How does it feel to be on your own, playing the music of the Rolling Stones?
Several prominent Valley-based acts are about to find out, courtesy of the latest installment of the Iron Horse's popular tribute night series. It's 'Exile on Center Street' this Thursday, Jan. 8, as Noho notables ranging from Steve Sanderson (of Drunk Stuntmen infamy), National Carpet, The Amity Front, Jose Ayerve and more get their sticky fingers on the sizable Stones' catalogue.
Considering the fact that he has been involved in similar audio odes to Neil Young, Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen in recent years, Thane Thomsen (The Figments) says he didn't have to beg to get in on the Mick-mimicking. He was already on the short list. But he did cover the band's "Ain't To Proud To Beg" with his then-band The Snails at his high school talent show, and that deep-rooted connection—coupled with an overarching, otherworldly affection for the Stones—motivated the talented singer/guitarist to sign on for multiple performances.
"If I was an ambassador to an alien world and had to express the essence of rock and roll, I would simply play a couple Stones songs," says Thomsen, who will perform solo and with the bands Sitting Next To Brian and The Dingle (which also features Matt Hebert, Dave Houghton and Jason Smith) at various points in the evening.
A novel twist that separates these Iron Horse productions from typical tribute fare is the rule that each act must match up its sonic send up with an original offering. That's a charge that should be particularly easy for yet another scheduled performer, The Novels. The local indie rockers were just at the Horse a couple of weeks ago celebrating the release of a brand new disc worth of tunes they call Paper Clich?.
In other news… as the region's finest cover for Mick and his mates, Western Mass.'s own Killswitch Engage is enjoying some time on the cover of a national publication of note. Revolver Magazine tapped the local metalmeisters to be the collective face of its 2009 Music Preview issue.
Apparently the mag—as well as the alternate press—believes the release of the band's fourth album this spring will be one of the most significant musical events of the annum. Perhaps adding to the anticipation is the fact that for the first time the band has opted to look outside its own for a producer (guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz manned the boards of all previous efforts) and has enlisted the services of one Brendan O'Brien of AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine/STP fame for the as yet untitled project. Dutkiewicz will take a co-producer credit.
Meanwhile, Killswitch's labelmates at Roadrunner Records, Nickelback, are already big rock stars… and their latest studio effort, Dark Horse, was recently released and predictably galloping up the charts as of press time. On the heels of said accomplishment, singer Chad Kroeger and company will begin 2009 with a world tour that will steer them clear across the U.S. and across the pond to Jolly Old England by May. So far, the trek contains at least two area dates: Worcester's DCU Center March 5 and the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville March 8. Tix for both are available now at ticketmaster.com.
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Last up, celebrated Irish tenor Ronan Tynan was recently forced to cancel his Calvin engagement due to an unspecified illness. While he will understandably jettison the Christmas theme he planned for the original show, Tynan has rescheduled for Feb. 21 at the Calvin and promises a mix of Broadway, pop standards and Irish favorites. Obviously, all original tickets will be honored for the newly announced show. Those seeking refunds should contact the Northampton Box Office (nbotickets.com) by Jan. 18.
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
