• TONE KING ANDY ARGONDIZZA has organized a benefit show for NICK CURRAN, who was recently diagnosed with cancer and, being a musician, isn't exactly rocking all-inclusive health insurance. The gig's at Venue, in Freeport, March 14, and will feature PETE WITHAM AND THE COZMIK ZOMBIES, BIG CHIEF, JIMMY AND THE SOULCATS, KING MEMPHIS, the TONE KINGS, and various special guests. A $10 donation is suggested, but give what you can.
• DOMINIC AND THE LUCID are now just the LUCID. Make a note of it. (Don't worry — Dom's still there.)
• The boys from SHUFFLIN' TREMBLE continue working toward their two-date comeback show, April 30 and May 1 at the Big Easy. That maybe you know. That they're recording two new songs for potential release? That's kind of new.
• Maybe you haven't heard: THE ROCK OFF is back. That's right, despite Reindeer Records abandoning its competition for the best high-school band in Maine after 25 years, the MAINE ACADEMY OF MODERN MUSIC, with some help from the PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION, has revived the event and the preliminary rounds are coming up soon. Get in by going towww.mainetoday.com/rockoff. Northern prelims are at 103 ULTRA LOUNGE in Orono April 3; southern prelims are at the EMPIRE April 10 and 11. Prizes include $1000 in cash plus lots of other cool stuff, including playing a gig with PARANOID SOCIAL CLUB May 1 at the PORT CITY MUSIC HALL.
