Now Transmission has an EP coming out to stores April 4, called Down the Middle. They’re a rock band, kind of emo, kind of grungey (they’ve got Stone Temple Pilots and Soundgarden down as influences, so it’s not just us with the 1990s flashback). The CD-release show is April 1 at Geno’s, with a “Northern CD-release show” at the Underground in Bangor April 15. It’s a follow-up to their second self-released EP, Taking Back the Unsaid.
Report from Pete Kilpatrick: “We’ll be releasing a new album this August.”
Former Rustic Overtone/Apocalypse Brass Band/Esperanza man Jason Ward checked in this week to drop a dime on his new outfit, El Grande. If you’ve got a feel for those other bands, it should be no surprise that this one’s a monster, too, with eight members cranking out funky, ska-type stuff. It’s fronted by Chris Gironda, with lead guitar work from Bob Daniels, bass from Carlo Bufano, percussion by Tommy Bailey, and a big old horn section featuring Erik Teichmann on trombone, Jon Blood on trumpet, Mike Ouellet on tenor sax, and Ward on his familiar baritone sax. They played Saturday, March 25, at the Big Easy, opening for Entrain. And who says you can’t make a living playing music? Ward reports that he’s graduated from USM and is teaching music in the Oxford Hills School District. How cool is that? Dude, my teacher recorded with David Bowie! Look for an El Grande EP by early summer.
Report from the Hi Fivin’ White Guys: “We should have the record out within the next month and a half.”
After about six months of speculation, it looks as though local pop impresario Spencer Albee has finally fled the east coast for the west coast, one Portland for the other. Does this mean that As Fast As are no longer local? Will they have to be stricken from the Best Music Poll ballot? These are the kinds of things that keep the “Sibilance” staff up at night, we’ll tell you. However, considering that As Fast As were local for the time on which this year’s ballot reflects back, it’s safe to say we’ll keep them on there for at least one more year. Still, we’re kind of hurt. What, did they want to be in Willamette Week more than they wanted to be in the Phoenix? Or are they fans of the Mercury? We’ll do some of that reporting stuff and get back to you.
A chance run-in with Enchantments guitarist Galen Richmond, at, of all places, an art opening at Zero Station, reveals that the band are close to a finished album. Close could mean anything, really, but don’t be surprised if something shows up for sale at Strange Maine with little or no promotion by this summer.
