FM99 sinks teeth into shark fest Saturday night

Correspondent

ACTIVE ROCK radio station WNOR will host its first FM99 Shark Fest this Saturday at the 24th Street Stage at the Oceanfront.

Morning team Tommy & Rumble will host the event, which will feature Plastic Eddie and Big Bird's All Stars, a cover band named for FM99's program director, Harvey "Big Bird" Kojan. Joining Big Bird onstage will be FM99's Chuck The Intern (drums), Tommy Griffiths (FM99 DJ, guitar), Rick Rumble (FM99 DJ, vocals), Mike Doyle (Revery, guitar), John Adkins (Revery, vocals) and Walt Redmond (vocals). Kojan plays keyboards. The show is free and begins at 7:30 p.m.

On another note, FM99 will announce Monday morning the lineup of its annual Lunatic Luau, scheduled for Sept. 6 at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater.

Live band

Fredericksburg multi-instrumentalist Keller Williams will release his first live album backed by a band Sept. 16. For years Williams dazzled audiences with his individual talent by playing a variety of instruments all at the same time. In recent years, however, he has enjoyed playing with a band.

"What a treat after so many years of being in control," Williams said. "The band has a knack for hanging a sharp left that I don't see coming."

"Live" will include the talents of one-time Virginia Beach guitarist Gibb Droll, as well as Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident, bass) and Jeff Sipe (Leftover Salmon, drums).

Web connection

Kelly Miltier and Pete Desnoyers, organizers of a recent reunion of the '80s punk scene, have launched a new Web site - www.noroomtodance.com - so people can remain in touch and get updates on the next event featuring live music by reunited band the X-Raves and others. Look for that show to take place around Christmastime at The NorVa.

Recording project

Former Mindset singer Roddy Lane has recorded a five-song "soundtrack" as a way to explore more fictional writing. The work is titled "Captain Moondagger and the Quantum Gypsies."

"I wanted to write some tunes that wouldn't have any emotional attachment, so I created this cat who calls himself Moondagger," said Lane. "The idea is that Captain M. has found a way to transmit an audio time capsule from his 24th century to our current time."

Musically, the project is a fascinating mix of Nine Inch Nails and Throbbing Gristle.

Holy cow, Batman

Last Saturday, Washington, D.C.-based Adam West played for the final time in Hampton Roads as part of its farewell tour, and what a show it was.

Singer Jake Starr gave a throaty, charismatic performance, especially on such garage-rock ditties as "God's Gift to Women" and "Juggernaut." Just as impressive was Jim Sciubba, who pummeled his drums as if his life depended on it. So awe-inspiring was Sciubba that local drummers Greg Wise (Unabombers) and Jamie McGuffey (The Villains) were seen crouching beside the stage with their jaws wide open.

Norfolk's The Rats closed out the night, and it was great to see the capacity crowd stick around for the home team. The punk band certainly benefited from the showmanship of its new lead guitarist, Dan-O Deckelman, but as solid as their performance was, Adam West was a tough act to follow.

Jeff Maisey, (757) 222-3934, jmaisey@pilotonline.com