With some 30 heavy bands hailing from the world over, Hothfest 2016 organizers decided to jump ship on their originally scheduled venue. At the time, the future of Holyoke’s Waterfront Tavern was just too uncertain.
“It’s Jamie Cross’ show, and with the future of the Waterfront in question, I helped him rebook at Maximum Capacity,” recalls Kyle Small of the two-day, decibel-delivering show taking place Jan. 9-10.
Tying for longest commute are Germany’s Defeated Sanity and Scotland’s Iniquitous Savagery. Other regional Hothfest acts of note include New York’s Dehumanized, Hypoxia and Incontinence, Vermont’s The Aberration and Maine’s Hatred Alive. Admission is $20 a day, but that stated, those attending Saturday can come back Sunday at no additional charge. Hothfest is a 21+show.
And what will become of the Waterfront? Look for a full report on the fate of the historic venue next installment. For those who don’t do well with suspense, here’s a little spoiler alert from Maximum Capacity’s Donald Robert.
“We look forward to restoring the Waterfront to its former glory,” Robert says.
In other news, Colorway’s Alex Johnson checked in to report some new personnel and a pair of impending Saturday plays.
“The year is definitely starting out with a bang for us,” he says. “I guess the biggest news is that we have a whole new rhythm section from when we started. Matt Clegg and Riley Godleski — both from Shokozoba — are now in the band and are definitely bringing a fresh perspective with them.”
For a sonic sampling of said freshness, Johnson invites any and all to check out the band’s two sets at Noho’s Basement Jan. 9. Johnson will perform another “no dough” show, at Haydenville’s Bread Euphoria Jan. 16.
“Just me solo on that one, but I’m looking forward to it,” he says. “I’ve been creating music here in the Valley for a good 25 years now, and I’ll be drawing from all of it for this rare, solo acoustic gig.”
And as mentioned last week, The Fawns shake off a decade of studio rust with Goodnight Spacegirl, their first full length since 2006’s Nice Place To Be, at Noho’s Parlor Room Jan. 15.
According to the band’s Henning Ohlenbusch, there are a couple reasons why the highly anticipated recording took just slightly longer than Boston’s Big Dig to wrap.
“Most importantly, (frontwoman) Lesa Bezo wanted the new album to capture our live shows, so it was important for us to spend time with the songs, arranging and honing them” Ohlenbusch explains. “Other than that, we just chalk it up to an extended period of writer’s block that suddenly passes after all this time.”
Tix for this show are $10 and available at parlorroommusic.com.
Lemmy go, rock ’n’ roll: Sadly, yet another iconic talent was called up to the big rock show in the sky. Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister died just weeks after his 70th birthday and days after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Local Motorhead tribute band Bomber has at least two upcoming shows to honor and remember the wild man and his music. They’ll be invading Pittsfield’s Tavern At The A on Jan. 22, with The Damaged, Stiletto Bomb, and Dead Radio Rebels in tow and Max Cap on Feb. 13, with Alice Cooper coverband Sick Things and Sabbath sound-a-likes Bass Sabbath. In the wake of the news, Bomber frontman/Palmer resident Vinny Falkowski offered this open letter to his hero and friend.
“Dear Lem, There’s so much I could say. For 30-plus years I’ve had the pleasure of knowing you. My greatest musical influence, you are an inspiration to countless others and a shining example of uncompromising authenticity. You went with your boots on and Valhalla just got a fuck load louder!”•
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email garycarra@aol.com.
