Airwaves

by Brian Goslow

If the person delivering your phone books looked or sounded familiar, that's because it was Captain P.J. making a few bucks so he can keep bringing area listeners the newest sounds on the Rockin' Revolution, still holding down the midnight to 2 a.m. Tuesday slot on WCUW (91.3 FM). It's a subtle reminder that those who bring the eccentric sounds in the noncommercial side of the FM band do it out of love and dedication. If you haven't made a pledge to your favorite station's spring fundraiser, there's still time to show appreciation.

P.J.'s been traveling with the Mulchmen's Louder than Dirt -- Thicker than Mud (Big Beef Records). "This CD's filled with instrumentals done in the Ventures and Davie Allan and the Arrows vein." His favorite tracks are "Flippin' Out," "Sci-Fi Voodoo," and "Rumble 3000." He's also digging a new split 7" EP on Solamente Records. The Woggles do justice to the Pretty Things' "Buzz the Jerk," while Hillbilly Frankenstein sounds like the Cramps-meet-Southern Culture on the Skids. The Woggles also have their own disc, Do Just What I Say (Telstar). "They're a little bit of the garagey and Southern rock-and-rock influence, a combination of the three. They came up to the Middle East back in January from Georgia."

The In Out's Cosmosis (Vicer Versa) is the first full-length album from the Boston band, which, P.J. says, "sounds like they have a Red Crayola and Fuggs influence." His favorite tracks from these "three guys and a gal" are "Proposition Mental," "Club Blackout," and "T-Koff."

The Minneapolis-based Own feature former Foamin' Agents guitarist Mike Severens, and their debut CD The Other Parts (Severed Records) "comes from the classical side of music. It's kind of avant-garde." The group made an unadvertised visit to Ralph's a little over a month ago. "It was a Severens family reunion, minus Jamie [ex-Unattached vocalist]. Gene [who played locally with the Performers, Aggressions, Muffy and the Patriots, and Boneyard] was there with My Way. He married Jessica from the Royal Pimps [who's also in the band], who were figureheads at Ralph's in 1988."

Always dedicated to playing local bands, P.J.'s been widening his taste buds with "Locos," "Scenes," and "Eggplant" from Chillum '97 (East Coast Audio Enterprises). "It sounds better than their first CD. It's a little different from what I normally listen to, but I have to keep up with the times."

Almost every local DJ is playing Little Big Wheel's Home. "They're a very happening band who have been playing shows around town. They're a big draw. They packed the house at the Irish Times and the Last Strand Cinema, in Clinton. I was there with my puppets. They didn't know what to think of them in Clinton, but they enjoyed the sideshow."

From "out of the Midwest somewhere" comes Real Lulu's We Love Nick (Big Beef Records). "This CD reminds me a little of the Modern Method/Wicked Good Time compilations [collections of Boston-area bands from the '80s] with some power pop on the hard edge."

Captain's literary side is once again in print, but there's one small problem. "Fuz Brains issue three is out, but we haven't been able to find anyone to sell it in the city!" It contains P.J. interviews with Giorgio Gomelski ("He was the original Yardbirds and [Rolling] Stones manager, and was responsible for bringing the British Invasion to America.") and Jeff Conolly (Mono Man) of the Lyres. Call P.J. during his show at 753-2284 to get a copy. And keep rockin'!