CIVIL DISTURBANCE drummer NICK “NIKKO” VILLACI, who’s been in the local rock scene long enough to have produced progeny to fill out other local bands, has announced his retirement from the original music scene. His last gig with Civil D will be November 6 at Mixers in Sabattus. The band has a replacement, but haven’t announced who it is. As they’ll also be replacing their bassist over the next couple of months, don’t expect a lot of gigs this winter. As for Nikko, he’s played with Grant Unified Theory, Redline, Portage, and Freight Down through the years, and hosts No Hit Videos, where you can catch local bands on local TV. He’ll be around.
There are any number of good reasons for going to SPACE Gallery’s little Halloween gig, but we’re most interested in seeing DARIEN BRAHMS as David Bowie. That ought to be hot as hell.
JASON SPOONER and band are about to head out on a three-week jaunt to the West Coast, and they’ll be taking a new live EP with them. Live at the Loft is a recording of a Loft Session the band did on XM Radio earlier this year. It’s not up on the Web site yet, so you’ll just have to go to a show when they get back to Portland if you want a copy.
SPENCER ALBEE, who finds himself with some time on his hands after leaving RUSTIC OVERTONES and putting AS FAST AS on hiatus, will tackle the entirety of The White Album as part of his annual Beatles night at the Big Easy, November 26. Employing his band-for-the-night, the SCHOOL SPIRIT MAFIA, Albee promises not to cut any corners in the instrumentation or arrangement. Players on board include ZACH JONES, STUART MAHAN, JOHN MACLAINE, DOMINIC LAVOIE, and CHARLES GAGNE, among others. Tix are $10 in advance, or $12 day of show. Of course, those wearing white get in for $10 at the door.