• TONY VEGAS checked in this week: SUN GODS IN EXILE entered Mad Oak Studios in Allston, Massachusetts, December 5 to begin work on their debut CD. This will be a full-length, featuring "guitar-heavy, classic-rock-inspired originals." They're hoping for a spring release.
• The "Sibilance" staff are psyched for SURVIVORBOB. Buy some local music with your $1 million (we mean $1.1 million, actually, though that's before taxes).
• Does anyone else find it surreal that SUNDAY RIVER is hosting a "WU-TANG WEEKEND," with appearances by RZA, GZA, RAEKWON, U-GOD, MASTA KILLA, and INSPECTAH DECK? Starts January 3.
• Couple of good parties coming up for the local-music set: December 18, check out the MAINE ACADEMY OF MODERN MUSIC Christmas Party Hop at the Deering Grange Hall. FASTER! FASTER!, APOLLO 99, DAYBREAK, RAMONES 45, and the ABOMINABLES will play, and the cover goes to benefit the Spurwink School's artist-in-residence program. Then, head to the Big Easy on Dec 19, before WCYY's "Home for the Holidays" show, for a 6 pm networking holiday bash with the PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION.
• After a six-year run, FIVE FOOT FICUS — a jam band who released Blue Walls, recorded with BUSTED BARN's Pete More, in 2006 — are calling it quits. SAM MITCHELL is leaving the Pine Tree State for warmer pastures. However, they've recorded a second full-length out at the HALO, so their December 18 gig at Brian Boru will act as final show and release gig, both. They'll have a bunch of copies of Stampede available, and will put it up on iTunes for fans who can't make it.
• Word is that the PORT CITY MUSIC HALL hopes to be open by the second week of January or so. JIM BEGLEY will be doing house sound.
• Last week we told you about the SEA CAPTAINS' Christmas music, so we'd be remiss if we didn't mention "The Blimp that Saved Christmas," a new Christmas song written and recorded by "Eben and the BLM Band." That's right, spawn of 102.9 WBLM, the rock-and-roll blimp. All of the proceeds gathered from the sale of the song online will be donated to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Grab it at www.wblm.com. There's a $2 per download suggested donation. The band features BRIAN JAMES, DOMINIC LAVOIE, JASON STEWART, JOHNNY VENOM, CHARLIE GAYLORD, and HOLLY NUNAN, who have various and sundry connections to both WBLM and the local music scene.
