THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 20, 1994 TAG: 9407200057
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music review
SOURCE: BY SUE SMALLWOOD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
IF YOU WERE at the Antic Hay/Combine show at Norfolk sweatbox Friar Tuck's last month, you witnessed a deal-making performance. With rapt talent reps from uber-indie label Caroline Records in attendance, corrosive noise-rock trio Combine clawed and bludgeoned its way to a multi-album recording contract.
Though details have yet to be finalized, negotiations between band and label have progressed ``far enough that we feel comfortable enough to bring them up to the New Music Seminar to play our showcase,'' said Caroline Records honcho Brian Long from the label's New York City offices.
The New Music Seminar is an important annual music industry conference that introduces emerging talent to record companies, radio and the music press. The Caroline showcase takes place Thursday at Brownie's in Manhattan.
Caroline, which launched the careers of current heavyweights Smashing Pumpkins, White Zombie and Primus, among others, first heard a tape of the group's debut album, ``Norfolk, VA,'' originally slated for release on the tiny Texas indie label Staplegun.
``It's a really rocking, aggressive guitar record with really great lyrics and catchy, rocking songs,'' Long said of the band's appeal. ``We came down (to Norfolk) and, live, they just blew us away. That album kind of pales to what their real potential is. As they grow and play and tour, I think they're going to become an even better band - and that's really exciting.''
The album is scheduled for fall release.
Other local acts with new or forthcoming product they'll gladly swap for cold hard cash at a music store near you: Buttsteak, ``Moroccan VD CD LP'' (Go-Kart); Sea of Souls, ``Titanic'' (Trumpeter), which has risen to No. 59 on college-radio bible CMJ's ``Loud'' chart; and Ultracindy, whose eponymous LP on Caroline-distributed Earthling Records is due for release later this month. Ultracindy can also be found on compilations from Richmond's Brilliant and New York's Spinart labels.
Porstmouth-based Amendment Records now boasts new compilation releases from Norfolk hardcore death punkers Satyr and Missouri speedcore mavens Brine, plus a 7-inch single from heavy-groove rockers Moletree from Florida. Write to 580 Nansemond Crescent, Portsmouth, Va., 23707 for more info or to send demo material.
He's here, there, everywhere. Mike Lille's got to be the hardest working man on the East Coast music circuit. Since taking top honors at the New Folk Competition at the 1993 Kerrville (Texas) Folk Festival (joining the ranks of past winners Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin, among others), singer/songwriter Lille's been involved in a raft of recording and performance projects.
The Hampton Roads native, who now resides in Nashville, treks to the area regularly to play with the Famous Unknowns, his acoustic trio with Lewis McGehee and Robbin Thompson. Their debut album bowed in April. And he still tours as part of the popular acoustic group Speidel, Goodrich, Goggin and Lille, whose new gentle-rock LP, ``Half a World Away,'' was produced by Jon Carroll, keyboardist/vocalist for Mary-Chapin Carpenter.
You can catch Lille with the Famous Unknowns at the Norfolk Botanical Garden on Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and with SGGL at the Jewish Mother in Norfolk on Friday at 9:30 p.m.
Latest from contest-land: 7,196 unsigned bands nationwide sent off their stuff to the Ticketmaster Music Showcase, a 40-date ``tour'' spotlighting new talent for music industry A&R (that's artist and repertoire) pros. Grand prize: A weeklong session at Seattle's Bad Animals recording facility. Hampton Roads finalists are still being selected for the competition's Aug. 5 bill at the Peppermint Beach Club.
If hanging at the cheesy MTV Beach House is more your band's speed, get thy half-inch VHS video of your act's original, unpublished song (no more than three minutes in length) to MTV by Aug. 1. The grand prize winner scores a trip to New York to perform as the Beach House Band for a week, $10,000 cash, plus a spankin' new instrument for each band member. Send videotapes to MTV Beach House Band Contest, 1515 Broadway, Room 2326, New York, N.Y., 10036. Hey, it couldn't hurt. . . .
Band handle of the week: Veruca Salt, named after the spoiled rich girl who dropped down the bad-egg chute in ``Willy Wonka and the Chocalate Factory.'' If you missed the crunch-pop foursome's recent set at Hampton's Nsect Club, be sure to pick up their sweet-tart of a single, ``Seether,'' available on, uh, Minty Fresh Records (I swear, we don't make this stuff up).
And remember, I can't write about it if I don't know about it. Enlighten me to your local music, radio or nightlife news on the Soundcheck talk/squawkbox - 640-5555, category 3277 - or drop me a line at 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va., 23510. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Combine will play at the annual New Music Seminar showcase in New
York City on Thursday.
Hampton Roads native Mike Lille, second from right with the rest of
his group Speidel, Goodrich, Goggin and Lille, will perform in the
area twice this week.
by CNB