The StereoBirds

BEST LOCAL FEMALE VOCALIST: HEATHER ROSE
(for full article visit:
http://www.bestmusicpoll.com/prov/female.asp )

MIGHTY LIKE A ROSE:

About a year ago, singer Heather Rose of the StereoBirds set a few goals for herself and her band. "I wanted to make it back on the list of nominees," she says, frankly. The focus proved commendable and successful. The band was nominated in three categories: Song ("Here Again"), Local Act, and Female Vocalist.

"All of them we worked hard for," she says. "I work so hard, and we do so many unrecognized things, that it's nice to get a pat on the back once in a while. People think that if a band isn't exactly visible in Providence, it means we're not working. But there's progress to be made outside the city as well." Indeed, the Birds have a sizable following in Boston, thanks in large part to their concerted efforts in that area. "In Providence, if you're not punk or blues, it's pretty hard to do well, but outside of town we draw quite well."

Part of the Birds' success has to do with their affiliation with the Buzzplay website, an organization that has boosted the profile of area bands like M-80, Monty's Fan Club, and Illustrious Day, and helped attract a national audience to boot. Also, like fellow winners Just Before August, the band will play the Rock 'n' Ride Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky at the end of June, where it will get a chance to turn on a hopefully-receptive southeastern audience. After that they will mosey on over to Nashville, where the quartet is sealing a deal on a month-long residency.

"I think we're just country enough to be comfortable there," Rose says, adding that her grandmother raised her on healthy helpings of Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. "I was four [and] I remember walking around singing 'Here You Come Again!' "

Heather Rose also admits being inspired by more modern singers like Aimee Mann, Tanya Donelly, and Kristin Hersh (formerly of Throwing Muses), as well as Tori Amos, Sheryl Crow, and Liz Phair. "I truly look up to those women," she admits. "One day I hope I can stand up next to each of them and sing as well as they can sing." - Bob Gulla
- Providence Phoenix

FORTHE’BIRDS.
By: Bob Gulla

There’s been lots of beavering in the Stereobirds camp. Their new single, "Nicole America," is almost ready for release, as is "Here Again," a tune written in memory of Mike "Doctor Metal" Gonsalves and Nick O’Neill, featuring Tanya Donelly and Elizabeth Steen. Coincidentally, "Here Again" made its radio premiere the other night on WHJY. "Because of the holiday season, we felt that Doc’s station’s DJs and staff might be hurting pretty badly," says the Birds’ Heather Rose, "so we dropped off a few advance copies of ‘Here Again’ to let them know people haven’t forgotten about the tragedy and the memory of the victims." In other ’Birds news, the top 25 finalists in BuzzPlay.com’s Band Search 2003 were announced this week and the Stereobirds are at the top of the list. (Other locals include Illustrious Day, Turning Blue, Motormags, and Monty’s Fan Club.) If you remember, last year’s winner was M-80 and it proved to be a boon career-wise. According to Heather, "We were also moved up to a Priority Artist on Buzzplay."

Lastly, Tanya and Elizabeth autographed the first 25 limited edition copies of American Girls, American Boys, the band’s new CD. Act fast to get one at their website: www.thestereobirds.com . Join the Stereobirds in their own personal quest for world domination. Or at least buy their great new disc. - Providence Phoenix

The MockingBirds lost their name over some '60s band, but the attitude remains. The StereoBirds take the stage with a scant house (where the hell were you, anyway?) but rock the shit regardless. The music is low-down, extra-gritty Americana, with serious balls. Heather Rose (lead vocals) is the female equivalent to all those bad-ass, cold-give-a-fuck male vocalists that the NME always raves about, but she's right here and dishing it out locally for $7 a show.

The new bass player rocks- stage presence enough to balance out the joyous, total ham tht is their guitarist, and he sings. The fact that they started off with a cover tune gets me thinking by mid set that this band's original material could easily be just as time-tested and listener-approved.

My co-pilot for the evening calls them "worth the $7 by themselves," I concur... I walk away to my co-pilot's car, having thoroughly enjoyed The StereoBirds. - The Noise-Boston

The MockingBirds, hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, have been making a stir in the Boston music scene for years with their mix of power punk and good old roots rock. However, lately things have been quiet from the perch. But as April showers bring May flowers, it also bringts a flurry of new MockingBird material. The irony is that it technically can no longer be called MockingBird material.because the band has changed their name to The StereoBirds. I spoke with Heather Rose, the beautiful, talented, and very un-camera shy lead singer.

NOISE: So why is the band changing it's name?

HEATHER: The band has been working with Rusty Harmon -former manager of Hootie & The Blowfish- and Dick Hodgin, who produced our EP in progress. Things are getting serious for us so they urged us to get our ducks in a row. We couldnt' keep The MockingBirds because there were bands in the past and present with that name. So long story short, we're now The StereoBirds.

NOISE: Wait, did I just hear "Hootie & The Blowfish"? You guys aren't trying to be the next big cheesy frat boy band, are you? How did you hook up with this guy?

HEATHER: We showcased at the Nashville Music Conference late 2001. There I charmed Dick Hodgin, who produced the demo that got Hootie signed. Hodgin loved our sound, gave us a call, and that following April he recorded us at Raleigh, NC's Osceola Studios. Soon after, Rusty listened to the tracks, dug them and came to see us in Providence. That sparked more interest in our music and future. So I cant get into the legal end, but we will be working closely with him. I love the guy! He's like 6'8 or something! He's a great friend but damn I'm staying on his good side!!! It would be funny to see him pick up Kenny and just lob him somewhere though! And no. We will never be part of the frat music movement!

NOISE: You have a bunch of new stuff coming up. What's the deal?

HEATHER: We have a DVD and CD from the benefit shows put on at The Century Lounge and The Call. The CDC will include one new song called, Blackout and a short interview with us about our feelings on The Station Tragedy.

NOISE: That whole thing was very sad. Its good to see that you are getting involved.

HEATHER: We have played about five benefit shows and have many more to go. In conjuncti9on with the DVD, there'll also be a compilation CD released separately called The Call To Action: Benefit CD for Station Fire Victims put out by Liquid Blue. All proceeds will go to the Victims Fund.

NOISE: Very cool. YOu guys are a big RHode Island band, have you noticed any different trends in clubs there since the Station tragedy?

HEATHER: Yeah! Definately. Everything is stricter especially club capacity. But, damn, I'd rather deal with that than take the chance of another tragedy. There was and still is a decline in club attendance. The older crowd is paranoid that all rock bands use pyrotechnics and the younger crowd is being held captive by scared parents. All this will level off soon I'm sure, but believe me, it's still quite erie and painful around here.

NOISE: Have you ever played The Station?

HEATHER: We played there a few years back. It was more of a hard rock venue, but a great club just the same. My girlfriend and I live 10minutes away and were actually at The Station a week before this happened. We were watching my friend (now our new bass player) John Ronci's band VEJ. We were up that night and saw the special report as soon as it came on. It was horrifying!

NOISE: Were any of you personally affected by the tragedy?

HEATHER: We all were. You've heard of Six Degrees of Seperation? RI has Two Degrees, if that. I personally lost a good friend, 94 HJY DJ The Doctor. Our bass player at the time, Buzz Lyon, lost his friend Louie Alves. My friend Tim got out, but lost 3 friends.

NOISE: How are you dealing with this as a musician?

HEATHER: We play as many benefit shows as possible. We have one coming up May 30th for Nick O'Neill, the lead singer of Shryne. Tanya Donelly asked if we would play to raise money for a fund in his name. I recently was able to write a song about the tragedy. It was hard, but needed to be done.

NOISE: What other releases are coming up besides the benefit tracks?

HEATHER: Our song Nicole America will be featured on the two upcoming Local Mix compilations. They are selling one CD and releasing another in Decibel Magazine. We also recorded an EP in Raleigh, North Carolina last summer but have decided to release a song at a time pending contracts that are in the works. Why pay for our CD to come out when someone else might? Soooooo.... The StereoBirds have been very busy!

NOISE: What is some of your new material about?

HEATHER: Political tunes and break-up songs. The fact that Dubbya Bush is considered president put enough political turmoil in my soul to last 10 albums. The Runaways is about kids contemplating a move to Canada, Bush's coccaine habit and some other lovely co - Kier Byrnes

R.I.P., THE MOCKINGBIRDS.

The’Birds needed a clean break name-wise. As noted, they will celebrate the birth of the StereoBirds on Friday at the Nick O’Neill benefit, and on Saturday (the 31st) at the Century Lounge, where the new ’Birds will be joined by former VEJ front man, John Ronci, on bass. Their set will be followed by Atlantic Records recording artists Antigone Rising.


TANYA DONELLY & FRIENDS. Local girl will anchor a benefit for the Nick O’Neill Scholarship Fund, which will take place on Friday (the 30th) at the Vartan Gregorian School on Wickenden Street in Providence. Nick died in the Station fire and has been the object of much admiration in the months since.

The night, which will be emceed by none other than Rudy Cheeks, will feature Tanya playing with Dean Fisher, Blizzard of 78 (formerly Delta Clutch), the StereoBirds (formerly the Mockingbirds; see below), Eric Fontana, and members of Slim Cessna’s Auto Club/Blackstone Valley Sinners. Everyone will be playing short acoustic sets except for Tanya, who will be doing a full set, something that happens too rarely around here. The show runs from 7 to 10:30 p.m., and the venue is the All Children’s Theater, where Nick spent much of his time. Admission is $20. You can go to the following website for more info on Nick: www.angelsofrhodeisland.com/angels/Noneil/noneil.htm. Call 435-5300 for reservations.

For Nick:
Write-up by: Bob Gulla

If you’ve been following the almost daily reports in BeloJo and the stories here in the Phoenix, you know that the continued suffering of the Station nightclub fire is still palpable for most Vo Dilunduhs. This is compounded by the dire need that so many of the victims and their families face. Fortunately, benefit events go on every week and will have to continue for some time. All we can say is keep ’em coming since they are needed in so many ways.

One such event that we are involved in (Jorge, a.k.a Rudy Cheeks will emcee) will be this Friday, May 30 at the All Children’s Theater, which is located at the Vartan Gregorian School at 455 Wickenden St., Providence. It’s the brainchild of Richard and Tanya Donelly. You probably know Richard as one of the most powerful actors to grace the stage, primarily here and in Boston. His daughter, Tanya is, of course, one of the most prominent rock ‘n’ rollers the Biggest Little has ever produced, playing first with Throwing Muses, then with the Breeders and Belly.

The show is to benefit the Nick O’Neill Scholarship fund for the All Children’s Theater. Nick was the talented young musician, songwriter, and actor who perished in the fire. His band, Shyne, was just starting to make a mark and he spent many of his early teen years performing at the ACT. His creative spirit inspired a number of top-notch Rhode Island-based performers to get together for this show. It starts at 7 p.m. and will feature Tanya, playing with Dean Fisher (formerly of the Juliana Hatfield Three), Delta Clutch, the MockingBirds (playing their last gig as the MockingBirds, hereinafter to be known as the StereoBirds), Eric Fontana, and members of Slim Cessna’s Auto Club/Blackstone Valley Sinners.

If you’re not familiar with the local music scene, P&J can assure you that this is an incredibly strong lineup of folks who are producing some of the best music around. Further information and reservations (probably a good idea because this ought to be a sellout) can be obtained by calling (401) 435-5300.
- Providence Phoenix

Review of:The MockingBirds: Work Yourself to the Middle Class

Engineered by Randy Hunicke at Newcastle Sound / Mastered by Christine Lilley at Celebration Sounds

By: Pete Valle

Work Yourself to the Middle Class is the sing-alsong record of the year. Providence Pheonixs best New Band of 1999, The MockingBirds have successfully created indie rock with western shuffle, sprinkled it with a little lyrical anger and humor, energized it with good ol fashioned bar band stomp and created a record for which the repeat button on CD players was created. The album runs the gamut of fast paced pop tunes like Elvis (Hey Deanna) and slower, heartfelt heartbreak songs like Blackcrow.

This record would be at home on the range or bellying up to the bar. Anywhere people wear their emotions on their sleeves, singer Heather Rose will be there with her band of cowboys to get you through a long lonely night, or prime you up for a party.

Rose is the queen of the birds, her voice recalls Alanis Morissette witha country twang, her lyrics are clerver and honest and her delivery is pure energy, you can imagine her dancing around the booth holding the headphones on her head. The highlight of the record is Dumbest Mofo. It is too bad the song will never reach mainstream radio because there would be people on highways from here to California singing along, Youre nothing but a fool brother, your aint nothing but a drag/ Youre the dumbest motherfucker that Ive ever had.

Press play, again and again...
- Northeastern Performer

See the article online:
http://www.bestmusicpoll.com/providence

Gentle Fury:

Just wanna throw my head up to the sky
Look back on the moments that I've memorized
Let the fear go from within
and feel you here again.
I can feel you here again
Best Local Song goes to the StereoBirds for the majestic gem "Here Again," a gorgeous track that tackles the still-stinging subject of the Station tragedy. Everyone knows someone who lost someone on February 20, 2003, and it seems almost unfathomable that more than two years have already passed us by. "Here Again" coasts with gentle yet defined acoustic picking while the track boasts guest appearances by Elizabeth Steen (of Fritter fame) and resident indie godmother Tanya Donelly. "The StereoBirds, along with so many other caring bands, took the time to play as many benefit shows as time permitted. So when we were asked by Tanya Donelly to play a show for a friend she lost, we didn't hesitate to sign on," recalls StereoBirds lead vocalist Heather Rose. "Tanya was close with a guy named Nick O'Neill [who died in the fire], an actor and musician and, from what I hear, an amazing guy in general. So as Nick's benefit show approached, I started to take my sadness, numbness, confusion out on my guitar - and what was left when I placed it back in its case was a song. I wrote 'Here Again,' honestly, to heal a bit myself, but also to reach out to the people hurt by this tragedy and let them know others are feeling just like them." Achingly beautiful with an ethereal, almost gentle fury, "Here Again" is a song made to be remembered. The StereoBirds' latest release, American Girls, American Boys, is slated for a summer release, and in the meantime stop by www.thestereobirds.com for upcoming shows and info. - Chris Conti


- Chris Conti

THE STEREOBIRDS "American Girls, American Boys" EP

THE STEREOBIRDS (formerly known as The MockingBirds) have a nice fresh "girl-punk rock" sound that is easily enjoyable and fun to spin around to on the dancefloor. Heather Rose (lead singer) has an amazing voice that protrudes from the album with power and charm, yet fits delectably with the surrounding instrumental accompaniment of guitars, drums, bass and other instruments. This is one of the most original sounding bands I've heard in eons - their music doesn't strike me as sounding like "someone else's" it sounds uniquely their own in all aspects. Its definitely a great album - very enjoyable, fun, uplifting, perky power rock sound with intertwining mellow tracks that keeps the album "grounded." A pleasure to listen to and a must have in any independent music collection. Rating: 10+/10

* My favorite track on this album was: Let's Go (You've Got It!)

Check out this great source of independant music support!!!:
http://www.spacejunkies.net
- Space Junkies Magazine

Beyond dark days
Musicians and club owners on the fallout of the Station fire. A Phoenix roundtable discussion
BY BOB GULLA
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The time has passed quickly since the Station fire. One day, you suddenly lift your head up and a year has gone by. It hits you hard, the lapsed time, like realizing how long a distant relative has been dead, or how long it’s been since you’ve called a good friend. A full cycle of seasons has come and gone since 100 people were ripped from this mortal coil, leaving painful, gaping holes where real lives had once stood.

During that time, not much has happened of any substance in the courts to determine liability for issues. Charges have been brought, but for the most part fingers have stopped pointing, at least as emphatically as they were last spring, and fears of a recurrence have eased. Most of us have even stopped looking for the exits when we enter a club. The general public has recovered. Almost.

But as we distance ourselves from that horrible day, we assume that real changes have been made without us noticing. In the year since the fire, politicians and regulators saddled up their collective horses and took to the trail, beating down club doors and chasing down owners in an attempt to enforce stricter safety laws. Fire marshals increased their profiles across the state, demanding that establishments stiffen already rigid fire codes. Clubs closed in the wake of that pursuit, some permanently. The climate was getting colder.

In light of that chill last year, two weeks after the fire, we convened a summit of local club owners and musicians to find out how each group was affected by these changes. Rich Lupo (Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, now Lupo’s at the Strand), Kevin Finnegan (the Ocean Mist), and Kevin Cummings (Cats and KC’s Tap) were joined by Jason Kendall and Neal Vitullo to discuss the immediate fallout of the fire.

Now, one year later, we asked Lupo, Finnegan, and Cummings back to update us on the state of the scene, the changes they encountered, and the adjustments they’ve had to make. This time the clubowners are joined by Heather Rose, singer and songwriter for the StereoBirds, and Paul Hullabaloo, a member of the Cringe and a self-styled personality behind the controversial No Positive Radio program.

Q: Heather, how do you feel the scene has changed in the last year?

Heather Rose: It’s interesting to hear Paul’s experience, because we didn’t have problems getting gigs. For us, it was more the emotional problem playing the shows. After the fire, we had three gigs right in a row that following week. I had lost a friend, and my bass player at the time lost a friend, and it was more knowing you have to play and the strangeness around. "Don’t put your gear there," I’d hear. But when I never thought of it before, now it’s like, "Hello, it’s right in the middle of the door!" It’s more of an awareness among the musicians. The fear and paranoia I’ve found come from the people who never went out to to the clubs anyway. I must have gotten asked every day at my day job around the time of the fire, "Do you use fireworks at your show?" It was strange little questions like that from outsiders that constantly made it challenging to try and move on.

But I feel it’s a disservice to everyone who was lost and who is still suffering now to stop the music.

We’ve been playing clubs for 10 years and now we finally know where the exits are. Actually, we play at the Lucky Dog in Worcester and there have been fire marshals there twice, not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because other towns have taken this responsibility on as well.

It’s comforting to know that people haven’t forgotten and they’re working to try and prevent it from happening again. It’s the only thing we can do now.

For complete article please visit The Providence Phoenix Site:
http://www.providencephoenix.com/
features/other_stories/multi_1/documents/03617465.asp
- Providence Phoenix

Catching a Buzz(play)
Four area bands vie for national bragging rights
BY BOB GULLA

The folks over at Buzzplay are nothing if not absolutely smitten with the rock music coming out of southern New England these days. The LA-based site, an independent A&R and music promotion service that also does some booking, publicity, and artist management/development, has redoubled its efforts in our area and its charts reflect that effort. Recently, the site has championed Zox, Transparent, and Monty’s Fan Club. M-80 was the winner of last year’s Best Unsigned Band Search, and landed some dates on the 2003 Warped Tour at least in part because of their association with the site.

Well, this year Buzzplay’s Best Unsigned Band Search continues mining area talent. On Friday (the 26th), the site will host a showcase at the Green Room. On the bill are prominent Buzzplay bands the StereoBirds, Illustrious Day, and Audiocentrix (formerly Sonnet), along with a Boston band called the States.

The Birds and ID are both finalists in the site’s talent hunt, as are Transparent and Monty’s Fan Club, which is a damn good percentage of finalists when the list is limited to 10 nationally. "We represent all types of music, as long as it’s good and original," explains LJ, the site’s owner. "We look for bands that we think have something to offer to a national audience."

If this is true — at least according to a guy who can observe us all the way from LA — and he sees all kinds of talent springing forth from this area, that means we have some sort of scene on our hands. Head to buzzplay.com for more on the BUBS, and snookersgreenroom.com for details on Friday’s show.

- The Providence Phoenix March 25, 2004