Issue #318 - Feb '12

THE WONDERFUL SUMMER OF 2011

Lolita: I’ve loved the summer in Gloucester. How ’bout you, John, tell me about a highlight of your summer. JOHN POWHIDA (John Powhida International Airport): Swimming with my brother at Marconi Beach Post opening for Urge Overkill at the Beachcomber. *** RUBY BIRD (Bird Mancini): A definite summer highlight has been playing in Gloucester at the “Night on the Neck” monthly summer series on Rocky Neck. Ejay at Khan Studio was a fantastic hostess, and we really enjoyed meeting all the artists, writers, musicians, vacationers, and summer strollers from the Gloucester area. We did it twice and had fantastic weather both times. How lucky is that?! For anyone who loves art, Rocky Neck should be a favorite destination. Check out Khan Studio on Madfish Wharf! *** IAN ADAMS (Lucky Dragon/ solo): While working on the Adam Sandler movie down on the Cape, I got to witness Adam Sandler, James Kahn, and Vanilla Ice (yes, Vanilla Ice!) throwing around a football between takes. Then Vanilla picked up an acoustic guitar and sang a Pearl Jam song to an elderly actress, and some extras. I kid you not. *** SARAH BLACKER (Sarah Blacker): There have been so many thus far, but playing the Naukabout Festival on Saturday, August 6th was definitely one of the most beautiful days of my life. Gorgeous weather, an amazing crowd, and a perfect line up with Will Dailey, Ryan Montbleau, Zack Deputy, Jake Hill, and more. It’s always been a dream of mine to play the festival circuit, and when Jeff Conley invited me to perform at this year’s event, it was a dream-come-true for me. What a blast. There was even a burrito man. *** KIER BYRNES (Three Day Threshold): This summer, my band has been playing more shows outside of New England than in New England, so what I’m really looking forward to is coming back home and playing the Massachusetts Brewers Guild’s Summer Fest on September 2. With over 80 beers to sample, it’s going to be a hell of a party. *** BRIDGET MURPHY (Boston Blacklisted): One of the highlights of my summer is knowing that my Little Billy had an awesome time at camp. This has been his third year at overnight camp and he really digs it. Being a parent like so many of us are, it’s always a comfort and joy knowing that your kid is happy and well! *** BONNIE BARRISH (Bonnie & Nancy’s Open Mike): The highlights of the summer are when I get a chance to play my music, as a soloist, and with Nancy. *** MUNK CIANO (the Radio Says): Discovering country music. It’s one of the genres I bristled against my entire musical life. I got turned on to Brad Paisley’s instrumental album, Play, and the musicianship just blew my doors off. I’ve been fully immersed in country music all summer long and haven’t been excited about a new type of music since I was a kid. Great guitar playing is alive and well and living in Nashville. Lolita: We obviously know that because RICH GILBERT, winner of Boston’s Most Impressive Guitarist seven years in a row, moved down to Nashville a few years ago.

SOUND NEWS

Rita: Regular readers may wonder where has SLIMEDOG gone. Well, he’s started his own new music website with ANDY BANG that promotes local hardcore, punk, and metal music. Go to thrashnbang.com and say hi to JIM SLIMEY. *** DROPKICK MURPHYS held their First Annual Rotten Tomato Karaoke Party, a fundraiser for the Claddagh Fund, a non-profit that supports children, veterans, and alcohol and drug recovery charities. At the party, Red Sox closer JONATHAN PAPPLEBON hit bassist KEN CASEY right in the head with a big old tomato. It made for great TV news viewing. *** ASA BREBNER became the dad of twins on 7/25/11. Congratulations to the new poppa. *** ROCKIN’ BOB’S GUITARS (31 Holland St., Davis Sq., Somerville, MA) is now celebrating its 30th year in existence. *** PHIL KAPLAN was seen playing a guitar he put together based on Indian treatment of sound. The fretless 12-string neck employs four single strings on the bottom end (the melody strings) and on top the two strings are doubled and used as sympathetic stings to boost the harmonic nature of the melodies. *** X-Noise writer LENNY SCOLETTA is working on documenting the ’77-’81 Boston garage scene. If you’ve got any videos you’d like to supply him with, call 781-391-0904. *** SHAYSH and DANIEL PERRY have started a Facebook video blog, Big Old Big One, that features artists playing acoustic “off stage shows” in locations of their choosing. *** Crash Safely is a two night benefit for Bike MS at Church on Friday 9/23 and Saturday 9/24. The benefit is organized by AMANDA NICHOLS and will benefit the Bike MS team of PETE HAYES (drummer of the Figgs. Both Amanda and Pete were diagnosed with MS in 2008. *** DINOSAUR JR. is re-releasing its first three albums on vinyl in October. *** Freak motor accident sidelined CUBAN HEELS guitarist, JJ RASSLER. Long-term prognosis is hopeful. *** Song alert—in the future you will hear “Epic Hello” by THE BANDIT KINGS on the radio and say to yourself, what a great song. *** Berklee College of Music and Lollapalooza announced the founding of the Berklee Lollapalooza Endowed Scholarship at the 20th Anniversary of Lollapalooza in Chicago. The four-year, full tuition scholarship will be awarded annually to a talented musician in financial need and is being endowed by Goldman Sachs Gives, a donor-advised fund. *** School of Rock Boston has partnered with the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) on its third annual SchoolJam USA teen battle of the bands competition. If you’re in a teen band or know of one, look up the event online. *** To enter the 2011 International Songwriting Competition and win lots of cash and prizes, Google their name and have your song(s) judges by TOM WAITS, TORI AMOS, OZZY OSBOURNE and more. Lolita: I know many who could win this multi-category contest.

CONTEST WINNER

Lolita: I’m not sure which syllable to emphasize in the heading of this paragraph, so are we contesting the winner? Or announcing the winner? Rita: You’re announcing. Lolita: Thank you. DEBORAH GALAGHER won last month’s prize question about where the belt sander races used to take place in JP (answer: Kenyon Woodworking). She won a banner for a week on our popular music web sites, thenoise-boston.com and thenoiseboard.com. This issue’s contest question: what Boston-based band employed three drummers who set up in front of two members on guitar, one on bass, and the final player in the back on the largest percussion setup I’ve ever seen? Send your answer to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Three winners will be drawn at random.

THE OTHER SIDE OF GOOD VIBES

Rita: Okay, we tried our best to keep the good vibes rolling but the natural yin/yang in us forced us to deal with some reality. Lolita: Okay, let it out—tell us what you’re pissed off about at the moment? PETER RINNING (QRST’s): Right now, today, I’m pissed about when people do not show up for work when they are supposed to, and do not even call in. I tried calling them on their two cell phones and left a message on their Facebook page and got NO reply! This type of attitude puts managers and places of business in a lurch. Whatever happened to the hard working, get ahead, type of person? Very few left. That is what I am pissed off about today. Tomorrow—maybe nothing. *** SAMMY MIAMI (The Welch Boys/ For the Worse/ Britt Lightning Band): I’m pissed off at the Boston Phoenix! An employee was trying to cover her cubicle with Boston band stickers (past and present). It took me about a month to do, but I ended up gathering four decades worth of Boston rock band stickers for her. I sent the package in only to find out she had been fired. When I spoke to the staff, they told me that they had received the package but didn’t know what happened to it. Poor gal was fired, didn’t get her stickers, and they didn’t send the package back to me. Shame on them! *** ROGER CLARK MILLER (Mission of Burma/ The Alloy Orchestra/ Sproton Layer): The ungodly stupidity of Americans to even consider that the Tea Party has any real ideas at all, or that they are interested in even the tiniest portion of well-being for anyone else other than their pitiful, greedy, ignoramus selves. *** BRAD BYRD (Brad Byrd): At the moment, and sadly more often than not, I’m pissed off about the overall lack of empathy in America for one another. It appears as if we live in a very self-serving society that is largely concerned with “what’s in it for me?” and not “what’s in it for each other.” We see it from the top down, from government to Main Street—everyone pointing fingers. I realize there are complex issues in the world, but expressing kindness, love, and empathy for others is something we must all start to do in order for things to recover. *** CORIN ASHLEY (… & his Happy Band): I take medication that turns “pissed off” to bemused, but I still find myself quite edgy when pondering the path of polemic self-destruction that has replaced meaningful discourse in politics. This is our country that’s being dragged down the tubes by extremist nudniks on both sides of the political spectrum. I try really hard to ignore them and hope they’ll go away, but it seems to be just getting ri-goddamn-diculous out there. Rita: Corin, we couldn’t agree with you more. And all we see it leading to is a situation similar to the riots in England. Give it more time to fester and build and you’ll have a full out revolution between a corporate-run government and the oppressed people. Any bets on what year the revolution will take place?

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Lolita: While the revolution hits the streets there will continue to be musicians moving from band to band, project to project. And don’t forget that the revolution will be televised, but with a spin that will make anyone acting out against our corporate-sponsored government look like they are out of their minds or just basic criminals. So plan your method of revolution accordingly. Now on to the constant re-scrambling of musicians. The band ENDATION includes MATT GRABER (Sarah RabDAU & the Self-Employed Assassins/ Mascara) and ANTHONY “ANTS” CONLEY (Faux Ox). *** RYAN LEE CROSBY featured NICK WARD and ELIO DeLUCA (Hallelujah the Hills) on bass and Rhodes, plus drummer KEVIN MICKA (Animal Hospital) on his latest release, Summer’s Come. *** THE GROWNUP NOISE is losing their cellist KATIE FRANICH. She’s moving to Chicago and the band will be looking to replace her. *** SARAH RABDAU, VALERIE THOMPSON, and VESSELA STOYANOVA have a new side project called FOOLISH IDA. All of their songs are inspired by the book Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak. *** In issue #312 we reported that RAYPISSED left VINTAGE FLESH, but we got it wrong. He’s still the band’s lead singer. REVEREND JOHN HEX left the band. *** Lowell’s LOS WUNDER TWINS are back in the saddle after some extended time off. *** JULIE TWO SHOES (this month’s Noise Big Shot) is now thumpin’ the bass with CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. *** LUCKY DRAGON features IAN ADAMS (Rock City Crimwave) on guitar and vocals, JOHN GILDERSON (Slim Jim & the Mad Cows/ Ghost of Tony Gold) on drums, and ISABEL RILEY (Vera-Go-Go) on bass. Rita: It’s good to see some old faces resurfacing. Once you’ve got that performance bug, it’s hard to shut it off.

CALORIES ADDING UP?

Lolita: I know I weigh myself everyday. I don’t eat fatty foods, salty foods, or too much sugar. I’m still trim and attracting men, even when I’d rather not. One thing I am totally hooked on is the fat-free frozen yogurt at Café Bishco in (51 Main Street, Gloucester). I have no intentions of stopping my daily intake—hey—it’s fat-free. But I really want to know what you wish you could stop eating. TIM MUNGENAST (Tim Mungenast & His Preexisting Conditions): I wish I could stop eating black cheese. It’s not just black on the rind, friends, it’s black all the way through. And it’s mildly radioactive, as it’s made from the milk of Martian goats. Between the high price tag, the fat, and the fact that it’s irradiating my insides, I just gotta break the habit—I think. Lolita: Martian goats? I didn’t know we were getting deliveries from Mars. The shipping costs must make the cheese ridiculously expensive. *** DJ MÄTTHEW GRIFFIN (the Noise): I wish I could stop eating sugars and most carbohydrates. From all the years of good living I found myself as a type two diabetic and I also have a severe phobia of needles. My blood sugar levels tested at 10.4, which makes me close to having to inject insulin. I pretty much have slowed down what I have been eating and am eating better. People have suffered greatly from this disease and it’s a path I would rather not go down. I am very lucky to have the loving support from my boyfriend, Bunch. *** CARL BIANCUCCI (Classic Ruins): Humble pie! Lolita: I know how embarrassing it can be to eat humble pie, but at least there are zero calories. *** KENNETH GEORGE SCALES (Adventure Set): I wish I could stop eating ice cream. Sooooo yummy in the summertime—but sooooooo fattening. Lolita: Ken, you really have to switch to the fat-free frozen yogurt at Café Bishco in Gloucester. It’s better than fatty ice cream—I swear. And yes, it’s worth the drive from whereever you are in New England.

ALL GOIN’ OUT TOGETHER

Rita: Before we all go out to join the revolution, let’s go out and have some fun. Here’s where we’ll be: MARINA EVANS delights all at the Dog Bar in Gloucester, MA on Thursday, 9/1.THE INCREDIBLE CASUALS play closing night at the Wellfleet (MA) Beachcomber on Sunday, 9/4. *** The Noise’s final 30th anniversary party is on Thursday, 9/8, and features ALLEN ESTES, CHELSEA BERRY, SALVATORE BAGLIO, JULIE DOUGHERTY and T MAX at the Annie (Gloucester, MA). *** On that same day and the following day DROPKICK MURPHYS are up at Fenway Park with their special guests the MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES. *** SARAH BLACKER performs at the House of Blues on Friday, 9/9. *** Twice on Saturday, 9/10 (10:30am and 3:30pm), ALASTAIR MOOCK celebrates the release of These Are My Friends at Club Passim (Harvard Sq., Cambridge, MA). *** Later that night BRING THE KNIFE holds their CD and vinyl release party at the Middle East (Cambridge, MA). *** STACY BUG brings the funk to Uncle Eddie’s in Salisbury, MA, on Sunday, 9/11. *** THE BANDIT KINGS play the New England Pop Fest at the Rosebud (Somerville MA) on Thursday, 9/15. *** WARREN ZANES’ CD release show is at Toad (Cambridge, MA) on Friday, 9/16. *** Same night THE CRUSHING LOW flattens the Cantab (Cambridge, MA). *** Blues legend DUKE ROBILLARD plays Johnny D’s on Saturday, 9/17. *** On Sunday, 9/18, Rockport (MA) holds its annual Peace Fest in Millbrook Meadow (noon to 5:00pm). *** That same night LOVEWHIP gyrates at the Middle East. *** KATE TAYLOR BAND plays the Me and Thee Coffeehouse in Marblehead, MA on Friday, 9/23. *** TOM DICKEY & THE DESIRES hit the Cantab (Cambridge, MA) on Saturday, 9/24. *** On that same night the Middle East hosts One Night Band (presented by Boston Band Crush). The idea of this event is to take 40 random Boston musicians, throw them together for one day to make five new temporay bands that will write three songs together, choose one cover song, and then perform them live onstage later that night. This is the third year of this event and like previous years, proceeds will benefit Zumix, an East Boston youth music program. *** The Life is good Festival (9/24 and 9/25) is at the historic and picturesque Prowse Farm at the foot of the Blue Hills in Canton, MA. It’s a three-stage event includes many mega-acts and a couple of our New England favorites—MARTIN SEXTON and JENNY DEE & THE DELINQUENTS. This one-of-a-kind festival aims to raise $1 million to benefit the Life is good Playmakers, the action arm of the Life is good Kids Foundation. *** The Honk Festival in Cambridge’s Davis Square with host band REVOLUTIONARY SNAKE ENSEMBLE starts on 9/30 and runs for four days. Lolita: Honk! You’re it! Rita: Thanks for reading the Noise and supporting local music!

RIP: RICK BLAZE of Rick Blaze & the Ballbusters (Deb Beaudry’s husband) passed away on 8/9 at the age of 52.

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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