March BEAT

BEAT BASHES ON TAP?

     You bet there are! It wouldn’t be summer without us out and about now
would it? We have a few events already in the works.

     MAY 19 –– On this night we will have one of the region’s most popular
party bands, GUNS ‘N HOSES, a band I have been eager to showcase for our
readers for sometime.   It has taken us over two years to coordinate a date
with this crazy band... so don’t miss this chance to finally see them when we
return to The Twilight Zone (2531 Portage Mall) in Portage. Joining them for
this night of classic rock ‘n’ roll will be the newly rejuvenated Jump In
The Dumpster and a vibrant new region band called, Portrait of Shadows.

    JUNE 9 –– This is the date of my annual “Birthday Bash,” which is
always one of our biggest and loosest parties of the year. This year’s bash
is being held at The Back Door Lounge (811 Ridge Rd.) in Griffith and should
be double the fun, since I am combining my birthday party with that of the
club’s new owner, Jennifer Winebremer, who has fast become a good friend to
local artists and to those of us here at The Midwest BEAT.

     JUNE 15 –– Things will be kicking off a little early on this Friday
night. It's the date of The Midwest BEAT’s now annual “Summer Celebration
Jam” will be held at Port Offshore (5714 Central Ave.) in Portage. On stage
will be a half dozen regional rock acts, including – Trauma, 24-7, Avenue,
Splinter and Nast Devin.

     JUNE 16 –– The very next morning, we'll try to show up bright eyed and
bushy tailed to an event that our publication helping to host and sponsor.
It's a special daytime gather of bikes, brew and bands called the “Motorcycle
Run/Rock Out” at Widow McCleary’s (Margaret St & Thornton-Lansing Rd.) in
Thornton, Illinois.
        This event has been organized by my dear friend Amanda McKinney and
will raise money for Camp Quality. The non-profit organization is an
all-volunteer-run camp that provides a camping experience and year-round
support system for local children suffering with cancer and their families.
“The goal of Camp Quality is to allow these children to be children,” said
McKinney.
     Bikers must sign up by 10 a.m. and the first bike departs at 11 a.m. for
a run through South Chicagoland.   Musicand door prizes will start at 1 p.m.
and performances are being donated by Drivin’ Blind and others. In the event
of bad weather, June 23 is the rain date. Please support this.

FESTIVAL GROUNDS OPEN TO LOCAL MUSIC...

    Local music will be featured live at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown
Point, Indiana on a professional stage one Friday a month throughout the
summer.   Kudos to Lake County Fairgrounds Superintendent Jeff R. Popka and
his staff for opening the grounds up to local music on a regular basis.
What’s great, is that this concert series is open to all ages and will give
young rockers a chance to see some of the region’s finest talents perform.
   Mr. Popka has asked this columnist to host the first of the four planned
“Friday Night Music Bash” events, which takes place on May 25.   Of course,
I will be there with bells on to toss out some free stuff and party along
with you all.
On the stage for that first show will be four solid regional bands – The
Crawpuppies, Statik, Josh Holmes Band and Mr. Funnyman (who will perform an
all Pink Floyd show).
    There is a beer garden near the stage and there will be food vendors at
every show in the summer series.   Other series dates will be June 29 and
Aug. 24, with a late Sept. date still pending. For more info or tickets call
the L.C. Fairgrounds office at: (219) 769-1161.

MUSIC NOTES...

•   Former Griffith drummer Troy Patrick Farrell parted ways with the Los
Angeles-based band, Volcanic, after the group’s national tour with Everclear
concluded.
   The younger brother of Monkey Cocktail bassist, Shawn Farrell, has since
signed on to beat the cans for former ‘80s chick magnet, Mike Tramp, who was
frontman/vocalist for the ‘80s and early ‘90s hit machine, White Lion (“When
The Children Cry”).   Farrell will join Tramp on a national U.S. solo tour
that hits the Silver Bullet (391-1 West US Hwy. 6) in South Haven on June 16.

    For those big-hair holdouts who are still into the whole ‘80s rock
scene...Skid Row will return to the Bullet on June 22! Despite the absence
of Sebastian Bach, the band went over super this past fall when they played
the venue.

•    Two region heavyweights – guitarist Bobby O’Connor (ex-Sgt.
Roxx/ex-20/20) and drummer Carlos Reice (ex-Gravelbone) – has formed a new
hard rock band called Pound. Also on board are three younger players ––
bassist, John Patton (ex-Mindshaft), vocalist Joe McIntyre (ex-Bonick) and
newcomer Paul Fryman on second guitar.
    Since O’Connor is the owner of N.W. Indiana’s Creature Feature Recording
Studio, it’s not too surprising to hear that the group has already started
tracking their first full CD project.

•   Another new band to area clubs is Dragonlore, fronted by vocalist Joe
Lawson (ex-Blind Rage). Rounding out the progressive/melodic metal troupe is
guitarist/keyboardist Skip Stinski (ex-Trauma), drummer Jeff Triolo
(ex-Witchhouse) and bassist Jeff Taylor (ex-Heavensent). They are mid-way
through recording a four-song demo CD. Lawson describes his new band’s sound
as being akin to early Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate and Dio.
    Dragonlore make their official stage debut on June 2 at The Eagles Club
in LaPorte along with Myth and Core. For tickets info, call (219) 326-6845.

•   Chicago’s Strain Busy Sky has been declared the winner of the “Lucky
Strike Band To Band 2000 Program.” A tradition seems to be starting here, as
the winners of the national talent competition’s 1999 program – The Swingin’
Love Hammers – were also a Chicago-based band.
     Strain Busy Sky will be awarded a cash prize on stage at the Park West,
when they perform their with Maverick recording artist, Tantric on June 1.
    “We’re looking forward to playing with the winner of this competition
considering all the great unsigned artist who are out there,” said Hugo
Ferreira, the lead singer of Tantric. “As a local musician who struggled to
get attention for years, the Lucky Strike event is the type of gig that
allows us to give it back to all the musicians who deserve the extra
exposure.”
    Bands wanting information on getting involved in future Luck Strike
competitions should email all queries to the “Band To Band” site at:
www.freshtracksmusic.com

RANDOM NOTES...

•   Local graphic artists looking to break into music are invited to design a
new band logo for the national recording act, System Of A Down.
   “We’re looking for a new and different way to write the band’s name,”
explained bassist Shavo Odadjian, “and we want people to be more creative
than to just manipulate fonts on a computer.”
     The band members will personally choose the new logo and the creator of
the winning entry will receive a brand new Ibanez guitar (just like band
member Daron Malakian plays) autographed by all four members of the band.
     All logo entries must be received by May 15. Contestants should email
their logo suggestion to: artwork@streetwise.com .
   The winning logo and its designer will be announced and displayed on the
band’s website – www.systemofadown.com – on June 15.

•   Was that former Midwest BEAT contributor Jason Elkins up on stage at the
Hard Rock Cafe headbanging with Seattle metal band Nevermore last month?
Yes! The band pulled the N.W. Indiana-based actor/artist on stage to rock
with them and he exited in true-to- form fashion with a stage dive.

• My fellow Highland High alumni – “Dangerous Dan” McNeil – has found a
new radio home. McNeil, a former Times sports writer and former sports/talk
host at both WLUP (1988) and WSCR (1992), can now be found on the air waves
of WMVP-AM (1000) during the afternoon drive.
   Co-hosting with McNeil is another local sports celeb, John Jurkovic. A
graduate of Calumet City’s TF North, Jurkovic went on to play pro ball with
the Greenbay Packers, the Jackson Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns. Congrats
on the new gig!

• Speaking of sports...   Local rocker Gruesome Dave Ritchardson (of The
Gruesomes fame) will assume his alter ego of Richard T. Sin and step into the
ring at the Hammond Civic Center on May 26 as Windy City Pro Wrestling
presents it’s annual “Battle Of The Belts.” Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and
bell time is 7 p.m.
    Among those challenging and defending their honor in the ring will be –
Drusala (a vampire-like hottie in full goth attire) and other WCPW superstars
as Steve Boz, Vito 2 Fingers, The Brotherhood, Jeffro King and Willie “Da
Bomb”. For ticket info call (312) 409-WCPW. Or log on at:
www.windycityprowrestling.com
      Catch the WCPW stars (including Sin) on WGN-TV’s morning news show
Monday, May 14 (from 7-9 a.m.). The wrestlers will challenge the news
anchors on the show. Tune in to see...

FLASH BACK...

        Starting this month, I will try to offer at least one trivia nugget
relating to an event or situation in rock ‘n’ roll history pertaining to the
month in question.   This month will feature three such nuggets...

1) Rock music’s greatest and most influential troubadour, Bob Dylan, will
turn 60-years-old on May 24. His impact on the music business and the pop
culture in general has been immeasurable. His impact on my personal life has
likewise been tremendous...hence my son being named after him.
     My birthday wish to ol’ Bob is to quote words to one of his own songs –
“May God bless and keep you always/May your songs be ever sung/May you stay
forever young!” Happy birthday Bob!

2)   It was 35 years ago this month (May 4) that National Guardsmen shot and
killed for students at Kent State University in Ohio. The event sent shock
waves throughout the world and inspired Neil Young to penned his immortal
classic, “Ohio,” with the memorable opening line – “Tin soldiers and
Nixon’s coming...”

3) Remember the 1980 Boomtown Rat’s hit, “I Don’t Like Mondays”? It was
written by Sir Bob Geldof after he read newspaper accounts about then
16-year-old Brenda Spencer, who went on a lethal shooting spree with a .22
caliber rifle on Monday, January 29, 1979.   Her reason for the massacre was
simply – “Well, I don’t like Mondays.”    The connection of that to this
month is that ol’ Bren-Bren (as she came to be called in the press) is up for
parole. Should they let her out? I for one would worry about someone being
on the street who is crazy enough to hand carve the words “courage” and
“pride” into her chest.
    Thanks to my buddy Tim Vanzo for that little Bren-Bren update. Hey
T.V....you obviously have waaaay too much time on your hands these days.
    Until next month...please support the local arts!