They didn’t get lucky, and can never be accused of being an overnight sensation. Rather, Illinois-based indie faves The Academy Is (TAI) have been doing all the little things right for a very long time. From podcasts to blogs, street teams to their own TAI TV, the nearly decade-old quintet has deftly worked every platform available in its quests to be heard.
Now, on the heels of a CD release that Rolling Stone has included in its Albums of The Year and a stint on the Alternative Press tour, The Academy has been awarded one of the most coveted opening slots in the industry.
” We’re supporting rock and roll legends KISS, so bring your mommy… your daddy… and even Happy Gilmore’s grandmother, as long as she brings her KISS mask,” declares bassist Adam Siska.
In between the blood and fire, Siska and bandmates William Becket, Mike Carden, Michael Guy Chislett and Andy Mrotek say they’ve also decided to utilize downtime in the tour to set up a series of smaller shows, including a Pearl Street stop Aug. 10.
“These shows will be the most intimate we’ve ever done,” Siska continues. “We will be playing a wide variety of our material and taking requests.”
The Academy Is will rejoin the “Gods of Thunder” Aug. 19 at Mohegan Sun.
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Speaking of the Sun, your friendly neighborhood Crawler recently caught one of his favorite tribute bands—Big Shot—there, fresh off their July 9 performance for the annual Enfield, Conn. summer celebration. Be it the cozy confines of the casino’s Wolf’s Den or the vast expanse of the Enfield Town Green, this band’s raw talent and meticulous attention to detail is never lost in translation. In fact, Big Shot has actually become a pretty big deal in its own right, with many fans lingering after both performances for photos, autographs and the like.
Originally a straightforward ode to Billy Joel, the Long Island-based sextet has evolved beyond Billy in recent years to include spot-on renderings of other artists, including Journey (although they purposely opted not to do this in Enfield in light of the fact that Journey tribute band proper Frontiers was opening—a true act of mercy, considering that singer Michael DelGuidice delivers a far superior Steve Perry performance). Big Shot’s stab at Zep’s “Whole Lotta Love” also affords drummer Michael Sorrentino the opportunity to drop a few jaws.
More recently, the band has also been injecting the DelGuidice-penned original “Over and Over Again” into the mix. It’s a standout track from his debut studio effort, Miller’s Crossing, melding Joel’s pop sensibilities with intense vocal flourishes reminiscent of Chris Daughtry and his rocky rasp.
Big Shot is currently in the Bahamas performing at a string of private parties at the posh Atlantis, but returns to Rookie’s in Cromwell, Conn. Aug. 28 and the Norwalk Oyster Festival Sept. 12.
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Last up, Valley upstarts the Drunk Stuntmen will be on their best behavior this Saturday, Aug. 7 when they take the stage at Bourne Scenic Park (bournescenicpark.com).
“This is a family-friendly event, and a longstanding Stuntmen tradition,” the band reports. “Bring the kids and the cooler and enjoy our annual summer concert at this affable campground.”
And please, folks, no requests for the band’s 1998 classic “Fuckwell” this evening.
Catch the Nightcrawler every Wednesday at 8:50 a.m. on the Steve Cantara Radio Show, WRNX 100.9 FM. Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, PO Box 427, Somers, CT 0071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email garycarra@aol.com.
