Catching a Buzz(play) Four area bands vie for national bragging rights BY BOB GULLA

The folks over at Buzzplay are nothing if not absolutely smitten with the rock music coming out of southern New England these days. The LA-based site, an independent A&R and music promotion service that also does some booking, publicity, and artist management/development, has redoubled its efforts in our area and its charts reflect that effort. Recently, the site has championed Zox, Transparent, and Monty’s Fan Club. M-80 was the winner of last year’s Best Unsigned Band Search, and landed some dates on the 2003 Warped Tour at least in part because of their association with the site.

Well, this year Buzzplay’s Best Unsigned Band Search continues mining area talent. On Friday (the 26th), the site will host a showcase at the Green Room. On the bill are prominent Buzzplay bands the StereoBirds, Illustrious Day, and Audiocentrix (formerly Sonnet), along with a Boston band called the States.

The Birds and ID are both finalists in the site’s talent hunt, as are Transparent and Monty’s Fan Club, which is a damn good percentage of finalists when the list is limited to 10 nationally. "We represent all types of music, as long as it’s good and original," explains LJ, the site’s owner. "We look for bands that we think have something to offer to a national audience."

If this is true — at least according to a guy who can observe us all the way from LA — and he sees all kinds of talent springing forth from this area, that means we have some sort of scene on our hands. Head to buzzplay.com for more on the BUBS, and snookersgreenroom.com for details on Friday’s show.

V for VROOM! You can’t keep a brainy musician down is what I always say. Case in point, Michelle M., one of two women behind the musical megalomania V for Vendetta. While Cara, the other half of V4V, remains at school full-time, there’s a new project she’s calling the Triple M Threat. "The Triple M Threat’s music is similar to V4V in that it is still complex and mathy," says Michelle, "but I think there’s more melody. I’ll be playing with a drummer, Keith Souza (Hya Kcha), and a bass player while I handle guitar, keyboards, and sing."

The band will be at the Living Room on Wednesday (the 31st) with King Cobra (with Rachel Carns of the Need and Tara Jane O’Neil of Rodan/ Retsin), Tiny Hawks, and the Butcherings. The all-ages show starts at 8.

BADTASTe. Perhaps you caught this item on the nightly news. The Italian label Horizon-Italy — most likely a bootlegger, given that country’s lax copyright laws — recently released an unapproved album of repackaged cover songs by Great White. As if an unauthorized release weren’t transgression enough, the label decided to name the disc after GW’s take on X’s "Burning House of Love." Band reps got on the case quick. "This album is not approved by Great White. Rather the band condemns this release and asks all fans and friends to not purchase this album. They feel that the label is insensitive to the victims of the fire and are trying to capitalize on a tragic situation. The band and their attorneys are working on stopping this release, as it is being sold under the Great White name without its permission. Great White wants to apologize for any discomfort this may have caused, as they found out about this release much the same way as the fans — via the Internet. It was of great shock to the GW camp."

Wandering Eye. There’s a Songwriters Showcase at the super-cool Castle Cinema tonight (Thursday, the 25th) featuring Lori Amey, Ryan Fitzsimmons, and JJ Baron. It begins at 9 p.m. and costs $5 to get in. You probably already know the busy Fitzsimmons. Amey is fast-rising on the scene, earning notoriety for her unique singing and songwriting. And Baron is a gifted 21-year-old songwriter born and raised on local feed who has been performing original compositions since 1996. An accomplished guitar player, his writing has a traditional feel.

Smokestack Lightnin’ hits the Rhino Bar in Newport on Friday (the 26th). Check it out if you’re in the mood for some bluesy swing. Tell that big Swede Nino we say, "Hi." On Saturday (the 27th), another excellent show goes down at Jake’s. This week, it’s Stumbleweeds, Triple Hex (singer/guitarist Dave Tudi lived in Newport for a couple years in the ’90s and second guitarist Mark Rubenstein lived in Providence in the late ’80s), and Fashion Failures.

It’s that time of the month again — the next installment of "Your Roots Are Showing" goes down at AS220 on Friday at 9 p.m., and the cover is only $6. Hosted by Lucky 57 and sponsored by Soniccord Amps of Pawtucket, this month the theme focuses on the babes of roots-rock: "Girl Twang Thang." Elena Skye & Boo Reiners of the Demolition String Band, Sara Cox & Band, and Sarah Borges will all get down in a rootsy alternative way.

Speaking of roots, Eric Fontana is starting to find some of his own. Nashville’s Catamount Records has included his song "Don’t" (from his Hats and Shoes disc) on their new Hot Unsigned Artists of Americana compilation. Also, Fontana has secured digital distribution for his album with seven companies; it’s now available at Rhapsody, BuyMusic, iTunes, MusicNet, E Music, MusicMatch and AudioLunchbox.

Local heroes Dave Howard and the High Rollers have some big news to report. The band’s new CD is done and should be out within a month or so. Recorded at Danger Multitrack, it features 10 tunes, eight of them originals, along with loads of special guests, including Gordon Beadle, Steve Burke, Mark Taber, and Thom Enright, all of whom make this project really shine. In additional and partially related news, High Roller guitarist Tom Ferraro, with bassist Jeff Burge (Ryan Hart) and Joey Sullivan (Roger Ceresi), are hosting a blues jam at the Catfish Grille on West Shore Road in Warwick on Monday nights from 7:30 to 11. The first few weeks have been cranking, so try it out on one of these lazy Monday nights. You don’t have to bring your guitar, but I don’t see how it would hurt.

If jams are your thing, but you’d rather watch from the wings, the Coffee Depot in Warren will present a Music In the Round session hosted by Little Compton dude Gary Fish. He’s invited a number of his talented friends, including Allysen Callery, Betty Casazza, Frank Steven Silva, and Don Hammontree to help him out and impress the folk folks. The show runs from 4 to 7 p.m. There’s no cover and you can find the place at 501 Main Street.

E-mail me with your music news at big.daddy1@cox.net