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By Jeff Maisey
Correspondent
Gloucester's Planet Full of Blues has released a self-titled, 11-song album that is just plain smokin' hot. Fans of Stevie Ray Vaughan's blazin' guitar licks should take note.
Clad in dapper black suits, hats and shades, guitarist/singer Johnny Ray Light and drummer Brock Howe - the main ingredients in Planet - have a decidedly Blues Brothers shtick goin' on, and they've got the groove to back it up.
"Got the Blues" is an infectious dance track featuring the Hammond B3 organ work of guest Paul Draper, with loads of lightning-quick six-string injections from Light.
The title track and "Pain Will Melt Away" are highlighted nicely with the horn power of saxophonist Richard Yeager and trumpeter Eric Stark. "Miss Her Smile" and "Coming From a Friend" rock in a more subdued, Eric Clapton sort of way.
The band plans to tour Europe in the summer, with a June 27 slot at the Voxstock Festival in Belgrade confirmed.
Locals on the air
In the spirit of Hunter Hughes' now defunct "Sunrise" program on Sundays, Barry Graham will host local musicians Duncan & Danielle, Zach Parkman, Ron Fetner, Narissa Bond and Skip Friel in a live, in-studio broadcast Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. on WHRV-FM (89.5). Like Hughes, Graham said it is important to feature local artists on his "Acoustic Highway" show.
"For seven years, I have brought in regional performers and offered the opportunity to get their music played on the airwaves. I count myself as a fan of Hunter Hughes and inherently agree with his philosophy of featuring local musicians."
Memorial premiere
On Sunday, The Virginia Wind Symphony will perform the world premiere of "In Memoriam - A Tribute to the 2007 Tragedy at Virginia Tech" by Dr. James Sochinski, professor of music at Tech and staff arranger for the Marching Virginians. The free concert is at 2 p.m. at Salem High in Virginia Beach.
Young composers
BMI has opened its annual Student Composer Awards competition for composers younger than 28. The awards - $20,000 in prizes - were unveiled in 1951. Aspiring Mozarts and others must enter their works by Feb. 13. Visit www.bmifoundation.org.
Little label that could
Chesapeake's Little Room Record Co. has released a new vinyl record. Make that records - two 45s with three songs each, courtesy of Detroit's the Muldoons, featuring former Jack White bandmate Brian Muldoon and his sons Shane, 11, and Hunter, 14. It's pure garage-rock mayhem. Order at www.littleroomrecordco.com.
Jeff Maisey, (757) 222-3934, jmaisey@pilotonline.com
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