Artists & Music

Catie Curtis Eyes Road Rebound With Ryko /Palm Debut Dar Williams, Late Morphine Singer Influence 'My Shirt Looks Good On You' BY SCOTT BROOKS called Rykodisc and in Curtis' interaction with man- Continental Drift. Catie Curtis is not the type to home-Curtis, backed by Conway dolinist Jimmy Ryan, a longtime take an opportunity for granted. and Colley, pays tribute to the collaborator who, with Sandman, Fresh from recording her fourth singer with a cover of Sandman's formed the Pale Brothers. album, My Shirt Looks Good on According to Curtis, the inter- UNSIGNED ARTISTS AND REGIONAL NEWS You (RykodiscfPalm Pictures, Aug. play between her voice and 1EI Y I_ A R R Y F I_ I C K 21), the singer /songwriter is Ryan's electric mandolin is the about supporting the album focal point of this album and a excited Even though they all happen to be with a fall tour. feature that her listeners will PLOUGHING THROUGH: find distinctive. openly gay, the members of Ploughound are not inclined to be "This is one of those big bands "I mean, you "Everybody has heard electric grouped under the ever -expanding contingent of "queercore" moments," she says. underground. only have a few of them in your guitar since the dawn of time," currently making noise along the indie -rock San Francisco -based act is ever likely to f career. Every time a record comes Howard says. "To hear somebody In fact, the closest the is not all gay men worship out that's actually being supported, playing something slightly differ- get to making a political statement that ride the wave. ent will make people go, `That's a Madonna and live for techno dance beats. you get to really obnoxious rock band," says That's how I feel about heading cool sound.' " "We're just your average -Joe, /co- lyricist, adding with a laugh into this tour." "Kiss That Counted," the first Duane Bryant, the band's bassist most important fact about Ploughound is that In the past, Curtis has not al- CURTIS of three proposed singles, hits that perhaps the triple -A and college radio Aug. 6. the band's members are all ways had such an opportunity -at "housebroken and play ex- least not with full label support. previously unreleased "Patience." To help promote the song and home, Guardian, Rykodisc president George album, Curtis will make appear- tremely well with others." Her previous His humor is indicative of seemed to fold within minutes of Howard says Sandman's death has ances at stations in the Northeast the 2- year -old band's second 1997 release of the critically left another mark on Curtis' and Mid -Atlantic during August the self-made CD, Shift, a collec- lauded Catie Curtis. career. "When and September. tion of guitar- charged power - Curtis, who first established her- died, Catie took a cue from that to Curtis is also launching a new coffee houses in collaborate more, because Mark Web site (catiecurtis.com), to fea- pop tunes that triggers com- self playing plimentary comparisons with Boston, says she hopes to be on the was such a big collaborator." ture news updates as well as chat Bay - this album for Much of the album's spirit lies and merchandising information. Blink -182 and fellow road supporting area rockers Green Day. between six months and a year. PLOUGHOUND "Our intention was to make longer I do this touring "The an album of hooky songs with the more I appreciate having thing, BLACKGROUND READYING AALIYAH'S RETURN of powerchords," notes a new record out and getting the big drums, big bass, and big guitar -lots (Continued from page 16) Allan Dye, the band's guitarist /co- lyricist, adding that the band support from a label to promote about the mis- dates," says the artist (who is Other standout cuts include come with an 0 -card and an intended to fill the album with "happy rock songs of Mon- "Never No More," which tackles extra bonus track. ery of life." booked by Paul Goldman "When writing, -based Monterey In- the issue of domestic violence "Consumers have been buzzing Bryant chimes in with a wink and a grin, saying terey, Calif. itself in the brain so and managed by Tim with an honest, sensitive touch. about this album for three or four our main priority is that the song must lodge ternational to remove it." Fitzgerald - "I wanted a song on the album months," says Sonya Askew, completely that surgery is required Bernett of Boston's Ploughound makes for- Hartley). "It sort of gets me in a that spoke about a heavy topic, urban music buyer for Musicland. That's a pretty lofty goal toward which not in a preachy way," the "My only concern is that the midable strides, with such sticky, single- worthy gems as the place where I get very psyched up but Hear That release [and the artist notes. street date has been moved sev- giddy "Smile Mile Wide," the raucous "I Don't Wanna for the album My Soul" of which ensuing] tour." For Blackground president eral times, and when that hap- Band Again," and the rumbling "Lost -all Curtis, who is published by Jomo Hankerson, the key to suc- pens, consumers get tired of com- would be a comfortable fit on and college - Rykomusic (ASCAP), wrote about cess for this project is address- ing into the stores and asking for modern -rock `We're all house- one -third of the new album just ing Aaliyah's many fan bases. an album. As long as the label radio playlists. before entering the studio. At the "After addressing her core [audi- realizes this and is prepared to As much as they claim to be broken and we play time, she was on the road opening ence], we want to let new fans of promote this album to let people unwaveringly lighthearted, on for fellow singer /songwriter Dar this young, hot Hollywood know that it is finally coming, it the lads briefly get serious well with others.' a Williams. Curtis says that being on actress know about her musical should do well." "Desert Clouds," striking the road with Williams proved in- history," he says. Hankerson acknowledges that, Dye composition that con- - DUANE BRYANT, PLOUGHOUND strumental in shaping the sound of Blackground has planned a while Aaliyah is quickly becom- trasts a vibrant, harmony - variety of promotions to accom- ing a hot commodity in Holly- laden chorus with intelligent, the new record. more to this band than ini- demands a plish that. The label has teamed wood, her first love is still music. often meditative verses. Clearly, there's "Her audience really it is lyric and some with BET.com for a car and cash "While we do use the movie tie - tially meets the ear; by parceling out the deeper stuff gradually, very challenging accessible. They're conceptual lis- giveaway. A DVD /CD package in angle in publicity and market- able to keep the overall tone playful and easily concepts. disc by Leif Wauters (vocals), and they're not just about will feature both the album, four ing, we are trying to make this Bryant and Dye are joined on the teners, Since the project was recorded, both groove. I feel like I was writ- music videos, and behind -the- an organic music project," he and Ed Bolland (drums). the left the lineup to pursue other projects. ing, at that time, for her audience, scenes footage. The first 1 mil- says. "First and foremost to Wauters and Bolland have replaced by Tommy Bernhard, who brings a new which I really liked playing for, be- lion copies of Aaliyah will also Aaliyah is her music." Wauters has been image to the table. A new drummer will be cause they demand that." edge and a videogenic on My Shirt Looks confirmed shortly. The songs slowed Bryant and Dye from You not as personal as The personnel changes haven't Good on are which can be purchased via those on her previous albums, as four aggressively promoting Shift, via mp3.com/ploughound (both sites also carry the of tracks were co- written with CDBaby.com or the A summer slate of West Coast gigs various musicians and songwriters. act's fine 2000 debut, Schwank). and the act is already a steady fixture in such San The album's title is meant to reflect are being booked, as Paradise Lounge, Hotel Utah, and Red the team effort, Curtis says. Francisco rock venues "This is the most collaborative Devil Lounge. is also being shopped to major labels and shipped to press I've ever been on a record. This is Shift first time that I didn't just go and radio programmers. the Bryant and Dye have begun drafting new material into the studio with a producer and Additionally, they plan to immediately include in the band's arrange each song as a producer/ with Barnhard that current stage set. artist team." to Tommy into the studio and by Trina Shoemaker "We're looking forward dragging Produced new songs," Bryant says. "Our goal is to Crow's The Globe Ses- getting his voice on some (Sheryl keep the wheels turning at all times, no matter what." sions), the album features former Music Meanwhile, don't miss Shift. Simply put, it's a winning effort from Morphine members Feeling Blu. Arista president/CEO L.A. Reid, right, recently hosted Arista the a scrappy, undeniably talented group of men with the potential to go and on drums and sax- in Motion, an artist showcase at the St. Regis Hotel in Los Angeles. During the distance. Jump on the bandwagon early. ophone, respectively. event, the industry veteran introduced several new acts that he's nurturing. are For additional information, contact Bryant at 415 -786 -3587 or at Two years after the death of Among them was pop /R &B singer Blu Cantrell, left. Additional showcases [email protected]. Mark Sandman, the front man of to be held in New York and other cities in the coming months. the lauded Morphine-which also BILLBOARD JULY 21, 2001 18 www.billboard.com www.americanradiohistory.com