Rude Boys, Men At Large Bring Soul-Pop Sound To Ugly Rumors
Proven soul-pop groups the Rude Boys and Men at Large (not to be confused with Men in the Making) will perform two shows at the Mars Hotel’s Ugly Rumor’s lounge on Saturday.
Both groups have spawned Top-40 hits.
The Rude Boys’ biggest hit came with “Written All Over Your Face,” which peaked at No. 16 on the pop charts in 1991 and commanded a three-month presence on the charts.
Men at Large made their first splash on the R&B charts in 1992 with “I’m So Alone,” which the group’s singer wrote after his mom’s death from leukemia. They topped the R&B charts in 1994 with a tune called “Let’s Talk About It.”
In recent years, the two ballad-driven combos have stayed quiet. Much of this was due to the groups’ previous labels placing less priority on their music, a common practice in the industry.
Fortunately for them, a Seattle indie called Buchanan Music swooped down and signed the Rude Boys (Sunday’s headliner) and Men at Large to contracts.
For the label, the Cleveland-based Rude Boys have just produced a single called “Lock Down,” a tune that’s beginning to gain some momentum in radio. An album titled “Rude as Ever” will follow early next year.
It is not known when Men at Large will have new music in the stores, but stay tuned.
The first show Saturday starts at 9 p.m., the second at 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 or $20 for both shows and are available at the Mars Hotel and G&B Select-a-Seat outlets. There is also a handful of dinner/concert tickets available for $40. For further details, call 747-6277.
Local music news
It’s often hard to keep up with all that goes on in the local scene. So here’s the latest scoop on a smidgen of the town’s finest talent:
Tiana Gregg is gushing about the band that gives her folk-based songs a sonic rock ‘n’ roll punch. The singer-guitarist will enter a Spokane studio soon to record with the trio. But first, the two will perform at Ichabod’s North tonight with Greg, who, by the way, has a fine new CD out. Music starts at 9:30 p.m. The cover is $3.
The Flies and the Sissies (members of Flies and Velvet Pelvis) have both called it quits.
The two bands were scheduled to play one final show opening for the legendary Stranglers. When the British band canceled its entire American itinerary, the two Spokane punk bands decided against playing a final show.
You’ll just have to settle for new recorded works by the bands. The Flies have a fairly new EP out called “Teen Challenge.” It’s available on Seattle’s eMpTy Records. The Sissies will have an eight-song, seven-inch out on Too Many Records early next year.
The Mayfield Four, featuring ex-members of Citizen Swing and Shoveljerk have recorded a demo. No word yet what the band plans to do with the recording. An EP has been talked about.
Quitters Inc., which played the industry-clogged North-by-Northwest music seminar in October, has juggled their lineup. Drummer Cameron Norton and bassist Bill Barrington have bailed out. So guitarist Dan Reed (formerly a drummer for Overwhelming Colorfast) has assumed the drumming post. Former Fitz of Depression and Moral Crux bassist Justin Warren is filling in on bass. The band will enter the studio to record a demo later this month.
The ever-prolific Makers are gearing up to release a battery of recordings. The band appears on the compilation “Tales from Estrus” Volume 3. The release doubles as a comic book and four-song compilation seven-inch that spotlights the music and fictitious lifestyles of trash rock stalwarts, the Lord High Fixers, the Drags and Impala. There are only 2,000 of these puppies, so get them before they’re gone.
Distorted Silence has finally put out its debut CD. It’s called “Fear the Network” and it welds riff-heavy, metallic grooves to rap and reggae. Think a mild-mannered Mr. Bungle (which isn’t that mild).
Country and folk singer Nancy Lynn Allen will appear with her band, Fine Communion, at Heroes Eatery (NorthTown Mall) every Sunday through December, from 7 to 10 p.m.
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