SUBZERO SUBWAY SERENADERS :

Sarah Rodman has a great feature in today's Boston Herald on those sturdy souls who entertain in Boston's subway stations, even in a winter such as this one when it requires freezing one's tail off. The writer covered a lot of underground, so to speak; and highlights include knowing quotes from star singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey. There's a curious passage, though, evidently in a sidebar (I only see the online version of the Herald). "Bob Dylan and Tracy Chapman were among those who busked around the Harvard Square stop, although tales of their 'discovery' are sheerly apocryphal." It's hard to imagine how any Johnny-come-lately could seriously attempt to elbow his/her way in front of Susan Wilson as Tracy Chapman's discoverer. Susan was way ahead of everyone else with her March 8, 1985 Boston Globe feature, "Ballad of a Young Composer." A year later and more, when other writers "discovered" Chapman, we readers knew we wanted to check out those notices because of the name recognition built on Susan's early reporting.

ALLEN DEVINE :

Call me a Tedhead, but I love the writing of Ted Drozdowski of the Boston Phoenix. And you know I'm behind in my reading when, a day late, I still haven't gotten to his Cellars by Starlight column. But I've been aware of Allen Devine for many years (here we go with name recognition again), so I glanced ahead to Drozdowski's notice of Devine's debut album, Mishap. That item--and no doubt the whole column--should be read in its entirety. But to wet a few appetites, I'll just record here that T.D. described Devine's Mishap as "straddling the traditional instrumentalism of his idols Jeff Beck and Roy Buchanan and the world of dissonance, texture, and extended technique associated with ambient music."

CLOSING OF THE SKINNY IN PORTLAND MAINE :

We received this in a February 5 e-mail from Red Sparkle Records:

This is the Skinny's last week in operation (at their present location), so come down and tell Johnny and Mellow how much you love their dedication and vision. Here's to the next venture--may it be as great a place for musicians and artists (and drinkers) to come together.

This is all the information we have at the moment.

DRAGSTRIP COURAGE ON HIATUS? :

We received this February 7 message from the members of Dragstrip Courage:

this will likely be the last dragstrip courage show for an indefinite period of time. apologies to those overseas and elsewhere that haven't gotten to see us. thanks for all your support and interest. we'll let you know what we are individually up to soon and then you can choose whether you want to keep being updated or not. and, of course, we'll let you know if dragstrip courage rides again.

Sorry for the way that starts in the middle of nowhere. It's the key part of the message for this item and follows an invitation to the show, including details such as time and place. We've been hoping for big things from Dragstrip Courage, and we are sorry to be in receipt of their announcement.

-- Alan Lewis, February 7, 2003

NEWS

BOSTON MUSIC AWARDS, NEMO :

As mentioned in an earlier item, the Boston Music Awards and the NEMO Conference have been sold. The new owners are Scott Bernstein and Chip Rives. Steve Morse covered this change in a February 1 Living/Arts feature in the Boston Globe. As I've been saying lately, Boston doesn't define this organization; but Boston is at the organization's heart. So, this is an important change from our perspective. Morse's article is both substantial and detailed, putting it beyond the scope of what we can report here at the moment (but it's well worth reading at the Globe's site. (Go to Living/Arts and click on Steve Morse's name, somewhere along the left margin. His article ought to be there for a while.) One passage, though, seems key. Bernstein was quoted as saying

Whatever happens, we want to build the NEMO brand name and make it a trusted voice. We think Candace did a great job with it, but we're going to try to make it better and stronger. And even though the music business is down right now, it's a cycle and we think it's going to come back.

Three things. First we caution against the use of marketing jargon when appearing before the general public. Speaking of "branding" NEMO is a certain way of alienating many members of the artistic community. One of our local (Brattleboro, Vermont) leadership groups made similar remarks a couple years ago and got hammered for it. It's an incident worth learning from. Second, I'm unconvinced the music business is down. Steve Morse has shown, to my satisfaction, that the truth is much more complex. Major record label sales are down as is attendance at city nightclubs. Last year, though, was great for huge concerts by international stars, and some of the most venerable rockers particularly benefited. On the other end of things, many of the indie artists we're in touch with have been doing very well indeed. Third, praising Candace Avery while speaking of making NEMO better seems sensible but could prove to be a difficult line to walk. The ownership/management of the Boston Music Awards and NEMO has attracted its share of detractors (though I'm not among them). We wish the new owners luck.

-- Alan Lewis, February 5, 2003

NEWS

SWINGING STEAKS :

My favorite band of the '90s was the Swinging Steaks. Not my favorite group out of New England, you understand, but rather my favorite band anywhere. So, I was pleased, on the 27th, to receive this by e-mail from bassist/singer Paul Kochanski: "Just finishing a new album 'Sunday Best'--to be released this spring in Europe by German label, Blue Rose Records. We're a little twangier this go 'round. . . ." "We're thinking it's our best in years and can't wait for folks to hear it. I'll keep you posted." He thinks he can't wait...

CONTEST WINNERS AMY FAIRCHILD AND STEVE TANNEN :

The "Names" column in yesterday's Boston Globe listed a bunch of New Englanders who recently won music contests. I'm most familiar with just two of the artists. Steve Tannen has singlehandedly turned "contest winner" into something of a singer-songwriter sub-genre. Or so it seems. In this case he and partner Deb Talen were winners in the International Songwriting Competition for the lyrics of their song, "Somebody Loved." Amy Fairchild, who has recently returned to the Boston area, took top honors in the pop category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Her winning number, "Falling Down," is a personal favorite from her Adam Steinberg-produced Mr. Heart (CD, So Fair Music CD01, 2002). My very favorite, "Beautiful Secret," which Fairchild aces on the album, has been used in the show, Spiderman Live. Evidently the stage interpretation is, uh, different from anything Fairchild ever imagined. If you like Amy Fairchild on record, you're going to love her live.

PHIL SPECTOR :

Probably all our readers know that Phil Spector has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He has been released on $1 million bail. A good account appears in today's Boston Globe, including a decent summary of earlier reporting, for those who may have missed the original news story. The Globe account includes this telling quote from Boston's Peter Wolf: "Phil was always a unique character. Talking to him about music was incredible, because his past contributions had been so special. But he was a very tough guy to get to know." Interesting use of past tense. We're mentioning this here because, at least in the early morning hours, the article was not linked from the Globe's Living/Arts section and thus, for many of our visitors, might be easily missed. It ran on page A2 of the hardcopy editions of the paper. Online, it might be most easily found, as I found it, by use of the search engine at the bottom of the page.

I don't even want to know about Courtney Love's arrest.

-- Alan Lewis, February 4, 2003

NEWS

BOSTON MUSIC AWARDS, NEMO :

We noticed in yesterday's (Saturday's) Boston Globe that the Boston Music Awards and the NEMO conference have been sold. How someone can presume to sell one of the region's public resources is beyond us. Next some commercial-minded soul will try to name the new Boston Garden after a bank or something, and the Red Sox will try to turn the cherished left-field wall into seating. Well actually, both of those things seem pretty farfetched. Anyway, even though we don't have the Globe article yet, it does seem important to make note here of this development. Today's (Sunday's) Globe includes a substantial review of a new Francine album.

BURLINGTON, VERMONT :

This site operates out of Brattleboro in Vermont's lovely banana belt, and don't ever forget it. So we--or at least some of us--have a real interest in the always perking Burlington VT popular music scene. I personally don't ever recall hearing the venerable (20 years and counting) band, the Wards; but still, Colin Clary's review of The Wards' Greatest Hits (CD-R, self-released) in this week's Seven Days caught my eye. Clary's review ends with the words, "Classic punk, Vermont-style. Recommended."

-- Alan Lewis, February 2, 2003

NEWS

FRANCHISE HISTORY :

It seems to be a day for making franchise history; so for the first time ever, we quote Shira Springer from this morning's Boston Globe. "For the second time this season, the Celtics found themselves on the wrong side of franchise history. Detroit defeated Boston, 118-66, last night at the FleetCenter in what now stands as the organization's worst loss ever, eclipsing the regular-season record set Oct. 31, 2002, in Washington (45 points) and the playoff mark for futility established April 28, 1995, in Orlando (47)." I'm a life-long temperance man, but I'm starting to see the appeal of going out and getting drunk.

Since the Globe reporter has a name that brings to mind an animated Princess of Power, perhaps this is as good a day as any to divulge that we have what we believe may be the world's only Galaxy Rangers screen saver. This is a class operation.

We set another franchise record, some would say, in a more meaningful way. Last month, this page had more visits than in any other month in our site's storied history.

BOSTON GARAGE :

How Brett Milano managed to get all the way through a "Cellars by Starlight" column about Boston garage-rock bands without mentioning mentioning my colleague Nancy Neon is beyond me. But that's what he did in this week's Boston Phoenix. The featured acts are the Charms, about whom I know nothing else, and a Rock and Roll Quartet with the obvious name, the Downbeat 5. We'll keep an eye out for more information about the Charms. Meanwhile, we have high hopes for the Downbeat 5 album, which we expect will arrive soon. Two of us listed top picks of 2002, and two of us thought the Downbeat 5 demo CD was among the best of the year. As for the new album, JJ Rassler told Milano, "We wanted to sound like the records we really dig--open room, big live sound. We didn't go for that lo-fi sound, since that's gotten a little predictable. And we didn't want it to sound too slick, 'cause we ain't that. As close as possible to the way we sound at the Abbey [Lounge], except you can hear the vocals better." Sounds good to us. We hope to report more about the Charms, and we'll definitely be back at-cha on the Downbeat 5.

ARLINGTON MASS.'S REGENT THEATRE SHOW :

A week ago, Steve Morse's Rock Notes column announced a February 27 show at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, Massachusetts, that was to include, among much else, reunions of the Jon Butcher Axis and the Neighborhoods. Jon Butcher and company can't make it, we know, and are shooting to reunite in Boston in late August. What became of the rest of this show, we don't know. It's not currently listed on the Regent Theatre's Web site. Do any of our readers know what happened? The Neighborhoods had a reunion performance set for the Rat the night the Kenmore Square club closed, but couldn't go on as one member didn't make it. Now this. Maybe the Rumble Curse is real after all and still hassling these guys.

CAROL NOONAN WITH GUITARIST KEVIN BARRY :

Do you know Carol Noonan from her solo career or remember her days in the wonderful folk-rock band, Knots and Crosses? There's been a change in her career that means a lot to people around here. She's been giving concerts around here. Over the past year or more, Noonan has been expanding her sphere of influence to include Vermont. Her current tour with highly respected Boston guitarist Kevin Barry includes stops at the always impressive Oona's Restaurant "Flying Under Radar" series in Bellows Falls, the State of Bean Coffeehouse in Ludlow, and the Middletown Springs Public Library (they'll do anything to get overdue books back!). Other stops are in Maine and Massachusetts.

Noonan's latest compact disc, Big Iron (CD, www.carolnoonanmusic.com, n.d.), is a real treat. On it, she indulges her childhood passion for cowboy ballads, making it something like a concept album. It's very cohesive, with the title track, the traditional "Shenandoah," and the original "Cross To Bear" standing out. Unlike in Knots and Crosses, where good volume was needed, in recent years Noonan has emphasized the sweetness of her voice.

-- Alan Lewis, February 1, 2003

NEWS

WILLIE ALEXANDER, ROBIN LANE AND THE CHARTBUSTERS :

From Robin Lane's Web site: "The CD Release Party for the new Robin Lane and The Chartbusters album will be February 15, 2003 at The Middle East Restaurant (downstairs) in Cambridge, MA. Also on the bill are Willie Alexander and Red Chord." This CD-release party is starting to loom large. First, since it is a record-release event, it's Robin Lane's show. Allen Bush, her publicist, tells me that the Boston Globe plans a write-up. The new disc, Piece of Mind, is very good. It's a bit of a cross between Imitation Life, the darker of the two Chartbusters albums on Warner Bros., and the Robin Lane '90s singer-songwriter CD, Catbird Seat. Most songs are new, though "The Letter" goes back to the band's early indie days. "Idiot," one of the best Catbird Seat songs, is back in a new recording. We're hoping this leads to more Chartbuster discs. I'm totally in the dark about the group, Red Chord; but I'm a real fan of Willie Alexander and the Boom Boom Band. It's quite exciting that this outfit is recording again, and we'll be keeping an ear out for what becomes of those 2002 sessions. Meanwhile, this show comes not so very long after the release of an expanded version of what many people consider to be Alexander's best album, Solo Loco Redux. I am very hopeful that my review of the reissue will run in the Boston Globe sometime between now and the Middle East show. So, with reunions of the Boom Boom Band and the Chartbusters, who could be next...

JON BUTCHER AXIS :

There's an effort afoot to bring about a reunion of Boston's Jon Butcher Axis. Some announcement of a Boston appearance in late February evidently has been withdrawn. A show in May couldn't be worked out. But it's starting to look good for a Boston concert in late August. Unless something goes terribly wrong, we should be among the first to hear about this one; and we'll let you know when we know.

-- Alan Lewis, January 28, 2003

NEWS

SHAKE SOME ACTION: Rock 'N' Roll Happenings in NE, NY, and Beyond
by Nancy "Action Woman" Neon

The original REAL KIDS: JOHN FELICE (guitar,lead vocals), BILLY BORGIOLI (guitar), ALPO (bassvocals) and HOWIE FERGUSON (drums) have a single out on Detroit's DUI label. The single includes the songs "I Can't Kick" and "Who Needs You". Both were recorded live at Paycheck's Lounge in Detroit in November 1999. The songs are taken from the upcoming CD, LIVE IN DETROIT. This is righteous consolation for those musos at MOJO leaving "Just Not Darts" off their comp.

Newsletter We're looking for a volunteer who can compile and send (or prepare for posting) a regular newsletter--say, every other week or even monthly. If you think that could be you, please write Alan Lewis at nemsbook@yahoo.com. We do have an informal relationship with an existing newsletter, our friend Maria McLaughlin's "Weekly Band E-Mail." In it, she gives show listings, concentrating on the Boston-Cambridge-Somerville area. To subscribe, write Maria at MariaMcL11@aol.com.

DUI also has UNNATURAL AXE single "Brain Damage" and "Bombing & Burying" on white vinyl. It's a limited edition of 1000 and was recorded in 1998. As of this writing, DUI label mogul and all around cool guy, DOUG GIOVANNI says LYRES' "Tear You Up' single should be available soon. For more info, contact DUI at PO Box 46073, Mt Clemens, MI 48046.

So you've got three great Boston bands on DUI. Moreover, you've got MR. AIRPLANE and DOWNBEAT 5 on Sympathy For The Record Industry. Get with it Boston labels.

BOSTON magazine will cosponsor an art exhibit at ZEITGEIST GALLERY at 1353 Cambridge St., Cambridge. Call gallery director Alan Nidle at 617-876-6060 for more information. The show will be held February 10-March 3 and features rockers who also do visual art including MIKEY WELSH formerly of WEEZER, JONATHAN RICHMAN, WILLIE ALEXANDER, ASA BREBNER, ADAM SHERMAN, PETER WOLF, BILY BORGIOLI, and about a dozen more.

Writer/musician TED DROZDOWSKI is organizing a jam session which promises to be Boston's answer to the Rolling Thunder Revue. The opening is February 15 from 6:30-9:00. Later that evening WILLIE ALEXANDER will play the MIddle East downstairs. Here's hoping to hear his masterpiece "Everybody Knows". Also on the bill is ROBIN LANE AND THE CHARTBUSTERS.

Not a Boston artist, but a Boston event and cool Boston venue is MIKE SMITH, DAVE CLARK FIVE vocalist playing on March 13 at Arlington's Regent Theatre. Interesting releases and demos that are currently on the NANCY NEON hit parade include THE LAST ONES featuring members of LYRES, BOIZE, and MIGHTY IONS, AWAKENING STICK starring drummer, MATT BURNS of THE VARMINTS, CLASSICS RUINS and KENNE HIGHLAND AND HIS VATICAN SEX KITTENS, DEARLY BELOVEDS from LA featuring JOHNNY ANGEL from THRILLS...in addition to his writing, acting, and talk radio gig, JOHNNY has recently had a beautiful son, XERXES...and last but not least THE DOWNBEAT FIVE.

Cool books include three from RICHIE UNTERBERGER who made me a fan way back in his OP days--TURN! TURN! TURN! (2002), URBAN SPACEMEN & WAYFARING STRANGERS (2000), and UNKNOWN LEGENDS OF ROCK 'N' ROLL (1998), READY STEADY GO (not about the Kathy McGowan tv show, just sixties' Swinging London in general) by SHAWN LEVY (2002),and BLUE MELODY: TIM BUCKLEY REMEMBERED by LEE UNDERWOOD. Another crucial publication is UGLY THINGS. #20 with YARDBIRDS on the cover. Check out www.ugly-things.com Internet zines you should check out are SCHLOCK MAG at schlockmag.com from LOONS' former drummer, JOHN CHILSON who is now with Boston's TV EYE. Another necessity for life is BOSTON GROUPIE NEWS from MISS LYN and BLOWFISH at www.bostongroupienews.com which includes an indepth interview with original REAL KIDS' guitarist BILLY BORGIOLI including many shots of his art which he calls "abstract designs".

DJS in NY and Boston that are keeping the rock 'n' roll flame burning are LITTLE STEVEN (yes of Bruce Springteen and SOPRANOS fame) on WROR Sundays from 10-Midnight, ALEX PIANDES on WFMO, NANCY (not NEON, but still the right name and the right taste!!!) on CLUELESS CLUBHOUSE on WMBR, DINOS on WHRB, DJ VINNY who does the club thang at AN TUA NUA, PHOENIX LANDING, and COMMON GROUND. I haven't checked it out yet, but my spies tell me great things about dancing to sixties soul and r&b at the ENORMOUS ROOM in Central Square. When in NYC, check out WELL SUSSED on Thursdays at the RAVEN. Also RAFIFI and WOWSVILLE, the latter has BILLY MILLER and MIRIAM LINNA of A-BONES/NORTON RECORDS fame spinning vinyl. Current fave Boston area reissue is THE POLARIS STORY on Dionysus from PO Box 1975, Burbank, CA 91507. THE VARMINTS first full length is out on ENDORA'S BOX. For ordering info, contact varmints2003@aol.com. THE VARMINTS and THE PRIMITIVE SOULS will both be featured on a compilation that DAVE LAING of SHOCK RECORDS is working on. I'll give you more info as it becomes available.

My most anticipated moment along with the 2004 Mustang is the upcoming RICHARD AND THE YOUNG LIONS recording. These guys had three singles on Philips from 66-67 including the great paen to lust "Open Up Your Door" immortalized on the NUGGETS box set.

NO DEADLINES, JUST HEADLINES: After 3 plus decades, RYL slayed garage rock afficiandos at the CAVESTOMP 2000. I've heard their original material, their remakes, and their impeccably chosen covers--all perfection. Their brilliantly talented and immensely personable drummer, TWIG (those DWs will blow you outta your seat!!!) has guested with two Boston bands, THEE PSYCH-O-DAISIES and MUCK & THE MIRES. Stayed tuned next month same ACTION time, same ACTION channel. To quote my choice for first and foremost Boston rock 'n' roll hall of fame inductees, BARRY AND THE REMAINS "All good things don't have to end!"

NEWS

FROM THE ROBIN LANE NEWSLETTER :

The new Robin Lane and The Chartbusters CD is here!

After what seems like an eternity of waiting, the new Robin Lane and The Chartbusters CD is here, all pressed, with artwork, in jewel cases, shrinkwrapped, and ready for distribution. It is currently being distributed to industry types (radio stations and press), and will be available to the public on the official release date of February 15, coinciding with the release party. (I suggested that perhaps we could make it available sooner to those on the mailing list, and that is being considered. More on that when I have an answer.) In the meantime, you can see cover scans and the track listing in the Discography section of the web site. Oh, and the CD is called Piece of Mind.

Evidently we've been promoted to the status of "industry type." We have been listening to the aptly titled Piece of Mind (CD, Windjam, [2003]) and enjoying it a lot. The album's sound crosses vintage Chartbusters with Robin Lane's '90s solo disc. That adds up to Robin Lane and the Chartbusters, only newer. We'll definitely be getting back to this album in some fashion. But for now, let's just say that the tracks which seem most likely to keep calling us back include the lead-off "All Fall Down" (classic Chartbusters sound), "She Wants You Back," a re-recording of "Idiot" (originally on Catbird Seat, CD, Ocean Music, 1995), and the unlisted track 10, which must have been inspired by Asa Brebner. Remember that the Fools once wrote a song called "Alibi"? (My favorite bit of Fool-ishness.) Ever wonder what happened to the guy in that song? Find out by listening to "Caught in the Act," the title of which tells much of the story of the guy's undoing. Let this be a warning! The Robin Lane and the Chartbusters reunion looks like it could be around for a while, and we're already looking forward to the followup CD--whenever. We hereby put in an early request for a new recording of "Send Me an Angel."

-- Alan Lewis, January 24, 2003

JANUARY 24 BOSTON GLOBE :

Today's Boston Globe is laced with goodies, not the least of which is a preview of the Miss Gothic Massachusetts contest. If we must judge on the accompanying photos alone, Sarah Babineau gets our vote. We could gaze into her red eyes for eternity. Much respect and RIPs all around for the other worthy contestants.

Joan Anderman has a neat feature about Boston acts with forthcoming releases. There are sixteen of them, and time considerations force us to narrow the focus considerably. We believe that Damone is far and away the most likely of those acts we've heard to make it big, if we may judge from This Summer (CD, Rum Raisin, 2001; released under the former band name, Noelle). While perfect by no means, that disc shows great commercial potential. Clint Conley's Consonant interests us like few others. Unfortunately, our requests for a review copy of the debut album have been greeted with universal affirmative replies followed by zero followup. Perhaps we'll have better luck with the as-yet-untitled album in the works. Only two members of the New England Music Scrapbook staff rated 2002 record releases, but both Nancy Neon and I listed Three Bullets for Alice (CD, s.n., [2002]) by the Downbeat 5 among our favorite demos. That's a 100% favorable rating in the New England Music Scrapbook opinion poll. I wouldn't have been able to tell from listening to the original instrumental in the program that it's not an actual oldie. Billy Conway and Dana Colley of Morphine have been working on a compilation, The Best of Morphine: 1992-1995, which hits stores on February 18. There is much that stands behind the decision to found this Web site, and the early death of Mark Sandman is a key example. I was writing book reviews but interested in switching back to music. I was checking out the Globe systematically, and probably the very first major item I saw was coverage of Sandman's death. Words aren't strong enough to tell how shocking it was. So the music on the forthcoming Morphine collection is all wrapped up with the origins of this site.

-- Alan Lewis, January 24, 2003

NEWS

RUBYHORSE :

Our experience with hearing the band, Rubyhorse, is very limited; but it's an act that interests us and comes highly recommended. For a worthwhile update on Rubyhorse, see "Irish Eyes" by Sean Richardson (after the lead item about David Gray) in the January 23, 2003 Boston Phoenix.

NEWS

We're looking for a volunteer who can compile and send (or prepare for posting) a regular newsletter--say, every other week or even monthly. If you think that could be you, please get in touch. We do have an informal relationship with an existing newsletter, our friend Maria McLaughlin's "Weekly Band E-Mail." In it, she gives show listings, concentrating on the Boston-Cambridge-Somerville area. To subscribe, write Maria at MariaMcL11@aol.com.

2002 was a busy year, both for the scene and for the New England Music Scrapbook. Some of the former is chronicled in our 2002 Year-in-Review.

We have a new rundown of our Top 10 most-visited pages.

The other new page that occurs to me is an authoritative profile of the '70s Boston band Tracks and frontwoman Lorry Doll.

Much effort has gone into revisions in recent months, a good example being a significant addition to our page on the early Aerosmith.

-- Alan Lewis, January 6, 2003

NEWS

CLUB 47 REUNION SHOW :

The Club 47 reunion gig (with some of the Lilly family) will be on the Thursday, 2/6, at the Station Inn [Nashville]: Everett Lilly Sr., Peter Rowan, Charles River Valley Boys (Siggins, Cooke, EA Lilly, Field), Keith & Rooney.

Same line-up for our workshop on Friday (2pm-3:15pm) on Country Music's Boston Roots.

Some shows are events. This one is a major event. That's why we're including it in this space, even though the show's in Nashville. The Lilly Brothers not only brought bluegrass to New England, but it was actually the first bluegrass band to have success anywhere outside the South. The Charles River Valley Boys not only kept the old-timey and bluegrass flame going but also made an early venture into country-rock with the wonderful album, Beatle Country (CD, Rounder SS41, 1995; original LP Elektra, 1966). Bill Keith is nothing less than a 5-string banjo god and partner Jim Rooney is one of Nashville's finest record producers. Peter Rowan was in Earth Opera, for heaven sake (which is not to even to mention Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys). Did I miss anyone? Oh yes, the driving force behind this incredible program is our e-mail friend, Millie Rahn, who must be a bundle of energy to be juggling so many projects all the time.

NEWS

RAY MASON; ALSO, BURLINGTON (VT) SCENE :

Every local scene in New England seems to have at least one person who goes out of his or her way to help new-comers, out-of-town acts, and just about anyone else. In this (Brattleboro, Vermont) area, Derrek Jordan is an excellent example. The late Mickey O'Halloran certainly filled that role beautifully in Boston. In the Western Massachusetts Pioneer Valley, the man is veteran rocker Ray Mason. Ray helps everyone. He helps us. While Ray's music is much admired, it resists pigeonholes; and unfortunately, the music business positively thrives on pigeonholing artists (when the biz does thrive). A Burlington, Vermont, music journalist, Ethan Covey of the fine alternative weekly Seven Days is new to the Ray Mason Band. And listening with fresh ears, he has written the best capsule notice of Ray that I've ever seen.

Road Warrior With his much-abused '65 Silvertone guitar and a knack for harsh, engaging roots tunes, Ray Mason embodies American rock 'n' roll. The ghosts of the highway seem to have followed the Massachusetts native during 20 years on the road, inspiring songs that recall those of classic Neil Young and Warren Zevon. (Seven Days, October 2, 2002)

Not a bad place to be.

We receive more e-mails about the Burlington, Vermont, scene than about any other except Boston. So, many of our readers will be familiar already with Seven Days. Others may recall editor Pamela Polston. She was the female lead singer in one of our favorite '80s new wave bands, the Decentz. We are told that the group's steel guitarist, Gordon Stone, has been having real success on the jamband circuit. Known mostly for his 5-string banjo picking, we can tell from firsthand experience that he makes wonderful records. Many other visitors to this site will be familiar with the Decentz' bass player, better known as ace mandolinist Jimmy Ryan. We have not had the opportunity to hear Ryan's recent solo album, but we know he's been doing terrific work with Catie Curtis.

NEWS

PAUL MANGONE :

Former member of the Dream/Extreme has a forthcoming compact disc, Fly by Wire. He also has a Website that ought to be online by late February. We're guessing www.paulmangone.com, but don't hold us to it.

NEWS

CHERYL WHEELER
Different Stripe (CD, Philo, 2002)

This fine, extensive Cheryl Wheeler retrospective is set by Rounder for a January 28 release. She has a string of shows both before and after that date. We're betting the February 15, 2003, concert at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will be among the biggest.

NEWS

OUR MOST-VISITED PAGES :

Our most popular page, easily, is one that chronicles the contestants in the annual WBCN Rock 'n' Roll Rumble. It would be practically impossible for a band profile or other article to rival that one. Our Rumble page includes the names of somewhere around 500 bands, so it turns up in a heck of a lot of Internet search hit-lists. Now, every once in a while, we'll get a serious surprise out of our e-mail or site statistics. One recent example is the phenomenal number of messages we received in November and December about the '70s band out of Boston, Duke and the Drivers. The most recent case concerns an even earlier Boston group, Barry and the Remains. Since September, our profile of the Remains has actually been gaining, number-of-visit-wise, on our Rumble page. This truly is phenomenal, and one wonders how long it can last. (It's lasting through this month at least. We know that already.) It is my own view that the band, the Remains, is the pivotal act in New England rock history. Only two of us posted top record picks for 2002, and Nancy Neon and I both included the latest Remains album, Movin' On (CD, Rock-A-Lot, 2002), on our lists. It appears there may be a great many Web surfers with a similarly high regard for the group.

NEWS

AND ANOTHER SURPRISE FROM OUR SITE STATISTICS :

There was a time when Netscape rarely turned up as the predominant browser in use by visitors viewing our pages. These days, it's showing up quite often in our site statistics for individual pages. We don't know the reason(s), though major improvements in Version 7 must be partly responsible. To my own experience, Netscape 7 is better than Internet Explorer in some ways and worse than it in a few others. No matter ... Microsoft Internet Explorer appears now to have a major competitor. Let the browser wars resume.

NEWS

THE PINCUSHIONS

Next Friday, January 24th
At Great Scott
1222 Commonwealth Ave (corner of Harvard Ave in Brighton)
617-566-9014

Ryan Montbleau - 10:00	http://www.ryanmontbleau.com/
Sparkola - 11:00	http://cvb.drawbridge.com/sparkola/
The Pincushions - 12:00	http://www.thepincushions.com/

After a long hiatus, we're psyched to have Matt "The Gov'nor" Fauller back behind the drum kit next Friday, driving the rhythm bus all over the road like Ralph Kramden with a hemorrhoidal flare up. Lately, playing these songs again with Mattio has reminded us how much fun cranking out tunes can be, so we'll all definately be on our horses for this gig.

Plus, we're playing with two ridiculously talented acts: Sparkola, who released one of our favorite albums last year, and Ryan Montbleau, who displays his vocal acrobatics all over town, and sits in with Rich's other musical project ATP from time to time.

So come on out and catch this show, good tunes and cheap beer cure the 20 degree January blues.

The Pincushions

NEWS

DON WHITE :

The response to the Live in Watertown DVD has been fantastic. I have receive[d] a tremendous amount of positive feedback. If Santa brought you a DVD player this Christmas or if you are tired of trying to explain the Don white concert experience to your friends, check out this professionally filmed and recorded live concert DVD at www.cdfreedom.com.

Copyright © 2003 by Alan Lewis.
All rights reserved.