Hip-nosis

Lightning Bolt rides the Skies

by Bob Gulla

Lightning Bolt

If you were tuned here two weeks ago, we spent quite a bit of time extolling the virtues of Arab On Radar, one of Providence's oft-recognized creators of ungodly din, who have signed a new noise pact with the Skin Graft label. Well, we continue our casual series on cacophony with a brief discussion (meant to be an interview, but . . .) of Lightning Bolt, another crucial member of the city's much-ballyhooed Providence Freak Rock Explosion.

The Bolt's latest disc, Ride the Skies, on Load Records, is an important entry in the canon of Providence noise rock, following on the heels of records like Six Finger's Severe Exposure and Llhasa Cement Plant's I Am Providence. Though it doesn't groove as much as the former and explore tone like the latter, Ride the Skies delves deeply into hypnotic, trance-based stuff that'll drive you out of your skin if you let it.

Led by Brian Chippendale on guitar and vocals and Brian Gibson on drums, Lightning Bolt makes the kind of music that gives rock and roll a bad name, and that's a good thing. Around since 1995, the band doesn't give a damn about its "appeal." It would rather pummel its listeners like a four-fisted boxer just out of jail, grind eardrums into a bloody pulp with nothing more than an overdriven guitar and Gibson's bizarre drum tracks. On songs like "Saint Jacques" and the vertiginous "Wee Ones Parade," it cares as much about melody as it does about reading music -- which is to say very little. But behind the barrage, there lies an unexpectedly intricate knack for arranging and playing. It's not the kind of improvisational crush you'll find in Derek Bailey's or Jim O'Rourke's work. Instead, it sounds (vaguely) written and rehearsed, with Gibson and Chippendale working together like Dr. Frankenstein and Igor in creating a babbling monstrosity of sound.

Yet while there is some spontaneity involved, the duo can, like the bio says, "turn a riff on a dime into a breakneck turnaround." If you've seen them live lately, you know. If you haven't, Load the label and the band will be throwing their record release party this Saturday, the 24th at the Safari Lounge. The admission is free and you'll also get a chance to check out kindred musical spirits Sightings and Pleasurehorse. The show starts at 10 p.m. and, please folks, don't forget your earplugs.

DAN MORETTI. Rhode Island will be sending a jazz ambassador over to the ancient Russian city of Yaroslavl, not for tourist purposes but to explain why in musical terms jazz is the universal language. Local hero Dan Moretti will be the only American solo jazzer on the bill at Jazz nad Volgoy ("Jazz over the Volga River"), an event which takes place from March 14 to 18. Shure Microphones and Berklee College of Music in Boston have come together to sponsor Moretti, a name with which most Rhode Island fans of the genre are familiar. If not, Moretti, an accomplished sax player, composer, producer, and audio engineer, has performed with artists across the spectrum of music, including Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, the Temptations, Mike Stern, Dave Samuels, Johnny Mathis, Dave Liebman, and the Crusaders, just to name a few. He's also a Boosey & Hawkes artist-clinician and an associate professor in the Contemporary Writing and Production Department at Berklee. The announcement of his jazz journey comes on the heels of a bunch of other Moretti activity, including the national release of his band's fine Once Through set, and the imminent release of the debut disc from the Psychic Horns with fellow jazz impresario John Allmark.

Which brings us to a couple of other points of Moretti interest. The first is that the aforementioned Psychic Horns will celebrate the release of their self-titled effort this Saturday at Jazzmasters on North Main Street. The band, which will undoubtedly provide jazz fans with one of Providence's hotter nights, will include Moretti on sax/flute, Allmark on trumpet, John Wheeler on trombone, Ben Cook on keyboards, Bruce Bartlett on guitar, Bill Miele on bass, and Marty Richards on drums. Jazz Masters can be reached at 351-7282. Lastly, there's a new Wednesday night series starting up at Jake's Bar and Grill on Richmond Street in the sparkling Jewelry District. You missed it last night (Wednesday), but you can catch it next week (the 28th). The room has a cool vibe and the food is awesome. The set runs from 9 to 11:45 p.m., and will feature Moretti's trio, with Paul DelNero on bass and Marty Richards on drums. For more info, visit Dan's website: www.Dan Moretti.com

SURFRIDER.ORG. The "Tides of March" will have an open mike coffeehouse on March 10, 2001 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Canonchet Club on Ocean Road in Narragansett. The night will benefit the Rhode Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and also feature a silent auction. Admission is $10 ($5 for performers) and includes coffee, tea, soft drinks, and a Full Moon dessert buffet. Visit the chapter's website at www.surfrider.org/rhodeisland. Limited open mike spots are still available, so call 323-8507 to sign up. The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research, and education.

WANDERING EYE. This Saturday (the 24th), Entrain will record their show at Jokers in New Bedford for possible inclusion on their next CD. It'll be the first in a series of live recordings over the next several months. The band has toured relentlessly and is ready to take a shot at layin' down a live one. Additionally, props to the band for placing several cuts from their last disc, All One, on the USA Network movie Cutaway. Call EncorEntertainment at (508) 993-1999 for further details.

This Friday, Serena Andrews, Spogga, and Kelly Walsh will provide a solid night of songwriter entertainment at the Bush Gallery (212 Weybosset St, Providence). Admission is $6 and the show starts at 9. It's all ages and BYOB. On Saturday, ellison, whose members include Rob Anastasi, Bill Paukert, and Jeremy Withers, will be playing a free show at the Green Room with Delta Clutch and Boston pop freaks Blue. Ellison hits the stage around 9:45.

E-mail me at b_gulla@yahoo.comb_gulla@yahoo.com.