On the verge M-80 are ready for their close-up with the release of American Road BY BOB GULLA

Oddly, rock and roll often imitates life. Not, of course, in terms of the whole sex, drugs, and self-indulgence thing, but the vicissitudes, the wide swings of good news and bad news. In life, unless you cocoon like GDub, one sees curveballs pretty much every day. Just when things are going along smoothly and you shift into a higher gear, there’s a fast-approaching bend in the road forcing you off course. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, a ray of light cuts through the darkness.

It’s the same with being in a band. One night you’re U2, with adoring fans who lavish you with top-shelf drinks. The next, you’re waiting to see if another two or three of your pals will come through the door to help fill the room. Some days on the phone you can’t seem to reach a label or venue that even remotely cares enough about your band or your mission. Other days, a modicum of positive press, a returned phone call, or a personal note about a demo keeps the hope alive.

In that respect, M-80 is no different than any other band trying to make things happen. Together six years now, the trio has reached some high notes and had to weather a few low ones. A major beer company sponsorship, a plumb national tour, and a few well-received records have offset the difficulties: the lineup changes, the gig ruts, the dead ends. The difference, however, is that M-80 — Brian Bacon, Jeff Hanks, and Jonny Safford — has persevered and stuck it out with a conviction deep enough to keep it all moving forward.

"The fact is," says drummer Bacon, "that being in the music business isn’t what everybody thinks it is." We hear musicians say that so often it’s become something of a cliché. Then again, clichés are based on truths. "We’ve been together for six years and this is our fourth album. With each album we get a little more well-known, and we put ourselves in a position for something great to happen. But if it doesn’t, we’re used to that, too."

M-80’s new album, American Road, has put the band in a position to make something great happen. Recorded at the Machines with Magnets studio in East Providence with Mike Viele and Keith Sousa, it’s the punks’ best effort yet, with top-notch songs, more skilled performances, and just enough spice to send it over the top. "Out of all the M-80 [discs]," says Bacon, "this is the one I think that’s most entertaining to listen to. The songs are more technical, there’s more going on. The playing’s better on it. When we were laying it down, we were thinking, ‘Damn, this is gonna be really good!’ "

Put down in two days over one weekend this past April, American Road is a blast of punk fury that melds the melodic sense of some of the better pop-punkers with the energy and aggressive arm-twisting of old school acts. Longtime fans will see this as the culmination of six years of practice, dedication, and a downright sexual appreciation for the artform. Despite its inherent drawbacks, M-80 is unflinching in its mission: to keep the punk flag flyin’.

"Being a little older and playing punk rock," says Bacon, "it’s hard to play shows because there are only certain venues, and it’s a closed market. The age group you play to is younger, and there’s not a lot of money in it either." Considering each member is trying to pay a mortgage, run an automobile, and lead an adult life, they need to retain viable ways of supporting themselves. "Sometimes the numbers don’t make sense."

Bacon should know something about numbers. He’s taken control of the management duties that Christian Blaney, the much-loved bass-playing screamer, relinquished when he left to assume the ultimate responsibility of raising a family. Now Bacon’s the one who books the shows, makes the calls, and handles all the details involved with running a reasonably successful band. "I even have my hands full just organizing the party for this weekend," he laughs.

Blaney’s departure hurt in more than just logistical ways. He was the epicenter of the M-80 maelstrom, a fireplug of energy and a singer extraordinaire who lit a fire on stage each and every night. In the studio, the band tried to fill Blaney’s boots in a number of ways: substituting Safford’s vocals, singing harmony and group vocals, all in an effort to recapture the same dyna-vox. It wasn’t easy.

"When Christian left the band, at first we were like, ‘Ah, shit, now what are we gonna do?’ He was a key decision-maker. He had all the contacts. We took all that for granted." M-80 came to a critical crossroads. "We asked ourselves, ‘Do we wanna continue on, or pack it in?’ But Christian asked us not to let it die." After the band recorded the new album, they sat on it ’til September, deliberating on whether or not to release it at all. If they weren’t going to continue on as a group, why fuss with the hassle of a new disc? But then something positive happened. The band played a few massively successful shows at Lupo’s at the Strand this fall, gigs that kicked enough ass to convince the band they were still in love with the routine. There are those ups and downs again.

"Honestly," says Bacon, "we still have a blast with all of this, and it’s not about the money. It’s frustrating in a lot of ways, but it’s still the only thing we want to be doing." Right now, the band has its sights set ever higher. They’re shooting for another Warped Tour slot next summer. They’ve signed on with Budweiser again, a sponsor that helped to make the new album possible, and they renewed their focus on getting the CD out to as many people as possible. The last record, the smashing Put Down the BB Gun, got some love from Fox Sports as well as Bud. The latter clinched them a trip across country to LA to play a huge extreme sporting event, while the former exposed their song "Fight You for No Reason" to tens of thousands of viewers. American Road, a lick better than BB Gun, is likely to open new doors for M-80, or at least keep those old doors ajar. A local radio station already has one track, "No Gain," in reasonably good rotation.

"It’s funny in this business," says Bacon, "but it’s really about who you know, who hears your music. We’d like a decent record contract and [to] get to the next level. In fact, we were approached by a few with BB Gun but the numbers didn’t work for us. So we’ll wait and see what’s next. One thing’s for certain, it’ll either be really great or suck mightily." At this point, on the brink of a new era for the band, only the rock and roll gods know for sure.

Get the new M-80 album at Newbury Comics or at CDBaby.com. M-80 will play a CD release party on Friday, November 12 at Lupo’s, with Bloodshot Hooligans, Slik Willy, and Bad Larry. It’s $9.55 to get in, it’s all ages, and the first 200 through the door get a free copy of American Road.

INSTITUTE FOR SONIC EVOLUTION, v. 2004. The Rattlehead Record folks have assembled this year’s model of musical excellence and competition, the Institute for Sonic Evolution. It’s a great thing, bringing kids and seasoned pros together in one venue. You know the experience rubs off on the kids, and it keeps the older bucks humble.

Open Competition #1 kicks off this Friday at the American Legion #12 in Exeter, with A Blind Prophecy, Ghost of Otis, Ill-Natured, Pedestrian Speedbump, Special Paul, Uberfuzz, United Against, Train of Thought, and Tractor. Next Friday’s bash is at the DropZone in Cumberland with 30 Helens Agree, Forgotten Faith, Freudian Slip, Grshn Lifestyle, Paige Miranda, Right Side Down, Stalemate, Torn, and Hawkins Rise. And on the 27th, also at the American Legion #12 in Exeter, the ISE Finals take place with six bands from the two previous competitions, plus Rebecca Nurse and Slugworth. The all-ages shows start at 7 p.m. and admission is $6. Go to www.rattlehead.com for more info.

WANDERING EYE. Tonight (Thursday the 11th), Providence poet laureate and Slam master emeritus Ray Davey kicks poems at the Call with A Poet’s Band, featuring Mark Cutler, with opening acts Bad Mouth and Combuster. Also tonight, Rory and the Blues Hounds mark their third anniversary of Thursday night dates at the 133 Club in East Providence. A handful of special guests musicians will join Rory, including Greg Sherrod, Jan Schmidt, Jena Keany, Jesse Bastow, and Hank Walthers. The boys will delve into their usual array of tuneage, from Motown to blues to funk and rock.

On Friday at the Custom House Tavern, you can catch a killer double bill with Johnny Carlevale and the Broken Rhythm Boys and their ’50s R&B opening for the Colonel’s all-new hot racket the Cobra-Matics. Helping both bands out will be Joe Tesauro from the EviLive DJs spinning R&B, rockabilly, garage, and good ol’ punk rock records between sets starting at 10 p.m.

It’s a busy weekend at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland. Bill Harley visits on Saturday(the 13th) at 11 a.m. Admission is $6 for children and $8 for adults, and advance reservations are strongly recommended. Later that night, BRT will present a split concert featuring Bill Petterson and Buddy Cavaleri with the Late Bloomers. Randy Browning and Brett Kinney are the Bloomers, an acoustic guitar duo from Maine playing an original blend of folk, blues, jazz, and ragtime. Then on Sunday (the 14th) from 2 to 5 p.m., there will be an Irish ceili and set dance with the Alleged Ceili Band. Admission is $6 ($3 for kids). The Alleged Ceili Band plays a variety of traditional Irish dance music and features Bob Drouin on fiddle, Ron Lister on concertina, Chuck Papini on tenor banjo, Jay Gilbert on guitar, Josh Kane on flute, and Marianne Kane on bodhran. No partners are necessary to join in the fun.

On Saturday, Otis Read and Phil Edmonds will be joined by Cathy Clasper Torch, Peter Breen, and Ron Schmidt at the Coffee Depot in Warren. The show is at 8 p.m. Cafe Arpeggio, located at 139 South Main St. in Fall River, Massachusetts, presents Aztec Two-Step on Saturday at 7:30. Join in the fun and hear selections from the band’s nifty new record. Admission is $20 and bring some extra dough to buy the disc.

On Saturday, the Rhode Island Folk Festival will celebrate traditional music and dance at the Peeptoad Coffeehouse in Foster, with workshops, dancing, performances, vendors, food, and lots more. Magnolia and the Parallel String Band will perform at night. And there’ll be an open jam Sunday. Go to www.rifolkfestival.org and see "Concerts" listings elsewhere in this section for details.

Will Brierly and the Roller Holsters will perform on Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. at Goff Hall in the Blanding Library in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, to benefit local food pantries. Brierly, described as a combination of Ben Folds, Ani DiFranco, G.G. Allin, Frank Zappa, and Radiohead, just returned from a two-month tour, and is back with new songs and a new lineup to play in his hometown. Ticket locations can be found at www.willbrierly.com. The Songwriters in the Round Series continues this Sunday at AS220 with Mary Ellen Casey, Erik Wohlgemuth, Danielle Miraglia, and Ryan Fitzsimmons. The show starts at 7 p.m. and admission is a paltry $5. The theme for this totally acoustic show is "Hold the Phone."

Pete Rock-sponsored benefit shows to raise funds for Scuba Steve’s family begin next week at Cats in Pawtucket. On Thursday (the 18th), Cold Read and Panacea play, and on Friday (the 19th) it’s Hypersolid, Path of Logik, Mongrel, Third Shift, and Kreagen.

Lastly, I got word of a really cool unsigned band contest with "a stage full of gear" awarded as first prize. There are no restrictions as far as I can see. Go to www.chain-whipped.com/CONTEST04.html and do a little exploring.

Enough news for ya? Write me with more at big.daddy1@cox.net.