SIDECAR RADIO have plans for a big CD-release weekend at the Big Easy. June 9 will be a 21+ affair, then comes a June 10 all-ages show. (Have we mentioned yet that June is going to be ridiculous for new music? It will be.) The EP, Static, will feature five new tunes, all written since the addition of new drummer JASON STEWART. Band founder CHRISTIAN HAYES reports the new works represent a new direction for the band, heavier and more original than what was already quite good on Soundtrack from the Upside, in 2005.
Goth-mistress AEPRIL SCHAILE is composing and choreographing for Portland dance company VIVID MOTION’s spring show, “The Odyssey,” which will run June 8 through 10. Schaile AND THE JUDGEMENT are likely to record and release the music part of it. You can also catch the band on a new “dark music” compilation that’s going to be released by MATHEW FULLER of Boston’s SEVEN SUNLESS DAYS, which ought to come out shortly. Finally, listen for Schaile’s vocals on a new release from doom-core types OCEAN in June, which we’ll know more about shortly.
MATT SHARDLOW, of ZENO’S ARROW and seemingly dozens of other local projects, has teamed up with JEREMIAH FREED guitarist NICK GOODALE to write songs for a new album they’re calling Two-Faced. They’ll be releasing the full-length and promoting it with shows this summer. Look for guest turns on the disc from NIKKI GLASPIE (BEYONCE’s touring drummer), ANDREW HODGKINS (drummer, AS FAST AS), MARC BOISVERT (drummer, PARANOID SOCIAL CLUB), NIGEL HALL, local songstress ANDI FAWCETT, and a number of others. This is more than just a little promising.
The results of the INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION — something we’d write off as ridiculous if it wasn’t judged by major talent, including BRIAN WILSON, TOM WAITS, FRANK BLACK, and ROBERT SMITH — released the 2006 winners earlier this month. Despite there being 56 winners in various and sundry categories, and hundreds more honorable mentions, Maine did not receive a single how-do-you-do. The “Sibilance” staff will have to stoop low and consider locally meaningful honorable mentions for ADAM STOKES, of Deerfield, New Hampshire, in the “Performance” category (in a contest of submitted material?), and JILLIAN WHEELER, of Windham, New Hampshire, in the “Teen” category (whatever that means). Color us embarrassed.
