A nice Distraction The Big boys’ Avoidance Behaviors; plus, new Rune disc BY BOB GULLA

Joe Thurber, Brandon Hull, and Nate Thurber of the Big Distraction were all in other bands before coming together in late 2003. They only started playing out earlier this year, but they’ve already managed to squeeze out a home demo and a proper studio debut, Avoidance Behaviors: The Home Made Jams. The boys in the band call their sound "funk-soul-prog-pop-rock," which means it’s pretty much a smorgasbord of colorful noise. In a short time, they’ve grown to become an entertaining outfit live, and their material lends itself to colorful performances in an Oingo Boingo/Blues Traveler kind of way. It’s breezy and lite, but unpredictable in many way, with enough to u-turns and blind alleys in each song to keep toe-tappers off-balance. Songs such as "Tea Party" and "Breakin’ Bones" are prog takes on pop, which makes it really intriguing, if a little disorienting. Great big grooves and as-advertised funk keep the fannies moving, the songs jumpin’, and the beer flowing. Who cares if there are, like, five hooks in every tune? If ideas are that plentiful, what the hell — pitch ’em all in and see what sticks. The record could use better production, but there’s a lot to be proud of here and, if nothing else, it’s a good reason to see the band live.

The Big Distraction will perform on Wednesday, November 2 at Giza, 95 Hartford Avenue, Johnston. It’s an 18-plus event and the lineup also features Gavin Castleton and Linden Drive.

DOING IT ALL

There’s a pretty interesting article in a monthly e-newsletter called "The Right Note." The piece is "Part-Time Musician, Full-Time Genius: The Balancing Act of Making Music, Making Money and Living a Life." It follows one dude’s attempt to do all of the above: lead a band, hold a real job, and keep it together socially. Some of his advice was curious, especially the part about the frustrations of doing his job halfway. It struck me that it had a lot of relevance to folks in the local music scene, many of whom might even read this column occasionally. The newsletter is an interactive monthly missive designed for breakout artists the world hasn’t discovered yet. You’ll find the interview at www.internetviz-newsletters.com/rightnote.

RUNE HIT THE WALL

To those who don’t know better, Newport’s Rune might at first appear like, well, a Celtic band. They feature a Celtic motif on their albums and T-shirts, and their name implies a certain affinity for the rolling emerald hills of Eire. The truth is, it’s not Celtic music at all. If you’ve seen them live you know this, and if you pick up Hadrian’s Wall, their new disc, you’ll hear it. The record, made with Steve Rizzo and Gwen Jones at Stable Sound Studios in Portsmouth, is a brisk, acoustic-based project hinging on Colby James’s voice and guitar and Heather Church’s electric violin. Neil Coleman and Andy Tartar pound out the bottom side of the equation and form a solid rhythmic foundation. Together, Rune is a passionate quartet, capable of working out some truly believable acoustic pop. Church’s ubiquitous violin kickstarts tunes such as "Ferny Hill" (OK, so that one has a Celtic scent), and keeps other tunes such as "Regatta" and "Breeze" compelling with improvised lines and mini-motifs. For the most part, Rune stays really loose, and it’s part of their overall charm. "The Groove" has a long, Doobie Bros.-like guitar intro before it jumps into an energetic verse and chorus. It would be nice for James’s guitar to occasionally remain up front without getting overshadowed by Church’s violin, but it is Rune’s signature, and for the most part it works effectively. Otherwise I’m hard-pressed to find any significant weaknesses. Rune has vibrancy and real melodic flair, and their ardently groovin’ melange is a local music highlight with even bigger potential.

WANDERING EYE

On Friday (the 28th) at 7 pm at the Mediator, 50 Rounds Street, Providence, it’s Chris Monti, Paul Geremia, and the Wholebellies. There’s no cover, but a donation of $7 is suggested. It’s also BYOB and pot-luck if you wanna bring the kids. This weekend at Cats in Pawtucket it’s a Pete Rock Event on Friday with Lucid Sky, Drinkfist, Unscarred, and Nira May, and on Saturday it’s Miss Jillian’s Horrorween Bash with Silver Dahli, Moodus Noise, Saturn, and Mike G.

The Brunt of It is at the Living Room on Friday with Street Dogs, River City Rebels, and Senior Discount. Doors at 7.

You have two chances to catch Dave Howard &THEHIGHROLLERS this weekend. On Friday they’re at JR’s Roadhouse (formerly Kim Holly’s) on Sandy Bottom Road in Coventry and on Saturday (the 29th) at the Coventry Community Center with the Senders.

It’s a big weekend at the Rocky Point Pub. On Friday, you get big rock with Rebecca Nurse, Vega, and the AudioCentrix. The next night it’s their Helloween Ball, with a Fear Factor-type event, a costume contest, and hard rock with Train of Thought, Inner Self Lost, Dead & Gone, and Monoblock. Start time is 7 pm.

Speaking of Halloween, the Cobramatics, the Superchief Trio, and a dance troupe called the Danger Birds will throw an orange and black party at Jake’s on Saturday. Festivities begin at 10 pm. Also on Saturday, Stone Soup has its annual evening with the Spellbinders. The spooky tales start at 8 pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket Arts Center, 210 Main Street. This year’s line-up of storytellers includes Christopher Kavi Carbone, Marilyn Meardon, Marvin Novagrodski, Carolyn Martino, and Jeanne Bent. Tickets are $12, and don’t forget the kids, if for no other reason than they’re always half-price.

The Lascivious Biddies, an all-female cocktail pop quartet from New York City, will be at the Hi-Hat on Sunday (the 30th). This is the Biddies’ debut performance in Providence, and it’ll surely be worth your time. The Washington Post recently named the Biddies "Manhattan’s hippest girl-group," with great harmonies, vibrant personalities, jazzy chops, and lotsa moxie.

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