I have always known it’s not what you know, but who you know that will make things happen, more often than not. You have to do what Sam Kinison said, and "go where the people are" to meet the circles of people that could make our careers grow. This was the philosophy that had me and Live Alien Broadcast’s Kevin Baker driving to Matt Pinfield’s B-day party. Gig Records President & founder Indian invited us, and we had to show up for our homie. We showed up a couple of hours late (normal LizBiz time), arriving in a very normal-looking neighborhood. It was an old-fashioned house party, complete with two bartenders, security at the driveway, a guest list, several industry people who drove down from NYC, celebrity actors and musicians alike, and of course a lot of booze for yours truly to get in trouble with.
If you know Indian, you have no doubt been to one of his parties. They have become legendary in the circles of regional musicians and friends. It was nice to see these otherwise-unreachable people in a social setting, in a chill backyard party, with no cameras or media convoluting the experience. I made sure not to interrupt their fun by talking too much media shoptalk. All in all, it sized up to be a memorable experience filled with great people relaxing and making contacts, with no pressure, no fuss. I think all business should be run this way. Thanks, Indian, for letting us play in your high-tech house party.
SLICK IDIOT
En Esch and Guenter Shulz (ex-KMFDM) are now Slick Idiot, and have a very cool CD, Dick Nitty. Crystal Method’s Trixie, DJ Rock Steady, and Michelle Boback are featured guests on the disc. You can find out more about the project at www.slickidiot.com. Great CD!!
BANDS ON THE SCENE
Bringing the new shiz-nit to you first
Brickfoot just finished up their work on a new CD (name undisclosed for now), and are negotiating a deal.
I was hanging out with Rick Reardon from Weapons For Peace, and he let me know that they are re-recording some of their tracks, including “Lost Transmission.” Some of the tracks will include some harmony work by the lovely miss Sarah Huizinga. Incidentally, Rick was an actor for three years in a soap opera — can anyone e-mail me and tell me which one it was? Just call me Don Par-d’oh...
I checked out Rotoglow for the first time at a Chameleon show with the Excentrics. Both bands were from Northern VA (NoVA for short) and really put on a great show. Man alive. Strong songs, great presence, I'm a fan. If you look really close at the singer for Rotoglow, you will find that he bares a striking resemblance to Matthew McConaughey...
3DB, www.3dbmusic.com, announced the addition of a couple of new members to their unit: Dan and Lance formerly of Zero Frequency. Brothers Dave and Ray dissolved that band to join Live Alien Broadcast, which by the way is working out well... www.livealienbroadcast.com.
Electrik, formerly Fuzzbuster, have been burning up the area with their special brand of hardcore house and trance. The shows are live, and the people are real. Look for their new release, due out soon... www.mp3.com/electrek.
Slow Burn Shift are out on the scene from S. Maryland. Great name... www.slowburnshift.com.
Mad Tea Party is emerging from the Towson area. I was told that the lead singer won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest... www.drop.to/madtea.
Steve Iampieri has been managing two of B-more’s local funk bands, Funkaholix and Soulbone. This might not seem like much on the surface, but Steve is the host of Iampfest every year and has maintained an underground appeal to his festival. Low key, barely promoted, but always packed to the brim. He has had Kelly Bell, Live Alien Broadcast, Fidel and tons of other high-profile regional bands play his gig in the past, and seems to have a great idea of how to draw attention to himself without losing the exclusive feeling you get from being in the know. I have only just met Steve and already feel like I have known him for years. He is just that cool. Good luck, Steve. I'm sure everyone who meets you will feel the good energy you put out.
The Penny Regime is looking for a new guitarist. A fun punk band with creative lyrics and attitude. If you play guitar and want to be a part of the rrrresistance, look them up. www.pennyregime.com.
Car 44 called it a day after 5 years of doing the deal. Rob the bass player is still at it though, so expect to see him in something soon. I liked them too. Damn!
NEW CDs
7 Days Torn will be hosting their big CD release party at B-more’s the Vault September 22nd. Special guests will include Great Mutant Skywheel, Suburban Supergroup and Another Lincoln. Now in their third year together, 7DT are really starting to come together as a unit. This should be a pretty packed night, so get there early... www.vaultnightclub.com.
Angela Taylor released a CD called Songs For Strong Girls on Skinny Girl Records. Angela has been voted best solo artist in B-more by the City Paper, as well as landing as a finalist in the Lilith Fair contest. The CD includes special appearances by Mandra, No: 6 and J .Kelly from GMS... www.angela-taylor.com.
Cinema 8 just put out their debut, and what a start they are off to. Their CD was produced by Brian Martin (David Byrne, Babe The Blue Ox) and mastered by Scott Hull (Steely Dan, Garbage). Special guests include Shiavone McGee (Fighting Gravity), and Joe Quigly (Jewel). They are being described as a big-sounding 70s guitar band with a hip, today sensibility. Should be tasty... www.cinema-8.com.
Davis Z's BeatBank just had their pre-album release, "Inside My Mind" played on the soap opera The Young And The Restless, and their breakout song, “Meant For Me" played on One Life To Live. The new CD, Ready Set Go, is written by Davis Z and produced by Anthony J. Resta, whose credits include Elton John, Duran Duran, Collective Soul, Blondie and Extreme among others. He has had over 100,000 hits at his MP3.com site in the past month and is anticipated to do very well this year. www.mp3.com/davidz.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Betty In Black just did a video shoot at B-more’s 8x10 club. It featured special guests Crazy Horse doing a little rap, DJ Nuclear from GMS (www.skywheel.com). The four-song set was shot by Asim and will be shown at the Sundance Film Festival. Walther Productions (www.waltherproductions.com) brought the legendary British electronic ensemble Transglobal Underground to the Recher Theatre, enriching us all. Having been a longtime fan of T.U., I could not resist visiting. I was happy to see that they found a way to do a small-budget version of their show. Big In Japan opened the night and blew everyone away, as usual.
The U-Hero 2nd Anniversary Show was a blast. Jenn Ward from MHz co-hosted with me, and we rocked it up all night long. I want to thank Spinfire, Great Mutant Skywheel, Brickfoot, Cactus Patch, Fidel, Live Alien Broadcast, and 51 Peg for bringing us some of the best talent in the region and for just being so fucking cool. They really get it. No ego. They have a good time and dig the other bands. Special mention and thanks to .click., Imbue, Margret Heater, Laughing Colors, Val Yumm, Slow Loader and a shitload of other bands for coming out and supporting our night. Thanks to Sarah for taking tons of pix to commemorate the moment. Big ups to Frank Marshand for running superb sound all night and making the house sound guy’s job very easy. And more thanks, of course, to the fans. Without you, we would not exist.
The Wama Crosstown Jam is coming to DC September 21 and 22nd. The jam has become a tradition for DC and boasts some of the region’s very best musicians. This year there will be seven stages during the two-day festival, with several places to hang and discuss music business. I encourage you to go down and participate in this event. For more info, call 703.237.9500, or visit www.crosstownarts.com.
Local underground icon Fudgie (ex-Lupari drummer), the owner of the Baltimore Tattoo Museum was attacked and injured recently. He sustained some injuries, but was too ornery to die, thank goodness. A benefit was thrown to help raise money for his hospital bills. He should be OK. It just sucks that our B-more punk representative should get treated like that. Where's the justice??
Congratulations to Jon Faye for becoming a daddy. His wife gave birth to miss Natalie "Faye Powertrip", proving once again that you can be a struggling artist and still have a family. Jon is performing no small miracle with this feat, honestly. Much love and luck to you and yours... www.jonfayepowertrip.com.
Hot Honey Magnet appeared on the Megahertz showcase, a show that focuses on new rising stars, so be on the look out for HHM to be blowing up very soon... www.hothoneymagnet.com.
A benefit was held by Water Planet, Slow Jets, Switchman, and the Full Catastrophe at the Otto Bar in memory of "Marna" Lauren Schaub. Lauren was the drummer for a young band called Solitary Vice .The money raised from the show will go to Mercy High School, in a scholarship fund that will be named after her niece. Marna was struck down by a car this past Mothers’ Day.
Fidel (www.fidelmusic.com) and Live Alien Broadcast will be organizing a September 13 bus trip to NYC. Both bands will be playing alongside CMJ spotlight bands in town for the CMJ’s annual Music Marathon this year. Our guys need your help to scream and raise total hell in the Big Apple. The CMJ has recognized acts like Superchunk, Ani DiFranco, and a kazillion other important bands in this hemisphere. So, yes, this is important. If you want to contribute to the potential success of these bands, please contact Chris Keith at chriskeith@toad.net, or call 410.721.5980.
NEW COMPANY
Fender Musical Instruments, Rhino Records and Morling Manor Music have combined forces to create and launch Fender Records. The focus of the label is guitar-driven music. New label, new money. I say, get your demos ready and go for it. Visit www.fender.com for more info.
RUMOR HAS IT
Jimi Haha, founding member of Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, was rumored to be in a secret location, at a secret time, with Aaron from Staind, writing some new stuff. I can't disclose the particulars yet, though.
MHz LAND
MHz programming will consist of re-runs through September. So why not campaign to have MHz brought to B-more while they are away? This is only the best independent, regional, local support system I've ever seen. Why don't we have it in our area, you say? Because it is not a must-carry item for cable companies, and in order to get it here, there has to be a demand for it. So you the fan have to bug Comcast Cable in order to have it reach B-more. E-mail sheree_riley@cable.comcast.com and ask for WNVT / WNUV by name. Then explain that we need this in our area. That’s it. Oh yeah, don't forget. MHz has done a deal with the Washington Post so that you can still download your favorite bands and shows from MHz even if you don't get MHz in your area. www.washingtonpost.com/mp3. Isn't that sweet?? It is, because they are that F*IN’ cool. MHz rocks!! I was chillin’ with the staff of MHz at the end of the season finale and want to send some smoochies to Michelle Wright (urban night), Marianela (hot night), office manager Renee-nay, guest VJ Tobi of XM Radio, and of course Crash (mix night). Smoochie booches. Oh yes, and a very manly abbreviated hello to Gus, Steve, Allen, Jerome, Kenny D and crew... HeeHee peace and love... www.mhztv.org.
XM RADIO
Have you mailed in your CD yet?? Just a reminder that you are eligible to be a part of history in the making. XM Satellite Radio, 1500 Eckington Place NE. Washington DC 20002. c/o Billy Zero, Indie Band Channel... www.xmradio.com.
peace ........................LIZBIZ... out
