Balancing act Zox ends The Wait, and Dan Moretti’s new Passing Place BY BOB GULLA

Do you want to succeed on a national level with no label deal, no pricey management team, and virtually no radio or major promotion? Then follow the formula mapped out by Zox, the locals’ whose new album, The Waitt, released on August 23, is being celebrated at Lupo’s this Saturday. "I think it’s an unusual business model," laughs frontman Eli Miller as he prepares to embark on a shortish jaunt to Albany for a gig. "I don’t think you can replicate this model. But the record has sold really well, and people are emerging to check us out. There’s this reaction across the board that people have been surprised we’ve done this well without much help."

Indeed, the new Zox has sold 2700 records in its first two weeks of release. And this comes after selling 12,000 copies of their self-titled debut last year. And the band has made enough money through touring — they’ve played 400 gigs in two years — and record sales to pay for the making of the new record. They established their own label and now run the band as a business. "Zox now supports the four of us and our label," says Miller, "and it supports our publicist and our agent. We paid for the record on our own. I don’t think we expected to sustain ourselves so quickly."

Recorded in North Carolina with producer Ted Comerford and mixed by renowned indie legend Mitch Easter, The Wait finds Zox zoning in on a progressive alt-rock sound, an eminently meaty approach with overtones of ska, prog, punk, classical, and pop. "We spent about a month in the studio living and working in a farmhouse outside of Raleigh," Miller says. "In the process, we learned a lot about recording and about the dynamics of our band in the studio." Those dynamics, which are tricky because all four members come at music from different directions, were key in helping the band, understand itself as a creative unit.

The Wait, which at press time had climbed to #7 on Billboard’s Internet sales chart between Coldplay and Black Eyed Peas, features Zox’ best work by far. For those of you who have seen the band and expect more frantic violin-driven noise, well, you’re in for something of a curve ball. The songs this time out reflect greater attention to craft and detail, just as the band members have elevated their own abilities from months of non-stop touring. "It’s an interesting position to take this next step," Miller says. "We feel proud of what we’ve done and feel like it’s a good picture of where we are as a band."

Based on its accomplishments, Zox is now considering some offers from record labels, despite the fact they’ve proved they can do it on their own. "We’re not against signing," admits Miller. "We recognize that we bring a lot to the table from a financial standpoint, so that a label will have to be good to us for it to make sense. Labels and management companies can definitely offer us some things on our own that have been tough for us to handle, like widespread radio promotion, national tour support, and some publishing opportunities."

Right now Zox is balancing its act between the business of music and music itself. Thankfully, music still plays a critical part in the band’s existence. "If it weren’t about the music, we wouldn’t find the energy to keep doing this other stuff," says Miller. "It’s not an easy way to make a living doing this. We all respect each other as musicians. It’s our common thread. We’re different people, but music is where we come together and we find that place pretty readily together."

fanning the flames

Jazz in Providence is sadly underrepresented. Dan Moretti, a beloved saxophonist, has certainly done his part in kindling the city’s jazz fire. But the fact is he does most of his damage outside of town. Like way outside of town.

"I just got back from touring with Nile Rodgers in Europe," he says of his recent tour with the genius of disco-funk. "It was slammin’, in-your-face stuff. Most of the gigs were 5000 to 15,000." Of course, it’s not exactly jazz, but traveling outside American borders is almost a necessity for jazz and blues musicians — that is if they want to pay the bills. "Europeans in general have been brought up with a deeper appreciation of music, art, and culture," says Moretti, who travels nearly every summer to Italy for workshops, gigs, and festivals. "Here the commercial market rules, younger people get segmented earlier, and the education system here isn’t funded enough to provide this culture with diversity, art, and music in the school. Kids never taste it here."

But adults, and maybe even some kids, will get a taste of the good stuff when Moretti plays Neath’s on two consecutive Fridays (the 16th and 23rd) to celebrate the release of Passing Place, the new album with his group Once Through. Neath’s is Moretti’s home base — every week he gets the finest musicians in the area and does what comes naturally: lays down some great Latin, be-bop, fusion, and contemporary grooves. This week’s gig features a full band, the same players who laid down Passing Place, including Marty Richards on drums, Marty Ballou on bass, Paul Nagel on keys, Bruce Bartlett on guitar, and Jorge Najaro on percussion. Next week will be filled with surprises. "That’s when I’ll bring in all the other players who have played my material," he says. "It’s gonna be a lot of fun." According to Moretti, that’s the whole idea behind the record in the first place. "I wanted to write tunes that were challenging, but easy enough to play and have some fun with."

Dan Moretti and Once Through will play two shows at Neath’s on South Water Street on Friday, September 16 and two on September 23 | No cover + limited seating | 401.751.3700

wandering eye

On Friday (the 16th) at AS220 it’s Hockey Night, Fred Kendall Abong, Tom Thumb & the Latter Day Saints, and Jennifer O'Connor. The same night, Bella Vista, overlooking Waterplace Park in downtown Providence, will host the James Montgomery Band. It’s his first gig in town in five years.

Local rockers Kanerko just finished its seven-song demo with Joe Moody. They’ll be playing on Friday night at the Living Room opening for Red Cloud Revival (formerly Donnybrook).

At Cats on Friday its Floodwaters, the Smoothing Constant, and Hawkins Rise. Also on Friday, there’s a great rock show at the Century Lounge, with Lost City Angels, Heart-Shaped Bombs, and the Brunt Of It.

On Sunday, there will be a special performance of Songwriters in the Round. The night will feature 23 of the songwriters and songs from the past year and a half of the series. The performances will be recorded live and will be released on a CD in November. For more go to www.risongwriters.com.

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