The Radar Screen
April 2003
by Alexander Washburn

Aren't We Suppose to be Boycotting the French? As picked up last month by Radar Screen, Garage a Trois does in fact has a new record slated for release. Mike Dillon now joins the regular trio of Charlie Hunter, Stanton Moore and Sherik on percussion and vibraphone. Radar Screen caught up with the 8-String Wonder Charlie Hunter at NYC's Mercury Lounge and asked why Garage added a fourth member, to which he replied: "We didn't think anyone spoke French." The new record, Emphasizer hits stores April 22nd.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK

A Sort of Homecoming: Radar Screen thrives on new music so it was a pleasure to venture out on another cold New York night to see Topaz at the Bowery Ballroom (3/15) for what was billed as a homecoming concert. Topaz is as non-offensive tenor saxophone player as ever existed – but for anyone who has ever seen or heard Karl Denson, Topaz is not blowing you away. Ditto for his backing band that can groove funk jams with the best of them – but they too, are still not blowing anyone away.

Where Topaz failed to ignite, opening act Umphrey's McGee will light that fire in your funkified soul. The six-piece band from Chicago gave a high-energy show that highlighted their creativity. The added element of percussion Andy Farag prevents Umphrey's McGee from sounding like your run-of-the-mill jam band. Set standouts included "All in Time", "The Emperor" and "Hurt Bird Bath". The show also featured both bands: Topaz and Umphrey's McGee not taking any set breaks. They kept the music going the entire time, switching members one-by-one. Great for music fans, horrible for bathroom and beer runs.

HEARD ON THE STREET

Following up on the success of the first installment, Sanctuary Records has announced the release of Volume 2 of Live from Bonnaroo 2002 featuring a new collection of tracks from Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and the L'il Rascals Brass Band.

And Speaking of Bonnaroo, this year's festival has sold out but those looking to get their summer festival fix on, head down to Augusta, New Jersey Memorial Day Weekend for Mike Arnone's 14th Annual Crawfish Festival. Not only will crawfish be in abundance so will the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Papa Grows Funk and original Meters drummer Russell Batiste.

2 Walls Webzine fave Leona Naess is finishing up her third record – following the much under-appreciated Comatised and I Tried to Rock You but You Only Roll, which were easily among the best records of 1999 and 2001. Naess returned to New York for a show this month and offered a sampling of the new tracks, plus highlights from her past work. No word on whether she made a cameo at the show of her songwriter/ producer Jason Darling the next night at the Bowery Ballroom.

INDIE RELEASES PICKED UP ON RADAR

Recorded and mastered in a small bedroom in a brick and tile unit in Takapuna Auckland, New Zealand, comes Plight, the one-man band that is Marc Beasley. For those who were wondering what ever happen to Matthew Sweet, need to look no further. Beasley is a lyricist not afraid to weave the shape of his tattered heart into his wisely crafted pop songs. Even though on songs like "She Doesn't Have a Clue", Plight tries too much to sound like the Beatles, Beasley manages to find his own voice and identity on "Something Good" and "You Can't Touch Me". On "Step Aside", Beasley reaches back to England, this time the Manchester sound perfected by the Stone Roses and the Charlatains UK, and unlike his Beatles voyage, hits this dead on.

The Radar Screen this month picks up more stories about the White Stripes – even Esquire ran a glowing review of White Elephant, no doubt in order to make their six-figure readers feel hip. It's getting to be about that time to get back to making music for making music sake and not to be billed as the "next" or "second-coming" of anything. With that being said Songs from the Music Box from 13 Stars comes along to defend those very musicians who were out to make just music and never bought into their own press. This aptly titled record looks down on highbrow critics (RS included) with lyrics like: "Why do you have to say I'm jaded? That I'm overrated? If you don't want to see me just turn off the TV" (That would be great advice if the other channels didn't have shit on them also.) 13 Stars takes me back to the days of the Screaming Trees, producing guitar-driven pop, rock songs that will shake the insides of any college town bar. "Never Look at You" is by far this month's Song in the Head.

And since baseball season is among us, it's totally appropriate for a package of CD's from Fenway Recordings in Boston to arrive. Fenway Recordings is the brand new label established by Grand Royal President Mark Kates and their first releases of 2003 highlight the diverse acts under the label. Among the highlights is Flag of the Shiners by State Radio. This EP is as strong as a rock record heard in a while but it doesn't reach its highlights until you hear the reggae influenced "Gunship Politico" and "The Legacy of Margaret Brown". It is on those songs that State Radio's strong political and social lyrics have the proper canvas.

STREET FIGHT

Any newspaper that deems Wilco had the best record of ANY year is always suspect, but what do you expect from the Village Voice, whose music critics have yet to grow up? Worse than the Village Voice is Mary Huhn, the music writer for the New York Post. It's obvious that Huhn is trying to act cool - for that can be the only explanation for her fawning of the over-hyped Raveonettes. As Huhn describes the Raveonettes as "reminiscent of the Jesus and Mary Chain" but nowhere in their B minor invested record Whip it On did Radar Screen hear anything closely morbid as "I want to die just like Jesus Christ. I want to die just like JFK. I want to die on a sunny day." The Raveonettes record sounds like a soundtrack to a real bad 1950's Sci-Fi movie and are far from the next big thing. Calling the Raveonettes musicians is a stretch – they're more like producers than musicians.

UP IN SMOKE

If you want to witness what musical ability sounds like than head over to Smoke on the Upper West Side, where any given night bassist Lonnie Plaxico and tenor saxophonist Cornelius Bumpers could show up for a free show. However, on Wednesday nights, the Hot Pants Funk Sextet holds court (also free) and this show, in this wintry economic climate should not be missed. Hot Pants serves up funk in the close, intimate setting of Smoke, weaving a set of originals and even throwing in the occasional Brand New Heavies song. Guitarist Al Street steals the show, doing his best Buddy Guy with guitar behind the head, running through the audience and all. While putting on this show, Street is also laying down some of the purest and deepest rhythms that set him apart from other guitarists on the funk scene. On given night, Hot Pants invites their fellow musicians on stage – so you never know when a soulful blues singer or Hammond B3 player might show up for a few selections. Radar Screen will spare you the 'best deal in town' designation but if you know of a better deal in town, put it on our Radar Screen.

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Liner notes: Got a 'best deal in town'? A hidden track suggestion? What about a listing? Send them along to radarscreen@2walls.com at The Radar Screen.

(Alexander Washburn is a volunteer staff writer for 2 Walls Webzine.)