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LOCAL MUSIC NEWS COLUMN by Tom Lounges “NIGHT ROCK RADIO” RETURNS…
Yes...believe the hype! Night Rock Radio is returning in an abbreviated form on the same frequency that originally aired the program back in the late 1970s. Kudos to O.J. Jackson and Leigh Ellis at WXRD/X-ROCK for giving us the green light to resurrected the show for an hour every Sunday (6-7p.m.). I will be writing and co-hosting the weekly show with X-ROCK’s Program Director Scott Rosenberg, a former teenage Night Rock listener back in the day. Our executive producer is the Midwest BEAT’s own, Lisa Sotiros, the niece of the original program’s executive producer, Joe Sotiros (of Hegewisch Records fame). Scotty and I will honor the same format as the old Night Rock did, mixing up deep album cuts and homegrown region music from local talents. Some local music guests will pop in from time to time as well. For more on this new program, and how you can party for FREE with us during the debut broadcast, turn to my “Soapbox” column. ALL HEARTBROKEN LOVERS INVITED… Not everyone has someone to cuddle with on Valentine’s Day and we’ve decided that those who subscribe to the J.Geils Band philosophy that -- “Love Stinks!” -- should have somewhere to go on this night to lick their wounds and drink away their loneliness. That said, we are hosting our “Heartbreak Valentine’s Blus Bash” on February 14 at Soprano’s Lounge (840 S. Broad St.) in Griffith. A trio of great Chicagoland blues-based bands -- Little Johnny Moore, Chicago Blues Posse (with Deb Seitz) and Soul Pride. BEAT AWARDS NIGHT COMING… The results of the 2003 Midwest BEAT Reader’s Poll will be announced in our next issue and as always, their will be a special “Awards Night” held on March 27 to honor those many artists that our reader’s have voted as their fave local talents. This year’s event will be held at 2nd Dimensions (340 E. U.S. 30) in Schererville. Already on board to perform that night are AC/DC Tribute act, Bonfire , retro rockers, History’s End, and the fast rising original alt-rock combo, Emitter. More details will be announced in the coming weeks on the home page of our web site (www.midwestbeat.com) and in next month’s print issue. MAHONEY SAYS “THANKS!”… Sound engineer Greg “Mahoney” Bruks has asked me to convey his deep thanks to all those who organized, participated and attended the benefit concert held on his behalf in December at 2nd Dimensions in Schererville, IN. When Bruks was diagnosed late last year with lung cancer, members of the N.W. Indiana music community rallied to help the 20-year veteran of the local music scene. Special thanks to 2nd Dimensions owner Brian Gallas and his staff and to the five bands who donated their time and talent -- Nick Danger, History’s End, Shuddup & Drive, Usual Suspects and Mr. Funnyman Band. KOKO TAYLOR SNIPS THE RIBBON…
BAND BITS…
For more information, log on at: www.americanmotherload.com
• Chicago metal group, SOiL have completed work on their sophomore album, Redefine, for Clive Davis’ J Record imprint. It will be released worldwide in March and was produced by Nick Rasckulinecz (Foo Fighters/Rancid) and Johnny K, who twisted the knobs on their strong 2001 debut album, Scars. A cut off the new CD -- “Pride” -- is featured on the Madden NFL 2004 video game. • Alt-rock band, Forty Piece Choir, will releasing their third CD on March 15 and celebrating the event with a live show at The Metro in Chicago. More info: www.fortypiecechoir.com • Indiana 105 radio’s “Friday Night Fights” host, Mike Summers, announced that out of the 38 local artists he featured on his program in 2003, the station’s listeners voted Jimmy Henrich & Western Haze as the year’s top region country act! • Country singer/songwriter/recording artist, Dayna Malow, is moonlighting on nights when her self-named all original band is not performing. Malow joined members of Chicago rock band, Underwater People, to form an “all country covers” side project called, County Road. They made their public debut last month on Channel 9/WGN-TV. www.daynamalow.com • Return Of the Dinosaur is the album title and the band name for the latest joint effort by Hoosier music veterans – Reed Marcotte and Steve Crabtree. Their very tasty 11-song collection of vintage sounding original rock also features a guest appearance by Midwest music legend, J.C. Hartsfield (of Heartsfield fame). To hear this “dino-mite” project, log on at: www.MP3.com/ReturnOfTheDinosaur • Regional R&B vocalist, Robby Celestin of the group TimePeace, recently got a thrill when a couple of R&B celebrities dropped in to Chicago’s GrapeStreet club during one of his solo gigs at the venue. Two of the Four Tops -- Ronnie McNair and Theo Peebles (ex-Temptations) -- and Gladys Knight backing vocalist Kathy Lamar, joined Celestin on stage. “We did a 20-minute medley of old soul tunes,” said Celestin. “We did ‘My Girl,’ ‘Ain’t No Woman Like The One I’ve Got,’ and ‘What’s Goin On.’” • Former Bittersweet bassist, Bob Sherman, played a five state tour in January with Chicago bluesman, Byther Smith. Sherman evidently impressed Smith, because he’s going back on the road with him again starting on Feb. 7 for a month long string of dates in Iowa, Minneapolis, New York, Maine and Canada. • Congrats to Chicago alt-rock group, Fashion Bomb, who took top honors in the recent 94.7/The Zone talent competition – “The Next Big Thing.” The band won a development deal with Hollywood Records and will perform at The Metro on Feb. 7 with American Motherload. • The rumors are apparently true, Tyrant’s Reign, is giving it another go. The Southside metal warriors who ruled the late 1980s are back together and rehearsing for shows. The nearly all original line-up includes – Randy Barron (vocals), Karl Miller (guitar), Jeff Bagherpour (guitar), Phil Fouch (bass), plus new member and drummer Carlos Reices (ex-Gravelbone). • Celebrated Chicago drummer, Brad Elvis (ex-Elvis Bros.), is taking a hiatus from his regional Handcuffs project to sit on the throne for The Romantics on their reunion tour. He was recommended for the gig from his old ‘80s touring buddy, Clem Burke of Blondie. Burke had been keeping the beat for the Romantics since 1990, but is now back full time with Blondie and unable to do the gig. • Southside guitar virtuoso and recording artist, Eric Mantel, will be conducting a guitar clinic at Lowell Guitar & Sound at 3:00pm on Feb. 28. Mantel will perform live that night at The Alaskan Pipeline in Lowell. For more info on the clinic, Mantel, and his new 18-song CD, Unstruck Melody, log on at: www.ericmantel.com • J.D. Leap of Zion Productions is presenting a six-band fund raiser on March 6 at Lugnutz bar in Portage. The money raised will go towards medical/living expenses for John Arnold, a local club bouncer who was shot three times while on duty at Rising Sun Lounge. Performing will be -- Mas Kaos, Trauma, Randy McKay, Diktater, Orchestrated Chaos and Luvsawce. SPLITSVILLE... • Drummer Esther Raehl has quit the riot grrrl trio, Allergik Reactshun. Guitarist Michelle Krueger and bassist/singer Lin Wyatt will continue using the name and are seeking a new beat keeper. • Drummer Dean Adamczyk has parted ways on a positive note with the modern rock cover group DemAgin to concentrate on a new personal adventure that includes an upcoming marriage. In his place is Chicagoan Mike Green, formerly of the original alt-rock group, V-90. • Retro rockers History’s End have parted ways with their longtime guitarist Greg Millikan and filled the slot with Angelo Ciccio, who split from his longtime gig with The Crawpuppies to take the new job. • Pearl Jam tribute group, Even Flow, announced drummer Jeremy Lippelt is leaving to pursue an original music project. • After many line-up changes over the last couple of years, region rockers Smokescreen, has gone up in smoke once and for all. Bass player Mike Davis cites internal differences, but believes they will regroup for one last show this summer. • Guitarist Mick Zajac parted ways with the recently formed X-Girlfriend band. Stepping in to bend strings in the quartet is Chad Burton, who pulls double duty with Nick Danger. BAND BITS… Mas Kaos Productions, McCool’s night club and Midwest BEAT are teaming up again to co-present the Second Annual “South Haven Showdown”. The monthly Friday night battles at McCool’s will begin on March 26 and run on through summer on April 26, May 21 and June 18. A $100 cash prize goes to the first place band each month. The July 16 Grand Finals pay off with a $500 cash prize, a VIP party for the band and their fans at McCool’s, an opening slot on a national band show at McCool’s and more... Bands need to contact Bubba to book a slot: (219) 320-9313 or email: MasKaos@aol.com • Guitarist John Searing parted ways with hard rock recording act, Seven Ten, after just three months with the Northwest Indiana-based band. Searing replaced original guitarist Kenny Lee last November. Seven Ten is looking at some well known guitarists to pinch hit for them on their second CD for the Metal Mayhem label. Names on their wish list include: Steve Blaze (Lillian Axe), Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot) and Brad Gillis (Night Ranger). For more info: www.SevenTenTheBand.com SAYING “GOODBYE”… Death paid a visit to the regional music community three times last month... My condolences go out to the familes, fans and friends of these local music folks...
• On January 12 club DJ Don Wozniak, was killed on Highway 294 while enroute to his day job. For the last few years Don spun music and served as club emcee at McCools night club in South Haven. Wozniak started his DJ career in the late ‘80s at the Round The Corner Pub in Hobart and was the first DJ to introduce a new trend called Karaoke to Northwest Indiana clubs. Don was great to work with on the nights we had BEAT events at McCools. Don leaves behind his wife Jennifer (who tends bar at McCools), three young daughters and many local music friends. • On January 23, the region lost Jerry Hedges, best known in recent years as the father of local bassist Aaron Hedges (of Bravo Johnny and The Crawpuppies). It is interesting to note that the apple did not fall far from the tree in the case of the Hedges family. The senior Hedges, former Highland resident and a well loved Highland High School teacher and counselor, was one of the Hoosier State’s very first rock ‘n’ roll rebels. Hedges formed the first rock band ever at Marion High School in Marion Indiana in 1958 (The Jiants) and also the first rock band at Indiana University (The Electras) in 1959. Both groups recorded regional 45 singles. He later went on to play bass and tour with Liberty Recording artist, Troy Shondell during much of the 1960s. Hedges was featured on Shondell’s hit single, “This Time,” a song which still gets a lot of play on oldies radio stations. • Also lost to music fans last month was drummer John Siomos, a Chicago music veteran who stayed rooted in the Windy City, even while keeping the beat for such major artists as Mitch Ryder, Todd Rundgren and Peter Frampton. Siomos can be heard playing on Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me” and all over the best selling live album of all time, Frampton Comes Alive. SAYING “HELLO”… • The rhythm is gonna getcha! Congratulations to Vern Cranor, the drummer for Sadies Cage, on the birth of his new son on January 20. Also to Bonfire drummer, Gary Grimler and his wife Deena, who welcomed their new son, Simon Andrew into the world just three days later. • In closing, I want to give a shout out to seven-year-old Mickey Tobin, son of Midwest BEAT’s Mike Tobin. Mickey took a First Place win in his Scouting Division’s “Pine Wood Derby.” Good going Mickey! | ||
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Despite her recent hospitalization, the Queen of the Blues –– KOKO TAYLOR –– was in good spirits and all smiles on New Year’s Day to cut the ribbon of the new Majestic Casino night club that bears her name. 
Transplanted Hoosier band, American Motherload, have done very well since relocating to Chicago proper three years ago. The hard rock combo will celebrate the release of their brand new 14-song CD, Come To Life, with a headline performance at Metro on February 7, followed by an after show meet ‘n’ greet party.