|
|
 |
TAMMIEWHAMMY: Back in March, we asked you to pick your
favorite local artists in a dizzying array of categories. And
pick 'em you did! Several hundred responses flooded our office,
both in print and online. There were so many responses, in fact,
that we've finally just finished counting them.
So the results are in, and you're invited to join the party to applaud a sea of local talent at the 1999 TAMMIES Awards extravaganza, convening at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. And while it'll be fun to see who wins the readers' poll, the real fun will be witnessing the eclectic lineup of live musical talent playing the event--a nice representation of the sheer diversity of the Tucson scene.
To that end, Schoonover has scheduled performances by a dozen bands and artists who will each play 15 minute sets, with award winners announced between performances. This is no repeat performance, by the way: all 12 bands in the lineup were unavailable for April's Club Crawl; so come now and see what you missed. Also new to the awards this year: no acceptance speeches to sit through; awards will be announced, but not presented. And if all this sounds good so far, it gets even sweeter. The whole darn thing is free! So come on down and meet the talent, enjoy the music, and applaud this year's Tucson Area Music Award honorees. For a complete schedule and description of performers, see pages 38 and 39. GHOST WITH THE MOST: If you're intrigued by a band that sounds like KISS playing the Redd Kross catalog with a pinch of The Raspberries and a dash of Weezer thrown in for good measure, then the band for you is Cockeyed Ghost. The L.A. trio lost its original rhythm section following the release of its second album, leaving singer/songwriter/guitarist Adam Marsland to fend for himself. During the period that followed, Marsland played a national solo acoustic tour wherein he developed a more nuanced performing approach than demonstrated on previous albums; in addition, he also toured as keyboard player for L.A. pop band The Negro Problem. After the tours, he settled down and wrote a dozen new songs reflecting the bitterness endured and newfound freedom attained over that year-long period. The result is The Scapegoat Factory (Big Deal), a record that favors hard-driving melodic pop over the cranked-to-11 anthems characterizing his previous band. With the help of touring bassist Robbie Rist and previous bandmates Kurt Medlin and Robert Ramos, Marsland has constructed an album which wouldn't feel out of place on a shelf next to The Posies' later work. Catch Cockeyed Ghost on Friday, June 18, at 7 Black Cats, 260 E. Congress St. The band's set will be sandwiched by two sets by Al Perry--a solo acoustic turn at 9 p.m., followed by a plugged-in set with the Cattle to close out the night. Call 670-9202 for details.
Even those who didn't care for the over-the-topness of his previous band will find much to like here. Check out the live version when The Angels of Light headline a show on Friday, June 18, at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. The Interplanetary P.O.T and Stars of the Lid open the show at 9 p.m. Advance tickets are $8, available at Hotel Congress and Zip's University. Call 622-8848 for more info. LUCKY PUNKS: It's one helluva week for resident fans of the punk rock, as some fine shows make their way to our burg. What do Agent Orange, Social Distortion, Christian Death, D.I., Nirvana, 7 Seconds, the Germs, the Jeff Dahl Group and 45 Grave have in common besides a niche in the Who's Who of American punk rock? They've all contributed members to the band once known as the Adolescents, now called by its shortened moniker, the Adz. The band's only remaining original member is a guy named Tony, who himself has been through more than his share of name changes over the years (Tony Bones, Tony Cadena, Tony Montana, just plain Tony, and now Tony Reflex).
Check them out live on Saturday, June 19, at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. The all-ages show includes sets by three of Tucson's best punk bands: the triumphant return of F.U.C.T. after a year-and-a-half hiatus, relative newcomers the Elemenopees, and Gat-Rot. Tickets are $5 at the door, and the show starts at 8 p.m. Call 740-0126 for information.
When Skankin' Pickle broke up a couple years back, fans
of their patented brand of skafunkrastapunk cried tears of pain.
"What will become of our heroes?" they were heard to
lament. A partial answer comes our way this week in the form
of 78 RPMs, a band which features Lynette and Lars from
Skankin' Pickle, as well as Brent from the Rudiments (who, it
should be noted, kicked much ass) and a new guy named Adam Blaster.
Following a 7-inch single and a CD EP, the band just released
their first full-length on Dr. Strange Records, called New
World Chivalry. Witness the same brand of skankin' punk rock
you've come to expect from these folks when they hit the Double
Zero, 121 E. Congress St., on Friday, June 18. Call 670-9332
for details.
|
 |
Home | Currents | City Week | Music | Review | Books | Cinema | Back Page | Archives
|
 |
© 1995-99 Tucson Weekly . Info Booth |
|
"We really wanted to downplay any sort of competitive nature
that the awards might foster, and keep the focus on the music
and the people who play it," says TAMMIES organizer Jeb Schoonover.
"Just like the Club Crawl, this is more about celebrating
the entire local scene, rather than just those few being singled
out with awards."
SWANS SONG: With the so-dark-it-bordered-on-goth bombast
of the Swans finally put to rest about two years ago, leader Michael
Gira steps forth with his first new songwriting project, The
Angels of Light. Dark in a different way, the band's debut
album, New Mother (Young God Records), displays Gira's
new leanings towards lush, orchestrated acoustic arrangements.
Stylistically, it falls somewhere into the territory occupied
by Leonard Cohen or The The--Gira's deep and resonant voice recalls
both--with the sinister overtones of the Swans brought along for
the ride.
The Adz stay perennially young with their vintage '80s Cali punk--as
evidenced on their newest release Odz 'n' Sodz (Amsterdamned
Records), a collection of singles, compilation tracks, demos and
live recordings which exclusively follow the history of the Adz
output since the 1991 name change.
