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LOCAL MUSIC NEWS COLUMN by Tom Lounges / Editor
2004 MUSIC AWARDS – APRIL 2ndThanks to all of you who took the time to fill out and return to us the 2004 Reader’s Poll surveys that appeared in our December/January issue.The results are being tallied as we go to press with this issue and the winners chosen as favorites by you – the readers – will be announced in our March edition next month.On April 2, make plans to celebrate the wins of your favorite artists with us at our annual Midwest BEAT Regional Music Awards Gala. This year, we will be holding it once again at 2nd Dimensions night club.Along with the framed and hand-calligraphed awards presented on behalf of the readers, we will also present on this night our annual Publisher’s Awards, to current artists we at Midwest BEAT feel did an outstanding job in 2004, along with some special awards such as our “Lifetime Achievement”, “Friend To Region Music” and “Midwest Pride” categories.As always, we will put out a great free food buffet around 8:30pm for those early bird arrivals and we will have live music performances from several great area artists, including –– X-Girlfriend, History’s End and The Steepwater Band. My good buddy and fellow supporter of the regional music scene, FREAK (of 94.7/The Zone) will be stage co-host for the evening.My radio home – X-ROCK 103.9 – will once again be very involved in the awards night, as the station continues to become more and more supportive of the regional music scene, thanks to X-ROCK Program Director, Scott Rosenberg, who efforts earned him our “Friend To Local Music” award last year.METAL MASSACRE...
• Premonition, a nationally touring/ recording group that originated and Florida, will co-headline Midwest BEAT’s February 12th –– “St. Valentine’s Metal Massacre Bash” –– at Soprano’s Lounge in Griffith, Indiana. The band featrures the powerhouse pipes of the one and only Tattoo Frank Spears, one of the best old school metal singers ever!Also on that bill and making their Northwest Indiana club debut is the national touring group –– Dezi Rexx & The Chicago Molls –– a hard rocking group with a classic sound. We are thrilled to welcome Rexx and his outfit to “da region”. The group features former members of Atlantic recording act, D’Molls, the David Lee Roth Band and John Hunter’s solo band. See you there!HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE...In an effort to keep myself out of the doghouse, I want to wish a very “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” to my lovely and very supportive rock ‘n’ roll wife, Julie Lounges, who turns another year this month. Thanks for being in my corner and being a part of my mad, mad, mad lifestyle.RIPLEY IS READY TO ROCK...Though they have been off the regional radar scope since late summer, South Side rock group Ripley Street, are gearing up for a major comeback following what had been a horrific second half to 2004.In fall, the band suffered the loss of their long-time friend and founding bass player Guy-Joseph Guercio to cancer. That was followed shortly thereafter by an automobile accident which laid up their singer, Ken Williams.Williams, once again able to work the mic, reports that Ripley Street has been rehearsing with Mike Carns (ex-The Leftovers) since November and feels confident enough to officially announce Carns as new bassist.“It’s a new year and we are looking forward to getting back on stage and kicking it,” said Williams. Ripley Street is currently writing new material with the hope of releasing their second full length album in first half of 2005. Watch for them to pop up at an upcoming Midwest BEAT event.More information: www.ripleystreet.comREGION BLUES ICONS LOST...The Chicagoland blues community lost two local music icons over the holiday season with the December 15th passing of South Side harmonica blower/band leader Jody Noa of The Sho Nuff Blues Band and the December 20th death of blues guitarist and Alligator recording artist, Son Seals.Both of these well-respected and talented had been part of the regional music scene for decades. Their presence will be missed. See page five of this issue for more on these late local artists.A Jody Noa Memorial Concert at the Bourbon Street Entertainment Complex has been put together by So-Pro Productions for February 27th. The event will benefit Noa’s daughter Amanda and help with his final expenses. To help out or for more information, (708) 385-2012, or log on at a special event website: www.4jodynoa.com
HYSTERIA FOR ASTERIA...
With their song, “You Could Be My Mona Lisa,” included on a new international 3-CD unsigned artists compilation coming out February 11 from Drive-Thru Records, Northwest Indiana’s ASTERIA has become a “buzz band” in the region.ASTERIA recently stopped in the X-ROCK 103.9 radio studio to play live and guest on this columnist’s Sunday evening (6-9pm) NIGHT ROCK program. Listener response was strong and the boys did a great job.Next… The teenage emo/punk group will headline a 7:00pm Student Council fundraising event on February 11, inside the gymnasium of Crown Point High School (1500 South Main St.), where all the band members are currently in their senior year. Tickets are $5 in advance/$6 at the door. See www.DriveThruRecords.com for more info on the exciting compilation disc.This columnist is proud to have been asked to emcee the event, which also features performances by the talented Crown Point singer/songwriter Jeremy Williams, who recently released his own original music album, 219. Opening the show will be the local teen band, Phoenix Rising and The Cadet. Sound will be provided by Joe Rega and AmeriSound, who like many of us in the region, hears much potential in these hometown lads!FUND RAISERS & BENEFITS...• The Wiseguys will perform their good time retro show at the benefit event –– “Hearts out For The Harders” – that takes place on Saturday, February 19 at St. Mary’s Hilderbrandt Hall (525 N. Lafayette) just north of downtown Griffith, Indiana.The night begins will a spaghetti dinner and silent auction and concludes with a rock ‘n’ roll dance party. Proceeds will be donated to the family of Jeff Harder, a 32-year-old Griffith resident who suffered two massive heart attacks in his sleep last September.A donation of $10 will be asked of adults and $5 for children ages 6-12 years old. For more information, contact Jen Kerr at (219) 762-2698 or Chris Adams at (219) 476-4182. www.HeartsOutForHarder.comDonations can also be sent to: Jeff Harder Benefit Fund, 256 West U.S. Highway 6, Valparaiso, IN 46385.• A three day benefit concert will be held for the Dykes Family of Winfield Township on February 11-13. Seven bands will perform over three days at two different venues in the Winfield/Lakes of the Four Seasons area of Northwest Indiana.“When The Walls Come Tumblin’ Down Benefit” will raise money to help offset the cost of reconstructing the Dykes nine-year-old home which was devastated by termites, despite having their home serviced for years by a major national pest control company.On February 11 at B.G. Gators (9021 E. 109th Ave.) in Winfield –– the bands River’s Burden, The Bedlam Brothers and Highway Band will donate performances, beginning at 9pm. Show info: (219) 662-0103.On February 12 at Buddy & Pal’s (10685 Randolph St.) in Winfield –– the bands Sweet Blackberry Jam, Salamander Drake and Highway Band will donate performances, beginning at 9pm.A third and final show, starting at 1pm, will take place at the same Buddy & Pal’s location with sets of music donated by The Crawpuppies and The Steepwater Band. Buddy & Pal’s show info: (219) 661-0088.• The Northwest Indiana Area Service Center of the American Cancer Society will hold their 25th Annual Gala on February 25 at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville with the internationally touring “ABBA: The Show” as the evening’s entertainment. All the music and magic of an actual ABBA concert experience is re-created by the theatrical company, produced by David King, the creative mastermind behind such stage hits as “The Rat Pack” and “Spirit Of The Dance.”Tickets are $38 and $68 for the theatre performance only and can be purchased at the Star Plaza box office or by calling, (219) 769-6600.A special dinner/theatre package, with food served in the Radisson Hotel’s Grand Metropolitan Ballroom is available for $150. For more info or for dinner/theatre package tickets, call Rachel Bucko at the American Cancer Society at (219) 793-1030.• The Third Annual Dunes Theatre Mardi Gras Fund Raiser happens on February 12 at Rag Tops Museum, located at the corners of Michigan and Washington streets in Michigan City, Indiana, near the Lighthouse Shopping Mall.The festivities begin with a 7 pm cajun buffet and cocktails, followed by exotic Cajun desserts and dancing with The Dixie Creole. The group plays nostalgic rock ‘n’ roll as well as Cajun boogie woogie and swamp rock. A silent auction will take place throughout the evening.This annual fund-raiser helps the Dunes Summer Theatre offer quality theatre and youth theatre education to the region. Some of this year’s funds will be earmarked for a new roof. “Hair” will be presented as the first performance of the new summer season in June.This writer has attended many performances by this very talented and very dedicated theatrical group. I encourage your support in their efforts to keep quality live theatre alive in Northwest Indiana.For more info or to pre-buy tickets for this outlandish gala, contact Dani Lane at (219) 469-7992 or email her at: lane27560@aol.comBAND BITS...
• Wonderful Smith, an alt-pop Chicago-based recording group fronted by Munster singer/guitarist, Holly Senchak, wrapped up work on their new 13-song CD for Fundamental Records over the holidays.The Steve Albini-produced original project, Hello, It’s Wonderful, though pre-released in early January for online purchase via their label’s website, will be officially released on February 8.The CD is already exploding at college radio nationwide. The group is planning a full national tour will keep them on the road throughout Spring and Summer. More info: www.wonderfulsmith.com• Carl C.C. Copeland is the name behind the new face that fans have seen on stage in recent weeks with the popular Northwest Indiana R&B/Latin ensemble, Timepeace. Copeland is the group’s new bassist. He has replaced founding member Art Lopez in keeping the groove for the band. Lopez left Timepeace to join up with a new R&B/Latin/Funk group called, Tight As Can Be.• Well respected region blues figure, Patrick Doody, has officially stepped down as beat keeper for The Motor City Josh Band after just over a year sitting on their drum throne. Doody played drums and produced the group’s latest nationally-distributed CD, Blue Collar Blues Man.Replacing him in the line-up which is currently touring the country for 6-8 weeks is Damien Lewis, who had been Doody’s predecessor in the band.• Guitarist Mark Anderson and vocalist Mike Meadows revamped the line-up of their heavy rock group, Ditchwater over the holidays.While scouting out new members, Anderson and Meadows focused on writing new material. With drummer Jay “Spider” Friese and bassist David Potesta now officially in the ranks, a new Ditchwater album is being readied for a Spring release. More online at: www.ditchwater.com• Greg Piaseczny has parted ways with Emitter and has been replaced in the line-up by former Dumpstar drummer, Edd Merkel. The rootsy alt-pop band has also added full time keyboardist, Jason “J Bird” Krasowski.Emitter is in the process of recording their next album, Extra Pale, at the Pop Machine Studio in Indianapolis. Uber-percussionist, Kenny Aronoff (Mellencamp, Smashing Pumpkins, etc.) has been banging on the kit for the Region band during the recording process while they were between drummers. Look for the new Emitter CD in late Spring.• Congratulations go out to regional country music favorite, Jimmy Henrich, the high energy leader of Northwest Indiana’s Western Haze Band. Henrich, who was named “2003’s Entertainer Of The Year” by Midwest BEAT Magazine, will relocate to Nashville, Tennessee at the end of this month.Henrich, who has been commuting to Nashville most weekends to perform at the legendary Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, where several major artists began their careers and where many still stop in to jam. Henrich will begin work in mid-February on a recording project with veteran Music Row producer, Charlie Craig (Alan Jackson). More info: www.jimmyhenrich.com• Congratulations to Aesthetic Report, a quirky and creative trio of high schoolers who took first place last month in Valparaiso High School’s annual Battle Of The Bands, for which I once again served as a judge. The group performed a single 20-minute original “space rock” jam called, “The Green Machine Is Light Years Ahead Of Its Time”, which recalled vintage Hawkwind.The other three high school groups who made it to this final battle round (out of ten starting groups) also did impressive sets. They were – Supergroove (a remarkable jazzy jam band), The Reunion (an acoustic-based group) and the showy 9 Volt Moon (who gave an interesting new twist to some classic rock covers).
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while putting together a “Toys For Tots” holiday show with the