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COVER FEATUREby Various Staff HOW THE REGION CAME TO RUMBLE…
“It’s an event that parents can share with their kids,” said Midwest BEAT co-publisher/editor, Tom Lounges. “It’s a sampling of the music our region has to offer. And it’s fast moving. If you don’t like the style of one band, in 35 minutes another will take it’s place. Kill the time checking out the ‘Local Music Flea Market’ we have set up in the Celebrity Circle Lounge.” Though it is now in it’s fifth year, Midwest BEAT Magazine’s Annual “Region Rumble” showcase concert at Merrillville’s Star Plaza Theatre only came to be called that two years ago. The first such show produced by Lounges back in 1998, took place in April and was simply called the “Celebrate Local Music Fest.” The following year it was called the “Spring Break Jam.” It came to be called the “Region Rumble” after moving from Spring to Fall three years ago. “We’ve got a really magnificent theatre sitting right here in our own backyards,” said Lounges of how the event came to be. “As a local music fan and long time supporter of it, I was frustrate that our area artists were ignored.” Lounges has been connected to the Star Plaza in one way or another since it’s first show opened in 1979. “I was dating the floral designer contracted to decorate the stage for the Grand Opening of what was then called the Holiday Star Plaza,” recalled Lounges. “I actually helped string the ceremonial ribbon which Donna Summer helped to cut when she inaugurated that stage with her opening night concert in 1979.” That first local music showcase in 1998 came about over a casual lunch at the Miner-Dunn Restaurant in Highland between Lounges and Star President, Charlie Blum. “I first met Charlie when he was working with the old Poplar Creek Music Theatre, back in my Night Rock days,” said Lounges. “Charlie is very committed to our region’s local talent. Be it musicians, actors, dancers or whatever. He and his staff has always been very supportive of my efforts to present local talent on the Star stage.” Some “Rumble” alumni have been invited back to perform gigs with major national acts that appear there. The five annual BEAT-sponsored events have allowed over 50 area artists to put on their musical resumes that they rocked the Star Plaza Theatre. . Just some of the Chicagoland artists who have taken part in the “Rumble” in past years are –– Dying Breed, Gravelbone, Enuff Z’Nuff, Loudmouth, Alison’s Mailbox, Shuddup & Drive, Eric Lambert & The Laughing Gnomes, Live Nude Girls, Egnaro, Eighty•94, Grape Soda, Eat A Peach, Free Raine, Flathead Fillups, American Motherload, Steepwater Band, Highway Band, Fatal Order, 3 Dudes & A Dead Chick, Winterkill, Inzane and numerous others. Add to that impressive list the names of this year’s artists –– Sickfrown, Terminal Fix, Cryptic Visions, The Crawpuppies, Mack’s Creek Band, Seven Ten, Emitter, Closed World, Monkey Cocktail and Soulpride. New this year are outside sponsors like Budweiser and Bongwater Soft Drinks, who are kicking in additional door prizes to be given away between each band set. Sponsors like Black Dog Studio and Music Lab, supply prizes to reward the participating bands who wind up selling the most tickets to the event. For the third consecutive year –– Freak –– Mancow’s Q101 radio sidekick and monthly columnist with Midwest BEAT will co-host the “Rumble” with Lounges. Joining them will be Doogie The Bongwater Boy, the national spokesperson of Bongwater Soft Drinks. The gorgeous BEAT Babes Heather and Beth will also be on stage keeping things interesting with the boys between bands. “The first two years (‘98 and ‘99) were a little shaky,” admits Lounges, who cancelled the 2000 concert. “I was upset by the lack of support shown from the area musicians at the 1999 concert. We’ve always held these events on Sundays (1p.m. to 11 p.m.) so that most musicians are able to attend, because few gig out on Sundays. I actually walk around and make notes as to which members of the music community show up to support this event.” Since moving the event to the Fall in 2001 and dubbing it the “Region Rumble,” the turn out has gotten greater with each successive year. Lounges and Blum are hoping that trend continues in 2003. “We’ve got some great musical acts once again this year,” concluded Lounges. “We get 40-50 bands submitting demos to take part in this show every year and we have the daunting task of narrowing those hopefuls down to a workable 10 band line-up. So we like to think we’ve got the cream of the crop in a variety of styles of contemporary music, from heavy, to pop, to Southern.” Now on to this year’s “Rumble” bands… Here’s who they are and what they are all about…
EMITTER
Also, Emitter’s song “Love You More” was featured in the movie “Dog Gone Love,” which premiered on the Sunset Strip at The Hollywood Film Festival. This refreshing pop/rock band from Northwest Indiana has also managed to play the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They shared the stage this year with Spymob and Ben Folds. Emitter has also share bills with such major national acts as Gin Blossoms and Tonic. Emitter was recently chosen out of 64 bands to compete in Paramount Picture’s “School of Rock” contest held at Joe’s on Weed Street in Chicago. They made it all the way to the finals and received a featured performance spot on Channel 2/CBS News. They won second place and gained an even greater fan base because of it. Jason James, Emitter’s lead vocalist, formed the band in 2000 after he had been offered a song writing deal in Nashville, Tennessee with Gotee Records. James decided to drop the deal and make it a group effort rather than going solo and called his old friend, Dave Schoon, to come and play bass for the project. Schoon accepted and called his guitarist friend Steve Van Der Griend to come along. James, Schoon, and Van Der Griend needed to find someone to keep the beat. After a few drummers filtered through their ranks, Emitter ultimately chose Greg Piaseczny to sit on their drum throne. “I just feel lucky to be all a part of what’s going on. There is a lot of hard work that goes into the band, and most of it was accomplished before I became part of this situation,” commented the newest member. “Dave, Steve, and Jason are some of the most focused individuals I’ve ever played with, and I believe most people don’t really realize how far they’ve already gotten. The only hope I have for the future is that we have as much fun ten to twenty years from now as we do today.” Emitter is also joined on most dates by electric violinist, Steve Gowens, who performs with the band on special occasions. Emitter may seem pretty busy lately with all of their recent success, but they still manage time for their personal lives. James recently announced that he will soon be a daddy with his baby due sometime in May. Schoon also announced just announced his engagement. Emitter has sold over 5,000 CDs between their last two releases Melody and their self-titled debut album. In October they released four new songs on an EP titled, el camino yes maybe. The four songs are available free exclusively on their website, and fans can download the songs on a page called “Make Your Own Emitter CD.” The four previously unreleased songs were recorded in July by independent producer Jonathan Smith. Emitter continues to field record deal offers and continues to work hard. Steadily moving forward since day one, they have proven record labels aren’t necessary to achieve great accomplishments. They have set the bar high for other local bands and shown that dedication, and most importantly, their love for music really does pay off. For more information on Emitter, visit the band on the web at: www.emitteronline.com or contact them via email at: emittermail@aol.com – Rachel Komar
MONKEY COCKTAIL
Yet they still enjoy playing and creating their original music, as well as playing occasional cover hits. “We don’t fantasize as much about getting signed as when we were kids. When I play for the love of playing, positive things happen, but when I feel the pressure of getting signed, the love I once had slips away; it’s almost demoralizing,” said Monkey Cocktail’s bassist, Shawn Michael Farrell. Over the years Monkey Cocktail has also been featured in the entertainment sections of The Gary Post-Tribune and The Times, the two largest daily newspapers of Northwest Indiana. Lead vocalist/guitarist, Jack Adams, founded Monkey Cocktail with the help of drummer, Bobby Shaw, and bassist Farrell. With an animated and colorful front man, and a great rhythm section, Monkey Cocktail decided they were still missing something. They went on search for an additional guitar player, and after a few months, found the remarkably talented singer/songwriter, David Carl. After finalizing their line-up, the band recorded their first full-length album called, First Light, under the band name of Dying Breed. Soon after, they discovered another band also had the name Dying Breed, and had been together for an even longer period of time. A name conflict arose and our Dying Breed was compelled to change their name. They chose the name Monkey Cocktail, because they were almost positive that no other band would have it, and it just seemed to fit the part. Adams, Carl, and Farrell were all in previous bands before Monkey Cocktail. Perhaps the best known of them was Adams’ previous band Sgt. Roxx, who were one of the first bands in the entire Midwest to jump on what was then new technology and release a CD without being signed. Carl’s guitar prowess left mouths agape while performing with the regional band Pawnz as a teen and he later recorded CDs with his own self-named group. The members of Monkey Cocktail have a great bond, not commonly found in many bands. “There is a mutual respect between the members of our band. We balance out each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” said Farrell. Monkey Cocktail knows that like most bands, they will have their downfalls, but they are very determined. “We don’t feel any pressure to compete with other bands because we can barely fall into the same category as most of them,” said Farrell. The band doesn’t take themselves too seriously, but they stress that they want to “execute well.” Monkey Cocktail’s powerful, melodic songs have been performed live from throughout the Midwestern States. They have plans for a new full-length album, which according to Adams, they hope to have ready to hawk at the “Region Rumble.” The new CD was recorded at Studio Chicago and will consist of seven songs. For more information about the band, point your browser to: www.monkeycocktail.com, or contact them via email at monkey cocktail@prodigy.net – Rachel Komar
SICKFROWN
“I just like to write lyrics that people can relate to,” said the band’s lead vocalist, Dustin Novath. Reigning from tough streets of Gary, Indiana, the mix of hardcore beats and heavy flows that this band offers has earned Sickfrown much respect from fans, in addition to a handful of bands in the music industry. National act, (hed)pe has shown Sickfrown a great deal of support over the years. “We have been really good friends with (hed)pe for seven years now, and they have treated us as one of their own since day one,” said Novath. Novath has guest appeared with (hed)pe on their last couple of tours, filling in on stage for Serj Tankian of System Of A Down on a track Serj recorded with them called, “Feel Good.” The whole Sickfrown band is due to play with (hed)pe on December 18, 2003 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. When asked about the upcoming show, Novath commented –– “Being able to even step on the same stage as them is an honor. We totally respect those guys!” Sickfrown grew up in families where their parents performed in bands, which inspired them to pick up their instruments. The group was formed in late 97’ by Dustin “McD9” Novath (lead vocals) and his brother Glenn “Geeto” Allen (drums). Through the years, the membership has changed, but they ultimately chose to flesh out the line-up with guitarist John “Lama” Yaney and bassist Justin Russell. “Most every band goes through their batches of bad apples, but most of the time it works out for the better. Now, instead of having the ones that try and hold us down, we have a band with members who are all on the same page and enjoying what they’re doing. Hard work and tons of dedication is what it takes to be successful, and I think that’s why Sickfrown is where we are today,” said Novath. The whole band contributes to the song writing process, and most of their songs are about Novath’s positive experiences, as opposed to the past when he, himself, feels he was “a little eaten up and still maturing.” The love for their music and the fun they have creating it keeps the band open to the possibility of trying new things. Over the years, they have experienced various amounts of changes and rough times, but the work they put into their music shows how strong their will is to succeed at making their dream a reality. Sickfrown has high expectations for their future and are willing to work themselves day in and day out to accomplish their goals. “All we can say is thanks to all of our friends and family for their encouragement and support over the past six years. We feel our time is near and hope that we will have their continued support,” said Novath. For more information on Sickfrown, visit them online at: www.sickfrown.comor contact them via email at sickfrownmusic@yahoo.com – Rachel Komar
CRYPTIC VISIONS
Add to that instrumental combo, a sexy young gal who can not only sing as good as she looks, but can also scream and growl with full throat assault. That is the recipe for a truly GREAT metal band that is neither “old” nor “nu,” but somewhere uniquely in the middle. Cryptic Visions is just such a band. Though there have been past incarnations bearing this name, none compare to the 2003 version. Only guitarist/songwriter Jeff Bagherpour remains from the original mid-‘90s group. After nearly two years of searching, he finally assembled a crack team of players, and the wait has been well worth it. Sharing guitar licks with the former Tyrant’s Reign axe man is the equally impressive James Link, a fellow battle-scarred veteran of the Chicago metal scene. Anchoring the beat for the band is – Donny Mizanin – arguably one of the most solid drummers to ever snap a snare on the South Side of Chicago. Mizanin’s old style has is in rhythmic sync with the jazzy-edge powerhouse bass line of the band’s “youngster,” Scott Trubich. Wrapping up this tight musical package like a lovely satin ribbon is the hither-to-unknown belly-dancing siren, Samantha Guijarro. Guijarro had wasted the last few year s singing ethnic music and chirping out pop songs in an all girl group, before finding her true calling as a metal singer. Thanks to her boyfriend, for pushing this once musically lost little girl into the metal realm where she has come to find kindred spirits. It seems dear Samantha has a house cleaning ritual where she prances about with dust cloths and mops while jamming heavy metal CDs. One day, her better half heard this powerhouse voice emitting from her as she sang along. He urged her to give heavy music a try and in the process has earned the gratitude of South Side metal heads everywhere. “Sam can hold her own with the boys and even teach them a few things,” said Bagherpour, who loves to watch audiences fall under her spell. “They don’t expect to hear this huge and powerful voice come out of this good looking girl.” The voice knocks them out first and then once Sam starts to moving her moneymaker –– gyrating, grinding and sashaying to and fro in her little leather skirt –– she owns them body, mind and soul. The cover songs this band will consider playing live can be counted on one hand and most are culled from the Iron Maiden songbook. “We don’t want to play the same old songs that we’ve all been playing for years and that other bands are playing,” said Bagherpour. “We’re not about that at all. This band came together because we all wanted to play original music and put our own mark on the area music scene.” The others are in full agreement. James Link left local juke box band, Trauma, to have a forum for his original licks. Likewise Mizanin, who has playing Bonham beats in Zeppelin tributes for “more years than he cares to remember.” Seemingly echoing the very thoughts of all four of his bandmates, Mizanin says it best –– “This the band I’ve been waiting for!” A band web site is under construction. – Tom Lounges
MACK'S CREEK BAND
Experience is something that Kent and his collective of players –– Mack’s Creek Band –– have plenty of between them. Anchored by Mack and his younger brother L.W. Kent, the band has been around in one form or another for the better part of a quarter century. I first met up with them as The Kent Brothers Band, when they opened for Heartsfield at Pointe East in 1980. Sharing stages with national acts is all part of the experience factor that has educated Kent. Since assembling their first line-up back in the early 1970s in the South Suburbs, he and L.W. have opened for a variety of country and rock artists. Just this past Halloween, the duo warmed up a Star Plaza Theatre audience for Charlie Daniels. “We still do some acoustic duo shows as ‘The Kent Brothers’ or just as ‘Mac & L.W.’, but we really like when we can all get together to make some noise,” stressed Kent. The “all” he refers to are –– drummer Ed Dimarco, piano/keyboardist Ross Hendricks and bassist John Gibb –– the full-blown musical project that now taking up much of the Kent siblings’ lives in the way of studio recording some of the hundreds of original songs that have been amassed over the years. While all the members write and contribute to the original Mack’s Creek songbook, it is L.W. who is the most prolific writer of the bunch. “L.W. is always writing,” said Mac. “He never stops.” Most of the Mack’s Creek live sets consist of original songs whenever possible, with some covers by Skynyrd, Amazing Rhythm Aces, The Band and Marshall Tucker Band tossed in from time to time. One cover they have given their own interpretation on and made their own is the 1959 Johnny Horton classic, “The Battle Of New Orleans.” When Kents closed their Star Plaza set with that number on Halloween, the audience got all hand-clappin’ and foot-stompin’ involved. Both Kent brothers log considerable time in Nashville, hawking songs down on Music Row. They have formed their own publishing company, Golden Fiddle Music, to protect their vast repertoire. L.W. has lived in Nashville from time to time, along with other colorful places across America. His frequent travel “experience” and living in so many different locales has flavored the younger Kent’s songwriting. Mac Kent was the first of the many Kent children to bring home a musical instrument, but he was certainly not the last. When he was not home, a pre-teen L.W. would sneak into Mac’s room and bang around on his guitar, teaching himself to play. When younger brothers took to playing bass and drums, soon the whole family was playing music together. The Kent Brothers have been around a lot of years. “John Gibb put is best when describing Mack’s Creek Band,” said Kent. “John said – ‘If the Kent Brothers were a sit-com, than Mack’s Creek would be a spin-off series.’ And that pretty well sums it up. The Kent Brothers were mostly retired from the scene, but Mac still had the itch to play. He originally put Mack’s Creek together to serve as host band for the ‘jam nights’ held at Widow McCleary’s. Things have snowballed from there and here they are today getting “ready to rumble” with the a host of bands many years their junior. And it’s in situations like these where “experience” truly proves valuable indeed. Email to: MacksCreekBand03@aol.com – Tom Lounges
SOUL PRIDE
At a time when most band who are writing/recording their own music are looking to the current crop of hard and heavy bands, Soul Pride, looks back to soulful Sixties and Seventies icons like The Faces, Humble Pie, Free and Bad Company for musical inspiration. Scruff vocals that would make Rod Stewart proud are supplied by Tommy Mayer, the resident hippie element of the group. Performing barefoot most nights with incense burning, his thin tie-dye wrapped frame is the visual focal point of the band. Despite his small build, Mayer’s powerful voice has no problem finding it’s niche amid the jangly guitars and solid groove of his band mates. Mayer and childhood chum Chris “Karp” Karpinec set the wheels in motion for this band three years ago when they began strumming acoustic guitars at backyard parties. Calling themselves Devine Right at that point, the band was fleshed out by two other high school friends on guitar and drums. “We were just having fun,” recalled bassist Karpinec, who handles most of the band’s promotional and booking work. “It’s really turned into something in the last few months. We’re getting all kinds of calls for shows now.” Discovering their name was not unique, Mayer thumbed through his thesaurus and ultimately christened the group Soul Pride. The singer’s cousin, Billy Mayer, former drummer of Alison’s Mailbox and Dope Sick, happened upon a backyard rehearsal about this same time. The next day he sat in on the kit to help them polish things up and he has remained there ever since. Seven months ago, they added lead guitarist Mike DeChantal to the line-up and late last summer, recruited former Transmission guitarist Scott Tucker to the band. “Scott and Mike share rhythm and lead,” said Karpinec. “We were looking for a new rhythm guitar player and then we heard that Transmission had broken up,” added Mayer. “We used to play a lot of shows with Transmission, so we contacted Scott and he was up for the gig.” Tucker greatly impressed his new band mates by learning their whole set of songs in less than two weeks. “He showed us how enthused he was when he came in and played all the songs, and played them well,” said Mayer. With the band’s membership solid and Tommy Mayer brimming over with lyrical ideas for new songs, the focus this fall has been on recording and releasing their music. “We’re working on the finances right now to get into the studio and record a full length CD,” said Mayer, who predicts that a finished product will be available by the holidays. “I played a lot of college shows and parties [with Alison’s Mailbox] and this band is now starting to tap into that scene as well.” Along with the full length CD, the band plans to record two or three limited edition 45rpm vinyl “singles.” Those will be given out free at shows and used for marketing. “We’re doing vinyl, to keep with the ‘old school’ sound and approach of this band,” said Karpinec. “Those will be songs not appearing on the full length CD,” added Mayer. “The idea behind those is to hopefully catch people’s attention and entice them to purchase the full-length CD.” The question is...how many of today’s young folks even have old fashioned record players. Website coming soon. – Ernie Thomas
SEVEN TEN
Seven Ten, with the help of their label (Metal Mayhem Music), has been selling their new full-length CD, Love And War, all over the world. Metal Mayhem Music is a label based out of Monroe, CT and is owned by Ryan Northrop, a good friend of St. Allen. The label usually focuses on bands consisting of previously signed musicians, but because of Northrop’s strong faith in the band, he decided to sign Seven Ten. Metal Mayhem Music has put out two versions of Love And War, one in Europe and one in the U.S. Right now, the CD can only be found at a smattering of indie record shops like Compact Disc Trading Post in Merrillville, Indiana. Seven Ten is proudly the only band in the Calumet Region currently signed to a label containing national acts. This melodic hard rock band was heavily influenced by many bands from the ‘80s and ‘90s, including Dokken, Kiss, Slaughter, Whitesnake, Journey, Motley Crue, Quiet Riot, Ted Nugent, and Twisted Sister. “We are inspired by anybody that can play and is truly educated in their instrument,” said St. Allen. St. Allen and drummer, Dee Anthony, formed a band called Locked And Loaded in early 2000, and soon began their search for a guitarist. After almost losing hope, Metal Mayhem helped Seven Ten find guitarist, Kenny Lee, who had a strong reputation locally for the years he spent bending strings for the ‘90s metal outfit, Scarred. Lee was made official shortly after their meeting. Finding a groove keeper was not as easy for them as finding Lee had been. After two years they finally found bassist Glenn Curtis and petitioned him to join the band. Curtis was the missing piece to their music-making puzzle. Due to many problems, Locked And Loaded decided to take a break. It wasn’t until St. Allen’s mother passed away on July 10th, that he realized he wasn’t ready to give up quite yet. The day she passed away, St. Allen wrote a song called “Seven Ten,” in her memory. The attitude and lyrics of the song are about a place one goes where sometimes good things happen and sometimes bad things happen (a hospital). “My mother always wanted me to follow my dreams, so I decided to take something negative in my life and turn it into something positive,” said St. Allen. He decided to get back into his music and call his project, Seven Ten, after the song he had written. The first ones he asked on board were his former Locked And Loaded band mates. All agreed. Seven Ten recorded shortly after and are now going strong. “We do what we do, and we hope that somebody, regardless where they are, is listening. I just hope they like what they hear. Rock ‘n’ roll is not dead,” said St. Allen. For more info, visit www.sevententheband.com or contact them via email at: info@sevententheband.com – Rachel Komar
THE CRAWPUPPIES
Lead singer/acoustic guitarist Chad Clifford estimates his band’s repertoire is pretty much without boundaries. “We don’t ever use a set list,” said Clifford. “We play off people in the crowd. We customize each show to fit the audience we have that night. I call out songs as we go along or one of the other guys will call out a song. We even take requests sometimes.” Completing this juke box band are bassist Aaron Hedges, drummer Chris Karp and guitarist Anglo Ciccio. Along with pop favorites like “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Some Kind Of Wonderful,” “Play That Funky Music,” and a host of Beatles covers, The Crawpuppies pull from the heavier side of the spectrum, often dipping into the songbooks of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Aerosmith. Don’t expect to hear cover songs when the group performs at “Region Rumble 2003,” because the public will see a completely different side of the veteran band. After years of thumping out other people’s music, original songs are now on the front burner for The Crawpuppies. “We [area musicians] all start out wanting to do our own thing, but it’s so easy to do covers that we sometimes get sidetracked,” said Clifford, who first hit the local scene in the early ‘90s original band, Digital Hair. “Once you get people coming out to shows like we do now, you owe it to yourself to start slipping a couple of your own songs into your show,” he continued. “The Crawpuppies have six original songs that we just recorded and are now doing in our shows. Those are just the start. Now that the faucet’s been turned on, the songs keep coming.” Their originals are commercially appealing and loaded with as many pop hooks as the famous covers they play. “Doing covers all these years has taught me to write better originals,” explained Clifford. “As a cover band you play a lot of different styles and being up on stage night after night, you see first hand what kind of songs people respond to, so you incorporate those elements into your own music.” Given their popularity, it is funny to think that their formation was the accidental result of Hedges and Clifford plundering through a set of well worn chestnuts at a local jam night. Funnier yet, is learning that their name was adopted after Clifford spied a fast food snack item of the same name advertised on a Popeye’s Chicken marquee across from the club where they were jamming. The club that had been hosting that fateful “jam night” eventually asked the duo to put together a “host band” for the venue’s weekly event. Karp, who had been playing with Hedges in Bravo Johnny at the time, became drummer. Lead guitarist Ciccio completed the quartet and the four have been together ever since. All but Ciccio sing. Chad sings all the lead vocals except for a few songs, but the others contribute solidly to the three part harmony, which is why they can pull off Beatles songs so well. “Everyone was busy with other projects when this all came together,” said Hedges. “It was never supposed to be a real band. It was just a side gig hosting a jam night.” Though the members have always maintained side bands, The Crawpuppies, has clearly become the main project for all involved.
– Tom Lounges
CLOSED WORLD
This budding young band’s original songs are a blend of progressive rock, blues and jazz. They are unlike most of the area’s music groups, save Groovatron, who oddly enough are alumni of Munster High School, the same as Closed World’s members. The roots of Closed World go back to the member’s Middle School years in the mid-1990s. That is when keyboardist/vocalist George Colakovic became buddies with brothers Nikola and Nemanja Djorovic, who now play guitar and drums in the band, respectively. “We are all Serbian, so we’d see each other at various Serbian functions at church and we’d see each other at school,” he said. “I’d been playing piano since I was about 7 and they had just started playing their instruments a little while before we met.” Once the three friends began writing their own songs, they sought out a record studio that would work with their meager budget. They found a friend and mentor in local producer Neil Holmquist of St. John’s Dungeon Studios. Since then, the band has added two more Munster-residing members -- vocalist Lizzy Ellison and bassist John Glukirt. “Lizzy is a remarkable singer and has a real strong jazz, soul and R&B kind of sound,” said Colakovic. She was a fellow classmate, while John graduated two years ahead of the rest of them. Ellison, who had been singing as a “guest” on the band’s very early demo tapes, became a full-time member earlier this year, sharing lead and backing vocals with Colakovic. Glukirt became a member in fall of 2002. The band has completed an impressive 8-song CD, that features international rock violinist David Ragsdale (of the multi-platinum selling act, Kansas) on two tracks. “Neil knows Kansas really well and sent our stuff on D.A.T. (digital audio tape) to Ragsdale. I guess he liked what he heard, because he agreed to guest on the CD.” Ragsdale appears on the tracks, “Dwelling Space” and “Beginnings End.” Though the group have played some college shows in Wabash, where Colakovic attends, Closed World are only now old enough to start playing out in area bars and clubs. “It’s been really hard to find places to play until now, but we’re starting to book more shows now,” he said. “We really try to push our own songs in our shows,” said Colakovic. “For club shows though, where we have a lot of time to fill, we add some covers.” Among the artists Closed World covers are Phish and Dave Matthews. “We actually cover like six or seven Phish songs, because we really like those guys a lot,” he said, adding that they favor “jam band” artists because they themselves like to improvise and cut loose when playing. “We don’t go overboard jamming and get so into ourselves that we lose or bore people watching us, but we do have some fun with some of the songs,” he continued. Another favorite to play live for keyboard player Colakovic, is Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride.” Closed World may soon be heard on a proposed nationally-released Kansas tribute album currently in the works. Their connection to such a project is obviously Ragsdale and Holmquist. Colakovic is uncertain on what might develop, though he has heard rumors that if the tribute CD comes to pass, they may be sharing album space alongside such big name artists as King’s X and Creed.
– Ernie Thomas
TERMINAL FIX
Just two weeks after releasing their four-song EP –– Step One –– in late September, the band had sold nearly 500 copies. “Nothing comes fast and nothing comes easy,” said Cox.“You have to work hard and earn what you get.” The Southern Illinois born Cox got a music biz education while residing in South Texas during the 1990s and steering his then original band, Stone Heavy, towards regional success. Like his former band, Terminal Fix is an all original entity. Unlike that band, they are a true team, with a game plan and a democratic process for calling the shots on where, when and how they do things. All four members sing, all four members write, and four all members contribute to the band in various ways –– ranging from bookings, to maintaining their web site www.terminalfixmusic.com to creating and distributing promotional materials.“We are very much ‘a band’ in that we all play a part in what goes on and share the load,” affirmed drummer Dave Currier, who shocked area fans when he departed successful local group Inzane to chance this new musical venture. He and Cox are the perfect rhythmic foil, laying down thick rhythms like a well-oiled machine. “I saw Dave playing one night and within minutes I knew that I had to play music with him,” said Cox. An early incarnation lacked the right chemistry, something that started to change once Currier joined their ranks. Cox and frontman/vocalist Q-Ball are all that remain from the original line-up to first bear the Terminal Fix name. They found the right mix with guitarist Ed The Head and turntablist, DJ This. Their sound is heavy, but melodic. They fly the heavy metal flag in their camp, but it is not your dad’s “old school metal” nor is it “nu-metal.” “The influences of the five guys is this band is really broad, but when we all come together those influences collide to become Terminal Fix,” said Cox. The imposing Q-Ball raps and growls with the best of them, in fact, better than the best of them. But he also sings and has a real sense of melody. He has come a long way since the mid-‘90s, when he fronted the region’s seminal hardcore band, Sixty-Six Stitches. Unlike most bands who feature a turntablist for visual effect and trendiness, DJ This strongly contributes much to the band’s sound. “I’m so glad we decided to add him to the band rather than a second guitarist,” said Cox. “He fills in the gaps like a second guitar would, but in a way that a guitar never could.” This is the record jockey’s first band and his first foray into heavy music. He was and still is a popular club DJ spinning everything from house music to techno beats in trendy Chicago night spots. The scratching, back spins, drop beats and loops created by DJ This works well with the heavy guitar tones of youngest member, Ed The Head, who cites Terminal Fix as his first real band. After six months of intense woodshedding, the group debuted last April and figuratively blew the doors off The Backdoor Lounge in Griffith with their first show. The momentum has grown ever since. Their band name reflects a common thread in people everywhere, explained Cox. “We all have a terminal fix of some kind. Some people are internet junkies, some are car freaks, some have worse habits like booze, cigarettes and drugs. We all get our ‘fix’ somehow in life.” Cox is not down with the jealousy, animosity and backbiting that goes on in the local clubs between bands. He learned the importance of working in tandem with other aspiring rock hopefuls back in South Texas. “There’s not many clubs open to heavy original music. We [heavy bands] need to all work together to carve a niche out and not fight each other,” he concluded. “It shouldn’t be a competitive thing, it should be a mutual thing.” – Ernie Thomas | ||
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