• Looks like Portland's THIS WAY will be the only Maine band featured as part of the NEW ENGLAND AMERICANA FESTIVAL, playing April 1 at the Boston club Church, which is a little unfortunate since Maine's Americana scene is pretty dang strong and yet only has one representative out of 24 announced bands in a "New England" roots festival. But, whatever. We're not going to get pissy about it. And it really does look like they're trying to be inclusive.
• This ain't exactly an ECONOMIC-IMPACT STUDY, but for Friday's sold-out TREY ANASTASIO show at the STATE THEATRE, at least three friends of "Sibilance" came up from Portsmouth, got two rooms at the Eastland, ate at Local 188, boozed at the Downtown Lounge, and then woke up and had breakfast at the Port Hole before heading back south.
• The next heavy-rock thing in Portland? How about TORVA VOX, featuring TED MILLINGTON on guitar, ERICH GOLDEN on bass, DAN ALDRICH on drums, and vocalist TONY DIPHILLIPO? They were a version of AUDIOBLACK at one point, but it looks like they're going for a fresh start.
• Find the MILKMAN'S UNION's Bandcamp page to download a three-song "February Sampler," pay-what-you-like, that they've released to support some shows this month. Look for gigs at Oak and the Ax February 23, Bayside Bowl February 25, Empire March 3, and Apohadion March 4. Yikes.
