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“I heard you missed us – we’re baaaaaaack!” – David Lee Roth
Please forgive our delay. Following a series of particularly debilitating after-hours Memorial Day festivities out at the Focus duplex, we managed to misplace a notebook computer, sixty-seven rolls of heat-transfer fax paper, and one David Hundley. After a comprehensive search of the pool and the chairs around the pool, we gave our fearless leader up for dead, and went for cocktails (toasting his memory, of course – we’re not savages). Then, exactly five days ago, he was picked up on Route 41 just south of the Skyway by two extremely foolhardy young motorists; eyewitness reports described him as “a stinking, shambling wreck of a being, clothed in shredded ribbons, clutching the ruined handset of a cordless phone and obsessively chewing a pair of plastic eyes from some unfortunate child’s stuffed animal”. Three spoonfuls of brewers’ yeast and half a dozen Absolut and crans later, we were back in business. Also, our humblest apologies for flying off the handle at Harvest regarding the alleged tapeworm-infected email. The band claims no responsibility… Industro-goths Martyr Complex will be relocating to Cleveland, Ohio at the end of the month. It seems they’ve been offered some serious career assistance, but the deal stipulates that the band must move somewhere more centrally located for touring purposes. They’d like to thank everyone who supported ‘em around these parts, and we’d like to wish ‘em the best of luck in the future. www.mp3.com/martyrcomplex … The Flapcats have been conspicuously absent from club listings, fliers and show slates for the past month or so; they’ve been working up some new material, as well as living down the various pancake-related jokes about their name. Be sure to welcome them back to the world of playing out for little money on June 24, when they’ll join Spiller and Flat Stanley at The Brass Mug. News, upcoming dates and other miscellaneous nonsense is available at their new website. www.flapcats.com …(CD Release Party Blurb Number One) speaking of Spiller, you know how we’re always joking about their new disc coming out, you know, never? Seems the joke’s on us, because the skinny-tied foursome have scheduled their CD release party for Saturday, July 1 at Ybor City’s Orpheum… The Gita (newly augmented by sixth member Steve Turner on percussion) will once again team up with Greed Engine, Goddess Mooncar, Grin, RhondaK, Annie Vox and everyone’s favorite rotating cast of the erotically uninhibited for the second G-Spot show, scheduled for Saturday, June 24 at Clearwater’s Club More. More tunes, more spoken word, more scantily-clad nubiles, and, best of all, more scantily-clad nubiles. Knob-twister George Harris of Panda Studios fame will be behind the sound board, to capture The Gita’s set for future release as a live full-length disc. Impending Gita appearances also include, but are in no way limited to, the following: July 1 – Landon’s, Tarpon Springs; July 7 – Spurs, Ybor City (w/ White Devil in the Trailer Park); July 14 – Cockney Rebel, Ybor City; July 15 – Orpheum, Ybor City (w/Book of Shadows and Virelie). Oh, and the third and final G-spot installment is currently set for July 22 at Orpheum, with Gringo Diablo and The Guyana Hotshots signing on… In other Orpheum news, the swing and rockabilly Raunch N’ Roll nights have been moved from Thursdays to Tuesdays, and there will be live entertainment on hand for some RNR nights from now on as well. Why, just last night I caught the brand spankin’ new Ubane Cowboys – twangy, greasy, and pretty damn good, them good ol’ boys is just sumpin’ you needs to see for yallselves. Next week, Blue Flame Combo will provide the twirl-inspiring sonics… Those eclectic-ass Beauvilles, who have proven adept at slipping comfortably into just about any gig-type situation, dropped us a blurb about their upcoming shows at Schmooze inc. (clearwater, June 23), The Atomic Age Café (Ybor, June 24), The Pharm (Dunedin, July 1 w/Chrome Yellow), and good old Mastry’s (downtown St. Pete, July 7), among others. Hell, look for ‘em just about anywhere. Members.aol.com/thebeauvilles…(CD Release Party Blurb Number Two) groovecore enthusiasts and massive draw Attica, whose last disc, at only four tracks, left everyone salivating for the full-length, are pleased to announce that said full-length is here. They’ll be celebrating its emergence this Friday, June 23, at the State Theatre; Puddin’ Hogs and Project 13 will provide substantial aural support, and the killer body defilers from The Ink Factory will also be on hand to either creatively scar or put holes in you at your request…songwriter/guitarist Bob Anthony, who not long ago gave up his supporting role in Bite Size, has a few solo gigs coming up around the state. He’ll be at Club More on July 8, along with Hangtown and Pagan Saints (who’ve been showing off their newest addition, guitarist Mark Bustin, to great effect), before heading off to Tallahassee and, uh, other places. Bob’s bio describes his sound as “equal parts pop, torch, twang and strum” before going on to beseech you not to be suspicious of his having two first names…jagged groove heavies Voodoo Tribe and southern pawp merchants Ten Second Drop both recently passed us press kits and demo CD’s; just wanted to let ‘em know that they’ll be in here soon, and to thank ‘em for actively hunting up some publicity. TSD, formerly Stur, will be at Spurs this Friday, June 23 with Elston Gunnn and some other shitty band… promoter Jack Spatafora continues to bring on the mind-bending, truly alternative shows: June 25 – Julie Doiron, Dumbwaiters, others @ New World Brewery; July 7 – Spacious International, Argentina, The Maccabees @ Orpheum (this is SI honcho Gerald Hammill’s farewell show, as he’ll be off to NYC shortly thereafter); August 1 – Rainer Maria, Mike Kinsella, others @ Orpheum. All aestheticized evenings are all ages, cost five bucks, and begin at nine PM… On Sunday, July 2, The State Theatre will host a benefit concert for Amanda Smith, who suffers from stage 4 melanoma. All proceeds raised will got to help cover the cost of Amanda’s treatment. Mr Bella, Red Tide, Crash Mitchell Orchestra, Vekh-Yukhonic, Salute The Curse, Isobella, Plastic Mastery and others have graciously donated their time and talents – a great show for any reason, made better for its worthy cause. Doors are at seven, and it’s only five bucks. Attendance is mandatory…the aforementioned Mr Bella have finally found the time to get back into the studio, and hope to have their upcoming self-titled full-length in the can by the time you pick this issue up for about the fifth time, and actually remember to take a copy home, as opposed to leaving it on the table when you go. They’re down in Sarasota this weekend, for a June 23 gig at the new Monterey Deli (relocated to Main Street) with fellow femme-fronted outfit Swallowed. Also look for them at The Neptune Lounge out in Tarpon Springs on July 22, when they’ll join Crizzy & The Punx, about whom nothing bad should ever be said. www.mrbella.com … The Refuge benefit CD is complete. The disc, titled …the least of these…, features tracks from Slick Shoes, Five Iron Frenzy, Michael Knott, Never the Less, Deitiphobia, Overcome, Dead Artist Syndrome, Smiley Kids, Denison Marrs, Blackhouse, Slow Belly, Strung Gurus, Gunwale Under, Fold Zandura, The Echoing Green, Next Season, The Israelites, Figure Four, Deluxetone Rockets, Never Enough, and Value Pac. Many thanks to those who contributed tuneage and fundage; the record should be back from the manufacturer in about two weeks, and you can order your copy by sending ten bones plus $1.50 S&H to The Refuge c/o Scott Will, 255 Catalan Blvd NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33704. Refuge webmaster and font of information Skaught is also set to unveil a new site, Skaught’s Music News, covering the Christian music scene, and he’s looking for contributors. Get all your Refuge-related information from www.skaught.com …there’s another benefit set up at The State on July 8; the Super Summer Slumber Party will raise money for the Danita O’Neill Foundation. Last month, Danita O’Neill was viciously attacked by her estranged husband. I’m not going to go into what happened, but it happened in front of their three year-old son, and Danita may be permanently disfigured. The foundation is set up to raise awareness and research the origins of such irrational societal violence, and who knows, maybe they’ll make enough money to bribe some prison screw into pulling most of mister James O’Neill’s trachea out through his rectum. I know, I know, violence is never the correct response to violence, but still, doesn’t the guy deserve it? Anyway, the Slumber Party, as implied by its title, will go on all night, with soundage provided by Hell On Earth, Ashes of Grisum, Bushhounds, Screwface, and DJ Rob Pittman (of ‘Monday Night at The Castle’ fame). Pillow fights, makeovers, pie eating contests, Tarot readings, and all kinds of sleepover hijinks will ensue. Oh, and the first 100 people through the door in pajamas (now where’d I leave my sheer sapphire teddy?) receive a Super Sassy Pack (haven’t got a clue), and there will be free beer and Vodka Melon from 7:30 until 8:30 PM. Tix are ten bones in advance…Crizzy & The Punx, who enjoyed a mention only a few scant blurbs ago, are all over the state again this month, gigging everywhere from St. Pete to Fort Myers, but they’ll be around for a June 29 gig at Sarasota’s Keegan’s Clubhouse, and a July 7 slot opening for Marky Ramone & The Intruders up at The Mug. The band is currently working on their second disc; tunes from the first one, Tight, appeared on MTV’s Road Rules and the One Eye Productions surf-intensive home video, The Green Room…The Lemmings are headed to Miami to master their debut full-length, Follow, with legendary Fuller Sound finishing-touch man Mike Fuller, who didn’t get his job just because he has the same name as the studio. Look for Follow in August; look for The Lemmings to perform at Spurs on July 30, and at the Neptune Lounge on July 15. www.thelemmings.com …(CD Release Party Blurb Number Three) Gregg Moore, bassist for Psycho-Tribe, 50/50, and The Spills, is rumored to be giving up the rock n’ roll lifestyle to become a family man. Word has it his final gig with The Spills will be the Cocktail Honeys CD release party on July 7 at The State; The Honeys and The Spills will be joined by Orlando’s Bring Back Joel and Sarasota’s The Chase Theory. The cover’s three bucks, but eight bucks at the door will get you in with a copy of the new CH disc, Stronger For The Hurt, at half price…apparently, the Cockney Rebel is changing it’s name to Limey’s, and is reinstating the Monday night open mic festivities that so often resulted in myself and others being asked to leave the premises. Traditional host Shana, however, is a bit too busy to handle MC duties this time around, and has passed the buck… CD Release Party Blurb Number Four) Noble Jones have completed their first full-length – twelve tunes for six bucks, you can’t beat that with a stick. Their release festivities will be held at Clearwater’s Gasoline Alley on July 8, with a VIP party preceding the nine o’clock showtime…Harvest head into the studio this week for some work on their debut, tentatively titled Gathering Stones; expect an August release. The band will be on hand for the annual Hot Pepper Festival at Beckett Lake Nursery (Clearwater) this weekend, June 24 and 25, and will also support another kind of vegetation by appearing at the July 1 FORML Hemp Festival, to be held at Zephyr Park in Zephyrhills. Their set time is three pm…The Genitorturers spent this week in Japan, on a press junket to publicize their new deal with Japanese label Big MF, who will release a special overseas version of the band’s Sin City album, complete with US-banned X-rated packaging. The junket will conclude this weekend with a concert at the Tokyo Tower Records. The group is also compiling footage for a future long-form home video release. www.genitorturers.com …Slumber Party performers Bushhounds have a pretty hefty summer schedule to look forward to. In addition to working on their sophomore disc, Every Dog His Day, with Outlaws and Southern Rock Allstars alum Steve Grissom producing, the band will spend three weeks touring the East Coast supporting former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, before heading out on a European jaunt which will take ‘em to Holland, Belgium, Finland, Denmark, and the UK…Pawpabilly upstarts The Dawgmatix are currently out in Los Angeles, working on their second release. They’ll debut new band members Ken Cook and Eddy Solvent in the Bay area in September…the impending Value Pac show, scheduled for Friday, June 23, will be held at Ybor City’s Cuban Club. Jacksonville’s Lightswitch, our own Next Season (gearing up for a tour of their own), and Daily Use will support. Entry will only cost you five bucks, so long as you bring a can of food for the homeless drive…posteverything guitar visionary/weirdo Exavier Rivas returns to Dave’s (on Gandy) for a set next Thursday, June 29. Our old pal Bobby DeVito will also be in attendance for a set, before the duo engages in some crafty improvised guitar-duet action. Rivas has completed work on his latest album, Felicidades, on which he sings in both English and Spanish; his next project involves the full-band funky-world beat ensemble 30,000 secrets, comprised of Rivas, Robert Bartolotta, Richard Jackson, Art Peres, and Alfonso Sanchez…The Players School of Music, that Jeff Berlin-envisioned institute where prodigious hopefuls go to learn that music is, in fact, not fun, it’s work, has moved permanently into the historic Kapok Tree Gardens in Clearwater, where Thoroughbred used to be. “Quit staring out the window, Billy. You can’t play amid one of West Central Florida’s most beautiful marriages of architecture and nature until you finish mastering the Mixolydian mode!” www.playerschool.com …The Women Musicians’ Alliance is proud to present the kickoff of this year’s Shifting Sands Concert Series. Debby and the Truth and Mindy Simmons will comprise the kickoff concert, to be held at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall (2612 12th Street North, St. Pete) on Sunday, July 9. The entertainment begins at 6:30 PM, and a donation of five to eight dollars is encouraged, with all proceeds going to the artists. For more information about the WMA or this series in particular, call 727.895.2316, email wma@inklein.com, or visit http://inklein.com/~wma …Sue Ferry, singer for Ozona, was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome in April. GBS is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves; Sue had to be hospitalized twice, and recovery can take months. On Sunday, June 25, Porterhouse Grille & Bar (3710 Alt 19) will host a benefit for Sue. Ozona (featuring new B3 wiz Rick Curran), Authorities, Tribal Vision, and Delayed Reaction will perform; things kick off at 2 PM. For more information, call 727.785.1920.
Ask, ponder, fret. What local indie rock outfit has been linked to certain luminaries within the teen-pop/boy-band cartel? Why? What indie rock outfit has been the subject of insistent rumors of intraband dissent? Are any local bands currently vying for spots on Warped Tour Florida dates? Are you sure? If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around to hear it, are Pulling Birds better than ever? And what’s this about a Pigeonhoof reunion? When is the Bite Size CD coming out?
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