The Radar Screen
June 1, 2004
by Alexander Washburn

Beer and Music

Well, Radar Screen’s punk music has been fixed and that’s not just the upcoming Spitball reunion talking. Monday nights at The Collins Bar, a favorite Radar Screen haunt, Alan is behind the bar serving up Maredsous 8 while his I-Pod churns out some of the best new and old punk music ever made. Radar Screen has been all about expanding the musical base, and punk (a musical style that has never agreed with Radar Screen) is definitely one of them.

If it’s not Maredsous 8 and punk music, it’s Chris and Jason turning Radar Screen onto Widespread Panic over Arrogant Bastard Ales on the Upper East Side. Radar Screen listens to a diverse library of music, so its only natural that some popular groups don’t make the Radar Screen. Widespread Panic has always been one of them. Now, with two drinking buddies who appreciate a good beer when they drink – one preaching the gospel of Widespread Panic – its only a matter of time before Radar Screen will find himself looking for their new studio album Ball.

Back on the West Side, Radar Screen talked about the final break up of Phish over Rogue Dead Guy and Wagner Valley IPA with a lovely French bartender. She, like Radar Screen, is a reformed Phish-head but still felt sad that the band will no longer tour. Phish certainly jumped the shark years ago (the front page Arts Section in the NY Times only furthers that point) but Radar Screen will always remember the shows: whether it be Deer Creek in Indiana or the Air Force Base in Plattsburg. Not to mention all those Madison Square Garden shows in late-December. One night back in the late-90’s, fellow 2Walls scribe Jeff Fishman, accidentally dropped his ticket in a bar full of Phish fans, only to return later and find it in the same exact spot he dropped it. Proving Phish fans don’t steal or it’s really true what they say about your brain on drugs.

Deadline Past

This space waited patiently for months and months for my fellow scribes to write about the Bonerama show attended at Tribeca Rock Club back in (gasp) March. I guess Radar Screen is truly the only one who cares about bringing concert reviews to our adorning public.

As expected, Bonerama rocked even sans one “bone,” and perhaps played one of the best covers of Hendrix’s “Crosstown Traffic” these ears have ever heard. Also joining Bonerama was most likely the reason any of them picked up the Bone in the first place – Fred Wesley. Wesley didn’t stay long on stage but gave you just enough to want to hear Fred Wesley all night long. Drummer Stanton Moore did his thing, but judging from a response posted on the Bonerama website by “Tracy” – Shells and the other Boner Babes (who also made the trek to NYC), NOLA boy Chad Gilmore also did his thing and then some on drums. Look for the live album to hit stores this fall.

Speaking of Stanton Moore. One of his side projects, Garage a Trois is back in the studio recording a soundtrack to an untitled French film. As a bonus for fans, they’ve released for a limited time only, the first Garage a Trois concert from 2003 – Live from Colorado. The show showcases the amazing talents of the four band members and also highlights the second career Sherik could have as a standup comedian, fore he keeps you in stitches all night long with crafty one-liners.

This Month Radar Screen picks up…

Zigaboo Modeliste – I’m on the Right Track. Kathy Webster finally made sure that Ziggy’s latest made its way to the 2Walls newsroom and Radar Screen couldn’t be more thankfully. Ziggy was one of the original members of The Meters and listening to this record you can see that he has moved on from that raw funk which made The Meters one of music’s all-time treasures. If Michael Jackson can be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even though he never sang anything close to Rock and Roll, then so should The Meters. Ziggy’s record offers a steady groove that doesn’t skimp on the funk but doesn’t lay it on extra thick like he’s playing a 3am gig at the Maple Leaf. He might not have a voice like Marvin Gaye but the backbeat he provides throughout this record more than make up for that.

Chris Van Cott – Little Puppy. Thunder had just shaken the windows of the 2Walls newsroom when Radar Screen slipped in the first solo album from the former Other Natural Flavors front man, Chris Van Cott. The acoustic tunes that make up this record, Van Cott’s gentle guitar playing and interpersonal lyrics are perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. Van Cott’s experiences are clearly evident on this record, as he weaves top-notch storytelling into infectious melodies, always laying his sweet voice over his top-notch guitar playing. Standout tracks include “Got Me,” “SD Songwriters” and “My Favorite.” After a few years of tearing up the West Coast music scene, Van Cott is back in New York, where you can catch him on perfect summer night at your favorite coffeehouse. You won’t be disappointed.

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Liner Notes: Next month Radar Screen promises to get out to more shows and to find the right backup band to play behind his new favorite singer, Kristen Almon.

Got a band to back Kristen? Or a New York City show on a Monday or Tuesday night? Send it to the Radar Screen at radarscreen@2walls.com.

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