It's cozy, really, this local music scene of ours. Friends support friends at
shows, hang out and drink a few beers, and make a place look filled up from the
stage. It's the buddy system, when a few quick phone calls can make a gig
respectable on a Monday or Tuesday night when virtually nothing is happening.
But that same buddy system bites you in the ass sometimes, too. It'd be nice
once in a while to see a sea of unfamiliar faces in the audience. It'd be nice
to know that you can fill a place based solely on reputation, that your groove
goes a long way in drawing a crowd that doesn't consist at least in part of
friends and family. Of course, you get that when you leave town, but it's rare
downtown. Then again, it's not such a bad thing, having friends around to drink
a beer with after the post-gig adrenaline rush subsides.
A good example -- perhaps the best example this year of the buddy system --
will go down on Saturday at the Living Room when Shed, State of Corruption,
Freakshow, and Slugworth make up a night's worth of blistering rock and roll.
All four bands are at the very core of the Providence rock scene. Because of
that musical responsibility, that proximity, they've propped each other up over
the years, providing the sort of emotional uplift longtime-together ensembles
need from the outside every so often.
Both Slugworth and Freakshow have had lineup upheavals in recent months and
are emerging this weekend as new, invigorated outfits despite the potholes.
Veteran Freakshow bass player Mike Charpentier pulled the plug on his ties to
the band just as Freakshow leader Mike Hamel was plotting a six-week course
across the country this summer. Though the band has been together since 1990,
they've picked it up a notch over the last couple of years. "We're all pushin'
30," says Hamel, "and there's no financial security or anything, so I
understand Mike's situation. There's no bad blood."
With Charpentier gone, Hamel and Freakshow looked "in-house" for another
player. They found monster bass dude Rick Miller. Only thing was, he played for
Slugworth. "Rick wanted to tour," admits Slugworth's Satyr. "Mike Hamel's
driven. He wants to get his music out there. He made that decision.
Fortunately, the transfer has been smooth."
Though the pillage could be seen by some as antagonistic, Satyr and Hamel
remain close. "As long as people and bands on the scene are making decisions
based on progress and foresight and promoting good attitudes to keep the scene
as healthy as possible," says Satyr, "I've got no problem with it. There's no
conflict here. We confront things head-on and move past it."
While Freakshow got an undeniable jolt from their new addition, Satyr, who
lost his drummer as well as Miller on bass, also feels rejuvenated by the
reshuffling. Nine days after the break-up, he had locked down Miller's
replacement. "I had amazing good luck," he says. "Jay Quinn, who had been
playing with Mike Hamel in Hamel's project Seeing Stars, was finishing up with
school. Everyone wanted him and he's an incredible player. The amazing thing
is, he loves the music."
Shortly after that, Satyr tracked down Scott Hamel. "He came over to play and
was super-professional and great on the beat, one of his strongest points. His
timing and energy are amazing. He really delivered." And the kicker? Scott
played with Jay in Seeing Stars, so they know each other as a rhythm section.
Now, both Freakshow and Slugworth, fully rearranged and, oddly, slightly
interchangeable, are set to run. In fact, when I caught up with Mike Hamel,
they had already cut a three-song demo with Joe Moody and had just played their
first show with Miller on bass -- in New Jersey. "We wanted to break him in out
of town," says Hamel, adding that the band played CBGB's last Tuesday (the
23rd) with Grüvis Malt in the coveted 11 p.m. time slot. "We're ready to
go," says Hamel. "This is such a tease, actually. I don't wanna go home from
here. I want to get started on this tour!"
For Hamel, home is a place that's almost happening, but not quite. "it takes a
spark for things to happen in Providence, but there are no bands in town
creating one. It's a comfort zone there. It's fairly easy to get a following,
but there are no labels coming to scout the scene. And bands that have success
don't seem to do anyone any favors. And that's what it takes, a little bit of
something like that."
Satyr, meanwhile, has set his sights a little closer to home. He did the very
unrock and roll thing by buying a house (though it's got a big garage . . .) a
short drive outside the city. It's clear that while he has his own plans for
world domination, he's taking a slightly different approach than the
road-hungry Hamel gang. Satyr seems to be taking his career one step at a time.
For now, he's looking forward to the last few shows with Miller on bass,
including the gig at the Living Room, which he pulled together himself.
"This is phenomenal to have all these bands on the same bill," he says, with
characteristic enthusiasm. "It'll be our last show with Rick and Dave in the
band, and we're going to be introducing Jay and Scott, too." Freakshow will be
rolling with Miller, though it's not certain whether Charpentier will be making
the scene for his final curtain call.
What is certain is that the show at the Living Room finds both
Freakshow and Slugworth ending -- and beginning -- an era. Like a bum that
stumbled on a bar of soap and a clean change of clothes, both bands are
freshened up with new energy and attitudes. And, hell, they even smell good
now.
"The change brings out the best in everybody," says Mike Hamel. "We don't even
have to turn the radio on in the van anymore."
And Satyr concurs: "This weekend is the culmination of a lot of weirdness, but
I think everyone will be coming out ahead."
CASTING CALL. A couple of years ago, up-and-coming local filmmaker Brett
Davey made a flick called Bigger Than the Man. Well, he's doing another
movie this summer and he's putting out a call for talent. The casting call is
on Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Nights Dinner Theater (27
Exchange Street, Pawtucket). For more information, e-mail john@devlomedia.
Actors just have to show up for the call, although they're still encouraged to
e-mail or mail their resumes and headshots. The film needs a female
African-American actress between 25 and 35 for the lead role as well as male
African-American actors between 30 and 45. If you don't qualify, don't sweat.
There will be a number of other roles of varying ages and races.
WANDERING EYE. Carley's Venue Bar & Grille on High Street in
Westerly is run by local musician and studio guy Tom Carley. It's the first
place down in Westerly (aside from the unholy beach bars) that has had designs
on booking original live music. This Friday (the 26th), Cosmic Java
rocks out, and on Saturday it's Catch-22. Call Steve Maciel or Tom
Carley at 348-6477.
On Saturday, singer-songwriter and 1 of 52 Artist Hunger Network member
Joyce Katzberg will perform at the Stone Soup Coffeehouse's annual May
Day concert. The 8 p.m. show is a benefit for Rhode Island Community Food Bank
and the 1 of 52 Artist Hunger Network.
A dubious tribute welcomes spring to the Safari Lounge, also on Saturday,
though this one won't be interesting to the frat boys hanging at the Creed
cover band gig. The venue will host "Renewed Hope for the Wretched,"
Providence's own tribute to none other than Wendy O. and the Plasmatics.
WOW (featuring the Midnight Creeps), the Doosh Bags, Gout
32, and Jay Allen will all do their best chainsaw and shaving cream
stunts (we hope), with WOW hitting the stage this night and this night only for
a whole set of Wendy O. covers. "Butcher Baby," anyone?
E-mail me with music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.
E-mail me with music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.
Issue Date: April 26 - May 2, 2002
