Aug. 11 Grooove Invasion At MoCABy Susan Bush 12:00AM / Monday, August 08, 2005
North Adams – What’s your pleasure?
Be it old-school punk, indie rock, ska, or post hardcore, four bands from Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York are set to bring it on at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art’s Club B-10 on Thursday night, courtesy of the city-based Grooove youth-led music initiative.
The “Grooove Invasion†kicks off at 7 p.m. and tickets will be sold at the door. Admission is $6 and refreshments will be served. Mass MoCA is located at 87 Marshall St..
All Grooove events are organized and promoted as substance-free venues.
Sound Mix
“Adora,†“Channel,†Kicking Sicily†and “Storming Normandy†are the featured bands; music from all four groups may be previewed at www.purevolume.com or www.myspace.com.
“Adora†hails from Pittsfield and a www.myspace.com/adoramusic visit will offer a mini-concert of music including “dry eyes unmixed†and “tragedy unmixed.†The band has a significant number of regional fans; check out their sound to find out why.
“Kicking Sicily†brings the brass to the party. The Valatie, N.Y.-based seven-piece ska band has played shows with groups including “The Toasters,†“Voodoo Glow Skulls,†and “Catch 22.†A www.kickingsicily.com web site offers a link to their music; click on “The Perfect Girl†and “Rude Attitude†for a sound check.
“Channel†is what happens when Ben Talmi, Luis Granda, and Matt Heisler turn it loose. The Pittsfield-based band can be heard at www.myspace.com/channelma, and the “must-listens†are “Dalton†and Revolution.â€
Jared Haskins, Mike Hamilton, and Nathan Long of “Storming Normandy†are scheduled to bring a punk rock sound from Bennington, Vt.. The www.purevolume.com/stormingnormandy website hosts an acoustic version of the band’s song “Later;†an edgier dimension of the band is spotlighted with the song “Re-Write.â€
The Grooove: Slackin' Lackin'
The Grooove has produced and sponsored a yearly multi-band concert at Mass MoCA since 1999. MoCA staff and interns assist with the event, and the concert stage, sound equipment and lighting are of professional quality. Most Grooove members are students enrolled at Drury, Hoosac Valley, Charles H. McCann, or Mount Greylock Regional high schools. Grooove members tackle nearly all aspects of the group’s endeavors, including organizing and publicizing the events and booking the venues.
Launched in 1996 by Allison Buck and Breanna Robinson when the two were sophomores at Drury, the Grooove has organized numerous concerts, youth workshops, and hosts regular “open microphone†performance sessions at local outlets. In 2003, Grooove musicians recorded a CD titled “The Grooove 100 % Substance Free†as a means of showcasing local youth talent and raising revenues for the initiative. The group was featured in the “Prime Times†section of the March 2005 issue of “Listen†magazine. The publication is dedicated to substance-free youth lifestyles and claims about 65,000 subscribers nation-wide. “Listen†is published by The Health Connection of Hagerstown, Maryland.
The Grooove is affiliated with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and the United Neighboring Interdependent Trusted Youth group. Massachusetts Cultural Council grants provide revenue to the initiative. Additional information about the Grooove is available by calling the community coalition office at 413-663-7588.
Susan Bush may be reached via e-mail at suebush123@adelphia.net or at 802-823-9367.
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