Passages Remembering Jerry Balchunas and Tom Estes BY BOB GULLA

Before you get too giddy with the holidays at hand, let’s take a moment to properly grieve one of our own. Jerry Balchunas, who left this world last week after a brief illness, was a special guy. Rockin’ Jerry, the Music Man, who often went by the nom de plume of Johnny Tornado, spent his life being creative, as a musical, literary, and visual artist. He was dedicated to his songwriting the way so many of you are. Only now, one imagines, he’ll be the muse, rather than the muser. That’s what happens when people die. They inspire us to write. Only Jerry inspired people when he was alive as well. Not many can say that.

There’s a memorial to Jerry at www.jerrybalchunas.com. If you have any pictures or stories to share, e-mail them to jerrymemorial@ryanfitzsimmons.com. We hope this soulful artist is singing with the angels and we hope you’ll make some room for Jerry in one of your own songs. Rock on, JB.

Continuing in the spirit of Jerry’s dedication to music, there are a couple of worthwhile opportunities you — fans and artists alike — should know about. Jerry spent lots of time at the Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House on Douglas Avenue in Providence. The Rhode Island Songwriters Association will host a singer-songwriter night at the venue on Friday, January 6; starting in February, RISA will host shows on the first and third Fridays, with two songwriters per show, running from 8 to 10 pm.

Becky Chace is hosting a singer-songwriter open mic at Tazza Caffe, 250Westminster Street, Providence every Wednesday that is creating a nice buzz around town. Becky writes in: "I’m trying to bring a good act from out of state each week as well as a local act. They each get a feature slot for a half-hour and the rest of the night, 8 to midnight, is an open mic. We’ve had a bunch of my favorite local singer/songwriters come down and play short sets as the club was open until 2 am; the place was packed and the vibe was really intimate and supportive." Becky, who has recently left her electric full band roots in favor of an acoustic trio, also books the night, which is helping to fill the void created by the Custom House’s closing. "It’s absolutely humbling how many talented artists there are out there," she says. "You just kind of sit back and feel lucky to be one of the pack."

TOMESTES

We were saddened to hear of the equally sudden passing of the multitalented Tom Estes. Tom drummed and played keyboards and harmonica with many standout R&B bands, including Stovall Brown, Steve Smith and the Nakeds, the Spotfinders, and the pride and joy of Swansea, the Ocean Grove All-Stars. He also shared the stage with blues luminaries B.B. King, James Cotton, and James Montgomery. He is survived by two sons, a daughter, and many loving family members.

NEW SOUNDS

Records keep tumbling out into the marketplace and finding their way into the gaping maw of music central here at the Phoenix. Maximum Unicorn, the new LP from Grüvis Malt, is out now, as is Jonny Classic and the Classic Johns, the new side project from Grüvis singer Brendan Bell. You can pick up both, and a passel of new shwag (stickers, iron-ons, hats, shirts, sweatshirts, the works) at the band’s Integers Only online store (gavincastleton.com/catalog/products_new.php). Gavin Castleton, GM keyboardist/vocalist, has announced plans for a Bay Area West Coast tour. From December 17-26, he’ll be playing some shows solo and some with Facing New York as his backing band. Heather Rose, you may know, was/is the front chick of the Stereobirds. (Which is it, Heather?) But she’s been spending as much time on her own solo stuff lately as with the band. This Saturday (the 17th), Rose and her new act, the Drama, will celebrate the release of her newest disc, Heather Rose: The Mini Series. Joining Heather, who hits the stage at 9 pm sharp, will be Rebecca Nurse, Baby Strange, and I Crime, a rock band from Detroit.

WANDERING EYE

On Friday (the 16th), Hammerdown (ex-Land of Kaos) hits Cats in Pawtucket. On Saturday at the same place, it’s "BB’s Most Bitching Christmas Bash" with Silversted, the Departed, the Hawthorne Effect, Dour Couriva, and Irepress. On Friday, Headroom 401 will be at the Wheelhouse Tavern in Point Judith opening for Uncle Billy’s Smoke House. The show will feature special guest Tim Reese on sax. Info’s at www.headroom401.com, and you can find free music and photos there.

On Saturday at Jarrod’s Place in Attleboro, it’s Hemlok with Fate’s Cruel Joke, Divine Logic Error, Filthy Souls, and — in the spirit of Jarrod’s — many more bands. We’re counting down to the Jarrod’s unfortunate closing . . . We’ll have more on it in the next couple of weeks. Also on Saturday, 75orless presents Private Eleanor (Baltimore), Killing Pablo (central Mass.), and locals Mustache Ride at Houlihan’s Tavern in East Providence. No cover. Next Thursday (the 22nd), at Cats, catch the Squizzles, Smack Factory, Hot Buttered Jesus, and DeProgrammer.

Greg Bass of Scredco Productions writes in with some exciting news about one of our fave clubs: "Jake’s has a house PA! I spec’d it and we put it in last week. It features two powered Yorkville NX750s for the front of the house and one powered NX550 for a monitor. All speakers are flown so they don’t get in the way. There’s a 12-channel Mackie board. The house supplies 3-SM58s, six-mic stands, and two-IMP direct boxes. If you need more mics, bring ’em. A Behringer DSP crossover provides EQ and limiting. I’ve asked them to add TC M300 dual FX processors for reverb and delay. Plenty o’ PA for the room! So now there can be some consistency from night to night and the bands don’t have to lug their PA stuff down there." Lotsa people will be happy to hear it, Greg.

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