Seeking the truth Davies and Auchenbach conspire on a new disc BY BOB GULLA

Back in the early ’90s, Richard Davies had a band called the Moles. Formed in Sydney, they moved to New York briefly, then on to London, where they experienced critical acclaim but virtually no commercial success. After splitting, Davies connected with Seattle-based hipster Eric Matthews in the highbrow, Pet Sounds-infatuated duo Cardinal, a project that was as influential and as critically acclaimed as any in the ’90s. But restlessness struck both parties and Davies soon made his way East.

Davies hooked up with the Providence-based Flydaddy label and began work as a solo artist. He released a few albums, including the excellent There’s Never Been a Crowd Like This and ’98’s Telegraph. But rock didn’t do the trick, even as a solo artist, and after years of bohemian rhapsody, Davies decided to go conventional. He enrolled in law school.

But an advanced degree doesn’t take the rock ’n’ roll out of a man, and Davies continued to record. In fact, this brings us to the reason why you’re reading about Davies right now. Not only has he just released a new Moles compilation, On the Street, on the local Wishing Tree label, he also has a cut coming out on the new Amos House compilation, which is due November 18. And Davies is recording his new album in Providence with local producer and music guru Dave Auchenbach.

" It’s interesting to note that Dave was an art school person, " says Davies quietly, after putting his new baby to bed in his home on the Cape. " He still knows painters, and it’s a very useful aspect of the way we work. Oftentimes the engineer would be a pure technician and simply record the songs I do. But with Dave it’s more a partnership in terms of thinking about the songs while we’re recording. "

The new Davies disc, tentatively titled Tonight’s Music, isn’t due till spring, but he’s busy working on material as we speak. Or is he? " We spend a lot of time talking as opposed to making music, " says Davies. " The synthesis of conversation is a really important thing. This is gonna be a long, enjoyable process because it’s not really a mathematical thing. It’s a more impressionistic way of making a record. It really suits me. My experience is the making of it. "

I’ve personally had the pleasure of watching Davies in the studio and he’s a genuinely methodical and thoughtful artist, weighing decisions carefully but also trusting his instinct (the name, incidentally, of a 1994 Moles album).

" This is a totally different time frame for me as well, " says Davies, who doesn’t feel any pressure to release the new album. " I knew it would take a while, rather than be in any kind of a hurry to get it out. "

But Davies’s interpretation of the new album, the sound and feel he’d like to capture, keeps changing. There’s only one thread. " The theme for me is to try to have some truth. I don’t know how that sounds, but I’ve made a bunch of records and I know a bunch of different methods. There’s a chance of hitting the bull’s-eye with the truth as opposed to just brushing by it. "

FREAK NO MORE. This past summer, Mike Hamel and Freakshow bit the bullet and moved from Providence to Los Angeles. I got a call from Mike a few days ago; he was eager to report on the band’s progress.

" Everyone’s working right now while the band gets up to speed, " he says, adding that he’s laboring at a bike shop. " We’re rehearsing at a place on Hollywood Boulevard and writing a lot of new stuff. It’s stupid the amount of people we’ve met and the connections we’re making have been incredible. " He namedrops a few.

Still, not everything has gone smoothly for the band. A week and a half into the move, they lost their longtime drummer Johnny. He had only played two shows with the band on the far coast before he decided to toss in the towel. The move wasn’t right for him, apparently. " Johnny was a great drummer, " says Mike. " It was a really bad day when he said he had to go. He really dropped a bomb on us. " Johnny’s departure immediately yanked the band off the gig circuit. They’ve since found a new drummer, a kid from Jersey who has added extra bounce to the band, which everyone is excited about. " He brings a lot to the mix, " says Mike. " Don’t get me wrong, Johnny was a great drummer. But it’s different now. It feels extra great. "

So Freakshow has rebounded — to the point where they’ve actually decided to change their name. After a decade plus run as Freakshow, they’re now known as Ruin the Ending. " It’s not like we have a huge following in Texas or anywhere, so we’re promoting the name like we’re new. We’re getting fliers done up. I feel like I’m 19 again just joining a band. "

If anyone’s headed out to LA over the next few months, you can catch Freakshow . . . er, Ruin the Ending when they play their first shows since Johnny’s departure. " We’ll be playing Monday nights at the Garage for a month, " says Mike. " The people who saw us when Johnny was with us told us that we were just what the scene needed, you know? " says Mike. " So hopefully we’ll be received in a bigger and better way beginning in November. "

And, if you want another reason to go to LA, rumor has it that Donnybrook is out there somewhere . . .

METAL MEN. Billy Sargent, guitarist for the newish band Makeshyft, announces a busy October slate. The band plays original metal, influenced by folks like Metallica, Slayer, and Pantera. The lineup includes Sargent, guitarist Jake Marks, drummer Derek Brassaur, bassist Kevin Nunes, and singer Joey Froias. They’ll play this Friday (the 17th) at the 305 Club in East Providence, on Sunday (the 19th) at the Living Room, and again next Saturday (the 25th) at the 305 Club.

WANDERING EYE. The StereoBirds are proud to announce their 3rd Annual Halloween Hometown Bash. It happens on Friday (the 17th) at the Call. In keeping with the eve’s spirit, prizes will be doled out for best costume. It also features a sweet bill including the ’Birds, Camellia, and Bi Janus, veteran bands who haven’t shared a stage in more than three years, plus 44-Wreck and Boston’s the Halogens.

Sh-Na-Na’s on Airport Road in Warwick (732-4737) features Tommy Coma, Room with A View, and Infinity Clip on Friday.

Friday is a big night in Cumberland: Rebecca Nurse plays at the Blackstone with Huck & Gutta. Call 726-2181 for more info. And the Rhode Island Songwriters Association is staging its highly anticipated showcase at the Blackstone River Theater (549 Broad Street). It’s titled " An Evening of Ocean State Songwriters v.2 " and it will run from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Admission is $10, and you can check it at www.riverfolk.org . The night will feature two " rounds " of four songwriters taking turns performing both solo and backing each other with guitar or vocals. Proceeds from the evening benefit RISA, Hear In Rhode Island, and the BRT, all certified non-profit organizations. Performers include Mary Day of Coventry, Joanne Lurgio of Warwick, Jan Luby of Pascoag, Ryan Fitzsimmons of Providence, Bill Furney of Warwick, Dan Lilley of East Providence, Frank Steven Silva of Portsmouth and Marjorie Thompson of Providence.

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