Date: Fri 31-Oct-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Treadmill-Trackstar-Road

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS 10/31/97

Hey, Happy Halloween!

Is it my imagination, or has Radio 104 been playing a lot of SMASHING PUMPKINS

music this week? Coincidence? I think not.

The long-awaited debut from ELECTRICWATER, a rock group out of Newtown, is

finally ready to be released. The band's eponymously-titled album, distributed

by the band's eponymously-named label, will be officially released Friday,

[November] 7. To celebrate the momentous event, a CD release party will be put

on at Classic Rock Brew Pub in Danbury (behind Danbury Airport, at 1 Wibling

Road; 792-4430). Music and festivities will begin at 10 pm.

Elctricwater consists of Chris Morrison on guitar and vocals, Mike Connolly on

bass and vocals, Bob Henderson on drums, and Michael Gurge on keyboard and

vocals. Electricwater contains 13 original songs, featuring the varied writing

and vocal stylings of each member.

The album will be available at shows ($10 for CD, $7 cassette) and also at

Gerosa Records, Brookfield; Volt Records, Danbury; and Tunes, Newtown.

On the shelves now is Only This , the debut album on Atlantic/Breaking Records

by TREADMILL TRACKSTAR, another band we always have a soft spot for. Treadmill

Trackstar is the band Newtown native Angelo Gianni is working in, based in

South Carolina, and the band is moving up in the music world. Along with

Gianni, TT's lineup includes Heidi Brown on cello, Chris Grigg on guitar, and

drummer Tony Lee.

A recent New Bands Showcase by and for Atlantic execs in New York City was a

big success, and Trackstar has followed that move with the release of Only

This . This is the band's second album, the first on a major label.

Not only does the band have a very busy touring schedule - ROAR Tour dates

this past summer, previous opening performances for HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH,

MATTHEW SWEET and EDWIN McCAIN, among others - it has also been labeled "the

hardest working act in town" by The State , a South Carolina daily.

Trackstar is an alternative rock band, with a classical cellist thrown right

into the middle of the works. And it does work, otherwise why else would a

label created by Hootie & Co., a label dedicated to the same kind of hard work

Hootie et al demonstrated on its well-documented rise to the top, sign these

guys (guys and gal, I should say)?

With the album just released this week, Breaking/Atlantic Records will be

keeping a close eye on initial sales figures. Interested in giving a listen to

what one of Newtown's native musicians is producing these days? Only This is

being stocked at Volt Records in Danbury, as well as The Wiz in Brookfield.

Tower Records is featuring the album is stores nationwide. If you want to have

a favorite local store order the album for you, you can tell them the album is

distributed by WEA.

Did I mention something about these guys working hard? Yes, the album is out

and the tour schedule is growing, but there are additional ways to check up on

what the band is up to: Gianni has been interviewed for an upcoming issue of

Guitar magazine, and the band was featured on "CNN Showbiz" on October 28. And

there's always the home page on the Internet, at treadmilltrackstar.com.

Until next week, I'll be seeing you... on the road.