THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9410280120
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Soundcheck
SOURCE: BY SUE SMALLWOOD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
THE ROCK MONITOR, Street Talk, Modern Rocker, Catharsis - just a partial list of the many local music publications that have come and gone over the years.
One 'zine that's made a welcome reappearance is Veer, covering alternative music, film, art and poetry. Veer originally debuted in 1992 as a monthly but folded after six issues. The new Veer, which debuted Oct. 3, is bimonthly.
``We learned a lot from the first try,'' says Jeff Maisey, Veer's publisher, executive editor and marketing director. ``The difference now is that there's (alternative) radio in the market and the club scene is better; the bands you see on MTV you can come see live.
``Those things are now in place in our area. Plus we decided now we'd distribute in Richmond and D.C.'' in addition to Hampton Roads, which has made the magazine more attractive to national advertisers.
The new Veer is visually striking, thanks to art director, graphic designer and editor-in-chief Ray Lewis, who's obviously keen on computer-generated art. Each story receives a distinctive graphic treatment, not unlike the pioneering national glossy Ray Gun, whose wildly innovative layouts and unusual type fonts have changed the face of hip media. Unlike Ray Gun, Veer's text is actually readable.
The premiere issue boasts some unusual reporting approaches. Associate editor Crizti Maisey, also vocalist with local Goth-rock band Severance, traces the evolution of Goth with the help of artists like Eva O. (Christian Death, Shadow Project) and David Roberts (Sex Gang Children, Car Crash International). Lewis conducts an interview with ex-Chameleon Mark Burgess via e-mail, and Stan Boyette ventures to a chicken coop in Chesapeake to interview Combine bassist Darryl Lewis.
Veer is available free at selected restaurants, nightclubs and retailers throughout Hampton Roads, Richmond and the Washington, D.C., area.
The Hip Key - a bimonthly all-record reviews 'zine - has been in regular publication since 1992, evolving from a handwritten, photocopied booklet to its new pro-printed, color format. What makes the magazine truly remarkable is that Hip Key editor and publisher Justin Kantor is 15 years old.
Kantor writes almost all the reviews, sells ads and supervises production and distribution of The Hip Key between his studies at Kempsville High and numerous extracurricular activities such as madrigals, piano and vocal lessons.
The October/November issue will feature expanded coverage, adding critiques of alternative, rock and gospel releases to The Hip Key's ranging R&B, pop, dance, rap, reggae and country music fare.
The enterprising young Kantor gets loads of help and encouragement from his mother and father, for which he is very grateful. ``This would not be as far as its gotten without the support of my parents,'' he says.
The Hip Key is free and available at many area record stores, including Birdland and Planet Music in Virginia Beach, all DJs Music and Video locations and on the campuses of Old Dominion, Norfolk State and Hampton Universities.
Speaking of new formats, the ubiquitous Flash (formerly known as Rockflash) has added a mid-month supplement to its entertainment news monthly. Flash Mid-Month plays People magazine to Flash's local Rolling Stone concept, publisher Jeffrey Lefcoe writes in Mid-Month's premiere issue, focusing on profiles and photos of area personalities ``from all walks of life.''
Since its inception nearly 10 years ago, Flash's goals have always been humble. Lefcoe explains: ``We were never after the Pulitzer Prize, only to give our readers two or three reasons to look forward to picking up each issue.'' Now you may have two or three reasons two times each month.
And we can't let Country Music Month pass without acknowledging Country Star, the stalwart local monthly that has been providing comprehensive coverage of the regional and national scene for well over a decade.
Pick up the October issue for interviews with some of country's biggest and brightest names - Willie Nelson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Patty Loveless, Shenandoah, Ken Mellons - and with Shelia Shipley, newly appointed general manager of the recently revived Decca label. She's the first woman to head a major country music record company.
Flash, Flash Mid-Month and Country Star are available free at restaurants, nightclubs and retailers throughout Hampton Roads. Got a comment, complaint, tip about local music, radio, nightlife? Leave it on the Soundcheck squawk box, 640-5555, ext. 3277. MEMO: Sue Smallwood wrote a profile of Nick Cave in the debut issue of Veer.
by CNB