Rhythm & News (06/30/1999) 

Carreying On

Last week, somewhere in Westford, Phish threw a party in a barn for the cast and crew of Me, Myself and Irene — that is, the by-now-infamous Jim Carrey movie filmed in Burlington over the past few weeks. Owned by guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio, the barn normally serves as a rehearsal space, and has probably absorbed a few notes as the band prepared for its current tour, leading up to the big hoo-ha in Oswego, New York, July 17-18. Anyway, about 100-150 crew and friends of the band were there, according to official Seven Days informants, and a good time was goin' down. Especially, it seemed, for 20-mill Jim himself. All that money, and whatsa guy do for fun after a hard day of takes? Well, this one leapt up on stage and sang "Hey You," by Bachman Turner Overdrive (never thought you'd see that name in this column, did you?). At least he attempted to. Word has it Carrey gave up trying to follow the song after the first verse, then burst into the rubber-faced mania we all know and love. Bouncing around the stage and shit. Same thing happened with The Beatles' "Come Together" — a far more challenging tune, admittedly. Unfortunately for the Phish video archives, no taping was allowed by Carrey's people. You want the man on film, that's gonna be, oh, about a grand per minute. But a grand time was had by all.

Fare-Thee Well, Rothwell!

This week, Metronome becomes history. Well, history-making, anyway. After seven and a quarter years, Anne Rothwell is handing over the reins to Red Square owners Jack O'Brien and Mark Gauthier. "I'm very happy and very ready," says Rothwell. "I'm going to be a partner for a few years, but Mark will do the booking; I won't have a paid position." Looking forward to freewheeling — and sleeping, rather than working, at night — she'll have no more demanding chores for awhile than handling billing for "the Hood." The former Hood Plant has rapidly been transformed into a mostly artsy office building, and a sizable monthly parking lot. Rothwell reports she and boyfriend/business partner Lou Natale will be going to Italy this fall, to Panama for New year's Eve 2000 and touring Asia next year. Sounds pretty good to me. Meanwhile, check out the music in this, the final week of Club Metronome as we've known it. Chin Ho! — the 'nome's first band — will be one of its last, Thursday night, along with Jusagroove. Friday, the 'groovsters pump up the volume for a grand finale and big disco send-off for Rothwell. Look here for a report on the newly renovated Metronome later this summer.

Food … for Thought

Singer-songwriter Jerry Trudell hasn't given up on his self-appointed mission of getting the groceries back. As reported here a few weeks back, Trudell organized an old-fashioned musical protest outside the downtown Burlington Price Chopper the day it closed. Next up: another songfest/speakout in the vicinity of Church and Cherry streets July 2. "In the midst of all this talk about sustainable communities," Trudell laments, "we are in danger of withering at the vine for lack of basic sustenance." Meanwhile, he says, adding another grievance, there isn't a bicycle lane in sight. "I just wanna use the power of music to inspire people at the grassroots level." Look forward to another performance of "Where Have All the Groceries Gone?" — with apologies to Pete Seeger — and other meaningful material this Friday at two. "If we can subsidize Filene's to the tune of millions of dollars," Trudell concludes, "why can't we subsidize food? These are important questions to be asking. I'm going to try to continue speaking out on the issue and using music to publicize it.”

Single Tracks

242 Main has its own little mag. The "official fanzine" is called Do Not Open: A journal of arts, music, social commentary and pretty pictures. Yet another sign that the teen-scene club has been saved from eternal damnation — along with a summer drama program, band workshops and other projects. All hail the power of the pen, er, keyboard . . . In another Burlington City Arts-related development, look for the first-ever on-line "Rock Auction" July 11-17, on eBay and Big Heavy World. Items from the famous, infamous and merely local — including autographed CDs, posters, programs and photos, will be available. Preview the lot at bigheavyworld. com/ROCKAUCTION . . . Irish pub Ri Ra has petitioned the City of Burlington to construct an outdoor terrace into City Hall Park, to simultaneous applause and distress from various quarters. After a public hearing two weeks ago, the issue was tabled until a Parks & Rec Commission meeting July 20. Stay tuned…

Band name of the week:

Whizzer