For Immediate Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…

by Tom Lounges / Editor

It is hard to believe that we are almost half way through the summer already. Keeping busy by festival hopping sure makes the time fly.

Speaking of festival and outdoor fun... I would like to cordially invite area rockers to join me at the Lake County Fairgrounds for a pair of X-ROCK Radio sponsored shows featuring live music.

On Friday, August 5, we’d love to have you all come down from 7-8pm to the X-Rock tent for a Night Rock “Meet ‘N’ Greet” with me and my on-air radio cohorts – Scotty Rosenberg and Hegewisch Lisa.

Come out and grab some Night Rock and X-Rock stickers from us. I’ll also raffle off a Night Rock t-shirt every 10-minutes during that hour...so just sign up and drop your name in the box to win!

We’d love to meet you all face to face and hear what you think of the show! It is also a perfect time for the area’s original recording artists to personally drop off their CDs to us for airplay consideration. Then at 9pm, we will host a free, all ages concert by retro rock favorites, X-Girlfriend.

Then one week later, on August 12, we will do it all again with AC/DC tribute band, Bonfire. On hiatus from the scene for the last six months, be sure to be with us to welcome back Bonfire to the stage. Hegewisch Lisa and I will not be there for the Bonfire show, because we’ll be busy broadcasting live.

For more detailed and updated information, check back online at: www.nightrock.6string.net or at www.xrock1039.com .

LOCAL DRUMMER LOSES BATTLE

On June 13, Nick Parente, the 21-year-old drummer and co-founder of the popular young region recording group, Mr. Linzy, succumbed to the chronic myloid leukemia, which he had battled so adamantly and bravely for two years.

A resident of Lowell, Parente is survived by his parents, Rick and Nan Parente, his brother Scott Parente, his Godfather Kevin Weber (former Night Rock radio host) and his Mr. Linzy band mates – Zack Bubness, Joe Hock, and Bob Basso.

Diagnosed in July 2003, the young drummer underwent a major bone marrow transplant last June after an exhaustive search for a compatible donor.

Parente used the extended lease on life he had been given, to step up to the plate for others who likewise were stricken with blood diseases such as his own. Parente used his last days to organize a Northwest Indiana “awareness drive” to register new donors with the National Bone Marrow Registry. That May 21st event was a huge success.

He followed it up with a multi-band concert on June 10 at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Parente christened the event –– “Scream To Dream: X Miracle X” –– and it further heightened awareness of the serious need for volunteer bone marrow donors, while also raising money to benefit the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Nick Parente may be the reason another bone marrow transplant patient survives their ordeal. He was an exceptional young man deserving of admiration, respect and remembrance.

From 6-9pm on Sunday, July 17 – to celebrate the life of this brave young region rocker on the anniversary date of his initial diagnosis – I will feature a 3-song block of Mr. Linzy music each hour on my weekly “Night Rock” show on X-Rock 103.9FM.

BATTLE RAGES AT HAMMOND LIBRARY

The Hammond Public library main branch (564 State Street) presents its “Second Annual Teen Battle of the Bands” takes place on July 30 from 2-4:30pm. All band members MUST be teens and only four bands may participate and pre-register. Call for more information: (219) 931-5100, Ext. 351.

THIS LAZER IS SET TO STUN...

Here’s a blast from the past! The Lazer Band has reformed.

The new incarnation of this veteran Michigan City-based hard rock group, will be decidedly different from the region quintet that released two full length albums in 1980 and 1982 – When The Manslayers Jam and Slammin’ Romance. Only guitarist Garrett Dompke remains from the line-up immortalized on those albums.

The reincarnated group is now includesdrummer Wally Veden, guitarist Denny Moss, bassist Chris Glanz and lead vocalist Chad Holm. According to Dompke, the new line-up will perform the old Lazer favorites as well as new originals.

Lazer cuts like “Fun, Fun, Fun” (their new wave/rock treatment of the Beach Boys’ classic) and “When The Manslayers Jam”, still get spun on my Sunday evening “Night Rock” program which airs on X-ROCK 103.9. Welcome back!

LOCAL BAND BITS...

• After having formed a tight relationship at the Midwest BEAT-sponsored “Canned Jam” on June 5, the bands Asteria and Evenflow have been a package deal these last few weeks.

The two Hoosier groups will co-headline an all ages concert at Chicago’s House Of Blues on July 24th at 6:00pm. Also on the bill is Badfish, a Sublime tribute band.

Fans of these bands can win one of several pairs of tickets I will be giving away on the air during the Night Rock show (6-9pm) on July 10 and July 17. Tune in and win on X-Rock 103.9FM!

• Southside rock ‘n’ roll band, Detour, are wrapping up recording sessions at Black Dog Studios in Gary.

The group used the free recording package won during last January’s “Star Plaza Region Rumble” to track their second, as-yet-untitled CD, which is expected to be ready for release in August. Detour opens for the Gin Blossoms at Chicago Ridge’s “Ribfest” July 29.

• The Calumet Region’s most persistent if not well know singer/songwriter –– Phil Avalos (best known for his band Sometimes Seven) –– is back with yet a new project and new recording. The latest is a guitar/drum duo, The Quiet Lanes, with Kevin Kolodziej keeping the beat as Avalos sings and strums.

Avalos describes The Quiet Lanes as being “...a Geek Rock/Indie Rock-Pop thing.” The duo have just completed a full-length CD, Don’t Shake Me Up!, which Avalos promises is more akin to driving rock of The Killers and Interpol than to the minimalist sound of say, White Stripes. More info: www.philavalos.com

• From the ashes of the late local band, Avenue, comes a new musical project called Scenario. The region group includes Avenue’s bassist Chris Gillette and vocalist Chris Wallace, along with drummer Joe Biccum, a newcomer to the club scene from rural Roselawn.

“We recently recorded and released a self-titled, 8-track EP at Greenville College in Southern Illinois, the same studio where Jars of Clay tracked songs at,” said Gillette. “We play a driven style of alternative rock. People can listen to some of our music at www.myspace.com/scenario .”

• After many years of pounding the skins in area bands such as Dirty Trixx, Dirty Dreams, Tuesday’s Rain, Bone China, Tamallicka, Rezist and most recently, Version 3.0, drummer Jon Escue has stepped down from his kit and retiring from the club scene.

Stepping in as Version 3.0’s new drummer is Kid Jackson, who also doubles as beat keeper for the local band Wicked City.

• Northwest Indiana heavy rock band, Lugnut, has changed their name to Mass Defect. “We changed it, simply because Lugnut was too common of a name,” said bassist Jay. “That and we got Dino Pravis playing guitar with us now, so we wanted to kinda start fresh.” More info: www.massdefect.com

• Hoosier rockers Emisis may not be going to Europe as the winners of the Emergenza Festival band battle, but they did land the contest’s “Best Singer In The Midwest” award at the grand finals round held last month at Chicago's’ Metro and had a great time competing.

• Stellar Road is back in the recording studio tracking for a new album targeted for a mid-winter release. S.R. drummer, Jeff Gargas has promised Night Rock radio will be the first radio station to get the advance tracks to air.

• Modern all-original rock combo, Everyday Celebrity, has added a full time second guitarist to fatten up their sound. New to the band line-up as of last month. is veteran string-bender, Tim Coffman. More info: www.EverydayCelebrity.com

• The Resonators are a new, mostly original roots rock band on the scene. Dean Gulotta (bass, fiddle and guitar), Tom Miller (drums/guitar) and Fast Eddy Jones (guitar/dobro) all sing, so harmonies are the key to their countrified, old Nashville sound.

• Kudos to Tim Sieber, a manager at Plaza Bowling Lanes (8101 Kennedy Ave) in Highland, IN.

On July 15 from 9pm to 1 am, Sieber will kick off what he hopes will be a regular series of live music nights on the lanes (literally!). The first band to play one of these all ages events is party rock combo, Nawty. Young people can rock and bowl at the same time and also win door prizes, including a cool Bud Light electric guitar.

This is a stellar opportunity for the region’s young folks to have fun and be safe and I heartily support Sieber’s efforts and encourage everyone to support this event. For info, call Plaza at: (219) 923-3800.

• Chicago band, Gone All Summer, will be just that...GONE...after one final show on July 23 on the Hot Topic/Kevin Says Stage at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park, IL, during the Warped Tour stop over.

• Darren Zancan, the singer of Northwest Indiana’s ZION band, has been cast as “Tony” in a local production of “West Side Story” being staged outdoors and free of charge August 4,5,6, 12, 13 and 14 on Highland, Indiana’s Gazebo stage in Main Square Park. More info: (219) 613-3737.

Don’t forget to check in often online with us for updated information and to check out archived back issues from the last several years. www.midwestbeat.com

Enjoy the summer and be safe!

That’s all for this month! Hope to see you at our X-ROCK events in August at the Lake County Fair.

‘Nuff said!

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