Area promoter John Tru may have built a name for himself in rock circles, but as evidenced by his upcoming Max Cap show this Friday, Oct. 3, he also boats a “li’l bit o’ soul.” Or should the Crawler say a high-profile Soul brother?

“I worked with Soulfly’s guitarist in November of 2013, so I had the connection,” Tru says. “Shortly after, they released Savages, and I, of course, was looking for an opportunity to book them. When I saw they had a single date booked for Oct. 4 in Lawrence, I knew it was the perfect opportunity.”

Lending sonic supporter to the Brazilian metalmeisters are East Haven, Conn.-based rockers Dead By Wednesday, Springfield’s Grzelakurse and Our Darkest Day plus Speak Well of the Dead and Cities in Ruin. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and available at purplepass.com.

 

In other news, Paul Sticca checked in to report that, after being cooped up in the studio for much of 2013, his Chickenyard has hatched its sophomore studio effort. And that’s a situation they are looking to celebrate when they play Holyoke’s Paper City Brewery Oct. 10.

“After introducing roughly 20 new songs to our live audience, we started recorded and whittled it down to nine cohesive tracks,” he explains of the finished product, dubbed Long Time Running. “Needless to say, I’m really pleased with it. The title track and another standout, ‘Stella,’ really brings out the country-blues within our foundational roots-rock sound.”

 

Meanwhile, over at Noho’s The One Bar & Grill this Friday, Oct. 3, fledgling cover band Cover Me holds court. Boasting former members of Miller’s Rib and Check Your Head, Cover Me considers everything from Duran Duran to Volbeat fair game.

“We try to be adaptable as possible depending on the venue,” frontman Dave Feeley says. “Every cover band does bar standards, but we try and throw the audience a few curveballs with pop songs, acoustic versions or, of course, rocking the double bass and cranking the amps to 11.”

 

Last but not least, a slight scare to report from the Aaron Lewis camp. On Saturday, Sept. 20, the hometown hero had apparently just finished up filming a segment for his Sportsman’s Channel TV Show On The Road when the private jet that was slated to take him to Tulsa, Okla. for a show that night veered off the the taxiway and became stuck in the mud.

“I’m so glad that we are safe, however, I am really sorry for the fans in Tulsa who were disappointed and let down with me not making the show,” the Staind frontman turned country boy later noted. “I promise I’ll be back to Tulsa soon.”

Lewis is presently serving as direct support to Brantley Gilbert’s Let It Ride tour on a bill that includes Bryan Davis and Chase Bryant.•

 

Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email garycarra@aol.com.