THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409220185
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
When the subdudes - they spell the name with a small ``s'' - arrived on the recording scene five years ago, there wasn't a radio format for them. The band's music wasn't rock enough for the album stations and not bland enough for most adult contemporary stations.
That's all changed. The blossoming ``Adult Album Alternative,'' or Triple A, format is embracing the New Orleans-based band.
Triple A stations celebrate the band's melting pot of New Orleans jazz, Motown-flavored harmonies, Zydeco, reggae and a touch of the blues. They're a band for the over-30 crowd looking for some rock 'n' roll that's at once new and familiar.
Locally, the subdudes are getting airplay on WERX, Rock 102 and WVOD. The subdudes bring their masterful instrumentation, insightful lyrics and rich harmonies to The Port O' Call in Kill Devil Hills on Sept. 30.
``They're an excellent band,'' says WERX program director Brent Todd. ``I can't wait to see them in that intimate setting.''
The subdudes' new release, ``Annunciation,'' on High Street Records is their third album, but the first in three years.
The group was founded in New Orleans in 1987. Bassist Johnny Ray Allen, vocalist and keyboardist John Magnie and vocalist/guitarist Tommy Malone played together as ``The Continental Drifters.'' The fourth member, Steve Amedee, played tambourine and sang with country bands on Bourbon Street.
Amedee joined the others in a jam session one night and a month later, the subdudes moved to Colorado.
After attracting local praise, the band landed a deal with Atlantic Records. Their self-titled first album was released in l989. This was followed by further critical praise and an almost cultish following despite the lack of radio airplay.
A second album was released in l99l. By then, the band had returned to New Orleans and was working on a third album, when the group was abruptly dropped by Atlantic. The album sat in the can for three years. Enter High Street Records.
High Street's main radio outlet is the album alternative format. Five of the songs on ``Annunciation'' had already been recorded for Atlantic. The band, working with legendary producer Glyn Johns (who's worked with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones), recorded the album on Annunciation Street in New Orleans.
Subdude keyboardist Magnie explains that, ``As an album title, `Annunciation' has a lot of symbolism besides the obvious religious overtones. Annuciation Street runs through some of New Orleans' rougher neighborhoods, so the title also refers to some of life's most extreme contrasts - good versus evil.''
The Annunciation is the name given to the angel Gabriel's pronouncement that the Virgin Mary was carrying the Christ child.
The album is filled with songs about faith and redemption. The band reinforces a faith in God.
Not all the songs are as searching. Tracks such as ``Miss Love'' and ``Why Can't I Forget About You'' tackle the complexities of love and relationships. ``It's So Hard'' is a funky barroom brawl of a song with some amazing tambourine work by Amedee.
Despite the label shuffle, Magnie says the band feels lucky: ``We're making enough to pay the bills and keep doing the music we want to do.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
The subdudes' album, ``Annunciation,' is named for the New Orleans
street that runs through some of the city's rougher neighborhoods.
WHERE & WHEN
WHO: the subdudes
WHERE: Port O'Call, MP 8.5 on the Beach Road
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 30
TICKETS: Available at the door and in advance for $10
FOR MORE INFORMATION: 441-7484
by CNB