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LOCAL MUSIC NEWS COLUMN by Tom Lounges
CHARLIE DANIELS IS A CLASS ACT…
The opening act I booked for him –– The Kent Bros. –– was given every courtesy possible. Daniels sets the bar high. Charlie is still one of the nicest entertainers I have ever had the pleasure of working with in my quarter century in the music biz. And in Charlie’s case, it truly is a pleasure! TWO WAYS TO WIN… Sorry! No tickets or meet ‘n’ greets to offer you this month. I’ve got some killer live Triumph DVDs to give away though –– 20 in all. There’s two ways to win – a “write in contest” in this issue and by listening for my “X-Rock Insider” segments to air on XROCK/103.9. Enter to win one of 5 copies of “Triumph: Live At The US Festival” being given away to readers through Midwest… See the Triumph feature with Mike Levine elsewhere in this issue for more info and details. Or starting on Monday, December 15, just listen for my “X-Rock Insider” interview segments with bassist Mike Levine of Triumph on XROCK/103.9. When you hear one of the many 90-second segments of my “X-Rock Insider” with Levine air during the “Fendrick Mid-day Show” (9a.m. and 1 p.m.), be the designated caller and win. It’s that easy! We’ll give a DVD away every weekend for 15 days (Dec. 15 - Jan. 2) during those hours.
THE “REGION RUMBLE” ROCKED! I want to say “Thank You!” to all the local rock fans who came out and supported this year’s annual “Region Rumble” at the Star Plaza Theatre. The day-long event took place on Sunday, November 23 from 1pm to 11pm. We gave region music fans 10 great bands for 10 measly bucks and tons of free door prizes were handed out between bands. It was too late in the month to get the photo scrapbook on the event together, so watch for the pictorial highlights of the “Rumble” to grace the pages of the February 2004 edition. In that issue, we’ll have photos of all the groups –– Seven Ten, Cryptic Visions, Monkey Cocktail, Closed World, Sickfrown, Emitter, Terminal Fix, Soul Pride, The Crawpuppies and Mack’s Creek Band –– plus shots of local rockers having a great time.
The Babes –– Jackie, Heather and Beth –– are shown here awarding a very smiling Zukula his custom Budweiser True Music guitar. The Hobart, Indiana resident won it for beating out the competition in a special “XROCK/Budweiser True Music Classic Rock Trivia Contest” that was held on stage between two of the ten acts. MIDWEST ICONS GET INTO HALL OF FAME… The Region’s pioneering soul men –– The Dells –– will be inducted into the revered Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2004. The Harvey, Illinois do-wop vocal group formed in 1955 and recorded for the Gary, Indiana-based VeeJay Records where they charted on the national pop charts with songs like “Oh, What A Night,” “Jeepers Creepers” and “Stay In My Corner.” Though they have not recorded in years, Dells members still reside in Harvey and occasionally perform. Also being inducted into the grand Hall this March will be Detroit’s Bob Seger –– who back in the very early ‘70s rocked region music fans at the old “Dex Card Wild Goose” concerts held at Schererville’s Sherwood Club. Others to be inducted this year include: the late Beatle guitarist George Harrison, Prince, Jackson Browne, Traffic and ZZ Top. KILLJOY TAKES THE “BATTLE”… As the top dogs of the series, Killjoy got $500 in cash, a 10-hour recording studio package from Blackdog Studios in Griffith, Indiana and a $50 Gift Certificate from Broadway Music in Merrillville, Indiana. The other bands to won preliminary rounds and made it into the Finals, alongside Killjoy were –– Seven Ten, Orchestrated Chaos and 3MF. BOSTON BAKED BLUES… Northwest Indiana’s Steepwater Band spent late November in Beantown, recording their latest CD just outside of Boston at Fort Apache Studios, with producers Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie, who have twisted knobs and in the past with the likes of Warren Zevon, Uncle Tupelo, Radiohead and Morphine, among others. Drummer Joey Winters expects a Spring 2004 release for the still untitled album. “Label negotiations are pending,” he said, though a deal with ADA Distribution has already been struck, to get the CD into stores nationwide once it’s time. Keep up with these soulful sons of the Region online at: www.steepwater.com MAKIN’ MUSIC FOR MAHONEY… One of my oldest buddies –– Greg “Mahoney” Bruks –– whom I have known since kindergarten class at Merkley School in Highland, Indiana and who has been active in the music biz as long as I have (he currently runs Mega-Sound Productions), has fallen victim to a serious health ailment that is making life and work increasingly difficult. Many of us on the local music scene know and love Greg, who currently runs sound on weekends at Second Dimensions night club in Schererville, IN. That is why several area bands are getting together on Friday, December 19 at Second Dimensions for “Makin’ Music For Mahoney.” I ask all Midwest BEAT readers to please join us in helping out our musical brother. Scheduled to perform at press time were –– History’s End, Triple Dose, Shuddup & Drive, and Unusual Suspects (with Billy Rak). Other bands will be announced. Yours truly will serve as the evening’s stage emcee and DJ between bands. Call club for more info: (219) 865-9800. Greg has been humping gear and twisting knobs for local bands for nearly a quarter century and has donated his time and talent to many causes and benefits in the past. This time Greg is the one who needs a helping hand up. We’ll be there and I hope you will too! BAND BITS… • Midwest BEAT was able to get Southern-fried Hoosier rockers, Highway Band, added as opening band on the X-ROCK-sponsored Lynyrd Skynyrd concert happening on December 6 at Merrillville, Indiana’s Star Plaza Theatre. • At midnight on Halloween, Terminal Fix vocalist/frontman Q-Ball, decided to celebrate the holiday by attaching a note to a copy of the new Terminal Fix CD –– Step One –– and releasing it into the blustery night air tied to a couple of helium filled balloons. It seems the four-song disc of hardcore original music journeyed over 1,000 miles before coming down in a wooded area in New York where a guy named Brad happened to be hunting. Spying something dangling from a tree branch, he climbed up 30 feet and retrieved it. When Brad got home, he played it, like it and contacted Q-Ball to report his favorable review of their music. Brad’s wife, Kristina, is sending a photo of her hubby with the once airborne CD to post on the band’s official website: www.terminalfixmusic.com • Speaking of Terminal Fix… They did a great job at our Hard ‘N’ Heavy Showcase Bash held on November 14 at McCool’s in South Haven, IN. As did Killjoy, Cryptic Visions and Low Twelve. The super heavy Low Twelve drove for hours from Southern Illinois to rock with us that night and in doing so, made their Indiana debut performance. Kudos for to them for allowing Midwest BEAT to be the one to pop their “Hoosier cherry” like that. Thanks for everything you do for the cause Pete!
• After a few months respite from performing live dates in favor of recording new material, Automatic Pilot, will soon return to playing at region coffee houses. The fruits of their time spent in the recording studio is a ten-song set titled, New Clear Vision, which will be available on January13, 2004. In the meantime, fans can download three of the new songs for free at: www.automaticpilot.net • Joel Justin, a native of Portage, Indiana and the former leader of The Mad Ants, is spending late fall/early winter in Salvador, Brazil. While there, he is recording his latest album, 4/4 Time. Justin, a former stage hand at Star Plaza Theatre, relocated to Hollywood in the early-‘90s, where he has established a successful musical/acting career. More on Justin and his South American romp at: www.JoelJustin.com • Three-year-old region band, Quicker E, has changed their name to EchoFarm and will soon release a demo CD of new originals recorded over the summer. Old Quicker E fans can find out more about the revitalized band at: www.echofarm.net • Local Songwriters Jim Barney and Chris Harvey are planning a monthly local “Country Music Songwriters Open Mic” just like those held in Nashville clubs. They are looking for other interested songwriters who would like to take part in the project. Call them at: (219) 764-3482 or (219) 629-1127. • Hammond native, Kenny James, who has been making a living for the last decade as a nationally touring Buddy Holly tribute artist, will return home to the region to perform his annual Music Dept. fundraiser for his alma mater, Morton High School sometime in January (date pending). While here, James will be recording some of his own country-style original music at Crown Point’s Triad Studios with engineer Ed Romanski. One of his tunes will be featured in an upcoming January edition of the “Friday Night Fights” program hosted by my good buddy, Mike Summers, on Indiana 105 Country. • Randy McKay of the regional metal group, Midnight Mass, will be doing a solo singer/songwriter bit every Sunday night from 7-10pm at the Backdoor Lounge in Griffith starting Dec. 7. Midnight Mass is currently recording an original 4-song EP at Black Dog Studio in Griffith, which will be released locally in early 2004. • Jimmy “K” Karris, who made a name for himself as guitarist in the Grand Funk tribute group, KPC, is now paying tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd in a new band called, Red Sky. Joining Karras in the project is drummer Steve Saricos (ex-Tongue ‘N Groove), bassist M. Richardson Burdett (ex-Jimmy Van Zant Band/DRB) and a pair of moonlighting guitarists – Marty Carr (of Shuddup & Drive) and Zeke Rongers (of Bonfire). • M&R RUSH might be out of the clubs for the winter months, but they are keeping busy in rolling tape. The perennial South Side rock band has just pressed up their first brand new studio single in 15 years. The seasonal song, “Heavy Metal Christmas,” was recorded at Star Trax in Alsip, IL with M&R guitarist Jeff Luif producing. Find it online at: www.mandrrush.com • Likewise, region rock duo Acoustic X has released a new holiday song called “Blessed Christmas” that has been getting some spins locally on Indiana 105 Country. • Chicago Country chanteuse, Dayna Malow, spent part of November in Nashville, TN laying down seven original songs for her self-named band’s new CD. A little more work in a regional studio will be done before its early 2004 release. • Guitarist Mike Columbo of the local group Hot Damn! reports in that he and the boys will start recording their very first full length album this month. Ten songs are planned with an early 2004 release expected. • Not sure what’s up... but at press time, Rick DeVries emailed in the news that Pete Berwick & The Renagades had just called it quits. Rick was the Renagades lead guitarist. Rick’s a rock solid country/classic rock style axe-man now looking to gig. Email him at: therooster34280@aol.com • Hoosier singer/songwriter Jeremy Williams will christen the stage of the brand new Pop Culture Coffee House in Crown Point, IN (107 N. Main St.). Williams will be the first artist to rock the java joint when it opens its door to the public on Dec. 20. More info: (219) 661-8540. • A Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Elvis! That’s what’s happening Jan. 9 at Star Plaza as O.M.A.R. Productions presents their annual “Elvis Birthday Tribute.” More info: (219) 938-9001. Thank ya, thank ya verrry much! • Don Hero, Bill Hayden and the gang who produce the two-year-old “Regional Music Underground” cable program which is carried throughout Chicago and N.W. Indiana will soon be featuring the following area artists –– Cameltoes (in Jan.), Highway Band (in Feb.) and Vertical Smile (in March). Tune in! • Closing this month with a “Shout Out!” to my good buddy and fellow Midwest BEAT columnist FREAK, who is going through some ch-ch-changes lately. Sadly Freak missed being with us at this year’s “Region Rumble” due to throwing his back out. Too much wild sex will do that to you, ya know! As Baretta used to say... “Dat’s da name of dat tune!” I hope to see you all out partying with us on December 20 at Soprano’s in Griffith, IN for the annual Midwest BEAT Holiday Bash! Rocking ‘round the Christmas tree that night will be Allergik Reaction, Sadies Cage and Bonfire. ‘Nuff said! | ||
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I love being able to give stuff away to our readers. I want to thank my old buddy Charlie Daniels for being such a great guy and allowing Midwest BEAT to be a part of his October 31st show at Star Plaza. Charlie treated our Midwest BEAT prize winners great (giving them tickets, t-shirts and CDs) and our staff like family. 
Until then, to give you a peek and whet your curiousity of what you might have missed, we have decided to run this shot of local rock fan Adrian “Zuke” Zukula on stage with our sexy Beat Babes. 
Low Twelve’s bassist and primary vocalist –– Pete Altieri –– is also the founder of the international metal organization, HeavyCore, and the publisher of the “Low Times” metal newsletter. He also makes sure that Midwest BEAT Magazine gets distributed down in the Bloomington/Peoria, Illinois region each and every month.