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LOCAL MUSIC NEWS COLUMN by Tom Lounges
REGION RUMBLE BANDS PICKED... Well... after much listening, debating and list making, the final line-up for the “Sixth Annual Region Rumble @ Star Plaza Theatre” has been determined. The concert showcase event will take place on Saturday, January 15 from 12 noon until midnight. Music will begin at 1 p.m. with the band performance slots determined by random lottery in most cases. My sincere thanks to the 40 or so artists who sent in their demos and publicity kits for consideration. It is always tough trying to go through the stack of entries we get for this each year and narrowing it down to just ten. But narrow it we have and here are the ten regional artists who will showcase their original music and kick up their heels at the planks of the Star Plaza Theatre stage in a few weeks. In no particular order, we have selected what we feel is a good mix of styles from those who asked to be considered. Performing will be –– Electric X (pop/rock), Quick Change (classic metal), The Crawpuppies (pop/rock), Terminal Fix (heavy rock), Farewell To February (modern rock), Echofarm (acoustic-driven rock), S.O. (pop-punk), Detour (rock), Asteria (power pop/rock) and NDX (heavy music). Tickets will go on sale from all the bands performing, at Star Plaza Theatre box office and via Ticketmaster on Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 27). Fans should try to purchase tickets from their favorite bands, because the two bands who sell the most tickets to the event will win special prize packages of recording studio time, music retailer gift certificates and also get to pick their time slot on the show. SULLY SINGS WITH THE SOX…
A limited number of lucky fans who had won tickets through local Boston rock station, WAAF, watched in awe as ball players Johnny Damon (who hit the grand slam the night before), Mark Bellhorn, Kevin Millar among others, joined Godsmack on stage and sang along during the finale “I Stand Alone” from Godsmack’s multi-platinum release Faceless (Universal/Republic). “For us, its all about Boston right now,” said frontman Sully Erna, “and having them perform with us was just simply amazing.” Godsmack, currently on tour with Metallica, was just nominated for several Radio Music Awards and has just released a new Feature film on DVD, “Changes” via Coming Home Studios/ Rounder-Zoe. MOTOR CITY Revs Up Blues At RomanosA couple of Sundays ago, following a Night Rock show broadcast, I pulled the van into Romano’s Pizza, Pasta & Grill in Schererville, Indiana. I had a hankering for one of their famous ham and cheese hoagies, a guilty pleasure since my high school days.
What should have been a simple 30-minute visit for a quick bite, became a nearly three hour stay, after my ears discovered a nimble-fingered guitarist/vocalist named, Motor City Josh. Along with his smoking ensemble –– bassist Chris Douglas, drummer Patrick Doody and keyboadist Rusty Hall –– Josh Ford made his way through a mix of original and cover songs, including a jazzy instrumental send up of the Buckinghams hit “Mercy Mercy Mercy”, which kept me anchored me to my bar stool. Motor City Josh & Co. play acoustic-based blues at 8 pm most Sundays at Romano’s and all serious players who like jam acoustic style are welcome to sit with the seasoned group of players.
BAND BITS...
• Local modern rock combo, Nomad Planets, have finally pressed up their long-awaited sophomore CD – Edge of Time – after a series of set-backs which has delayed the project’s completion by more than a year. After one quick spin of the 12 well-written and superbly produced songs on this disc, it has proven to be well worth the wait. For information on upcoming band dates and to listen to/order the CD, log on line at: www.nomadplanets.com • Local acoustic musician Michael Wallace, penned a catchy and timely bluegrass-style number called, “The Vote Song,” that promotes the need for people to get out and vote. It got a good deal of radio play leading up to Election Day The song was released in advance to capitalize on the Presidential Race and to generate some hype for Wallace’s forthcoming album, Cobblestone Wine, due out this Spring. • The Highland Parks & Recreation Department is planning their 2004 Battle of the Bands at the Lincoln Center for Friday, November 19 and as of press time, still had some open slots. The annual Highland, Indiana event showcases 10 teen bands from the region. The contest is open to teenage bands only. A $15 registration fee is required. More info: (219) 838-0114.
• The M&R Rush concert cancelled on October 16 at Finnegan’s Wake in Dyer, has been relocated and rescheduled for Dec. 11 at Second Dimension night club in Schererville. Midwest BEAT will sponsor this event. Also on the show bill are the classic chick rock bands –– Drena Reign and Zodiac. The veteran Chicagoland band who reformed in 2003, is celebrating the release of –– Thrill Of The Chase –– their first album of all newly written material in nearly two decades. More info: www.mandrrush.com • A major music biz honcho has taken interest in the upbeat original s by Northwest Indiana’s teenage emo/punk-pop band, Asteria. He met with them last month in Chicago. The band consists of brothers Sam and Seth Henderson, Brandon McQueen, Terrence Kline and Ryan Gullett, all 17-year-old seniors at Crown Point High School. Hear Asteria’s original music, along with that of other local favorites on Night Rock radio (Sundays 6-9pm) on XROCK 103.9. Catch Asteria live at Romano’s Pizza, Pasta & Grill in Schererville with Steepwater Band on December 18 for an all ages Midwest BEAT Bash. Catch ‘em again at Star Plaza Theatre for the Midwest BEAT’s January 15th “Sixth Annual Region Rumble.” • Northwest Indiana’s X-Girlfriend, has just added a new member to their line-up. Drummer Stephen Fields (ex-Demagin/Evenflow) officially replaced John Wachter behind the kit last week. Fields will continue to pull double duty with the regional band, River Oaks. Catch X-Girlfriend on November 13 when they team up with Lonesome Jubilee, Drena Reign and Zodiac for a “Chick Rock Bash” at Soprano’s Lounge in Griffith. • On November 12 at Eli’s Pub (6729 Kennedy Avenue) in his hometown of Hammond, Indiana, singer/songwriter Rick Peregory will celebrate the release his politically-themed theatrical reading – “To Shake The Tree” and his faithful treatment of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The CD clocks in at 31-minutes and features a variety of well known regional club musicians, including guitarist Frank Livingston of Kashmir. The project was produced by Larry Millas of Ides Of March. Part of the CD sales proceeds from the live performance/CD Release party will benefit www.FoodForThePoor.org
Past members of the group are expected to be a part of the show. They will reunite with co-founding and current members Phil Carmen and Rich Melton to perform material from the band’s early original music releases. Many other special invited guests will also be brought up to perform at various points during the night as the band looks back and remembers its roots. More info: www.historysend.com • Seamus Cox the bassist for Terminal Fix broke his hand and is out of commission for at least 12-14 weeks. Fear not T.F. fans! Drummer Dave Currier reports that very few of the band’s dates may be missed. Tod Palmer (ex-Inzane) and NDX’s bassist Brett Sullivan (ex-Winterkill) are both rehearsing with the group and will alternately fill in on dates until Seamus is able to return to playing. • Chicago progressive metal group, ION VEIN, have been pegged to open the show for national recording act, Metal Church, when they hit town on November 15 to throw down at Chicago’s House Of Blues. • Off Broadway – Chicago club/radio staples in the early 1980s – will performance on November 13 at Tommy’s Place (12237 S. Western) in Blue Island, Illinois. Also appearing on the So-Pro produced pop/rock bill are the restructured line-up of Enuff Z’Nuff and Tommy Biondo & The Wrong Boys. “So-Pro’s 22nd Annual Thanksgiving All-Star Blues Revue” takes place at Tommy’s Place on Nov. 27. It features a virtual Who’s Who of Chicagoland blues players and singers, including a rare hometown appearance by international touring guitarist, Joe Jammer. A special tribute will be paid to longtime Chicago area drummer/producer Patrick Doody. www.sopromusic.com • Thadeus Project, an original progressive-learning rock combo from Chicago who have been getting some airplay on Night Rock Radio in Northwest Indiana and the South Side, will host a DVD-taping concert on November 27 at the Praire Lakes Community Center Theatre (515 E. Thacker St.) in Des Plaines, Illinois. Be a part of music history and a new music DVD. For more info: www.thadeusproject.com or (877) 860-3265. • Tattoo Frank Spears, who made his name in Chicagoland in the early 1990s with the bands Scarred and The Altar, is back in action, having relocated back the heartland from his digs in Florida, where he spent most of the last decade. Spears’ now fronts the newly assembled Premonition, an original music combo that slams hard. More info at: www.premonition11.com • Singer/guitarist Bill Stone, who this columnist had the pleasure of jamming on stage with last August, has finalized the line-up of his latest band, Past Due, and will debut them live Nov. 26 at the Backstreet Cafe in Highland. The classic rock band also features bassist Larry Lidster, drummer Mike Rattley, guitarist Pete Gregory and saxophonist Mike “Doc” Haney. ‘60s MUSEUM ROCKS!The ‘60s Museum will host their annual rock ‘n’ roll fund-raiser from 7pm to 1:30am on November 13 at Pop’s Sports Bar (Nerge & Plum Grove Road) in Roselle, Illinois. This year’s event will feature live music from such ‘60s Chicago rock legends as Jimy Sohns & The Shadows Of Knight, Jimmy Rogers & The Mauds and Jamestown Massacre. Several other prominent Windy City pop/rock luminaries of the 1960s are invited and expected to attend (and possibly perform). Tix are $20 for the 21 & Over show. More info: www.60smuseum.org
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To celebrate their success on the baseball diamond last month, several members of the Boston Red Sox team joined Boston’s own Godsmack at a special invitation only party hosted by the band at the Lucky Strike nightclub next door to Fenway Park. 
The original line-up of TAXI has reformed. The band –– guitarist Jim Shepard, singer Heather Peters, drummer Steve Wenzel and bassist Ben Cutler –– recorded one original music CD in the mid- ‘90s before morphing in to a Top 40 cover band. Wenzel reports the revitalized band will again focus on doing original music. Their first show back will be on Nov. 24 at Kelly O’Lou’s in Crown Point, Indiana. 
Northwest Indiana’s popular retro-rock group – History’s End – will celebrate their tenth anniversary with a special “Goin’ Home To Ham-Vegas” concert at their home base club, 2nd Dimension in Schererville on Dec. 4.