Jabba Speaks out about RI Comic Con

New England’s largest comic convention is heading to

RI ComicCon is returning for its second year at the RI Convention Center this November 2 and 3. Last year’s event drew an unexpected 22,000 attendees. “We had a great time last year,” says organizer Steve Perry. “The fan response was even greater than we had hoped. It’s enabled us to grow, too – this year we’ll be the biggest show in .” Full creature cantina band Jabba palace.

This year will feature a new crop of legendary and obscurely cultish actors and characters, reunions of Power Rangers, the Weird Science boys (no longer boys), most of the bad guys from the Karate Kid, and many more. Along with the artist alley, numerous vendors, lots of gaming, panels by the attending celebs, cosplay, costumes and chaos, one of the featured attendees will also be Jabba the Hutt. We connected with Jabba by satellite phone to ask about the upcoming event, and he shared some details exclusively with Motif.

Motif: Are you excited about this year’s Comic Con? What are you looking forward to most?

Jabba: Achuta. Oto smak tellia Jeedai scum yafulkee

Motif: That’s … interesting. I doubt you’ll have the chance to devour Mr. Jett Lucas – but it’s good to have goals.

Jabba: Gee Batman fofo koochoo holo

Motif: Yes, Adam West and Burt Ward will be there.

Jabba: Con goo. Crispo! D’emperiolo Blastoh! Giff! Bam! Zowie!

Motif: I understand you’ll be “life sized” – but I’ve seen all the movies. You come in a lot of different sizes. Which size will we be seeing?

Jabba: Huttuk inkabunga je nal hutta Motif: Yes, 12×10 feet is very impressive

Jabba: Porko, mo gootu lorda kickeeyuna dee bonkee

Motif: No, I’m pretty sure Cthulhu is still larger.

Jabba: Koochoo. [Laughs]

Motif: Really – and that’s a Motif exclusive? Not only a bounty hunter reunion, but the complete Cantina band? And a full reenactment of your palace, with music and a 17-foot-tall, 700-pound Rancor?

Jabba: Tagwa.

Motif: That’s the creature that lived in your basement, right?

Jabba: Tagwa, hees ree kyfoundo

Motif: I’m sure there will be plenty of delicious fans. And I look forward to meeting you at the event.

Jabba: Shapa-keesay ovv sleemo poy

Motif: No. I will not be wearing a gold bikini. Get over it already.

Art Seen – Artist, Anthony Tomaselli

Artist, Anthony Tomaselli is constantly at work in his studio and the Providence Art Club. Both are filled with a new vitality, energy, life and atmosphere. Twenty years at the Art Club with many new memberships and successful classes – a great old organization made new again with a new vitality and some new blood. It’s a full circle from its humble beginnings.

Tomaselli has moved to the “Fluer du lys,” the first such artist studio in America’s distant past. It’s an amazing and delicious space beaming with creamy northern light and maintained in wonderful condition. It’s part of the Providence Art Club’ s complex and added new facilities. Tomaselli proudly gave me the 50 cent tour, energized with the same boyish enthusiasm that he exuded when I met him more than 40 years ago. He turns 60 this year. Tomaselli is the real article. He’s hungry to paint constantly and oozing with creative notions about teaching, art and philosophy. In earnest, he’s a loveable character by any measure.

Twenty years ago when the old Providence Art Club did an outreach for much needed new blood when the old was waning, Tomaselli may have been one big fish that they reeled in whether they knew it or not. He wasn’t alone and I’m not trying to imply that, but Anthony is highly motivated, creative and productive, and he creates positive energy from dust. And that boyish smile is worth a lot in a world often filled with dark moments – nothing negative here.

His painting classes are popular, his work sells, and his personal style is well received. Just in the short time I was there, folks dropped in to his studio – clients, other instructors, old friends. Anthony Tomaselli is well respected in the art community and gallery scene, and all for good reasons.

He outpaced most of his peers and developed into a Rhode Island-made success story as a loving husband of 31 years, a father of two adult children, a restaurateur with three to his credit, and an accomplished painter. I once dubbed him, “The Providence Painter,” though he paints more than scenery.

Tomaselli’s most recent 60 paintings, all works in oils, are his best, and his show will be at the Providence Art Club from October 20 thru November 8 with an opening reception on Sunday, October 20 from 1 pm to 3 pm. It’s sure to be a fine opening and a successful show. The work is on an entirely evolved plateau from earlier works. The heavy techniques-painting has been replaced with bolder, more abstract structure and filled with atmosphere and ambiance. It is very artfully done, and an impressive collection of his work.

Having followed Anthony Tomaselli’s work for nearly 40 years, it brings me great joy to feature him in Motif. I hope that the readership will experience the paintings first hand and catch his upcoming show at the Providence Art Club.

Food Trek! This Weekend’s Food Tourism Conference; A conversation with host Seth Resler

Rhode Island foodies get legit at Taste Trekkers

In case you haven’t heard, Providence is home to the nation’s first food tourism conference. It starts Friday, September 20 with a kick-off cocktail reception at The Dorrance, and wraps up on Sunday, September 22 with a food truck brunch. Plus, there is a pantry full of events in between.

We had a few questions for Taste Trekkers host, Seth Resler.

Q: There seems to be quite a bit of enthusiasm surrounding Taste Trekkers and the Food Tourism Conference, so much so that people may be a bit confused thinking they are synonymous. Could you explain Taste Trekkers?

A: A taste trekker is a culinary tourist — somebody who plans his vacations around food. Culinary tourists come in many variations. It’s the person who travels to Napa Valley to try new wines, or to Italy for original pasta dishes, or down American highways in search of roadside diners. These people explore the world through food. They are genuinely interested in the source of the dishes they eat, and how those cuisines are shaped by the places that they come from.

As an organization, Taste Trekkers aims to help people discover new places through food. We want to be the starting point for vacationing foodies. Taste Trekkers really began three years ago, with a social dining group in Boston called Mystery Meet. Mystery Meet was a simple concept: flashmobs as dinner parties. What if a group of strangers got together for a meal, and then never saw each other again? It evolved into social dinners at restaurants, but nobody found out the locations until 24 hours in advance. The group attracted adventurous foodies, people who are open to trying new things and meeting new people. It took off in Boston, and I began launching Mystery Meet dinners in other cities around the country.

Then, a year ago, I launched the Find Dining Podcast, in which I interview food bloggers, chefs and food event organizers from around the country. The concept is, ”I’m a foodie and I’m coming to your city for the first time; what do I need to know?” Not just what restaurants, but what chefs? What neighborhoods? What ingredients? What dishes? What festivals?

In the course of hosting the podcast, I discovered that every city has a unique food scene. There are exciting things happening not just in New York and San Francisco and Las Vegas, but in Cleveland and St. Louis and Portland, Oregon. A lot of smaller cities have vibrant culinary cultures, and I wanted to put together an event to showcase these.

But beyond just the event, we’re launching a website that will be the starting point for food tourists looking for inspiration. When you want to go on a foodie vacation, you’ll start at TasteTrekkers.com, which will have a listing of food festivals, food tours and other unique culinary events. We want to take you beyond the obvious choices and help you discover new places to eat. This site will also be home to the Find Dining Podcast, Mystery Meet dinners, and the Taste Trekkers Conference. We’ve soft- launched the site already, and after the conference it will be our focus.

Q: Ok, now, what is the Food Tourism Conference?

A: This is the nation’s first food tourism conference. Our goal is simple: we want foodies to come and discover new dishes to eat and new places to go. My hope is that people will discover a place they don’t expect, which is why we chose a lot of these destinations for our sessions. You don’t need me to tell you that there’s great food in Paris or New Orleans, but there’s a lot of really cool things happening Memphis and Vermont and Ontario. Durham, North Carolina, is just over an hour away by plane, and it was just named the “Tastiest Town in the South” by Southern Living magazine, but I’ll bet it isn’t on the radar of many food tourists in New England. We hope to change that.

The other goal is to show off the fantastic culinary scene in Providence and Rhode Island. Like many of the other destinations featured at our conference, Providence is sometimes overlooked in favor of bigger cities. But the food scene in this city has exploded in recent years, with a fantastic crop of new restaurants popping up to complement the heritage of Federal Hill. The state has great farms and artisanal food producers and a prestigious culinary institution in Johnson and Wales University. All of this forms a rich food culinary landscape that we want to show the world.

Q: Thanks for the clarification! I think an issue for some people around here is they can’t wrap their heads around the fact that it is called a conference. There may be a perception that this coming weekend’s events are for industry people only. That’s way off base, correct?

A: Absolutely. This is an event that is open to anybody and everybody who loves food and loves travel. It is not an industry conference. We chose to call it a conference because we wanted to distinguish it from a food festival. Dave Dadekian did such a fantastic job launching the Eat Drink RI Festival this spring, and I’m such a huge of fan of what he’s done, that I didn’t think that Rhode Island needed a second food festival. Instead, we wanted to do something different. In particular, we want to showcase other culinary destinations in addition to Providence.

As with any conference, there’s an educational component to what we’re doing. This isn’t just about eating; it’s also about learning the history and the heritage of what you’re consuming. We are connecting people with their food by giving it some geographical context. So you don’t need to be in the food or travel industry to attend, but you may meet other attendees who are. This is an event for people who don’t just want to eat their food; they also want to understand it.

Q: That’s good to know. It sounds like a blast. Are any of the participants or restaurants being visited favorites of yours from your days at Brown?

A: I graduated from Brown in 1999, and the restaurant scene has definitely changed a lot since then. As a student, Al Forno, Cav and Mediterraneo were among my favorites. I returned to Providence in 2003 as the Program Director of 95.5 WBRU, and watched great places like Farmstead and Nick’s on Broadway come up. I produced events in Rhode Island after that, and was heavily involved with bartenders around the state. I worked with Frank Martucci from Twin River and the Bartenders’ Guild (he will be speaking at the conference) and Mike Lester of M.S. Walker, whose family owns The Dorrance (where we’ll host our cocktail reception). I really admire their efforts to elevate the art of mixology in the state. I left Providence in 2009, and this will be my first time back. There are so many new places that have popped up, I can’t wait to try some of them.

Q: That gives me a thought. What is one your favorite food and drink pairings?

A: I’m hoping to find a few new favorite pairing at the conference. Cesin Curi of Los Andes first introduced me to Peruvian ceviche several years ago, and he’ll be talking about what to pair with it, so I’m curious to hear what he has to say. Eleanor Leger of Eden Ice Cider will be pairing her ciders with other Vermont foods, so I’m excited to see her session. I am also a rum fan, so I can’t wait for Frank’s session with Brent Ryan of Thomas Tew on the history of New England rum, and to see if they suggest any pairings.

Q: One last thing before I let you get back to the logistics and planning… Anything else you want to tell us about this weekend?

A: I think the key is to come to this event with a sense of adventure. This is for foodies who like to discover new things, but I also think you’ll be surprised by exactly what those new things are. One of the eye-opening experiences for me was speaking with Marina Marchese of Red Bee Honey. Like most people, I thought of honey as a uniform condiment, similar to ketchup except that it comes in bottle shaped like a bear. I had no idea that in Europe, they taste honey like we taste wine. In fact, geography plays a huge role in the different flavor profiles of honey. Marina will lead a session on the terroir of honey, and I think people will be fascinated by it.

I think Danielle Brodhagen of the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance is going to surprise a lot of people who may not have given Canada much thought as a vacation destination. Her organization is among the best in the world when it comes to developing memorable and authentic culinary experiences for travelers. I think people will walk out of her session and immediately book a flight. So if you come to this conference with an open mind and a love of food, you’re going to have a great time discovering new things.

2013 tickets start at $65 and are available now at http://tastetrekkers2013.eventbrite.com.

A Revolutionary Approach to Whiskey

Sons of Liberty is changing how Rhode Islanders drink whiskey– and taking you behind the scenes

Providence has landed a spot in the top 10 Travel and Leisure “Best Craft Beer” cities in the country (but yeah, we did get beat out by Missouri; sorry everyone). With beer season upon us, everyone is in a cinnamon-sugar-rim frenzy and hard alcohol connoisseurs may justly feel left in the dust. Sure, cocktails change with the weather and pretty much any flavor vodka can and is made with a simple squirt of faux flavor into the bottle (Cotton Candy Burnett’s anyone? No? Didn’t think so), but fresh, seasonal, craft spirits are few and far between.

RI is combating this phenomenon: “We’re trying to revolutionize the way Americans drink whiskey,” began Bryan Ricard. And who better to start a revolution than the Sons of Liberty? Ricard is addressing a group of four of us on a Saturday afternoon as we begin a tour of the Sons of Liberty’s South Kingstown distillery.

I don’t drink whiskey. I find the smell overwhelming. The last time I took a shot of whiskey I instantly threw it back up (the epitome of class). I don’t actually drink any hard booze at all if it’s not in a cocktail. I’m what one might call, “a little bitch.” But here I am, standing between three whiskey enthusiasts, as I pretend that I’m not dreading the tasting to follow the tour. Ricard, the resident brewer/distiller, is clearly in love with the craft. He brings us into a surprisingly small, immaculately clean room and gets down to business, explaining the cook from step one: brewing the beer.

Yes, that’s right, whiskey comes from beer. This is where Sons of Liberty’s revolution finds its roots. Instead of using flavorless beers like most other distillers use, “Why not brew the beers we love to make a flavor of whiskey that we love?” Ricard proposed the seemingly obvious concept.

Better yet, why not go a step further and distill the drink with fresh ingredients, like they brew with beer, to produce seasonal flavors? We wound up at a bin of pumpkins, to be cooked with the fall batch. The tour continued around the room to each machine as Ricard explained, very thoroughly at that, what a regular day in the distillery was like, displaying each machine more impressive than the other.

The tour spilled out into a tasting bar where Ricard passes us off to owner, Mike Reppucci, to take in the next round – a bachelor party. Now for the part I was dreading. Reppucci poured us a taste of their original whiskey, Uprising. Stout flavors took the harsh bite and smell away upon first sip but, alas, it still finishes like a whiskey and I’m still a pansy. Reppucci knowledgeably explained each taste as we progressed – three whiskeys in total, each went down smoother. The Pumpkin Spice blend didn’t even smell like alcohol and was mellow through the finish. This, warmed with cider, would be dangerously fantastic.

Next were the vodkas – Loyal 9 – RI’s first (according to Sons of Liberty). It’s filtered 99 times, to the point that it’s odorless. Along with its original, we sampled a Dark Chocolate Vanilla Bean and a Mint Cucumber, each tasting exactly as they claim to, each with a very mellow bite.

Samplers each left with a SOL whiskey glass. After buying a bottle of Mint Cucumber Loyal 9, I noticed “Mike Reppucci” autographed down the side. When SOL expands past Mass and RI and inevitably blows up, give me a call. I’ll sell it to you for copious amounts of money.

Want to find out more about the brews? Click Here

Tours are every Half hour from noon to 4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays

1425 Kingstown Rd

South Kingstown, RI

02879 www.solspirits.com

Rhode Island 2013 Fall Theater Preview

Local professional theater and national acts will be taking the stage after a summer hiatus

2013’s fall theater season will feature a sparkling assortment of offerings for audiences at the state’s top performing arts venues.

Pawtucket’s Gamm Theatre will present a double bill of one act plays, A Number and Far Away, by Caryl Churchill, from September 12 through October 13. A Number will be directed by Judith Swift and Far Away will be directed by Tony Estrella.

A Number is a two-person play set in a near-future world in which people can be cloned. Mesmerizing and provocative, A Number tackles the very nature of human individuality through a science-fiction lens. In Far Away, genocide, environmental disaster, and everyday brutality are combined in a spellbinding fable of a society, and eventually a world, at war with itself.

“Caryl Churchill celebrates her 75th birthday just as we are opening Season 29 with this stunning double bill. For four decades, she has been at the forefront of her art form and continues to write plays for tomorrow,” Gamm’s Artistic Director Tony Estrella noted. “Far Away and A Number peek just over the horizon to see where the human race is heading – perhaps ‘careening recklessly’ would be more apt. A classic father-son drama with an unsettling bioethical twist and a parable of eco-human immolation combine for a powerful up-to-the-minute reckoning of who we are now and what we might become.”

Good People, from playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, will be presented from November 7 through December 8. Boston native and Pulitzer-winning playwright Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) explores the Hollywood version of class in America with this Tony-nominated play.

Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) kicks off their 2013-2014 season with Evita, which begins September 8 and runs through the 14th.

Eva Perón used her smarts and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. Evita tells Eva’s passionate and unforgettable true story, and features classic songs, including “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” and “High Flying, Adored.”

Once, winner of 8 2012 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, will be presented October 1 through 6. Once tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who’s about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs.

Ghost: The Musical will haunt the PPAC stage from October 22 through the 27th.

Based on the smash 1990 film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Oscar-winner Whoopi Goldberg, Ghost: The Musical is about the passionate love that exists after death.

Phantom of the Opera kicks off a national tour at PPAC from November 27 through December 7. This production features a brilliant new design by Paul Brown, costumes by the much missed Maria Björnson, a new staging by Laurence Connor – director of the recent acclaimed 25th anniversary celebration at the Royal Albert Hall – and new choreography by Scott Ambler. The production is overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh.

Trinity Repertory Company will begin their 50th Anniversary season with John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the definitive American tale of the strength of family and the human spirit set in the aftermath of the Great Depression. The Grapes of Wrath begins previews September 5 and runs until October 6.

From November 21 through December 22, Trinity Rep. will present the New England premiere of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, from playwright Christopher Durang.

“This season reflects back to us what matters most to our society,” said Trinity Rep’s Myah Shein. “It’s about class, equality and family. Representing various moments throughout our history, together they speak to where we are now.”

Ocean State Theater Company will present the epic musical Les Miserables from October 2 through the 27th.

Taking place in 19th century France, Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a lifelong struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe Valjean can change his ways.

Premiering November 6 is Lombardi, a new American play by Academy Award-winner and Steppenwolf Theatre Company member Eric Simonson. This original work brings the audience into the life and times of one of America’s most inspirational and mercurial personalities, Hall of Fame football coach, Vince Lombardi. The show runs through the 24th.

Warren’s 2nd Story Theater will begin their 2013-2014 season with the dramas Lobby Hero and Dancing at Lughnasa. Lobby Hero will run from September 12 through the 22nd, and Dancing at Lughnasa October 2nd through the 20th. 2nd Story is also doubling the number of plays produced this season and is adding a second performance space.

Artistic Director Ed Shea said, “For years, 2nd Story operated under the assumption that less is more, but it turns out more is more. When it comes to professional-quality live theater, there cannot be too much of a good thing. Not only is there a market for more, there is a need and a desire for more. With the construction of our second space, we can give audiences more comedy, more drama, more entertainment and more food for thought.”

Community Theater Fall Preview

Big things are happening in local theater this season. Check out what RI and Southeastern Mass has to offer

And let’s not forget some of the smaller, but robust and often more surprising theaters scattered around the region! There are so many, we’ve followed this article with an extensive listing of great theater you can expect this season.

Mixed Magic (MM) Theatre will present the prison drama Jesus Took the A Train, tackling morality, religion, class and race in the story of man accused of murdering a cult leader and sharing a cell with a born-again Christian. MM follows this September through October performance with Othello. This anticipated performance will star legendary local actor and Mixed Magic founder, Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, in the title role. Unlike Epic and Wilbury, Mixed Magic isn’t relocating; it’s continuing in its comfortable, versatile space at the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket. mmtri.com

After Bob (see separate article), Contemporary Theater will present Assassins, an investigation of presidential assassinations, with a score by Stephen Sondheim. Yep, you read that right: sounds like the Wakefield-based theater will continue to stretch our minds in interesting directions this year. thecontemporarytheater.com

Look for The Wilbury Group to continue to refine its use of the exciting new space at the very spacious and slightly eccentric South Side Cultural Center. Located within and behind Trinity Church on Broad St., this is where Trinity Rep started, so there are some big shoes to fill. This fall, they’re bringing Detroit to Rhode Island in the New England Premiere of this OBIE-winning, Pulitzer-nominated play set in the modern embers of a rapidly deflating American city. “From our beginning, The Wilbury Group has been about selecting and presenting audiences with the most challenging, relevant plays available,” says Artistic Director Josh Short, who predicts the ’13-’14 season will be “our most challenging yet.” thewilburygroup.org

Also exploring the lack of constraint afforded by their bountiful new space, Epic Theatre will bring theatrical experimentation to Theatre 82 at the Artists’ Exchange in Cranston’s Rolfe Square, where they are now resident. Their season begins with the black comedy A Behanding in Spokane, by Martin McDonagh, following a mysterious man’s quest for his missing hand at a run-down motel. artists- exchange.org/theatre82.html

Theatre 82 will also host productions by other companies through the fall, with Marley Bridges Theatre Company presenting Menace of the Morgue, a zombie musical set in the 1950s, throughout October, and GCOLE Productions bringing Brighton Beach Memoirs to that stage in November.

Mixed Magic, The Contemporary Theater, and Epic are all part of the new RI Theater Alliance, which will present interesting opportunities to get inter-troupe passes over the season. You can catch up with what they’re doing at facebook.com/RITAlliance

In its 13th season at a restored church in South County, Granite Theatre will present the solid classics the Mousetrap in September, followed by The Sound of Music. granitetheatre.com

The Rhode Island Shakespeare Theater has adapted Macbeth to Rhode Island, which means it’s now a mob story. How will they mix Shakespearian language with Rhode Island accents? Find out in October. Search Facebook for TRIST.

The Academy Players will be Working this September with the musical, based on the book by Studs Terkel, about how people spend most of their day. Academy follows this show with a November performance of They Chose Me, another all-ages family musical, this one about families as seen through the eyes of children. academyplayers.org

Swamp Meadow gets heavy, then lightens up with upcoming shows The Crucible, in October, and The Man Who Came to Dinner, the musical comedy by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. This community theater has been achieving some great performances up in Foster — worth the visit! swampmeadow.org The Little Theatre of Fall River will be doing OK this fall, with its production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma. littletheatre.net

The Newport Playhouse has an interesting flow in their upcoming line-up. Starting with The Love List, about a methodical search for the perfect mate (September), they’re following it up with A Perfect Wedding, about a groom who wakes with a hangover and an unexpected bedmate on the morn of his wedding (October), then Angel on my Shoulder, with a cohabitation theme, and finally, My Husband’s Wild Desires (no explanation needed). Does anyone else see a progression there? Any of these comedies should make for an amiable, amusing night out – for dates and details, see our listings or newportplayhouse.com.

Your Theatre in New Bedford, which has been putting on shows since the 40s, has an interesting selection coming up, starting with Biloxi Blues in September. It is followed by the nostalgic Neil Simon piece, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, by the late Nora Ephron, queen of the 90s chick flick. Finally, they present Henry Flamethowa, a much starker drama about a troubled teen with the Devil for a pen pal. And if you think more than 65 years of community theater is a lot, check out the Community Players, who open their 93rd season with an October presentation of the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof! yourtheatre.org and thecommunityplayers.org

Art Seen – Locally Made: One Room at the RISD Museum

Find local gems at the RISD Museum this season There should be more of a battle-cry in Rhode Island of, “Buy local!”… and locally made. One of our most prestigious organizations, The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum is pushing in that direction during the coming months by promoting the local creative scene in Rhode Island.

The creative force behind it all is Deborah Clemons, associate educator, public programs, at the RISD Museum, who created a marvelous opportunity for people to visit the museum and experience a broad cast of performers, visual artists and crafts-people. Local makers of you name it will be there in full force. The museum built a separate performance-presentation One Room at the entrance foyer where these little creative miracles, which will be scheduled and presented most days for the next several months, will happen. The gala opening ceremony took place in 95-degree-plus temperatures on July 18, but the crowds still gathered in block party tradition on Benefit Street. Spirits were not dampened by the heat wave; in fact, the enthusiasm heated up as well.

The energy source for this project is Deborah Clemons, a marvelous, humble, brilliant, lovely and intelligent person. She is spearheading the drive to bring local talent front and center by setting a schedule of events that will be the envy any such undertaking. An army of amazing talent, and art- attack, will be viewed by a virtual army of museum goers and art enthusiasts. Check out the talent and watch for minor schedule adjustments here and there. Keep in mind: this is a complex set of organizing maneuvers.

Review the museum’s schedule to see what is in store. I believe this project will be the highlight of many local creative careers for months to come, and it is a terrific opportunity for many art followers to see great works into the fall. Don’t miss it! You will see me there for sure.

The RISD Museum has entrances at 224 Benefit Street and 20 North Main Street in Providence, RI. For hours and admission information, call 401-454-6500 or visit risdmuseum.org. Follow the RISD Museum at Facebook.com/RISDMuseum.

Fall Roots Report

Roots and folk music coming to Southern New England this autumn

Okee dokee folks…Summer has unofficially ended. A couple more weeks and we officially move into autumn. The summer was full of great music and listening opportunities. The fall will be no different. There are still plenty of indoor and outdoor events to catch your ears. I will write about them if my computer cooperates and I don’t toss it out the window! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr… Read on.

Roots and Rythm

I spent the past weekend at the Rhythm and Roots Festival. It certainly was the BEST fest of the entire summer. It ALWAYS is. If you wanted to hear real Nashville songwriters, R&R had it on the new Heritage Stage. It also had some of the finest Zydeco, Cajun, Americana, R&B and Folk. R&R Fest caters to EVERYONE, not just some skinny-jean wearing hipster crowd. Families and friends make this an annual event. I usually write about this festival beforehand but didn’t get to this year. If you missed it, you missed GREAT sets by Steve Earl, Texas Guitar Women, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Bill Kirchen, Taj Mahal, Albert Lee, Briga, and Holly Williams-just to name a few. Mark it on your calendar for next year. It is always Labor Day Weekend and is the always best “summer wrapper upper show”! For more, zyde-GO to: www.rhythmandroots.com Malone Coming to Visit

I am excited! One of my favorite performers, Michelle Malone, is coming back to Rhode Island. It has been about five years since Malone has performed in the OceanState. My friend, Anne from NYC, originally turned me onto Malone back in the 90’s. Anne had good taste in music and she also gave me my dog, Zoey, so how could she be wrong? The first few times I was able to see a Michelle Malone show I had to travel to NYC. It was well worth the trip. If you are not familiar with Michelle Malone, you should be. Over the course of her 20 year career, she has won numerous awards and her albums Sugar Foot and Debris, were both on the Grammy Award ballot for best Contemporary Blues and Best Americana Albums. Her songs have appeared in films and television programs such as True Blood, Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, Brooklyn South, and have been recorded by Indigo Girls (for which she received both gold and platinum records) and Antigone Rising. Malone has collaborated in the studio and on stage with such artists as Elton John, John Mayer, SugarLand members Jennifer Nettles, Kristen Hall, and Kristian Bush; Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins, Little Feat, Albert King, Charlie Musselwhite, Johnny Winter, ZZ Top, Robert Cray, Steve Earle, KT Tunstall, Shawn Colvin, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Joan Osborne, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Malone has played every state in the Union and toured all over the world and she is currently out playing shows in support of her latest studio album, Day 2. The songs for this release were all written at her own green kitchen table, coffee mug in hand, every morning for nearly a year. She even wrote them on an old Alvarez acoustic guitar that never gets played out on gigs – it never even leaves the house.

The CD was produced by longtime friend of Malone, Grammy Nominee Shawn Mullins. “Day 2 is an eclectic roots record with its feet firmly planted in the Southern Americana and blues traditions, and its head in the lyrical sphere of luminaries like Patti Smith and Nashville era Bob Dylan.” says Mullins. If you are in need of drawing comparisons to figure out if you would indeed like Malone, then imagine the voices of Sheryl Crow and Linda Rondstat combined with the songwriting of Lucinda Williams and the guitar abilities of Bonnie Raitt. How’s that? Better yet, just get out to hear her. She will be taking the stage at Indigo Lounge in Coventry on Wednesday, September 18th at 8pm. For more, moan your way to www.MichelleMalone.com.

Queen

Back in the days of arena rock nobody could command a crowd better than Freddie Mercury. He was the king, err, Queen. If you miss Mercury or never had the opportunity to see Queen live, you can catch the next best thing – “The Queen Extravaganza.” The Queen Extravaganza is a spectacular touring concert show designed to take the music and live experience of legendary rock band Queen and bring it back to the live stage. Two of Queen’s original members and songwriters- drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May, are the masterminds behind the show. Taylor personally has taken on the role of producer with long time Queen keyboardist, Spike Edney, as global music director.

Together, Taylor and Edney have created the ultimate Queen concert experience in an electrifying road show, which celebrates the band’s music and legacy as performed by a new generation of musical talent. The Queen Extravaganza band includes musicians selected by Taylor in a unique online talent search. The 90-minute show features more than 20 Queen classics: “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Under Pressure,” “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions,” “A Kind of Magic,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “Somebody to Love,” and “Killer Queen” as well as other fan favorites. The production will be enhanced visually with rare video footage. You can experience the extravaganza at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford on Sunday, September 15th. The “Z” is the perfect place to see a show. There are really no bad seats, it is very easy to get to and there is plenty of parking. I saw Three Dog Night at the “Z” last month. Great show! You should put the “Z” on your venue radar. There are lots of other good shows coming up as well. For more, Seaside Rendezvous to: www.zeiterion.org

Nash-ing

Legendary singer-songwriter Graham Nash, a founding member of the iconic bands The Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash, is coming to Rhode Island to perform at the Park Theatre in Cranston on Thursday, September 12th. For Nash’s solo U.S. tour, which kicks-off in early September during a break in the Crosby, Stills & Nash 2013 tour, he will perform a special series of “An Evening With Graham Nash” concerts across the east coast. During the tour, Nash will perform as a trio, accompanied by James Raymond on keyboards and Shane Fontayne on guitar – who are also part of the Crosby, Stills & Nash touring band. Nash does not often tour as a solo performer, so this is a wonderful opportunity for people to see him in an intimate venue. Graham Nash is one of few musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of multiple groups. He is also a member of the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame. Nash is also an internationally renowned photographer and visual artist whose work has been shown in galleries and museums worldwide, including the Smithsonian. Later this fall, he will release his memoir, Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life, chronicling his more than 50-years in music. Throughout his tour, Nash will continue his long-time tradition of raising money for charity through the Guacamole Fund’s special benefit seats; in addition, he will donate $1 per ticket sold to charity. For more, Marrakesh Express your way to: www.ParkTheatreRI.com.

KT Tunstall

OK, I usually don’t condone trips to Boston to see music but in this case I have to make an exception. One of the downsides to living in RI is that we are often lumped into the Boston market (no, not the chicken place). In most areas of the country, sixty miles isn’t considered far to drive to see a show. Most people drive that distance to go grocery shopping. They obviously don’t know RI’ers which is why we have a Dunkin Donuts on every corner. So, many artists will play the Boston area and bypass RI. Lots of times we may never know they were even that close.

I TRY to keep tabs on who is coming close enough to see, so when I heard that KT Tunstall was in our area I was kind of excited. KT Tunstall will be playing at the Somerville Theatre on Wednesday, September 25th. The Scottish born Tunstall, who spent some of her early days busking on the streets of Burlington, VT, is recognized for her hits “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and “Suddenly I See”. The latter song has been used in many TV programs and movies and unfortunately, currently is the theme song for greed giant WalMart’s television commercials.

KT is best known for her live performances, in which she combines use of a looping pedal, that she affectionately calls “Wee Bastard”. This use of a looping enables Tunstall to accompany herself with “prerecorded” backing tracks. On this tour, Tunstall is touring to promote the release of her fifth album called Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon. The title is inspired by the two batches of songs from the album, Invisible Empire was recorded in April 2012 and is the melancholic half that deals with her father’s death and the theme of mortality, while the Crescent Moon half, recorded in November 2012 is more ethereal. The fifteen songs on the album are inspired by her divorce from her former drummer/husband Luke Bullen and her father’s passing. If you’re into a road trip, RI style (pack a lunch and an overnight bag), head up to Somerville on September 25th. For more, put your Eye To The Telescope and look up: www.somervilletheatreonline.com

Rorys Galore

Here is a tale of two Rorys. One is a sultry blues singer and the other is a bespectacled, bow tied mentalist. One can, with a few simple props – paper and pencil, a pack of playing cards, some paperback books, and the thoughts of some volunteers, involve the audience in highly unusual and unusually entertaining experiences. One left home at fifteen to seek out blues legends Mississippi John Hurt, Rev Gary Davis and Son House and started playing in clubs and coffeehouses. One takes people on Providence Ghost Walks; has released three books, “Haunted Providence: Strange Tales from the SmallestState,” “Wicked Conduct,” and “The Dorr War: Treason, Rebellion and the Fight for Reform in Rhode Island”, and bends spoons with his mind. The other has recorded twenty five albums and received five WC Handy blues awards. One will be appearing at the Blackstone River Theater on Friday, September 13th while the other will be at Sandywoods in Tiverton on Wednesday, September 18th. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to figure out which artist is where and attend the show…should you be caught or captured we will disavow any knowledge of your actions…this article will self destruct in ten seconds. For more, clue your way to: www.sandywoodsmusic.com and www.riverfolk.org

The Cowsills

As usual, I am late writing my column. Today is no exception. Today I am very, very, VERY late. Sometimes it has its benefits -like getting press releases as I am writing. I literally (yes, literally) just received notice that the Cowsills will be performing at SlaterPark on Sunday, September 22nd. Those that read this column may know that I am a HUGE Cowsills fan. The trio of Cowsills- Susan, Paul and Bob will be performing a 75 minute set as part of the Slater Park Fall Festival.

If you are not familiar with the Cowsills then acquaint yourselves with them! They were the inspiration for the Partridge Family, are members of the RI Music Hall of Fame and are one of RI’s own music success stories. The band’s height of fame was in the late sixties and some of the members have since died but the remaining members still record and perform. They are best known for their many TV appearances on shows like Ed Sullivan, Johnny Cash and American Bandstand and their hits, “The Rain, The Park and Other Things”, “Hair”, “IndianLake” and “Love American Style”. In 2010the biopic, “Family Band” was released at the RI International Film Festival and recently aired on Showtime. For more, “Get Happy” and head over to: www.pawtucketartsfestival.org

More

Finally in the “I am running out of room and these are in no particular order” department:

At the East Greenwich Hotel on September 12th at 9pm -Mark Cutler, Harold Ambler & Jim Chapin and on September 19th Paula Ryan from Ardfinnan, Tipperary, Ireland. www.facebook.com/greenwichhotel

Kayla Ringelheim, Rachel Ries and Dylan Lucas Block Harley will be at the Edward Everett Hale House in South Kingstown on September 14th at 7pm musicatlilypads.org.

Common Fence Point gets its season started with Malcom Holcombe on September 14th and Lori McKenna on September 28th www.commonfencemusic.org. RISA’s Songwriters in the Round Show will happen at AS220 on Sunday, September 15th at 6pm with Andrea LaFazia, Jim Chapin and others, singing about the theme, “Too Late” www.risongwriters.com.

At Fete in Olneyville Sara Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion take the stage on Friday, September 6th and Leftover Salmon and Assembly of Dust are the following Friday, September 13th www.fetemusic.com.

Stone Soup Coffeehouse is again opening the season with a free concert as part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival. The Stone Soup Sampler is on Saturday, September 28th from 2-6pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Performers are Alastair Moock, Danielle Miraglia, Shun Ng, and members of the Rolling Roots Revue www.stonesoupcoffeehouse.com.

The Annual fundaraiser, “Singing Out Against Hunger” takes place at various locations in Tiverton, September 13th-15th, featuring performances by: Ed McGuirl, Heather Rose, Steve Allain, Tracie Potochnik, The Fish and Chip Band, Mark Cutler, Ian Fitzgerald, Kim Lamothe, Chris Moon, Daniel Oullette, Allysen Callery and more. www.singingoutagainsthunger.org

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading! John Fuzek www.johnfuzek.com

Fall for Great Shows this Season

The best alternative shows in RI all season plus an interview with Hope Anchor

I’d figured with Hope Anchor-a-mania about to run rampant through the city, a fun person to do an interview with would be the band’s guitarist, Terry Linehan. Known as Terry Dread back in the day, he has literally seen it all from being on a major label with Waterdog, touring as a guitarist for Green Day, and even being in a Green Day side project called The Frustrators with Mike Dirnt. He got a shout out from Billie Joe Armstrong at Green Day’s recent appearance at The Dunk. Terry co-owns a punk bar in Providence called The Scurvy Dog where the music is always loud and there’s a great selection of beers. To kick off the Fall Guide, I figured I’d ask him a few questions to get the dish on Never Gonna Let You Go and his thoughts on the music scene. MC: How would you compare Never Gonna Let You Go to your debut release, Pile on the Dirt?

TL: Firstly, Pile on The Dirt was recorded in three spurts over four years and I think it sounds like that. Even if you’ve been doing this for as long as we have as musicians, it takes a while to feel the direction out as a band. After we did Pile on The Dirt, the songs on Never Gonna Let You Go are the next nine songs plus bits we wrote that we threw against the wall and stuck. So it has more of an immediate feel and is less calculated. I think it’s more visceral as well. Music should be physical and I think this record has that.

MC: How do you feel Hope Anchor as a band has evolved in the last couple of years?

TL: Well, you got enough copy for that? We started with a bunch of music I had written, assembled the group and tested what worked that I had written and what didn’t, then hit the studio. Since Pile on The Dirt there have been three major changes. 1) Eric Fontana left the band as he had his first child and we respect his decision and admire his contributions during his tenure, 2) we added Pip’s brother Matthew as a violin player, which makes us sound like a haunted house! 3) I switched from playing Gibsons to Fender Jazzmasters, which allows me to use the whammy like My Bloody Valentine, but use it in hard blues, which I’m not sure has been done before.

MC: As a longtime fixture on the music scene, how would you compare the music scene of today to say 10 or 20 years ago?

TL: The scene today has a lot more information, a lot more bands, and a lot less music fans. Local bands used to draw 800 people on a Friday at the Promenade St. Living Room. It seems like bands are mostly playing to other bands these days. I think the internet has made it so people don’t have to go out and see bands live to know what they’re getting anymore. Also there are obviously way less record stores anymore. I admire the ones we have, but I feel bad that kids don’t go to a record store to learn about music anymore.

MC: What are the three things you are most proud of in your music career?

TL: This’ll sound corny, but I’m most proud of our new record. Like everything else, it’s the culmination of a lifetime in music. Besides that, I’m super proud of playing guitar for Green Day on the American Idiot tour. It was a special record at a special time. We were in the middle of the Bush years and very publically rallying against them. Thirdly I’m very proud of the last Frustrators record and tour. Mike and I wrote the record in five hours, recorded it the next day and hit the road the next year having not played together as a band in 10 years!

MC: What were some the influences or types of things you guys were shooting for making this record?

TL: The new record was more influenced by time and place than other artists. I can’t speak for the other guys, but R.L. Burnside is the only palpable thing I tried to channel on anything. We were lucky enough to get flown to Oakland last summer to play some shows, and while we were there, we laid down the drum tracks for the album. We came home and did overdubs with Kraig Jordan and then flew back to Oakland to mix with Denny Muller. Also Pip playing the harmonica was a big part of shaping these new songs. Having other instruments that can make a racket without just adding more and more guitars allows things to breathe and still be loud and raucous. Pip and I had a conversation and decided to make our version of a blues record. We also wanted the record to be listened to beginning to end as one thing, so we added the blues bits between the songs to connect the dots. We recorded the blues bits on a handheld recorder in Pip’s living room. We wanted to sound like two old blues guys playing.

Hope Anchor will be playing during intermission at the Providence bout at the Rhode Island Convention Center on September 14th. Doors are at 5 pm with the bout between the Old Money Honeys and the Mob Squad scheduled to start at 6 pm.

Mean Creek

Mean Creek are considered by some to be the best local band going in Boston right now. They mix in a little American, but are basically just full tilt rock & roll music wise. This is a strong bill for straight ahead rock & roll between Northern Lands, WBRU Rock Hunt champs Torn Shorts, and Dylan Sevey and The Gentlemen. I know there is a lot of competition on this night, but if you’re going for the rock & roll, I guess this show would win out!

Mean Creek, Northern Lands, Torn Shorts, Dylan Sevey & The Gentlemen, and The Ya Beautifuls rock The Spot on September 6.

The Gaslight Anthem

New Jersey bred rockers; The Gaslight Anthem return to Lupo’s to play their blue collar anthems. As far as an audio description, they’re pretty much modern day cookie cutter alternative rock. They do wear it well though, as I caught them last time they were in town and it was pretty much a love fest with the crowd singing along with the band on every song.

The Gaslight Anthem, The Sidekicks, and Gates rock Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on September 6.

Biz Markie

Biz Markie isn’t sitting at home counting all the money he made from those Heineken commercials using “Just A Friend.” He’ll be coming to Fete and no doubt bringing the party with him. I love all that late 80s/early 90s hip-hop. It was just a fun era in music before everyone started fronting. Come down to Fete and take a trip back in the time machine to that era with Biz Markie.

Biz Markie plays Fete on September 6.

Pere Ubu

The other day I realized that Pere Ubu have been around for 38 years and found it mind boggling. They get classified as an experimental rock band on Wikipedia, largely because the categories for “alternative” or indie rock” had yet to be invented. Pere Ubu started from the ruins of the Cleveland punk band, Rocket From The Tombs (the other members formed The Dead Boys). Since then Pere Ubu have hit marks all over the spectrum and been a major influence on bands like The Pixies. I haven’t heard about them touring and have been eagerly anticipating this show for months.

Pere Ubu, Gagarin, and Atlantic Thrills will rock Fete on September 23rd.

D.O.A.

Hardcore punk legends D.O.A. come to town on what is being billed as a farewell tour. If that is true, D.O.A. have had one hell of a run. To celebrate their arrival, Firehouse 13 is re-opening for a night. In addition to D.O.A, local legends Neutral Nation and Drunk Robb and The Shots open the show along with The F.U.’s from Boston. If punk rock is your thing, this will be the show to be at!

D.O.A., Neutral Nation, The F.U.’s, and Drunk Robb and The Shots are at Firehouse 13 on September 13th.

Rocktucket

Rocktucket returns for its 5th annual takeover outside 250 Main Street in Providence. This year’s festival features something for everybody with acts geared more towards kids early in the day and then shifting to singer songwriters, then going full tilt rock ‘n’n roll, and then on to hip hop to close the party right. Of the rock portion, I’m stoked to see the Atlantic Thrills, Gavage, Malyssa & The Liberators and Ants in The Cellar. All great bands and what’s better than getting to drink out in the street while listening to some great music.

Rocktucket will take over Main St in Pawtucket on Saturday September 14th. The event happens outside 250 Main Street and runs from 1130AM to 11PM as part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival. Performers include KRIS HANSON, NATURAL ELEMENTS, FUNKY AUTOKRATS FEATURING MARK LOVE, ATLANTIC THRILLS, ANTS IN THE CELLAR, MALYSSA AND THE LIBERATORS, GAVAGE, BLESSED ENERGY, SIDY MAIGA AND THEAFRIMANDING, CASED CLOSED, DIRTYDURDIE, MILEZ GRIMEZ, THR33 PIECE SUIT, BLOCK MCCLOUD, BLACASTAN, TERMONOLOGY, and APATHY. Check out their page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/301255376681071/ for more info and set times.

Dudesmash 2

Deer Tick return to town to present “Dudesmash 2” which promises to be an epic rock ‘n’ roll party. Deer Tick are releasing a new album brightly titled Negativity later in the month and will doubtless be featuring a bunch of new material along with old favorites. This show is like a who’s who of local bands with Americana favs The Low Anthem, Joe Fletcher and The Wrong Reasons, rockers Ravi Shavi, and country rockers Smith & Weeden all on the bill. I’m also looking forward to seeing T Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate perform solo, after catching an epic performance by him with the band this past Memorial Day Weekend.

Saturday September 14th ; Deer Tick and 95.5 WBRU presents “DudeSmash 2” – an outdoor concert featuring Deer Tick, The Low Anthem, Jonny Fritz, Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons, T Hardy Morris (of Dead Confederate / Diamond Rugs), Last Good Tooth, Ravi Shavi, Smith & Weeden, The Kolour Kult, and Vio/Mere at the Met Café’s Courtyard, 1005 Main St., Pawtucket RI. The show is all ages with 4PM doors / 5PM show.

Walk The Moon

Fresh off a recent appearance at the Jay Z- curated Made in America festival, Walk The Moon return to town to bring their dancey alternative rock to the big stage in town. It seems like a big jump for a band that played to a well-less-than-capacity show at The Met this past winter but there’s little doubt that Walk The Moon has some momentum going for them now. I wouldn’t call them really rock, closer to a boy band of alternative rock. A little 80’s, but the songs are catchy enough to have a good time with on the dance floor.

Walk The Moon and Magic Man play Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on September 18th.

R.I. Pizza Wars

Okay, so this isn’t a show but the chance to have free pizza from some of the state’s best pizzerias sounds good enough to me! There are much worse ways to spend a Friday night than eating free pizza and having a couple of beverages on top of that. One can also vote if they care enough on the contenders and a Pizza Champion will be crowned at the end of the night. Personally, I’ll probably stick to eating pizza.

R.I. Pizza Wars will go down at the Met Café on September 20th.

Pawtucket Fireworks Committee 2014 Fundraiser

I’m all for supporting causes that fund blowing stuff up! Throw in two sets by Rhode Island Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers, Steve Smith & The Nakeds and you have one whale of a Sunday night! Steve Smith and The Nakeds fit into the category of straight up rock ‘n’ roll and one hell of a party band to boot!

Pawtucket Fireworks Committee 2014 Fundraiser featuring music by Steve Smith and The Nakeds happens at the Met Café on September 22nd. There will be an auction from 5PM to 6PM, followed by two sets from Steve Smith and The Naked. Proceeds will go towards funding the third annual fireworks display at McCoy Stadium on July 3rd, 2014.

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears bring it with a mix of funk and soul that is sure to electrify the night. Taking major influence from the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and James Brown, Lewis and his band are not the type of band that you’re going to be able to stay seated for. The Silks will kick off the night with their patented mountain-man flavored rock ‘n’ roll. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and The Silks will rock Fete on September 24th.

990WBOB Presents Mondays on Blast

We all hate Mondays but that doesn’t mean they have to suck. What if there was a place you could go to see and hear a couple of comedians and catch a couple of bands for free? There is and that place is The Spot (formerly Underground – now above ground). 990WBOB broadcasts from there every Monday and showcases a diverse blend of the many styles of the local music scene. Whatever your cup of tea is, if you don’t like the bands one week, come back because you’ll probably love them the next week! In addition The Spot has an open kitchen in case you get the munchies and need something to snack on.

990WBOB Presents Mondays on Blast every Monday at The Spot located above ground on Richmond St. in Providence. The show kicks off at 9PM and rages all night.

Forever Young

Forever Young is a super group of local musicians who do a great job breathing new life into Neil Young’s large catalogue. They do everything from Young’s folk numbers to the full on Crazy Horse barnburners. They don’t win the Motif Award for Best Tribute Act every year for sucking. Trinity will open the night with a Crosby Stills and Nash set. No word at press time whether they have to stay away from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young material to avoid a conflict.

Forever Young and Trinity will play the Met Café on September 28.

They Might Be Giants

I keep waiting for They Might Be Giants to go on a tour and call it the Revenge of The Nerds 25th Anniversary tour as a testament to their staying power. Often mocked when they first surfaced in the 80s, They Might Be Giants laughed along with the joke by writing songs about it like “Rhythm Section Want Ad.” They Might Be Giants still put out albums, and although they may not be getting the crossover hits like “Birdhouse in Your Soul” anymore, they’re still money live for a good time.

They Might Be Giants and Mooch Hooch are at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on October 8.

The Parkington Sisters

The Parkington Sisters are four real life sisters from the Cape who have great harmonies. As for the band sound, it’s mostly indie folk with a couple of upbeat tunes that could be lumped in as alternative. I caught them recently at the Burnside Park Concert Series and they pretty much killed it!

The Parkington Sisters will fill Fete with harmonies on October 18.

Cold War Kids

Cold War Kids return to town after playing the WBRU Summer concert series in July. Cold War Kids remind me a little of a more keyboard-infused version of The Strokes. As far as modern day radio alternative rock, Cold War Kids are one of the better acts out there. Check out their latest record, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, but more importantly, don’t miss them at Lupo’s!

Cold War Kids will rock Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on October 21. Built To Spill

Built To Spill return for another night of indie guitar rock mayhem. Built To Spill have always delivered whenever I’ve caught them. Singer/Guitarist Doug Martsch shreds on guitar land; while the lineup around him has changed over the year, the intensity of Built To Spill live hasn’t wavered. It has been a few years since Built To Spill has released any new material, so it will be interesting to see if they’re road testing anything for a potential release. The band tours non-stop, so they’re guaranteed to be in fine form.

Built To Spill, Slam Dunk, and The Warm Hair rock the Met Café on November 6.

Email music news to [email protected].

College Theater Fall Preview

There is an amazing amount of College Theater going on in the state, and a good amount is worth attending even if you are not a collegian. We’ve listed much of it in the listings. Here are some highlights.

RIC: Prelude to a Kiss, the sweetly sentimental story best known as a Meg Ryan movie, is brought to life in the beautiful theater at RI College starting in late September and directed by Jamie Taylor. In November, they take on one of Shakespeare’s less frequently performed works, The Winter’s Tale, directed by Joe Short. RIC is known for its strong theater program, and that usually shows on the stage.

PC: In late October and early November you can catch Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor, directed by John Garrity.

URI: October features Be Aggressive, a coming of age story about a girl who copes with loss by throwing herself into cheerleading. In November, the follow with How the Other Half Loves, a comedy about three married couples at different stages in their relationships.

Brown: In September, Brown’s Leeds Theatre presents Water by the Spoonful, a complex multi-cultural Pulitzer Prize winning play set in the real and virtual worlds. It’s followed by A Streetcar Named Desire.

RWU: After a Freshman show of short plays in September, Roger Williams University explores Ovid’s ancient tales of transformation in Metamorphoses, and follows that in late October with two student- directed one-act plays: The Game, a morality play by Louise Bryant, and Helena’s Husband, a historical comedy by Philip Moeller

Salve Regina: Will bring to life a dark feminist fairy tale, 10 Virgins by Laura Jacqmin in October and the classic Greek Tragedy Antigone in November.

CCRI: In October, on their Knight Campus, CCRI will perform Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott, directed by Luke Sutherland. It’s about a battle of wits between three con men and a blind housewife.