ON_THE_ROCKS

The Worcester Phoenix
Dec. 14 - 21, 2000

[On The Rocks]

Wunderlick and a promise

Worcester's Karen Gizzie fronts heavy up-and-comers

by Brian Goslow
Perhaps the biggest challenge any band faces is finding the proper chemistry and commitment. Worcester is infamous for groups that create a major buzz, then self-destruct when it comes time to take the next step toward success because they can't take time off from work for an East Coast tour or because they turn down that door-opening last-minute gig for fear of pissing off some
significant other or because of the usual things that break up bands: missed practices, marriage and kids, or substance abuse. Then again, there are the rare occasions when a group hangs together until the proper opportunity comes along. That seems to be the case with Wunderlick, whose core of Boston-area musicians teamed up with Worcester's Karen Gizzie a year ago to form one of the area's tightest rock bands.
Last Saturday night, as Ralph's traditionally late crowd continued its tradition, a couple dozen fans are in attendance when Wunderlick takes the stage. Doing her best Spinal Tap imitation, vocalist Gizzie asks the crowd to, "Show me your cigarette lighters," before whipping her body and partially-braided blond hair around the stage as bassist Bill Brinkert, drummer Rudy Dominguez, and guitarist Jerry Sheehan break into "Free" from Gears, their recently-released four-song CD.
The rhythm section is rock steady. Dominguez is in constant motion, batting at his drums as if they were strapped onto the back of a marathon pace car. Brinkert's head and body move with every note, while Sheehan's long black hair flies as he alternates grinding chords with virtuoso playing not unlike Jeff Beck's.
The band started out in 1995 as Buddy Wunderlick and the Chops, taking their name from Don DeLillo's Great Jones Street, a 1973 novel about a tortured rock star and his ill-fated backing band. Their original sound was based in punk (Dominguez), industrial (Brinkert), and blues (Sheehan) music. Last year, they began listening to a lot of Tool and rediscovered Living Colour. Both bands create huge soundscapes. "We asked ourselves what made these bands, and bands like Led Zeppelin, great when we were growing up," says Brinkert. "We wanted to create something epic and legendary."
They decided they needed to reinvent themselves and add a lead vocalist to their lineup. "Both Rudy and my playing were suffering from [having to sing]," says Sheehan. "I knew we had to make a change when I watched a videotape of us playing and saw our ability to play diminished as we were singing." Freed from singing duties, Sheehan's happy to be able to concentrate fully on his guitar playing. "It allows me to explore what I can do with my instrument." He lists his current musical influences as Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro; his early inspiration came from Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. "Every time I do a long solo, Bill shakes his head and says, `Gilmour.' It definitely seeps into my playing."
The three musicians found the spirited Gizzie through a "singer wanted" ad they placed on the Internet. "She came in for an audition and blew us away," Brinkert says. "We thought it would be difficult [adding a fourth person] but it wasn't. She really wanted to be part of the band and we didn't just want a singer. We wanted a full band member who wrote material with us."
Gizzie, who says she's been in bands since the age of 13, has sung for the Boston-based Bitz n Pieces, the Lowell-based Stranger Angel, and most recently the Daily Grind. Prior to finding Wunderlick, she performed "at a lot of open mics playing and singing my own stuff, especially the open blues jams at the Chicken Bone, where the host kindly referred to me as Janis Joplin -- minus the booze." She hit it off with her new band-mates immediately. "The type of music that they did intrigued me," she says. "I tend to let what's going on in my life influence my musical tastes, and I met these guys during the most angry, pissed-off stage in my life. I was tired of games and trying to find out who the hell I was, coming out of a period in my life that took my identity. I was tired of being the person I was expected to be. I needed to find music that fit me and who I was becoming. When I walked into the room and they played the first song, I felt like I had come across what I have always been looking for."
She's definitely one of the boys without, quite obviously, being one of the boys. "For some reason, I just seem to be able to relate to theses guys as a `guy' so to speak. The other bands I have been in have also been all men and none really have respected me as a musician -- these guys do. We all listen to each other -- and we groove together."
Back at Ralph's, the growing crowd applauds "Angry Red Dot," which ends with a very John Bonham/Led Zeppelin-esque finish. Gizzie challenges the audience to mosh along, but not before asking them to sign the group's mailing list or purchase a copy of Gears. She sounds as if she was leading a Baptist church choir during an a cappella version of "Amazing Grace," before the rest of Wunderlick joins in for the revved-up finale. On "Karma," she resembles a female Axl Rose, howling, "It's coming around." On "Bug," Gizzie's deep bluesish voice must have Janis Joplin smiling down from heaven; they're certainly spiritual soul sisters.
"I have a lot of musical influences," she says. "I tend to have a very open mind and respect anyone who can take their emotions and put them to music. I try to bring my biggest influences -- the soul of Janis Joplin, the power of Chris Cornell, and the deep emotion of Nina Simone -- to life in my own style."
While Sheehan, Brinkert, and Dominguez continue to live in the Boston area, they've found a home in Wormtown. "We've started to draw more people," Brinkert says. "People really seem to be into music in Worcester." Wunderlick's goal is bringing their music to a wider audience. Expanding their fan base throughout New England is next on the horizon; followed, hopefully, by an East Coast tour. Of course, a recording contract would be nice, but it isn't the end all.
"Music is my life," Gizzie says. "I can never imagine a life where I was not doing some sort of performing, writing or playing, and this type of music satisfies my hunger. I can scream, I can yell, I can sing -- anything goes with this type of music." For many, the metallic hardcore mix that has been emanating out of the US for the past half-decade are the modern blues. "This is just a heavier, more marketable version of doing that."
While Gizzie's been known to share her opinions on stage, Sheehan adds, "I've always looked at us as a hard rock-and- roll band. I don't think of us as angry in what we do -- we're just passionate about what we do and that may come out as anger."
Wunderlick share the stage with Hitch, Officer Down, and Let Down this Saturday, December 16, at the Lucky Dog Music Hall.
Christmas tunes
Tony D'Aveni's Winter Wonderland (Iztone) is the CD you'll be searching for when the relatives ask for some music while waiting for the Christmas turkey. The Worcester-based trumpet and flugelhorn player gives his backing musicians, which include bassist John Lockwood, drummer Owen Howard, and guitarist Steven Kirby, plenty of room to showcase their talents; pianist Bevan Manson especially shines on "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." Winter Wonderland is available in Worcester at the Mechanics Hall Gift Shop, Tatnuck Booksellers Marketplace, and Kurlan Music, as well as at Robinson Music in Westborough, or by writing D'Aveni at tdaveni@juno.com.
Man of many musical hats Bob Dick, who plays mandolin and fiddle with Slo-Grass, Valerie and Walter Crockett's Oxymorons, the Blackstone Valley Boys, and Front Range (with whom he just completed an European Tour), has released a bluegrass-flavored holiday disc. You can pick up a copy of Tidings of Comfort and Joy when he appears as part of the Chuck and Mud Holiday Show this Saturday at the Green Rooster Coffeehouse or by e- mailing Dick at Aplandbob@aol.com.
Probably harder to find, but worth the search for the smiles it'll bring, is Zolli's Follies' Santa's Boot Leg (Good), on which Peter Zolli (with help from his friends in Snakes and Ladders plus guitarist Julian Russell) does his best Weird Al impression with parodies of Cream ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Your Love"), Warren Zevon ("A Bottle of Scotch, a Candy Cane, and a Gun"), and Nirvana ("Candy Canes for Cripples"). Throw some money in an envelope and send it to Good Records, 48 Tower Street, Worcester, MA 01606.

Brian Goslow can be reached at bgoslow[a]phx.com.