There was a time not so long ago, when one of the best places in the state to
hear the blues was, of all places, down in South County, in Westerly. I know
'cuz I grew up there, but lots and lots of local music fans in the southern tip
of the state came to a firm understanding of the blues during the '70s and
early '80s. It's an understanding many still have today. While out-of-towners
from across the CT border came to the beach bars to hear greasy cover and
big-haired tribute bands, lots of Westerly natives were swinging their asses
off at the Knickerbocker to Roomful of Blues and Eight to the Bar. It kept the
Top 40 radio uglies at bay, at least, and made for great nights filled with
sweaty blues, tasty Tanqueray and tonics, and amazing dance gymnastics. This is
all a roundabout way of introducing the upcoming Blues On the Beach series
happening this summer in Westerly.
Sponsored by the town and taking place at the Westerly Town Beach Pavilion on
Atlantic Avenue, Blues On the Beach is a free and swinging Wednesday night
concert series featuring a who's who of local blues royalty. All shows start at
6 p.m. Here's the schedule: On July 10, James Montgomery and Lori Urso play. On
the 17th, you get the Kevin Crandall Band. On the 24th, Johnny Nicholas and
Sugar Ray Norcia and the Bluetones hit the stage. Rounding out July, on the
31st, is Al Copley and Prophet Motive. Johnny and the East Coast Rockers wrap
up the series on August 7. In the event of rain, shows will move to the
Westerly High School, which isn't nearly as cool, so pray for rays. Blues On
the Beach, blues and the beach -- as natural a combination down in Westerly as
sun and fun. Or maybe beer and pretzels. Or better still, sausage and potatoes.
Check it out. Listen to Swing 99.3 for updates as well -- that's a cool blues/
swing station you may not have heard yet.
LOCALS AT THE SUNSET MUSIC FESTIVAL. Bill Petterson, Kevin and Gianna
Sullivan, and the Becky Chace Band will represent the Biggest Little at
Newport's Sunset Music Festival down at the Yachting Center on the strip in
Newport. Bill Petterson and Newport yokels the Sullivans get the big-time
opening slots at the Livingston Taylor show this Sunday. Petterson, whose new
album is the all-acoustic Parts and Labor, is a hard-working and proven
talent on the local folk music scene and more than deserving of the slot. In
the past, Bill has shared stages with artists like Emmylou Harris and Jonathan
Edwards, so he's more than prepared to face the unfamiliar and perhaps less
than welcoming audience he'll encounter at the Yachting Center.
We're sure that with songs like those on Parts and Labor, he'll win
over his fair share. The Sullivans don't perform together too often, so
consider it a treat. Kevin is a recording artist with a few CDs under his belt,
the latest of which is Head Over Heels. It should be interesting to hear
the chemistry he has with wife Gianna, who sings and plays the flute. Becky
Chace and her terrific band get a nice opening slot for the Gin Blossoms
tonight (the 3rd). But frankly, it should be the other way around. Gates at all
shows open at 5 p.m., except for the 4th (Taylor Dayne), which is a little
earlier. Partial proceeds will benefit the Rhode Island Autism Project. For
tickets and info, call (401) 846-1600, ext. 229, and/or go to
www.newportfestivals.com/Sunset_Music_Festival, www.billpetterson.com,
sullivanmusic.com, and www.beckychace.com.
ARAB ON RADAR. We're happy to report that there are more amazing things
on the way for Arab on Radar following their coup in the Phoenix/ FNX
Best Music Poll. The noisy boys have gotten their meathooks into a massive
jaunt called Oops the Tour, which takes its name from an old Skin Graft Record
Label fest that happened in the '90s and has now morphed into a post-rock trip
with a life all its own. The lineup consists of some of the most insane
avant-noise rock bands on the planet. The Locust, Providence's own Lightning
Bolt, AoR, and a rotating opening slot with the likes of Mr. Quintron and Miss
Pussycat, Blood Brothers, Cattle Decapitation (perhaps the only time I will get
to write those two words together in a sentence), and many more will share the
limelight. Oddly enough, the tour doesn't stop in Providence, but it does have
a layover at the Palladium in Worcester on July 16. The official tour starts
this Sunday in Chicago and runs every night until August 9, when it finishes in
Hollywood at the Knitting Factory. It's a non-stop extravaganza of white boys
making white noise, of searing distortion pitted against tribal drums, whacked
lyrics and, more often than is natural, pure unadulterated mayhem. This is
music petitioned directly by the devil, which is why good, crazed fun will be
had by all. There's an extensive Web site -- oopsthetour.com -- for any and all
who feel compelled to follow the bands as they zig-zag across the country. It
is, after all, summer and many of us have some free time on our hands. "The
tour is pretty much a who's who of weird music right now," says Jeff of Arab on
Radar. "But it also has this hipster element to it -- ya know, the Sonic Youth
endorsed shit. I know many folks in Providence are hyped about this. It's going
to be rad to see Lightning Bolt play on the floor to a crowd which may be
800-plus. Regardless of the turnout, I feel the show will have some great
music, the kind of music that might be able to pull the rest of music out of a
dark time."
WANDERING EYE. Famed punks from up and down the East Coast will skip the
fireworks and put on a parade of hardcore scree, much better than any marching
band could muster, let alone more lame-ass fireworks. This Friday (the 5th) at
the Met Café, you'll get an all-ages show with the Krays
headlining, the Midnight Creeps and the Sleazies holding up the
local end, plus New York's Rel-X, Dead End Boys, and Alleged
Brick opening. Doors are at 9 p.m.; tickets are a meager $7. For more
information go to www.lupos.com.
Purple Ivy Shadows are having a record release party at the Castle
Cinema on Chalkstone Avenue, which is an awfully strange place for a party of
this sort but, hey, venues being the way they are these days . . . Even though
the event goes down next Thursday, I'm writing now to give you advance notice.
The band has been a Providence indie institution for years -- check out their
White Electric disc of a few years back -- and should command a massive
turnout, given the quality of their output. Next week we'll talk about the
record, field:guide, in more detail. But for now, make plans to be busy
on the 11th.
Issue Date: July 5 - 11, 2002
