Working up a sweat Athletic Automaton’s sonic mayhem BY BOB GULLA

I’m not sure about you, but I remember the CYO basketball days when the shorts were tight and shiny and the socks were striped and knee-high. Seems like Athletic Automaton remembers those days too, but, I’m guessing not firsthand. AA, who will play this weekend at AS220, is Patrick Crump (ex-Pellum 1-2-3) on drums and Stephen Mattos (ex-Arab on Radar) on guitar and lap steel. When they hit the stage, they do so with vintage hoop unis complete with high-top Cons and fuzzy head- and wristbands. They’ve even been known to come out with warm-ups, which is a nice touch, especially if they’re wearing those pull-aways . . . Here’s how the band’s website (www.athleticautomaton.com) describes AA’s origins: "A coach from Rhode Island put out a national ad looking for a professional dodge ball team. There were only two responses — Patrick from Kansas City and Steve from Providence. Despite the timid turnout, the coach scheduled a practice in Pascoag, Rhode Island. After their first practice, Pat and Steve decided that they both sucked at dodge ball. The coach agreed. This unfortunate outcome led to the auspicious convergence of ’70s stripes and high-tops with a thunderously incessant rhythm and a swarm of angry African killer bees."

If their look is retro, their sound certainly ain’t. It’s avant-futurist, sonic mayhem designed to provoke and frustrate, madden and excite. Tunes such as "Into Africa," "The Bee Roundup," and "The Gypsy Moth Epidemic" are frenzied explorations of sound, characterized by unorthodox guitar progressions and jittery drums. In a sense, it’s classic Providence No Wave — from the two-person lineup to the costumes to the songs. We imagine that the costumes were borne of the fact that the band works out pretty vigorously onstage, hence the sweatsuits and such. Yet the gimmick doesn’t detract from the noise, which is challenging but not ridiculous, dissonant but not meaningless. AA currently has a demo out which is being turned into a full-length album titled 5 Days in Africa. It builds on the demo with better recordings and a fuller complement of songs. Featuring cameos by J Ryan (Six Finger Satellite), the whole shebang will be out shortly on the Kitty Play imprint out of New Jersey. AA also has a split EP on CD with Made in Mexico that’ll soon be released through Armageddon on 7-inch vinyl. AA was on tour last month, traveling to the West Coast and playing shows everywhere in between, showing off their wacky workout wear to audiences across the country. Supporting AA at the AS220 is Made in Mexico, a quartet featuring guitarist Jeff Schneider, another ex-member of Arab on Radar. FourHorse and Spheres, two local bands that can be researched over at www.lotsofnoise.com, are also on the bill, wafting their exploratory sounds out across Empire Street.

Athletic Automaton | AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence |Saturday, September 3 | 9 pm | 401.831.9327

THE BIG DISTRACTION

Just wanted to give you the heads-up on a new band makin’ some noise on the local and regional scene. The Big Distraction is from Pawtucket and made up of brothers Joe and Nate Thurber and childhood friend Brandon Hull. This isn’t the first time this trio has rocked out. A few years back, in their high school days at Tolman, they tried to get it done but ended up going their separate ways to explore other projects. But the lure proved too strong and in February they decided to take another shot, with the extreme benefit of having concrete performing experience under their belts. So far BD has made great strides in a relatively short time, having played shows throughout the Northeast, most notably a rockin’ 4th of July set at CBGB’s.In the immediate future, BD has a self-recorded, -produced, and -released debut album, Avoidance Behaviors, due shortly. You can preview their sound — fresh, brisk, funky, and accessible — at thebigdistraction.com.

WANDERING EYE

Singer/songwriter Angelo Marinosci, Jr. will perform at Café Arpeggio on South Main Street in Fall River, Massachusetts on Friday (the 2nd) at 7 pm as part of the café’s ongoing weekly music series. As you might know, Marinosci hosts a two-hour radio show highlighting the local acoustic music scene on Sunday from 8 to 10 pm on WARL (1320 AM).

Chan’s, 267 Main Street, Woonsocket, will present the James Montgomery Blues Band on Friday (the 2nd) at 8 pm and Greg Piccolo & Heavy Juice on Saturday (the 3rd). Call 401.765-1900. On Friday at 5 pm, Christopher Monti will play the Conanicut Yacht Club in Jamestown with his rock band Third Story Congress, and then on Wednesday (the 7th) he’s at the Narrows Center in Fall River, Massachusetts as a featured performer at the venue’s open mike night. While you’re there, pick up his new CD, Locust Grove, which came out last month. On Friday at the American Legion Hall, 285 Smith Street, Providence, Sweet Eve is throwing a big party with Sea in the Sky and the Boston Jolly Pirates. It’s 21-plus and doors are at 9 pm. This weekend at the Nirvana Lounge on Main Street in Warren is Mike Miller’s Jazz Quartet on Friday and Kojo & the What, a reggae and party dance band, on Saturday. There’s a big ’50s Party at Francis Farm in Rehoboth, Massachusetts on Saturday featuring the T Street Cruisers. The last time they had a similar event at Francis Farm, lots of fun activities happened, including Twist and hula-hoop contests and prizes for best period outfits. It costs $5 to get in and drinks and food will be available. On Sunday (the 4th) at the Wheelhouse Tavern in Narragansett there’s a great show-plus-BBQ starting at around 5 pm. The Hooker Street Band, the Lingo, the Attic, and WaterStreet will all be playing. It’s $10 at the door with all-you-can eat BBQ and drink specials. Not a bad way to spend part of your Labor Day weekend.

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