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Localized 154
By Ravis Harnell
Wanted: features. Lack of coverage got you down? Sick of feeling one two-page spread away from international recognition? Tired of seeing bands that couldn’t possibly hold a candle to your own immense artistic prowess profiled? Unfulfilled ego? Well then, hoist your ass off the mattress, drop that acoustic guitar, put on some shorts and go find a friend who can write. You may not know this, but most zines are comprised almost entirely of features written by the bands’ associates. So if you’ve got a couple of photos and a crony with some semblance of syntax, have ‘em whip up a story and send it on in. Of course, it’s gotta be halfway decent, thereby excluding approximately sixty percent of the Grammarian Wizards who post on the Graffiti Page, but if it is, we’ll consider running it. Show some incentive, ya whiny bastards.
Jagermeister, the only beverage to give tequila a run for its money as Liquor Most Featured In Your Best Story, has set up an mp3 site, jagermusic.com, where bands can register and upload their best track in hopes of winning $10,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to NYC, where they’ll ostensibly appear at some sort of Jagerfest. You’ve gotta be at least 21 to enter. Do this before January of next year
…Honeyweed have changed their name. While reportedly not the final choice, they’re currently gigging as Fore (tonight, as a matter of fact, at Gasoline Alley). Expect a fairly pronounced stylistic shift, and new recorded material before too long… Congratulations go to deftly drunken noir poets Ashes of Grisum, who were selected to play at this year’s CMJ showcase, a scant six weeks or so hence, in NYC. The band is currently on hiatus, with guitarist Pete Adams interning at a studio out in LA, and keyboardist Vincent Saletto and cellist Evil Bob Moore busy with Hell on Earth and Virelai, respectively. AoG vocalist Chris Temple will perform a solo set at Yeoman’s Road (Davis Islands, Tampa) on September 22…Jack ‘aestheticized’ Spatafora is bringing quite a few fringe shows to town in the coming months including A-Set, The Maccabees and Thinking Day Rally on September 15, Him (featuring three-fourths of June of 44), November Foxtrot Whiskey and Michael Furey on September 25, and Low, Ida, and Isobella on October 13. A pre-Labor Day bill featuring November Foxtrot, Red Tide, The Dakota Coastline, and a few more TBA’s is also scheduled for September 3; all four of those shows will be at Orpheum. Across the street at New World, he’s got Syrup, The Forty-Fives, and Gunburner coming in on September 9. Get on the man’s mailing list to stay informed…Atlantis Music Conference fact 1: Tony, Dave, and crew actually chased a FedEx truck down the freeway and through backwoods suburbia somewhere just south of Ocala. The chase culminated in a failed bribery attempt when the driver refused to accept their package, which consisted of keys to The State that they had forgotten to leave with Miss Kim… Tavern on Bayboro (121 7th Avenue South, on the USF St. Pete Campus) is pleased to announce the return of its Wednesday Night Open Mic shenanigans. Things run from eight until eleven thirty or so every week, and they request that you arrive early to sign up, or run the risk of having to wait another seven days before your shot at public humiliation. Featured acts will perform at each installment, and your hostess will be that queen of the OM, Shana… Speaking of Shana, her alter-ego, the tot-friendly songstress Shana Banana, will be shooting her children’s video throughout the second week of September, with the help of director Gene Howes, and Tampa Digital Studios. She’s also been nominated by the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) for a National Campus Entertainment Award as “Family and Children’s Entertainer of the Year”. Congratulations, SB. She’ll be at various kidcentric and fund-raising events all month; for her schedule, check out www.shanabanana.com …The Leonard Croon Band recently scored a coup, opening for Dickie Betts a couple of weeks back at Jannus. The quartet is back into full playing-out mode, and maybe we’ll see a copy of their second full-length, The Night Before The Morning After, floating around Dave’s office in the not-too-distant future. Meanwhile, you can catch ‘em at Dave’s (on Gandy) on September 2, Yeoman’s Road on September 16, and Classic Wax (2119 Siesta Drive, Sarasota) on September 23. http://members.aol.com/leocroon … Was that The Beauvilles featured recently on WMNF 88.5? Somebody said so, anyway. The band is currently sequestered at Seminole Heights’ Camp Hiawatha Studios, where veteran engineer/local music benefactor/damn fine guy Steve Seachrist (who’s recorded Nailbiters, Pagan Saints, and November Foxtrot Whiskey, among many, many others) is helping them capture three of their “more popish rockish tunes”, namely ‘Virginity’, ‘Let On’, and ‘Tangerines’. In addition to the countless hours they spend commentating on the state of the Coffeestain graffiti board, the B’villes are also building themselves an enviable reputation as an impressive live act. See, they’re good because they do it a lot. Check out their new website for upcoming dates, audio, video, and sundry merch and swaggage. www.thebeauvilles.com … Closure just completed three new tracks at Audiolab; look for ‘3:08’ to be posted on their mp3.com page soon, and CD-EP’s will be available at the shows. Like, for instance, they, along with The Chase Theory, will be opening up for Samiam at The State on September 10… Now More Than Ever, The Gita’s new full-length live CD, will be honored with a release party at the location of its conception, Club More, on September 23. Six Degrees will play as well, and likewise celebrate the unleashing of their own disc that very same night. If you simply cannot wait, experience The Gita’s energetic-ass amalgamation of, well, pretty much everything at one or more of the following shows: The Pharm, September 7; Limey’s Pub, September 8; Java Lounge, September 9 (this is a Joran solo gig); Limey’s Pub, September 15… Scaythe is an industrial/electronic trio that splits its roots between Clearwater and Sarasota; they’ve just completed their second full-length, Regression. The sixteen-track disc was produced by the aforementioned Vinnie Saletto. It “maintains what can only be called the classic industrial sound. Those familiar with the Chicago scene of years past will definitely get into this”. Look for Regression at all your favorite indie-disc purveyors, or order it directly from Scaythe’s website. www.scaythe.com … Keyboardist Eddie Ryon is the newest member of Book of Shadows. Ryon contributed tracks to a few songs on the band’s debut disc, and now re-joins the band on a full-time basis. BoS will be heading to Gainesville this weekend for a September 2 show at the Florida Theater; they’ve also got a Neptune Lounge gig scheduled for September 23, and would like to invite everyone over to their Blue Door Studios for a little get-together cookout action that afternoon beforehand. Email the band at mnemosyne7@hotmail.com to RSVP and get directions, so they’ll know how much food and SPF 200 sunblock to provide…Atlantis Music Conference fact 2: while the shows and camaraderie were fun, on the Industry Schmooze level, you didn’t miss a whole hell of a lot. Maybe all the important contacts were out taking place in the golf tournament…photographer, hyper-supportive local music fan and honorary Roving Correspondent Stacy Mathis, who spends more time behind the wheel of a dangerously outdated mid-sized import than she does sleeping every weekend, filed the following blurb from points north:
Jared Flamm, lead singer and guitarist for Noah’s Red Tattoo, took a break from NYC life to visit Gainesville last week. NRT played two shows, one as part of the Gainesville Summer Music Showcase July 29 at the Florida Theatre featuring Slack Season, Squeaky, Argentina, and many others. The second was on August 3 at Brick City Music Hall with Slobberbone. The band also spent some time at The Sound Refinery in Gainesville with Ron Richter and Aaron Carr behind the board, recording the follow-up to Heartbreak Traveling Band. Recording began in March and thus far twelve songs have been recorded. No album title or release date has been set yet, but if all goes well, look for the new CD in the fall. Check out NRT’s web site and download an MP3 of ‘This Town’ at http://members.aol.com/radioyou3
Thanks, Stacy. Back to Grendel in the studio… All incoming transmissions indicate that White Devil In The Trailer Park are calling it quits. Front-demon Lucious Slugworth has left the band to go back to college. The one environment in the known universe where he can get more booze, drugs, and guilt-free debauchery than he could as a bandleader, and he wants to learn something. The city weeps… The Bushhounds have survived a three-week southern/eastern stint with the likes of Artimus Pyle, Molly Hatchet and some of those guys from Blackfoot; they’re back in town mixing their sophomore CD. The disc will be mastered at Morrisound, and features appearances from folks like Steve Grisham (The Outlaws), Greg Baril (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, B.B. King), and Pyle himself. For the full story, check their website. www.bushhounds.com … the Refuge crew is still working on their new downtown St. Pete coffeehouse space. Negotiations are in progress to get their hands on a bigger, venue-type adjacent space, though the one right next door looks iffy – more details as they develop. Upcoming Refuge productions include Philmore, Reliant K, The Calicoes, and others at Tampa’s The Church of the Lost & Found on September 22 (eight bucks with a canned-food donation, ten without), and there have been rumblings about getting Ghoti Hook back into town sometime in November… Hip-hop/industrial/hardcore duo Ballistic Resistance have relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, for some reason or other. I mean, really, is Knoxville the next happening rap-core haven? No, is it? The pair are currently putting together a full band to translate their aural carnage into a live setting, and seeking a booking agent. If any other people out there want to play a heavy-ass mixture of groovecore and electronica, and think Florida’s heat, humidity, and regular afternoon showers could only be improved by the addition of hills, get in touch with ‘em at infor@ballisticresistance.com …Atlantis Music Conference fact 3: Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs has to be at least, like, eighty, but he can still shake his ass with the best of skinny androgynous men…Bands recently seen coming and going in the vicinity of PolySound Studios include Lickety Split (Land O’ Lakes, ten-song CD), Cold Fusion (Clearwater, four-song demo CD), Grin (St. Pete/Clearwater, mixing and mastering seven tracks recorded at Greenhouse EFX and AudioLab), and Einstein (six-song CD); tracks from some of these guys and various others are yours for perusal at www.polysound.com … Bay area trio KymMystrY will be one of approximately 50 local, regional, and national acts to take part in this Labor Day Weekend’s Stop The Violence Concert, brought to you by Subway and The Buzz 103.3 on September 2 and 3 at Kelsey Park, in Lake Park (a suburb of West Palm Beach). This three-stage, two-day festival is aimed at drawing attention towards effecting a safe atmosphere in America’s schools, and supporting victims of violence in same. Kimberly, Diana and Tori kick things off at 12:15 PM on Saturday; they’ll be playing the MusicDepot.com stage. Tickets for this benefit are available at Ticketmaster, as well as on site, at twelve dollars in advance and fifteen on the days of show. Proceeds will benefit various awareness and victim support charities. For more information about who else will be playing, check the website. www.stv.net/new/index.html …THIS JUST IN: Sarasota’s Swallowed will also be participating…Crizzy & The Punx are neck-deep into their second disc, working with George Harris over at Panda. Expect fourteen tracks in all. The threesome will take a break to play a September 16 show at the Neptune Lounge, as well as a few dates around the state, if we know ‘em at all. In related CATP news, Chris and his wife/manager Deb have incorporated their company, Mash It Up Management and Promotions, “and are now in business making promo items for bands and businesses such as T-shirts, stickers, etc…we also design logos and can do backdrop banners”. Interested parties can make contact at MIUpromo@aol.com … Greed Engine, who two weeks ago laid siege to Star 95.7’s broadcast booth, are putting the finishing touches on two new tunes, ‘Confused’ and ‘Superstar’. I think they’re at AudioLab, but I’m not one hundred percent sure on that, Steve. Irregardless, they’ll fire back up to full coverall volume for their September 9 appearance at Darrin’s Third Annual Birthday Bash. Cocktail Honeys are also slated to play, though at press time the ‘new’ Spiller may or may not have cancelled. A Graffiti Page campaign demanding their presence would be nice, you know. The D-man himself will also doubtlessly clamber onstage for a raucous cover or two. This one’s five bucks, and will be at The State…Cadillac Jax have reportedly finished their new disc, Onesies, at Bay Sound Recording, and will be at Uncle Fat’s Pub (8745 East Temple Terrace Hwy, Tampa) on September 9. Those names, and that situation, sound suspiciously cover band-esque, but they DID lead their blurb with new CD news…Chrome Yellow are heading down to Miami for a September 2 set at Power Studios with Shoofly; one is led to wonder how, in the case of road trips, they decide who gets to drive the little yellow sports car. September 17 finds them back in town for a show at Tahiti Joe’s, and CY joins the Old Hyde Park Music Series roster for an outdoor show in the Village on September 27. www.itswhatsnext.com …those twisted heads behind the Bonk Festival of New Music, our own annual strange and wonderful journey through, you know, the weird stuff, have put together a little fundraising event/teaser show to tide everyone over. Ladies and Gentleman – Bonk-AID. Date? September 23. Time? Doors at seven, show at eight. Place? The Italian Club Theater (1731 East 7th Avenue, Ybor, upstairs). The bill? SHIM, PopCanon, Unrequited Loves, Orange Stoole Chariot, Handshake Squad, November Foxtrot Whiskey (who take home this issue’s Most Mentioned honors), plus a host of visuals and some between-set aural strangeness. The cost? Only ten bones. Here’s your chance to get involved with the cutting edge of music, even though you can’t stand the atonal racket those freaks call art. www.bonkfest.org … Orquestra Infinidad beat out four other bands, a few weeks back at Jackson’s (on Harbour Island), to claim the one remaining slot open at this coming holiday season’s Clearwater Jazz Holiday 2000. http://hometown.aol.com/infinidad … On July 19, Central Florida’s one-man glam-band/rawkstar/PR machine Rick Rose Rude was riding in a car involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle. Rick’s back and neck were broken, along with three ribs, and he suffered a punctured lung as well; no nerves were damaged, and he underwent surgery on July 28. He’s since been released and is recovering nicely, though recuperation will take up to a year. Now, having said that, Rose’s press release detailing the accident goes on to mention that both his new CD, Rebel Without Applause, and the CD version of his Have Faith cassette release will be available by October. I can just see that bastard yelling from traction – “Make sure you mention the record!” The guy is freaking unstoppable. Send him a card with seven bucks in it, and he’ll send you one or the other. Rick Rose Rude, 1806 NE 29th Place, Ocala, Florida, 34479-3351. http://homepages.go.com/~rickroserude/index.html …“pop-punk trio A Better Name is currently recording their 14 song full-length at Atlas Recording Studios in Brandon. Catch them at one of their many shows around the area or email floridabands@hotmail.com for info”… Okay, this is all we got about this one: “Attention Songwriters! A new Tampa Bay recording service catering specifically to songwriters has opened, offering a flat fee demo-by-mail service. Visit www.DemoRecording.com for details. We are always looking for more session vocalists as well, so if you’re a singer interested in earning extra cash, send an inquiry, and tape if possible, to Seaside Music, P.O. Box 66943 St. Pete Beach, Florida 33736”. What the hell is a flat fee demo-by-mail service, anyway?… Skipper’s Smokehouse turns twenty on September 23, and they’ve packed the week leading up to it with quality shows. Tuesday, September 19, kicks things off with The Red Elvises and The Swingin’ Mooks; Wednesday features the reggae of Impulse; Thursday night is Grateful Dead Night, which can only mean Uncle John’s Band; Friday brings three favorite regulars, The Johnny G. Lyon Band, Grin, and Magadog; and Saturday caps off the week with perhaps Skipper’s most beloved religious figure, The Rev. Billy C. Wirtz. Serious drink specials and reasonable cover prices are in effect all week, so be sure you make it out for at least one of these shows and represent. There’s pretty much something for everyone… E3 are working on some new material at Paradox City in Sarasota. A two-song sampler of material from their forthcoming release, Superdense, will soon be available at shows like the one on September 21 at Seminole’s Boomerz…coffeestain.com is revamping their site, and will include a page for CD reviews. Send material for review, as well as for play on one of their Coffee Stain Radio stations, to Coffee Stain, 678 W. Tarpon Blvd, Port Charlotte, Florida 33952… “clever pop with a heavy edge” is how new outfit Eves Reason describes itself. Former Eyes Wide Open members Wayne and Sharon Legg have recruited Laura Farrow, Chris Close, Nathan Parks, and Michele Barret, and are currently laying tracks at Panda. Call the Eves Reason hotline at 727.584.7365, and look for their live debut sometime in November…bg011, a “fine dining and jazz club” on St. Pete Beach (6800 Sunset Way), will be hosting a jazz jam session every Thursday in the month of September from seven until eleven PM; Lucian and the All Stars will hold down the fort. www.bg011.com …the 29th Annual Circus McGurkis People’s Fair, scheduled for October 28 at Lakeview Park, is now inviting artists, craftspeople and nonprofit community service organizations to register for display space at the event. Circus McGurkis is sponsored by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the Tampa Bay Peace Education Program; for details call 727.896.0310, or an online registration form is available at www.lizardhall.org .
Ask, ponder, fret. Is a certain intellectual terrorist/psychotic/one-man performance art troupe ready to pick up a guitar or bass and play for the team (or at least a bizarro punk-ass combo) once again? Is a certain well-known metal act going to get signed, along with every other act on their label, to a huge big-name major, because said huge big-name major is willing to sign everybody just to get the one act they really want? Is it a white rapper? What do you think? Is yet another Ybor local original music-friendly venue considering giving up the ghost in favor of something more, er, ching-ching?
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