ROCK NEWS

Rita: While Lolita takes a body out of her oven and wraps it around her, I’ll deliver the news you don’t get to hear on Fox. WBCN’s 29th Annual Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble preliminaries will run from April 1– April 7. The semi-finals are on Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14, and the finals are on Friday, April 20. And remember—the event is at Harpers Ferry this year. *** ROB KLEINER (Ways to Fall) correctly answered the question “What late-night TV show host would randomly burst out ‘schmock schmock’ and get a laugh?” The answer is Steve Allen. Rob wins a quarter page ad in The Noise. *** THE MOTION SICK and DAMONE were invited by Spin magazine to be a part of their Artist of the Year matchup in early February. *** Drummer SEAN D (St. Helena) cut up his left hand and needed surgery. *** Some of the biggest names in rock ’n’ roll (The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Company) have donated funds and sit on the board of Right Turn, an Arlington, MA-based non-profit organization specializing in mental health and addiction treatment for creative people. Their unwavering support has allowed Right Turn to expand its services and continue serving artists in need. For more information call 781-646-3800 or visit www.right-turn.biz. *** KIER BYRNES announced that Rodfest raised $20,000, creating a fully endowed scholarship that will help needy students. Read a review of the show here—www.thenoise-boston.com/live_reviews. *** The Verge College Music Conference invades Boston on April 19-21. Over 100 artists will perform in venues on Landsdowne Street over the three–day festival. Go to www.vergeconference.com for more info. *** The Paradise Lounge gallery is featuring Dig Art: Best Covers of 2006, a collection of The Weekly Dig cover art. The opening reception is on Thursday, March 1, and the exhibit runs through April 7. *** Thirty-two bands will compete in the 13th annual WBCN/Berklee College of Music Battle of the High School Bands on March 24, March 25, March 31, April 1, with the finals on April 14—all at Harper’s Ferry. Shows run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information and how to get your band into the event, go to www.aftermidnightmusic.com. *** EMILY GROGAN’s mom band, HRT, was on the Today show on 2/15. *** JOHNNY ANGEL (Blackjacks/ Swinging Erudites) stars as a cardboard sign-carrying homeless guy in a VW commercial. *** ANDY PRATT (of “Avenging Annie” fame) has released his autobiography, Shiver in the Night. Go to www.itsaboutmusic.com/andypratt.html and read excerpts from it. *** BEEFY/DC has a book about them out. Rita: You’re kidding, right? Lolita: Oh, it’s called AC/DC Maximum Rock & Roll (www.acdcbook.com)—it’s about the band that copies BEEFY/DC. *** JEN TRYNIN’s book, Everything I’m Cracked Up to Be, has been re-released in paperback. Check www.jentrynin.com. Lolita: I started reading the paperback version—and it’s just like the hard cover one. I was expecting it to be in hi-def or something. Rita: I read it too, for the first time, and everyone who’s part of the music scene should read this—just to learn the nasty truth about the business you’re in.