New England Music Scrapbook Newsletter
Alan Lewis, Editor

Our Corner of the Rock 'n' Roll Life

August 10, 2007
Issue 2007:235

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We've got Thrills, chills, Dirty Water
What more do you need?
When the big beat hits ya
Comin' from your transistor
Like the T at full speed
When the big beat hits ya...

-- "Boston Lullaby," Dudick/Naihersey.
Copyright c. 1980 by Camaraderie Music, BMI.
All rights reserved. Used with permission.


. . . . .


BRATTLEBORO, VT, August 11 - Everything I could not fit into last
issue for lack of time went into this issue quite nicely, with one
lone exception.

SARA COX

of a great Maine band, The Coming Grass, had a terrific booking
opening for Joe Ely. Unfortunately, by now that gig has come and
gone. I would really have liked to have copied her announcement.

It looks as though our annual summer slowdown is still going on.
Though I carried over a fair amount of material from last week, this
newsletter issue still comes out none too long. But we have a couple
reader queries, along with a decent variety of short news items,
including a good number having to do with acts who we do not often get
to cover. We also have a valued contribution from my valued e-friend
Maria McLaughlin.

The Boston Globe's website could hardly be said to be moving at
the moment, so I will just briefly mention from memory two recent
deaths. First, when the Globe site WAS working not long ago, I did
not find an obituary for

TOMMY MAKEM,

though I heard on our local radio news that he died August 1. Makem
is very well known for his work with the Clancy Brothers and for his
days in New York City; but actually he had been in and around
Portsmouth, New Hampshire for decades, according to my understanding.
A very, very big variety of Irish music acts, as well as bands that
bring in Celtic influences, owe a tremendous debt to Tommy Makem and
the Clancy Brothers, even when it may not be apparent at first listen
such as in the case of the Dropkick Murphys. This man made a MAJOR
contribution, and he is going to be widely missed.

The other death notice I saw - and it was just as the Boston
Globe's site came to a slamming halt - was that of

LEE HAZELWOOD.

I remember once when reading a history of rock 'n' roll - probably
Charlie Gillette's "Sounds of the City" - being really impressed with
all that Lee Hazelwood did, including work from long before we knew
him by his work with Nancy Sinatra. It seems to me that he made a
considerable mark, more or less behind the scenes, both as a
songwriter and a record producer. Whether I am remembering right or
not, I am quite convinced that Hazelwood's work went well beyond what
is indicated in the Globe's headline; and if you get a chance to read
the Boston Globe obituary or another notice, it likely would be time
well spent.


TIR NA NOG

A Toast to the nOg

Tir na nOg is back, sort of. Since closing its doors this past
Spring, the Somerville Irish pub / live music venue has been greatly
missed. And yet, the spirit of Tir na nOg lives on (see
http://www.myspace.com/friendsoftirnanog). Then on July 29, Robert
Elliot and his crew started taking over Toast Lounge in Union Square
every Sunday through Wednesday. Ronan is behind the bar, Paddy Grace
is at the bar, and a flock of nOg regulars have already descended on
the lounge. It's a little bit brighter but no less colorful. There's
free, live music every Sunday - Wednesday. Check it out and see who
you've been missing.

Here is a sample of the upcoming music schedule:

Sundays in August at 9pm: Seamonsters with Christian McNeill, Jesse
Dee, Jesse Ciarmataro, Jimmy Ryan, and Mike Miksis
http://www.myspace.com/christianmcneillmusic

Tuesday, August 14 at 9pm: Mike Hastings Band
http://www.myspace.com/mikehastingsband

Wednesday, August 15 at 9pm: Johnny Come Latelies
http://www.myspace.com/thejohnnycomelatelies

Sunday, September 2 at 9pm: Paddy Saul http://www.myspace.com/paddysaul

* Get the full schedule and more information at
http://www.myspace.com/friendsoftirnanog

* Pictures from the opening night of "Toast to the nOg" can be found
on the nOg website at http://www.thenog.com

* Toast Lounge is located at 70 Union Square in Somerville (next to
The Independent). Phone: 617-623-9211. http://www.toastlounge.com


BOSTON ROCK
Early-to-Mid-1980s Song Query

We have recently received a question from a reader, and I personally
can't even begin to answer it. He is asking about a Boston rock song
from the early or mid-1980s that either may be titled

ROOM WITH A VIEW

or may feature those words prominently in a chorus. He says it was
definitely sung by a female vocalist, and at first he was thinking the
band may have been

SALEM 66.

He has since become less certain about the Salem 66 connection, though
we are definitely not ruling it out.

Is this a song you recall? If you have information about a 1980s
Boston rock record featuring the words, "room with a view," and you
would be willing to share your information, please e-mail us by way of
the following Web page:

http://www.geocities.com/nemsbook/fred.htm


= = = = =


BRIEF ITEMS :


JENNY PAQUETTE BAND
New England Country Musicians
Back on the Road

"After a break, Jenny and The Band are back on tour. The website has
been completely revised, and new dates are coming in all the time!
Check out the new site at: http://www.jennypaquette.com for news,
pictures, video, tour dates, and more."

-- "Announcing the new jannypaquette.com,"
August 8, 2007


PABLO PICASSO
(A Modern Lovers Song)
Covered by The White Stripes

One of our e-mail correspondents and, not incidentally, a fellow Lewis
recently told us,

"ASCAP lists The White Stripes as a performer of the Modern Lovers'
song, 'Pablo Picasso.' I can't find any evidence of it being released
as a track in any format, but they do apparently play it live."

Do you know anything about a White Stripes cover of "Pablo Picasso"?
For instance, was it ever recorded, say, on a demo or maybe as a
website download? Have you heard The White Stripes perform this
Modern Lovers song in concert or do you otherwise have concrete
information about them covering it live?

If you have information on this subject and you would be willing to
share it, please e-mail us by way of the following Web page:

http://www.geocities.com/nemsbook/fred.htm


BOSTON GROUPIE NEWS

Bostonians and ex-Bostonians and folks such as myself are going to
want to hurry over to Boston Groupie News for information about the
departure from Boston of

JOHN NIKOLAI.

Where have I seen his credits a lot in the past? Was it in a favorite
and much missed publication, Boston Rock? It seems right to me.

Also, there is information about a video by a favorite Boston punk band,

La PESTE.

Remember around the time of one of the very earliest Rumbles - it may
have been the first Rumble - that LaPeste was on the verge of becoming
the NEXT BIG THING out of Boston, or on the verge of breaking up, or
both? Those were exciting if somewhat confusing times.


JOHNNY IRION
"Ex Tempore" CD

"[W]e are proud to announce the release of Johnny's new record, 'Ex
Tempore,' on our very own independent label RTE 8 RECORDS. ... The
album will officially be released and in stores August 7th as well as
available to download at iTunes."

-- Johnny Irion, "Sarah Lee and Johnny Summer
2007," August 4, 2007

JOHNNY IRION'S GREAT UNCLE was, in my view, a major Arthurian
scholar. Yeah, yeah, he - John Steinbeck - wrote a few other books,
too. But his "The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights" is a
MAJOR contribution to Arthurian literature. It is important to
understand that the novel is unfinished. Steinbeck's editor
discouraged him from this project, which he then shelved for many
years. Steinbeck only got back to it toward the end of his life. So
he was really not able to put this work in the final form that one
would normally expect of a John Steinbeck novel. But as long as the
reader understands, going in, that the book is unfinished, I believe a
lot of those readers who give it a try will agree with me that this
novel is perfectly brilliant.


KATE SCHROCK
New "Invocation" CD

"It's been three and a half years in the making, with two trips to
Jamaica, many weeks in the studio here in Portland - working with
engineer / producer Steve Drown (Dames Rocket, Shunyata). I now have
a fully fleshed out confessional and aggressive ten-song album which
features the legendary horn player Glen DaCosta (of Bob Marley and the
Wailers fame) who has also been an advisor and arranger and huge
inspiration for this record. Other amazing musicians who contributed
to this album are my brother, Nate [Schrock, of The Coming Grass], on
guitar, Miss Ginger Cote on drums, Anne Deck on bass, Nyah Henderson,
Mr. Stephen B. Jones, Mexico City native guitarist extraordinaire,
Jeff Rojo, trumpet player Marc Chillemi, and a musical appearance by
Steve Drown himself.

"The songs on this new album reflect much of the past 3-4 years for me
- travel outside the US, reflections after 911, spiritual ideas and
quandaries, love. There's a Bob Dylan cover in the mix and a Dave
Rave collaborative song too... I call this 'a collection of songs
about love and spirituality in modern times.'"

-- "Kate Schrock Brand New CD," August 5, 2007


REBECCA HALL AND KEN ANDERSON

"We We Love Love Lucy Lucy

"'Lucille, Lucille' was picked as one of five finalists in this year's
Great Waters Folk Festival Songwriting Contest. We'll get to play
this song before a panel of judges, assuming we can remember the words
and music."

-- Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson, "August 2007
Newsdumpster," August 2, 2007


STEPHEN KELLOGG AND THE SIXERS
and
DRUNK STUNTMEN

The public-access computers I use are getting double-booked at the
moment for some reason, and as a result I lost two consecutive
public-access computer appointments. So all I can say about friend
Sheryl Hunter's "Sounds Local" column this week is that her topics include

STEPHEN KELLOGG AND THE SIXERS

and the

DRUNK STUNTMEN.

As usual, Sheryl's column is in the Thursday issue of The Recorder out
of Greenfield, Massachusetts, in the pullout Arts & Entertainment
section. Normally I type in more detailed identifying information
about Sheryl's columns from our library's copy of The Recorder while I
am using one of the library's computers.


DAVE MADELONI

I did not find a Dave Madeloni column in the Ovation pullout section
of Thursday's Brattleboro Reformer - our local daily newspaper - so I
imagine this means Dave is taking some vacation.


RACHAEL SAGE
Starbucks Music Makers Competition
Semi-Finalist

"RACHAEL SAGE has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Starbucks
Music Makers Competition and will be playing three songs on August
31st at 7pm at Starbucks in Providence, Rhode Island (468 Angell
Street / Wayland Square). Winners will be selected through a
combination of judging by industry experts AND an online public vote.
You can listen to the music of the semi-finalists, download and keep
the tracks to play anywhere for free."

-- MPress Records, Rachael Sage Mailing,
August 1, 2007


REBECCA HALL AND KEN ANDERSON

"As if we needed a reason to drive mindlessly through the countryside,
August will be the month that we scout out photo opportunities for our
next album, 'Hungrytown.' Since there will be a musical portion as
well, in July, we brought in our dreamy cellist, Suzanne Mueller (of
'Sunday Afternoon' legend). This month, we're going to try to pile on
violin, oboe and Celtic harp; next month, maybe ground beef and melted
cheese."

-- Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson, "August 2007
Newsdumpster," August 2, 2007


BROOKS WILLIAMS

"Recording News:

"The recording sessions at Signature Sounds have been going great and
the CD is nearly completed – release is slated for early January 2008.
Brooks sings, plays his Flammang acoustics and his National Estralita
resonator guitar, Dave Mattacks plays drums (Mike Piehl plays drums on
a couple of songs), Richard Gates plays electric bass (John Daniel
plays acoustic and fretless bass on a few tunes), Chris Turner plays
harmonica, and Karen Tweed plays accordion."

-- "Brooks Williams E-Zine 55 August and September
2007," August 10, 2007


end BRIEF ITEMS


= = = = =


JOSH RITTER
The Amazon.com Editorial Review

"The Editorial Review from Amazon.com published this week is here:

"'You're presently reading about what may be the best album of 2007,
hands down, by the most under-accorded American musical genius. Real
murmurs, believable ones, came with Josh Ritter's 2006 album, "The
Animal Years," suggesting that the Idahoan is today's Bruce
Springsteen, today's Bob Dylan. He's never sounded more the part than
on "Historical Conquests," the follow-up to "Animal." Ritter's
tripping over his syllables and allusions on the opener, "To the Dogs
or Whoever," dropping biblical and historical images like a
fresh-faced Dylan. Except here, Ritter throws in an organ-fueled,
ride-cymbal-crashing, drum-hefty clatter. It's majestic, and it's
only the first three minutes. Recorded between stints on a
never-ending tour, "Historical" reflects Ritter on the road,
quick-witted, a master of phraseology and of imagery. Horns show up
as color, giving Ritter a soulful vibe on "Right Moves," a raucous
funkiness on "Rumors," and a doleful cloudiness on "The Temptation of
Adam." More than anything, Ritter here lays claim to absolute
singularity - yes, colored by Dylan and Bruce but simultaneously
enlivened by something magical and simple and gorgeous.

"'Andrew Bartlett'"

-- Josh Ritter News Mailing, August 1, 2007


"Elijah Drop Your Gun" CD
Coming Fall 2007

"As many of you know, I

[MIEKA PAULEY]

am in the process of recording my second album - and it's my first
full album in seven years. My producer (and good friend) Brian
Cassagnol and I are deep in these songs. I've never been this happy
with my own music.

"I'm I'm doing this album completely independently. Even though I'm
working with friends who have been amazingly gracious with their time,
I've had to eBay a few guitars along the way to cover the inevitable
expenses (like making sure Brian doesn't get evicted while working on
the tracks! Ha Ha! No, seriously.)

"So, I'm indie, and I want to d.i.y. with you. If you pre-order the
album, I can make the album I want to make and you want to hear. The
more you give, the more you get. Check out the levels I created for
pre-ordering or sponsoring the album at

http://www.ElijahDropYourGun.com/

"Thanks so much for reading this. I can't wait to get this music out
to you all.

-- Mieka Pauley, "Preorder/Sponsor My New Album,"
July 30, 2007


RANI ARBO AND DAISY MAYHEM
"Big Old Life" CD
Notices, With Us Way Off at the End

Recent press for Big Old Life

"Playful and profound." - The Boston Globe

"Explodes with energy and relaxed good humor ... a heady and very
tasty new musical brew. Drink up!" - Vintage Guitar Review

"A foot-stomping musical celebration of the vast mystery that is
existence."
- The Local Buzz, Springfield, MA, June 2007

"If Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem offer to cook at your place, you better
open up all the doors, and borrow every table and chair you can
because the whole town should come." - Folk Alley, June 2007

"An ear-to-ear grin of a record." - Eagle Times, Claremont NH

"'Big Old Life' is a diverse set with a sparkling live sound.
Guitarist Anand Nayak's fascinating rethinking of Bob Dylan's
'Farewell, Angelina' could have you wondering why the song was not
originally written this way." - New England Music Scrapbook

-- Rani Arbo, "Daisy Mayhem August News,"
August 2, 2007


NEMSnews

New England Music Scrapbook
Brattleboro, Vermont

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. . . . .


IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO WOULD BE interested in any of the items in
this issue, please forward this newsletter to them. Thanks! We
believe this is one of the main ways we pick up readers.


As a rule, we do not post SHOW LISTINGS. The reason is quite
simple. Though our name is the NEW ENGLAND Music Scrapbook, probably
an easy majority of our readers are based outside the six New England
states. The great majority of show listings would be of no interest
at all to the great majority of our readers.

We make exceptions when show listings are part of an item of more
general interest. CD-release events are great examples. For us, the
main point of an item of this sort is that an act has a new record.
The show being announced is of secondary interest to us - if that - as
far as the contents of our newsletter goes.

In the very few, truly exceptional instances where we post show
listings...


... Shows can be canceled, sold out, or even moved to another
date or location. We recommend checking the Web, calling ahead or
otherwise confirming details.


To SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter:
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NEWSLETTER's Yahoo Groups Home Page:
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General CONTACT Information:
http://www.geocities.com/uridfm/contact.htm


Issue 2007:235

Published no less often than monthly.
We're guessing eventually we'll settle
into an every-other-week schedule.

Copyright © 2007 by the New England Music Scrapbook. All rights reserved.

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