Singer/Songwriter
Ella Longpre/ Dust Savior
Hometown: Northampton, California, Michigan
Year formed: 2007
Ella Longpre (vocals, guitar, keys, other)What’s the name of the last song you wrote?
It’s called “don’t you mercy mercy me,” and it’s about not murdering someone.What is the best song you’ve heard in the last six months?
“Cocaine” by Abner Jay, or “15 Feet (of Pure White Snow)” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The way some of us long after drugs is akin to the way some of us long after god or love. Drug rock songs are sad, gorgeous and ultimately uplifting, because in every verse about tortured dependency, there is the possibility of redemption.What other Valley band or solo artist do you like or look up to?
Thrillpillow, The Winterpills, Fat Worm of Error/ Chris Cooper, Kurt Weisman, Horse Spirit Penetrates, Thane Thompsen, Jason Bourgeois. These are people who’ve found something worth examining and have earnestly set out to examine it.How did you learn to play your instrument or sing?
My mom got a Casio keyboard for Mother’s Day when I was five. When I was seven she finally let me touch it. I sat down with a lesson book printed in 1958 and forced myself to learn—we couldn’t afford lessons. I wrote my first song in the third grade—it was called “It’s Thanksgiving!” Then when I was a teenager, we converted to Pentecostalism, and I played piano and organ in these churches in Detroit, Flint, and the backwoods of Michigan—I learned Southern gospel, rock, eventually blues. I would sometimes play bass, guitar, or drums, whatever was needed. I got to play with a lot of old men who’d been soul-jamming for 50 years or more. I play mostly guitar now because I can’t really push a piano down Main Street to a show, and I’m not really into playing a keyboard right now. My knowledge of guitar, though, is still pretty much limited to what I knew at 17.
Folk
World’s Greatest Dad
Hometown: Northampton
Year formed: 2008
Luke Degnan (guitar, sleepsoloz), Gabe Sullivan (vocals), Amanda Freeman (flute), Dani O’Brien
(omnichord), Ryan Crowley (bass), Eric Lee (fiddle), Steven Yarbro (clarinet), Hodges (drums, topless percussion)What’s the name of the last song you wrote?
The last song I wrote was called “Mountain of Flakes.” It is about the Pioneer Valley, escaping, coming back, escaping again and dandruff. (Luke)The last song I wrote wasn’t for the Dads (yet) but it’s a scorcher! It’s a new happy birthday song for the 21st century. it’s really catchy and bumpin’. I composed it naked… well, in the shower. Musicians won’t admit to this but some of the most memorable compositions happen while in or going to the bathroom. The working title is “Happy Birthnight”! (Hodges)
What’s your biggest complaint about being a musician in the Valley?
You don’t get paid justly for the joy and art you create, thus making it difficult to bring more joy and art. It’s tough to be an eccentric artist on a shoestring budget. Another complaint is you never know who you’re going to get for a sound man. There are two types of “soundpeople.” The first one hates you and makes you feel like shit before you even start to rock. This could be because they are bitter local musicians who can’t make a living bringing joy and creating art in this town so they’re use their powers for evil or it’s just a job to them, possibly their first after McDonald’s—”Would you like fries with your sound check?” The second type of soundperson is a sound artist and acts as another member of the band, and should be allowed to split the tips with the bartender and thanked over the mic many times during the gig and then high-fived by all members of the band afterward.What’s your favorite thing about being a musician in the Valley?
My personal favorite thing about being a musician in the Valley is all the other talented people I am surrounded by… that work in food service and hook you up when they recognize you! (Hodges)Does your band have a mascot?
The unofficial mascot of the band is the wooly bolweivel [sic]. We don’t know what one looks like, we all have our own image in our heads and a few of us don’t believe in them, but for sure none of us can spell bolewievel [sic]. (Hodges)What is the worst song you’ve heard in the last six months?
The worst song I heard in the last six months would have to be Hodges’ new happy birthday song “Happy Birthnight.” (Luke)
New Band
God the Robot
Please see Michael Cimaomo’s God the Robot story “Rise of the Machines” in this issue.
Street Musician
Bennie the Bucket Man
Bennie Melvin Johnson, aka Bennie the Bucket Man or the Motown Bucket Man, can be seen playing on the streets of Amherst and Hadley, often wearing colorful robes or a cape and playing a white plastic bucket. He used to play in Northampton, but according to Local Buzz, he was banned from that city. Originally from New Orleans, the Bucket Man got national attention when a story about his “Class Exchange Program” was reported in the New York Times. He told the Buzz, “When I first came to Florence Heights, they had no sidewalks for the kids. I wanted to let rich people know that poor people wanted the same things as rich people.” The program invited the affluent to pay for the privilege of experiencing a lower-income lifestyle firsthand.
Celtic
Big Bad Bollocks
Hometown: Northampton
Year formed: 1090 [sic]
John Allen (vocals), Paul Scarpino (guitar), Bob Richards (drums), Ernie Wilson ( Bass)“The Big Bad Bollocks are quickly approaching 20 years as the Valley’s foremost musical authority on all things stout and stupid. Although for the life of me, I can’t think of one monumental moment of rock and roll greatness worthy of mention. Possibly, the stout and stupidity have left me a few brain cells shy of a singular thought. However, a couple random acts of stupidity come to mind, like Tuesday night three-stepping between the Sheehan’s Cafe open mic, and the open mic at Ye Ol’ Watering Hole. I don’t think Ye Ol’ Watering Hole actually had a Tuesday night open mic, but we never gave it that much thought. Secondly, who could forget the closing weekend of The Baystate Hotel. Not that Big Bad Bollocks endorse that kind of reckless vandalism during our shows, but it did make for one memorable evening for all who attended. I think I might still have a broken ceiling tile somewhere.” (Bob The Bastard)
Rock
Swillmerchants
Hometown: Northampton
Year formed: 2006
Rich Tardy (vocals, samples), John St.Onge (bass, guitars, keyboards), Matt Silberstein (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Pete Riley (drums), Rob Driscoll (guitars) Sam Barnes (fiddle, violin/, keyboards)Does your band have a mascot?
Rich Tardy. Egomaniac.
Please describe your typical or favorite breakfast.
Protein smoothies, whiskey and a percoset.How did you learn to play your instrument or sing?
Just picked it up and started making sounds I like.
DJ
Editor’s note: DJ Scooby, a radio disc jockey at WAIC FM 91.9 in Springfield, topped the poll in this category. We erred in putting DJ Scooby on our final ballot (she is not a performing DJ), but congratulate her on her popularity with our readers.
DJ Studebaker Hawk
Hometown: Springfield
Year formed: 2004Tell us about your biggest “rock ’n’ roll moment” in the Valley.
I was spinning at a packed club in Barcelona [Spain]. I had just gotten a promo copy of an amazing track from the ’80s that was never released, and is so obscure that almost no one in the world knows it. I played the song near the beginning of my set to a positive response, and then dropped it again as the closer to the night, with people singing along to the song none of them had ever heard of before walking in that club.
Experimental/Noise
Q
Hometown: Springfield
Year formed: 2000
Missy Benerakis (vocals), Eric Bousquet (bass), Jason Hyde (guitars, programming), Jay Barnes (drums)Tell us about your biggest “rock ’n’ roll moment” in the Valley.
Our drummer said he couldn’t find his pelvis—long story.
If you could be any musician, alive or dead, other than yourself, who would it be?
Currently Taylor Swift to knock Kanye West up side the head!
Groove
Brass Attack of Springfield
Hometown: Springfield
Year formed: 1995
Ed Chouinard (lead vocals), Carl Sittard (drums), Rob Desgres (guitar), Mike Kennedy (bass, vocals), Neal Schermerhorn (trombone, keyboard, bass), Dave Fournier (keyboards), Keith Martin(alto and tenor saxophones, flute), Scott Haber (trumpet)Does your band have a mascot?
“The Flounder.”How did you learn to play your instrument or sing?
Through our public schools’ music programs… support them and be an outspoken advocate in your local cities/towns during budget debates.
Country
Cottonwood
Daniel J. Whalen (vocals, lead guitar), John Corbett (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica), John Drake (drums, percussion), Greg Dwinell (pedal steel, lead guitar), Peter Oyer (bass), and Chris Allison (fiddle, acoustic guitar, keyboards)
You can catch Cottonwood on Nov. 21 at Seven O’s in Sunderland.
Cover
Orange Crush
Hometowns: Chicopee, Northampton, Windsor, Conn.
Year formed: 1996
Scott Lawson (vocals), Jeremy Simonich (guitar), Rich Yirga (bass), Tom Kielbania Jr. (drums)Tell us about your biggest “rock ’n’ roll moment” in the Valley.
Playing at the Basketball Hall Of Fame, in support of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. We partied with the Hollywood elite, got a lot of references for other shows, and we will remember that event for a very long time.What’s your biggest complaint about being a musician in the Valley?
The shrinking amount of clubs for everybody to play at. Even during a good economy, club owners would concoct a reason to pay less money to hard-working bands. But when a place like Breakers in West Springfield shuts down, you know times are tough.
What is the worst song you’ve heard in the last six months?
“The Final Countdown” has been popping up a lot in commercials lately. It was bad then. It’s even worse when you have to hear it several times a day. I want to kill my television each time.What other Valley band (or solo artist) do you like or look up to?
Ray Mason. Ray has released so many records, that he would need a second table to set them all up for display at his shows. They all sound good, and he hasn’t changed his style to accommodate the latest tastes in music.
How did you learn to play your instrument or sing?
I played along with my favorite vinyl records. God! that sounds antiquated, doesn’t it?
Jazz fusion
Jo Sallins
Hometown: Springfield
Year formed: 1969
Jo Sallins (electric bass, keyboards, drums, percussion)Tell us about your biggest “rock ’n’ roll moment” in the Valley.
Tony Vacca and I were asked to play on New Year’s Eve outside on a stage in front of the Hotel Northampton in below-freezing temperatures. We began playing 20 minutes before midnight, and we were jamming! Within five minutes, my face became numb and my fingertips froze to the point that I could not feel my fret board. But as they say, “the show must go on.” With snow blowing on us from the roof, and the wind blowing swiftly, Tony and I played more intensely for the hundreds in attendance. As the countdown began, I decided to raise my bass up to my face, hit my distortion pedal and with snow and wind blowing, I did it—I played the bass with my teeth, all the while thinking “This is insane!” That was a moment that no one is likely to see ever again.What’s the name of the last song you wrote? What’s it about?
Last song I wrote—“Mr. Kool, It is What it is!” It’s about me, Jo Sallins, a.k.a. “Mr. Kool.”What’s your biggest complaint about being a musician in the Valley?
I am not a musician in the Valley. I’m a full time musician everywhere else.What other Valley band (or solo artist) do you like or look up to?
I like Ed Vadas. He doesn’t take shit from anybody.If you could be any musician, alive or dead, other than yourself, who would it be?
I would be two—Chick Corea and Victor Wooten. I would then imagine morphing the two into one person that could simultaneously play Chick’s fast flicks with his right hand, and play with Victor’s passion and groove with his left hand. Oops! That’s me! I guess I can’t imagine being anyone other than myself.
Funk
Unit 7
Hometown: Northampton
Eric Olsson (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Joe “Jopey” Fitzpatrick (drums), Donny Hayward (bass), Dave Meausky (percussion), Gregory Lauzon, Richard Page, and Tom Mahnken (saxophones, backing vocals)The talented groovemasters of Unit 7 can be seen on on Oct. 3, when they play the Garlic Fest in Orange.
Punk
RabbitRabbit
Hometown: Northampton
Year formed: 2006
Band Members: Louise Chicoine (vocals), Lynelle Lefferts (bass), Jason Lavoie (guitar), Jeremy Dubs (drums), Jack Science (synthesizer)
What’s the name of the last song you wrote?
“Birth Jerk.” It bursted out like the alien in Alien.
Does your band have a mascot?
Scotty the hamster.What other Valley band or solo artist do you like or look up to?
Fuck you.
Reggae
Fear Nuttin Band
Hometown: Springfield
Year formed: 2001
Prowla (vocals), Roosta (vocals), Chris Tafari Boomblaze Regan (guitar) Matt Penza (drums) Jason Chung (guitar) Brian from Zion (thunder)What’s your biggest complaint about being a musician in the Valley?
The opportunity for all-ages shows for us is not what it is in the rest of the country. We usually do 18-plus or 21-plus around the Valley and all-ages everywhere else in the United States.What’s your favorite thing about being a musician in the Valley?
Our favorite thing about the Valley is our friends who come out and support at Maximum Capacity. Every time we go back there it’s crazy and packed in the club. Also the Valley has lots of talent—great metal bands, reggae bands, hip-hop bands.
Please describe your typical (or favorite) breakfast.
On the road our favorite spots for breakfast are Waffle House and Cracker Barrel. They are cheap and agreeable to everyone involved, so it’s not a hard choice. As soon as we get in the van, I always hear Prowla from the back with his big,deep Jamaican voice: “Waffle House.”
What is the worst song you’ve heard in the last six months?
Everything with the robot voice auto tune. It’s so fake. I can’t tell who is who anymore when I hear that. It takes the human element and soul out of music. No wonder kids don’t mind stealing music online—music has been cheapened with all of this computer technology.
Hardcore
The Devils Moses
Hometowns: Granby, Agawam
Year formed: 2007
Tom Deal (vocals), Jon Crosby (guitar, vocals), Matthew Fuller (guitars), Mike Cooper (bass, vocals), Bill Nacewicz (drums)
Electronica
Jeff Bujak
Hometown: Northampton
Year formed: 2007
Jeff Bujak (keyboards, electric piano, samples, programming, triggering, lights)What’s your biggest complaint about being a musician in the Valley?
I wouldn’t consider this a complaint, but more of a wish, but I wish the Valley had a bigger local live electronica dance scene. People seem to dig it (the New Deal packs Pearl Street and the Disco Biscuits rage two nights at the Calvin). The people want to hear it, but there are no smaller venues that regularly host live electronica music to spark the local scene. Albany and Hartford have incredible live electronica scenes. With that being said, no place beats Northampton’s rock scene, though! This is a truly great rock town. Always been. It just might not be for electronic music.
Does your band have a mascot?
A seahorse. No, no, no… a flying seahorse with a laser. Yeah, that’s it.
What is the worst song you’ve heard in the last six months?
…I heard a part of a song the other day that talked about detachable appendages. Informative, yes. Inspirational, no.
What other Valley band (or solo artist) do you like or look up to?
I really like Mark Schwaber’s songwriting and choice of chord progression. I don’t think I’ve ever told him that… I also really like Leah Randazzo’s vocal ability and choice of tone. I think I’ve told her that before. …
Pop
Tailor Made
Hometown: West Springfield
Year formed: 2006
Tim Rapa (lead vocals, guitar), Mike Cooper (bass), Kurt Shouse (drums), Aaron Orsucci (lead guitar)
What’s your favorite thing about being a musician in the Valley?
Knowing bands from the Valley have made it out of the Valley and have been extremely successful. Gives you hope!
What’s your beverage of choice?
Metamucil. We are not as young as we once were. Gotta keep regular.What other Valley band (or solo artist) do you like or look up to?
Pete Garvy! He is not afraid to wear a miniskirt and belly shirt on stage!
Traditional Jazz
Leah Randazzo Group
Northampton-based Leah Randazzo makes a habit of writing hard-hitting songs that venture into ’70s soul and jazzy grooves, and she leads the proceedings with a huge vocal presence.
Latin
Viva Quetzal
Hometown: Northampton
Joe Belmont (guitar), Roberto Clavijo (South American wind and string instruments), Juan “Manolo” Vazquez (bass), Jon Weeks (flute, saxophone, percussion), Jeff Nissenbaum (drums), Abraham Sanchez (keyboards)Viva Quetzal is based in Northampton and has been playing for nearly two decades. On Oct. 5, the band plays live on the cable program, Homegrown, broadcast from Greenfield—fans are welcome on the set, or you can tune in from home.
World
Tony Vacca and World Rhythms Ensemble
Hometown: Northampton
Year formed: 1991
Tony Vacca (balafon, gongs, percussion and spoken word), Tim Moran (saxophones), Derrik Jordan (electric violin, percussion, vocals), Joe Sallins (electric bass, percussion), Steve Leicash (djembe, congas, balafon, percussion). Regular special guests include Massamba Diop (tama drum), Sekou Sylla (djembe, dance) and Abdou Sarr (dance)Tell us about your biggest “rock ’n’ roll moment” in the Valley.
Well, Joe Sallins and I were invited to perform as part of the Northampton Arts Council’s Summer Fundraiser, and that year’s theme was “Broadway Shows.” We picked Jesus Christ, Superstar which was pretty much a countercultural anthem and phenomenon in itself. Joe plays electric bass…very electric bass, as in “blow your-mind-what-is-he-doing?” electric bass, and I’m rocking my World Music hybrid percussion unit. We’re doing a medley/flow of tunes from the show, and trying to revisit the vibe of that time.If you’ve been to the Arts Council’s fundraisers, then you know that those shows seem to bring out the playfully freaky side of the Valley. So we’re playing, and sweating, and I’m looking out at the crowd… it’s looking like 1968-72 all over again, which is mostly a good thing, and then Joe breaks into the “sacred Hendrix box” and starts playing the Woodstock version of “The Star Spangled Banner.” There’s only one thing to do, and that’s rock it like Mitch Mitchell would have done, so I do my best to do just that, and I’m thinking as I’m playing to this gyrating ’60s-ish crowd, Yeah… maybe I should’ve gone the “rock route.” Naah. It’s cool just like it is.
What’s your favorite thing about being a musician in the Valley?
Well, if you live here, you know the Valley is a special, even extraordinary place. It offers a unique blend of forces, and I’d say the overall vibe is one that supports exploration and change. Somehow a critical mass of alternative mind-set was set in motion by a few brave souls, and their visionary courage created the a palpable sense that we, you and I, could and should attempt more of what we imagine is possible… Being a musician in the Valley, or anywhere, means that I am both the guardian of our legacy, and an instigator for change. So what I love most about being here is that I am surrounded by so much of the kind of energy and vibe that I thrive on, and that helps me see and feel how we are all so very connected.This doesn’t mean that the Valley somehow has less of its share of human suffering, or that somehow one less tear hits the floor around here. It just means that there is a powerful and healing energy within the critical mass of our collective vibe to deal with our struggles. This kind of thing is still somewhat rare in this land we call America.
Metal
Shadows Fall
Hometown: Springfield
Year formed: 1995
Brian Fair (vocals), Jon Donais (lead guitar), Jason Bittner (drums), Matt Bachand (guitar), Paul Romanko (bass)Shadows Fall is an internationally admired heavy metal band based in Springfield. They’ve been playing since 1995, have been nominated for Grammies twice, and have a song on Guitar Hero. They’re currently touring nationally to support their new album, Retribution, and can next be seen at Hartford’s Webster Theatre on Oct. 10.
Swing
The Primate Fiasco
Hometown: Northampton
Year formed: 2006
Dave DelloRusso (banjo, vocals, harmonica), Steve Yarbro (clarinet, sax, vocals), Chris Trevethan (drums), Nick Borges (trumpet, vocals), Will Choe (tuba, trumpet, trombone), Tim Boucher (sousaphone)Tell us about your biggest “rock ’n’ roll moment” in the Valley.
Watching the audience boo an officer away from us while playing on Main Street.What’s your biggest complaint about being a musician in the Valley?
It’s not Europe or Japan.What other Valley band (or solo artist) do you like or look up to?
Rusty Belle. Because, duh… they rule. Also Swing Caravan because they, too, swing it like a battle axe.
How did you learn to play your instrument or sing?
Community service sentence. Only 100 more hours to go!
Tribute
Back in Black
Back in Black is an AC/DC tribute band based in Springfield. On Oct. 2, they play at Maximum Capacity in Chicopee with Flesh & Blood.
Blues
Barely Legal
Hometown: Springfield
Year formed: 2005
John Fitzback (guitar, vocals), Paul Seifert (bass), Mike Fitzback (guitar, backing vocals), Bryan Klein (drums), and original members include Paul Jennings (vocals, keyboards, harp) and Dave Bayard (drums)
What’s your beverage of choice?
Ice cold Narragansett Lager because it tastes great and they sponsor us.
What other Valley band (or solo artist) do you like or look up to?
There’s so many that deserve mentioning, so I hate to focus on just one, but Chris Piquette (The Inside Job, Alternative Nation) is one of the most natural guitarists I’ve ever seen play. The kid is just awesome and gets better every time I see him play!
Hip-Hop
The Problemaddicts
Hometown: Amherst, Northampton, Springfield, Ashfield
Year formed: 2006
Vorheez (MC), Tone (MC, production) 1ne Man Sound (MC), Black Buddha (MC, occasional beatbox), Force (MC), DJ Theory (production, studio DJ) and the DJ du jourTell us about your biggest “rock ’n’ roll moment” in the Valley.
Tone stage-diving at a couple shows, then having a kid come up and tell him “You kicked me, and I thought you broke my nose, so I had to go to the hospital. It was awesome!”What’s your biggest complaint about being a musician in the Valley?
We need more all-ages venues—one in Amherst, especially. Aside from that, it’s the negative attitude that some places and police have about hip-hop in general. The Northampton police have targeted hip-hop nights as being a negative influence or gathering place for criminals, which just isn’t true.
Your favorite thing about being a musician in the Valley?
The solid roster of great acts that embrace originality. The people have been so great and generous with us and a lot of other acts—a complete 180 from the previous question.
What is the worst song you’ve heard in the last six months?
Do they still make good music? God, anything by Drake,or rappers with “Young” or “Lil” in their names.
