A “Perfect Storm” is slated to touch down at Chicopee’s Maximum Capacity this Saturday, March 19.
Sorry, Walmart, but there will be no need for folks to stock up on water, batteries, flashlights,Vaseline or whatever else all those alarmist types go scurrying around for whenever such prophecies are made. For this forecast is rooted in a deep passion — and mastery — of music more than mere meteorology.
“Honestly, a lot of credit for this coming together goes to my fiancee, Lisa Marie,” Storm singer Livio Gravini revealed. “Of course, (guitarist) Jimi Bell and I played in Joined Forces years ago. And even though we have always welcomed other projects, Lisa began bugging me to play with Jimi again because she felt we had a Page and Plant connection. Then when we were on vacation in Florida last year, we saw my friend Stet Howland and jammed with him and Lisa said ‘He needs to play with you and Jimi.’”
For those playing along at home, Bell is best known for appearing in the movie “Light of Day” with Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett, famously reaching “second runner up” for Ozzy Osbourne’s band years ago (losing out to Zakk Wylde) but eventually playing with Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and shredding for the formerly Gene Simmons’ signed band House of Lords.
The stats on Stet are equally impressive.
“I started hitting things at 7, making musical sense at 9, teaching drums at 13 and touring at 17,” Howland howls. “I also played in one of the coolest bands of all time, Run 21, won the ‘Carmine Appice/Mattel Drum Off’ at the Hartford Agora and since played, recorded or both with Chris Impellitteri, Lita Ford and Blackfoot.”
Bassist Jan Dudek of Vice and keyboardist Mark Zito of Equinoxx round out the current incarnation of Perfect Storm. They performed one time last summer at Max Cap and return to the very same scene of the chimes for a sophomore engagement this Saturday, March 19.
“Some of us have tasted success more than others, but we are all still doing what we love and for that we are forever young,” Gravini concludes. “And this is a Storm that gets stronger in intensity every time it touches down, I promise!”
Tix for this 21+ show are $15 in advance and $20 day of show. Doors open at 9 p.m.
For those about to rock with AC/DC we … have our fingers crossed for you: Okay, so perhaps the Crawler is jumping the gun just a slight bit. But how exciting to even think about.
Last week, the rock community was saddened to learn that one of the genre’s bedrock bands, AC/DC, were forced to postpone the rest of their U.S. tour. The grinding halt — to cop one of the band’s recent offerings – their infamous “Rock ’n’ Roll Train” — came courtesy of an ultimatum from singer Brian Johnson’s doctor: “Stop touring immediately or face total hearing loss.”
So who just who could slide their head into Johnson’s infamous newsboy cap, fulfill the obligated dates and possibly usher the Aussie all-stars into yet another decade of decibel-delivery? How about the area’s own Tony Sitler, who’s been belting the very same tunes out for the nation’s premiere AC/DC tribute, Back In Black, for more than two decades himself?
“ I heard the news and we know a guy who worked with AC/DC’s management,” Sitler told the Crawler. “We sent them two videos and this same guy contacted me the next day to say they were received and they requested my contact info. He did add that no one is sure what the future will be. They may go with big name singer, even multiple singers…but the tribute singer is being considered. Hey, if it happens, I wouldn’t need that much rehearsal, would I?”
No you wouldn’t my friend. The Valley is pulling for you.•
Catch the Nightcrawler on Wednesday mornings with Leslie at 6:20 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. o Lazer 99.3 f.m. Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email garycarra@aol.com.
