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New England Music News

Boston music news, February 17, 2006

CONVERGE are currently writing material for the follow-up to 2004’s You Fail Me (Epitaph). They’ve set aside much of May and June to record with guitarist Kurt Ballou at his Godcity studio and are putting touring plans on hold until the album’s November release. “The material for the album so far is a natural progression, as cliché as that sounds,” says singer Jake Bannon. “Our goal is to continually challenge ourselves artistically. So far, I feel we are doing that.” Bannon has recorded about four hours of material with his long-promised side project DEAR LOVER and hopes for a summer release. He’s also excited about a project with Dwid from Integrity. . . . In other Converge-related news: bassist Nate Newton’s side band DOOMRIDERS have announced a new drummer, after Chris “Bev” Bevalaqua bowed out of the band last month because of increasing commitments in California. His replacement is former CAVE IN drummer J.R. Connors, who himself was replaced by Converge drummer Ben Koller. Newton, who plays guitar and sings in Doomriders, says Connors asked to audition after moving back from Berlin. “We are all good friends and very supportive of one another, so I can’t really see it being a problem,” Newton says. “The only problem I can foresee is people getting jealous that my riffs are so sick.” Doomriders are promising local gigs and several short US tours after they wrap up 23 shows in Great Britain and Europe this month. They’re still supporting 2004’s Black Thunder but may release several EPs later this year, since they’re writing music when they’re bored, according to Newton. Bored? . . . Memorial services are scheduled this Saturday, February 18, in Beverly, for ALLEN “ALPO” PAULINO, bassist and founding member of Boston garage-punk heroes the Real Kids, who passed away suddenly last week. In recent years, Paulino went back to school and worked as a substance-abuse counselor on Cape Cod, where he lived, according to Cheryl Eagan-Donovan, director of All Kindsa Girls, a 2005 documentary about the Real Kids, who adds, “Allen gave so much to everyone he encountered.” Alpo continued to play with several local bands, including the HOODED BARRACUDAS, the CHEATER SLICKS, and, most recently, the NERVOUS EATERS, a band he played with before joining the Real Kids in 1976. . . . Rhode Island reggae-punk rockers ZOX have signed to Los Angeles–based SideOneDummy Records (PIEBALD, MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES). The band will play the label’s SxSW showcase next month and then join label mates Gogol Bordello on a West Coast tour that includes the label’s 10th-anniversary shows in LA. SideOne plans to repackage and re-release the band’s 2004 album, The Wait (Armo), and keep them touring throughout the summer. “I’m so psyched that we’re working with those guys,” label co-owner Joe Sib says. “Zox is a fucking great band, and they’re so unique. I love them.”

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On the Web:

Converge: http://www.convergecult.com/
Doomriders: http://www.myspace.com/doomriders/
SideOneDummy: http://www.sideonedummy.com/

E-mail the author:

Sarah Tomlinson: stomlins@mindspring.com