Inga Magid Teaches Scissorfight “Keys for Kids”

March 2006 Volume 2 Issue 3 Blues ● Classical ● Country ● Folk ● Hip Hop ● Jazz ● Rock pronounced no-mah-so-nah

Inga Magid Teaches Scissorfight “Keys For Kids”

Michale Graves

Matthew Stubbs

Celebrated by his loving LowellRocks.com Benefit and very sneaky staff.

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Table Of Contents

The Buzz ...... 5 Matt Stubbs ...... 9 Publisher: Rig Painter Productions Dipthong ...... 11 Scissorfight ...... 12 Editor: Marc Friedman

Michale Graves ...... 13 Copy Editors: Jane B. Curran, Meg Crotty, Troll ...... 15 Amy Saunders, Jennifer Mottram, The LowellRocks.com Benefit 16 Marc Friedman, Sarah Kollett

Inga Magid: Keys For Kids .... 18 Writers: Marc Friedman, Michelle Kellaway, RatPak Records ...... 20 Deborah L. Blicher, Matthew Robinson, Recording Songwriter ...... 21 Jill Locke, Jim Leboeuf, Robert LeBoeuf, Alyss, Bill Copeland , Jen Faucher , Hip Hop - S.E. Entertainment 23 Adam Savage, Jennifer Mottram, Keven Reviews ...... 24 Pearce, Shaun O'Brien, Will Briere

Boston Bluegrass Union ...... 28 Photography: Tom Gallo, Ryan Haskell, Krista Classifieds ...... 29 Wallhagen, Allegra Boverman, Liz Linder

Upcoming Events ...... 30 Cover Art: Paul Favreau of Red Mill Graphics Logo: Tony C. Antinoro

AD RATES (Subject To Change) Businesses: $300, $175, $100, $65 Bands/musicians: $150, $100, and $65 (no 8th of page) Dimensions (WxH) 7.5" x 10" - Full pg. $300 biz, $150 bands/musicians 7.5" x 5" - Half pg. $175 biz, $100 bands/musicians 3 5/8" x 5" - 1/4 pg. $100 biz, $65 bands/musicians 3 5/8" x 2.5" - 1/8 pg. $65 biz, not available for bands/musicians For ads you can send a biz card, PDF or image (preferably 300 dpi TIFF). If we create your ad: $25 if it's just words - 2 fonts Arial and Palatino $35 for words and image Graphic art work prices available upon request

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Artist Album Number Of Plays

1. Within Choking Range Most People Just Die 5 2. Screams Of Erida Burn The World 3 3. Burn Me Down The Rough Divide 3 4. And Then There Were None And Then There Were None 3 5. Unearth The Oncoming Storm 2 6. All That Remains This Darkened Heart 2 7. Hepburn The Sleeping Bodies Of Strangers 1 8. Robby Roadsteamer Heart Of The Rhino 1 9. Shadows Fall The Art Of Balance 1 10. Camphora Automated Movement 1

2006 New England Battle of the Bands

50 Bands are getting ready to battle it out every Friday for 4 months beginning on March 10th. Hosted by Reflections and brought to you by none other than 13ME, this year's battle is anticipated to be one of the biggest shows in the Northern MA Southern NH area, giving out more than 8,000.00 cash prizes.

To get involved, send any type of audio & your band's contact info to [email protected] or mail it to:

13 Music Entertainment Attn: Triana P.O. Box 1313 Lowell, MA 01853

The battle also seeks both fans and industry insiders to judge. If you are interested contact Triana at the above email address.

www.13me.com

Local Artist & Music News the buzz To submit news items to be considered for print, please check spelling and grammar. Poorly written summaries and press releases will be discarded or returned for revision.

Lowellrocks.com Mardi Gras Bash Benefit for six year old Brain Tumor Victim

Lowellrocks.com held a Mardi Gras Bash featuring Parkview, Six year old Justin Bissett has been diagnosed with a rare brain Theory Shift, and Six Day Slide on February 24th at Scorz com- stem tumor called a diffuse pontine glioma. His tumor is aggres- plete with Jager girls and prizes for the ladies who collected the sive and is inoperable at this point. He is currently undergoing most beads, no questions asked. treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana Farber Cancer And seeing as how Mardi Gras and New Orleans go together like Institute. He may need additional treatment at the Burzynski Clinic rum and coke, donations were being accepted to further help the in Houston, Texas. This clinical trial therapy in not normally cov- disaster relief effort. Any contribution of $5 or more was rewarded ered by health insurance and will cost tens of thousands of dol- with a Rockin' 4 Relief t-shirt. lars. In further LowellRocks.com news, Club 251 in Billerica also Cash donations can be sent to: hosted a Lowell Rocks Night on February 11th that featured six The Justin Bissett Fund hours of local music, a band an hour, featuring the Workin’ Stiffs, c/o TD Banknorth Plastic Cows Don't Moo, Decadence, The End Result, and The 62 Nashua Rd. Incident, culminating in the Lowell Rocks All-Stars to end the Londonderry, NH 03053 night. For full coverage see page 16. There will be a benefit held on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at the Characters Battle of the Bands Begins March 2nd Casa di Fior in Wilmington, MA. It will include a buffet style dinner, live music, dancing, raffles, and door prizes. The fundraiser will Characters Battle of the Bands (which is being co-sponsored by help with the costs of Justin's treatments. Tickets are $25 and can NoMaSoNHa) began March second with Promised Eden, Whis- be bought by calling Jen (978) 988-6322 or Brenda (978) 852- key Chapel, Lost Tribe, and Involution. Promised Eden, who 5278 or emailing [email protected]. played a tight set and brought their own entourage from Worces- ter, took home the top spot while Whiskey Chapel, who report- Rex Trailer Recuperating After Fall edly played a loose set of great songs, snagged the wild card. However, it seems as though it was a tight race with the very Rex Trailer, former host of Boomtown on WBZ TV 4 in Boston, original Lost Tribe, which is composed of two members featuring MA, Country Hall of Famer, and local legend, recently took a bad an acoustic guitar and sets of congas, bongos, and a djembe, and fall while working at his studio and sustained a fractured pelvis. Involution rounding out the bottom two. The winner of each He had been rehabbing at Wingate in Sudbury, but returned home round receives $100 prize to go with the thrill of victory and moves on February 16th to continue his recovery. Just last year,a DVD onto the next round. Photographer Dante Parker has also added documentary about Rex and the Boomtown years came out and is an additional prize to sweeten the pot for those involved. Every available at www.rextrailer.tv. participating band will be entered into a drawing to receive a free session with Dante and the winner is totally independent of the battle finals. The battle will continue every Thursday and there are still slots open, so email [email protected] and cc Marc at [email protected] to get involved.

New England Battle of the Bands Starts March 10

It's that time of the year, boys and girls. The New England Battle of the Bands, formerly the Reflections Battle of the Bands, brought to you by 13 Music Entertainment and Triana, is officially taking submissions for this year's competition. Budweiser's True Music, The Lowell Sun, and Guitar Center will be sponsoring these Friday night shows at Reflections in Chelmsford beginning March 10 with Chinggis, Mindshot (with former members of Road to Nowhere), Hand to Hand Combat, Burden of Liberty, and Seduce the Enemy. More changes this year include having five bands per night with RPM Challenge: Full Album in 28 Days tickets costing $7 from the bands and $9 at the door. There will be only 50 bands, making this a 4 months show. To get involved The RPM (Record Production Month) Challenge had over 190 send any type of audio and your band's contact information to local bands making like TV's MacGyver in order to record a ten [email protected] or mail it to: song/35 minute album within the 28 days of February. Whether 13 Music Entertainment they are using state of the art recording studios or recording Attn: Triana tracks on an answering machine from a friends closet, all the par- P.O. Box 1313 ticipating artists’ music is available on the RPM web site and will Lowell, MA 01853 be heard at the listening party in Portsmouth, NH on March 9th, The battle is also seeking both fans and industry insiders to act starting at the Music Hall at 7p.m and continuing on to 4 simulta- as judges. If you are interested you can contact Triana at the neous listening rooms. www.rpmchallenge.com

above email address. www.13me.com

5 the buzz Local Artist & Music News Nashua’s Scorz Closed ambassador Henri Smith, who recently relocated to the Cape after Hurricane Katrina, were all slated to perform amidst tradi- Due to unforeseen circumstances, Nashua, NH’s well-known tional Mardi Gras activities and soul food. nightclub, Scorz, has closed its doors. As a result of this all www.bobssouthernbistro.com shows and events are cancelled until otherwise notified. In the meantime, Scorz is working on moving most lineups to other Mass Cann/NORML Rock N Roll Stumble, a series of all ages area venues and sent out thanks to the staff, Mike the sound benefits promoting Mass Cann/NORML and the legalization of guy, TNT Security, Heathen Entertainment, RatPak Records, marijuana, kicked off on March 4th at O'Brien's in Allston and will S&D, Onslaught, Spyderbite Radio, and LowellRocks.com. continue every Saturday afternoon in March thereafter. The www.myspace.com/dieseledproductions. shows will work as a sort of battle of the bands, with the winner obtaining a spot at the upcoming 17th Annual Mass Skope Magazine is all geared up for its 2006 concert series with Cann/NORML Boston Freedom Rally on the Boston Common, dates at the Middle East in Cambridge from April until November. Saturday, September 16th, 2006 at High Noon, and the proceeds Coming up first is the Skope Magazine Spring Fling on April 4th from the $6 ticket price going to Mass Cann/NORML. featuring Left Handed Thieves, Jason Smith Band, Cholo, and Of the events mentioned above: Graveyard BBQ, DeadLikeD- Cement Head. This $10, 18 plus show will be hosted by DJ eath, Scourge, These Nightmares, and DINIJ worked the room Shyne. www.SkopeMagazine.com on the fourth while Hardtimes, Devoid, Negative Insight, Sacre- ligion, and StillFro are slated for the 11th; Mouth Sewn Shut, The worldwide Emergenza Festival, think American Idol without BloodStains, Nowhere USA, 26 Beers, and Lesser Evils will play the plastic wrap, is underway for 2006 and many of our local fa- the 18th; and The Peasants, Tunnel Drill, Calias, Red State, and vorites have already made it to the 2nd round, including Saturn Angels of Meth will round out the series on the 25th. Effect, Inhale, and Skulltoboggan. Shows begin for the new www.masscann.org round at the end of March. Visit www.emergenza.net or http://www.mideastclub.com/ for more details. Local loud Irish band the Larkin Brigade will be hosting their First Annual Evacuation Day Extravaganza at the Milky Way Dig out that writing Journal and grab a guitar because Keyboard Lounge & Lanes, 403-405 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, on Magazine is now accepting entries for its 11th annual songwrit- Friday, March 17, the day in 1776 when George Washington's ing competition. Prizes include national radio airplay in both the army booted the Brits from Boston. Officially declared a holiday US and Canada as well as up to $50,000. The first one thousand in 1941, giving city employees and public school students the entries postmarked before March 31 will get a free year subscrip- day off, it has been remembered and celebrated with jubilance tion to the mag. Get your entry forms at ever since. (Sure, ‘twas nothin' but happenstance and coinci- www.songwriting.net/entryform.html and check out "New Music dence if March 17 had any other associations) 230 years later, Now Volume 3", a compilation of last year’s winners, while you the Larkin Brigade celebrate freedom and Hub tradition by per- are there. www.songwriting.net forming along with friends the Crumb Sullivans, the Allston Pints, and DJ Fordy Buxworth, who will be spinning between sets. The highly anticipated Rockathon II took place on February 18 in the Liberty Hall at the Town Hall in Athol. Originated by Josh The Boston-based indie collective Radar Recordings has an- LaMarche, the benefit, produced by Osprey Entertainment and nounced the exclusive on-line pre-sale of their first two records of sponsored in part by WJDF 97.3FM, gave aid to the Memorial 2006: "Blood Is Bright" by Junius and "The Murder of Tom Fitz- Hall Revitalization Fund. Backwoods, Calibur per Capita, Dakota, gerril" by Constants beginning January 31st on A Second Life, and legendary Boston rockers, Rattle Battle all www.radarrecordings.com/recordings.php. The first 100 orders of lent their talents to the show. either CD will include a free limited edition poster, buttons, and stickers. Retail release will start in April. Black History is not just a February celebration. On May 4th, 5th, and 6th The On February 9th Johnny D’s in Somerville and local “chick” sing- Harlem Renaissance Revis- ers did their best keep music in schools with Chick Singer ited with a Boston Flavor will Night; Keeping the Arts Alive in Our Schools, hosted by the hit the stage at the Roxbury Vykki Vox Band. Depth Quartet, Parul Vakani of Red Velvet Community College Media and Slide, Anna Freitas, Patty Keough, Maeve Hughes, Jennifer Arts Performance Center for its Truesdale, Vykki Vox, Gary Backstrom of Jiggle, and newcomers 8th annual run, complete with Laura Loewy and the Winchester High School Octet Girls all lent new dances and songs. On their considerable talents to help this cause. June 26th from noon until 6pm www.ChickSingerNight.com www.JohnnyDs.com The Roxbury Action Program and Amber Communications will Do you daydream about writing the "ultimate" rock opera to jump- team up to sponsor The Harlem start your career and impress your lifelong idol Andrew Lloyd Book Fair/Roxbury, which will Webber? If so, your story is being told. Ultrasonic Rock Or- feature authors, including chestra presents A Night At The Rock Opera, live at the Regent Haywood Fennell author of Coota and the Magic Quilt and guest Theatre, just off Mass. Ave. in Arlington. Featuring songs by eve- lecturers and artists. Both events promote literacy and cultural ryone from The Beatles, The Who, and Queen, as well as origi- education through community outreach. nal songs by Ultrasonic Productions, this production promises to http://oscarmicheauxrep.tripod.com [email protected]. be tongue in cheek and more entertaining than sitting at home listening to the Phantom of the Opera cast recording. It will be In keeping with the spirit of Mardi Gras, Bob’s Southern Bistro running for two weeks in March, from the 9th until the 12th and hosted a bash, heavily laden with jazz greats, this past February 16th through 19th. To purchase tickets call 781-646-4849 or visit to celebrate Fat Tuesday. Local saxophone master Nat www.ultrasonicproductions.com and check out some extras, like Simpkins and his Nawlins-bred bandmates, saxophonist Charles film trailers and mp3s from past performances, while you are Neville of the legendary Neville Brothers and vocalist / musical there.

Local Artist & Music News the buzz Kevin DeSilva-Walsh, singer of Ript, recently participated in a Emotion, raw Form, raw music, real hip hop. Production done by fundraising event for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He was none other than T.O.P. productions (Top Dawg), who has a huge "jailed" until he could "post bail", which was set at $1200, using affiliation with Klik Star Production Projects. The second video is donations. The fundraiser lasted until March 7th and there was no off Sswytch's upcoming LP, (Dysphoria in Elysium). Track is word at press time to whether or not Walsh had been sprung. You called "Can't Stop Moving", based totally on how no one can may obtain a full status report on tinyurl.com/QXW59 break your hustle, if you believe in your dreams. From where Sswytch has come from, to where he his now. Look for both vid- Experimental eos soon on www.myspace.com/Sswytch, www.myspace.com/klikstarproductions, and Turkish Queen is currently on hiatus, however, they do have two www.myspace.com/sengboy as well as numerous other places new tracks on college radio in and around Boston, "Luella Miller" soon to be announced. and "Lead Weight" which can be previewed at myspace.com/turkishqueen. The tracks are also on a split CD with the band Narcoterror. Radix will be hosting a CD release party at Cinco Nightclub in

Folk Nashua on March 25th to celebrate the release of his new album, "The Staple". Performances will include Radix, The UNDC, The Larkin Brigade are a loud and fast Irish folk band from Bos- Ghostown, and Bzowski. ton. With a unusual piano- and fiddle-driven sound, bizarrely witty originals and time-honored pub standards, and a socks-off- If your favorite local bands can duke it out, then so can your DJ's. knocking live show, the four-piece is rapidly making a name The first annual New England DJ Battle took place on February throughout the Northeast. Just signed to Spit Shine International, 22nd at the Foo Bar in Worcester with DJ Chubby Chub serving as host. the Larkin Brigade’s full-length album, Paddy Keys for Mayor, hits stores this spring and promises to be a classic. Jazz

Hip Hop Performer and composer Georgette Labreche takes the stage

again in support of Harvest Homes in partnership with W.A.R.M. Every Sunday Night from 9pm until 12am DJ Jim Tess & DJ Shelter to present "A Grand Piano, Five Women, and Song" on Jimmy Sprinkles of UMass Lowell's 91.5 WUML host the local rap centered "Ego Trippin'", which is in its eighth year and fea- Sunday March 5 at Dunn's Corner Community Church. Miss tures live interviews and performances with both national players Labreche will be featured along with four of her colleagues with all and local favorites, giving a huge boost to the local scene along the admissions, $10 for adults and $5 for children, being donated. the way. In light of this, www.Jiveturkeyproductions.com recently Jazz, blues, and world vocal- launched the Sprinkles Corner, a webpage that will feature audio ist Alida Rohr is back with and written transcripts of all of Jimmy Sprinkles interviews, local her third album in two years and national album and mixtape reviews, and local hip-hop news. recorded at Mix One Studios When asked about the collaboration with Jive Turkey Productions, in Boston. Abandoning the Sprinkles said, "The scene here is growing at a rapid rate and solo route for the time being, becoming very powerful. My goal is to assist as much as I can in Rohr has released the back the effort to help develop it. This contribution is the least I can do." to basics jazz, blues, and www.Jiveturkeyproductions.com www.myspace.com/egotripwuml latin influenced Park Avenues www.myspace.com/sprinklesint of the Heart under her own

The U-N Delegations Crew is label Weather Outpost 12 set to drop their first LP on April accompanied by the heavily 25th, though the release date is stacked Barrio Norte, com- still tentative. The crew's debut, prised of drummer David Rozenblatt, pianist Nando Michelin, entitled Closed Captioned, fea- bassist Esperanza Spalding, percussionist Pedro Ito, and Ivan tures members of the U-N Dele- "Niento" Sierra. www.zevisgirl.com weatheroutpost12.com. gations, including Dj Dax, Epic

Visions, Furyus and Wize, with guest appearances by Killah Rock Priest, Shabazz the Disciple, Amadeus the Stampede, R.H. Bless, Brix, NLZ, Radix, The Middlemen, Jimmy Sprinkles, and more. A Simple Complex is busy putting the final touches on their de- The album, which is being produced by Dj Dax and Epic Visions is but full-length album, due to be released this spring. Meanwhile, intended to be a unique throwback to the pureness of hip hop that they are opening for Nothingface on February 28th and Power- incorporates raw lyrics & energy with innovative, forceful produc- man 5000 on April 14th. www.asimplecomplex.com tion and beats. Also, the UNDC recently provided its fans with a sneak preview Bleu is gearing up to release his album A Watched Pot, recorded of their upcoming album with the release of their first single, "Join mainly at Ice Station Zebra in Medford, MA with Ducky Carlisle. Ranks", featuring Shabazz the Disciple. “Rock Rock” featuring The CD is to feature all new tracks as well as guest performances R.H. Bless is also included as a B-side track to the February 17th from the likes of Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish), Steve Gorman (The release. www.Jiveturkeyproductions.com Black Crowes), and Jason Scheff (Chicago). Sswytch, (of Klik Star Productions) is working on his first two www.myspace.com/bleuelope videos of his career. Both are filmed and produced by S.E. Enter- tainment. The first one, due out in March 2006, is from the track Bottoms Up, who is now sponsored by Oasis Sunrooms & Spas, "Path" is a wide variety of imagery, and raw emcee emotion. is beginning a long line of dates for 2006 on March 4th at The "Path" is a track based on the direction you wish to be going Mammoth Roadhouse in Dracut equipped with 15 new songs and down. Sswytch, Girth, and D'Nyle, come hard in all aspects. Raw a hankering for a hot tub after-party. www.bottomsupband.net

7 the buzz Local Artist & Music News Burden of Liberty recently uploaded some brand new songs, on 99.9 The Eagle. You can find the CD online, at various New- complete with vocals, onto their Myspace page and played their bury Comics locations, Bullmoose Music stores, digital first in a string of spring shows after a month long hiatus at the downloads, and of course, at Mindset X shows. www.mind-set.net Uptown Tavern in Manchester, NH with good friends Loser's Fight It and Minus Chad. www.myspace.com/burdenofliberty Mongrel recently recorded a 4 song EP, Refuse, at Moontower Studio in Cambridge. Mike Quinn produced the tracks which in- After their last vocalist went MIA, Cell Block One has found a clude "West Memphis Hell", the band's song about the West new frontman, Matt Coles, who they headed into the studio with Memphis 3, "I Refuse", "Shut Up Get Dead", and "Coma Amer- last month to lay down tracks for their upcoming album. The first ica", a cover of the AMEN anthem. The CD is already available at single is due out sometime in March. www.cellblockone.com shows and at MongrelBand.com or myspace.com/Mongrel, where you can sample "Shut Up Get Dead" and "West Memphis Hell". Cookie Cutter Girl is at it again, making appearances at The They plan to begin recording a full length disc in the spring. The New York Comic-Con 2006 comic book convention as well as the band will also be doing a series of shows with ex-Misfits frontman NACA (National Association of Campus Activities) college con- Michale Graves in support of the West Memphis 3 (see above and vention, freeing girls from the conventions of society one power story on p. 13) and a few shows with Guns N' Roses keyboardist pop tune at a time. CCG also has the chance to open for the Dave Dizzy Reed's band, Hookers N' Blow, in late March into early Matthews Band this summer and was part of an internet poll last April. month on the band's web-site www.CookieCutterGirl.com. After a quick pop in the studio to The Crumb Sullivans will be playing a live online show for EA record a demo of their latest tune, Internet Television from the Milky Way in Jamaica Plain on March "Sourwood", and participating in the 17th. Green beer will not be included in the price of admission. RPM Challenge (see above), Pondering Judd will be hitting the

road in support of Irish madmen, The Sawdoctors for nine US Gene Dante and The Future Starlets are holding a CD release tour dates. “PJudd’s Mini One Second Dream Tour ~ 2006” will be party at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge on March 2nd. dropping in and around the Boston area. The band has also been www.myspace.com/genedantestarlets in contact with reporters from the Portsmouth Herald, who will be New Jersey's Michale Graves will be heading back to the New running a feature on their recording process, complete with pho- England area in April on his "Almost Home 2006" tour. Almost tos. Home is a new book released by Damien Echols, one of the Mike Previti recently filmed a spot for Emerson College's West Memphis 3 convicted of the brutal murder of three 8 year "Musicians Wanted" with his band on February 12th. The air date olds in 1993, a crime the three claim they were wrongly accused is to be determined. www.mikepreviti.com of, using their love of heavy rock music and black attire as evi- dence. The tour will hit 55 cities across the country in an attempt On March 16th The Middle East Upstairs plays host to a St. Pa- to promote Echols' new book, and raise money and awareness for tricks Day weekend celebration featuring local favorites Sad the cause of the West Memphis 3 and aid them in receiving Marvin, Scamper (invited to play this years WBCN Rock 'n Roll proper representation. This all leads up to WM3 World Aware- Rumble), Reverse, and The Luxury. Sad Marvin will be promoting ness Day on June 3. For more information on the West Memphis this St. Patty’s kick-off with a live interview and listening party on 3 and related events got to www.wm3.org. WBRS 100.1FM Brandeis University Radio on Thursday, March www.michalegraves.net. See the full story on p. 13. 9th at 11PM. www.sadmarvin.com

Inhale's run in the Anthem Events Battle of the Bands came to an Electronic rock duo Thylacine announced the addition of more end in late January but they recently made it to the second round man/machine power to their lineup. Steve Robot, who apparently of the Emergenza Festival and will be performing at The Middle hails from Mars, formerly of electro-crash rioters Robotzen, joined East (Downstairs room) on Tuesday April 4th. the band on bass. Their ten song self-titled CD is now available They will also be putting their necks on the line on March 4th at online and at live shows. www.thylacinemusic.com Slaughter House Saturdays at Reflections in Chelmsford an attempt to win a spot at this fall's New England Punk, Goth, Metal Vegas Temper opened for Stained at The State Theater in Port- Fest. www.inhaleband.com land, ME on February 22nd and no, Fred Dirst did not accompany anyone on an acoustic set. After releasing their first full length album Sad Flower Songs, Lu- cretia's Daggers is in the market for a keyboardist and bassist. www.lucretiasdaggers.com

Putting the finishing touches on their new single/EP due out this NOMASONHA spring and gearing up to record a full length album are newcomers The Luxury, a band formed this past summer from remnants of The Halogens and Baby Strange. www.theluxuryband.com Needs a Sales Rep

Mike Mazzotta of Prophets of Eclipse just made his brand new EPs available for free download at www.prophetsofeclipse.com. "Lay Down" and "3 Songs for Christine" have been described as 20% Commission ambient rock reminiscent of Sigur Ros, had they been picked on in high school and dumped by their first loves. Enjoy!

Mindset X released their new full length, Physics, on February [email protected] 14th, just in time for Valentine's Day, and began their tour in support of the album on February 25th. They did an acoustic set live

“I like the song selections that we do,” Bunszell said. “It’s not just straight forward Chicago or blues straight forward West Coast. It’s a little bit of everything. We make it diverse and fun for everybody. We don’t drag songs too long.

by Bill Copeland Photos by Allegra Boverman Fortunate Son: Matthew Stubbs And Liz Linder www.chicksinga.com/msb anaging his own blues band for five years has brought a lot Working with his father in the early days was a big help. His fa- M of success to Matt Stubbs. The 2000 graduate from ther got him into clubs where he met up with local blues stars like Pinkerton Academy won the Boston Blues Challenge with The Ricky King Russell, Cheryl Arena, and Dave Haley and each be- Matthew Stubbs Band before placing third out of 90 bands at the came an important mentor to the aspiring guitarist. International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Drummer Chris Rivelli, who cut his teeth with The Chris Fitz Stubbs joined his father’s group The Coupe De Ville Band as a Band (featured in NoMaSoNHa issue #4 – Ed.) for three years, guest musician in 1999. Eventually, his father, Dale Stubbs, got joined up with Stubbs a year ago. Stubbs, Rivelli, and Bunszell out of the business. Matthew was then in a position to start his also have a side project called The Stubbies. The trio plays a lot own outfit. He currently works with bass player Mean Johnny Bun- of originals, late ‘50s/early ‘60s music, rockabilly, and surf. szell, drummer Chris Rivelli, and foxy veteran blues chanteuse Kit “There’s a lot of these small clubs opening up where they can’t Holliday. Different saxophonists and trombonists appear at vari- really afford to bring in a five piece band with one horn and Kit,” ous gigs. Stubbs explained. “We do a couple of residencies because of it. “It started out that I was in The Coupe De Ville,” Stubbs said. We do every week in Beverly, MA, every Wednesday night at Kitty “From there it morphed. It went through completely different per- O’Sheas. It’s the three of us and each week we have a guest sonnel and I’m the only one left. The Matthew Stubbs Band is a singer come in. We’ve had Brian Templeton, Racky Thomas, Sax completely different project. We had a different bass player then Gordon, Ricky King Russell, and Scott Shetler.” John came in. From John, Kit came in. After that we just used a Stubbs also hosts a Monday night blues jam at The Holy Ground rotating cast of drummers. We didn’t get a full time drummer until in Quincy. Owner Joe Hajjar has The Stubbies play a 30-minute a year ago. Then we started using saxophone players.” set then any musician can come up on stage and jam with them. The lineup changed its name to The Matthew Stubbs Band after “With the Stubbies, every week it’s different,” Bunszell said. “We’ll Holliday, who had been in the band for a year, and their drummer playing with Brian Templeton one week, Sax Gordon, Racky Tho- at the time came up with it. “We changed it to The Matthew mas. It widens our variety to get to know how to play behind a Stubbs Band because we started doing all new material,” he said. harp player better or behind a horn player or behind another guitar “We were shooting names around. We couldn’t really come up player better. When you play with one of the big guns in town, it with it. I was doing all the business, booking all the clubs.” How- makes you raise your game to the next level.” ever, the group always bills itself as “The Matthew Stubbs Band But The Matthew Stubbs Band is the guitar boy’s main project. A featuring Kit Holliday.” “We just call her ‘featured’ to get her name saxophonist and often a trombonist fill out their sound, with Scott out there,” Stubbs said. “She does a good job. She fronts it a lot of Shetler being their most usual sax player. They also use John times. So we put her name on it.” Moriconi on trombone. “We have a handful of guys that we use,”

9 the guitarist said. “Horns are a tough thing to get to commit to England. “I like the song selections that we do,” Bunszell said. “It’s because they can find work all the time.” not just straight forward Chicago or straight forward West Coast. Contributing to the sound is Bunszell’s 1963 Harmony bass. “I It’s a little bit of everything. We make it diverse and fun for every- think it gives it the warm, almost thumpy tone of an upright,” Bun- body. We don’t drag songs too long. If Matt’s soloing or one of our szell explained. “It’s made for the style of music we’ve been play- sax players, we keep it short and sweet and melodic. We do dif- ing. It adds to it for that reason. It sounds like an upright bass ferent feels. We won’t just do shuffles all night. We’ll do swings without dragging an upright to the gig. It’s got flat, long strings. It’s and rhumbas or a New Orleans feel, old rock and roll, and soul. so warm it doesn’t feel like you need a sweater.” The Matthew Stubbs Band would seem tailor made for local Stubbs’ guitar tone is clear and crisp. He prefers not to use ef- pubs. They play tunes people can dance to. “A lot of it ends up fects pedals but has a collection of vintage amps. “I use an Am- being stuff from the 50s and early 60s, and some R&B and swing- peg from the ‘60s. It’s called Reverb Rocket II. I use that with a based blues,” the guitarist said. “We play this stuff out in a lot of Gibson GS295.” bar rooms. People might be able to party to it a little more.” Rivelli chimed with his insights into his new bands’ success. Most people Stubbs’ age prefer heavy metal or hip-hop. Yet, “They’re really experienced,” the drummer said. “We’re into the Stubbs has a unique musical heritage. His father had brought him same kind of music. We like, in general, older stuff. We’re very to Memphis when he was 13 years old. Visiting all the blues clubs versatile. There’s all kind of different stuff we can play for real on legendary Beale Street set his imagination on fire. quiet restaurant gigs to more rockin’ stuff. They’re all dedicated to As a young player Stubbs started out as a fan of classic rock groovin’ real hard and getting a good sound out of their instru- greats like Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. He soon learned, how- ments, so it’s real fun.” ever, that his guitar heroes were inspired by the original blues Challenges abound in his new group. “It’s more arranged than legends. the typical blues band,” Rivelli said. “They were all established “That stuff came from the blues,” Stubbs explained. “As I got before I hooked up with them. It’s a little tougher to jump in and deeper into it, I learned that Hendrix really liked Buddy Guy. From catch all the arrangements than the average gig.” Buddy Guy I went to B.B. King. It just snowballed from there. I Rivelli’s particular approach just happened to fit was lucky enough to have my father bring me right in with the 1950s to early 1960s sound MSB out to see it. I think blues -- especially when shoots for. “I come from a jazz background, so I you’re into music and you see it live, and you was always used to using older sounding drums see the right kind of blues live, it’s really easy and cymbals. That fit right in with those guys. to fall into it.” Matt and John are the same way.” Despite dwindling public interest in MSB was quite a switch from when Rivelli blues, as evidenced by plummeting CD sales drummed for The Chris Fitz Band. “Chris Fitz and blues club closings, Stubbs will not jump was more hard hitting, high energy from the get into other genres. “I’m young. I don’t see it go,” the drummer said. “With Chris we jammed a suffering as much as other people, I guess,” little bit more, had more stretched out improvisa- he said. “When I’m talking about blues, I just tions, which this band doesn’t do quite as much. mean around here. I don’t know about the It was a pretty diverse band too, but I wouldn’t great scheme of things, record sales. I don’t say as much as this.” know if it’s up or down nationally. I have no Before the Chris Fitz Band, Rivelli was the idea. I seem to have plenty of gigs. I have drummer in The Vykki Vox Band. He has a de- seen some clubs close, but I’ve seen some gree in Drums and Performance from the Berklee open. I don’t have any urge to change what College of Music in Boston. He teaches drum I’m doing. This is what I love to do. I do some lessons five days a week, two days at his house different stuff, like this instrumental thing; it’s in Waltham, two days at DiCenzo’s Drum Shop in not strictly blues.” Quincy and one day at The Boston Arts Acad- The band’s 2003 release Stop Lick- emy, a music high school in the Hub. ing That features a Stubbs penned tune Rivelli envisions the band doing more tours and recording. “It’s called “Don’t Lick That.” He uses his Gibson 295 to play melody pretty wide open,” he said. “With Matt and John we back up a lot one minute before joining the rhythm section at the drop of a hat. of other people. Some of them have expressed an interest in tak- “It was originally a song that was me soloing all the time. I do the ing that on the road.” 12 bar intro. Then me and Scott Shetler got together on it. We Bunszell likes to lock into a groove with Rivelli. “I can tell where both arranged it. But he wrote horn lines to a lot of the parts that I he’s going sometimes when he’s playing and I think he can feel had in my solo.” the same way for me,” the bassist said. Bunszell chalks this band’s success up to hard work. “We play all Since the victories in Boston and Memphis two years ago, more the time. Matt is a booking machine,” the bassist said. “He’s as a people have heard of The Matthew Stubbs Band. “We’ve done good a businessman as he is a player. He knows how to get some tours,” Stubbs said. “We go to Florida twice a year. We do things done. People on the scene complain that there’s no gigs or about a two-week tour. We’ve got a good following going on down there’s nothing around. Between The Stubbies and The Matt there. I’ve been contacted by a couple of labels. Nothing’s hap- Stubbs Band, I’m playing four or five nights a week.” pened, but they know who we are, which is good.” Stubbs recently played a mini-tour with Northern Blues Record The band has new original material but isn’t looking to get back artist Janiva Magness that bought him around New England. to the studio yet. They just started bringing their guitar and horn Backing major blues label artists is one of many things he has on oriented sound to Del Vaudo’s in Nashua. That is the closest the table. He’d like to see MSB move to a national touring sched- Stubbs gets to his hometown of Derry. Local venues like Whipper- ule. He wants to “continue touring in Florida and New York and snappers don’t offer blues. The Strange Brew Tavern in Manches- get some sort of record deal in the blues world to get our music ter is a coveted room, but to date Stubbs hasn’t been able to get out there and make more money.” his foot in the door. “I’ve called and left a number of messages. I would love to play Strange Brew,” he exclaimed. www.chicksinga.com www.thestubbies.com This band‘s set list might help explain their popularity in New

Power and Passion: rock

Dipthong An interview by Jen Faucher & Marc Friedman first saw Dipthong at the Kyle: We've got a white board in I 2005 Reflec- our rehearsal space that we use tions’/LowellRocks.com Bat- to arrange and put it all to- tle of the Bands (3rd place gether. Sometimes the final winners) even though I had product will sound nothing like it talked with Matt Vicenty at did when we started. the Salem Daddy’s Junky What does each member Music where he works. bring stylistically and crea- When I saw him load his tively? gear onstage (all those in- Matt: We all have different credible Les Pauls and a tastes and listen to different dizzying array of rack ef- kinds of music. The final product fects) I wondered how he is something entirely different survived with all of his pay- than any of us would be capable check going to musical gear. of individually. But, as you know, gear does not make the musician and the Has the music changed since the Benzofluoranthene EP? band impressed the judges every night. I imagine that it was not Kyle: Absolutely. We feel that we are writing better, catchier, and just great songwriting, nor Kyle Corsetti’s magnetic stage pres- more interesting songs as time passes. ence, but some of it had to do with Ryan’s onstage antics. If there Scott: The more we write, it seems, the more our songs become was comic relief in the group, it was he. Ryan Hopkins has a per- us. I get more and more proud to put my name on our songs as sona handed down from the likes of such great stage bassists as we move forward. Flea and Gene Simmons. He not only supports the low end with Ryan: I don't even like playing some of those older songs any- drummer Scott Lynn, but keeps the show energized with his en- more! thusiasm and an occasional vocal flare. He is engaging to watch and adds a touch of eccentricity to Kyle’s riveting front man deliv- How did recording your new CD, State of Emergency, differ ery and Matt’s rock star mannerisms and flowing mane. from Benzofluoranthene? Matt: With more money to spend this time around we were able to Has Dipthong always had this lineup? record more songs and spend more time on each. It took us Matt: I joined the band about two years ago and we basically months to finish. Still, we could have spent forever exploring the started over. We consider the older material to be by another endless possibilities. We did it at the same studio as we did most band. My first show with the band was Halloween 2003. of the last one but with the idea in our heads that we wouldn't stop How long has it been Dipthong? until it was perfect. Obviously it isn't perfect, after several delays Ryan: We have been using the name Dipthong since we were in and running out of money a bunch of times, we had to stop. We high school. I would say, probably about 4 or 5 years. hope to be able to improve each time we put out a disc and we How would you describe Dipthong's sound? definitely learned a lot this time out. Matt: Lots of bands get all bent out of shape by this question be- What was your Battle of the Bands experience like? cause they don't want to be pigeon-holed. People are always go- Matt: It felt like it went on forever. I had even forgotten we were in ing to want to be able to define things in very simple ways. We it for a while. The whole time I wondered what we would do with always simply refer to ourselves as a heavy rock band. the prize money but never once expected to get any. Every battle Kyle: Although a review in this magazine called us a mixture of I've ever played in left me with a bad taste in my mouth. When we Bush and Helmet. made it to the finals I was blown away. It didn't even matter what Matt: Two kinds of sexual band names, by the way. place we came in just being in the finals felt like winning. In the end we played a bunch of great shows, met lots of cool people, What kind of reactions are you getting from the local scene? and had some good times. Ryan: We get positive reactions, except for when they're negative. Kyle: I liked the club a lot. The room was a great room… sound Matt: It seems most people go to local shows just to see the band and stage. As the battle moved on the rounds became closer and they came there to see, so our challenge is to get the attention of closer together. By the end we played there so much and so often those people. I think we're doing alright. The reaction from other the stage was as comfortable as our practice space. bands has been the best part. We've befriended lots of bands and Have you had any airplay? every show we play bands come up to us and say, "We should play together again!" Scott: We've been played a couple times on Rock 101 during their old nightly local band showcase. We were also in rotation on Spy- What makes you different from other bands? derbite Radio. We've also have some radio stuff planned for the Matt: Lots of bands use all their energy trying so hard to be differ- near future. ent while other bands spend all their time trying to be just like an- Any famous last words? other band. We don't do either. We just do what comes naturally. Ryan: Giggity. How do you write, as a band or individually? Matt: Wow, worst last words ever. Matt: Recently it has been Kyle who will bring in a riff and a little vocal melody on top of it. Then we all hammer it out for a few www.dipthong.net weeks until it becomes a Dipthong song.

11 Granite State Destroyer: An interview with Scissorfight’s Jay by Marc Friedman Photos by Ryan Haskell cissorfight is probably the We always have had major labels in- S most elusive, low-profiled terested, calling, coming to shows and band. This interview with the shit, but they all say the same thing, Granite State Destroyers’ gui- “You’re our favorite band but... " Fuck it. tarist, who has been known by How did the European tour go? many names but his own (I was The euro tour was a blast. Ten days of lucky to get his first name) complete bullshit with our British coun- started over a year ago with an terparts. It was cool that at every show email to their manager (I found there were people who had waited his address on the band’s web- nine years to see the band and they site). He then sent me Jay’s email and then, well, Jay is a would have all the CDs for us to sign, man of few words and apparently the other members of the perty cool. band are, too. This is reflected in the band’s website, Where are you guys from www.Scissorfight.com. Not only is there virtually no con- (NH or MA)? tent, except for the show listings, but the name of the new We all started out in NH but over the years some of us have CD isn’t on there. These guys are so reclusive that they are moved here and there. Jarvis and I live in NH and Ironlung and Strongbow live in that filthy state below NH. on the verge of sliding from legendary to mythological. Being from small town NH, what clubs did you regularly The legendary band will be releasing its new CD, Jaggernaut play? (we think), on Tortuga Records this month. The dates and loca- We've played all the usual places, The Rat [A famous Kenmore tions of the upcoming CD release parties are: Square club that was demolished recently to build luxury condos – Ed.], Local 186 [A defunct Brighton club that is now called The • Friday, March 24th Wonder Bar – Ed.], Bomb Shelter; lots of clubs that are gone now. Cambridge, MA at Regularly we play The Middle East and in NH it's The Stone The Middle East, Downstairs Church. • Saturday, March 25th How did you get your following up here? Newmarket, NH at Just from playing a lot and wearing our own t-shirts and shit - The Stone Church stickers, rumors, bizarre tales, folklore; all the usual stuff. Just • Friday, March 31st playing up the whole NH thing. It got some people stoked on be- Portland, ME at Big Easy ing from NH. People chant “granite state, granite state" at shows and wave New Hampshire flags and wear cheesy NH tourist t- shirts to the shows. It's fuckin' cool. Sorry to ask these basic questions, but since I was just given an email address, : What instrument do you play and what is How did you build a following in Boston? your stage name? We brought it to Boston and some of those folks just got it and I play the Les Paul guitar and I've had several different names that was it. thru the years like Fuck You, Geezum H. Crow and others I can't How has the NH press treated you? remember. It’s funny, why not? The little press we've gotten in NH has been good, there just What year were you in the ‘BCN rumble? How did you place? doesn’t seem to be much, I'm sure this mag will help . I think we were in The Rumble in '96, maybe. We won our first How has the Boston press treated you? round and then got beat by Ramona Silver in the second round. The Boston press treated us very well. They didn’t say anything It was silly; Joyce Kulhawik [A famous local television entertain- bad as they were most likely afraid of the consequences... haha. ment reporter and cancer survivor – Ed.] introduced us on stage. It's good, we do our thing exactly the way we want to do it and WTF! Who ruled the night and who won are two different things. kiss no ass and cool people get it and much rock happens. Any major label interest? www.Scissorfight.com

At The Graveside: rock An interview with punk rock legend

Michale Graves by Adam Savage

How do you respond to those who see your involvement in this case as contradictory to your political conservatism? My support and involvement in this case has nothing to do with any sort of political agenda. People think they know who I am, but they don’t. Their ignorance and blinders fly in the face of reason and inquisitiveness the minute they hear my name associated with this. This is about Damien. There are those on the right who have snubbed their noses at me because I have reached out, too, and am working with left wing organizations on this. And that is fine. I care very little, as I always have, about people’s perception of me and their judgments pertaining to my actions and opin- ions. However, this is not about me. I am introducing Damien Echols to those who don’t know him. His story and the plights of Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley represent a much bigger range of issues and problems, some of a political nature. All of us need to stir these things into a national debate, for everyone’s sake, and for the sake of saving Damien’s life. I believe that Damien Echols is innocent. I feel that people will/can get out of this a heightened sense of spirit and awareness through discovering Damien’s life and all that he is going through. Damien is sentenced to die by lethal injection. He was found guilty ichale Graves has been the front man for The Misfits, of capital murder in a court of law in this country by things like the M a solo artist, a marine, an outspoken politically con- color of his hair; the music he listened to; the books he read. servative punk rocker, and now is helping to bring attention He has become a very tragic figure that represents and inspires to the case of the West Memphis 3 (www.wm3.org) with his people like myself to fight and debate things pertaining to issues upcoming tour which will hit the New England area with that are relevant to this case such as our freedoms, our justice support from Mongrel on April 3rd (Lucky Dog, Worcester, system, spirit, strength, love, will, and character. Most of all, Da- mien is human. He is not a monster at all and I'm here to fight for MA), April 4th (El N’ Gee, New London, CT), April 5th (Dover th him because he can't right now. Brickhouse, Dover, NH), and April 6 (SkyBar, Somerville, What have been some of your career highlights? MA). Of course, having the honor to be the lead singer of The Misfits. Say what you want about me and those years but the fact will You were with The Misfits from 1996 to 2001, then you formed Graves and Gotham Rd., the you joined the Marines. "This is not about me. I am introducing Now you’re touring and recording under your name. For those who are only familiar with your work in The Misfits or Damien Echols to those who don't know Gotham Rd., how would you compare the new album/sound with your prior bands? him. I believe that Damien Echols is inno- “Punk rock is dead” will ring more familiar to people who know me cent. Damien is sentenced to die by lethal from my work with The Misfits. It is a simple, straightforward record. I wrote a bunch of songs, recorded them, and released injection." them. It is a very DIY sound. Vintage, almost, because of the process and way I approached it. I hope it will also inspire other bands and musicians that feel they might be behind the eight ball when it comes to producing a demo or a record. A good song is a good song regardless of how it is recorded. A genuine quality tune will reach your heart regardless. The "Almost Home" tour is, in part, to promote Damien Echols’, of the West Memphis 3, autobiography. How did you get involved in the WM3 case? I, like many others, discovered WM3 from the Paradise Lost movies years ago. This effort was born out of the discovery again of those movies and Damien’s newly published book. It has come at an incredibly coincidental time in my life. There is so much energy associated within all of this. Please come out to these events and feel what I'm talking about... It’s weird.

13 always remain that I bore the weight of the resurrection of that band because of the role I stepped into consistently succeeded in breathing life, as well as constructing a major body of music, material, and imagery, that defines the band of that era. “Dig up Her Bones”, “Crying on Saturday Night”, “American Psycho”, “Resurrection”, “Fiend Without a Face”, “Scream”...I wrote those songs and many others. Working alongside and performing with Joey Ramone was a gift that I will always cherish. Meeting Rob Zombie and his wife back in 1998 as well as the guys from Metallica in San Francisco in ‘97, I think it was. The relationship and time I got to spend with Dave Mustaine was amazing as well. At the end the tour we did together he pulled me aside and said some things to me that I still hold in my heart and use as motivation when things get tough. Dave was real good to me. I learned a lot from him. All of the relationships and good times I had with everyone associated with and in Anthrax when we toured together… so many good times. Discovering Life of Agony and being able to watch and be inspired by them every night. Keith and all those guys really helped shape the performer that I am that everyone sees today. The political war of conservative punk vs. punk voter was amazing. There was a lot of shit slinging, but at the end of the day there was certainly a point to all of it. Punk Rock is Dead and my signing with Horror High Records. They have given me the backing and assistance and support that I needed to arrive where I am at A good song is a good song regardless of how it’s recorded. the present time. “Finding" Damien Echols and everyone that I have "found" through all of the current events. I don’t know how many of the readers believe in synchronicity but there seems to be a lot of it surrounding me and happening to me and everyone else involved in this. What are your three favorite Misfits tunes (from any era)? “Horror Business”, “Fiend Without a Face”, and “Cough Cool” with each other. If you are a promoter booking bands... PRO- What's your favorite song from Punk Rock is Dead (available MOTE! Call up radio stations and magazines and newspapers. at HorrorHigh.com)? And what is the significance of "1119"? Stoke your scene. Create a scene. If you want to make it in this business you have to devote yourself to it and work hard every “Dawn of The Dead” moment. Give Octopod Productions a call if you need help! 1119 is the hotel room number at The Hyatt on Sunset Blvd. that What's next after this tour? I stayed in back on the WOD tour. It represents the total sum of I am working on turning this national tour into a world tour effort. that time and the transformation that was happening inside me as So I might be pretty busy the next couple of months. But after this well as all around me. tour I plan on completing a new record for Halloween with at least I have just recently discovered a bizarre connection with 1119 three videos. I am working on a DVD to release around the same and the WM3... it revealed itself to me out of the blue with very time. I am working, producing and advising bands through and in little thought. It is kind of strange. I am not gonna reveal it yet to conjunction with Octopod Media Productions. I continue to write everyone but I believe it is another "sign" of sorts. as well as have been invited to do some speaking engagements What bands are you listening to lately and who inspires you? throughout the country. I have been invited to work with a world I have not been listening to much music other than the bands I am class producer to lay down some tracks on a song... details com- working with at Octopod Studios or my own music that I am creating. I am working on a few independent films I am developing as ing for the new album. Brace yourself for this now... wide variety well. coming up. What got me to some of the music I'm creating cur- For more Michale Graves info: www.MichaleGraves.net or rently are bands like Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Melvins, www.HorrorHigh.com. To learn more about Damien Echols and CKY. At the same time U2, Ramones, Bob Dylan, Nirvana. I listen the West Memphis 3 go to www.wm3.org. to a lot of classical music and oldies as well as gospel music.... well, the energy is unmatched to anything. What advice do you have for up and coming or new bands? The business of music has much changed in the years I have Marc’s 40th B-Day! been in the industry. You can no longer survive and/or make it most of the time on raw talent alone. You must educate yourself Send your congratulations! as to how this machine works. Use your brains. Use the huge array of opportunity that the internet provides. That is where the [email protected] revolution has been born... the internet. It is teeming with independent and underground music. Hook up with each other. Work [This ad placed by his nefarious staff.]

Three Guitar Attack From Mordor:

An interview with Tom Mayo of Troll by Marc Friedman

andy, full of adrenaline, at the LowellRock.com’s Katrina story short, the engineer hired a girl to be a secretary for the label R Benefit yelled into my ear as we walked to the back of the and she stole the masters and mailed them to me. club, “These guys are fuckin’ awesome. Their drummer has two Still musically hungry, Fred and I auditioned for a cover/original kick drums and tons of cymbals. I had to go out to find more mics band which turned out to be Phantom River, which was where I and we’ve maxed out the mixing board.” He stopped me and con- met Steve Kenney. After three years we broke up, but not before tinued, “Do you like classic hard rock?” I said I loved it. He recording a double disc. That had one, and sometimes two, guitar gushed, “These guys play all that shit, but it’s original. You will players and I was itching to get back to the three guitar sound so I love them.” I asked what their name was. He smiled and said, called Mike and then Yukiko, who was also in Dead End for a “Troll.” short period, and it became what is now known as Troll. Who came up with the name for the band? Three guitars! How did that happen? After seeing a cave troll action figure from Lord of the Rings, I Ok, some time ago I was in a three guitar band and the fullness of thought it would be a good idea, not knowing there are 930,000 the sound attracted me. But the story behind this band is this: The troll things out there! rhythm player, Fred Dupont, and I were in this band called Dead End in the Lowell, Ma area, which is also where I met Mike De- “So we waited a year for him to come mogenes who suggested I hook up with this drummer he knew, when I started the band. The name came out of frustration of go- out of a coma, another for him to stop ing thru so many members that I’d assumed this too would be a dead end, but instead we got offered an independent label con- having seizures…” tract from California and three of us went out to record. Now the deal was I go first and check it out for a week and then they would Who played on the CD? show up. I was supposed to be picked up by a limo and driven to Mostly Steve Kenney (drummer) and I with Yukiko Fujii (bass) and a beach house we all were going to stay in until we’d finished but a guest appearance by Danny Klein from The J.Geils Band on alas, no limo; no beach house. So I called the so-called “label” two tracks. I put down the acting members of Troll on the CD but and they picked me up and booked me at a seedy motel for a the two other guitar players are on the new CD and this one I week, complete with hookers and lowlifes of all kinds. Then the played all the guitar. Danny Klein turned out to be an awesome band showed and we took some photos and recorded, which was guy who has a lot of great memories from being a part of Ameri- a nice experience, but then we flew home only to hear the engi- can rock history, like opening for The Rolling Stones at Wembly neer that recorded us got hit by a bus! So we waited a year for Stadium to 100,000 people. him to come out of a coma, another for him to stop having sei- Are there tunes that didn't make it onto the CD? zures, and somewhere during year three I decided I wanted out of There usually is something that isn’t quite finished or doesn’t the contract and for the label to just send me the masters and I seem right at the time but “Trigger Man” was spur of the moment, would get them mastered myself. They refused. To make a long (Continued on page 20)

7:00 Joe’s Attic 10:00 PCDM 8:00 Workin’ Stiffs 11:00 Decadence 9:00 The End Result Midnight: LowellRocks.com All-Stars

A Cause That’s Close To Our Hearts:

The LowellRocks.com Benefit by Jennifer Mottram photos by Tom Gallo

f you’re playing in the local music scene, then you know have preferred that Marc were with me, but NoMaSoNHa's be- I about LowellRocks.com. If you enjoy original music and loved editor was home sick and there in spirit. When I arrived, the want to keep up with what’s going on, then you know about floor was a sea of black leather jackets and the air was filled with LowellRocks.com. If you’re new and don’t know about it, loud conversation. The bar lit the liquor bottles from underneath with a rotating color spread, from blue to green to yellow to red. you’re denying yourself access to an incredible resource for Mardi Gras beads adorned the place and ads for their upcoming information and a tightly knit, very welcoming, open com- party were scattered around the bar. The TVs above the bar munity of musicians and music lovers. Their tagline is “for showed The Green Mile, the Olympics, and a horse race. No one those that like it live.” was paying the slightest attention to them; all eyes were on the LowellRocks.com has supported and encouraged people to suc- bands. ceed at what they love most. It started in 2002 with 10 bands and First up was Joe’s Attic. They started strong with Talking three shows a weekend and is now covering over 500 bands and Heads, Doobie Brothers, and Creedence. Throughout their act 100 shows per weekend. The people who participate on the site they traded off lead vocals and built up from each others’ energy are the lifeblood of the entertainment that so many enjoy. And, levels. The solos, particularly during the blues songs, grabbed the unbeknownst to Randy Breton, who is the heart of Lowell- full attention of the listeners. Rocks.com, the community agreed it was time to give back. Lloyd Encouraging the crowd, Dot held up an arm-long chain of tickets “Ronin” Corricelli, of NoMaSoNHa’s Ask Ronin fame, orchestrated that people could buy for $20 to have plenty of chances to win a benefit show to help defray the costs of running such a large such raffle prizes as a leather jacket donated by Wayne Morgan, and important virtual town center. Dunkin’ Donuts gift certificates for enough coffee to keep you On February 11, Club 251 in Billerica held the LowellRocks.com awake for a week straight, very cool LowellRocks.com coolers Benefit, despite the fact that newscasters across the state were with coke inside, and free ad space from our very own Noma- warning that a monster snowstorm was going to pound us with up sonha. to two feet of snow. But, due to prayers, animal sacrifices, or At 7:30 p.m there were 40 people laughing, drinking and enjoy- Randy’s magical abilities, the snow didn’t start until long after the ing all the music. 40 people that early? There was definitely some last people closed the place down. I was glad to be there. I would 16

Randy Magic going on. People who showed up were thrilled to be part of the night. The crowd was loose and easy with the hugs. The place filled with a mix of true friends of LowellRocks.com and people who were eager to see the great bands. At 8:10, the Workin’ Stiffs took the stage. The songs hit 11 on a 1 to 10 scale. A ran- dom sampling: “I’m a Bitch”, “I’m Trouble”, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”, and “Kiss Me Deadly”. Near the end of their set, they took on Bad Company’s “Feel Like Making Love” and turned it from a tender love song into a hot rush of lust that Tom Jones would be proud of. All the roughness was pure and direct with no pussyfooting around. In between ses the fill music played generic rock at a volume where you could take the moment to buy tickets, order another beer, or smoke (outside) and relax. You got a chance to catch your breath before the next ride. 9 O’clock and The End Result kept the music flowing. Their blues rocked straight through Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughn. The only slow song was one requested by Randy and that had couples dancing in each others’ arms. They then played some swamp music for Dot that lead into more Creedence and ended with The Allman Broth- ers’ Whipping Post – a flood of sound that Wayne Morgan shouted out like one who knows the pain of the lash.

(Continued on page 22)

17 From Russia (Ukraine, really) with Love: Inga Magid Teaches “Keys For Kids” by Deborah L. Blicher photos from www.Keys-For-Kids.com

In your classes, it looks like it’s important that not only students master material but also feel good about what they do. Definitely. They’re not going to feel good unless they master the material. My own [five-year-old] son is in Kinder-Keys 3 now, and I don’t have time to practice with him, and I notice it now in the class, because he is not ready. He is trying to withdraw from activities… If they’re not comfortable, they cannot join the activities in the class, and they start feeling bad. And [then] they are going to say either, “I’m bad” or “I don’t like music.” Because nobody is going to believe “I’m bad,” then “I don’t like music” is the normal, natural path. How were you were taught music as a child in the Ukraine? In the Russian style, with the ruler in the hand. I remember when I was maybe six, seven years old, my teacher would say, “I need to go somewhere for a few minutes. I am going to lock you in the Right now I have a seven-year-old who is playing room, and I will be back.” And she would be back in three, four, five hours. Later, I figured out that she wanted me to practice… Beethoven sonatas, playing [at a] pretty decent level. When I played concerts, we had to practice in the concert halls, and there would be concerts until 11 o’clock at night. About mid- n a room decorated with music mobiles, a trim, auburn-haired night, she would be calling my parents; “Wake Inga up. The con- I woman sits down at a keyboard and begins to sing, accompa- cert hall is free.” So they would wake me up… One time there was nying herself with pleasant, casual harmonies. She wears a white a bat, living behind a portrait. Nobody knew about it. Nobody else sweater, a gray knit skirt, and a huge grin. Her students, only was crazy enough to be there at that time. But obviously [my three or four years old, leap out from behind their own keyboards teacher] was. I was playing my concerto, and the bat started flying and press as close to her as they can. Their parents stand back, smiling. The woman plays intervals: major third; perfect fifth; major seventh. She asks for the solfège names of the notes, and the During the recital, when he was playing his students get them right: “Do, Mi!” “Do, Sol!” “Do, Re!” She plays piece on the piano, some of my recent gradu- short phrases, and they sing the names back to her, clamoring for ates came up and said, “Are you [the student] more. Then she quizzes the parents. who wrote the song? Can I have your auto- They can’t do it. Welcome to the Keys For Kids studio of Inga Y. Magid, “Ms. graph?” He was a celebrity! It’s fun for kids to Inga” to her students. Magid is a Ukrainian-born educator and see kids who wrote [songs]. It’s inspiring. former concert pianist who holds degrees in music education and piano pedagogy. She developed Keys for Kids to teach musical around. I was scared to death, ready to jump under the piano, and skills to children much younger than previously thought able to she said, “Keep playing!” She’s running up on the stage, and master them, beginning at age 3. Since her first classes in 1994, she’s taking her jacket off and throwing it over my head so I don’t over 3000 children have participated, several of whom have since see anything, and she’s saying, “Keep playing!” That’s the Rus- become competition-level pianists. sian style. Parents attend Magid’s classes to help their children concentrate [As far as musical competence goes], I try to achieve similar and to maintain the idea that music is a social activity where chal- results. I have students who win competitions. Right now I have a lenges are opportunities for approval. James O’Dell, assistant seven-year-old who is playing Beethoven sonatas, playing [at a] dean of the Boston Conservatory of Music, is married to Magid’s pretty decent level. She was doing Keys For Kids before, and now earliest apprentice teacher, Lilia Gouarian. His opinion: “Inga has she’s doing private lessons. So when they start young, they can taken this idea of, ‘What would be a nice, fresh way to teach chil- achieve something... [The] problem is that teachers don’t do it dren music but in a group setting, and keep them engaged?’ It’s very often because it’s extremely difficult to teach this age. not ‘Find middle C; OK, let’s play middle C five times’….[The What’s difficult about it? method] seems to engage children and parents on a number of First of all, attention span. Keeping their attention is very difficult. different levels.” David Kilroy, a former Ivy League music profes- You can do 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and then you have to change sor, accompanied his two children to Keys For Kids. He recalls, “I [the] activity. You have to be constantly on the stage, constantly was bowled over by Inga’s teaching skill and facility with vibrant, vivacious, because otherwise they are going to start fal- kids….They really get to understand what music is about, which is ling asleep and getting bored. You constantly need to keep them not just note coming after note, but that it’s part of a syntax, a occupied. Keyboard and note-reading and singing and listening, harmonic structure….As one who abhorred class piano, class then written activities and then notes on the keyboard, keyboard anything, I went kicking and screaming to this, and I never left.” geography and learning a new piece but [getting a change of When I asked the kids themselves, “What makes you most ex- scene by doing it] on the floor keyboard. So lots of things [are] cited about this class?” they unanimously told me, “Finding out happening in one class. what song we’re going to learn next!” There is no stronger en- Another [problem is that you have to] eliminate all the “shushy- dorsement than that. mushy” stuff. “Oh, it’s just kids, we don’t [need to] talk about real stuff. We’ll give them not-real theory and not-real terminology, just

learned everything that he learned in the class along with him…. During the recital, when he was playing his piece on the piano, some of my recent graduates came up and said, “Are you [the student] who wrote the song? Can I have your autograph?” He was a celebrity! It’s fun for kids to see kids who wrote [songs]. It’s inspiring. What concepts do your students know when they graduate? By Super Keys 4 [about 10 years old], they know theory one learns in the first year of college. They harmonize with primary, secondary chords; they know all keys, they can transpose to C# or B-flat, can transpose with primary and secondary chords, with seventh chords; they know what a chromatic scale is, they know major, minor, diminished, augmented, and triads and chords and scales; they know harmonic minor versus melodic minor versus natural minor, and know it not just by theory: they know by doing it. … I just had a graduation of my Super Keys 4 class, and they were playing harmonizations that I think some of my second year college students would not be able to do. When [my students] come to private [piano] lessons, they are at an intermediate level. They do need to work on technique, as any- body would. The class provides basic technique, but, obviously, piano touch and phrasing and all those wonderful things, it’s indi- vidual work, and that’s what they focus on when they graduate. They play like musicians and memorize as musicians; they sight- read as musicians. What happens when a parent isn’t progressing as quickly as his or her child? It happens all the time! By Super Keys 2 [about age 5] I lose most parents.… At the [earlier] levels, I have mostly parents leading kids. They help them out, they’re pointing, they direct the attention to the board; they help them at home to practice. But parents get behind because parents don’t practice every day. They stop prac- ticing with their kids when they get older because the kids become more independent, and what happens is, kids progress and parents don’t. kind of make it up in baby style.” It’s a challenge not to do that. What kinds of special needs can you accommodate? Because you have these little kids—you can’t see them over the keyboard sometimes!—you look at them and you think, “They I have had, and I still have, some kids with disabilities. For ADD, I can’t get it. They won’t understand.” The challenge is to present put the kids in a little bit younger class, where we change activi- real musical concepts in a language that they can understand but ties more often. I’ve had a few kids who were taking physical ther- without simplification. apy for finger movement [or other issues], and it helps a lot. Again, we put them in a younger class, but they progress well. I So the challenge is not to underestimate them? have kids who have problems reading—not just music but reading Definitely. I constantly [read books that say things like]—“Up to language. I communicate with parents a lot; it’s a working- age seven, kids cannot read music and play without looking [at together with the parent. I always can find a way to accommodate their] fingers. They have to stare at their fingers.” No, they don’t. It each child, maybe not in the same age group, but it’s not really depends [on] how you present it. There are some kids who really important in that case. Kids don’t [often] need to repeat classes cannot, but they are more [the] exception than the rule. Teaching [because there are] so many overlaps [in the curriculum]. them by [imitation]—it’s the wrong thing….[When] they [imitate], So students get a lot of chances to succeed? they do great. But—for how long you can do it? You can’t do bigger pieces.…You have to be comfortable reading. A lot. [The class levels overlap so much] that is almost impossible not to find a level that will be appropriate. If I see [a child is at] a How is your presentation different in an older class from in a level too fast or too slow, next semester I always regroup them, younger class? according to the level [for which they’re] ready. They have [a] better attention span, [so] we spend much more Are the children competitive? time at the piano because they can. We do much more serious theory, much more in-depth. From Kinder Keys to Super Keys Parents are competitive, not kids. But there are ways of dealing [intermediate to advanced levels], [kids] feel the differ- with that. I am trying to encourage working together rather than ence…because pretty soon we start moving from one position to competing. We do have class competitions, like flashcard compe- another, learning so much more theory; we start learning tonic titions, but it’s a friendly competition. I want them to have fun and I and dominant chords, subdominant chords, and all those ca- want them to learn a lot. I’m pretty strict: I demand a lot from dences in all the keys, so [it’s] lots more like college classes. But them. I do keep it fun, but I do ask for results. “Yes, you’re so cute still fun. We still do ear-training, we still do rhythm ensembles, we and so little, but you can do so much. You’re also smart, and still do compositions. you’re capable.”

Composing? At this age? Magid teaches at the Powers Music School in Belmont, They compose. [Opens workbook for Kinder Keys 3.] Here is a www.powersmusic.org/programs/keys_for_kids.html, at U. Mass. song, and [for] the middle part, they’re composing the D.C. al fine, Lowell, and in her private studio. For further information, visit the in A-B-A format. Here’s one composition of a student of mine. He Keys for Kids website, www.keys-for-kids.com. wrote it 2 years ago [at age 6]. It’s a pretty piece, and he initiated it himself: his parents [were] completely illiterate in music. They

19 Scenemaker:

by Adam Savage

Name: Joe

Role in the local music scene: To pimp the shit out of everything I touch and never have a failed effort.

How did you get involved in the local music scene? While booking Scorz in Nashua I was abducted by aliens and force fed multiple 30 packs of beer while being subliminally programed to start a label and do big shows.

What about RatPak is different than the other labels and promotion companies in the area: We have serious emotional issues.

Favorite part of the local music scene: Beer?

Website: www.ratpakrecords.com

Best way to contact you: [email protected]

(ontinued from page 15) But mostly, it’s just trying to get out what’s pushing to come out, collectively as a band and as individuals. We also attempt to not the drummer never even heard it before he played. Turned out to be similar in every song. be quite the statement about terrorism and hatred. How do you prepare for your blistering live shows. ? Where did you record it? If there’s a crowd, then we must feed! We try to write songs that Newbury Sound in Boston, which is now Newbury Media in Wil- can be danced to, which comes from playing covers but it doesn’t mington, and we’re also recording our new CD there: one engi- always come out that way because the drummer’s a metal playing neer, very easy to get along with; creative environment. His name madman. But we all agree that the finer parts of covers are crowd is Ken Kanavos and he’s worked with a lot of great bands such as familiarity and women dancing. However, originals are what they Dave Matthews, Queens of the Stone Age, and now he’s doing are and we’ve had people dance to them and even sing the lyrics something with the producer of the Stones’ album Sticky Fingers. after only hearing them once. His gear is state of the art and his knowledge is constantly updat- What are your plans for the future? ing to the technology evolution! I’m really enjoying the attention the Troll CD is getting here and Who does the songwriting? overseas and I’m looking forward to the new CD, Army of Lost I do all the writing but I take suggestions and comments seriously Souls, by Troll U.S. Also check out new song, “Eyes on You”, on every time the band makes one musically. Usually I reflect on www.myspace.com/trollrockcom and request it on WAAF, current events, relationship trauma, and overall something every- Rock101, WBCN, WJUL and more to come. Plus check your local one relates to like love and pain… also a little history, a little fan- club jukeboxes cuz we will be in there, and I’m hoping to do more tasy, anger, depression, oppression, indigestion, suggestion, shows for NEPGM, Locobazooka, and all the clubs we play at. y`know? Has your writing evolved since the band was started? www.TrollRock.com Wow! Has it ever! There is a great release of creativity when you get along with people and everyone can freely express themselves musically without fear. Sometimes while playing during the Expose Your Band writing stages the music takes the wheel and directs you where it wants to go and it’s like an out of instrument experience. To 6000 People A Month Has your sound has changed over the years? It’s a constant change, music in general, bands evolve with 1/4 page ad space Only $65 changing times, relationships, current conditions of musical ability, and the audience’s response plays a big role in sound changes. That’s about $10 per member!

The Recording Songwriter Nexus, Plexus, Kudzu and Carolina: If Zombies Were Plants and Are Audio Cable Attack Dogs Really Necessary? by Keven Pearce

ost recordist’s studios are undergoing a slow but steady evo- AES/EBU (Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting M lution toward higher sound quality. If an additional mic, for Union) format, a digital standard that uses three wires instead of instance, is required, we say, “Can I get a better or different mic S/PDIF’s two. this time?” After a new component is acquired we may look at What does this mean for you? First, it means that all of those another piece in our system and decide that it is no longer up to RCA-to-¼-inch adapters and phono cables you bought at Radio our new higher standard. After our ears are better trained, or after Shack are going to wind up in a drawer somewhere as you buy a crucial element, such as monitor speakers, are upgraded, we better gear. They will be gradually displaced by a sometimes mas- may hear the limitations of equipment that satisfied us last year, sive collection of ¼-inch TRS and XLR cables that cost (and but now falls short of our expectations. Through it all, one not-too- weigh) more than you first mixer board. exciting constant remains. Every piece of gear must talk to every Secondly, it means you’re going to have to take more care in other piece by means of various jacks and cabling – the nexus seeing that you plug the right wires in the right place. To state the and plexus of recording. Cables are, to a studio – and be afraid obvious, just because a jack will fit into a plug it doesn’t mean it’s here, be very afraid – as kudzu is to Carolina. For those not famil- okay to plug it in. It means, for example, that the familiar XLR in- iar, kudzu, a.k.a. “the vine that ate the South,” it is a non-native puts can no longer be relied upon to be mic inputs. In my studio “trailer,” a relentless creeping plant that is reported to grow faster they might not even be analog. I honestly don’t know what would than many older people can walk. In fact, if zombies were plants, I happen if you plugged my Neumann M-147 condenser mic into an believe they would be kudzu. More on fighting these twin men- AES/EBU digital jack, but I do know that I don’t want to find out -- aces – kudzu and cabling – later. and neither do you. Trust me on this. It also means that with every Recordists at any beginning-to-intermediate level can note the new piece of gear you buy you’ll always have to ask yourself, following: As you move from basic equipment to higher level re- “Can I really plug this, this, and that into that, that and the other cording gear, the type of connectors you use and the signals they thing? Am I sure?” Just to be sure, check the specification sheet carry will change. Inexpensive entry-level gear is often associated that can usually be found at company websites. with RCA jacks (a.k.a. phono plugs) like those that connect your It also means that even though this box can talk to that box, you consumer stereo gear while better quality gear uses ¼-inch phone might have to get a special cable to make it happen: Connections plugs (identical to guitar cables). The mic inputs on the cheapest requiring cables that are TRS on one end and XLR-male or - gear sometimes use the same ¼-inch (unbalanced, high imped- female on the other are common. Furthermore, be warned that ance or hi-Z) phone jacks. (Note that “phone” and “phono” plugs certain pieces of vintage gear can require a non-standard XLR to are not the same.) Mid-level-and-up “pro” gear uses (balanced, TRS cable with an alternate-wiring scheme. This is a rare but real low impedance or lo-Z) three-prong XLR jacks for all mic inputs. possibility. Note that these are not just different connector formats, but differ- An additional ramification here is that as your gear gets better ent quality signals. This gets confusing as we move to even more you will need high-quality cabling for it to sound its best. If you are expensive high-end gear because at that point the familiar RCA using highest-quality components you will hear differences be- and ¼-inch jacks are often replaced with XLR inputs that look like tween high- and low-quality cables. the mic inputs. Ryan Hastings, manager of Guitar Center, Nashua, and formerly Just to confuse things further, ¼-inch phone jacks begin to come of North Carolina, claims to have trained his pit bull, Fujiyama, to in two varieties: the two-element TS (tip, sleeve) , these are regu- attack kudzu. Ryan says the dog was effective, but let’s just say lar guitar cables, and the three-element TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) I’m skeptical. So, before you train a dog to attack the cables in type. (The TRS phone jack is the common connector for stereo your studio, try my Requisite Cable Taming Procedure. Requisite, headphones.) The TS variety carries “unbalanced” signal compo- in this case, means “do it now, don’t argue, you’ll thank me as nents (positive, hot or +; and negative, ground or -). The TRS is soon as it’s done.” If you are just starting out it will be easy. Just often carries a “balanced” signal through its three (positive, + or apply the steps as you buy cables. If you already have a zillion hot; negative, - or cold; and ground) wires, but it can also serve as cables, then this will be a minor pain that will save hours and a stereo cable (left, right and ground), as in a stereo headphone hours of grief over the rest of your recording life. Besides, you do jack, or as an effects loop cable (send, return, ground). not want your family to have to go down to the morgue and iden- To further confuse things, the unbalanced lines of consumer tify what is left of your body after undead cables get to you. stereo and “semi-pro” audio operate at a -10dBV level standard. The balanced line usually operates at the “pro” level standard of Keven’s Requisite Cable Taming Procedure +4dBu. Note that these are different standards: -10 is in decibel Step one: You will need: Several rolls of ¾-inch electrical tape in volts, and +4 is in decibel units. While it is not necessary to under- various colors other than black and a bold, black Sharpie-type stand the technical differences between these two standards, it is permanent marker. Although electrical tape is famous for being necessary to know which of the two is being used so that each black, you can get multi-packs of it in assorted colors. I have rolls piece in your signal chain is compatible. As your studio proof it in white, yellow, green, red and blue. The lightest colors work gresses, new “+4” gear often causes problems for the existing “- best. Mark each cable you own like this: Cut a six-inch piece of 10” gear. tape and a lay the cable, up near the connector, perpendicular At this higher level, the RCA jacks will disappear altogether as across the middle of it onto the sticky side. Then fold the tape analog connectors replace them, but they will still be found as onto itself sticky sides together. You will create a three-inch “flag” S/PDIF (Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format) digital connectors. near the end of the cable. Then, using the same color tape, make However, there is one additional mutation taking place: Lots of a similar tab for the other end. Now take the marker and write a high-end gear also uses XLR plugs for not only for balanced line level signals and mic inputs, but also to carry digital signals in the (Continued on page 28)

21 (Benefit continued from page 17) Stars. At times there were upwards of 10 people on stage all mixed from the different bands that were there to support Lowell- By the time PCDM came on at 10pm people were fighting for Rocks.com. Lloyd, on harmonica, led off with “Boot Scoot chairs and jockeying for a position at the bar. The band just loved Boogie”. Simone, also from North County Line, sang with a kind what they were doing. Their choices were decidedly mixed, from of emotion and passion that eclipsed just about anyone I’ve ever “Magical Mystery Tour” (with great harmonies and rhythm) to Chi- heard in my life. Every song took off like a rocket. This was not cago (the band) to “Blue Collar Man” to “Fox on the Run.” The your typical set where the songs are good, the beat is fun, and the crowd loved it. Girls were dancing raucously and, in one corner, a band goes home tired but happy. This group gave 100% for each woman was dancing as if she were at home with the living room and every note and it didn’t matter to them if they couldn’t move in curtains closed. morning. It was all about playing their hearts out for Lowell- The crowd also included band members from groups that didn’t Rocks.com. play that night. Jim from Good Question was there to not only Perhaps I’m biased, but my favorite song of the night was sung support a great cause but also have a good time. Good Question by Randy “Big Daddy” Breton himself. It the Georgia Satellites’s is playing on April 1 at Reflections in Chelmsford and their set list bit hit. You know which one. He had people up and dancing to is similar to The End Result’s... Allman Brothers, Warren Zevon, lyrics like, “Don’t hand me no lines and fuck let’s do it!” Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, etc. For those interested, they’ll be hav- The raffle for the leather coat was another of the evening’s high- ing the Miller Lite Girls milling through the audience, which will lights. And, appropriately, a long-time member of Lowell- definitely be a reason to go. He and a friend bought their share of Rocks.com who has been in the music scene for years won the raffle tickets to support LowellRocks.com and Jim was startled coat. He was very surprised to find himself holding the golden and surprised when they called out his number to pick up one of ticket. Everyone in the crowd shouted out to see him try it on be- the LowellRocks.com coolers. cause it looked so appropriate for such a music lover to be on Decadence was the last scheduled band. This hair metal group stage with the musicians he has enjoyed for so long. He went on took the floor with songs that brought back a whole lot of high to prove his worth by taking lead on “Sweet Home Alabama”, school memories. “Rock You Like a Hurricane” swung nicely with bringing the night to an awesome and powerful close. solos through the chorus and verse. The bass guitar careened As I drove home, I thought about how LowellRocks.com has into the walls and Wendy’s vocals poured loudly over us. The impacted the local scene. It is a site where the news, events, and power kept flowing with “Bang Bang” and Billy Idol. The audience, happenings are up-to-the-minute, providing instant access to all already hyped, really got into it when Wendy, with her tassels and you’d want to know about local music and where to get it. Clearly leather motorcycle gloves, jumped into the crowd and encouraged it takes a lot of time and effort to keep up something so incredible. them to sing with her, usually with her arm around their shoulder. The bands tonight gladly offered their time and effort to let Randy She even got Randy to come up on stage for Quiet Riot’s “Metal know that it is worth it. Over $500 was raised to help keep it going Health”. strong. LowellRocks.com, for those that like it live, truly brings the Midnight and there were still 50 people in the club. People were local music scene to life. winding down and leaving to beat the storm but, even still, more people came in for the final act; The LowellRocks.com All-

$3000 Grand Prize 2nd place $1000 3rd place $500 Live radio broadcast for the finals.

No need to sell tickets. $20 entry fee only!

The winner of each round receives $100 prize to go with the thrill of victory and moves on to the next round.

Photographer Dante Parker has also added an additional prize. Every participating band will be entered into a drawing to receive a free session with Dante and the winner is totally independent of the battle finals.

The Battle is on Thursday and there are still slots open, so email [email protected] and cc Marc at [email protected] to get involved.

A Dream In Progress Business Profile: S.E. Entertainment An interview with Seng by Shaun O'Brien

.E.Entertainment is a What is S.E.Entertainment? S small, yet widely grow- It’s where my dreams collide with reality. Within this label I do ing film production com- what I’ve always wanted to do and that is making videos. Every- pany, based out of Lowell, thing from movies to documentaries to music videos and even MA. It started about a year website videos (MySpace especially.) ago from a big dream, a camcorder and a computer. How did S.E. come to be? S.E. Entertainment ranges Some people say that I came out of nowhere. They didn’t see the from Indie films to music years of hard work I put into it before my first video ever came out. videos to a wide plethora of I spent years saving enough money to buy a decent camcorder film recordings. Here I went and a quality computer. Than I spent another year learning how to in-depth with Seng, Owner and founder of S.E. Entertainment. edit videos, plan a production, and shoot anything and turn it into something. www.myspace.com/sengboy How long have you been around? Tell us about some of the projects you’ve done. What was it like growing up in Lowell? Tell us about that. S.E. Entertainment has only been around for one year but I feel Growing up in the streets of Lowell has always been hard. Very as if I’ve accomplished so much within it. I can’t wait to start work- few have ever made it out of the hood and most only grow up to ing on [pro-level] projects… the kind you rent at a video store or work 9 to 5 jobs for low wage; just barely enough to pay the bills see on T.V. But, I know I’m so far away from that right now. In the and feed the family. The one thing that has always remained true meantime I am going to continue making videos and perfect my though is all of them have a dream. The only problem is most of craft. This year I will be working on music videos so any aspiring them give up their dream because one day they convince them- artists looking for low cost video productions, just hit me up. I’d selves that it’s never going to come true. Since the day I was born love to work with as much talent as I possibly can. I’ve learned to be the best that I could be. I’ve failed many times Any advice for young people interested in an arts career? but instead of putting my head down, I’ve always held it high and learned from my mistakes. People say that the chances of anyone Following your heart and chasing after your dreams is one of the making it big around here is slim to none but, you know what? I greatest things a human being can do. When your dream is finally like those odds because at least there is a chance and something achieved; you inspire the next person to change everything for amazing is always worth fighting for. Even til’ the very end. one chance to follow their dreams. Peace out y’all.

23 reviews CDs Rated 1 to 5

CD Reviews sweet guitar on songs such as “Downtown Woman” and “Hurricane, Hurricane”. “Foolin' the Blues” is a sure fire “get ‘em Rick Berlin Me & Van Gogh up and dancing” number. Tommy O’Connell takes over on the Hi-N-Dry final cut called “Dance” whipping out some real gravely harp lines. This disc likes to stay in the world of swinging tempos and shuf- Having left the rat race crud of major labeldom behind, the man fling feet. It works, so why not? who created the Berlin Airlift (the band) and The Shelley Winters The recording is clean and clear with enough space to let us hear Project, strips it all down on his latest solo set and, with the help the group. Don has some vintage sounding Fender tones and that of fellow local legends Billy Conway and Tom Dube, plays and is where he stays. My only small complaint is that Don’s vocal sings just for the love. And that love can be heard in nearly every delivery is more spoken than sung but again he makes it work. twisting, yearning note on this minimally-produced, maximally- Diversity in the world keeps it round. emotive album. Mixing sibilant whispers of Byrne, Waits, and This is a solid effort by a group of musicians who have done their Brak; Berlin drops his hands on the keys in simple patterns that homework. It makes me glad to know that there is still an area in support and set various moods for his off-center stories. From the the Northeast such as Maine that is keeping the blues alive. Kerouac poetry of “The Ride”, to the bouncing defiance of “Beer - James LeBoeuf Belly”, and the harsher incarcerated epistle simply entitled “A Let-

ter,” Berlin looks on bar stools, in cars, and under the pain of life to find heroes and anti-heroes (though the difference is often hard Dave Crossland Pearl to discern). Not only is the title track appropriately painterly but it, Road Monkey like the entire album, reveals more shades of color and feeling with each repeated listen. - Matt Robinson Find a quiet and self-protective creature, put in some abrasive, and wait. The result is one of the most beautiful creations in na- BlackOut Frenzy, 4 Song EP ture. No wonder, then, that devoted troubadour Dave Crossland www.blackoutfrenzy.com has named his new album Pearl, for after years of hard work and quiet introspection, he has created a glimmering collection of This is a sampler for metal and hardcore listeners. It is a lot of natural beauty. noise even though all the instruments can be heard in the mix. It’s definitely not a disc that I would listen to Produced by fellow music man Jim Infantino (Jim’s Big Ego), repeatedly, but someone into heavier Pearl includes some of music may love it. Of the four songs, I If you would like to Crossland’s biggest fan found “Bite the Hand” to be the best. It faves and some newer was a little more melodic than the other review CDs offerings as tunes and had more interesting licks. As Please send an well. Opening with the a musician, I find that your average lis- syncopated jangle “Easy teners catch on to songs that they can email to me at Money,” Crossland tap their feet along to or bob their head scratches into the per- to. These songs have so many musical [email protected] cussive island poetry of parts and tempo changes that the aver- the title track before sing- age listener would probably lose atten- or call Marc at ing the tropical praises of tion pretty quick. There is a lot of room to (978) 258-2606 “Cheap Red Wine” make these songs better. There are (during which he makes good parts mixed in all the songs. With (you get to keep them, too) the appealing pledge, “I an outsider to help with pre-production, I will sing every song I think the songs could be worked on to know to you”). “Pretty flow more smoothly. - Alyss Little Feet” is a cute Jude-ian toe-tapper, “Hard to Say” is an appropriately achy mix tape-ready love song, and “Home” trundles Don Brewer Blues Project Voodoo Soul Blues its way along in short shots of Virginian verse. After getting caught 8 Song CD in the trap of the his classic “Jennifer,” Crossland plods through www.donbrewerbluesproject.com the low-end lilt of “I Wonder” before winding up with the chorus- Performance-3 Production-3 Songwriting 4 Recommend YES loving ditty “Madison Rose” and the poetic profile of “Sleepy Chloe.” Overall, the album is revealing and rewarding, opening The Don Brewer Blues Project is a band from the hidden blues like an oyster to reveal the prizes inside. capitol of Maine. In my interview with another Maine based band, Dave Crossland will release "Pearl" at The Lizard Lounge in Roundhouse, I learned that the blues are alive and well in the Cambridge March 23. - Matthew S. Robinson state of Maine. This CD is proof of that. Voodoo Soul Blues is a collection of eight original numbers all Downbeat 5 Victory Motel written by Don Brewer himself. All of the ingredients are here. (Hi-N-Dry / Abbey Lounge) With swinging horns, juke joint harmonicas, tasty sax lines, In just under half an hour, Boston’s best and most misnomered smooth Hammond organ, and Don’s ever present Fender tones, quartet throws it from bobbysock sway to mosh pit roar…and this CD stays in the very traditional. The songs run the gamut back! On the pounding opener “Make Your Mark” and the Animal- from the humor injected swinger “Out Last Night”, to the Elmore istic soulful screamer “Outcast,” fronter Jennifer D’Angora rips her James influenced “New York Blues”, in which Don lays out some throat out on nearly every note, leaving absolutely nothing behind thick slide ala Mr. James. The band has the full compliment of except her talented trio of supporting men: bassist Mike Yocco, Don on guitar, Tommy O’Connell on harp, Marc Perez on drums, drummer Eric Almquist, and local guit legend JJ Rassler. The two- Ronny Arsenault on bass, Pat Pepin on sax, and Bob Colwell on toned cover of “Out in the Street” calls for well-arranged attention Hammond organ and piano. The band is solid throughout the disc while “Dum Dum Ditty" (another Barry/Greenwich gem) is a fist- giving perfect backing for Don to tell us his tales and lay out some

CDs Rated 1 to 5 reviews pumping soda shop punk love song. “Army of One” crashes MindsetX Statecraft through like a tank, and “Laughin’ Out Loud” is a layered driver Tags Loft Cedar House Sound North Sutton, NH that balances between grunge and tech rock (with no tech!). After Production Mindset x & Andy Stathura a mellow lung-resting duet through “Lonesome Town,” the band Performance: 3 Production: 3 Songwriting: 3 Recommend: No cranks it up again for the country-fried rager “Climbin’ the Walls” before closing with the sneering send-off “Lie Again.” It is interesting how time changes you, when I was in college I From start to finish, this is a pleasantly punishing album that probably would have been pounding my fist to Mindset/Statecraft. brings the rock spark back to town. Today I am not feeling so amped up about them. There is a great So what’s the new count-off for rock in Boston? 1-2-3-4…5! - Mat- deal of overdriven guitars and a vocal style I find hard to listen to. thew S. Robinson Adam Cote at times plays some interesting drum fills through this conceptual driven work which stands for self realization and fight- Etta James, Love Songs ing against government forces. RCA Victor/Legacy The major problem I have with this release is that it sounds dry and somewhat dated. All ears are different so someone out there At Laaaaaaaast, a collection of standards and romantic hits per- might want to take a listen. My ears were not so impressed. formed by HRH Etta James. From the sweeping introduction of - Will Briere the afore-referenced classic to the Stax-y ache of “I’ve Been Lov- ing You Too Long” and the powerful proclamation “There is No The Retcons Live from the Panic Room Greater Love”, this compilation covers all the bases that Ms. James has ever crossed, and more! And though some of the The Retcons serve up what I would call “High Energy Nerd Punk”. Great American Songbook selections are tempted to fall into the These guys literally sound like they crawled out from underneath contemporary morass of band-wagoners, Etta is most often able a heaping stack of comic books to cut their debut disc. to add her signature touch to well-loved tunes like the always ap- I’m not much of a comic book reader but I know Cable was re- propriate “Come Rain or Come Shine,” and instructional “Teach sponsible for everything, oh yeah that punchy little bass with a Me Tonight,” and a time passing “Night and Day.” Not content to crash thunderous cymbal hits. I mean seriously my ears are now sing the blues, James demonstrates an understanding and com- open to the cons. It sounds like they taped a mic up and 4-tracked mand of an array of styles, making each one her own, at least in it. I’ll give these punks two and a half stars for musicality and a part. - Matt Robinson five for comic book knowledge. Fast, loud, hard, and just out of the pond. Good luck guys you’ll Mile 23 The Rebirth EP need your super powers to survive. - Will Briere Independent Release 2005 7 Song CD www.mile23.net Rachael Sage Blistering Sun Performance: 3 Production: 3 Songwriting: 2 Recommended: NO MPress

Though flawed, Mile 23's debut, The Rebirth EP, shows promise. Though still firmly ensconced in the Lilith Fair realm, award- As players of pop-punk, a genre well-popularized and overdone in winning songstress Rachael Sage continues to show that she has today's music scene, it is essential that they have something that much to say and many ways to say it. On her latest CD, The Blis- sets them apart. As of yet, they have not found it, but are well on tering Sun, she takes the heat thrown at independent female per- their way if they continue to put in the effort. Their EP suffers not formers and reflects it back with a magnifying glass. After opening so much from a lack of skill or decent ideas, but from a lack of with the “Cornflake Girl” bounce of “Alright OK,” Sage continues maturity and cohesiveness in songwriting. Several songs fall flat, with the appropriately floating sweeps of “Featherwoman, ” then due mainly to a sense of misdirection: though they have an abun- digs into the liturgical groove of “93 Maidens” – a musical kaddish dance of energy, its rightful expression is obscured by overly sim- for the martyrs of Warsaw and their historic siblings. Quickly plistic lyrics, awkward transitions, a disappointing lack of versatility changing tones, Sage jazzes into the brassy rhythms of and vocal range, and a generally superficial emotional grasp. “Wildflower” before bringing in the strings for the sad and soulful Their seven songs are not those of battle-scarred survivors of life shades of “Violet or Blue.” Slithering and snapping through the and love as they would have you believe, but those of a school- noir-y “Lonely Streets,” she continues to amaze with her diverse boy - at times weak-kneed and lovesick, at others righteously out- stylistic command. Among the other notable tunes are the Hillel- raged - reaching for a depth nonexistent in his mundane days. inspired “Older” and the lively scratch through the cleverly (and However, the potential is there. "Where You Go" introduces an perhaps appropriately) entitled beat poem “Hit Song”. Unfortu- element conspicuously absent from most of the EP: a rhythmic nately, such a wide array of styles is hard to pigeonhole in today’s bass line. Coupled with engaging back-up vocals, the bass pro- over-categorized music market. However, Sage seems to be vides much-needed texture and feeling. The recording's final above categorization... fortunately! - Matthew S. Robinson song, "Faulty Foundation", utilizes this especially well; its full, powerful sound gives an indication to what this young band could The Sun Drops, 4 Song Sampler produce if they continue growing as musicians and defining them- www.thesundrops.com selves within the genre. They are, however, great live and the songs sounded much better. - Michelle Kellaway I prefer listening to a full disc rather than a sampler because it definitely helps to clarify what a band is capable of. This way you can tell if all the songs sound the same or if they all have their Send your CDs to: own identity. I don’t know how to classify the Sun Drops. I hear a little bit of rock, pop, country and acoustic. Song Structures, pro- NoMaSoNHa duction, harmonies and arrangement were good and most of the songs kept my interest. As far as originality, the singer sounds like c/o Marc Friedman someone, but I can’t think of who. You’ll have to listen for yourself. 30 Royal Crest Dr. Apt. 6 “Undone” was my favorite and I think it was a good choice to put it first. If any of the songs will catch someone’s attention, it is that N. Andover, MA 01845 one. - Alyss

25 CDs Rated 1 to 5 reviews Tilted Back, 10 Song Disc dared to go key to key with piano man Duncan Watt. His piano Powerhouse Studio Lunenburg, Ma “learner’s permit” is still in the works, but Greenway was able to Performance: 4 Production 4 Songwriting: 4.5 Recommend: YES share many grand ideas on the small keyboard. He then offered the pulsing “Goodbye Rosa" and kept on the march with the cho- This group rips it up with a good n’ heavy blues rock feel through- rus-backed concluder “In the Name of Love”. When it was all over, out. If you are looking for something a bit gritty with servings of the converted church crowd had been lifted spiritually and physi- meaty bass grooves and a crunchy rhythm section you may want cally. They showed their reciprocated appreciation with an ex- to dig your claws into this disc. “Working Class Blues” is a fitting tended standing ovation. www.circlefolk.org - Matthew S. Robin- example. Vocalist Cincotta sounds a bit dry at times but holds with son the group. “Fool For You” is an instance of the dry sound, but the disc picks back up again with “Smile On Her Face”. I’m not such a Hell Within, Sinaria, Blackout Frenzy, Within Choking Range fan of the slower tempo songs but I dig the rompers! There is a Reflections January 7, 2006 strong blues feel that runs in the blood of this offering. - Will Briere Chelmsford, MA

Various Artists/Klik Star Productions - Beast With'N Mixtape Within Choking Range, a five-piece outfit from Fitchburg was Klik Star Productions - 2005/2006 first to take the stage and kick off a night of metal mayhem. They 22 Tracks started the show off with “Chainsaw Anthem”, a grinding blur of Featuring: Sswytch Hope, Coma, Girth, D'Nyle, Tempa, Top kick drums and furious riffs accompanied by guttural vocals and Dawg, 6ixty 6ix , Free, KonSpira-C, Reckles and more. fist pounding break downs, which brought more people to the floor than any opening band I’ve seen at Reflections thus far. Singer Beast With'N is one of the most well rounded, half original, mix- Mark Shapiro convulsed and flipped across the stage, spitting tapes I have heard in a long time. This is a take-along disc, in the vocals that ranged from throat-shredding growls to melodic sere- car, when your heading to a friend’s gathering, or just to chill and nades. “Sea of Razors” showcased raw hardcore roots, tinged bump at home. With so many good tracks, Sswytch, takes it to a with Unearth-esque break downs (perhaps something to do with new level of understanding like on "Within", where he breaks Ken Susi producing their album Most People Just Die) and me- down how life takes turns, you just to need move with it. On "F*ck lodic overtures that were immediately blown apart by rugged per- wit me", and "Coma's 24", Coma lets the listeners know he’s not cussion, dirty guitar work and bludgeoning vocals. in this game to take shit. Girth’s "Rest In Piece From a Broken Up next was Blackout Frenzy, the thrash-core/metal Westford Heart", really lets go on an emotional trip, about a past girlfriend five-piece, who are no strangers to Reflections. They exploded who passed away in a tragic accident, something real. Track after with “Styptic”, erupting straight from the bowels of thrash-core track, of just pure fire, emotion, and elevation. I suggest picking hell, with torrents of lightening-speed guitar and drum work, creat- this CD up, and checking it out for yourself. ing the feel of a thousand bees swarming in for the kill. Clean and The mix CD was released January 15th, 2006 and was the first clear sky-rocketing vocals provided a drastic contrast with the Klik Star release this year. It is five dollars a copy and easily ac- doomy, army of hell smashing-your brains-in feel. “Vicious Cycle” cessible through e-mail at [email protected], or on shared the same pummeling effect, as windmills and fists flew Hiphopmerch.com (site hosted by TD3, from TD3produc- across the floor to the whirlwind of maniacal chords, stick-splitting tions.com), and can also be purchased at Bananas Music shop on percussion and ascending vocals that take you all the way to the Central St. in Lowell, Ma. Each track has the radio play potential top and back again. BOF ended the set with the new track of any mainstream song out there. The artists on this CD take “Fulcrum”, igniting the crowd for one final throw-down as the band industry tracks to whole new level. Listen to know, nod your head, annihilated the stage while the crowd annihilated the floor. and tap your foot. A small price to pay for real hip hop. New York four-piece metal outfit Sinaria was next to take the -Shaun O'Brien stage, picking up where BOF left off, energizing the crowd with a Live more Pantera-influenced sound. “20/Twenty” opened up on a melodic note, switching quickly to a heavier, gnarled-chugging ap- Greg Greenway with Dave Crossland February 4, 2006 proach. With elements of both American and euro-metal, Sinaria Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, Franklin, MA led the crowd down a murky metal path of jackhammer drums and soaring guitar licks. After warming up with a slower paced song, Bounding on stage with his vintage six-string in hand, recently they jumped into “Abandonment”, in which drummer Tom Rizzo returned adopted son Dave Crossland rippled into the bright lured the crowd in with a quick intro, which was immediately met rhythms of “Easy Money”, offering a sweet taste of his honeyed by the doomier-than-doomy chords of guitarist Erin Ludewig. voice before chugging into the harmonica-ed hush of “London Swinging her cascade of metaler-than-metal hair, Ludewig led the Town”. Crossland appreciatively commented on the audience’s politeness, then continued with his poignant and powerful tribute room in a cover of Pantera’s “Fuckin’ Hostile”, and needless to say, the floor became as much a blur as her hair, as the bar be- “Matthew Shepard”. After the shimmering whisper of “Sleepy came one huge sing along...”To see, to bleed, cannot be taught. Chloe”, he closed with the passionately amorous admission In turn you’re making us fucking hostile!” “Sweet Jennifer”, ending his all-too-brief set on a rousing up note. Moments later, the singer/songwriter scene’s own “Man in Black” Last but not least, local metal heroes Hell Within took the stage took the stage. “We’re gonna’ have such a good time!”, Greg in support of their debut release Asylum of the Human Predator. Opening with a tear-your-face-off blood-and-guts growl from front Greenway pledged before launching into a snap-along take of the man Matt McChesney, “Godspeed to Your Deathbed” sent the honky-tonk rhythmed “Every Little Thing”. The audience caught on crowd flipping into torrents of flying body parts and black t-shirts. and stayed with his intrigue and intelligence. From the instructive Full-bodied and layered with full metal texture, this song covered and humorous retrospective “My Good Name” to the shivery pick- a full spectrum of screaming metal influences while not forgetting ings of “Where It Leads”--which featured the lush, spectral sup- to include the essential hardcore breakdowns, a combination that ports of vocalist Patty Barkas--to the chugging “Runaway Train”, makes for a winning thrash-worthy concoction. The performance Greenway offered an active, engaged and engaging performance left little space for breathing room as they launched into that combined traditional folk ideas with remnants of his own rock “Redemption is a Cold Body”, which started with more of a fast- past. After debuting the ego-quashing bluesy “Somebody”, he paced, nearly punk beat, but was instantly converted to the con-

reviews CDs Rated 1 to 5 trolled chaos of trademark double bass kick drums of doom. More guttural screaming ensued, turning the dance floor into a de- bauchery of mayhem as beer was spilled and girls were ushered Expose Your Band off the floor to safety by their boyfriends. Title track off Asylum of the Human Predator sent the already exploding crowd into a furi- To 6000 People ous frenzy as I was instantly asked by one of the bouncers to step off the floor because I had a glass bottle in my hand. Mixing more melodic vocals in with his throat-shredding growl, McChesney A Month dominated the stage as he soared between crisp and clear vocals 1/4 page ad $65 to a full, raspy growl, leading the band and the crowd together That’s roughly through a masterfully mixed cacophony of the most extreme ele- $10 per member ments of both heaven and hell. By the end of the show, the bands were exhausted, the fans were buzzed and dazed, and everyone departed with ringing in Another treat for Yes fans, besides Squire’s telling of his first their ears and a heart full of metal. Perfect night if you ask me! meeting with Jimi Hendrix, is that the latest material sounds as if - Jillian Locke Yes had continued on the path they were headed in the late '70s on such albums as Going for the One and Drama. The only real difference between the aforementioned Yes music and The Syn's is Nardelli's baritone spoken singing. He can't hold a note longer than it takes to get out the lyrics that are just as pollyanna as Anderson's became once the Golden Age of Yes had ended. In a sense, the surprisingly naive lyrics about utopian societies and love as the answer were probably the only remnants of psychede- lia that are to be found in the modern Syn. While the newly added White stumbled a few times (This was his first show with the band. He had only joined a few days prior.), Squier's bass playing was as immaculate and creative as ever. Its power was supported by hired guns Gerard Johnson (on keys) and guitarist Shane Theriot (Lee Ann Rimes, Neville Brothers) The Syn January 19, 2006 and the entire show was filmed for a DVD to be released later this Somerville Theater Somerville, MA 02144 year. The show, however, didn't end with the musical performance. To When is a great show a disappointment? Well, that depends on the delight of the devoted audience, the band appeared shortly your point of view. If you went to The Syn concert expecting to thereafter in the lobby to sign autographs. As if by magic, worn hear psychedelic jewels from English contemporaries of Syd Bar- album covers and tattered posters appeared in the hands of the rett era Pink Floyd dating from the Summer of Love, then you faithful. Nardelli and Squire were very cheerful and chatted with would have been crushed. However, if you are a Yes fanatic (after fans while signing virtually anything presented to them. White all a mere fan wouldn't shell out $30 to see Chris Squier's (their (once drummer for John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band) was rather bassist) pre-Yes band re-united after 40 years) this show would aloof in his obligatory duties. That, I would say, was the real dis- have been a bargain at any price. Not only was Chris up front and appointment. - Marc Friedman personal in the intimate setting of the Somerville Theater, but Alan White (Yes’ drummer since Bill Bruford's departure in 1972) had just joined the tour. The band, whose only other original member was singer Steve Nardelli, masterfully ran through most of their latest album, Syndestructible, a few unreleased tunes, and a medley of their classic material from the '60s.

27 (Recording Songwriter continued from page 21) description of the cable IN LARGE LETTERS on the tape at Greetings from the each end of the cable. Include the length, format and sex, if ap- plicable. For instance: “20’ TRS to XLR male,” “15’ TRS to Boston Bluegrass Union TRS.” If you have eight mic cables, mark two each with four different colors for maximum contrast. This way you’ll not only know what’s on the other end of the cable you are holding, you’ll Presenting: The Seldom Scene be able to see from across the room that the other end must be Saturday, March 11, 2006 the two yellow flags in that patch bay. National Heritage Museum, Lexington, MA

Step Two: You will need: a big piece of pegboard, an assort- The Boston Bluegrass Union presents The Seldom Scene in con- ment of pegboard hooks and a spool of heavy-duty twist-tie from cert at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington on Saturday, a home improvement store. Hang the biggest piece of pegboard March 11th. The Seldom Scene has long been regarded as one of that will fit in your studio space. (Keep in mind that you’ll use it the most progressive bands in bluegrass and as one of the finest for lots more than cables.) Then cut a bundle of six-inch pieces acts in the whole genre. The Washington, D.C. based quintet re- of the twist-tie. Coil all cables not currently in use into a conven- turns to the Boston area for their first visit in a number of years. ient hank and tie them with a twist-tie before they can attack, The Seldom Scene formed in 1971 in Washington, D.C., with then hang them on a hook on the pegboard before they get mandolinist John Duffey, banjo player Ben Eldridge, guitarist John away. Starling, dobro player Mike Auldridge, and bassist Tom Gray. Duf- fey, a musical instrument repairman, was the driving force behind That’s it. That’s the whole two-easy-steps thing. Do it now be- the band's creation, as he had grown weary of long road tours fore the cat goes missing. during his ten years with the Country Gentlemen. He chose only other musicians with demanding day jobs that would prevent In addition to his writing and recording work, Keven is a coach them from traveling beyond the Washington area on tour; Starling and consultant to songwriters and developing recording engi- was a surgeon, Eldridge a mathematician, Auldridge a graphic neers. You may find him at TheSingerSongwriterStudio.com. artist, and Gray a cartographer with the National Geographic. The group's name was intended as a joke on the idea that they would- NOMASONHA Needs a Sales Rep n't be seen much on stage, initially playing only once a week at Bethesda, Maryland or Alexandria, Virginia. This didn't last long. 20% Commission For 25 years the Seldom Scene remained extremely popular in bluegrass circles even with the near-constant personnel changes. [email protected] But the band was dealt what seemed a crushing blow in late 1996, when founder and leader John Duffey suffered a fatal heart attack. The band again stopped recording and made no live appearances for some time. Duffey had been widely regarded as Only 1 Issue Left! one of the most powerful and entertaining stage performers in bluegrass, and it seemed that there was no one who could replace him. Nonetheless, the band was simply too popular to disappear for Unless You Advertise good. Banjoist Ben Eldridge, the sole remaining original member and a significant force in banjo music in his own right, assumed leadership of the band. Former guitarist Lou Reid rejoined the Bands get the word out band on mandolin. Initially the new Scene concentrated on live performances, but in 2000 the group recorded a new album, about your new CD "Scene it All." The Seldom Scene continues to tour and record for the Sugar Hill label. Their latest recording is “Dream Scene.” The current line-up consists of banjoist Ben Eldridge, guitarist Dudley or gigs for only $65 Connell, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, dobroist Fred Travers, and

mandolinist Lou Reid. Recording Studios, CD Du- Since 1976, the BBU has been the premier source for bluegrass in the Northeast. We continue to present exciting concerts, host plicators, T-Shirt Makers, the annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, present education programs for children and adults, and host picking parties throughout Tattoo Studios, etc. the region. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bbu.org, via mail with check Lets Talk! and SASE to BBU, PO Box 650061, W. Newton, MA 02465. For interview requests, photos, slides or additional [email protected] press materials on The Seldom Scene, or contact Gerry Katz at 617-515-8383.

(978) 258-2606

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REE F Musicians’ Classifieds Looking for a guitarist to start a band similar to New NOMASONHA Found Glory, Fall Out Boy, and The Starting Line, etc. Nomasonha Already have drums, bass & rehearsal space near NEEDS YOU! Concord/Manchester. Kyle [email protected] c/o Continental Cobbler We are looking for: 6 W. Broadway Repulsive Disfigurement seeks guitarist. Have a jam • CD Reviewers Derry, NH 03038 space in Haverhill, MA. We are serious & hope you are [email protected] serious, too. We don't want guitarist saying to us they • Hip hop writers can play Cradle of Filth, Slipknot, Mudvyne, etc. We are brutal death metal & will keep it that way. Serious in- • Jazz writers quires only 603-474-5124. Ask for Rick. Your ad here. Don’t forget area codes with phone #s. • Sales Reps

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Ld Vox of "Whiskey Station" - hard (978) 258-2606 rock/blues/metalesque cover/originals band - seekS other musicians to fill out a new line up, HAVE FUN, rock the crowd with Obscure material not heard on

radio as of late - NOT Top 40 limp wristed crap, either. In vein of: Badlands, Y&T, L.Zep, KISS, Dio - era Sab- 1 year old Dean Performer E Acoustic/Electric Guitar bath, vintage VH,ZZ-Top, Pink Floyd,etc. I play some with Natural Finish, Cutaway design, Die-cast Tuners, gtr but am chiefly Vox & have contacts for a space, gigs Custom Dean Preamp with Volume and EQ., Dean & have a P.A. along with a few gtrs, lyrics & some stuff Bridge Pickup. Includes gig bag. $325 firm. Vito B flat on tape - yeah,Tape - along with a boat load of experi- Clarinet, Excellent condition, great sound, perfect for ence. Looking to gig out in the Spring/Summer. Phan- student; includes case, extra mouth piece, reeds, and [email protected]. Rubank Elementary Method and Advanced Method Clarinet books. $125 firm. Purchase both instruments

together for $375. Danielle @ 978-632-1255 or god- Bassist Wanted Vocalist Wanted [email protected] Custom Guitars Bassist wanted for John Hex's Creepshow. A horror i am searching for members To bring together a horrid Choose the body, color, neck style and all the hardware rock/metal band in the vein of Misfits, Alice Cooper, nightmare of the utmost blackest proportions. new to make it run, and we hand assemble it to your specs. Motley Crue, Motorhead, W.A.S.P. Looking to fill the england style black metal is long overdo. who wants to Starting from $700. [email protected] get on the map? i drum, sing, & write. also a sick illus- spot ASAP. Good things in the works. New CD soon. All originals. Get on the horn bass man! raynardste- trator. lets form. www.MaggotsDelight.com raynardste- [email protected] [email protected] Did you find that gig, buy that gear, or earn some cash? Veincage is currently seeking bassist & drummer. In- Wanted: Lead Vocalist/Frontman with wide range for Please tell us! dustrial metal crew. Evil with groove. Hard hitting tribal Rage 'N' Age. Playing an instrument a plus, but not impact. Machine like accuracy w/ sense of humor. required. Many gigs in the books. Contact Jim Riordan [email protected] Album written. Shows available but we need you. Must days: 603-642-7726 - nights: at 603-895-4642 or have professional gear, attitude, and chops. [email protected]. http://ragenage.netfirms.com www.veincage.com [email protected] or contact Services Stoneface 413-219-5478 PRODUCTS & SERVICES R&B/Hip Hop/Soul Singer-Songwriter-Producer Avail- Bassist & Keyboardist Wanted Honor System: List your products and services for free, able for booking & available to write & sing hooks. just send us $10 for any money you get $100 and under [email protected] and 10% of any sales over $100. Send checks to Marc Lucretia's Daggers (female vox, guitar, sequencer) www.myspace.com/shaymuse Friedman d.b.a. NoMaSoNHa. Address on p. 3 of this seeks serious keyboardist and bassist. Original dark issue. lyrical art rock blending new wave, punk, electronica. Mandolin Lessons: Have you ever wanted to learn a Think Fiona Apple/Sisters of Mercy/NIN/Dresden Dolls. For Sale new instrument or even maybe a first instrument? Well Backup female vocals preferred, but not essential. how about the mandolin? I am an established musician Weekly practices in Watertown, MA, monthly gigs. CD in the Lowell area and I have a few slots availabe for Tele for sale. 2005, brand new, unplayed, stickers on forthcoming. www.lucretiasdaggers.com, lucretiasdag- mandolin lessons. Call for rates. email me at the pickguard, American Telecaster. It's 2 tone brown [email protected], 617-924-8959. [email protected] sunburst, swamp ash body, maple neck, with a molded

hard shell case. $900 firm. Most places sell this guitar Drummer Wanted for $1059. I'm located in Berwick, Maine. 207-450-5206 Need a replacement musician? or [email protected]. .. or someone to record some parts? Advice? Stunt Veincage is currently seeking bassist & drummer. In- Music has performers & consultants that can help. We dustrial metal crew. Evil with groove. Hard hitting tribal are building a database of musicians with experience & impact. Machine like accuracy w/ sence of humor. Musician classifieds chops for one night fill-ins. No worries, we have Album written. Shows available but we need you. Must screened them. [email protected] have professional gear, attitude, and chops. www.stuntmusic.com www.veincage.com [email protected] or contact are FREE! Stoneface 413-219-5478 (subject to editing for space)

Upcoming Events for February/March 2006

If you would like information on how to get your shows listed in NoMaSoNHa or if you would like to sign up for the upcoming events weekly email mailing, please contact Danielle Martino, Editor Of Upcoming Events, at [email protected] or call Marc at (978) 258-2606.

3/01/06 Wednesday 3/07/06 Tuesday Slaughter House Saturday with Eye of the Sun, Rusty Cadillacs Forever's Fallen Grace, Arrogant Bastard, Pub 30 Something Open Mic Night (Open Stage) Acoustic Tuesday's (Open Stage) Deep 6, Never Surrender & Dark Minions 147 Frost Rd. Tyngsboro, MA Hosted by: Bernie Frenette Hosted by: Bernie Frenette Hosted by: The NE Punk/Goth/Metal Festival 9PM, 21+ Cover Williams Restaurant Character's Pub Reflections Lounge 184 Pearson Blvd. Gardner, MA 246 Central St. Gardner, MA 67 Parkhurst Rd. Chelmsford, MA Slaughter House Saturday with 9PM, 21+ No Cover 9PM, 21+ No Cover 1PM-6PM, All Ages, $10, $8 Adv. TIX Ashes of the lost, Moonshine, Dreaded Silence & 3 Headed Monster 3/02/06 Thursday 3/08/06 Wednesday 3/14/06 Tuesday Hosted by: NE Punk/Goth/Metal Festival Reflections Lounge DJ Hype Dirtnap Entertainment Presents: Acoustic Tuesday's (Open Stage) 67 Parkhurst Rd. Chelmsford, MA The Drop Zone Skulltoboggan, Hosted by: Bernie Frenette 1PM-6PM, All Ages, $10, $8 Adv. TIX 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Whiskey Chapel, More Bands T.B.A. Character's Pub 3/19/06 Sunday 9PM, 18+ Cover The Lucky Dog Music Hall 246 Central St. Gardner, MA

89 Green St. Worcester, MA 9PM, 21+ No Cover Imagine Studios Performing Arts Series 8:30PM, 21+ No Cover Presents: 3/15/06 Wednesday

The Dresden Dolls, Opening Band T.B.A Open Mic Night (Open Stage) 3/21/06 Tuesday Ioka Theater Hosted by: Bernie Frenette Open Mic Night (Open Stage) 55 Water St. Exeter, NH Williams Restaurant Hosted by: Bernie Frenette Acoustic Tuesday's (Open Stage) 6:30PM, All Ages, $25, $22 Adv. TIX 184 Pearson Blvd. Gardner, MA Williams Restaurant Hosted by: Bernie Frenette 603-781-8922 / 978-834-0500 9PM, 21+ No Cover 184 Pearson Blvd. Gardner, MA Character's Pub 9PM, 21+ No Cover 246 Central St. Gardner, MA Singer/Songwriter Showcase 3/09/06 Thursday 9PM, 21+ No Cover Hosted by: Heidi-Jo Hanson 3/16/06 Thursday Featured Artist: DJ Hype AfroDZak Presents: Marjorie Thompson & Mo Suager The Drop Zone DJ Hype Hip-Hop Anonymous with AfroDZak, One Love, Melodisiac, Velvet Stylus, & DJ Shame McNally's Grill and Pub 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA The Drop Zone HHA First Anniversary & Darcie's Birthday 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA 9PM, 18+ Cover 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Harpers Ferry 8PM, 21+ No Cover 9PM, 18+ Cover 156 Brighton Ave. Allston, MA Mindset X 8PM, 21+ $5, 18+ $5 3/03/06 Friday The Uptown Tavern Freighttrain (Psychedelic Rock)

Elm St. Manchester, NH The Blackburn Tavern 3/22/06 Wednesday 2 Main St. Gloucester, MA Dirtnap Entertainment Presents: 8PM, 21+ No Cover G*Spawt Birthday Bash with 9PM, 21+ No Cover 978-282-1919 Mindset X

Skulltoboggan, Singer/Songwriter Showcase The Dover Brick House Dover, NH Sad Marvin with Reverse, Scamper, & Southern Bastard Church, More Bands T.B.A. Hosted by: Heidi-Jo Hanson 9PM, 21+ $5 The Luxury Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner Featured Artist: Mark Fisher 148 Grove St. Worcester, MA McNally's Grill and Pub The Middle East Upstairs Open Mic Night (Open Stage) 8:30PM, 21+ $5 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA Hosted by: Bernie Frenette 8PM, 21+ No Cover 8PM, 18+ $9 Williams Restaurant

DJ Hype 184 Pearson Blvd. Gardner, MA Singer/Songwriter Showcase The Drop Zone 3/10/06 Friday 9PM, 21+ No Cover Hosted by: Heidi-Jo Hanson 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Featured Artist: Judd Caswell 9PM, 18+ Cover Bottoms Up with 3/23/06 Thursday McNally's Grill and Pub Balance (Van Halen Tribute) 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA Rusty Cadillacs The Spyder Room DJ Hype 8PM, 21+ No Cover Spyder Room Lincoln St. Manchester NH The Drop Zone

342 Lincoln St. Manchester, NH 8:30PM, 21+ Cover 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA 3/17/06 Friday 8PM, 21+ No Cover 603-627-1341 9PM, 18+ Cover

DJ Hype Singer/Songwriter Showcase DJ Hype 3/04/06 Saturday The Drop Zone Hosted by: Heidi-Jo Hanson The Drop Zone 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Featured Artist: Dave Gaudet 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Bottoms Up 9PM, 18+ Cover McNally's Grill and Pub 9PM, 18+ Cover Mammoth Roadhouse 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA

1486 Mammoth Rd. Dracut, MA Heidi-Jo Hanson (Acoustic/Rock) Heidi-Jo Hanson (Acoustic/Rock) 8PM, 21+ No Cover 8:45PM, 21+ Cover 978-957-3224 P.A.C.C/Polish American Country Club Southside Grill Margarita Factory Gardner, MA 3/24/06 Friday West Broadway Gardner, MA DJ Hype 8PM, 21+ Cover 9:30PM, 21+ No Cover The Drop Zone DJ Hype

10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Mindset X with Valve Job The Drop Zone Rusty Cadillacs 9PM, 18+ Cover The Compound 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Slammers Lunenburg St. Fitchburg, MA. 9PM, 18+ Cover 547 Donald St. Bedford, NH NEPGM Fest Slaughter House Saturday with 9PM, 21+ $5 9PM, 21+ No Cover Pete Rock Enterprises Presents: Skulltoboggan, Inhale, Thru The Walls, Skulltoboggan & More Bands T.B.A. More Bands T.B.A. Rusty Cadillacs 3/11/06 Saturday Cats/KC's Tap Reflections Lounge Shenanigans 530 Broadway Pawtucket, RI 67 Parkhurst Rd. Chelmsford, MA DJ Hype 586 Nashua St. Milford, NH 8:30PM, 21+ $5 401-722-0150 1PM, All Ages, $8 Adv. TIX, $10 Door The Drop Zone 8PM, 21+ Cover

10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Rusty Cadillacs 3/05/06 Monday 3/18/06 Saturday 9PM, 18+ Cover Chen Yang Li

520 South St. Bow, NH Georgette Labreche & Friends with Vykii Vox Mindset X DJ Hype 9PM, 21+ No Cover Band (Jazz/Pop) The Spyder Room The Drop Zone

Benefit for Harvest Homes/W.A.R.M. Shelter 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Lincoln St. Manchester, NH 3/25/06 Saturday Dunn's Corners Community Church 9PM, 18+ Cover 9PM, 21+ $5 221 Post Rd. Westerly, RI. DJ Hype $10 Adults, $5 children under 14. Rusty Cadillacs Moonstruck (Acoustic) The Drop Zone For ticket information 401-322-0655 Slammers McNally's Grill & Pub 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA 547 Donald St. Bedford, NH 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA 9PM, 18+ Cover 9PM, 21+ No Cover 8PM, 21+ Cover

508-756-2485 / 617-864-3278 184 Pearson Blvd. Gardner, MA Mindset X with Under Falling Skies Heidi-Jo Hanson (Acoustic/Rock) 9PM, 21+ No Cover Characters Pub Gardner, MA The Upper Deck (Pine Ridge Snow Park) Mindset X with The Big Coffin Hunters 9PM, 21+ $5 377 Stetson Rd. Barre, MA Geno's Bar Portland, ME 9PM, 21+ Cover 9PM, 21+ $5 Mindset X Rusty Cadillacs 4/13/06 Thursday Rusty Cadillacs Blackstone's Lounge Slammers Slammers The Margate Resort Laconia, NH. 547 Donald St. Bedford, NH DJ Hype 547 Donald St. Bedford, NH 8PM, 21+ $5 9PM, 21+ No Cover The Drop Zone 9PM, 21+ No Cover 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Skulltoboggan & More Bands T.B.A. 4/3/06 Monday 9PM, 18+ Cover 4/22/06 Saturday Rox's Country Club 124 Main St. Oxford, MA Skulltoboggan with Ghouls Night Out, Singer/Songwriter Showcase Bottoms Up 8PM, 21+ $5 508-987-2101 Automatons, Mongrel, & Michale Graves Hosted by: Heidi-Jo Hanson Rusty Gs' The Lucky Dog Music Hall Featured Artist: The Baysics with Sean & Adam 731 Lakeview Ave. Lowell MA Slaughter House Saturday with AbSynthe, 89 Green St. Worcester, MA Fullerton 8:45PM, 21+ Cover 978-453-7337 Broken Schematic, Dour & The Art of All 8:30PM, 21+ $10 508-363-1888 McNally's Grill and Pub Hosted by: NE Goth/Punk/Metal Festival 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA DJ Hype Reflections Lounge 4/4/06 Tuesday 8PM, 21+ No Cover The Drop Zone 67 Parkhurst Rd. Chelmsford, MA 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA 1PM-5PM, All Ages, $10; $8 Adv. TIX Acoustic Tuesday's (Open Stage) 4/14/06 Friday 9PM, 18+ Cover Hosted by: Bernie Frenette 3/28/06 Tuesday Character's Pub A Simple Complex with Powerman 5000 Rusty Cadillacs 246 Central St. Gardner, MA Mark's Showplace Slammers Acoustic Tuesday's (Open Stage) 9PM, 21+ No Cover 390 South River Rd. Bedford, NH 547 Donald St. Bedford, NH Hosted by: Bernie Frenette 6PM, 18+ $20 603-731-5251 9PM, 21+ No Cover Character's Pub 4/5/06 Wednesday 246 Central St. Gardner, MA DJ Hype Skulltoboggan with Change of System, 9PM, 21+ No Cover Open Mic Night (Open Stage) The Drop Zone Inner Self Lost, Wretched Asylum, Hosted by: Bernie Frenette 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA & Mastamindz 3/29/06 Wednesday Williams Restaurant 9PM, 18+ Cover KC's Tap 184 Pearson Blvd. Gardner, MA 530 Broadway Pawtucket, RI Open Mic Night (Open Stage) 9PM, 21+ No Cover 4/15/06 Saturday 8:30PM, 21+ $7 401-722-0150 Hosted by: Bernie Frenette Williams Restaurant 4/6/06 Thursday DJ Hype 4/25/06 Tuesday 184 Pearson Blvd. Gardner, MA The Drop Zone 9PM, 21+ No Cover DJ Hype 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Acoustic Tuesday's (Open Stage) The Drop Zone 9PM, 18+ Cover Hosted by: Bernie Frenette 3/30/06 Thursday 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Character's Pub 9PM, 18+ Cover Skulltoboggan 246 Central St. Gardner, MA DJ Hype The Gloucester YMCA Recreation Center 9PM, 21+ No Cover The Drop Zone Singer/Songwriter Showcase 5 Center St. Gloucester, MA 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Hosted by: Heidi-Jo Hanson 6:30PM, All Ages, $5 978-283-5432 4/26/06 Wednesday 9PM, 18+ Cover Featured Artist: Karl Sharicz McNally's Grill and Pub 4/18/06 Tuesday Open Mic Night (Open Stage) Singer/Songwriter Showcase 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA Hosted by: Bernie Frenette Hosted by: Heidi-Jo Hanson 8PM, 21+ No Cover Acoustic Tuesday's (Open Stage) Williams Restaurant Featured Artist: Lucy Martinez Hosted by: Bernie Frenette 184 Pearson Blvd. Gardner, MA McNally's Grill and Pub 4/7/06 Friday Character's Pub 9PM, 21+ No Cover 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA 246 Central St. Gardner, MA 8PM, 21+ No Cover Bottoms Up 9PM, 21+ No Cover 4/27/06 Thursday Mr. Goodbars 3/31/06 Friday Old Orchard Beach, ME. (Right in the center) 4/19/06 Wednesday DJ Hype 8:45PM, 21+ Cover 207-934-9100 The Drop Zone Bottoms Up Mindset X 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Wally's DJ Hype The Skybar Somerville, MA 9PM, 18+ Cover 144 Ashworth Ave. Hampton Beach, NH The Drop Zone 9PM, 21+ $5 8:45PM, 21+ Cover 603-926-6954 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Singer/Songwriter Showcase 9PM, 18+ Cover Open Mic Night (Open Stage) Hosted by: Heidi-Jo Hanson Dirtnap Entertainment Presents: Hosted by: Bernie Frenette Featured Artist: Phil Bruno & Eric Doucette Skulltoboggan Whiskey Chapel, Rusty Cadillacs Williams Restaurant McNally's Grill and Pub Bottlefight, & Distraught Chen Yang Li 184 Pearson Blvd. Gardner, MA 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA Characters Pub 520 South St. Bow, NH 9PM, 21+ No Cover 8PM, 21+ No Cover 246 Central St. Gardner, MA 9PM, 21+ No Cover 8:30PM, 21+ $5 978-632-6623 4/20/06 Thursday 4/28/06 Friday 4/8/06 Saturday DJ Hype DJ Hype Bottoms Up The Drop Zone Bottoms Up The Drop Zone Johnny's 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Breakaway Billiards 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Lowell Rd. Hudson, NH 9PM, 18+ Cover 272 High St. Clinton MA. 9PM, 18+ Cover 8:45PM, 21+ No Cover 603-880-7087 9PM, 21+ Cover 978-365-6105 Rusty Cadillacs Singer/Songwriter Showcase DJ Hype Slammers DJ Hype Hosted by: Heidi-Jo Hanson The Drop Zone 547 Donald St. Bedford, NH The Drop Zone Featured Artist: Gayle Picard 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA 9PM, 21+ No Cover 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA McNally's Grill and Pub 9PM, 18+ Cover 9PM, 18+ Cover 88 Sergeant Rd. Westminster, MA 4/1/06 Saturday 8PM, 21+ No Cover Mindset X 4/11/06 Tuesday Milly's Tavern DJ Hype 4/21/06 Friday Commercial St. Manchester, NH The Drop Zone Acoustic Tuesday's (Open Stage) 9PM, 21+ $5, 18+ $10 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA Hosted by: Bernie Frenette Bottoms Up, Opening Band T.B.A. 9PM, 18+ Cover Character's Pub The Spyder Room 4/29/06 Saturday

246 Central St. Gardner, MA Lincoln St. Manchester NH Emergenza International Music Festival with 9PM, 21+ No Cover 10:30PM, 21+ Cover 603-627-1341 DJ Hype Skulltoboggan, Hiss of Atrocities, Kage, The Drop Zone Media, Protean Collective, Propergander, These 4/12/06 Wednesday DJ Hype Mad Dogs of Glory, 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA The Drop Zone Fictive Kin, & Garagedogs 9PM, 18+ Cover Open Mic Night (Open Stage) 10 Fisk Ave. Greenfield, MA The Middle East Club Hosted by: Bernie Frenette 9PM, 18+ Cover 472 Ma Ave. Cambridge, MA Williams Restaurant 8PM, 18+ $15, $10 Adv. TIX $10 31

march listings thursdays—battle of the bands

friday 3rd ridden (both covers and originals) friday 10th kisstory - the ultimate kiss cover band friday 17th full tilt opens for crazy train - black sabbath tribute band friday 24th evenspeak (both covers and originals) friday 31st whiskey chapel bottlefight skulltoboggan and distraught tuesdays: acoustic open mic with bernie fredette. saturdays: the area’s hottest DJ sundays: the best karaoke show where everyone is a rock star.

THE END IS NEAR!

NoMaSoNHa will go out of print

Unless You Advertise or pay your bill

Bands get the word out about your new CD or gigs for only $65

Recording Studios, CD Duplicators, T-Shirt Makers, Tattoo Studios, etc. Lets Talk!

[email protected] or (978) 258-2606