See me walking around, I'm the boy about town...

So sang The Jam in 1980.
So states my Rockumentary column of recent musical news and turn-ons I've experienced 'round these parts.

--Who was at the Mike Flood CD release show at Bar 19? That was the perfect room for Flood. You could hear every lyric, every between-song quip, and see every facial expression. It made for a completely engrossing experience. Scott Hall accompanied him on piano. Go to the Pigeon Records site and buy "Beautiful Knowledge".

--Speaking of Pigeon records and Jose, I'd like to thank him for the Nuclear Waste Management CD. I know it's just a demo/teaser CD until the real one comes out, but man oh man. You know what that CD made me do? I was listening to it driving on 495 N, to visit my parents. I know very well what exit to get off at--Mass Ave, North Andover. I've done it 100000 times. And yet, I was so hypnotized by the sounds that I totally blew past the exit. Never ever done that before. That's some crazy music.
And I've said it before, but "Choke Back the Tears" is a timeless, classic song.

--RIP The Spoils. Yes, the hard rockin' power trio, led by Al Johnson of Stuntmen fame, is no more. I was lucky enough to be the drummer for this project which lasted a little over a year and played I think 5 gigs. I'd like to thank Al for asking me to be in the band. He called me in June of '03, shortly after I came back from the Don Lennon tour. Andrea was gone, I was very sad, and lonely and competing with my cat who could kill the most flies in the depressingly sparse apartment. Then Al called out of the blue and asked if I wanted to play songs that would let me dust off Bonham/Mitch Mitchell chops that had been dormant since I was 16. I have our last show on CD--at the Brass Cat. Though at the time it seemed sloppy and chaotic, there truly are moments on it that rival live Hendrix. The guitar/drumms interplay/competition. It was a blast. I look forward to seeing what Al's next project is like. His songwriting, voice and guitar playing would make any all star team.

--The new electric Mark Schwaber band. I got to see them last night at the Brass Cat. Wow. It's partial Hospital (mark, jj, paul) plus Matty Cullen on guitar. What a perfect lineup. Music fans seem to either prefer "a guy with a guitar--yeah, that's the music's true essence" or "I think this guy needs a band because ___(fill in the blank)".
I fall into the latter. I gots to have the beat. Of course a band only works if the songs are there and with Schwaber they always are. His acoustic shows are great too. But I'm a sucker for bells and whistles, especially the top of the line variety--like the guitar interplay between two masters who have totally different styles (Cullen with the string bending, Mark with the "what the fuck kind of shape is that?" style) and the classic Paul/JJ foundation. And when did you last get to see Mark really rock out? It's great stuff.

--Cannot wait to hear Dennis Crommet's new one, produced by Bruce Tull. 3 years ago, "I Count None But Sunny Hours" was one of the soundtracks to that summer.
--Cannot wait to hear the new Winterpills.
--ditto the Fawns

--Cannot wait to do more work on my second record, tenatively titled "Unevent".
some song titles: studio audience; skipping to the end; branch out; tact; riding to the rhyme; green and fur; saltwater cherub; ready for spring; they become it; people on trains
Watching Schwaber last night made me wanna maybe do more than just "one special gig" after the next album. Maybe 2 not so special gigs. Then there's less of a let down afterwards.
Oh, and I kinda put together my own website, courtesy of the "anybody can do it, who needs graphic designers, I have the IQ of a gnat" Verizon DSL. See for yourself
It's a bit of an ego trip, as well as a bit of a resume for big rock stars who've lost their drummers in tragic Swiffering accidents.
But between you and me, music doesn't get much better than the bands mentioned above.

Rock on and out.