If Holyoke heavyweights Stare Down the Sun are late for the headlining performance at Maximum Capacity Feb. 24, it’s a safe bet drummer Matt Raymond won’t be the culprit. If all goes as scheduled, the personable percussionist should be seated right by his kit onstage, having just finished playing with his other band, Gaiah.
“I practice with Gaiah on weekends and Stare Down during my lunch break Wednesdays,” Raymond says. “I will probably play about 10 to 12 songs with each band, so that’s not so hard. Back in November, I actually played four shows in seven days with four different bands. That’s when it gets tough to not only remember all the material, but even make sure I show up at the right gig!”
Also pulling double duty this Friday is Benjamin Jon, who will assume six-string duties for Stare Down and don a bass for opener Zamia. Also on the bill are Connecticut-based rockers Fear the State. Doors open at 9 p.m.
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Meanwhile, Western Mass. metalmeisters Revenge report that they have recently been inked to the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Eulogy Recordings label.
“We did a few tours and were able to get our music across to a good amount of people,” notes drummer Will Hirst. “Eventually we sparked the interest of Eulogy.”
“They told us they wanted to work with us and we all agreed they would release our next record, Hymns of Annihilation,” echoes guitarist George Barroso.
The disc drops this spring, coinciding with a New England Metal and Hardcore Festival appearance.
On a decidedly more subdued note, the friends of West Springfield’s Majestic Theater help their own Monday, Feb. 27 with “Music For Melissa”—a special evening of audio earmarked for Melissa Eaton (daughter-in-law of Majestic Theater producing director Danny Eaton) and her ongoing struggle with multiple sclerosis.
Lending sonic support are Floyd Patterson, Ray Guillemette, Jr. and Frank Manzi, to name a choice few. Tickets are $19 and $21. For more info or to donate, call (413) 747-7797.
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In other news, the area’s premiere purveyors of live entertainment, the Iron Horse Entertainment Group (IHEG), have proven they are pretty good “sports,” too. In a Feb. 9 release, the Holyoke Country Club (HCC) announced that IHEG, under the direction of owner/Holyoke resident Eric Suher, has finalized the purchase of the historic golf course and all the club’s assets.
The 106-year-old club is slated to reopen April 1 and is also available for banquets and private events. For info, visit HolyokeCountryClub.com.
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Last but not least… a happy ending. Your friendly neighborhood Crawler is referring to the fifth annual Happy Valley Showdown. Billed as a “Battle of the Bands that despises Battle of the Bands,” the Sunday series is actually more rooted in showcasing new talent than pitting area artists against each other, its organizers say. To that end, creator Mark Sheehan says that 2012 has already proved an unqualified success.
“We’ve had so many fans and bands interested that we had to extend the finals out another week [to Feb. 26] and are even looking at a larger venue to house it,” Sheehan says. All shows thus far have taken place at The Basement in Noho.
Among the finalists vying for prizes are post-punk princes The Crescents, swing/lounge act The Mary Jane Jones, electro-dance pop practitioners Home Body, garage rockers The Conjure Beat and mainstream heavyweights The Varlets.
To see who gets the final slot—and any updates on the venue for the finals—visit facebook.com/HappyValleyShowdown.
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email garycarra@aol.com.
