A new image was added to The Gallery this year: the face—and axe-playing skills—of one Ben Lozano.
On The Gallery’s horizon is a new audio exhibit in the form of a full-length produced by Warren Huart of Aerosmith/The Fray infamy.
In between, the band is slated to play its first hometown show in over a year. It’s a Dec. 22 Pearl Street engagement that bassist Dave Mozdzanowski, for one, couldn’t be more excited about.
“We spent the majority of the year playing songs on the West Coast and writing,” he revealed in between stops at L.A.’s Viper Room and New York’s Rockwood Music Hall. “We can’t wait to get back to the Northeast and show everyone what we’ve been up to!”
Connecticut’s The Mercies and Beantown’s TJ Courtney get the opening nod for this 8 p.m. show. Tix are $10 in advance, $13 at the door.
*
In other local news, nationally acclaimed/locally based band The Winterpills (winterpills.com) pop into Signature Sounds’ spanking new Parlor Room on Friday, Dec. 21 for a special show in support of their All My Lovely Goners CD.
The following evening, Dec. 22, Black Cat Bone Music (BCBM) offers up a chili reception at the Polish American Citizens Club of South Hadley. In addition to music by the Cannibal Ramblers and Whip City Bootleggers, BCBM’s annual Christmas Bash will feature a chili cookoff and an appearance by “Sleazy Claus,” among other amusements. This show is 21-plus and admission is free.
*
Meanwhile, though it’s hardly a Rush to judgment… it’s certainly better late than never. On Tuesday, Dec. 11, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officially announced its 2013 inductees. Among the crop that made the cut was Canadian prog rock trio Rush—a development considered long overdue in industry circles since the inception of the honor.
“It was a cause [Rush fans] championed,” bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee exclaimed at a post-announcement press conference. “I’m very relieved for them and we share this honor with them, for sure.”
Other honorees included Heart, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, Albert King and Donna Summer. Still firmly perched atop the “snub” list is Kiss, a band that, while admittedly gimmick-laden, also happens to hold such distinctions as owning more gold records (28 to be exact) than any other American band and boasting total worldwide sales in excess of 100 million.
Time to get marching, Kiss Army!
The 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony occurs at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. on April 18.
*
Since we’ve flipped the calendar to 2013, here’s another for the new Dayrunner you’ll probably find in your stocking next week. Multi-platinum rock acts Daughtry and 3 Doors Down have included a Feb. 17 Mohegan Sun stop on the second leg of their North American tour.
Barring the end of the world as we know it, tickets for that show go on sale Dec. 21 and will be available at mohegansun.com.
*
Last but not least, the Crawler will end with a gift idea tailored to the aspiring virtuoso in your life. In lieu of something audio, edible or otherwise tangible, however, this final installment is actually an opportunity offered up by local musician/promoter/label owner Tom Kielbania, Jr.
“I am looking for singers, dancers, rappers, improv people and more for a new children’s band I’m putting together,” the man best known for his drumwork with veteran cover band Orange Crush explains. “The project is hot—we have almost three albums written and tons of singles in our back pocket. The biggest people I know in the biz are all on board to make this huge. We just need to complete the puzzle!”
For more information on how to get your name into the mix, kindly point your browser to moveandgroovecrew.com.•
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email garycarra@aol.com.
