Grüvis in the heart

Rock Hunt redux, Trusty benefit, and more

by Michael Caito

Grüvis Malt

By the time you read this the '98 WBRU Rock Hunt will be over but hearing the 12 semifinalists was fun and Ihope theykeep doing it. Mad loot involved and a fortnight of giving on-air plugs and props to (mostly) deserving bands? Sign me up. Round III of the Semis at the Century Lounge started with New Bedford's Satellite Elvis, a pop quartet championed by Head Chunk Records founder Dave Deschenes, who's working on release of their second CD. Dave's more well-known as Holy Cow's bassist/booking agent. Unfortunately, Satellite Elvis may keep it that way for a while more, as their songs lacked coloring and stage presence was minimal. Coupla ditties had nice hooks and the lead singer/ rhythm guitarist has an enviable supply of Rickenbackers (you know how jealous I get), but the crisp and the clean failed to overtake the bland. Sounded product-y. Freakshow and Grüvis Malt -- bands always very friendly with each other -- merited more congrats, though their sounds couldn't be more different. Over the past eight (count 'em) years Providence's Freakshow quintet have dabbled frequently in hard, metal-y funk a la Fishbone. Now they're more confident changing moods, given the growth in their ever-improving instrumentalists. Their guitarist especially -- one of the more expressive rockers around -- is stylistically elusive, hammering like Black Flag meets Korn then striding purposefully into the Smashing Pumpkins camp. No copycatting either. Zero. Singers Mike Hamel and Jason Reddington go like this: Reddington screams ferociously (a bit like Rollins) and Hamel mines the vein of their more-discernable, more-melodic lyrics. If you own their Obnoxious Buildup from '96 you know Freakshow's intelligent observations mix with bawdiness well. Reddington subsequently brought some of his wordsmithying into the spoken word realm, as he was spotted opening the occasional rock event with poetic offerings. Point being, you can understand very few of the words he's bellowing in Freakshow, but like Holy Cow singer Chris Means' ideas, there are numerous rewards if you corner them on record. Overall, a torcher set, enough to "defeat" pals Grüvis Malt, which didn't happen. But then, as I heard Hamel say outside afterwards, "It isn't about competition." Many mouth the words, but Hamel and Co. back it up. Their inflammatory passion ruled the day. Freakshow have trimmed all the fat, finding a leaner, more focused sound, and they now zing. They open AS220's week-long Fool's Ball festivities Sunday at the Space right after Pork Chop Lounge. Fellow Finalists The Agents bookend Fool's Ball antics a week later on Saturday the 4th. Check 'em out.

The Cranston teens (plus a Seattle-bred bassist) of Grüvis Malt are heavily into the 311 vibe, which is fine, and their lead singer has a passable handle on rap. Their hip-hop and funk was soaked up by the many appreciative fans obviously out to hear them. (Note:all four headliners won, so I guess it may be like one acquaintance mentioned late Thursday: if you're going to win, you'll have to truly demolish the favored headliner in an upset.) This sextet have a new self-titled four-song tape just out on their own label (Solid Pimps Inc.), and can boast justifiably of an infectious sound on that, too. If you're down with the Malt flavor -- if you've got Grüvis in the heart -- you're hooked. Despite their relative youth they manage fluidity and suppleness (mandatory for hip-hop) and are not at all uptight. Some might call it hip-hop Hanson, but that's harsh. If they stick it out they'll arrive. Soon. They're already close.

Second Hand Novas were the first of two pop bands on in Round IV, and after the ensuing Tripod Cats set I wanted to cut 'n' paste the three Novas as lead Cat Ray Memery's backing band. Individually, the Nova moments were too sporadic, with nifty ear candy too often preceded and followed by trite pop progressions. D.O.A.. I'm so jonesin' for a Velvet Crush set. Tripod Cats began and ended with Memery, the former Groundhawg seeing his first frontline duty. Several noteworthy tunes reminded me of Schemers-era git-rock by Mark Cutler, but Memery may as well have been up there solo. Much potential due to the songwriting. Headliners the L.U.V.'s lit up the night sky with their Pistols 'n' Iggy-inspired, stripped-down punk/ glam rock, all wagging tongues, lamé and mascara and a go-go dancing accomplice. They were hilarious and surprisingly tight, though I bounced a little early given that they were easily gonna win. Given the day of the week of the Finals, deadlines preclude covering too many eight-day-old shows. Hope you heard at least some of it.

Good move reviving this event. An even better move would be adding bands in regular rotation sans the "local" tag. Maybe throwing some proceeds towards R.I.T.A.'s or some other deserving place. We won't perish with less Third Eye Blind, and over the course of twelve sets I heard at least that many radio-worthy numbers. Or, WRIUand WSMUcan continue to kick 'BRU's behinds on that front.

STARS AND BARS. Speaking of which, we're in the middle of WRIU's annual Radiothon fund-raising week. Once a year they ask us to dip for the cause of quality through independent music. Listen to the reality of corporations who own dozens of stations apiece. Point? Each year progressively fewer decision-makers have final say over what we all hear. Though the recent finalization of a deal bringing NPR here is great, it'll crash if its fans fail to support it fiscally.

Profanity alert: I'm one fucking clown with a screaming Macintosh and a highly tolerant editor (who didn't even break my balls about the Stanford game). My opinion don't mean shit, even though I'd walk 10,000 miles to kick Stern's ass. (This concludes profanity alert.) Music fans can control their own pleasures, still. They can recognize and applaud quality. Just as it should be. This week 'RIU asks for something back for the continued excellence offered by the numerous unpaid DJs beholden to no one and nothing except good music. 90.3 FM. Once a year. By the way, was anyone out there entertained at all by State U. this past fortnight? A few thrills? A little fun? 1-800-299-WRIU.

Stone Soup is open Friday for a special show to benefit c-word-stricken folk singer/songwriter Kim Trusty. Appearances include a reunion of Fuzek-Rossoni plus Ed Sweeney, Jerald Harscher, JP Jones, Folks Together and Dean Petrella. Monday at the Soup, Girls Night Out features top storytellers Ramona Bass, Carolyn Martino, Marilyn Murphy Meardon, Joan Bailey and Sparky Davis. Tunes by Fourth Street Strings' Mary King and Cathy Clasper-Torch, all hosted by Pam Steager.

AROUND. Behind the new Skylolo (Potters Field), Mark Cutler hits the Century Lounge Saturday with Delta Clutch, who themselves celebrate the return of prodigal bassist/ singer/saxophonist Aaron Burr. Grrreat news, quality double-header. The Fools Ball jazz event Tuesday at AS220 features guests Take Toriyama (d), George Garzone (tenor sax), Mick Goodrick (g) plus the house band of Hal Crook, Bob Gullotti and Rick Peckham. The Ball goes on all week. Vets hosts a Beavertail Productions program featuring one of the world's most celebrated mezzo-sopranos, Frederica von Stade, on the 30th. Ears open for opera at Vets in the not-quite-here-yet springtime . . . .