THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9503310109
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUE SMALLWOOD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
REMEMBER WHEN rock was fun? A couple of new combos do, offering blessed relief from alternative's tiresome bitter/jaded/cynical routine.
Though the Norfolk-based Boweevils aren't exactly new - the group is actually now-defunct rockabilly outfit Whole Lotsa Papa, minus pompadoured frontman Chris Harrelson, who departed for college - the sound is satisfyingly fresh.
A recent show at the cozy Nocturnal Cafe (inside the Abyss at the Beach) revealed tasteful guitarist Mark Lawrence ably taking over vocal duties, backed by ex-Waxing Poetic Jeff Bailey on bass and Larry Carr on drums. The Boweevils obviously dig pure pop, with snappy originals vaguely harking the yummily tuneful likes of Marshall Crenshaw, Difford and Tillbrook and the brothers Finn. We dig it, too.
The Nightcaps, another Norfolk trio, keeps the fun alive by resuscitating sounds from rock's early days. Guitarist Gordon Bradley, drummer Serge Ponz (formerly of Buttsteak) and vocalist/bassist Rob Katherman (also bass man for Left Wing Fascists) churn out a non-stop, sweat-soaked stream of Chuck Berry-style rock 'n' roll, Dick Dale-ish surf rock and revved-up blues 'n' country rippers. The Nightcaps' rollicking St. Pat's debut at Friar Tuck's was brilliant. Look for them.
Comings and goings: Straight-up Virginia Beach punks the Candy-snatchers - whose notoriously out-of-hand live shows typically involve fire, blood, saliva and mondo body slamming - this ain't no wimpy Green Day, folks - have returned from a triumphant Left Coast tour. . . . Meanwhile, Norfolk's mightiest garage-rockers, the M-80s, are preparing for a May jaunt to London, where they have shows and studio time lined up. As seems to be the case with most Norfolk rock exports - from Gene Vincent and the Frank Guida sound to BBC DJ John Peel's favorite locally bred brats Buttsteak - the M-80s have found their most enthusiastic audience across the Atlantic.
In other news, arty alterna-metal foursome Sea of Souls will release ``Feed the Machinery,'' their second LP on local Trumpeter Records on April 11. The band will perform an acoustic in-store show - hey, just like the big rock stars! - April 10 at Planet Music. An album release fiesta will follow April 14 at Scully's in Virginia Beach.
Also on the way, the much-anticipated album debut from Beach soul-metallers Knuckle, featuring the area's most glorious rock throat, A.J. Long (ex of Buzzard). The LP should hit area music stores April 15.
Other homegrown stuff you can find at your friendly music retailer:
A very fine cassette single from Beach-based vocal quartet Bac II Bac. The song's ``Hungry for Your Love''; the harmony-drenched sound, a la Boyz II Men, is s-m-o-o-t-h, babies.
Recent albums from On Beyond Zee (the jazz-swayed, piano-propelled ``Mush,'' the band's second LP); veteran jazz/blues guitarist H.M. Johnson (``Everybody Wants Control of You,'' his first release since the '70s), blues-rock guitarist Gibb Droll (``Dharma,'' his second LP); and acoustic guitarist/vocalist David Carter (the live ``A Warm Summer Night'').
Finally, area star-gazers may have spotted former Psychedelic Furs guitarist John Ashton recently; he's in town tending to his ill mother-in-law. Our best wishes for her speedy recovery. MEMO: Got a comment about local music, radio, nightlife? Leave it on the
Soundcheck squawk-box, 640-5555, category 3277.Got a comment about local
music, radio, nightlife? Leave it on the Soundcheck squawk-box,
640-5555, category 3277.
by CNB