| For Immediate Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…by Tom Lounges / Editor
I would like to invite all the Midwest BEAT readers to join us this month for our two Northwest Indiana BEAT Bash events on May 14 and 20, respectively in Lake and Porter Counties.
BUSTIN’ THE CHERRY... The first event is our “Cherry Bustin’ Bash” where we “break in” a brand new music room for the region. It takes place on May 14 at Backstreet Grill & Sports Bar (2712 Condit St) in downtown Highland and features the band – Zodiac, Stellar Road and Ripley Street.
BIN WILLY’S IS BACK... An old name from the region’s past has been resurrected. The Buddy & Pal’s location in Valparaiso, Indiana will again be known as Bin Willy’s beginning this month. Some remodeling has been done after a few days of down time and I invite everyone to come out and check out the newly revamped venue on May 20th, when Midwest BEAT hosts its annual “Spring Fling Rock Bash” there. On the bill will be Dawnstone, Nawty and Ripley Street.
KINSEY REPORTS BACK...
Gary, Indiana’s world famous blues group – The Kinsey Report – performed a show at Leroy’s Hot Stuff earlier this month to blow off the rust after more than a year on hiatus. The gig was a warm up to the band’s just announced 8:00pm concert performance at the Porter County Fairgrounds on Friday, May 27.
Growing up in Gary, under the tutelage of their blues belting father, Big Daddy Kinsey, the Kinsey brothers have released several international albums for a variety of record labels, including Point Blank/Atlantic and Alligator. Guitarist Donald Kinsey, toured and recorded on an international level with reggae legends Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, before returning home to form this band with his younger brothers. Also on the May 27 concert bill are regional blues groups The Steepwater Band and The Planetary Blues Band.
BAND BITS...
Northwest Indiana-based group, Farewell To February, have released their new CD, So Much For Being Scared. The six song EP features four new studio tracks, along with two live tracks that were recorded by sound engineer Joe Rega (Cheap Trick) during the band’s performance last January at Midwest BEAT’s “Region Rumble” at the Star Plaza Theatre More information at: www.farewelltofebruary.com
• Guitarist Tony Galasso has left the line-up of the Sweet Blackberry Jam Band due to health issues, according to band leader/vocalist Shawn Kelly. Stepping in to fill the void is guitar-slinger Bobby Belinsky (ex-Luv Junkies) who will be worked into the group a little more with each show.
• After six years together on local stages, The Unusual Suspects, have decided to call it quits at the end of this month. Guitarist Don Nedberg explained that everything was amicable. Some members simply did not want to miss spending weekends with their young children and others were just getting burnt out doing the same grind week after week. After some down time, Nedberg said he expects to bend his strings again in local clubs with a new band project.
• Word is that animated guitarist Zeke Rongers has taken off his schoolboy garb and devil horns after nearly four years of playing the role of “Angus Young” in the regional AC/DC tribute act, Bonfire. No official word on why Rongers left the group or their plans at this point.
• A new music group has begun hitting area stages sporting some familiar faces behind the instruments. Super Wonder Band is a side project comprised of guitarist Angelo Cicco of History’s End, drummer Billy Romer of The Freek Johnson Quartet, former Cosmic Slop bassist Drake Blinco, and acoustic strummer Jim Chaddock handling the lead vocals. For more information, log on at: www.superwonderband.com
• Another new “super group” of sorts has come together in the South Suburbs in the form of OMG. This quarter consists entirely of “old-school” veterans of the regional bar wars – vocalist Michael Kalmas (ex-How Happy), guitarist Nick Sikich (ex-Joker/Vivid), bassist Chuck Comanse (ex-Counter Attak/Vivid) and legendary Chicagoland drummer John Horvath (ex-Hounds/Gruesomes/Vivid). “The music consists of alternative covers for now,” explained Kalmas. “Stuff like The Cure, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, INXS, Duran Duran, etc.” With this remarkably talented line-up who all come from powerful original music projects of the past, it seems unlikely that doing strictly cover songs will keep this group happy. I predict originals are on the way...at least they had better be!!!!
• A third all-star project that has emerged on the scene is Revell. This all original project consisting of veteran guitarist Alex Evolga (ex-Counter Attak), bassist Brian Rosin (ex-Counter Attak/Salem’s Mass), drummer Kid Jackson (ex-Rough Justice/Eat A Peach) and vocalist Eric Lundstrom. After having spent the last two months writing material and recording a demo disc at Creature Feature Studio with Bob O’Connor (ex-Sgt. Roxx guitarist) producing, Revell has finally started bringing it’s old-school metal sound to area clubs. The game plan, according to Evolga, is to continue recording throughout 2005 and release a full length CD in January 2006.
• Speaking of Sgt Roxx... That band’s former vocalist, Jack Adams, has announced his current project Monkey Cocktail is finally back on track after a few months on hiatus. After a long search and many auditions, a suitable replacement has been found for drummer Bobby Shaw, who abdicated this winter to join punk rockers Shotgun Elvis. Named as newest Monkey man is Tony Schoon, best known for his years as a teenage beat-keeper for the Kouts-based The Devil Dogs.
• Just weeks after their debut full length album became available, Dawnstone, has lost their drummer Joel Collins. Collins left on good terms in order to raise a family. Stepping in behind the kit to replace him is Plymouth, Indiana native, Jared Good (ex-Deep Creek Band/The Mad Cowboys). Dawnstone will be on-air guests of Yours Truly on the Sunday, May 15 broadcast of my Night Rock radio program on X-ROCK 103.9. They will perform at Midwest BEAT’s Spring Fling BEAT Bash on May 20 at Bin Willy’s in Valparaiso.
• Three former members of Western Haze, a popular country band that was left behind after its frontman Jimmy Henrich relocated to Nashville, are back out twangin' and bangin' in area clubs. Keyboardist Allan Evitt, along with the rhythm section of drummer Mark Price and bassist Curt Durham, have joined the ranks of the Chicago-based country rock group, Ranch 101.
• Drummer/percussionist Scott Kelly has amicably parted ways with his longtime band, Mr. Funnyman. Kelly was replaced on the kit by Craig Collins and wishes his former band mates. Also added to the group’s line up has been multi-instrumentalist, Ron Hancher (sax/violin/guitar/vocals). More info on: www.mrfunnyman.net
• Singer/songwriter Steve Vansak, a fixture on the region’s club and coffeehouse scene for many years, has a new electric band called Fat City. Joining the Gary recording artist in this project are drummer Pat Carroll and bassist Paul MacGregor, along with a three-piece horn section consisting of Brian Crane (trumpet, percussion, vocals), Dave Wilson (trombone, percussion, vocals) and Maurice Zaentz (saxophone, percussion, vocals). More information at: www.stevevansak.com
Northwest Indiana musician Jeff Nelson, a 1979 graduate of Hobart High School, died of a heart attack on April 7th at the age of 44. Nelson, a familiar figure in area night clubs during the 1980s while playing guitar for the local band, Axis, had relocated to Las Vegas and went on to do a solo original music recording project called, Wire-X. He is survived by his wife, Lori (Schilling) Nelson of Las Vegas and stepson, Ian Ketchum of Las Vegas. Also sister Lin, bassist of the local band, Allergik Reactshun. Our condolences to all of Nelson’s family and friends on their loss.
• Condolences also to the local music scene at large on the loss of a man who could be considered in many ways this Northwest Indiana music community’s unofficial Mayor –– Rick Rock! Rock –– whose given name was Richard A. Oros, Jr. –– passed away May 3 of heart failure at the age of 43. For more on Rick Rock, please visit the “Soap Box” editorial column of this May 2005 issue.
NIGHT ROCK ON-AIR GUESTS...
Here’s a quick run down of my on-air guests this month on the Sunday evening Night Rock program that runs from 6-9pm each week on X-ROCK 103.9FM Locals kick off the month with South Side rockers Ripley Street coming in the studio to perform live on on May 8 and chat about their recovery and return following the death last year of their co-founding bassist Guy Joseph-Guercio. Then of May 15, Hoosier punk pop group, Dawnstone, stop in to play live and promote their new studio album. A pair of international rock legends join me via the phone to wrap up the last two weeks of May. On May 22, I will chat with Black Sabbath’s bassist, Geezer Butler, about his newest release with his side band, GZR, and naturally about his time and travels with the Sabs! On May 29, the king of metal –– Rob Halford –– joins me as a call in guest to chat up his return to Judas Priest, their new comeback album, Angel Of Retribution, and the tour that brings them to the Tweeter Center on June 3rd!
THIS ‘N’ THAT...
• Attention local singers! The Dunes Summer Theatre Group (www.dunessummertheatre.com) has announced that on May 7 and 8, auditions will be held for it’s summer musical productions –– “HAIR” and “Starbright” –– opening on June 17 and August 12, respectively. Audition information available by emailing or calling Dani Lane at: lane27560@aol.com or calling (269) 469-7992.
• The Hobart Downtown Merchant Association is once again starting to schedule live entertainment for their “Events Under The Clock Tower” summer concert series, held Tuesday evenings at 7pm at the intersection of 3rd and Main Streets. Region-rooted Acoustic, Americana, Blues and Rock bands interested in scheduling themselves for one of these free public performances can get more information by contacting Mike Reyome at (219) 947-1590 or emailing Marie Smythe at: mariesmythe@hotmail.com
• Entertainment Law Chicago, P.C. has launched “ELC Radio” via the Live 365 internet network –– http://live365.com/stations/319986 –– which currently boasts 2.6 million listeners a month over 150 countries. The radio program will air the firms unsigned music clients, such as Chicagoland artists Mad Poet, Egostatic, Missile, October Fall, Seven Day Run, Treologic and The Sherrie Adams Band. “The internet has limitless potential for our clients,” says Donald R. Simon, Esq., of Entertainment Law Chicago. “ELC Radio is yet another way for them to get their music noticed. We’re not aware of any other law firm that is doing something like this.”
‘Nuff said! | ||
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