Issue #318 - Feb '12

CLOTHES OR COSTUMES?

Rita: Now is the time to give a little thought to how you might want to dress up on Halloween. Or… you can wait to the last minute, like Lolita does, and go as a streetwalker. Lolita: Very funny, but I do more than walk. I jog sometimes. Rita: Is that what you’re going to wear on Halloween? Lolita: This? Why of course not. People might get the wrong impression. Rita: Maybe you should tell the readers what you’re wearing. Lolita: You know, I think that’s a great Question of the Month. I’ll go out and ask it right now. Oooo, there’s Michael coming out of the library looking like he’ll be leading a parade to the moon. Michael, can you describe what you’re wearing right now? MICHAEL J. EPSTEIN (the Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library/ Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling/ Darling Pet Munkee/ Space Balloons): I’ve got a thrift shop-purchased designer raver two-piece zippable jumpsuit, a multi-colored cape, a band hat, and a tie made of plastic grapes. Is it a Space Balloons music video shoot? Let’s hope so! *** ERIC SCHMIDER (Mollycoddle/ the One Smith): Why, I am wearing my Me shirt of course. The Me shirt is a line drawing of my face holding something to my eye. It’s an iShirt. The caption reads: Non é una Kartoshka. If you know what that means, I will give you a prize. *** HENRY SANTORO (WFNX): I left the house at 3:30 this morning wearing a pair of shorts and a black Blackjack’s T-shirt—the one with the skull and playing cards that says “You Can’t Kill Rock And Roll.” I’m also wearing a pair of the greatest shoes in the world. They’re called Sanuk’s and were invented by a surfer-dude in Southern California. They’re the most comfortable summer/fall shoes you’ll ever wear—I own four pairs! *** MARK MacDOUGALL (Six Star General/ 75orless Records): Day four without electricity has reduced me to blue flannel pajamas, one gray sock, one black sock, and an old bleach- damaged Mike Watt tour shirt. *** PAT WALLACE (Natalie Flanagan/ Trick Wallace Trio): Why, my Noise T-shirt of course. Still fits. Kinda. *** PETE WEISS (The Weisstronauts/ Sool/ Verdant Studio): I’m wearing my “morning coffee and email uniform”—cargo shorts, a Plough & Stars T-shirt, and, yes, furry slippers. Please avert your eyes for best results. *** NICOLE TAMMARO (Nicole Tammaro Photography): Black ’n’ red Lucero T-shirt, denim jeans, white Cons. The usual Nicole Tammaro attire. *** BRIAN O’CONNOR aka BROTHER BRI (Down & Derby): Describe what I am wearing right now? Have we met? I’m the guy in the denim overalls and white dress shirt, with the Celtic cross adorning his neck. Same as just about any other day of the week. No frills style. *** DARRON BURKE (Makeshift Studio): Right now I am wearing clean clothes. When I moved to Boston in 1985 (from Mississippi) my clothes were dirty, thrift store hand-me-downs. I wasn’t hip enough to realize that all the other folks in town were wearing new, clean clothes that they were pretending were dirty. Silly me. *** FRANCIS DIMENNO (Wrong Hero/ the Noise); Brown moccasins, dress slacks, T-shirt with a WMRLS logo. *** A.J.WACHTEL (Almost Jesus): Right now I am wearing white sneakers, white socks, white shorts, a white T-shirt, and a white Red Sox cap. If I was standing around and eating lunch at Simco’s on the hill in Mattapan, junkies would be trying to snort me because I look like a big white line of coke. *** JON MACEY (Adam & Eve/ Fox Pass): Heavy is the head that wears the crown, in this case the crown of perception. *** BRIAN KING (What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?): Currently, I’m sporting a three-piece suit I assembled from Cheerios. I carefully threaded each oat loop with mint-flavored dental floss. My wig is molded from whole wheat pasta of various shapes and sizes, spray-painted silver, and topped with a licorice hat. I’ve accessorized with peanut butter earrings and cinnamon sticky bun brooch. And of course, my boots are by John Fluevog courtesy of Rachel Jayson (Army of Toys). *** EDRIE (Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys): Gene Dante is that you again? How did you get this number? I told you not to call me on this line! Lolita: Sorry to interrupt your conversation. We’ll get you next time. Some people just can’t get off their cell phone.

NEWS

Rita: This isn’t the news you get from the big media or your smaller local papers—it’s music news—only found in the Noise. JOE CARDOZA and RENEE DUPUIS (the Bandit Kings) are tying the knot this month. *** In September KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold) also became unavailable to anyone besides MANDY MORIN. *** The nine- pound one-ounce Ezekiel Wolf Wortis was born on September 8 to SHAUN WOLF WORTIS and INGRID. *** LIZZIE BORDEN & THE AXES have their song, “Where Are You,” in the new movie Dirty Girl, which will be released Oct. 7. *** Our personal song of the month is 27’s cover of “Goldfinger”—it’s part of a Japanese release. Hear it at www.27.vg/music. *** The 2011 International Songwriting Competition deadline has been extended until 11/1/11. There have been additional judges added, and this will be the last chance to enter the competition. *** NICK MORSE (STEVE MORSE's son) has an art opening at Club Passim on 10/8/11 (3:00-5:00pm). *** Lolita: Now some people may have heard that I purposely changed JULIE TWOTIMES’ name to Julie Two Shoes in last month’s Noise’s Big Shot centerfold. Well, I’m not sayin’ either way, but I have to admit that there’s only room for one two-time gal in this town. You see I happen to know that Julie wants to be a goody two shoes but she just keeps failing. But fail as she may, she’ll never get it two times as much as I have. Julie you’re going to have to leg wrestle me for that name. I’m now officially Lolita Two Times, until someone can flip me off my back with our thighs intertwined.

RETURNS

Rita: Lolita, you’re going to wish you never said that. So, I finally landed a daytime job. I’m a manager at You Want It, We’ll Get It. I’m a little busy at the register, so Lolita can you please help out those two disgruntled customers with what they’re returning? TIM MUNGENAST (Tim Mungenast & His Preexisting Conditions): I had to return my Electro-Harmonix Freeze pedal, which takes a split-second snapshot of your playing and lets it play indefinitely, like holding a chord forever. It actually sounds kinda like a hurdy gurdy. I loved it so much I hated to send it back for a busted footswitch. I really hated sending it back the second time when it started making this “eeeeeeeeee” sound even when in bypass. Lolita: Well, we can’t give you another one because it’s obvious that you stomped on it and broke it. Next in line? *** SHAUN WOLF WORTIS (King Jubilee/ Legendary Vudu Krewe): I bought this TV and I started experiencing weird vision problems and now am reading about all the issues folks are having with LCD and LCD/LED screens. Headaches, nausea, blurry vision, light sensitivity, blurring—serious problems associated with the backlighting of all these devices. Scary shit—especially if you make your living as a designer like I do. So I’m now looking for a small plasma monitor, which apparently no one sells in this country because the market here is for big fat-ass crap. I don’t want big. We live in a small city apartment. I want small and non-headachy. Maybe I’ll have to get one shipped from the UK or Japan. Or forgo the World Series. Crazy. Lolita: You’re in the right place! I saw a simple black and white TV in the back. It’s small—I think it’s a six-inch screen—and I think it’s a plasma screen too, because I had to wash a lot of blood off it. You can just swap it for that big headache one you have—just think of how much you’ll save on all those unnecessary shipping and handling costs!

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Rita: ROB POTYLO could probably fill this section with all the different musicians he’s worked with. His latest group, ROB POTYLO & THE LONELY PLANETS, uses anybody he can get. On recordings he’s used JAMES TOWLSON (Campaign for Realtime—the only band that ever managed to get the Noise sued!) on bass, NICK D’AMICO (Roadsteamer—Robby’s former last name) on keys, and KEVIN CORZETT who’s plays in just about every band in town that employs a saxophonist. *** Drummer RAY FERNADES (Cadillac Heart) is heading to Cincinnati; a victim of the poor economy. JOE MARION (Reddy Teddy) is replacing Ray. *** MOOSE & THE WORCESTER BOYS include ED MOOSE SAVAGE (vocals/harmonica/kazoo), IRA CAPLAN (guitar), LEE CAPLAN (bass), ANDY CAPLAN (drums), and BOB FRASIER (guitar). *** THE BANDIT KINGS have had RUSS LAWTON (Trey Anastasio Band) and NELSON BRAGG (Brian Wilson Band) in the studio with them. *** Longtime Boston music vet GARY SHANE (… & the Detour) has a new band called TABASCO FIASCO. Lolita: Sounds like they’re hot! Rita: Or maybe they spatter hot sauce on their audience!

CONTEST WINNERS

Rita: Can you believe that nobody got last month’s contest question correct? Maybe we have to start making the questions easier. By the way, the answer was Concussion Ensemble—a band that had three drummers upfront and a huge percussion setup in the back. Lolita: So this month’s prize will be doubled. You can win a banner and a 1/4 page print ad in the November issue of the Noise. Here’s the question: What three towns has the Noise been based in? The first correct answer to land at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it will be the lucky winner.

WHO’S YOUNG AND TALENTED?

Lolita: Talent search time—tell me about a young performer that has impressed you lately. IAN ADAMS (Lucky Dragon/ solo): I currently keep a close eye on local musician Zepherin Adams.... Okay, so he’s my son and he just turned three, but dude, he’s showing amazing ability on guitar, drums, ukulele, and harmonica! Also his vocal interpretations of Neko Case’s “Maybe Sparrow” and the standard “Happy Birthday” are mind blowing! *** KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold): I think two of the most talented people I’ve seen take the stage are David Delaney and Mark Kilianski, the two young lads that make up the Whiskey Boys. They are both brilliant musicians who play out relentlessly and most importantly, have an extremely refined palate for bourbon. *** LINDA VIENS (Angeline/ Adam & Eve): I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but my favorite young artist right now is Lady Lamb the Beekeeper a.k.a. Aly Spaltro, who is a lyrical genius, compassionate poet, and brilliant singer who gorgeously expresses the pain, hope, and beauty of our ever human, turbulent times. *** KRIS THOMPSON (Bobb Trimble/ Concord Ballet Orchestra Players): Rachel Neveu from MMOSS totally rocks the Farfisa organ and the flute—sometimes at the same time. The band’s arrangements are great to begin with, but her playing style is far from typical, getting into some sweet, dark and mesmerizing spaces. *** DAVE WESTNER (Woolly Mammoth Sound): Jimmy Ryan. I’ve been hearing Jimmy a few years at this point and of course I’ve known all along what a badass he is on the mandolin. But lately, I’ve been noticing just how incredibly deep his playing is... he’s known for his sort of hillbilly type of thing, but he’s pulling music out of the mandolin that is more than just that… he may be soloing over a train beat I-IV-V, but he’s pulling notes and licks from Louis Armstrong to Frank Zappa, with a bit of punk rock thrown in just for good measure. I didn’t even mention how great his tunes are. *** RICK BERLIN (the Nickel & Dime Band): Molly Pope. Her band is Malicious Intent. She’s a 15 -years-old guitar phenom, great voice, great songwriter. She runs her band like a champ. Takes the stage (most recently at the JP Music Festival) with ease, poise, and command. She comes from an entire family of musicians. This girl’s unstoppable. *** KAREN DeBIASSE (Girl on Top): I have the cutest little four-year-old student named Madison. She’s having fun with drums, guitar, piano, singing, writing songs, harmonica, percussion instruments, and the computer. She does the sweetest little thing—brings me homemade cookies and presents. I just let her be herself and she is with her own unique style. *** KEN FIELD (Revolutionary Snake Ensemble/ Birdsongs of the Mesozoic): I’ve had a few opps to sit in with Hayley Jane & the Primates, and they have definitely got it going on. Great vocals, songs, stage presence, musicianship, and solid grooves. I think and hope that they will do well. *** SAMMY MIAMI (the Welch Boys/ For the Worse/ Britt Lightning Band): Britt Lightning has really come into her own with her latest efforts. A lot of folks have her pegged as an ’80s metal, shredder guitarist, but what they don’t realize is under the surface she’s a much more complex and versatile player. I had the privilege of playing drums on Britt’s forthcoming solo EP, and I must say, you’ll be surprised by the depth of her musical knowledge and songwriting skills. You can judge a book by its cover, but you won’t understand it until you read it. Britt’s onto something you won’t be able to put down. *** MR. CURT (solo/MC3/Ensemble): Wes Kaplan (son of Phil Kaplan from Little Bang), whom I’ve known since he was an infant. He and his brother, Kas, were brought up in a musical homelife, exposed to influential and provocative artists as youths, and gradually became musicians themselves. Wes learned to play drums, keys, and guitar in his teens, and now fronts an incredibly prolific group, the Craters, who have released a couple of albums. His avante-pop songwriting has matured (just like his dad’s) and I truly expect further musical innovation from him. *** SLIMEDOG (thrashnbang.com): There’s a young guy who’s a co-worker of mine. He’s Fly Boi Dizzy, a rap artist, a genre I don’t know much about but I see and admire his dedication and commitment. He often works 40 hours overtime so he can buy studio- quality equipment. He reminds me of how musicians, especially young ones, in any genre, can be so self-sacrificing for their art. *** CORIN ASHLEY (Corin Ashley misses being in a band): Young is a relative term, but I have to give it up for Brian King and Oranjuly. His album from last year is great and the new stuff he’s working on sounds even better. We have written some songs together, and Brian really has great harmonic instincts, and he’s a swell cat, too. *** PAUL ROBICHEAU (the Improper Bostonian). Julia Easterlin. She’s a recent Berklee grad who layers her vocals with a looping station. She re-imagines Bjork and Pixies songs, though I most love her original “Go Straightaway,” which slowly builds a calypso-jazz choir from real-time solo snippets onstage. *** DOUG VARGAS (Pressure System): I’m blown away by the Sneaky Mister a.k.a. Judith Shimer. She’s a killer singer and badass uke player. Her recordings are a little over-produced but her live shows are amazing—catch her if you can! Lolita: Well, thank you all for your scouting tips.

ALL GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER

Rita: Guys are always asking us where we’ll be, so try these shows if you’re interested in bumping into us. THE MICHAEL J. EPSTEIN MEMORIAL LIBRARY takes over the Brighton Music Hall as part of Berklee Pulse presents Banded on Thursday, 10/6. *** On Thursday through Saturday, 10/13 - 10/15, JONATHAN RICHMAN delights the Middle East upstairs. *** Also on Saturday, 10/15, THE NEW ALIBIS reunite at Great Scott. *** THRU THE KEYHOLE BURLESQUE shows some skin as part of the No Hipsters Rock ’n’ Roll Revue at the Cantab on Thursday, 10/20. *** Same night SOUL ROBOT plays Uncle Eddie's Oceanside Tavern. *** On Saturday, 10/22, THEA HOPKINS plays the Dog Bar in Gloucester, MA (sponsored by the Noise and GimmeSound.com). *** Same night MELT releases their CD at Rosebud. *** On Friday, 10/28, COUNT ZERO brings their Halloween magic to the Magic Room in Brighton. *** Saturday, 10/29, is a big night to celebrate Halloween: BOOTY VORTEX gets Johnny D’s up and dancin’; THE LIGHTS OUT perform as Zombie Michael Jackson at Church; MICHAEL BERNIER & THE UPRISING rises up at the Middle East Downstairs (presented by HearNowLive); and THE FULL-TIME DREAMERS play AC/DC at the Midway. *** On actual Halloween, 10/31, DARLING PET MUNKEE plays the Middle East Upstairs. *** Looking ahead to November. THE BANDIT KINGS record release is at the Rhumb Line on Saturday, 11/5 (sponsored by the Noise and GimmeSound.com). *** Same night ADVENTURE SET is at the Magic Room. *** And again on 11/5, FRANC GRAHAM releases her CD, Steady, at Atwoods. *** On Friday, 11/11, MY OWN WORST ENEMY releases their new CD, Electric Like the Moon, at Precinct. ***THE NEIGHBORHOODS play Church on Saturday, 11/12, with THE BAGS opening. *** Same night DO NOT FORSAKE ME MY DARLING is part of Projektfest ’11 at the Middle East Downstairs. Lolita: We’ll be the sexiest gals in the crowd. Rita: Meet us in the back of the room.

If you'd like to subscribe to the print issue, send $22 to T Maxwell, PO Box 353, Gloucester, MA 01931.

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