"This is the most no-bullshit thing I've ever done," says big-boss six-stringer
Dennis Kelly about his side project, the Worried. "Everyone in this band is
over 30 and done the serious rock band thing already. Now we just get together
to make good music."
How's that for a concept? Playing music to, uh, play music? It's a rare band
indeed that can indulge in the luxury of no compromise. But then, the Worried
is not your ordinary band, with tentacles in lots of other projects. Kelly, for
example, plays with the Itchies, of course, and he does his Wild Card DJ thing
at the Custom House, and various other stand-in playing. Scott Boutier is on
and off the road like a trucker with a weak bladder as a member of Frank
Black's band the Catholics. Drummer Pete McClanahan, like Kelly, does it all,
too. (Guitarist Joe Fletcher is a recent addition.)
The Worried is less a band than a hobby -- but the kind of hobby you get
obsessed with. "We're just playing what we love," says Kelly. "It's so
liberating. There are no preconceived ideas about what kind of band we are so
we just let it fly."
"It's just a lot of fun," Boutier agrees. "I've got a pretty busy gig with
Frank, so I can't make a commitment to these guys, but it's great making this
kind of music without any pressure at all."
Esprit de corps intact, the Worried recently committed its first few
songs to tape, on a five-song demo-type EP called We'll Murderize Ya!, a
lo-fi, high-flyin' trip through West Coast punk and greasy garage styles.
Recorded on 8-track in Erik Stark's basement studio before adding wunderkind
Fletcher on second guitar, the band kept the tunes simple, and let the
performances do all the trash-talking.
"Everyone in this band can really play," says Kelly, a 23-year vet on the
guitar who molds his playing somewhere between Link Wray (his mantra in the
studio is "Think Link") and the monstrous Billy Zoom, formerly of X. "We have
to play. We're always gonna play. So why not play what we love? I don't wanna
claw my way to the bottom like everybody else."
"The fact that we don't have any career plans, any set goals, really helps us
relax and play the kind of music we love," says Boutier.
We'll Murderize Ya! features the trio's inaugural material, songs like
the burning "Fire In the Hole" and the self-explanatory "Ton o' Bricks," all
led by Kelly's rubber-laying leads and the cracked punk-rock rhythms of Boutier
and McClanahan. "There's not a lot of straight-on rock 'n' roll happening in
town," says Kelly, "so maybe the Worried can kinda jumpstart the scene, teach
the kids what real rock 'n' roll is all about."
The Worried play at the Call on Friday, September 7 with Fast Acting Fuses
(a Boston/Providence-based) and Speed Devils, both up and coming garage punk
outfits.
NINIGRET. There aren't words to describe the success of this year's
Rhythm & Roots Festival at Ninigret Park in Charlestown other than
to postulate that in a few more years, the whole shebang will be outgrowing its
fantabulous space. At least that's what I think. Why? Because it's an
incredible experience, a perfectly organized, impeccably booked, flawlessly run
event that music fans from all over the country will be drawn to once the word
gets out.
In line at the vegetarian booth on Sunday night, one woman spoke of making the
drive from DC with no less than 60 of her high-steppin' friends. And she said
it was all she had hoped for and then some. Wait'll she gets back to DC and
starts talkin' it up. I hopped over to Ninigret Park for a few hours all three
days. The green grass blanket leading up to the main stage was cool in the heat
of the day, while the stars rising high over the dance tent on Saturday and
Sunday night provided just the right mirror-ball twinkle. And speaking of
twinkle, can these zydeco fans dance or what? It's like they sniff out the
sound of the accordion, like Toucan Sam sniffs out Fruit Loops and then, in a
sort of spontaneous dance-combustion, "Boom!" Instant fais-do-do! I'll
refrain from describing some of the more . . . uh, bizarre and . . . um,
eccentric of the patrons. Suffice it to say the people-watching was excellent.
Over at the workshop tent, hairlessly cool blues guitarist John Mooney shed
some light on his really loud band and great slide guitar playing, while soon
after the kiddies marched in a faux mardi Gras parade with handmade masks, led
by a funky Hot Tamale Brass Band.
Folks lined up all day and all night for a big plate o' spiced-up crawdads at
the Cajun Bros. booth, while a more modest line headed for the black bottom
pecan pie. Whatever the vendors were selling, it seemed that by Sunday night
many of them had sold-out signs pasted over their menus.
Music-wise, the bill was easily worth the $30 daily entry fee, consisting on
Friday of fast-rising Austin-folkie Slaid Cleaves, bluegrass heroine Rhonda
Vincent, and party hosts Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, who serve up a
zydeco etouffe all their own. On Saturday, Donna the Buffalo raised the roof on
the dance tent with some inspired extended jams, while Asleep At the Wheel,
Marcia Ball, and hot-shot zydeco kids Chris Ardoin and the Double Clutching all
ripped up the main stage. On Sunday, Terrence Simien, curly-tressed fiddle
sensation Natalie McMaster, and blues/R&B powerhouse Susan Tedeschi wrapped
up the night with great sets.
I don't know how many folks ultimately attended the three-day bash, but the
sun sure beckoned music fans to come out and play. That the weather made
Charlestown feel like San Diego in April was a real plus and likely added
thousands to the total attendance. It was a pleasure having Rhythm & Roots
in our own backyard. I hesitate to play it all up too much; I could jeopardize
the event's current intimacy and joie de vivre. Before you know it, that
prophecy I led with could come true and the event might jump to another locale.
But congratulations and huge props go to festival co-organizers Chuck Wentworth
and Mary Doub for throwing such a great party. May there be many more happy
returns -- and shorter lines at the food booths.
WANDERING EYE. New Bedford's Whaling City Sound label plays a large part
in this weekend's Fall River Festival of the Arts, scheduled for this
Sunday (the 9th) from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. The area's premier jazz recording label
has assembled a mini-festival and artist showcase. From noon to 6 p.m. at the
Eagle Restaurant in Fall River, music lovers can catch Dan Moretti's fine
Once Through, the Whaling City Sound Superband, John Allmark's
Psychic Horns, the John Harrison Trio, vocalist Marcelle
Gauvin, and Dino Govoni.
Mike Dinallo's Hillbilly Voodoo project is really starting to gather
steam as is his Hoodoo Brothers venture, which features Tim Taylor (harp/
vocal) and John Packer (guitar/vocal). The Voodoo will be at the Providence
Waterfront Festival (at 3:30 p.m.) on the 8th, and at the Newport Blues Cafe on
Monday (the 10th).
In what is being billed as a pre-CMJ gig, Badman recording artists James
Hindle (from England) and the Clairvoyants (from Boston) will play
with Wishing Tree recording artist Bridget (aka Emily Sparks) at White
Electric next Wednesday (the 12th).
That same night, Providence's Flying Luttenbachers bring their own
brand of destructive noise to the Surfari Club, along with fellow adventurers
Arab on Radar, for a night of headswimming rock.
E-mail me with music news at b_gulla@yahoo.com.
Issue Date: September 7 - 13, 2001
