The Providence Phoenix   Local Anesthesia     Kind of blue - Remembering Rick Mendes                       Released: 07.23.04     Source: Providence Phoenix     Author: Bob Gulla     Original source link                 The local blues world was handed a devastating loss with the death of Rick Mendes. The former leader of Blueswagon and the Nightbirds, Mendes was a terrific arranger an enthusiastic blues scholar, and a tireless performer. His death last Friday from cancer at the age of 49 will leave a significant hole in the local music scene and we’re truly sad to have lost him. His most recent disc, Sunglasses and Raincoats, was released earlier this year. Knowing cancer had supplied him with a death sentence, he called up all his many musician friends, told them the situation, and that he wanted to record. They responded generously, not only because Rick was a popular artist, but because he was a good person who learned how to build bridges and not burn them. "We play music the swing crowd loves," Mendes said in an interview back in 2001. "They love it and we love to do it for them. How could it get any better? Well, I guess they could throw $1000 bills at us!" Mendes began his performing career back in the late ’70s when he fronted the Probers, a nearly famous bunch of locals that plied a new wave-ish sound good enough to pack the area’s larger clubs with regularity. After national success proved elusive, Mendes grew up (sort of) and went on to cover bands and then the blues. Most importantly, he never lost contact with the club scene, even while holding onto a day job. He lived for his music and died with it in his heart. Blueswagon played up to 180 gigs a year at their peak. Most popularly, they held down Wednesday nights at the Call’s blues/dance/swing nights. You know, the place with the free buffet. He was proud of the draw the band got on a normally quiet night: "We took a dull night and really pumped it up." Mendes pumped up whatever stage he stepped on, whether playing rock, pop, blues, or swing. And he always put 100 percent into his performances, most of which included covers of songs that Mendes discovered and introduced to the band. "We take great tunes and put our slant on ’em," he said. "They were beautifully written and performed in the first place and by many other acts since. We just want to take our place in the back of that line." Locally, they’d found their place in the back of a long, legendary local line, one that features legends like Duke Robillard, Greg Piccolo, Sugar Ray, and Roomful of Blues. "We’re staying true to the music we love," Mendes said. "But we’ve got a long way to go. The blues road is a long one." Here’s hoping at the end of that road, Rick, you find a good 12-bar blues band waitin’ for you, and a gold mike stand with your name on it.NOT SO ILLUSTRIOUS DAY. There’s unhappy news of a different sort from the Illustrious Day camp. Jackie O’Brien reports that her bassist Mark Plasse got relocated to another state for his real job and had to leave the band after a long stint. In the meantime, ID will be playing as a three-piece with Jim O’Brien on bass until the band finds an appropriate replacement. If you’re interested, it’s a particularly good time for the band, as they’re heading into the studio in August to record an EP. Somebody stepping in would receive good experience quick. In other ID news, Jackie’s DayGirl Music Publishing has officially licensed 11 songs, which comprise a large part of the music soundtrack for the indie documentary, Holy Water-Gate: Cover-Up In the Catholic Church. The music consists of previously unrecorded acoustic instrumentals by Jim and Jackie. The film, obviously controversial in nature, is just out of post-production and has not yet been released in the US but has been sold internationally to the CBC/Canada, Swiss, and Spanish broadcasters. "The film is expected to make the festival circuit and ultimately to a domestic broadcaster," says Jackie, "so we’re pretty excited about the exposure and determined to make some cash out of it one way or another with our music."SNOOZER. Snoozer supreme Susie Ghahremani is back to music, at least momentarily, following a career move that found her freelancing as an illustrator, a business she started in December. During that time, her work appeared on compilations, websites, magazines, and the rest. But music beckoned, pretty loudly in fact, and she found she couldn’t ignore it. To reconcile the two art forms, she’s decided to merge them, sort of. "I’m taking a little bit of both music and art on the road with a small tour," Susie says, "ultimately ending at Popfest in Athens with about a hundred other bands." At Popfest, Susie will be hawking wares of all sorts, from T-shirts and bags to buttons and bows. (OK, maybe not bows.) In addition, she’ll be playing some moog-infused sad/ happy songs with local drummer Cara Hyde. Handclapping will be added for rhythmic effect. The first night of Susie’s expedition begins on Saturday (the 24th) at the Green Room with Walker Kong and tourmates Shumai, a band recently relocated to Providence from Boston. Their new record, on the Total Gaylord imprint, is called Tastes Like Summer. Is it a merely a seasonal coincidence, then, that Susie’s recent Snoozer disc was titled Winter Stops All Sound? Hmmm?FUZEK-ROSSONI REUNION. It’s been a while since local songwriter and acoustic music poobah John Fuzek has put out a record. And it’s also been quite some time since the salad days of his musical partnership with the lovely and talented Mary Ann Rossoni. Well, lo and behold, you’ll be happy to hear that both are happening this summer. Fuzek, who opened recently for Livingston Taylor at the Sunset Music Fest in Newport, just released his new album, tellingly titled A Dog’s Age. What took him so long? Well, he produced the Hear In Rhode Island festival for years, he runs Rhode Island Songwriters Association, produced other festivals, and helped local musicians produce their own records. He was also voted by this paper as one of the area’s most influential folks in the arts sector. Fuzek’s fruitful collaboration with Rossoni, which began in 1989 and lasted seven years, yielded many worthwhile songs and two discs, including the stirring Waking Up from the American Dream. We’d imagine that the duet will be taking some of those dusty, time-tested tunes out for a spin when they reunite on July 27 at the Towers in Narragansett. Also appearing at the Towers gig will be Billy Mitchell, JJ Baron, Lisa Martin, Donna Dufresne, and Tom Hynes. Surf on over to John’s website (users.ids.net/~hearinri/) and welcome him back to the giggin’ scene!WANDERING EYE. On Friday (the 23rd), the fab "Your Roots Are Showing" series returns to the Century Lounge for another go-round. This time it’s Dennis Brennan, the Ware River Club, Damn Lovelys, and your hosts, Lucky 57. As is normally the case, it’ll be a sizzling night of twang-roots rock-alt.country-Americana. Jenn Kitten’s got herself a new band. For What It’s Worth is a post-hardcore, pop-punk outfit with female vocals. The high-energy performer with a heartfelt delivery brings that approach to punk this time out, and if you don’t believe me, you can hear a rough mix of the band’s tune "This Was My Wish and It Didn’t Come True . . . So I’m Taking It Back" at www.myspace.com/forwhatitsworthri or www.freewebs.com/forwhatitsworthrocks. Their next show, at AS220 on Friday, is with Best Kept Secret, Eyes Like Knives, and Farewell to Arms.Speaking of AS220, lovable locals Hogg, together since 1994, will be holding court with some adventurous music travelers: Vertonen, bran . . . pos, Tarantism, Immaculate: Grotesque, and Struction for an interesting lineup of inscrutably named bands. The gig is on Sunday(the 25th), starts at 8 p.m., and costs $7. Call 831-9327. E-mail your music news to me at big.daddy1@cox.net.                     other items in this group     Local Anesthesia 05.27.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       ’Round town - Westside ARTS, RISA’s men, Radio Kings, and more     Local Anesthesia 05.20.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       A better Day - Jackie O’Brien and company’s Waving in Traffic     Local Anesthesia 05.13.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Swan song - A Westerly institution gets unplugged     Local Anesthesia 05.06.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       New noise - Suicide Liquors, the StereoBirds, and the Gobshites     Local Anesthesia 04.29.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       New tricks (and treats) - The Dino Club’s Oscar-worthy Big Screen Wide     Local Anesthesia 04.22.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       A wealth of talent - Mark Renburke calls on the best for his new disc     Local Anesthesia 03.18.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Around the world - Jo Jo Gator comes home again     Local Anesthesia 03.11.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Fringe benefits - Urdog, the Slip, Fred Kendall Abong, and more     Local Anesthesia 03.04.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Blood simple - Wretched Asylum paint the town red in Prognosis     Local Anesthesia 02.25.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Battle royale - Sasquatch takes the top prize at the Rock Hunt     Local Anesthesia 02.18.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Taking lessons - The second anniversary of the Station fire     Local Anesthesia 02.11.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Rattlin’ all over - RattleHead Records gears up for ’05     Local Anesthesia 02.04.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Lovin’ it live - Richard Thompson, Anders Parker, more     Local Anesthesia 01.28.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Restless records - Grüvis Malt master the art of multitasking     Local Anesthesia 01.21.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Still standing - Roomful of Blues celebrate a new disc — and survival     Local Anesthesia 01.14.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Short stuff - Big sounds in little packages     Local Anesthesia 01.07.05 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Good acoustics - The best jazz, blues, and folk of ’04     Local Anesthesia 12.31.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Best in show - The top rock, etc. listens in ’04     Local Anesthesia 12.24.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Success story - The big time doesn’t elude the Slip     Local Anesthesia 12.17.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Everyday people - Routine 8’s debut is more than a daily grind     Local Anesthesia 12.10.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Ready for Bedtime - Rebecca Nurse deliver some sweet Stories     Local Anesthesia 12.03.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Funk soul brothers - Fungus Amungus puts the fun back in funky     Local Anesthesia 11.26.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The genuine article - Stefan Couture and company keep it real on Ghost     Local Anesthesia 11.19.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Acoustic café - Stone Soup keeps the folk talent coming     Local Anesthesia 11.12.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       On the verge - M-80 are ready for their close-up with the release of American Road     Local Anesthesia 11.05.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Staying positive - You can learn a lot about living from Randy Hien     Local Anesthesia 10.29.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Getting busy - Becky Chace and Blues Bastard     Local Anesthesia 10.22.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Velver revolving - Menck and Chastain make another great disc     Local Anesthesia 10.15.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Shipping out - Mastamindz’s Matt Moreau is headed to Iraq     Local Anesthesia 10.01.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Miracle men - Greg Hodde’s deep blues; 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plus, 75orless, Atwater-Donnelly, more!     Local Anesthesia 02.06.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       To the extreme - Dropdead celebrate a lucky 13 years together     Local Anesthesia 01.30.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The way we were - What’s next for indie rock?     Local Anesthesia 01.23.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Getting Serious - Barn Burning brings the house down     City Watch 01.20.04 by Ian Donnis (Providence Phoenix)           Battle For the Night 01.17.04 by Ian Donnis (Providence Phoenix)       The solution that dare not be discussed -- keeping nightclubs open later -- could diminish many of the concerns associated with Providence nightlife     Local Anesthesia 01.16.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Ties That Bind - Almost Homeless’ musical connection run deep     Local Anesthesia 01.09.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Back in Business - Reissues by Arab On Radar, Velvet Crush, and more     Local Anesthesia 01.02.04 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Reflections -- D.J. Stone sings about the Station fire in "Eddie"     Local Anesthesia 12.12.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Reflections -- D.J. Stone sings about the Station fire in "Eddie"     Local Anesthesia 12.06.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Grand evolution -- Erin McKeown’s songs get ‘bigger and better’     Local Anesthesia 11.28.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Howlin’ wolves -- Smokestack Lightnin’ brings down the house     Local Anesthesia 11.28.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The full Monty -- The Fan Club flirts with the big time     Local Anesthesia 11.21.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       One night only! -- Neutral Nation celebrate 20 years and a new disc     Local Anesthesia 11.14.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Wheat dreams -- Taunton-based crew goes Technicolor     Local Anesthesia 11.07.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The long haul -- Al Copley is in too deep, and likes it that way     Local Anesthesia 10.31.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Ace of clubs? -- Ultra arrives; the Electra Complex; and more     Local Anesthesia 10.17.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Seeking the truth -- Davies and Auchenbach conspire on a new disc     Rhode Island's most influential people in the Arts community 10.11.03 by Phoenix Staff (Providence Phoenix)       The Phoenix profiles Rhode Island's most influential people in the Arts community.     Local Anesthesia 10.10.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Blowin Smoke -- Greg Abate and Channel One tear it up again     Local Anesthesia 10.03.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Cosmic Psychos -- Sasquatch and the Sick-a-Billys get a groove on     Local Anesthesia 09.26.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Knight Moves -- Margie Wienk celebrates a haunting new disc     Local Anesthesia 09.19.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       April Fooled -- An Unsigned Band; plus, Pendragon turns 20     Local Anesthesia 09.12.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The 300 Shows -- Midnight Creeps celebrate a milestone     Local Anesthesia 09.05.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Floodstock -- The welcome return of Summerfest     Local Anesthesia 08.29.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Summer’s not over -- Rhythm & Roots tops a busy Labor Day weekend     Local Anesthesia 08.22.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Go, Cat, Go! -- Rockabilly picks up steam on the scene     Local Anesthesia 08.15.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Just for fun -- Cracking wise with Katie Lee Hooker     Local Anesthesia 08.08.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Have Mercy! The return of Mike Dinallo and company     Local Anesthesia 08.01.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Lotsa Hats, Big Shoes -- Eric Fontana Finally Gets His Disc Out     Local Anesthesia 07.18.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Straw Dogs -- The Haymakers' Why We Can’t Have Nice Things     Local Anesthesia 07.18.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Sound Defects -- Blues Bastard And Other Awesome Aberrations     Local Anesthesia 07.11.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       Growing Painz -- Mastamindz Hatch Fiendish Plot     Local Anesthesia 07.04.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: The Best Goes On -- Music Pollapalooza comes to the Ocean Mist     Local Anesthesia 06.27.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Break out -- Letdown, Chinese Stars, Fuses rev it up     Local Anesthesia 06.13.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Answering the call -- The healing power of the Call for Action DVD     Local Anesthesia 06.06.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Newport news -- No Means Yes and the Philtres make headlines     Local Anesthesia 05.30.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Freakin’ out -- Mike Hamel and company head west     Local Anesthesia 05.23.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Demo derby -- Emery Vesch, Sibling Rivalry, and Flav Martin     Local Anesthesia 05.16.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Soundcheck -- Donnybrook, the Cringe, Illustrious Day, and more     Local Anesthesia 05.09.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Arabs off radar -- The avant act calls it quits; plus, an Invasion update     Local Anesthesia 05.02.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Healing sounds -- The Call’s energetic and heartfelt benefit CD     Local Anesthesia 04.18.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's Esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Musing again -- A winning Throwback, Benny Sizzler, and more     Local Anesthesia 02.27.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Hole in our soul -- The music community's devastating loss     Local Anesthesia 02.20.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week:     Local Anesthesia 02.13.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Wonderful world -- Cheryl Wheeler loves her job; plus, V for Vendetta     Local Anesthesia 02.07.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Story hour -- Dan Moretti and Once Through lay it down     Local Anesthesia 01.31.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Love you live -- Planet Groove lays it down at the Ocean Mist     Local Anesthesia 01.24.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Consolation prize -- Ricky Valente grows up     Local Anesthesia 01.17.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Whistle stop -- Otis Read, Phil Edmonds, and Friends     Local Anesthesia 01.10.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week: Lights, camera... Century Productions is where the action is     Local Anesthesia 01.03.03 by Bob Gulla (Providence Phoenix)       The Providence Phoenix's esteemed Bob Gulla with his weekly music scene coverage. This week:The big picture -- Best in show, pt. 2               Filed Under...   becky chace band (36) beyond blonde (183) black and white (12) CD Reviews (4) complaints (2) Crazed Rock Fan (3) Dirk Diggla (6) Decibel Magazine (12) ellis ashbrook (13) grandevolution (15) hawkins rise (102) Headlines (85) jazz bastards (4) J Hunter (1) frank martyn (24) mastamindz (27) owen mcgonigle (4) Misc. Items (2) Opinions (10) Pele (5) The Providence Phoenix (115) the radionics (9) RattleHead News (8) (2) rossoni (1) santa mamba (41) sasquatch and the sick-a-billys (121) sexcoffee (16) Satyr's Local Rock Report (23) Spock's Brain (3) terri g and the band (2) ultra plush (17) vulgarrity (2)             The Providence Phoenix is the God of local music in the area. Bob Gulla is an excellent music reporter, and they provide the only weekly local music coverage that is accessible to the masses.