Lolita: Oh I know a good question, how ’bout—if you had a choice, who would you like to go see a show with, Rita or Lolita? Rita: That’s terrible. Lolita: Why? Because everyone would pick me? Rita: Your ego is making this closet feel awfully small. Okay, you can ask that question—but you have to word it like this: the Noise celebrates 28 years of covering the music of New England and T MAX’s high school band, MR. TIMOTHY CHARLES DUANE, just celebrated 40 years of adolescence. Tell us about an anniversary that you have celebrated recently. Lolita: Okay, but that doesn’t sound at all like my question. Hey Mr. Curt! Will you answer that question that Rita just asked? MR. CURT (Mr. Curt Ensemble): In 2009, Ms. Donna and I celebrate 40 years as a couple of lovebirds. We had met the previous year and now the courting began in earnest. One of our first dates (which her parents had to approve) was taking her to the Boston Tea Party in May to see one of my favorite bands, the Who (with Rashaan Roland Kirk opening—whoa!). A few months later, I convinced her to venture to upstate New York to check out this outdoor festival called Woodstock. She and some friends had to go with older chaperones on Friday. We met up at 8:30am Saturday, sat around in the sun and rain, saw a buncha bands, and then she left because her chums thought there were a bit too many people there; my friends and I didn’t leave until late Sunday night. Thus began our life together dedicated to love and music. Yahoo and hooray for heritage! *** VALERIE THOMPSON (Goli/ Fluttr Effect): In the future (a.k.a. October), I will be celebrating my 20th anniversary of playing the cello. I’ll probably celebrate by having a beer and playing the cello. *** KEN FIELD (Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/ Birdsongs of the Mesozoic): August 19th was the 7th anniversary of the first broadcast of the New Edge, my weekly radio show of interesting instrumental music Tuesdays from 2-4pm on WMBR (88.1 fm). *** JOHNNY ARGUEDAS (Arguedas Photography/ the Sneaks): I am celebrating five years since I opened my photography business and can’t imagine doing anything else. Also coming up is the two-year anniversary of my band, the Sneaks. A new CD is in the works. Life is pretty kickass. *** DARRON BURKE (Makeshift Studio): Just yesterday (August 4) I celebrated one year of working for Harvard Audio Preservation Services. I ate a chocolate bar with sea-salt encrusted almonds. Salty goodness. Happy 28th to the Noise! *** TIM MUNGENAST (… & His Preexisting Conditions): Congrats on 28 years of the Noise! In June my wife and I celebrated our own anniversary... 17 years! *** D-TENSION (Los Wunder Twins del Rap): First of all, congratulations on 28 years! That has to be a record of some kind. I recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of my turning 18. Every teenager tells his parents that he/she will move out and do whatever they want when they turn 18. They start saying that at around 12 and don’t stop until they’re 18 when they realize they have no money and need to stay at home. But since my mom decided to raise me in a cult on a David Koresh style compound, I moved the fuck out minutes after turning 18. While I miss the gorp and being paddled by my pastor... oh wait, I only miss the gorp. Happy anniversary to me! 20 years gone! *** HOLLY BREWER (HUMANWINE): Happy Anniversary! On May 1st, 2009 M@ (HUMANWINE) and I celebrated six years of marriage by heading to the middle of the woods just outside of Eugene Oregon, taking mushroom tea prepared by a bunch of witches (handed out to about 400 people) for the Maypole ceremony. Luckily we successfully avoided a disco inferno dance party that was happening in the mess hall barn and got to spend some real time in the woods during a storm that was so massive it toppled trees in a neighboring town. *** CARL BIANCUCCI (the Slumlords): I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s (gulp!) 40 years ago this year that I started playing guitar (I switched over to bass the following year). Learned a few things from a songbook by some new group at the time called the Led Zeppelins (did they ever go anywhere?) *** SAMMY MIAMI (Houndstone): 2009 marks my twentieth year of gigging in Boston. A lot has changed since Tuesday nights at the Channel, and as far as I’m concerned, not much of that change has been for the better either. RIP WCOZ and WBCN. But hey, what goes up must come down, and what comes down must bounce back! “Long live rock, be it dead or alive.” *** PETER RINNIG (QRST’s): When my wife and I celebrated out 10th anniversary we went to Vegas for a week and renewed our vows in front of Elvis with our daughter as the flower girl! It really was Elvis—if you squinted really really hard. *** DANA COLLEY (Morphine): It’s been ten years this July since Mark Sandman passed away in Palestrina, Italy at the Nel Nome Del Rock festival (In the Name of Rock). Orchestra Morphine toured the U.S. and returned to Italy to pay homage in 2000. This July we went back as a trio with Jerome Deupree, Jeremy Lyons, and myself to perform as Members of Morphine. We were joined by our families: India Colley, Elias Colley, Kate Williams, Luciana Lyons, Lisa Deupree, Linda Veins, Sabine Hrechdakian, Carolyn Kaylor, and Mark Hamilton. Two film crews each doing documentaries on Mark and Morphine were in attendance. We spent the better part of a week at the festival, set at the base of the ancient town eating and drinking with our Italian hosts who have in the years following Mark’s death become our extended family. It is still hard to comprehend the loss we in Boston have experienced when Mark died. He was at the center of our musical universe. Much has changed in the world and in our lives in the past ten years. But what remains crystal clear is that our life riches are not compiled in dollar amounts. It is in the people who touch us and bring us closer together. Thank you Mark for the music you left us and for the relationships brought together by the intangible power of music. Lolita: Go to the Mark Sandman Memorial Concert on Saturday, 9/26 at Mark Sandman Square (on Brookline Ave. between the Middle East and T.T. the Bear’s)—the concert is free, but consider donating to the Mark Sandman Project.

NEWS

UNCONOMIC CLIMATE

Rita: Pay is slim when you have 200 guitarists in a band. But even if you have to split the pay four ways, band members can barely afford a Happy Meal. Lolita, go ask our rock ’n’ roll friend what they do differently now that the economic climate is so uneconomic. Lolita: Yeah, sure. I have noticed that money has been warmer lately. I didn’t know that global warming would effect the economic climate. LINDA VIENS (Angeline): With less cash in hand I am spending more time outside. Swimming, biking around the city, running, playing basketball. Hanging on porches with friends. Cooking-in more. Relating more. Sitting by fires. Being in the world and in my home, grateful that there is so much around that is free: conversation, books to read, films to see. Meditating. Yoga. Love. *** RICK BERLIN (herself): Nothing. I still don’t take vacations. I still buy five for $20 T-shirts at some butt ugly shoe mall. Going out to dinner is still take out at Food Wall. I still drink the cheapest beer at the Behan six nights/per. I still hope my cat doesn’t get kidney damage and have me question whether I should eviscerate my wallet or buy her six months of diminished kitty life. I still wish I could call my mom to bail me out when I’m desperate. *** MONIQUE ORTIZ: I haven’t changed how I spend my money, but I have changed how I spend my time: I’m spending much more time at home, working on the new record, doing a lot more writing, recording, and painting, putting more focus than ever on staying fit and living as healthy a lifestyle as I can (the raw diet has proven to be pricey but worth it). *** PETE CASSANI (the Peasants/ Beefy DC): I work in a real estate office and rentals are down forty percent, so while we are all grateful to still have jobs, we are working longer and harder for almost half the money. Also, since the economy has tanked I don’t tour Europe. Small clubs are closing down or struggling to stay alive. Therefore they are no longer able to offer guarantees to touring bands, SO unless you are wealthy and can afford to fly over to Europe and tour for nothing, there’s no touring. This is what happens when you invade other people’s countries and slash the taxes of the wealthiest one percent of the population. We will be paying for GW’s total failure as a president for many, many years to come. *** DAVE TREE (Superpower/ Drugwar): As a starving artist/musician the economics of these troubled times don’t really effect me at all, I am used to living with nothing but hopes and dreams in my pocket, poverty is no stranger to me or most of my friends. I work for myself by taking nothing and making something out of it for sale or barter. I laugh at those that once laughed at me for following my dreams—well whose laughing now? *** STUART FREEDMAN (Nuggets): I now realize how exciting eating a 99-cent meal at McDonalds can be! *** WILL DAILEY (Will Dailey): I no longer go to the dog track and I only smoke a pack a day now. And for some weird reason I feel like I save money by taking shorter showers. I still smell the same though. Like a leather-bound book mixed with warm apple pie. *** PETE SUTTON (Temper): Due to a recent five percent pay cut across the board at my company, I’ve had to scale back on some of the finer things in life, i.e. booze consumption. Miller instead of Amstel in the keg... and three-buck chuck from Trader Joe’s instead of those $20 bottles of Ridge/Geyser Peak luscious reds (sigh). *** STEVE PRY (My Own Worst Enemy): Taking advantage of the downturn in the real estate market, turning a negative into a positive, we took the plunge and bought a place of our own. Now, My Own Worst Enemy is headquartered in the Winter Hill section of Somerville. Lolita: Okay, we know where the party is and who’s supplying the booze and entertainment.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Rita: Maybe Steve and Sue of My Own Worst Enemy can get Tris Lozaw to bring his new 200-guitar band to the party. Lolita: Wow, if we had to list the members of that band in our Musical Chairs section we’d run out of space. Rita: Okay, you can skip the 200-guitar band, but who else is breaking in new members? THE VOGON POETS found a new bassist in TOMMY CANNON (x-Suk Button). *** MARK CUTLER (x-the Schemers/ Raindogs) has a crazy man band called THE MEN OF GREAT COURAGE. Mark was also nominated for best vocalist in the Providence Phoenix. *** X-members of GANG GREEN have formed THE SCRAPS. *** THE DUKE retired from FREEZEPOP after the band’s tenth anniversary. He’ll continue with SYMBION PROJECT. *** GEORGE HALL has added his guitar skills to yet another band—KINGLEY FLOOD. George is in three or five other bands—he’s just not sure. *** RICK BARTON (the Outlets) has a new outfit called THE CONTINENTALS. *** No truth to the rumor that KIM ERNST (the Bristols) goes incognito as ERNEST KIM (Tristan da Cunha). *** BOBY BEAR has hooked up with GREG ALLEN COMPLEX. *** THE CRYBABIES are back—with ARTIE SNEIDERMAN on lead vocals, harmonica, and percussion; STEVE AQUINO on guitar; DANNY McCORMACK (Lyres/ Mighty Ions) on guitar and background vocals; KEVIN MAHONEY (Lucky 57/ Diamond Platinum Rings) on bass and background vocals; and RICHEE JOHNSON (Boize/ Last Ones) on drums. *** ANDERSON MAR (Dark Sky Productions) is taking to the stage with LEON RICH, MELIKA FITZHUGH, and RENEE SOLANO to form Sans Nomenclature. *** O POSITIVE reunited for a benefit for Paula Persechini-Petitti on August 7 at the Paradise. *** THE KILLER ABS and THE WYNOTTS have lost their singing rhythm guitarist, MICHELE JOHNSON, to her new life in California. *** Bassist DAVID HULL (Farrenheit) was recruited to tour with AEROSMITH while TOM HAMILTON recovered from a medical procedure. Then while on tour, STEVEN TYLER fell off a stage resulting in a broken shoulder. The rest of the tour was cancelled. *** MILLIGRAM reunites with all the original members—JONAH JENKINS (Only Living Witness), DARRYL SHEPPARD (Roadsaw), ZEPHAN COURTNEY (Stompbox), and both bassists, BOB MALONEY (Slim Jim & the Mad Cows) and JEFF TURLIK (Stompbox) on 9/26/09 at the Middle East Downstairs. *** JESSE GALLAGHER (Apollo Sunshine) is sporting a hip new acoustic group with cool tunes called THE NEW BLACK MAGIC RAINBOW QUARTET. Lolita: I saw NBMRQ down on Martha’s Vineyard playing with MR.TIMOTHY CHARLES DUANE and they were great.

PREMIER INSTRUMENTS

Rita: MARK SANDMAN played a two-string Premier bass, but I’m interested in finding out each musicians’ premier instrument. Lolita, get out there and gather info on the first instrument that each of our friends owned. Look, there’s Roger, go grab him quickly before he does another reunion tour without MARTIN SWOPE (x-Mission of Burma/Birdsongs of the Mesozoic). ROGER C. MILLER (Mission of Burma/ Alloy Orchestra): I had a $25 Harmony acoustic guitar in the seventh grade. The action was so high it’s amazing I didn’t quit playing guitar then and there. *** JESSE VON KENMORE (the New Alibis/ the Marvels): My first drumset was a gorgeous set of trash cans that my mom gave me when I was about six years old. They didn’t match or have cases, but they were loud as fuck, easy to tune and a huge influence on Kurt Konk. *** WILLIE ALEXANDER (the Boom Boom Band/ the Persistence of Memory Orchestra): I used an old suitcase for a drumset by standing it up and playing it with one hand, the other hand I used a clothes brush for cymbal effect and whanged the base of it with my foot kinda sideways for a bass drum while I held it between my legs. It worked pretty good. That was in junior high playing along with 45s. Later in high school I bought a used set of real drums and a conga drum. *** KAREN DeBIASSE (Girl on Top): When I was seven I bought a basic Yamaha acoustic guitar for around $120 with case. I loved my acoustic and would play it all the time. A year or so later I found a stray dog that I fell in love with. At first my mother would not let me have a dog in the house so I kept it in an enclosed kennel outside. I used to bring my guitar out to play for my newfound friend. One day I couldn’t find my guitar. Weeks later (we had since brought the dog in the house) I went out to the kennel and inside was my first Yamaha guitar bent in a semi circle from warping. *** SHAUN WOLF WORTIS (Gato Malo): ’Twas a mid-’60s (‘65?) Gibson Melody Maker—a double cutaway with one single-coil pickup. Cherry finish, mostly worn away by the time I got it in 1976 or so. I eventually traded it in for a Hagstrom big body jazz guitar, which I later traded in for a Hamer Custom circa 1982. Years later I ended up removing all the paint from the Hamer and kind of butchering it, (then gave it to Izzy Maxwell when he was a wee teen). I sure wish I kept the Hagstrom though—that was a beaut! *** CHUCK U. ROSINA (WMBR/ WMFO): Well, as I am more of an “audio artist” rather then a musician, I don’t really play instruments in the traditional sense any more. But I did take accordion lessons as a kid, and even had two years of classical training on piano in college. So the short answer would be an accordion. *** KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold/ Super Time Pilot): I bought my first guitar in junior high with earnings from my first job. Problem was, I spent the other half of my paychecks on beer and other illicit materials. At the end of the summer my parents wanted to see how much I saved (which was zero). I couldn’t tell them I had blown it all on booze so I choose the easier route, I told them I spent it all on the guitar. It was promptly taken away from me, which ironically only made me want to play music more. *** JOHN POWHIDA (…International Airport): It was a black Fender Musicmaster short scale bass. (I was still a short scale fella). It was Christmas 1980, the place: Triads Music in Glens Falls, NY. This little music shop had an autographed photo of Utopia circa the RA tour hanging on their wall. Utopia drummer Willie Wilcox hailed from Glens Falls, N.Y. I was sold. Mom shelled out the cash, which I’m sure she couldn’t really afford and I started practicin’. Thanks, Mom. Didn’t get an amp for another coupla years. I used to place the headstock of the bass against the wall in my room to make it louder. *** PAUL PHILLIPS (Paul Phillips Band): I was born into a musical family and there were always instruments around—a trumpet, two pianos, a flute, a uke or two, an accordion, etc. The first instrument I called my own was a knockoff Harmony P-bass I bought at a pawnshop with all the dough I was able to save up. I took it home and learned Zepp’s “Ramble On” that night. An ambitious first tune having never played the bass, but my love for that instrument was instant and my affection for that specific guitar remains. *** LIZ LINDER (Liz Linder Photography): A small, black plastic Kodak instamatic camera (I don’t count the flute, as an instrument is only an instrument when it’s properly used). *** BRIAN KING (What Time is It, Mr. Fox?): The first instrument that was truly mine was a mini Yamaha keyboard with 99 voices on which I wrote my first dance hit “Like A Vampire” (which is probably disintegrating on a Certon cassette in a landfill somewhere.) *** RAY MASON (Ray Mason Band/ Lonesome Brothers): My first “real” instrument (as opposed to a plastic Magnus Chord Organ, toy snare drum, and the obligatory recorder) was a Sears Silvertone electric guitar. It was the single pickup model with the amp in the case. I can still remember how great it smelled! My Grandmother bought it for me when I graduated from 8th grade in 1964. There’s a picture of me (from 1964) with it on the cover of my forth CD Castanets. You can even see a copy of TV Guide (with the Flintstones on the cover) on a table next to me. Of course now I’ve graduated to a 1965 Silvertone! Lolita: Ray has always been connected to that old blue scratched up guitar.

ALL GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER

Rita: Be the first person to email us ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) with the local music reference of the title of our final paragraph and win a banner for a week on our popular websites, www.thenoise-boston.com and www.thenoiseboard.com. Now, here’s where we be going in September. THE CRUSHING LOW release their debut CD on Friday, 9/4 at Precinct. *** On Friday, 9/11, Uncle Eddie's in Salisbury Beach has HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT (a tribute to Pat Benatar). *** The Middle East presents ME&JOANCOLLINS on Saturday, 9/12. *** ANDREA GILLIS BAND is part of the Precinct’s Outdoor Music Festival on Sunday, 9/13 (3-9 pm). *** On Friday, 9/18, DAMON & NAOMI are at the Cambridge Family YWCA theater. *** THE DOOM BUGGIES rock the Witch City (Salem, MA) on Sunday, 9/20 (6:30-9:30 pm) at Stromberg's Cove. *** DAVE DUNCAN debuts Penguin Night at Zuzu on Wednesday, 9/23. *** On Thursday, 9/24 GEOFF MULDAUR plays his folk/blues at Johnny D’s. *** THE BARNIES reunite on Friday, 9/25 at Church. *** Same night, THE LIGHTS OUT release their CD at T.T.’s. *** On Saturday, 9/26, THE JOE HARVARD BAND is at the Cantab. *** Same night there’s a benefit for the Worcester Artist Group at the Hotel Vernon Ship Room that features 28 DEGREES TAURUS and DJ MATTHEW GRIFFIN. *** On Sunday, 9/27 (1-7pm) get to the Mark Sandman Memorial Concert at Pacific Park (on Pacific Street—down from T.T. the Bear's). *** DINOSAUR JR. rocks the Middle East Downstairs on Friday, 10/2 and Saturday, 10/3. Lolita: Now, everyone be real nice to the returning students. We hope to see those students in the clubs absorbing some real Boston culture. Rita: Show them how to love a local band.

RIP: MICHAEL SCAGLARINI (Johnny Bravo/ Johnnies/ New Frustrations) died in the early morning of 7/22/09.

RIP: SENATOR TED KENNEDY died of cancer on 8/25/09.

BEAT THE HEAT

Lolita: Hey Willie! I ran all the way to Gloucester to ask you this question… How do you beat the heat? WILLIE ALEXANDER (Boom Boom Band/ Persistence of Memory Orchestra): I love the heat—you can’t beat it. But if ya do, and I hate air conditioning, you just go to Boise, Idaho. It’s hot there but ya don’t sweat. Or stay here and jump off the greasy pole in Gloucester. *** PATRICK YERBY (Yerby): Just like Aaron Neville, I constantly lather myself in cocoa butter. *** ROBIN UMBLEY (the Noise): I’m a swimmer and a figure skater. Conveniently, I live down the street from the beach. The best way I know to beat the heat is to go for a nice swim in the cold Atlantic and top it off with a session at the ice rink. Or, all I have to do is go to work where the AC is painfully set on “meat locker.” Although it “beats the heat,” it’s a bit much. I end up wrapped up in polar fleece and can’t wait to get back out to the 90-degree temperature to defrost. *** JOHNNY ARGUEDAS (Arguedas Photography/ the Sneaks): I wear a merkin stuffed with dry ice. Cool and dry, that’s my motto. *** IAN ADAMS (Ian Adams): Honestly, I don’t try to “beat the heat.” I allow myself to be beaten. I allow myself to be hot, nasty, sweaty, and stinky. I don’t bitch about it either, I just think about January and how I’ll eventually be freezing my balls off. A cold beer is a gift from God on a hot summer night. Can’t wait. *** PREACHER JACK (Preacher Jack): I adopted Salem, Massachusetts as my hometown some 25 years ago, this is my summer routine. Come June 21 and the unbearable heat that follows I shed my winter beard and get my hair trimmed. In the cool of the morning I open my windows and take a refreshing air shower, let the invigorating pre-dawn breeze wash over my bony body. Next stop, the sitting bench in the tree lined park to sit under my favorite shady chestnut tree. Midday and I am off to the climate controlled environment of my beloved Wendy’s for a hearty summer salad concluding (most) days with a stroll over to Pickering Wharf to sit quietly next to the cool healing ocean water. *** JOE VIGLIONE (Visual Radio): I take T Max on my yacht and we head to Thailand sipping piña coladas and using old Thrills records as frisbees to generate a cool splash from the ocean. *** PJ ASPESI (Three Day Threshold): My roommates and I usually take off our shirts or pants (male and female respectively), and sit by the window A/C unit while our cat lays spread eagle on the floor to air himself out. Fanning and panting ensues. *** BOB GOBRON (Shakyfoot): Move back to Massachusetts. Lemme tell y’all sumpin. This ain’ heat. I lived in Atlanta for twelve years. I’m gowna tell ya ’bout some heat, chile. Lawdamercy! We’re in the arctic up here. My sister lives in the Berkshires and they use a down comforter all summer. On the Cape you need a sweatshirt at night in August. August in Georgia will usually have 20-plus days where it is 85 degrees by 8:00am. Highs in the high 90’s, 80% humidity. Oof. Still a great town though. We had such fun. Bars close at 4:00 y’all. But by Gawd it’s hot! *** MYRA FLYNN (Myra Flynn): I try to wear as little clothing as possible on stage without looking like a hussy. For the most part, it works, save for a few dirty old men. Staying hydrated with Smart Water and pineapple juice is always a must as well. Lolita: Myra, I’ve done everything to upgrade the intelligence of my water, but I don’t think schooling is paying off. Guess I’ll have to just stick with impressing those dirty old men.

NON COMMERCIAL NEWS

Rita: While Lolita, barely clothed, draws a crowd of old guys, I will, totally naked, deliver the news not worthy of major media outlets. The Noise Board gets plugged in ROBBY ROADSTEAMER’s Quiet Desperation Episode Four. You can find all episodes of Robby’s TV show on YouTube. *** MUCK & THE MIRES record their next album in Detroit with garage rock guru JIM DIAMOND (Ghetto Recorders). Jim is known for saying “I find it interesting that today most people make records while staring at a computer screen. I make records while listening to the sound coming out of the speakers.” *** BRIAN KING (What Time is it Mr. Fox?) had his song “Cold Rain” recorded by Grammy winner IRMA THOMAS. WHAT TIME IS IT MR. FOX is also looking for extras for their summer video. *** Central-Massachusetts prog/experimental metal band ANOMIA has signed to Hold True Recordings and is scheduled to release ESM on July 10th. *** WAR TAPES, the L.A. band with strong ties to Boston, played two of their songs on the season finale of ABC Family’s Greek. You can find the band’s new video “Dreaming of You” on YouTube. *** TIM DOWNIE (The New Frustrations) is now booking Church. Wanna play there? Write This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . *** Wow, this is confusing. In Boston we have two local icons spinning tunes under the name WONDERTWINS ACTIVATE. Then we have the Lowell-based LOS WUNDER TWINS DEL RAP and their new CD entitled Activate. Maybe these two pairs of twins should play together. Activate! *** LUCRETIA’S DAGGERS needs interesting-looking people for their video shoot of “The Horror of Retail” this summer in Allston. If you’re interested, contact their website of the same name. *** If you haven’t noticed it yet, the Noise is moving. Our new address is 24 Beverly Drive, Georgetown, MA 01833. We now share the same hometown as MassCann. Lolita: I guess that makes Georgetown possibly the hippest town in Massachusetts. Okay, okay, I can already hear the letters being composed—let me rephrase that—every Noise reader lives in the hippest town in Massachusetts. Right? It’s gotta be hip if you live there. Rita: I don’t care about it being hip. I like it that in Georgetown I can connect with nature. In fact, Lolita, put on a little more clothes and go ask our friends about how they connect with nature.

NATURE CONNECTION

Lolita: Okay, I can ask everyone how they connect with nature, but I think it would make more sense if I did it naked. Rita: Look, there’s Ray playing that old beat up guitar—and he’s in his bare feet—go ask him the question right now! Lolita: Ray… Ray… Ray, my eyes are up here. Can you tell me how you connect with nature? RAY MASON (Ray Mason Band/ Lonesome Brothers): Seeing as how I grew up in a housing project on tar and cement I recently stood outside our house in the lovely Western Mass. countryside, took off my socks and shoes, looked around at the trees and birds, took a long deep hit of fresh air and thought to myself “what a lucky bastard you are”! *** BILL GALATIS (School of Rock/ Sleeprunner): The Polar Caves and the Lost River up in Northern New Hampshire... it’s like Ewok Village from Star Wars in real life. *** MR. CURT (Urban Caravan/ Mr. Curt Ensemble): Feed the neighborhood feral cats. Feed the local bird population. Donna and I plant a bevy of flowers, shrubs, and some veggies and herbs. Water them frequently. Trim some of the hedges and bushes. Then rest on the back porch, sipping cocktails and inhaling a major dose of life—and life only! *** JOHNNY BLACK (Faster & Louder/ Johnny Black Trio): I fish from April through early December so I get to see lots of beautiful places from wading salt ponds on the Cape to kayaking lakes in Maine. My favorite is surf fishing for striped bass with flies I’ve tied so most weekends you’ll find me waist deep somewhere along the coast. I knew my fiancée, Karen, was the woman for me when she bought her own pair of waders about two months after we met. Now I just need to get her onto some big fish. *** SAMMY MIAMI (Houndstone): I inhaled. *** NICK MATHEWS (Red Summer Sun): Recently we had the privilege of playing the Hatch Shell at Radio 92.9’s annual Earthfest. The event was heavily focused on the importance of environmental sustainability and the little things that can be done to keep the world running smoothly. In addition to helping spread the word, we learned a lot about the small steps available to a band on the rise. Two things we always try to do—refill the same water bottle instead of just buying a 24 pack, and pack as carefully as possible to try to make each gig a one car trip. *** DAVE CRESPO (…& the After Party): I was down at an Environmental Camp in Rhode Island in April. Between the nature walks, ponding, and sleeping in cabins I have gotten enough nature for a while. *** SEAN MURRAY (Jake & the Jakes): I like to connect with nature by running around the house naked writing songs on the ol’ guitar. When people start coming home or stopping by for visits, I make a fast break to the beach—most likely Seabrook or Salisbury Beach. I love the solitude—the power and the unholy green glow from the power plant at Seabrook on any given day—winter, spring, summer and fall. It just doesn’t matter. I love the beach. *** STEPHIE PEEKA (… & The SeeKing 7): I sat in my friends front garden in Germany eating a Big Nuts Ice Cream bar while enjoying the sun and knocking a spider off her arm! *** JON MACEY (Fox Pass/ Urban Caravan): I have silenced the mind by climbing the highest dunes on Cape Cod and stared into the timeless sea. *** MATT JATKOLA (the Bynars): I went to the holodeck and loaded my favorite forest scene. In my solitude, I attempted to whistle (unsuccessfully) for a few hours, then I saved Wesley from drowning in a shallow brook. Lolita: We have a Trekkie among us. Rita: I think they prefer to be called Trekkers. Lolita: Matt, is the latest Star Trek movie any good? Matt: I think it’s excellent, but it’s so wide open now. I don’t even know what they’re gonna do next! It’s good for fans and also for people who haven’t even seen Star Trek before. I definitely recommend it!

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Rita: Okay, well I have to admit that I’ve seen all the Star Trek movies, but I only did it because I had a lovely nerdy boyfriend, and I’d go with him anywhere, even if he insisted on dressing up like the Borg. Lolita: Hey, did he play in a Boston band called the Borg? Rita: I’d rather not say that he plays in DEATH OF THE COOL. But I do have a list of a lot of musicians who are doing the Musical Chairs dance. Drummer MIKE MIRABELLA (Scamper/ Brendan Boogie Band) has joined his brother DAVE MIRABELLA’s band THE RATIONALES. SEAN BLACK (the Eines), a recent transplant from Toronto has also joined on bass and vocals. *** TONY GODDESS (Jenny Dee & the Deelinquints/ the Rudds) has another band called TONY GODDESS & THE JOHNS—the three Johns are POWHIDA (John Powhida International Airport), LYNCH (the Neighborhoods), and BROOKHOUSE (the Dirty Truckers). *** 18 WHEELS OF JUSTIC has added vocalist ADAM A. SLOAN to the lineup. Adam comes from Worcester’s KULTUR, which is on hiatus while they search for a new drummer and bassist. *** DENNIS BRENNAN is playing with MIKE PIEHL (drums) and RICHARD GATES (bass). *** GUNPOWDER GELATINE is New England’s best and only all-female Queen-tribute band. *** STEPHIE PEEKA & THE SEEKING SEVEN have added ROSEDEWITT from Germany on operatic Freddie Mercury harmonies. See them at O’Brien’s on August 2. *** STEPHEN SILBERT, the musical director of the first three years of Boston’s Jesus Christ Superstar, is now playing with WILLIE ALEXANDER. *** Providence’s SIX FINGER SATELLITE is back with a new CD but the members of the group have turned over so much that they consider themselves a bastardly other brother. The brothers include singer JAY RYAN, drummer RICK PELLETIER, guitarist JOEL KYACK, and bassist SHAWN GREENLEE. *** YOKE SHIRE has welcomed back BRAD DILLION. Brad took almost a decade break from the band. Lolita: This has nothing to do with Brad, but do you know that I drink my morning coffee from a heavy-duty York Shire mug? Rita: No, I didn’t know that (I see Lolita drink out of it every morning and she also spills coffee on me—every day). Lolita: I do like it that the band’s merchandise has paid off with a little extra promo for them.

STAGE MISHAPS

Rita: While Lolita desperately tries to get more free merch sent to her, I’ll ask the next Question of the Month. And that question is “What the worst mishap you’ve seen on stage?” D-TENSION (Los Wunder Twins del Rap): People tell me that I should never repeat this story but... I was playing a gig at Bill’s Bar. There was this girl in the front row wearing a pair of those giant, oversized, carnival sunglasses that covered her entire face. Throughout the set she was causing a scene, acting like she was going to flash her boobs. As the set went on she was more and more provocative to the point that she was the show and we were background music. So I stopped the show, looked at her and said “we all know you’re gonna whip those bad boys out, let’s get it over with already.” She lifts up her shirt, the crowd cheers, and the show continues. After the show she comes up to me and says, “I wanna make out with you” and plants her mouth on mine. I had to push her off of me and when I did her glasses fell off, revealing that she had Down syndrome. My bad. Kept playing though. *** JIM SULLIVAN (Herald/ jimsullivanink.com): Lux Interior at the Channel, pissed off at stage divers, threatened one particular kid that he’d clock him if he came up again. Sure enough, the kid jumped up and Lux executed a left-right KO punch. The kid did not return. I suppose some might not call this a mishap but rough justice. *** AJDA THE TURKISH QUEEN (Black Fortress of Opium): I once saw the Archers of Loaf, and one band member fell offstage onto a trash can. Pretty funny! *** BRIAN KING (What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?): The onstage mishap that I have unfortunately witnessed time and time again is hearing a performer tell an audience to be quiet and listen. This usually results in a bunch of people feeling held captive, and not in a good way. If they’re not listening, then either you’re not doing your job or you’re playing to the wrong room. Know your audience. People are out to have a good time and relate, not indulge your ego. If your fans can’t hear over the drunken idiots (as at a recent PJ Harvey concert), it’s up to them to tell their neighbors to shut the fuck up. *** ANDERSON MAR (Dark Sky Productions/ Paul Green School of Rock): School of Rock was doing a Summer Camp performance at the Cambridge YMCA Theatre last August 17th, when suddenly, the pipes in the sprinkler system above the stage burst and everyone was a deluged with a torrential shower! Fortunately none of our equipment was damaged, but I’m now convinced that my life is afflicted by a sprinkler system curse. First Skybar, and now this! *** DAVE WESTNER (Woolly Mammoth Sound/ Torey Pines): I have seen Sean Staples (Jabe/ Session Americana) fall off the stage twice, and take at least three more tumbles on stage without falling off. *** DAVID JACKEL (the Daily Pravda): While playing the opening song of a set, I couldn’t hear my vocals in the monitors. I signaled frantically to the sound guy for more vocals, but he just shrugged his shoulders. After we finished the song he discovered and explained the cause of the problem over the PA: “Sorry, I had the vocal channel on mute.” *** BUBBA GRIMM (the Shadows Smile): One of the funniest mishaps on stage occurred when we went to play in Pennsylvania at the Sterling Hotel in 2007. There was this act from the Midwest that had a laptop, a singer, and a guy playing with little puppets on strings. Well, they were in the middle of there set the laptop was already on the fritz when one of the puppets broke into a million pieces and fell of the stage. The puppeteer slowly jumped of the stage and was on the floor on his hands and knees picking up all the body parts of this puppet. It was sad. *** ERIK LINDGREN (Birdsongs of the Mesozoic/ Arf Arf Records): I recall playing Cantones in the winter of 1977 with the Moving Parts, who went under the moniker Space Negros that night. I had the two back legs of my Fender Rhodes with a Minimoog supported on two large coffee cans and, well, you can imagine what happened when I hit the final chord for a big ending of one of our songs. Fortunately nothing broke and we finished the set after I set up my rig for the remainder of our set. *** JOHNNY ANGEL (the Blackjacks): The destruction of Johnny Angel’s meniscus cartilege, right knee, onstage fall, June 1979, Thrills opening for Ramones. PETER RINNIG (QRST's): I had gone to see Aerosmith in Providence on Halloween a long time ago. At one point during the show, Steve Tyler attempted to do a flip and ended up flat on his back. All the other guys in Aerosmith played on for about one or two songs stepping over him—not realizing he was not moving. They then cancelled the rest of the show and the next day the review said that Tyler had "food poisoning"—yeah right. *** JOE COUGHLIN (the Noise): The old Boston band Harlequin actually BROKE UP onstage, in the middle of a song, at Bunratty’s. Members just unplugged and walked out the door one by one, and they never played again. I’ve never seen a soundman (or almost anyone, really) laugh that hard in my life. Lolita: Harlequin also holds another Boston distinction—they played in two Rumbles (1979 and 1980). It must have been before the one Rumble rule was made.

ALL GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER

Rita: Harliquin’s gone, so who’s left to see? Lolita: I’m glad you asked. I was on my way out and wanted to know if you would join me. Rita: Where are we headed? Lolita: Well, here’s where this month… Singer/songwriter ERIC SOMMER is at the North Star Music Cafe in Portland, ME on Saturday, 7/4. *** KELLY DAVIDSON’s Rock ’n’ Roll Partents III photo exhibit opens on Monday, 7/6 (10pm - 1am) at Zuzu with performances by Axemunkee and Squareshooter. *** On Thursday, 7/9, photographer NICOLE TAMMARO releases a book of photos (with a forward written by JAY ALLEN) that covers the last three years of bands playing the Abbey Lounge. The book signing with acoustic performances is at Horror Business (77 Harvard Ave., Allston, MA) 6:00-10:00pm. *** MAMADOU plays West Afrian sounds at Dog Bar in Gloucester on Friday, 7/10. *** Same night in Cambridge, JENNY DEE & THE DEELINQUENTS hit the Middle East. *** On Saturday, 7/11 (1pm doors) JASON BENNETT & THE RESISTANCE raids the Middle East. *** That night at the Cantab, COROLLA DEVILLE returns. *** DAN VITALE and PAUL CARR (the Scaredy Cats) are In A Pig’s Eye (Salem, MA) on Wednesday, 7/15. *** Same night LILLI DENNISON spins at Zuzu. *** MR. TIMOTHY CHARLES DUANE celebrates its 40th anniversary and debut CD release on Saturday, 7/18, on the Vineyard at Che’s Lounge. *** On that same night SHAUN WOLF WORTIS presents Wolf’s 16th Annual (Four Days After) Bastille Day A-Go-Go at the Precinct. *** On Sunday, 7/19, (1:00 to 6:00 pm) the Aerosmith tribute compilation Boston Gets A Grip is released at the Wonder Bar (formerly Bunratty’s)—catch THE BRISTOLS in action. *** DEATH OF THE COOL hits the Cantab on Thursday, 7/23. *** THE AUTUMN HOLLOW BAND plays the Lizard Lounge on Friday, 7/24. *** THE MONTGOMERYS support their Walkie Talkie release at Sally O’Brien’s on Saturday, 7/25. *** THE INCREDIBLE CASUALS are at the Wellfleet Beachcomber every Sunday from 5pm to 8pm. They have played this slot every summer since the dawn of man. *** BIRDSONGS OF THE MESOZOIC is at Johnny D’s Thursday, 7/30—ROGER MILLER (Mission of Burma) is with the group on this show and all of their east coast tour dates. *** On that same night in Gloucester, GARY BACKSTROM BAND (x-member of the band Jiggle the Handle) plays Latitude 43. *** On Friday, 7/31, THE CRACKER BROTHERS take over Slainte in Portland, ME. Lolita: Have a great summer! If you’d like three more days on me, check out our summer banner sale—buy a banner ad that runs a week—and get three free days on me! Rita: She’ll do anything for attention.

RIP: PAT BRADY (1965-2009): Pat was the mighty drummer for the Moving Targets. He died on June 10.

WAX ON WAX OFF

Rita: Summer begins on June 21 and look already at my little patch of garden. Lolita: You should really wax that thing. Rita: Ugh, I hate wax beans. I remember Dad forcing us to swallow those terribly textured yellow beans. Lolita: You know it’s Father’s Day (also on June 21) this month, so you better change your tune. Rita: Okay, let’s make up an appropriate Question of the Month. Lolita: How ’bout what would you like to do with the wax beans that your dad force-fed you? Rita: No, since summer begins on Father’s Day, let’s ask our musical friends to tell us something they did with their dad in the summer.

FIRST DAY OF SUMMER AND DAD’S DAY UNITE

Lolita: Hey Chandler, get over here. What did you do in the past with your father in the summer? CHANDLER TRAVIS (Rocket Travis Infinity Explosion Surprise): I crapped my pants once at the country club... I think we were both pretty mortified. Of course, this was three or four years ago now, but I still get nostalgic about it, especially on Father’s Day. *** DICK TATE (Middle East/ Prime Movers): My father and I attempted to sail a 14 foot Sunfish out into the Atlantic Ocean one summer and were nearly swept out to sea by a freak thunderstorm. The garbage strewn beach of Old Orchard never felt so good under my trembling feet as it did when we finally managed to regain the shore. *** NICHOLE FERREE (Orange Nichole): My father was a teacher when I was growing up so in the summer he had plenty of time to hang out with my sister and me. Every year he’d create an elaborate treasure hunt for us with clues leading us all over town. It was a big deal that we’d look forward to every summer. *** BILL GALATIS (the Paul Green School of Rock/ Audible Crayons): When I was five years old, my father took me to the 1984 Boston Celtics championship game 7 when they put away the Lakers. It was 91 degrees in the Garden and I had to finish watching in nothing but my shorts. I’ll never forget it. *** A.J. WACHTEL (Boston Gets a Grip): I lived in Allston and one of my roommates was a black singer/cab driver named Stacey and my Jewish father took us out to eat at Rubin’s Deli in Brookline for my birthday and Father’s Day. Apparently, not many blacks came to Rubin’s for a kosher meal at the time, and as we walked in the staff looked like we were lepers. To add insult to injury, I ordered a “ham and cheese” and the waitress said, she couldn’t make one for me and I thought it was because of my black guest and was getting pissed until she continued, “we’re kosher and can’t serve meat and dairy together.” Occasionally, I speak to Stacey and we laugh at my unintentional stupidity. *** JOE HARRINGTON (photographer): The summer was my father’s favorite time of the year—boating season. I have many memories of long days and nights out on the ocean. One Fourth of July my cousin went scuba diving from the boat and robbed a bunch of lobster traps. We had coolers overflowing with lobster for the barbecue! R.I.P. Dad, 1995, death by cigarettes. *** JOE KOWALSKI (Funf/ the Elderly): Just a couple of years ago I went with my dad, my brother and my Uncle John (my dad’s younger brother) to Citizen’s Bank Park to see the Phillies play the Cardinals. We saw Albert Pujols hit two home runs against our Phillies and saw the Phils lose their 10,000th game in franchise history. It was a fantastic time. Happy Father’s Day! *** DJ MATTHEW GRIFFIN (the Noise): One hot summer night when I was 16, my friends and I decided to drop some acid. When it came time to call my dad for a ride home, I was petrified. I had long black bangs on the right side of my face. I flipped them to the left side, so my dad wouldn’t notice my blown out pupils. We didn’t say much. I was left alone in the livingroom, til my brother came home and found me clutching the arms of a chair in the dark. Then he threw on the Butthole Surfer’s Blind Eye Sees All video. I watched the flashing skulls and Gibby eating puke out of a turkey baster. Lolita: Well, thank you Matthew for sharing the details of the video, now I can cross it off my list of things to watch before I die.

NON-TV NEWS

Rita: While Lolita shortens her “to do” list, I will share with you all the news that the TV forgets to report. Lolita: Oh, but before that I just want to give a tip to those readers who can’t afford pay TV but still want to watch. Dress up in coveralls and go to the gas station and watch GS TV for free. Maybe if you pump the gas while watching, someone will give you a tip. Rita: Okay, you won’t hear this news on GS TV either. CAT on Cool 102 (101.9 fm Hyannis, MA) is bringing back The Cheap Seats, a local music show for bands from New England. The show airs on Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm and is streamlined on www.cool102.com. *** EMBRIONIC was featured on the 2009 MTV’s Realworld/Road Rules Challenge: The Island and Real World Australia. *** CASEY DESMOND won $5000 in studio gear in the Broadjam Song of the Month Contest. *** Noise intern KATYA LANCERO (Sgt. Maxwell’s Peace Chorus) is moving back to Flagstaff, AZ, where she has picked up a new internship on another magazine called the Noise! *** The Paul Green School of Rock (617-923-3434) will be hosting three Rock Star Boot Camps in July and August. Session I (7/6 to 7/11), Session II (7/27 to 8/1), and Session III (8/17 to 8/22) all run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm weekdays and are open to students ages 6-17 who play bass, guitar, drums, piano, or sing. No experience needed! Registration closes on June 1. *** LEO BLAIS wins the award for most effort put into an extended press kit. We received three painted cardboard font creations that spell out the Noise, Rita & Lolita, and T Max. These are pretty elaborate fun-looking 3-D signs. Thanks Leo—the review of your CD is in this issue. *** Photog KELLY DAVIDSON is participating in the MS 2-day bike ride again and needs your support. Write to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you can help out. *** In keeping with our great economy, the Noise is now offering a new size ad meant to keep more of your money in your wallet while you still spread the word of your latest creative endeavor. Announcing the sexy twelfth page ad—2.4 inches square. Bands pay $36—businesses pay $52. We like to make it easier for you to own a little piece of the Noise. *** SHILO McDONALD (Intelligent Records) became a nomad after his house in Lynn went into flames when it was hit with lightning. *** New England-based bands that play original material are eligible to participate in Boston Music Spotlight's second annual Battle of the Bands. Now through 7/15, bands can submit their electronic press kits via Sonicbids.com. *** ROBBY ROADSTEAMER and CHRIS COXEN have taken over Monday nights at the Cantab with Underground Comedy. *** Looney Tunes’ store in Cambridge closed. Now you’ll have to go to the 1106 Boylston Street store in Boston. *** Cambridge Music downsized—they're now upstairs at the same location, 1906 Mass. Ave. in Porter Square. *** ANNA PRICE (the Silver Lining) announced that Elijah Jeffrey Rhodes and Evelyn Delia Rhodes were born via emergency C-section at 9:19 and 9:20 pm on Saturday, May 9th. *** GREG HAWKES (the Cars) sat in with the NEW COLLISIONS on both their new CD and their CD release party. *** After releasing 64 albums and 12 videos, Low Budget Records celebrates their 30^th anniversary. *** On Thursday, 6/11 WILL DALEY will be live on TV on the CBS Morning Show. *** THE OTHER GIRLS got together for a low-key reunion on May 29 at the Precinct. Maybe a full-blown reunion is in the making. *** Bostonians WYATT PETERSON, MATT LISOWSKI, and DAVE BLAISE sang on The Jerry Springer Show as part of the Springer Singer Search. *** Sound Bites Café in Somerville (704 Broadway) is starting to serve up live local music. *** THE VITAL MIGHT signed a two record deal with 10T Records out of Charleston, SC. It includes the recording, release, distribution and promotion. *** KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold) was seen doing the forward and reverse worm on the floor of the High Street Grill in North Andover, MA. Rita: It wasn’t a reaction to the food, because that tasted great. I think it was an attempt at physical entertainment. Lolita: Yeah, I know that guy is always trying to entertain me with his worm.

SONGWRITERS ARE BORN

Rita: Wow, I just looked on my birthday calendar and discovered that Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Ray Davies, and Todd Rundgren were all born in the same week in June. Lolita: I’m on it. I’m going to ask everyone who’s their favorite songwriter. JOHN POWHIDA (John Powhida International Airport): Todd Rundgren—he is a greater genius than all these other geniuses because he plays all the instruments they do plus saxophone and he released a rap album at the age of 45. Great Todd songs? Hmmmmmn, if you haven’t discovered him yet, it’s too late chump. *** DANIEL PAUL BOUCHER (Neptune/ Certainly, Sir!): McCartney gets my vote due to the fact that I believe “Hello, Goodbye” is one of the greatest songs ever written. *** MR. CURT (Mr. Curt Ensemble/ Urban Caravan): I will not make one simple choice to four of the greatest rock ’n’ roll songwriters of all time, who all have had up and downs in their musical careers. Each in their own way helped create the modern template for songwriting in the mid-’60s and beyond. Hey! They’re still around today, so WAH-HEY! Thusly, some faves I have performed: Wilson: “In the Back of My Mind”; McCartney: “Got to Get You into My Life”; Davies: “A Well Respected Man”; Rundgren: “It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference.” Happy birthday, dudes! *** ERIC WELSH (Chill House Studios): Brian Wilson because the Beach Boys’ song “Good Vibrations” has an electro-theremin on it and the vocal harmonies are killer! *** JEFF PFLAUMBAUM (the Wings of Fire Orchestra): All four are favorites of mine but I’d probably lead towards Todd Rundgren. My favorite songs of his are spread all over his catalogue and include “Boat On The Charles,” “Waling Wall,” “Onomatopoeia,” “Something To Fall Back On,” “God Said,” “When I Pray,” “Does Anybody Love You,” and “Strike.” Ask me tomorrow and I’ll have a brand new list! *** NANCY DELANEY (Temper): I admire them all but Brian Wilson gets my vote. McCartney and Rundgren would not have written many of their songs without Wilson’s influence. His best? “Surf’s Up” is a perfect song, either the solo version or the full orchestrated one. “Till I Die” is as truthful as songwriting gets and how can anyone not like “God Only Knows”? *** CHUCK U. ROSINA (WMBR/ WMFO): Favorite songwriter? Gosh. I don’t know if I have a “favorite” songwriter. There are soooo many good songs written by soooo many people. It’s even hard to narrow from the four you’ve mentioned. But amongst those four, I think Ray Davies is too often overlooked. Not only did he write a string of hits for the Kinks, but he has some great quirky tunes like “Ape Man,” and “Celluloid Heroes.” He’s still at it today. His 2008 CD, Workingman’s Cafe, is full of wonderful tunes. Tough question, but thanks for asking. *** GENE JOHNSTON (Dead Friends): I would have to name Paul McCartney as my favorite songwriter of the bunch. When I was a kid, I had multiple eye surgeries and at times had both eyes patched. My parents would play Beatles records on our old RCA for me. Paul always tells a story with his music and his soulful voice is magically comforting. It’s as if I were watching a movie. Later on I got into Wings. I think some of Paul’s best songs were “Hard Days Night,” “Blackbird,” “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Good Day Sunshine,” “Yesterday” and “Jet”! Rita: Okay, let’s open up the question and include all songwriters. Lolita, go ask our musician friends which songwriters they would pick now? Lolita: Ken! Ken! Come back here, I have a question for you. Who’s your favorite songwriter? KEN FIELD (Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/Birdsongs of the Mesozoic): My pal Chandler Travis is an extraordinary songwriter, not to mention singer, guitarist, and bass player. I think my favorite song of his might be “Bob What’s-Is-Name”, but there are a ton of great ones. *** FRANK STROM (the Noise): Rick Berlin’s new and old material is brilliant, and Jay Allen ditties like “Frying Pan Justice” and “Last Man On Earth” are really charming. I can say a lot for all the musicians I like... but if I had to single out just one, it’s gotta be Evan Shore (Muck). He has total command of the style he’s shooting for (“Girl Next Door” and “I Never Got Over You” for example), is creative with it, and seems to toss out winners like “Hypnotic” with ease. What really makes it noteworthy is how perfectly he gets it. *** MICHAEL AROIAN (Elsewhere): Sting with the Police—and only with the Police. He was able to consistently write accessible songs that were memorable and viable on both a pop and rock level. Furthermore, his song writing seemed to progress with every album and with Stewart and Andy taking the sonic atmospheres to another level, these three were truly my Bealtes. In my opinion, Sting’s best songs were, not surprisingly, “Roxanne,” as well as “Can’t Stand Losing You,” “So Lonely,” “Message In a Bottle,” “Regatta De Blanc,” “Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” “Spirits In The Material World,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” and “Secret Journey.” *** DENNIS BRENNAN (Dennis Brennan Band): Arthur Alexander is the Bomb. He wrote “Anna” covered by the Beatles.He also wrote “You Better Move On” covered by the Rolling Stones. He wrote “Sally Sue Brown” covered by Bob Dylan, C.C. Adcock, and New England’s own Sugar Ray & the Bluetones. He also was a wonderful singer, pitch challenged much like Hank Williams, but it didn’t matter. If he was off-key it only added to the drama. Noise readers—check him out. *** KENNY CHAMBERS (Moving Targets): Burt Bacharach: “Walk on By” and “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head.” A true songwriting genius. *** ERIK LINDGREN (Birdsongs of the Mesozoic/ Arf Arf Records): This month it’s Margo Guryan, who penned a glorious album in 1968 entitled Take A Picture and wrote the hit “Sunday Morning.” She crosses all musical boundaries, has an extraordinary gift for melody, and includes quirky meter changes not unlike Burt Bacharach. Her latest anti-Bush opus, “16 Words,” may be my favorite song of hers, which is up on YouTube featuring a fabulous video by her husband. *** GEORGE HALL (Weisstronauts/ Eddie Japan): Randy Newman for one. Lyrically, he creates detailed situations and characters using unflashy language, untrustworthy narrators, irony, and contradiction, with music that works like a soundtrack to a short film. Cover versions can miss the point—the nebbishy narrator of “Mama Told Me Not to Come” is funnier and more sympathetic without Three Dog Nights’ anthemic swagger, for instance—but what makes him great isn’t so much about hits. The Randy Newman Songbook Vol 1 has solo piano versions of some of his best, including “Sail Away,” “Louisiana 1927,” “God’s Song” and more (“Short People” is mercifully absent). *** KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold): Speaking of birthdays, I share a birthday with one of my favorite songwriters of all time, Mark Sandman (Morphine), September 24. That’s also the same birthday as another Boston rocker, Mike Baldino. Lolita: Kier, will you show me that worm that’s been getting so much publicity?

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Rita: While Lolita manages to get herself into some deep trouble, I’ll let you know who’s been teaming up with whom in the local world of rock. RICHIE PARSONS (Unnatural Axe), FRITZ ERICKSON (Gang Green), JOHNNY BLACK (Johnny Black Trio), with LEE HARRINGTON and JOHN LYNCH (the Neighborhoods’ rhythm section) have formed FASTER & LOUDER, a Dictators tribute band that can play the entire Bloodbrothers album and more. *** BRADLEY JAY’s THUNDER BROTHERS are now a trio. They’ve added guitarist DAVE EVE who is a recent transplant from London. Dave is also the guitar player for the PERFECT TOOL TRIBUTE. Thunder Brothers drummer STEVE KILROY plays drums for the Perfect Tool Tribute as well. *** JONATHAN ULMAN (Common Thrill) also plays in PAWNSHOP DIAMONDS. *** JOE PERRY (Aerosmith/Joe Perry Project) has WILLIE ALEXANDER (Persistence of Memory Orchestra/ Boom Boom Band) playing honky-tonk piano on his latest solo endeavor. *** NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK performed on the Today Show and announced that JESSE McCARTNEY will be joining their summer tour. Lolita: I love it when he shakes his shaggy head of hair and sings “wooo.” Rita: That’s Paul McCartney. *** PHIL HURLEY (x-Gigolo Aunts) now plays in STONEHONEY and hails from Austin, Texas. *** CIRCLE CIRCLE STAR branched out of CHAUNCEY with ELIOT HUNT, JON BISTINE, and SHAWN MARQUIS. They’re already recording. *** SLIMEDOG now resides in a band called BAD IRON. You won’t see them around town, or New England for that matter. They’re based in Sacramento, California. *** GHOULS NIGHT OUT has slipped into oblivion due to too much physical distance between the ghouls. *** THE ELDERLY is an experimental electronic music group that formed to do the RPM Challenge (record a whole album in a month). The band consists of GEORGE HALL, JOE KOWALSKI, JIM GERDEMAN, JASON BAL-DOCK, CHRIS BARRETT and MARVIO SANTOS. *** Former Bostonian BRETT ROSENBERG (now from Nashville) has toured the country as lead guitarist for GRAHAM PARKER. *** WHAT TIME IS IT MR. FOX? used Rounder Records CEO SCOTT BILLINGTON and members of HUMANWINE on their new CD. *** ROBBY ROADSTEAMER has joined up with NIKKI D (Where the Land Meets the Sea/ x-Campaign for Real-Time) to form SUPER TIME PILOT. KIER BYRNES will be adding lead guitar on their up coming recording. Lolita: Are you sure he isn’t planning to play his worm?

I’D NEVER DO THAT NOW

Rita: Lolita, enough about that worm—you’re going to give Kier a big head. Now, Robby—come over here and tell me something you did as a kid that you would never do now. ROBBY ROADSTEAMER (Super Time Pilot) I was 12 going on 13 the first time I saw a dead human being. It happened in the summer of 1989—a long time ago, but only if you measure in terms of years. I was living in a small town in Oregon called Castle Rock. There were only twelve hundred and eighty-one people. But to me, it was the whole world. Lolita: So, I’m not sure what you would never do now—look at a dead body? Live in Castle Rock? Consider Castle Rock the whole world? *** ERIC SCHMIDER (Mollycoddle): Never again will I sit on a suburban curb under the Albuquerque sun masticating Ruffles potato chips, spitting them back onto a fresh chip, and eating it again, as if it were some sophisticated adult party dip, while peeing in my Wrangler jeans. I was so young and free. *** SLIMEDOG (the Noise): I guess I didn’t get around much before kindergarten ’cause I’d never seen a men’s urinal and I had to take a shit so I thought you did it in that so that what I did. I was smart enough not to volunteer the answer when the teacher asked who had done that. Since high school, at least, I don’t do that anymore. *** DAVE WESTNER (Tori Pyne): Have sex with a bunch of priests. *** NICOLE TAMMARO (Nicole Tammaro Photography): As a kid I threw rocks through St. Ann’s (Somerville) Church windows. An older kid told me what we were doing was okay, ’cause it wasn’t our school. I have never even since thrown stones at the Catholic Church. *** SHAUN WOLF WORTIS (Gato Malo): My friend Dicky and I once found a trove of old Coke bottles in his father’s garage, a tank of gasoline next to that, and finally, a bag of rags. We created our own molotov cocktails, which we hung from our belts while stalking though the woods playing “bomb the German city.” This is something I would never do now. I’m sort of amazed I survived my childhood sometimes. *** LINDA VIENS (Angeline): When I was in 5th and 6th grade I used to shoplift from department stores downtown, little things, jewelry, lipsticks... In 6th grade I got caught and tried to blame it on one of the “bad girls” I was hanging around with. I was held in the basement for hours and terrorized by the security staff until my parents came to get me. It was humiliating and shameful, and blessedly I learned my lesson and never did it again! *** IAN KENNEDY (Reverse): Eating my own boogers has to be right at the top of the list. *** BRENDA BURKE (Tara White): I can think of lots of unwholesome activities that fall under the categories of petty vandalism, shoplifting, and general mischief. In my very early teens, a group of two to three kids would show up every so often at the parking lot of the greasy spoon down the street from my house in Holbrook. Then one of us would open up the front door and we would all scream the most bizarre obscenities at the top of our lungs. We were never caught or chased though. It helps having an innocent looking face. *** CLAY N. FERNO (Wild Zero): Locals may remember the quarry in Quincy. In my youth, we used to jump off the top of that frakkin’ thing into the water! What were we thinking?! *** MIKE PIEHL (Reverse/ Tim Gearan): Shit my pants. *** SCOTT MATALON (Monolith): I forced my mom to make me an Oscar the Grouch sandwich like I saw on Sesame Street with PBJ, cheese, mayo, mustard, ham, salami, etc., all piled on a large sliced sour pickle instead of bread... and I was so damn stubborn I ate the whole thing! *** PEZ (the Luxury): One time when I was about three, I drank a cup full of kerosene that was supposed to be for the heater in my dad’s garage. That landed me in the hospital for a couple days. I probably wouldn’t do that again, although the experience hasn’t kept me away from the bourbon or the Tabasco sauce. *** HENRY SANTORO (WFNX): There were railroad tracks near where I grew up (in Norwood), and my friends and I would be able tuck ourselves between the railroad ties that were on a bridge in our neighborhood. We would crouch there and wait for the train to come—and when it did—what a rush. I would not do that anymore. *** WALTER SICKERT (…& the Army of Broken Toys): When I was five I was obsessed with magic potions and was convinced they where hidden under the kitchen sink. So I waited for the right moment when no one was watching, got on my knees and perused the selection. There was Ajax and Drano but those containers were ugly so I looked on and there it was, a beautiful blue bottle with stars on it! So I drank at least half of it before I was interrupted by mother screaming, “Don’t drink bubble juice!” And all of a sudden I grew a curly moustache and the rest is history. *** MATT J (the Bynars): My best friend Kevin and I used to go outside with Super Soakers and spray bees’ nests with scalding hot water. I would never do that now because I found out the hard way that I’m allergic to bees. Now I have an EpiPen. *** TIM MUNGENAST (Tim Mungenast & His Preexisting Conditions): When I was a kid, my folks would go visit their parents in St. Louis each summer. While we were in St. Lou, Dad would drive me and my sibs to the Museum of Transportation to see all the old trains. This was a huge, huge thrill for me, in spite of the omnipresent yellowjackets and dangly-legged wasps plaguing the area. They had gigantic steam locomotives, first-generation diesels (think “Silver Streak”), and weird-ass old electrics. That’s one thing that Dad and I totally had in common: we were complete railroad fanatics. *** PETER MOORE (Count Zero): Every July from when I was 11 to 15, my father took me and my older brother backpacking deep in the Wyoming wilderness. We would hike across mountains and streams for a week with ghastly freeze-dried meals, mosquito repellent, a tent to protect us from the rain and the coyotes, rocks for toilet stools, iceberg runoff for showers, and no contact whatsoever with the outside world. I would love to do it again someday. *** C. MOON MULLINS (Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra/ Damned Dirty Ape): When I was young, I was a denizen of the underground hacker frontier, a specialist of telephones. Corporate transparency and personal freedom and privacy were my childhood concerns, and in their pursuit, I became rather well known amongst both the electronic underground and a handful of federal agencies. In the process of alerting the general public to the threats against their personal privacy (including discovery, characterization, and reporting on the REMOB device), I ran afoul of a number of federal statutes. Now, being of a prosecutable age, and having found other ways to pursue my ethic, I no longer phreak. *** DARRON BURKE (Makeshift Studio/ Vac-ume-pakt Records): I used to think I was a stunt guy and I would do stuff for “training.” Somewhere in New Hampshire there’s a roll of film my friend Jeff shot. In the “movie” I’m falling off a cliff and tumbling down a hill to the Baker River. I just pitched myself over the edge like a rag doll. I figured going limp would be the thing that made it so no bones got broke... I hit the sandy bank and heard some crunching. I still don’t know what it was. *** OEDIPUS (rock bon vivant): Bumper Drag. When the roads were covered with snow, we would duck behind a car at a stop sign, grab a hold of the bumper and have the car pull us down the street as we skated low and bold on our feet. *** DAVE TREE (Superpower/ Drug War): I wouldn’t shoot fireworks at the police station. Lolita: Dave, I have to tell you that I loved you hosting the Noise’s Let’s Roast Des party! You were perfect for the part. I guess shooting fireworks at police stations is a prerequisite for hosting a roast.

ALL GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER

Rita: While Lolita chums it up with Dave, I’ll let you know where we are to meet in the coming month. Don’t forget to bring some friends, unless you don’t have any, and just want to meet Lolita and me. Here’s where we’ll be. BARRENCE WHITFIELD brings craze to Johnny D’s on Saturday, 6/6. *** On Sunday, 6/7, NUDA VERITAS plays Slainte in Portland, ME. *** Dance with MAMBO BEAT CLUB at Zuzu on Thursday, 6/11. *** GARY SHANE & THE DETOUR reunite at the Cantab on Saturday, 6/13. *** Same night for the Songs for Sally CD compilation party at Sally O’Brien’s. *** The Paul Green School of Rock presents A Tribute to the Rolling Stones in two all-ages afternoon (1-3pm) shows on Saturday, 6/13 and Sunday, 6/14 at the Regent Theatre in Arlington. *** On Sunday night, 6/14, QUIXOTE releases their CD at the Middle East. *** URBAN CARAVAN follows up their highly successful John Lennon night with a tribute to Paul McCartney on the Beatle’s birthday, Thursday, 6/18 at the Clear Conscience Cafe. *** MY OWN WORST ENEMY returns to the stage of the Cantab on Friday, 6/19. *** THE BLACKJACKS dare to reunite for two nights at T.T.’s on Friday, 6/19, and Saturday, 6/20. *** Also on Saturday, 6/20, is ME AND JOAN COLLINS at Great Scott. *** THE GOOD NORTH reunites on Saturday, 6/27 at the Middle East Downstairs and they’re baring a new EP. *** Our favorite folk singer, THEA HOPKINS, is at Johnny D’s on Tuesday, 6/30. *** Lolita: Now don’t forget to visit theNoise-Boston.com for more on local music, or hang out on the Noise Board for some modern Internet entertainment. Or if you’re into reality, hope to bump into you at a show. Rita: I’ll meet you at the front of the stage. Lolita: And I’ll be backstage.

Rita: Springtime in New England—I love it. Lolita: Yeah, there’s always something to complain about. Rita: The April showers have brought May flowers. Lolita: Enough rain already. I can’t stand looking like a rat when I enter a party. Rita: Yeah, but when you dry off you probably blossom like a flower. Lolita: Then I would have to be a Venus flytrap because I’m ready to bite someone’s head off. Rita: Since you’re in such a good mood, why don’t you go ask our favorite rockers what they know about flowers. Lolita: Well, I know that you grow them and that they are good for sticking into the barrel of a gun.

FLOWER POWER

Rita: Look there’s Willie. Go ask him what he knows about flowers. Is he eating a newspaper? Lolita: Maybe he’s just digesting the news. WILLIE ALEXANDER (Willie Alexander): I love flowers especially fleur de mal. Once in 1977 on stage at CBGB I ate some flowers that were presented to me… or was it a newspaper? *** PATRICK YERBY (YerbY): Flowers are basically sex organs. So if a girl accepts flowers from you, there’s a good chance she will let you violate her. *** NAT FREEDBERG (Satanics): If you throw ’em on a coffin and cover ’em up with dirt, they don’t come up no more. *** JAMES HOULAHAN (Dogs on Television): I know that they tend to die and end up in famous rock songs. *** CHERYL WANNER (Dreamchild): Bien sûr! As only the truly deranged can tell, I know full well that Sleeping Flowers, Severed, Scream of Slaughter! Also, here’s rue for you ... but you can wear yours with a difference. *** HENRY SANTORO (WFNX): I know a lot about flowers: In Newton, there’s a Rosenbloom on every corner. And doesn’t everyone know how to plant two-lips? *** KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold): Well, on our last European tour, I met a girl that went by the name of “Rose”; a nickname inspired by the massive vine of roses tattooed across her back. She claimed to be Hank III’s guitarist’s “Belgium wife” but had no issue about showing anyone who was inclined to look, and even touch, her newly installed fake boobs. *** JON MACEY (Fox Pass/ Urban Caravan): I do understand that flowers are symbolic of a life process: birth, growth, fulfillment, and death. And then it starts over and again forever. They are under the ground in the coldest winter day. We don’t really have to wait for the flowers, they are going to come and we know it. Wish other things were that certain and comforting. Flowers is also the title of an excellent (American only) mid-’60s Stones LP. *** A.J. WACHTEL (Boston Gets a Grip): I was voted “most likely to de-flower” at the Jonathan Dayton Regional High School but it always confused me because I HATED gardening. More recently, disgraced Rep. Chuck Turner from Roxbury once commented to me that I was “da prince of de flower” when we munched hot dogs at Simcos on the hill in Mattapan. I was never afraid of being the only white guy at Simcos because as Chuck fondly remarked to me often: “the only reason you ain’t shot is because everyone figures you’re either muy loco or you’re a musician.” *** SAMMY MIAMI (Houndstone): Roses are red, violets are blue, but nothing compares to the May Day dew! I get up at the crack of dawn every May 1st and roll around in it, it’s magic! Also, it’ll most likely be my favorite outdoor activity so far this year. Go ahead, call me crazy. *** MICHAEL BLOOM (Tim Mungenast & his Pre-Existing Conditions/ Sgt. Maxwell’s Peace Chorus): I know that you can keep cut flowers from wilting a little longer by adding some Sprite to the water. *** KEITH NELSON (Clatter Clatter): They’re sex coupons. Lolita: But how much of a coupon discount should I be giving?

NEWS

Rita: While Lolita tries to figure out the coupon value of flowers, I’ll dredge up some rock news. CARL BIANCUCCI (Classic Ruins) recorded with his US/UK band the Slumlords in Brighton, England. The session was produced and features an appearance by x-Damned guitarist BRIAN JAMES. Evidence of this recording session will be made to the public this summer in a 13-song LP on the Devil’s Jukebox label. *** SGT. MAXWELL’S PEACE CHORUS’ “End War Now” won Best Protest Song, Best Peace Anthem, and Best Song by a Collective Group of Musicians from a City (Boston) in Musea Zine. *** Activist/songwriters SHANNON MURRAY and EVAN GREER toured Florida biking (!) over 1,300 miles, stopping in over 20 towns along the way to offer interactive workshops and performances on topics like climate change, feminism, racial and economic justice, and sustainability. *** ERIC WALSH (Chillhouse Studios) recorded STEVEN TYLER (Aerosmith) with the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. *** The award winning Shooting Beauty film was scored by ERIC SCHMIDER and FAITH SOLOWAY and was featured at the Boston Independent Film Fest in April. *** Quiet Desperation (possible TV show) is the story of struggling musicians in the greater Boston area that follows the adventures of ROBBY ROADSTEAMER, TOM DUSTIN, MEHRAN, RENALDO (a.k.a. Chris Coxen) and SHAUN BEDGOOD. *** MATT FARLEY (Moes Haven) shot the film Monsters, Marriage & Murder in Manchvegas that will show at the West Newton Cinema on Sunday, 5/31, at 6:00pm. *** CALLING AVIV won the 15th annual WBCN/Berklee College of Music Battle of the High School Bands. *** Topshelf Records signed the Connecticut-based MY HEART TO JOY and will release bands debut CD, Seasons In Verse, nationally on 7/30. *** AMANDA “Fucking” PALMER (as she now refers to herself) is performing in With the Needle that Sings in Her Heart, an original play, at Lexington High School. Performances are 5/7 to 5/9 (doors at 7:30) at the LHS Theater. Rita: Lolita, maybe you should ask Amanda how much of a discount she gives for flowers. Lolita: I hear she gives very good flowers.

MUMS THE WORD

Rita: I think it would be a good idea to return to some normal PG conversation. You do know that Mother’s Day is May 10—so let’s ask a question about the female who was responsible for bringing us into the world. Lolita: I’m going to ask people what song epitomizes their mom. DAMIAN DAVID (4”Stud): No! “Color Me Badd” did NOT just instantly come to mind and either did “Air Supply”! Those would be John Brady’s moms’ songs. The song that best epitomizes my mom would be “Moon River” by Johnny Mercer. She simply watched me drift to find my way ever since I was young... and she loved that George Peppard guy before he worked with Mr. T. Plus it was the mom/son dance at my wedding. Every year I take the drive back to where I grew up to have lunch with her on Mother’s Day. This year I’ll bring her a copy of the Noise. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! *** SIMON RITT (the Darlings): “I Wish I Was Your Mother” by Mott the Hoople. *** SLIMEDOG (the Noise): My mother, whose birthday is May 9, if a pretty tough cookie—so I’ll go with “Tough Enough” by the Faboulous Thunderbirds. *** MARYA MCLAUGHLIN (Slow Century): For me, the song that has always been my mom’s is “The Circle Game” by Joni Mitchell. Growing up she definitely had a huge impact of my involvement in music and the arts, and Joni Mitchell was a staple within the household. This song symbolizes growth through the passage of time, and she said it always reminds her of my brother and me. Now, when I hear it, I think of her. *** WILL DAILEY (Will Dailey): “Maggie May” by Bob Dylan. *** DUNCAN WILDER JOHNSON (Destruct-o-thon): Hey Jude. My mom’s name is Jude. *** FRANCIS DIMENNO (Wrong Hero/the Noise): My mom used to walk around the house singing “I (Who Have Nothing),” in the version made popular by Terry Knight & the Pack (#46 in 1966)—practically the last gasp of the prestigious Cameo-Parkway label. *** LIZ BORDEN (Liz Borden Band): I am not sure there is one song. There are so many. When I was a kid in NY my mother hung out with musicians. It was great. You never knew who would show up. If I had to pick one, it would be Janis Joplin’s version of “Piece of my Heart.” She loved Janis and has always lived with her heart leading the way. Not always with the best results. *** JOE COUGHLIN (the Noise): It’s not about my mom, or even moms in general, but Mott the Hoople’s “I Wish I Was Your Mother” is a heartbreaker, you’ll get the connection if you hear it. Otherwise, Sinead O’Connor’s “This Is To Mother You” would probably qualify. Unfortunately, so would the Stones’ “Mother’s Little Helper.” And Queen’s “Tie Your Mother Down.” She was into that stuff (okay, not really). *** SELDAWG (Onebigmess): “One Bourbon, One Scotch, and One Beer.” Lolita: I guess that would explain your strange name—your mom must have slurred some meaningless sound to the doctor at your birth. She was probably trying to say “Sheldon.” No wonder your band name is ONEBIGMESS. You should get some therapy that will take you back to your birth and straighten everything out. The new name of your band could be NEATASAWHISTLE featuring SHELDON PROPERTON.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Rita: Lolita is great at giving advice when it doesn’t have to do with her screwed up life. Lolita: It’s always harder to see the forest before the trees when it’s in your own backyard. Especially when there’s a brick wall outside your window. Rita: I think we’re supposed to be talking about musical chairs. Lolita: But it’s hard to play that game around a park bench when there’s someone covered in newspaper sleeping on it. Rita: Try buying the bench from them next time. Now without any more bull turds, we bring you the news of local musicians doing their dance to arrange their lives in the best situation for success in the music business. ELLIE VEE and JOE WIZDA (x-the Charms) now play in JEDDO STARS. *** TROY SCHOELLER of Horror Business has a new band is called RAZORS IN THE NIGHT. *** THE CELLO CHIX have found their drummer dude in GEORGE NICKSON. *** KRISTINA JOHNSON played her final gig with HO-AG. She’s headed off to school, making her the fourth HO-AG member lost to higher education. *** They’ve been around for a few months but we’ve yet to mention them—the METAL & GLASS ENSEMBLE with our old friend MATT SAMOLIS on flute, and eight other musicians, including two who just play glass. *** KATHY HAZE has taken over the lead singing chores in JADED. *** NATE ROGERS and MIKE MIRABELLA (x-Scamper/Brendan Boogie Band) are launching a new pop project called the Future Everybody. Lolita: Wow, can everyone be in that band? Rita: They’d probably let you shake your maracas if you bring them flowers.

OUTSIDERS

Lolita: Well then, I better go pick some flowers. I’d actually do anything to get away from sitting at this computer. In fact, I’ll just call in my little interesting tidbits on my iPhone. Rita: You don’t have an iPhone. Lolita: Okay, I was really planning on just using a Dixie cup on a string while I sit out in the yard. Rita: I know just being outside is a real pleasure. Lolita: While I’m out there, I’ll ask every musician that walks by, what the favorite thing you’ve done outside so far this year. Rita: Excellent. Make sure you turn the volume up on your Dixie cup. LINDA VIENS (Angeline): My favorite thing I did outside this year so far was meditating under the full moon on a volcanic rock cliff high above the Caribbean Sea in Tulum, Mexico. *** MATT J (the Bynars): I went outside with my Captain Kirk uniform on, screamed “KHAAAAAN!” and went back inside to watch more Star Trek. *** TIM DINNEEN (Singuya): There’s something to be said for standing around outside with a frosty cold adult beverage in your hand while a succulent rack of ribs sizzle and pop next to a couple of burgers on the BBQ. You just can’t beat drinkin’ and grillin’. *** KAREN DeBIASSE (Girl On Top): Being outdoors in the woods or at the beach is a great way to relax and be one with nature. We bought a gorgeous black German shepherd named Bonzo a few years back, so every time he comes with us on our adventures it is my favorite thing to do outside. *** CHUCK U. ROSINA (WMBR/ WMFO): Winter in New England. You can’t make it go away, so we embraced it. My wife and I, and another couple, spent three days snow-shoeing in the backcountry of the White Mountains. We came upon frozen waterfalls, ice-covered lakes, serene and peaceful. Often we four were the only humans around, communing with nature. *** DARRON BURKE (Makeshift Studio): I rebuilt a vintage wooden Rogers snare drum and used bamboo that grows in our yard for the job. I shaped a piece and glued it in, voila! *** MICHELLE PAULHUS (Andrea Gillis Band): Spending the day on a deserted island in the Caribbean. The only inhabitant was a fat and very happy housecat. Doesn’t get any better. *** DAVID AVERY (Powderfinger Promotions): I did a lot of snowshoeing in the woods this winter. And then there was snowball baseball—a game that can be either harmless or deadly, but is rarely in the middle due to some people’s ability to make some horrendously fierce ice balls. Yes, bring on the “ball” jokes. *** MR. CURT (Mr. Curt Ensemble): It was mid-January, 7:00 am, one of those absolutely freezing days (say about three degrees!), and I was sitting in my school bus waiting for some children to arrive. The windows were completely frosted though the heat was on. I grabbed my pen and notebook and jotted down my impressions, which became my newest song, “File Under Winter.” Add some music to your day! *** GENE JOHNSTON (Dead Friends): I took my dirt bike out last week and the experience was soooo vindicating. Is it me or was this winter effin painful and long? I think it altered my brain. Firing my motocross bike up and hearing that bumblebee on steroids tone echo through the woods of Oxford, MA soothed my soul in ways I can’t even explain. The smell of pine, tons of mud, sand, trees blurring by and a beaver. Hellz Yea! *** CORIN ASHLEY (the Pills): I’m getting pretty fruity in my old age and really into staring at trees lately. My three year old and I have been taking big hikes in the woods with our bulldog and we agree that trees are just really cool. I’ve just been having a lot of pleasant early childhood associations flooding back, staring at the branches until everything goes all cosmic on us. *** SHADY (the Crushing Low/ the Noise): As much as I complain about it, heading out for a really long walk with Mrs. Shady and our pooch has been the best thing so far this year outside, now we just need to get to the beach. *** PETER MOORE (Count Zero/ Peter Moore): I was in Nevada in March. One morning we got up early and drove an hour outside of Vegas to the Valley of Fire. There’s a (far less vibrant) video example of how cool this is on petermooreworld.com where I apparently confuse the words “rocks” with “rain” and my real last name with Gabriel. And earnestness with Velveeta. *** NICOLE TAMMARO (Nicole Tammaro Photography): My favorite thing I did outside this year... so far... was rippin’ into some ass who thinks it’s okay to park his car on my private way in Somerville and walk to his work. I have not seen that car back... yet. *** CHRIS PEARSON (Ekranoplan): In February, I went skiing for the first time in almost 17 years in Stowe, Vermont. I thought I’d be all wobbly on the slopes, but it came right back to me. Vigorous alpine sports are great for chasing the winter blahs away! *** ANDERSON MAR (Dark Sky Productions/ the Paul Green School of Rock): Pedestrian-yelling. It’s considered a bonafide sport in places like Rhode Island. I’m continually amused at how many joggers will look down when you yell, “Your socks are untied!” out a car window. Lolita: Sounds like you, Anderson, and Nicole would have fun yelling at people together. We prefer that you start bringing them flowers.

ALL GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER

Rita: Here’s what’s happenin’... On Sunday afternoon (2-5pm), 5/3, just about every Boston musician will perform acoustically at Celebrating & Remembering Jeanne Connelly at T.T. the Bear’s. *** The Mark Sandman Music Project presents RICK BERLIN & the Old Stag String Quartet (featuring FABRIZIO MAZZETTA) on Saturday, 5/9 (doors at 7:30pm) at Hi-N-Dry, the Armory (191 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA). *** Same night EVERYDAY VISUALS are at Great Scott. *** CHANDLER TRAVIS PHILHARMONIC plays the Midway Cafe on Sunday, 5/10/09. *** At In a Pig’s Eye, DEREK RANDO gathers a croud on Wednesday, 5/13. *** On Friday, 5/15, Slainte in Portland, ME, holds its GoGirls Showcase with BAR SAINTS & SINNERS. *** PJ GRAY joins SOUL-LE-LU-JAH on Saturday 5/16 at Zuzu. *** HALLELJAH THE HILLS headlines at the Middle East Downstairs on Friday, 5/22. *** AL JANIK’s PLASTYCZNY SER ORKESTRA returns with the annual polka party celebrating Saint Stanislaus Day on Saturday, 5/23, at the Polish American Club (747 Cambridge Street, Cambridge). Good Polish eats included with the price of admission. *** SKY SO GREY CD Release Parties are on Saturdays, 5/23 and 5/30, at the Cantab. *** RYAN LANDRY & the Gold Dust Orphans present Willie Wanker and the Hershey Highway at Machine Nightclub (aka the Ramrod— 1254 Boylston Street). It runs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through 5/24. *** FLUTTR EFFECT swarms Johnny D’s on Friday, 5/29. *** Rita: Please buy a T-shirt from a local band this week. Lolita: Maybe they’ll bring you flowers if you do. Rita: See you in June, when many more flowers arrive!