Lolita : From the looks of it, '007 already appears to be a year of action. The Noise is taking a step into the future. The March issue of The Noise will be online-only. So on 3/1/07 look online instead of on the magazine racks. Rita : And by the spring The Noise websites will be overhauled to represent the technical state of the art. Just wait 'til our readers can respond to reviews right on the site. Lolita : But we're getting ahead of ourselves. This issue (February 2007) gushes about the Boston music scene. We've got the 2006 poll results, The Noise writers's Top Ten lists for 2006, and Rita and I will focus on the best who, what, and where of the Boston music scene. Rita : To show you what we mean, Lolita is going to ask our first Question of the Month—“Who is your favorite Boston musician?” CORIN ASHLEY (Corin Ashley): I have a lot of favorites, but Russell Chudnowski is undoubtedly the finest guitar player in town. I'm not actually one for guitar heroes, but he's mine. His playing is so tasteful and exciting—it always has the vibe of someone with immense skill just winging it and skating by with ease. Plus, he likes my voice, so I'm naturally inclined to think he has great taste. *** WILLIE ALEXANDER (… & the Boom Boom Band): David Minehan is my answer. If ya gotta ask why… oh what did Fats Waller say? *** KEN CMAR (Wonderdrug Records): Bill Damon (vocalist for Toxic Narcotic/Mouth Sewn Shut). Bill rules. Not only has he fronted Toxic Narcotic for the past 15-plus years, he somehow manages to also sing for Mouth Sewn Shut and run his record label, Rodent Popsicle records—which puts out about 10 releases a year. Bill's got a very distinctive vocal style and he's a great lyricist as well. One listen to the classic Toxic song “Asshole” and you'll know what I mean! *** MONIQUE ORTIZ (A.K.A.C.O.D.): My favorite Boston musician is drummer Jerome Deupree... hands down. I've never played with anyone that is so versatile, dynamic, fun to play with, and can retell a story a hundred times without changing a single detail. He's not only one of the best drummers in Boston , but probably the world... and did I mention he's just a damn nice guy? *** JOEY BOY (Red Invasion): Chaz Mathews, solo artist and former singer/ guitarist for The Dimestore Halos. This guy has been writing some of the best punk/ powerpop/ rock 'n' roll songs in Boston for the past 10 years. There are too many should-be anthems to list in The Halos catalog and his solo album (despite the lack of a backing band) is filled with gems. The Halos, in my humble opinion, is the most under-rated Boston punk band from the entire '90s/ early '00s. They didn't deal with the scene well, but the songs were always top notch. Chaz is still writing music and I hope he never stops. *** TIM CASEY (Low Budget Records): Phil Kaplan—for “That's Why We Fight” and “Everybody Lies,” from the upcoming Live at the Midway DVD. *** COREY BUCKINGHAM ( Rock City Guitars/ Topheavy): Gino Caira is one of the best rock guitarists to ever play in Boston . He has the charisma as a frontman vocalist/ guitarist that most of us will never have. His live performances always seem effortless. His newest album, G.C. Sinner, showcases his amazing playing, vocals, taste, and style. A truly underrated member of the Boston rock scene! *** NICK BLAKEY (The In Out): There was this schizophrenic and semi-homeless guy Rick who played the most incredible free jazz on saxophone down on Huntington Avenue near the YMCA and in Harvard Square in the early 1990s. He got his sax stolen, so he switched to trumpet. Then he got his teeth kicked in, so he started to play blues harp. One of the few times I spoke with him, he told me he was really into the Dave Clark Five. I haven't seen him around since the late '90s, and sadly I don't think he ever recorded anything, but he inspired me greatly. *** NANCY NEON ( The Noise ): Jeff Conolly has been my fave since seeing DMZ in 1976. Hearing him play in 2000 inspired me to move to Boston , hoping to work with him. His version of “I Confess” inspired me anew—“August is the time to start a Lyres residency!” The slow version of “She Pays The Rent” on Some Lyres displays Conolly's soulful vocals. While On Fyre is my all time fave album, some of Conolly's most energized playing and singing is on The Early Years. Because his voice and Vox organ have rocked exponentially harder in recent months, performance is where Conolly truly rules. *** MR. CURT (Mr. Curt Ensemble): It would too unfair to list a singular fave person because I totally believe in the totality and diversity offered by this fine city through the past four decades, which I have been privy to. But I will offer Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, as a symbol of all that was and could be. Their first album is pure classic and a grand template for all that followed. Plus, as a bonus, he's still creating music. Bravo! *** MIKE RIVARD (Club d'Elf): Mark Sandman—even though he's been dead for seven years, I still feel Mark's influence, and sadly, I don't think that anyone has come along to fill his shoes since his passing. He was such an incredible force and had such a singular vision, as well as the skills of a renaissance man with which to bring the vision into reality. He heard a sound in his head, and invented instruments with which to make that sound come to life, like other mavericks before him had done, such as Harry Partch. And he schooled a whole generation of musicians in his sometimes vivid, sometimes noirish approach, which was minimal but detailed and rich. The fullest realization of his aesthetic was the final Morphine album, The Night. Check it out if you have not already. Lolita : In fact, any Morphine album is worth checking out.