
DATE: Sunday, October 5, 1997               TAG: 9710030284

SECTION: CAROLINA COAST          PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: AFTER HOURS 

SOURCE: John Harper 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

TOGETHER AGAIN CORE OF VIRGINIA-BEACH BASED BAND REUNITES

``IT'S GREAT. It feels right again,'' says Boneshakers lead guitarist Dave Paranzino of the recent reunification of his band.

After three years away, singer/guitarist Hall Vought and drummer/singer Mark Watts returned to Boneshakers in July. Which means the core of the Virginia Beach-based band that first splashed the East Coast music scene in 1990 is together again (bass player David Hull is new).

``I carried on the name (Boneshakers) with other guys,'' Paranzino says. ``But the sound was never quite right.''

The original Boneshakers was one of the area's most potent bands, playing the club/college circuit six or seven nights a week. A 1990 independently distributed album, ``Oh So Black,'' sold 10,000 copies.

And a track from the album, ``In A Heartbeat,'' received heavy radio airplay. The accompanying video landed the band a spot in MTV's regular rotation.

So why would a band on the verge of stardom splinter after four years?

``It had to do with our management,'' Paranzino explains. ``We've learned a lot since then.''

Paranzino says the reunited Boneshakers plan to enter the studio this fall to record a long-awaited follow-up album. Chapel Hill-based producer Steve Gronbach will oversee the project, with an album release slated for March 1998.

``Our main concern is to do another album,'' Paranzino says, adding all Boneshakers have day jobs. ``We play about every other weekend.''

The band doesn't have to worry about material. Ever-prolific songwriter Vought has penned a dozen tunes in the last few months. During his two stints with the band, Vought has contributed more than 60 original songs.

And while Boneshakers' sound falls within the alternative-rock realm, Vought's songs and Paranzino's guitar playing add a tinge of acoustic, bossa nova, funk, grunge and hard-edged rock. Paranzino is a modern-day blend of Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.

``They're my favorites,'' says Paranzino, a transplanted Californian. ``But I learned to play guitar listening to Neil Young. His acoustic stuff was easy to play along with.''

Boneshakers have a club date at Port O'Call on Saturday night.

What can we expect from the reunited rockers?

``About 80 percent of our first set is originals,'' Paranzino says. ``During the second and third sets, we do about four or five of our songs. The rest are covers. But not the stuff you hear most bands play.

``We never use a set list either. I just call off songs and the band knows what to do.''

And by the way, Paranzino says every song is danceable. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Boneshakers

Graphic

HOW TO HEAR 'EM

Who: Boneshakers

When: Saturday, Oct. 4, at 10 p.m.

Where: Port O'Call, milepost 8 on the beach road, Kill Devil

Hills

Cost: $5

Call: 441-7484