Worcester-dwellers who are accustomed to hearing that heavy, hardcore-rooted style that has become the city’s musical identity can finally take a DEEP breath of fresh air. Hint of Lime and Ray Hendrick’s Revival, having pretty much conquered the Wormtown scene, are poised to unleash a different feel on the national music scene.“We’re about getting the music out…that’s what gets us excited,” says HOL percussionist/vocalist Randy Harris. In listening to a private performance of “Brainworms” in the HOL recording studio, one cannot resist the blues-infused ska-rock beats and licks that infiltrate one’s auditory cortices. Having kept busy with festivals in NY and Deerfield, MA, HOL is now broadening their horizons outside the city limits of beautiful Worcester.

However, Hint of Lime has revisited the drawing board for some streamlining and reconfiguration in the year since The Pulse’s initial interview with the Worcester-based ensemble. Whereas HOL used to be a true jam band with more loosely-structured songs, they have taken the last few months to tighten up their product. With more of a focus on song structure, one can more easily distinguish the contrast between light and dark riffs, as well as a German-like synchronization within each smile-provoking, unpredictable chord.

It would be the best idea you’ve had in months to check out HOL’s latest news and other good stuff at www.myspace.com/hintoflime and www.hintoflime.com/.

RAY HENDRICKS REVIVAL

As for RHR, well, “They’s on fire.î Having sold well over 600 copies of their first CD at area shows, with never enough supply to meet the demand, this group from Athol is continuing to make power-moves on the Northeast music scene. Having cut their first album with regionally-renowned Northfire Recording in Amherst, RHR is ready to track and mix their sophomore release. In preparation for their second stint in the studio, RHR is keeping their new material under wraps.

Multitasking is also a major part of the Ray Hendricks’ Revival skill set. In addition to their second professional recording, RHR is branching out geographically. While continuing to turn out massive crowds for shows at Tammany Hall in Worcester and The Brickyard in Baldwinville, RHR has been frequenting the Bishop’s Lounge in Noho as well as Plymouth State College and The Brickhouse in Dover, NH.

Be sure to keep your calendar open on Jan. 19, when RHR will be shaking the Bishop’s Lounge with Dust of the Lotus, and Jan. 26, when they will once again wage war on Tammany’s speakers with 2Adam12.

When asked if the band had any New Year’s Resolutions, only one response fit the bill: “Get in the van and go!”

For more tour dates & info check out www.myspace.com/rayhendricks.

BAND

Funkatronic
Let’s get funked up

By Bobby Hankinson

Ladies and gentlemen, the funk has hit the fan.

Brothers Justin and Paul Caraher, collectively known as Funkatronic, infuse jazz, rock, electronica and a dash of jam-band to create a sound wholly their own. The result ~ as their name hints at ~ is almost too funky for words. “We’re like Parliament Funkadelic, but we could never be that funky,” Paul said.

Oh, but he’s being modest. While the legendary P-Funk is comprised of many, many members, Funkatronic reaches the same level of cool with just two. Paul layers loops with bass, keyboards, and guitar and Justin takes to the drums. Even with just the two of them, the sound is surprisingly fleshed-out and full. When they set up at shows, people are surprised to learn the size of the band. “I can almost predict it,” Paul said, “They’re looking at you, sizing you up, like ‘Where’s the rest of the band?’”

Don’t confuse Funkatronic with other duos like the White Stripes or the Black Keys ~ the band isn’t indie or punk influenced. Instead of citing the Pixies or the Kinks as their musical heroes, the brothers lean more toward jazz greats like Miles Davis and Charlie Parker.

Before they were exploring the New England jazz scene from their headquarters in Providence, the brothers grew up south of the Mason-Dixon in Nashville. Their mother sang in the symphony, so the boys got great seats for many performances. Paul said seeing internationally-renowned classical guitarist Angel Romero was a major influence on his musical development. The other turning point for him was taking lessons with Nick Nixon, a Nashville blues legend.

Still, Paul was drawn to hard rock heroes like Van Halen and Jimmy Page. It wasn’t until he was older that he began to get interested in jazz. Both brothers have played in bands since they were young, but they learned that nothing could beat the experience of keeping it in the family. “We have like a telepathy going, because we grew up together and know each other really well.”

After planning a move to the north, the brothers packed up and headed to Providence five years ago, hoping to capitalize on the region’s jazz following. They have been touring the Northeast constantly, performing at Trumbull Bar and Grill in Spencer and Partner’s Pub in Fitchburg.

The band is surely worth braving the cold, but if you feel like staying in, you can check Funkatronic out at myspace.com/funkatronics or pick up their CD “Up from the Underground” at cdbaby.com/funkatronic.

But regardless of whether you catch the band live or pop in a disc, you can at least be sure these two will play that funky music right.

TRACKS
Point the Finger

By Andrew Jones

Question 1: If you trip and fall hard over your own shoelaces while inside a Walmart, what do you do?
 
Question 2: If you burn yourself with your McDonald’s coffee while you’re driving, what do you do?

Question 3: If the hard-rocking band you’re watching is sporting Uncle Sam suits and jumping into the crowd from any solid surface they can find, what are you watching?

Now before you get a bad flashback of a high school essay assignment, just relax ~ The answer to all three of these questions is the same: Point The Finger. That’s right, America’s favorite pastime is also the clever and catchy name of the Gardner area’s hottest up and coming band. And while PTF has only been around for about a year now, they have been hard at work getting songs written and playing live shows as well as  promoting and recording all of their own stuff.

The band was originally born of a side project of front man Matt Piaseczny’s, but eventually became his main mission. And this mission is predicated on the fact that he, along with Jason Jalbert on guitar, Joseph Dimucci on bass, and Joe Brun on drums, wants you, just like good ol’ Unky Sam, to join the PTF army. These guys put as much time and energy as they can into a memorable show with original eye-popping antics and serious humor. Add that to the self proclaimed “songs that seem to empower you, and bring dynamics and personification to a new level,” and you’ll be signed and ready for boot camp by morning.

PTF’s 4 song demo, released in 2006, contains a haunting draw from vocals that are the firm clasp at the end of a jagged chain of melodic, meaty, pretty, and wailing guitar riffs. You can check out three tracks off the demo, two of which, “Lose Control” and “Vent,” really give you the sense of the rockin’ and almost mock psychosis that the band encompasses, on Myspace. “Scared Forever” shows a more bare-bones acoustic side of the band, along with a little taste of their diversity. If you’re having problems getting your hands on the demo, don’t worry, Matt and the boys are working on getting a live EP out by April, and another studio one out shortly thereafter.

Patriots to their own cause, PTF have made it clear that they are going to take their idea to the highest level they can, joining the millions of Americans who are already pointing the finger ~ the difference is that these guys are promoting the pointing of a different, some would say more expressive, digit. So we urge you, check out Point The Finger at their upcoming shows (posted at www.myspace.com/pointthefingerrocks) and help ensure that they get their own slice of the American apple pie*.

*Caution: Pie is EXTREMELY hot when first removed from oven.