Break out Letdown, Chinese Stars, Fuses rev it up BY BOB GULLA

Quietly — OK, not so quietly — Woonsocket heavy rock band Letdown has made quite a name for itself. If you don’t know about them already, it’s most likely because the band spends most of its time mining the territory north of the Rhode Island border. In fact, in recent months Letdown has played with Godsmack and Mudvayne, securing the opening slots by besting dozens of other opportunists in battles of the bands.

"Turn on the radio these days and chances are we’ve played with them," says guitarist-singer Ron Howard. "We’ve never lost a music showcase. We won the Mudvayne showcase at Jarrod’s, [and] a Rockpile showcase for the Godsmack gig. You can’t deny us, I guess!"

Founding members Howard and Dan Pepin have been together since the sixth grade, when Pepin impressed Howard by copying Randy Rhoads’s "Crazy Train" solo note for note. Howard estimates they’ve written 100 originals together. Dan "Tiny" Carter joined the band on bass six years ago. But the big break came when the boys found new drummer Nate Tellier just two years ago. "We’ve been exploding since then," says Howard. "He’s insane, a time machine. Never heard anyone play like he does."

Since then, the band released an album, Because Life Sucks, and a demo, and they have another 30 tracks ready to roll when the need arises. "We’re pretty damn close to getting it done," says Howard optimistically. "We’re focused in our search for a record deal, and we have a lot of leads."

Howard has been putting in 80-hour weeks trying to make it happen. Being on the cusp of success is exciting, but it can also be frustrating. "It’s kinda scary, too," says Howard. "You have to be there all day long six days a week. It’s all about networking, keeping the Web site updated, doing phone work. Everything."

Ideally, the band, which is booked solid to September, would prefer a major label contract — which makes sense, considering many of the band’s comrades have all made the leap to the big time. Plus the fact that the band’s sound rips in much the same way.

"It’s pretty heavy stuff," Howard admits. "We don’t always write heavy; we write what we feel. If it comes out poppy, so be it. We have one sick new tune that we’ll play Friday night. It’s called ‘Play’ and it’s sickly heavy with Beatles vocals."

Figure that one out. Better yet, give Letdown a chance to win you over.

Letdown plays the Living Room on Friday (the 27th) with Adrenokrome, Strait Laced, Sever, and Changing Skin, and on Saturday (the 28th) at Cats in Pawtucket with Adrenokrome.

TALENT SEARCH. Apple & Eve, the sponsor of the Newport Folk Festival, announced a twist to the festival this year. A talent search will give undiscovered folk music artists the chance to vie for the opportunity to perform on the festival’s main stage at Fort Adams State Park in Newport. This mean’s hanging around with luminaries like Lyle Lovett, Ani DiFranco, John Hiatt, and Aimee Mann.

To enter, artists should submit a videotape or DVD of a live performance of one or two original songs. Entries can be submitted until July 15; five finalists will be selected and announced by a panel of judges on August 1. The finalists will then compete in front of the judges on the Newport stage the day before the festival begins, with the winner performing on the mainstage on August 16 and 17.

To qualify for the Talent Search, contestants may not have any current or past recording contracts. There is no age restriction; however, minors must secure the written consent of a parent or guardian and be chaperoned to the event by an adult.

For complete information and instructions on how to enter, visit www.appleandeve.com.

FAST ACTIN’ FUSES & THE CHINESE STARS. There’s some good news all around at a show going on Saturday at the Living Room. First, the Fast Actin’ Fuses will be back in the saddle for the first time in nearly eight months. Who will be singing for the Fuses? Why, Dave Unger, former lead throat for the beloved Random Road Mother! FAF has been holed up in the practice space with Dave and the results have been impressive. FAF is also in the preliminary stages of setting up a West Coast tour for October.

Adding a little more voltage to an already electric night, ex-members of Arab On Radar and Six-Finger Satellite will join together as a vibrant new group called the Chinese Stars. They’ve already pulled an EP together for Skingraft Records (former home of AOR) and it sounds pretty damn gritty. Wanna explore a little more deeply? Go to www.the chinesestars.com.

Also that night, incendiary Relapse recording artists High On Fire (formerly Sleep) will headline. Do you remember Sleep? Matt Pike, the band’s former guitarist and composer, lost his major label recording contract after delivering an audacious album consisting of a single 52-minute song. Early on, Sleep was brutal, marijuana-veiled stoner rock. Their new album, Surrounded by Thieves, refines the attack a smidgen, but is no less powerful. And this one has a full eight tracks. Slick Pig and Black Tail will also bang out sets.

WANDERING EYE. Ever hear whistles with pedal steel guitar before? Here’s your chance. Otis Read (guitar, vocals), Juxo (accordion, vocals), Phil Edmonds (Irish whistles), and Chris Brooks (pedal steel guitar) will appear in at the Coffee Depot (501 Main Street, Warren) on Saturday at 8 p.m. Admission is $1. Call 247-9890 for details.

FolksTogether get together once again on Saturday at the United Church of Assonet (9 North Main Street, Assonet, Massachusetts). Call (508) 644-5448 for details.

For something a little less conventional, V. Majestic is also playing on Saturday at the 305 Club. It’s found at 305 Lyon Avenue in East Providence. Robert Jazz notes that the spot is "very underground, literally located beneath a baseball field off of Veterans Memorial Parkway." The owner, an ex-Vietnam vet, is a big music fan, hence the appearance of the inspired V. Majestic. Ur Dog and the White Man fill out the lineup. Call 438-8584.

On Friday, the 305 Club presents Routine 8, Sulfer, Train of Thought, and Premonition. The cover is $5 for the 21-plus show. Routine 8 just lost founding member/drummer Leo and are currently seeking a replacement. Visit routine8 band.tripod.com for further info. If you’re quick and good, perhaps you’ll sign up in time for their gig next weekend at the New Wave CafŽ inNew Bedford with Torn and Hyper Solid.

There’s a big show at the Met CafŽ on Saturday, with Gail Greenwood’s Benny Sizzler wackos joining forces with the Haymakers (now on the Catamount label) and the always entertaining Ellison opening. Haymakers fans can look forward to a CD release party next month (7/26) at the Living Room. Helping them celebrate the release of their disc, Why Can’t We Have Nice Things, will be Sasquatch & the Sick-a-Billys and the Young Ones. Yowza.

And speaking of Sasquatch, I owe them an apology for misquoting main man Dave Caetano in my piece on the band for the BMP. I wrote that the band had been together for 10 years when in fact the Sick-a-Billys have only been in existence for two years. Caetano himself has been on the scene for a decade. Sorry!

E-mail me with your music news at big.daddy1@cox.net