reach our financial goal to stay open. *** ARTHUR NASSON (Arthur Nasson): My favorite charity was spearheaded by Sarah Palin where a group of Alaskans go on self described “crusades” to try and convert gay grizzly bears into becoming straight grizzly bears. They feel that by encouraging them to be “less swish” they will secure a better future for all Americans. Widely known as Alaskans for Twinkie Bear Reform, the A.T.B.R. are not without controversy. In response some have redubbed them Assholes Without Borders. *** SLIMEDOG (the Noise): My favorite charity, along with my associates Mrs. Slimedog, Zortar et cetera, is St. Francis House. It is Boston’s largest homeless shelter and they do lots of great work helping people who really need it. Please give to them if you can. Lolita: Now that I think about it, I wonder why Kier wasn’t making out with me. I heard something about him planning to tie the knot with that Mandy. I will try my hardest not to be jealous of her, because I have to admit that last year when I saw her on stage as a Santa’s Helper, she was absolutely as cute as me.
ALL GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER
Rita: While Lolita is stuck staring into her compact and reciting those famous words from Snow White—“Mirror mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of them all?,” I’ll let you know about some of the excellent shows this month. PETER LINDBERG is at the Dog Bar in Gloucester every Wednesday night in October. *** Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band plays the Honk Fest in Davis Square, Somerville. The fest runs October 8-10. *** Noise writer DJ MÄTTHEW GRIFFIN put together this month’s Noise 30th Anniversary Party with IRON CROSS, and FOR THE WORSE co-headlining with seven other hardcore punk bands at the Raven (258 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA) on Saturday afternoon, 10/9 (3:00PM doors). *** Later that night T MAX releases Why Do We Go to War? in Lowell at Gallery 119. *** On Sunday, 10/10, at 1:00 PM the School of Rock does an all-ages double header of classic metal and the Police at the Middle East. *** ERIN HARPE plays her delta blues at Johnny D’s on Friday, 10/15. *** Homegrown II is a three-day all-ages festival in Jamaica Plain at the Temple, 10/15 to 10/17. Some highlights are DAMON & NAOMI, DECEMBER SOUND, TUNNEL OF LOVE, and JESSE GALLAGHER (Apollo Sunshine). *** RICK BERLIN’s CD release is at the Lizard Lounge on Saturday, 10/16. *** THE SPOILERS release their CD at the Precinct Bar on Friday, 10/22. *** On Saturday, 10/23, New England Americana presents THE POINTS NORTH at the Midway. *** THE NEIGHBORHOODS release the Last Rat on Sunday, 10/24, at the Paradise. *** On Thursday, 10/28, CAMPAIGN FOR REAL TIME and MEAN CREEK team up to perform a Talking Heads tribute at T.T.’s. *** THE RUDDS reunite for a show at the Rosebud on Friday, 10/29. *** Same night Hear Now Live presents Halloween Hangover with THE ICY MOONS OF JUPITER. *** On Saturday, 10/30, NANCY NEON hosts her Halloween Bash with THE COFFIN LIDS. *** A Halloween extravaganza benefits the Horror Business at Great Scott on Sunday, 10/31. Lolita: I hope that your costumes fit you well. Rita: Lolita’s fits her perfectly—she’ll be a call girl. Lolita: Well, at least I won’t have aliens performing anal probes on me. Rita: You’re just jealous that my film has become a cult classic.
RIP: Gene Gilmartin (drummer of Ball & Pivot) passed away on 9/20/10. He was 55 years old.
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Rita & Lolita
