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LOCAL MUSIC NEWS COLUMN by Tom Lounges MY ANNUAL BIRTHDAY BASH!
Well, it’s that time again kiddies. I’m turning another year...number 45… ouch! As is tradition, I have a big rock ‘n’ roll blow out planned. This year we’re rocking out on June 5 at 2nd Dimension (340 E. U.S. 30) in Schererville, Indiana! Supplying the soundtrack to the aging process will be – guitar virtuoso (fresh from playing with The WHO’s Roger Daltrey in NYC), Overdue (classic covers), Dawnstone (high energy party rock), and Blizzard of Ozz, Chicago’s killer Ozzy/Sabs tribute. I’ll be putting out a free buffet food spread once again –– chicken, subs, pasta, etc. for my party guests from 9pm-11pm. So come out early!!! For more updated info...log on at www.midwestbeat.com
SPRING THING WAS THE THING…The Midwest BEAT’s most recent bash –– “Spring Fever Throwdown” –– held last month at The Sandbox Lounge in Roselawn, Indiana was a smash success thanks to great sets of music by DAWNSTONE, MAS KAOS and RIPLEY STREET. The turn out was great and everyone there sure seemed to have a good time playng musical chairs, guessing trivia and walking away with free CDs and t-shirts.
RESCHEDULED...After having to postpone their April 17 appearance due to scheduling conflicts, national act -- Seven Mary Three -- have booked a new date to perform at Cronies Gin Mill (310 S. Main St.) in Kouts, IN. The group, supporting their new album, Dis/Location, will invade Cronies on Wednesday, May 26. Tickets purchased for the April show will be honored. Opening will be the hometown rockers, Dawnstone. For info, call (219) 766-3172.
A.M. GOES NATIONAL...American Motherload, a hard rockin’ band of N.W. Indiana natives who relocated to Chicago six years ago in the hopes of cracking into the big leagues, look to be doing just that and rightfully so. After paying dues for the last several years and putting out some great homegrown EPs and CDs, American Motherload will be releasing their brand new album, Come To Life, on a coast to coast national level on June 15 through Red Eye Distribution. The album was released locally to retail stores last month and has impressed enough folks in the biz that it is now getting the big push. It’s lead off single – “Mud To Dust” – will be included on the June 2004 Concrete Marketing compilation sampler CD, alongside cuts from several established major label artists. A short run tour to places like Memphis and New York will keep the talented region lads busy through the end of June, when they finally return to the region for a “hometown fan party” at McCool’s on June 25. For more on American Motherload and their progress, log on at: www.americanmotherload.com
ROCKIN’ FOR DJ DON...On January 12, 2004, Don Wozniak the DJ at Northwest Indiana night club McCool’s was killed in a fatal car accident, while working at Sam’s Tech Tire Supply. The venue and several area bands are hosting a memorial concert in Don’s memory with all proceeds going to Don’s wife and three young daughters. The gig takes place on Sunday, June 6 at McCool’s (391 W. Hwy. 6) in South Haven and will feature performances by Force Five, Tak-A-Bite, Dema’gin, The Crawpuppies, Rezist and Mas Kaos. A complimentary food buffet is included with the $5.00 admission fee.
NIGHT ROCK NEWS...
“Night Rock” program that is hosted by Yours Truly every Sunday night at 6 p.m. on 103.9…
• Guitarist Charlie Jones and vocalist Ken Williams of the South Side classic rock group, RIPLEY STREET, stopped by at the X-ROCK/103.9 studio last month to tape a “Spotlight Band” segment for the NIGHT ROCK radio program with the show’s weekly hosts, Tom Lounges and Scotty Rosenberg. Along with playing one of their original cuts, Tom & Scotty chatted to the Ripley boys about the long history of their band, the making of their full-length debut CD, and the proposed plans for their second album. • We’re calling the show that, because my co-host/producer, Scotty Rosenberg, turns 41 on June 3 and I turn 45 on June 6… So, we decided to treat ourselves to a birthday gift and extend the show to a full three hours and invite a special guest to join us on the air that night. In fact, Jim co-wrote 8 of the 12 tracks on the new .38 Special album that comes out next month, and you will hear the world debut broadcast of one of those brand new songs on the June 6 show. Listeners will also be treated to a handful of other never before aired songs from other artists who have recorded Peterik-composed tunes. BAND BITS...
McDermott recently did an on location, custom photo shoot around the streets of Chicago with Midwest BEAT Photo Editor, Niva Bringas. One of those shots will grace the June cover of Midwest BEAT.
• N.W. Indiana-based Pearl Jam tribute act, Even Flow, has been on the road a lot in the last year, including some prestigious gigs in New York City. The smokin’ band, who replicate Eddie Vedder & Co. to near perfection, will soon become an international attraction it seems. The local boys are booked for some late June shows in Puerto Rico. Before leaving, they will perform live at Chicago’s House of Blues on June 4th. • Longtime region musician Dan Dominiak and his modern rock band, Forty Piece Choir, have released their latest full length album, Tennessee. The band’s past releases have been delightful collections of very well-written, melodic songs that often carry an element of Beatlesque pop overtones. I look forward to popping this one into the stereo soon! For more on the group, log on at: www.fortypiecechoir.com • Guitarist Doug Henrichs has assembled a new line-up for his long-running band, TRAXX, after a serious car accident waylaid the band last year and made continuing on with the same members impossible. Joining Henrichs in the resurrected group –– which skirts the styles of country rock and classic rock –– are bassist/vocalist Jeff “Chainsaw” Zimmerman, lead singer George Zaharias and drummer Phil Dietrich. More info at: www.hometown.aol.com/TraxxBand • My old Pointe East-era drumming buddy Gregg Potter (ex-Pivotman/ex-Teenage Radiation) reports in with me that his group Flatline is back together again and returning the stage on May 22 at the U.S. Beer Company (1801 N. Clybourne) in Chicago. Rounding out the hard rockin’ alt-flavored group once again are –– bassist Jimmi Nolan, lead guitarist Trent Tomanich, and guitarist/vocalist, Gary Berndt. The group will be performing songs from their 2002 album, The Balancing Act, which they are re-releasing, as well as brand new material from their soon to be released CD, Reckless Conduct. More info: www.flatlinechicago.com • South Side soul-stirring blues shouter, Deb Seitz, has stepped away from her Blues Posse cohorts to step out solo with a brand new, self-titled studio album that features a Who’s Who of Chicagoland blues talent. Among those players featured on this soon to be released disc are --- Rusty Hall and Patrick Doody of the Lonnie Brooks Band, Dave Rice of Otis Rush Band, and local blues journeymen, John Falstrom and Joey Drada. • Freek Johnson has released a new CD, Make It Stop, a mostly original collection of music chock full of trademark “freek-isms” for which this stellar quartet is known. The sole cover selection on this 7-track disc is the group’s “freeky” take on the Rimsky-Korsakov classical standard, “Flight Of The Bumblebee,” which is typically a highlight of their live performances. Jazz fans can get their “freek” on from 9pm to 12am every Thursday night at The Naughty Grapes in Crown Point, IN. • Chicago’s original modern rock group, Second Hand Poets, report that they are more than halfway done with their new CD, Virginia City Lounge. Music fans can now preview the band’s new cuts online in the “Sounds” section at their site: www.secondhandpoets.com • Return Of The Dinosaur, the studio recording project of Hoosier rockers Reed Marcotte and Steve Crabtree, will have an original song included on the next compilation CD released by the national indie label, CrankSpiv Records, due to hit retail racks in late June. The song that was chosen is “Anti-Gun,” their politically-charged retort to firearm violence. Catch the duo live in the studio with me on NIGHT ROCK this month! • The brassy and sassy line-up of the region’s blues/rock group, Lake Effect, has had a slight change. Glenwood resident Danny Lemmon has stepped in as the band’s new keyboardist, trumpeter and back-up vocalist, replacing original member Bob Horn. A veteran of the local club scene since 1974, Lemmon previously played in such area bands as Scamp, Thumbs Up and Mickey & The Memories. A music teacher at Emerson High School in Gary, Indiana Lemmon has performed as an onstage side man with several notable oldies artists, including --- Del Shannon, The Diamonds, The Drifters, Martha Reeves and The Contours. • The Royal Music retail store in Merrillville (6850 Broadway) has announce that starting on May 6, they will begin hosting after hours “Open Mic Nights” on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Musicians of all ages are welcome to come out and take part between 9p.m. and 12 midnight. | ||
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JC Hartsfield and Perry Jordan of the classic country rock group, HEARTSFIELD, joined up with the guys from the 
Chicago music icon, JIM PETERIK, will be the celebrity co-host and musical guest on a special three hour “Birthday Edition” of the “Night Rock” program that airs on Sunday, June 6 on X-ROCK/103.9fm.
Peterik, a long time friend of mine since the old Pointe East night club days of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, performs live in the studio along with doing a “Storytellers” bit about several hits we will be airing that he wrote or co-wrote with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sammy Hagar, Survivor, Ides of March, World Stage, .38 Special and others. 
One of this columnist’s favorite songwriters this side of Bob Dylan, is Chicago singer/songwriter MICHAEL McDERMOTT. The hometown composer/rocker releases his latest and perhaps greatest album to date on the first of this month! 