For Immediate Release

LOCAL MUSIC NEWS COLUMN 

by Tom Lounges

I REMEMBER MAMA…

          As this issue of Midwest BEAT was being readied to hit the press, I opted to pull the original text that opened this column and honor the memory of a very special man who was much loved and respected by many in the Chicagoland music community.      

While starting the process of sending our pages over to the press, word came to me that a long time friend, and a member of our stage crew family had suffered a fatal heart attack.     

The news that Rick “Mama” Kolisz had collapsed and died on the afternoon of March 3rd, hit me and many others in the local music community like a bolt of lightning.  How could the news be true?  Mama was the kind of guy you thought would be around forever.        

Hell, Rick had just phoned me a few weeks  earlier to tell me that he was going to start working with the Chicago rock group, NDX, who he met up with and took a liking to at our Star Plaza Theatre “Region Rumble” in January.       

Despite this, Mama assured me that he would be at the Midwest BEAT Music Awards come April 2.  “And by the way...” he added... “What time do you need me there for that?”      

You see, Mama was like that – dedicated and serious – when it came to work.  For example, knowing Mama was great with drum kits, I had asked him to tweak out the Midwest BEAT drum kit a few weeks before the “Region Rumble”, to make sure it was in good shape for the all day pounding it would get from the ten bands on that bill.        

Well... Mama took the job to heart and completely stripped them down, polished them, painted the scratched up wooden rims, replaced all the drum heads and even replaced some of the nuts and bolts that were wearing out on the cymbal stands.     

After being given a show schedule at the start of an evening, Mama would watch the clock like a hawk, to make sure everything ran on time.   

The compliments I received on Mama’s work from the bands who worked with him on our Midwest BEAT and Night Rock events were numerous and never ending.  When I would later pass those compliments along to Mama, he would shrug and mumble something about “just doing my job”, but it showed on his face that he was pleased to know his work was appreciated.        

We will continue to do our live shows and events, but they will not be the same without Mama there.

      His magnificent work ethic aside, Rick Kolisz was a wonderful human being. He was one of the most giving people I have known, and as I found out last Christmas, he was one hell of a perogi maker to boot.

       Being a man of his word, I know Mama will be there with us in spirit on April 2 watching the stage as always. 

    Our music awards show will be dedicated to Rick and he will be remembered on stage during the awards portion of the show.          

On behalf of the many, many bands that Rick worked with over the last two decades; Joe Rega and the crew at AmeriSound; we here at Night Rock and Midwest BEAT; and all the Chicago area music fans who do not even realize that they enjoyed local shows even more because of Mama’s efforts, I would like to say loud and proud ––  “Good job Rick!  We loved you and we will miss you!”    

My deepest condolences are extended to the entire Kolisz family and to the many, many friends he has left behind. 

BAND BITS... 

•        Rising Northwest Indiana modern rock band, ZION, have signed a deal with the indie imprint, The Square Record Company.  ZION’s first full-length CD – Yesterday Turnover – is targeted for a mid-summer release.

     “Our music is a solid acoustic-based rock sound,” explained lead singer Darren Zancan.  “[Our] influences are Live, Our Lady Peace, and Foo Fighters, with just a twist of ‘old school’ Kansas.” 

Rounding out ZION are guitarist Bryan Martin of Crown Point, drummer Mike DeLeuare of Hobart and bassist Derek Moore of Schererville.       

•        Northwest Indiana’s world-renown keytarist (a keyboard/guitar hybrid), Jeffrey Abbott, departed last month for a several week tour of Norway.  While there, he will film a music video for “Redneck Love,” a tune Abbott describes as “country music with Latin/African grooves.”

     Abbott just completed a promotional video for one of his sponsors, Kenton Midi Wireless of England, which can viewed by clicking the “Kenton link” on his website (www.jeffreyabbott.com).  While on the site, download Abbott’s new original tune, “Maybe,” which he describes as –– “The wedding song for the new millennium!”   The download is free for a limited time.       

•        Region modern rock band S.O. report that one of their original songs has been chosen to appear on a forthcoming extreme snow sports DVD release. The punk-pop combo have also landed another of their tunes on a United Kingdom indie artist compilation CD and just completed shooting a music video for their song, “The Calling.”

•        Region drummer Gabriel “Gabby” Anthony (ex-Sgt. Roxx/ex–Radakka) has been keeping very busy with his latest musical project, G-13.  

What began as a studio only project when he was temporarily living in California, is now coming to fruition.  It seems early demos  impressed some area players enough to jump on board the ever-evolving project.  Bassist Bill Blackwell (of Inzane) and remarkable vocalist Kevin Geise (best known for his stage work with the Dunes Summer Theatre Group) are on board and rehearsing, according to Anthony. With that great line-up, I for one can not wait to hear some musical fruit.  It’s good to see Geise back in the rock ‘n’ roll trenches again. 

•     Porter County’s modern rock quartet, Dawnstone, have released their debut CD, Seven Month Harvest. The eight original songs on the disc include the upbeat fan favorite, “Sunday Morning Hangover.”  

Another tune of note is their musical homage to “cool”, titled in honor of the long dead Hoosier pop icon of cool, “James Dean”.  Expect to hear both those cuts from time to time on Night Rock (Sundays 6-9pm) on X-ROCK 103.9. 

•      Bassist Curt West left the South Side cover band, Zodiac, and has been replaced by Mark Armenta, ex-bass player of All-Tooned Up. 

•      After eight years, Monkey Cocktail drummer Bobby Shaw, has parted ways with the group to go full time with punk/pop band, Shotgun Elvis.  M.C. is currently holding auditions for a new butt to sit on their throne.  Email them at: MonkeyCocktail@MSN.com 

•     Chris “Q-Ball” Rourk shocked area fans of heavy rock with an email announcement a few weeks ago, declaring that he parted ways with his long-time band, Terminal Fix, in what sounds like less than amicable terms.   

     The group was a finalist in last year’s nationwide “Battle For OzzFest” and had amassed a huge following in Chicagoland during their two-plus years together.  The band plans to carry on with a new frontman, while, Q-Ball fields offers from a variety of groups eager to snatch him up. 

•       The popular hard rock group, Rezist, has likewise disbanded as of the first of this month.  Core members of that band – drummer Jon Esque and guitarist Dave Fadley –– will relaunch a new project called, Version 3.0, that will be fronted by former Inzane vocalist, Bob Szany.   

•       Drama Queen Die, the South Side-based pop metal group headed up by singer/guitarist Andrew Walker, have recorded tracks for a pair of soon-to-be-released nationally released “tribute” CDs featuring the music of Guns N’ Roses and Bon Jovi. 

     Drama Queen Die also are wrapping up work on their sophomore CD, She’s The Kill, and will soon start working the disc’s first single, “Resurrection Mary”, at metal radio.  New bassist, Joey Bones, has replaces Chip Z’Nuff (who had been filling in) in the DQD line-up. 

•     Good luck wishes to Stellar Road.  The acoustic-driven rock combo will showcase for Epic Records a second time on April 1 at the Colosseum in Mokena, IL.  

The showcase follows the band’s recent trip to Los Angeles, where their first showcase took place in January.  I encourage Midwest BEAT readers to get to that gig and show support for our South Side boys!  This is truly a great young band that I stand behind. 

•     Emperor Fabulous of the group, Styrofoam Giants, begins performing a solo acoustic show Wednesdays at Jackson’s Bar & Grill in Schererville, IN on March 2nd. 

•     Stray Toasters perform classic rock and party music at a fund-raising benefit for the Humane Society of Calumet Area on March 12 at the Radisson Hotel’s Grand Metropolitan Ballroom.  The event – “Where Best Friends Meet Dinner Dance” – includes food and costs $30.  For info: (219) 922-3811.    

•     Congratulations to my old buddy, History’s End drummer and co-founder, Phil Carmen, on his recent engagement to longtime girlfriend, Ali Newberry.

    Will this mean the end to Carmen’s wild and crazy alter-ego, Gus?  Only time will tell. No wedding date has been set yet. 

CAL CITY CRAWL II...

According to vocalist, Ben Mollin, the ambitious lads of his new combo, River Oaks Band, are going to replicate the infamous bar crawl that Mollin’s former group, WOLCOTT, undertook two years ago.     

“Cal City Crawl II”,  sponsored by Music Lab in Lansing, takes place on Saturday, March 19.      

River Oaks – rounded out by drummer Stephen Fields, guitarist Danny Georgi and bassist Mike N. – will perform in 23 bars during an 11-hour run across the city made infamous by hookers, pimps and The Blues Brothers.      

A bus will haul fans from bar to bar and the run will end with a full blown 10:30pm concert by the road-weary band at The Hideaway (Burnham & 159th) with support act, The Ghettobillies.  For a full list of the bars, to get information on hitching a ride on the bus, to just tell these guys they are insane...log on at: www.riveroaksrocks.com 

Please be sure to mark your calendars for our April 2 Midwest  Beat Awards Gala at 2nd Dimensions in Schererville, Indiana (just a few miles from the state line on US. 30).   

It’d be great to see a packed house there once again as we honor area talent with the Midwest BEAT Reader’s Poll and Midwest BEAT Publisher’s Awards.   Last year, the line eventually extended out the front door, as folks waited in line for others to leave, so they could gain entrance.  So plan to arrivfe ear

      ‘Nuff said!

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