Rocket Shop 5/9/2012: Girls Rock Vermont

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Girls Rock Vermont

Words by John Powell. Photo by Kendra Merrill.

The crew of Girls Rock Vermont joined guest host Johnny Powell on Rocket Shop tonight:

I was stoked to guest host Rocket Shop again, this time with co-host Wylla Skye. We talked about our upcoming fundraiser in City Hall Park for the Solar Sister Project. We’re opening a nonprofit, solar-powered music venue and community space. The event is 2pm-8pm on Saturday, May 26th in the park. Music. Yoga. Food. Face painting. Massage. We got it all. More info is at www.solarsistervt.com

Then we met up with Christine Mathias and Naomi Gallmidi to talk about Girls Rock Vermont, a summer camp open to 8-18 year-old girls that want to learn music. It’s not just for rockers. Hip Hop, Country, and any other genre is part of this wonderful camp that helps break down stereotypes and the affects of media. It’s July 30th-August 4th and more info is at www.girlsrockvt.org.

Thanks to Christine, Naomi, Wylla, and Big Heavy World for another great Rocket Shop.

The Heavyfest Radio Ad (Thank You, Magic Hat, WIZN, With A K, and 99.9 The Buzz!)

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Heavyfest Poster

Thank you Erik Hopwood of With a K studio for producing this radio ad with Dani from Magic Hat, and thanks to Heavyfest sponsors 99.9 The Buzz and WIZN for broadcasting it! Erik also did a version that’s airing on 105.9 The Radiator.

Heavyfest Radio Ad

Rough Francis to Play Heavyfest May 19

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Rough Francis

Words byJohn Howland. Photo by Shyne Lynn.

Hailing from Jericho, Vermont, Rough Francis, descendants of the recently rediscovered punk legends and forbearers, Death, joins the line up at this year’s 2nd annual Heavyfest at the Magic Hat Artifactory on Saturday, May 19th. Heavyfest, put on by Magic Hat with support from Halogen Media Works and many sponsors, is a  celebration of Burlington’s own non-profit music organization Big Heavy World. The festival features talented performances by Burlington greats as well as what’s sure to be a killer after party at Nectars.

After discovering Death, a Detroit punk band from the 70s comprised of their father and two uncles, Rough Francis was formed. Getting started covering the songs that pump ferociously through their bloodlines, Rough Francis is responsible for the rediscovery and resounding reemergence of Death—who has been described by Jack White as, “Ahead of punk, and ahead of their time.” A few years later, Death has been accredited for their tireless work that took place over thirty years ago and Rough Francis has moved on to their own gut-busting yet soulful ouvre of original tracks. In fact, the boys in Rough Francis are stoked to announce the release of their newest album ‘Maximum Soul Power’ which they hope to drop in the fall of 2012.

“We’re just really excited to get a chance to play with all our friends,” Bobby Hackney, the band’s vocalist and front man, said when talking about playing Heavyfest. The band couldn’t be more appreciative of all that Big Heavy has provided them—especially the van! “You get a nice sense of community when playing Heavyfest because it is a showcase of all different local sounds. It’s a cool way to do something different with some friends,” Hackney said as the boys look forward to reconnecting with many of the musicians they grew up with, while shaking things up on stage.

Be sure to check out Rough Francis and all the sensational acts that will be taking the stage at this year’s Heavyfest. For more information and access to Heavyfest’s lineup, check out: magichat.net/heavyfest or the home page of Big Heavy World. For more on Rough Francis be sure to check out: http://www.roughfrancis.com/ Don’t miss Heavyfest!!!!!

Big Heavy & Halogen Offer Tix to Hawthorne Heights; Bombardier to Pilot, MORE 6/5!

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Hawthorne Heights

Hawthorne Heights

Thanks to Halogen Media Works, Big Heavy World has free tickets to Hawthorne Heights at the Rusty Nail on Tuesday, June 5 at 7pm, with local support by the awesomeness of Bombardier to Pilot as well as Life On Repeat, Forever Came Calling, Failsafe, and super prime.

Bombardier to Pilot

Bombardier to Pilot

High School Juniors and Seniors – Get a group of four of you together and send the names of three local band names that you’ve been to see or want to see; your names/emails; and the name of the person who will be driving you to the show to info@bigheavyworld.com. Check the Big Heavy World Band Guide to explore Vermont bands you might not have heard of, http://bigheavyworld.com/bands.php . We’ll give the tickets away until they’re gone!

The Rusty Nail is at 1190 Mountain Road in Stowe (here’s the map). If you’re not a high school junior or senior but still want to go, check FlynnTix for info.

Christopher Johnson Joins BHW Crew

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Christopher Johnson

“I’m Christopher Johnson a graphic design student looking to gain some experience by offering services to Big Heavy and enjoy the local music scene. I tend to spend most of my time practicing illustration and experiencing pop culture. I also am hoping to learn website development and/or Flash animation. Although I primarily listen to rap and Vermont isn’t well known for that I do enjoy other styles of music as well. I heard about Big Heavy World through another volunteer who said it was awesome.”

Photo by Lily Chau.

Dave Keller on the Taz Michaels Show

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Dave Keller. Photo by Lily Chau.

Words by John Howland. Photo by Lily Chau.

Montpelier’s own soulful bluesman Dave Keller stopped in this week for the second hour of a heavy-hitting Tazday Twilight Blues. Fresh off his big win for the Best Self-Produced Blues Album of 2012 at the International Blues Challenge, Memphis, TN, sponsored by The Blues Foundation, Keller is pumped and ready to keep pushing his music. Armed with a solid lineup of upcoming shows, Keller is looking to keep the fire underneath ‘Where I’m Coming From’ lit while preparing to head back to Memphis to take part in some co-writing, with some of the industries best. It won’t be the first time Keller gets to work with the greats; as it was an unforeseen encounter with his idol, Ronnie Earl, at a Stevie Wonder show that lit the match underneath his carrier.

After meeting Earl in 2009, Keller appeared on Earl’s 2010 album, ‘Living in the Light.’  The album received a BMA nomination and Keller has been steadily gaining recognition since—the Mighty Sam McClain said, “He’s for REAL. Y’all check him out!” Dave is definitely for real and its about time people started tuning in to what the twenty-year blues veteran has to say. Besides the thrilling success of ‘Where I’m Coming From,’ Keller is also still promoting his first, self-produced album, ‘Play for Love,’ released in 2007.

It couldn’t be clearer that the love is what it’s all about for Keller as we talked about the long road to where he stands today. “I tried to play anywhere that would have me,” he commented, when talking about his early pursuits in the Burlington scene. Keller didn’t start playing the guitar or listening to the blues until he got hooked on Hendrix and was half way through his English degree at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. “I was allowed to not be good enough and still play live,” he said as he talked about his love for Burlington’s supportive scene and his disappointment in society’s notion that you have to be talented to play on stage. Doing what you love is what drives Keller as he said, “If you keep doing things that you love, how can you not be successful at it.” Keller’s tenfold dedication to his passion is inspiring and should be a model for how we all go about our days.

Despite being a busy father of two, Keller has got a lot on his plate in the next month as he and good friend Johnny Rawls will be touring the Green Mountain State with shows at The Black Door, in Montpelier on Thursday, May 3rd at 8:00; The River Arts Center, in Morrisville on Friday, May 4th at 6:00; Stone Church Arts in Bellows Falls on Saturday, May 5th at 6:30 and Club Metronome in Burlington on Sunday, May 6th at 6:30. After his four-show stint with Johnny, you can look for Keller at the Rum Boogie Café in Memphis, Tennessee on Wednesday, May 9th at 5:00 and at the North Atlantic Blues Fest on the 14th and 15th of July in Rockland, Maine. I know I say it all the time, but I’ve been blessed to meet some truly inspirational and highly talented musicians. So, if you’re into the blues, you’re not going to want to miss out on what Keller’s got in store. For more information on Dave Keller and his growing career as well as live tracks check out:

http://www.davekeller.com/
http://www.reverbnation.com/davekellermusic
http://www.myspace.com/davekellermusic

Rocket Shop 4/18/2012: Duane Carleton; Other Cities

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Other Cities. Photo by Sophia St. John-Lockridge

Interview by Andy Bruhns.

Last week on Rocket Shop we had a great time talking to Duane Carleton about topics spanning from vinyl and album art, to The Band and locally grown Vermont music.  Duane, who hales from the Killington area, came in to talk about his new album ‘Rust’, which he dedicates to Vermont family farms. He says ‘Rust’ can be looked at two different ways; first as a collection of songs, each strong enough to stand alone, and second as a complete and cohesive “full album experience.”

Talking about old record styles and techniques led to the topic of vinyl records, something everyone in the studio could chip in on and get excited about. “I miss vinyl, I miss album art” said Duane, “there’s a lot of cool things about vinyl.  Like you got stuff that came inside the album, and it was also piece of artwork. It’s hard to get the same effect on a CD cover”.

It was clear that Duane was full of great stories from the road and accounts with famous music heroes. Before we knew what happened out time was up, but we hope he returns soon (and brings his 1963 Fender Stratocaster).

Duane Carleton. Photo by Michael O'Brien.

Until then you can go see Duane and his band The Backwoods Messiahs play an acoustic show at South Station in Rutland, Vermont, on May 5th.
Also on his website at www.duanecarleton.com

The Rocket Shop playlist:
Duane Carleton, “In a Nowhere Town”
Duane Carleton, “Leaving Despair” featuring Laura Molinelli
Duane Carleton, “Take Me to Chelsea” featuring Garth Hudson (of The Band)

Austin Pine Joins BHW Crew

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“I’m Austin Pine, a Burlington native and I’ve had a passion for music since I was banging on pots and pans as a three-year-old. I joined the Big Heavy World crew through a class at Burlington High School that requires 40 hours at an internship of the student’s choice. It seems, however, that my time spent at Big Heavy will be more than just required hours. It will be a learning experience to see what I want to do in the massive field of music. Being a high school Junior it seems like the right time to explore options in music, and BHW is a great environment for that. Hopefully I can bring another creative mind to the workspace.”

Steph Pappas to Play Heavyfest May 19 at Magic Hat

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Words by Sarah Frazier. Photo by Bethany M. Dunbar.

May 19th, The Steph Pappas Experience joins the extensive lineup of the 2nd annual Heavyfest concert at Magic Hat’s Artifactory, in celebration of – and benefit for – Big Heavy World. Gaining a substantial following through both her band’s indie folk-blues sound and Steph Pappas’ own colossal onstage presence, the appearance is sure to draw a crowd.

Gifted both lyrically and experience-wise, Steph and the Steph Pappas Experience can jam with the best of them, with a mix of acoustic, electric guitar, harmonics, and a voice to howl the blues. When Steph Pappas alternative sound found an ally in Jim Lockridge of Big Heavy World, a friendship followed. As a personal fan, the Steph Pappas Experience was thrilled to have a part in this year’s Heavyfest, finding Big Heavy World to be, “an empire between artist and community,” and a perfect outlet for youth and others alike to get hands-on learning experience through various musical projects.

A self-described blues/punk band, Steph is inspired often by the Vermont landscape. In fact, a key facet of her act comes from her own Vermont experience. “While hiking I found a spot to make my voice echo. Then I tried to yodel. Soon I incorporated yodel’n at my shows.” And she’s been yodeling ever since.

Steph tells me while blues/punk is their normal M.O., fans can expect a more heavy sound in songs such as “Energy,” which will be on the Heavyfest compilation CD. “[I] thought that song best fits with what Heavyfest has been musically known to be about, so it’s alil’ heavier sound w/ a rap twist, Pappas Style.” However, besides their Heavyfest presence fans can look forward to the Steph Pappas Experience on their ‘Who’s Yer Cowboy’ tour starting this May, and participating in an eight-jam-session filming called ‘What’s Happening at Vibesville!’ On the solo side, Steph is also jumping into the studio to lay down harmonics and a duet with other acts, as a well as preparing to release her own recordings.

With a killer onstage presence, and Vermont-inspired lyrical yodeling, how can you go wrong? Watch the Steph Pappas Experience and the rest of the Heavyfest lineup this May 19th at the Magic Hat Brewery in South Burlington and support the efforts of the nonprofit, volunteer-run Big Heavy, and the acts that make their job worthwhile.

Jess Iacobone Joins BHW Crew

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“I’m Jesse Iacobone, born in Leominster, Ma. I’ve been up in Burlington for the last three years going to Champlain College for a degree in graphic design. One of my final senior classes has brought me to Big Heavy to broaden my horizon and get a first hand glance into the art and music community that they have built. In my spare time you most likely will find me working on a bike, drawing, or playing basketball. Come out and join me!”

BHW & The Radiator at the CEDO/SBA/CVOEO Spring Small Business Fair

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The Big Heavy crew had the honor of MC’ing at the Spring Small Business Fair in City Hall this afternoon, hosted by Burlington’s Community & Economic Development Office, the Small Business Administration, and CVOEO’s Micro Business Development Program. We hung out with Federal, state and local organizations, lenders, venture capital organizations, marketing professionals, and more, and talked with a lot of people about how supporting The Radiator as an underwriter was a great (and inexpensive) way of getting the word out. The Fair presented three free workshops on Commercial Credit: Getting the Money You Need; Guerrilla Marketing: Creative and Low Cost Ideas for Getting the Word Out; and Listening to Your Business. It’s a pleasure to be a part of an effort to support local small businesses, wishing the best to everyone who came out!

Zoë Ketcham-Harvey Joins BHW Crew

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“My name is Zoë Ketcham-Harvey. I’m a 17 year old high school senior, born and raised here in Vermont. I grew up listening to Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones. My passion for classic rock definitely remains, but I have a love for every type of music. I love writing, art, and exploring new artists. I’ve been really interested in pursuing a career in event management next year, and thought that Big Heavy World would be an awesome place to get involved in the Vermont music scene.”

Video: World Record Cowbell Ensemble On Church Street

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Video by James Lockridge.

Here’s video of the Phish/Ben & Jerry’s world’s largest cowbell ensemble gathering to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the B&J ice cream flavor “Phish Food” and raise money for the band’s Waterwheel charity to support Irene recovery in Vermont. A couple more videos from the event are on Big Heavy World’s YouTube Channel, too. Thanks to the 2,000+ people who have already viewed it – you make it fun to share! Thanks also to the Providence Journal in Rhode Island for bringing attention to it.

Here’s some pics:

Rocket Shop 4/4/2012: Spit Jack; Quiet Lion

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Spit Jack.

Words by Skyler Lendway. Photos by Kendra Merrill.

Spitjack members Mike Tuhey and George Eget appeared in the BHW studio again last night to join Samantha for ‘Rocket Shop.’ When asked about their intentions showing up, Tuhey just laughed. “I don’t know, man. We were just getting some food when [Mike] Forester told us we should head up here.”

As the only two members of the group in town, Tuhey and Eget had come to showcase their latest EP, ‘Whisky Eyes,’ which was released at Club Metronome on March 28. The guys had had a great reception – over 150 people at the show, which we hope to have footage of available soon. When asked to describe the show in three words, Tuhey gave me five: “sexy, crazy, out-of-control.” They were excited about the amount of airtime the album has been receiving, both here on the Radiator and at WMRM 95.1, an independent station in Warren, Vermont.

The guys are looking forward to a small slew of private shows they have booked for May. They also wanted fans to know that their website has been improved, and is now located under a .net address. For more on Spitjack, check the new site out here: http://www.spitjackband.net

Quiet Lion.

Justin Gonyea & Get Stoked! Records Release H.E.L.L. Comp

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Words by Andrew Bruhns.

A few weeks back Justin Gonyea from Get Stoked! Records came on Rocket Shop to promote the Big Heavy World 16 year Birthday Bash. While he was here Justin told us about the organization he’s been involved with called H.E.L.L. (or, Helping Everybody Live Longer). H.E.L.L. was formed in Boston back in 2007 in response to the deaths of two fellow bikers Gordon Riker, and Kelly Wallace. Ever since the beginning they’ve been raising money to outfit Boston’s cyclists with helmets, bike safety gear, and bike safety information.

While Gonyea is a Vermonter these days he still found a way to help out the cause. With Get Stoked! Justin has released ‘One H.E.L.L. of a Compilation’ in memory of Gordon and Kelly. The project, which started out small, quickly grew into a compilation of over 70 songs. As word of the album spread the larger the support grew, and friends of Gordon and Kelly reached out from all over the world to lend a hand. Many of the contributing bands are from Boston and around the northeast, but there were submissions from the Midwest, California, and as far away as Japan. The proceeds from the compilation will go to help fund H.E.L.L., buy more helmets, and make the biking world a little bit safer for all of us.

You can learn more about H.E.L.L. at: http://helpingeveryonelivelonger.org/about/ The compilation, and other H.E.L.L. merchandise is available at: http://www.getstokedrecords.com/

Rocket Shop 4/11/2012: Rik Palieri

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Rik Palieri.

Words by Andy Bruhns. Photo by Kendra Merrill.

Rik was no stranger to our studio as he hosted a show called ‘The Lonesome Traveler’ on the Radiator about six years ago. Rik brought some music to play, but what he really brought to the show was some great storytelling. Over Rik’s 40-year musical career he’s played with the likes of Utah Phillips, Pete Seeger, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, and many more. He’s played in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, South America, and Europe, and he talked about his recent trip to Israel.

Rik’s stories were endless, and he kept everyone captivated with descriptions of playing “Blinded by the Light” with Bruce Springsteen, performing at the Jacob’s Ladder festival on the Sea of Galilee, and having his VCAM show ‘The Songwriters Notebook’ archived by the Library of Congress.

Rik also talked about the importance of the traveling musician, and how artists need to take risks and try new things in order to get their music heard. He stressed how music can help bring people together by providing an avenue to share one’s experiences with new communities and audiences. Rik leads by example, and as long as he keep playing, the world of folk music will be a better place.

More information about Rik can be found at: http://www.banjo.net/

The Rocket Shop playlist:
Rik Palieri, “The Road is My Mistress”
Rik Palieri, “Wolfsong”