May flowers

Purple Ivy Shadows, Medicine Ball, more

by Michael Caito

Purple Ivy Shadows are proud new owners of a recording contract with Slow River/Ryko. Their set at the Met last week showcased the Shadows' (no acronyms, please) introspective appeal, with extensive use of fuzzy, whirling guitars which occasionally slid into hard-hitting power chords. An extremely schizophrenic band for a long time, they seem to have found their stride (and their rhythm section), and though never quite as interesting as Medicine Ball (read on), they have been tenacious at making things happen beneath all the sonic wooziness, and it's obviously done well for them. Chris Daltry and Erik Carlson have some unique musical ideas, and that was the first time (in about four) that I've enjoyed the entire set. Varnaline's was one of those sets that's gonna make me harangue every rock drummer I see for the next six months. Jud Ehrbar was out of his mind, swinging out, dropping beats at perfect times, hitting hard, sneaking tricky fills past you faster than a one-liner from a Kevin Smith flick. Anders Parker, singer/guitarist, seemed to be having an off night, but his brother John (bass) and Ehrbar more than compensated. Wicked. What a drummer. Go get their new record on Zero Hour.

Freedy Johnston: Live at Lupo's

Yeah, I enjoy Freedy more with a rhythm section, but ya know, there's no way this guy can do wrong. Performing as a duo with an electric guitarist/singer, it's obvious quickly that Johnston is one brilliant songwriter. Yes, brilliant. His insights are keen, his self-importance nil, his vocal work positively Everly-esque over gentle, yet effective open chording. Tales of loss, longing, spiritual renewal and hard lessons learned are the bailiwick of many a songwriter besides Freedy; marrying a highly-personalized stamp of believability and a gorgeous sound is Johnston's calling card. His cover of the Jimmy Webb classic "Wichita Lineman" (popularized by Glen Campbell) was magic, and for the umpteenth time, will someone please explain to me why radio has so completely missed the boat on this guy? It's not that he doesn't fit any format -- it's the fact that he fits 'em all. Live he is profound, as we've come to expect, rhythm section or not.

Medicine Ball: Live at the Met

Jim Draper from Rogue/Renegade Gallery, a large fan, recently said he loved the way Evan Williams and Don Sanders play their guitars, and this night was exhibit A. The ways they work off each other with melody and countermelody alone should make the quartet mandatory listening for any forward-thinking band with two gits. The longstanding beef with their lack of a strong vocal presence is rapidly becoming a moot point, as Sanders and bassist Mark Stone have shown marked improvement there, and drummer Bruce Moravec keeps all the action moving forward. Have you heard their Planet Freakout yet?

STARS & BARS. Right after the free Chess with Eric, Indigo Jazz Ensemble hit AS220 Saturday with Stone Soup and Filo Beto opening. Also this weekend, Olympia's Irving Klaw Trio arrive with Laurels at Rogue. Jeff Rosenberg, and not Laurels' Jeff Toste, is the guy responsible for constructing this adventurous bill, and Rosenberg's band is also playing. Toste mentioned that Laurels' new guitarist Eric Park is working out well. Songwriting duties, until now solely the responsibility of singer/bassist Toste, are now more collaborative, and Jeff for one is happy about that. His Heparin label is getting ready to release the full-length debut of Providence's Arab on Radar. If that band's previous output is any indication, this shapes up to be a powerful, edgy record. In bluesland, Dave Howard & the High Rollers have also completed their new CD, consisting of mostly original songs. Release should be in the next coupla months, but this impressive live band (LaBelle/Earnshaw/Howard/Ferraro) is playing all over all summer, so ask them yourselves. If it's Chicago Vin, ask nicely . . . Al Copley, who relocated to Europe after leaving Roomful of Blues, the band he co-founded with Duke Robillard, is back in town this weekend. He doesn't play these parts too often (last time was '94), and his boogie-woogie vamp is revered by everyone from lean Texan Marcia Ball to lean West Warwickian K. Munslow. Jams with Roomful at Lupo's?Probably. Roomful's latest has been at #1 in the last two issues of Living Blues. Over at Stone Soup, the annual visit by Cheryl Wheeler is sure to be crowded, so arrive early. 1995's Mrs. Pinocci's Guitar (Philo) keeps getting better with each listen. Ferinstance there's "Makes Good Sense To Me": "I'm tired of all those PC liberals, tired of the fuss they've made/Every time some family man's called a spade a spade/Clutter our TVs, clutter our courts/Every time some dame gets a poke in the shorts."What sarcasm?

The Music School has joined forces with the congregations of Temple Beth El, Beneficent Church and First Unitarian Church for a new program which brings back the Community Sing. Led by folk artist Marcia Taylor, the Sing is asking people to bring along only their enthusiasm, as no formal experience is required. Families are encouraged to bring the kids ($4 per person with a family cap of $10). The next Sing is Wednesday at 7 at the First Unitarian (12 Benevolent, side of East); the program's finale is booked for the Music School (101 Sessions, side of East) on June 18.

MAYBE SOMEDAY I'LL WAKE UP. There is a difference between the bands Edsel and Edison. Mangled in Nightswimming a few weeks back. Chunked it, sorry.

REDFEARN RISING. Alec K. Redfearn, founding member of the Amoebic Ensemble, is working on several projects. The Eyesores feature he, Mark Pedini and Matt Everett doing what Al termed "deranged pop," while that trio are augmented by a guitarist (Adam) for the instrumental rock quartet Mount Everett. Both bands have upcoming shows at AS220. The Pan Twilight Circus opens on June 13 (stops include India Point, Woonsocket, New Bedford, Cambridge, Wickford, Hopkinton) and the Pan Twilight Band includes several members of the Amoebic Ensemble plus Amoeb alum Gerry Heroux, usually found on French horn with VMajestic. Speaking of the Amoebics, their follow-up to Limbic Rage, titled Amoebiasis is done. The 10 tracks include the Repopulation Program (Load) compilation track "Lay Down In the Road" produced by Joe Auger of QORQ; the rest were recorded by TBuck at Millrat. Steven Jobe of the Amoebics, fresh off his Jeanne d'Arc opera reprisal, composed the Circus music. The release date for Amoebiasis hasn't been set yet.

Joe Moody's Danger Studios hits a homer, featuring Lee Fortier's harmonica work on Turn It Up (Fine As Wine). Covers of Willie Dixon, Duke Ellington, Tom Waits, Charlie Musselwhite, Ry Cooder, Sonny Boy Williamson, Chuck Berry, Jimmy Liggins and more. The record sounds great, and though Fortier's not gonna make people instantly forget Sugar Ray Norcia or Chris Turner or Dave Howard on harp, there are some gems on Turn It Up.

POST-CHRISTMAS VORTEX. Try to catch these two at the Met: Yo La Tengo, including former Christmas bassist James McNew, play on Wednesday, and Combustible Edison, featuring two other alums, the Millionaire and Lily Banquette, arrive on the last day of May.

BEST MUSIC POLL. Thanks to all who cast votes. Once again we were buried in ballots, and now that we know who won, we'll attempt to chat with everyone for next week. A few categories were extremely tight, with fewer than two dozen ballots separating the top two finishers. So we tallied those thrice. In about six more months the black ink smudges will fade, I guess. Again, thanks to fans for taking the time.