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New England Music News

Boston music news, February 3, 2006

The Springfield quartet LIGEIA are the latest signing to metalcore powerhouse Ferret Recordings; their debut, Your Ghost Is a Gift, is due March 21. Ferret honcho Carl Severson saw the group when they toured with his band Nora, but the deal was sealed when Unearth guitarist KEN SUSI (who subsequently recorded the album) passed along their demos to label exec/artist manager Paul Conroy. “It was a pleasant surprise when Ferret decided to put it out,” says singer Keith Holuk. “A lot of the record is dramatic and depressing, but it is 100 percent honest.” . . . DARKBUSTER turn a local tradition on its ear this week. Taking a cue from previous holiday homestands by the MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES (Christmas) and DROPKICK MURPHYS (St. Patty’s Day), they’ve chosen Groundhog Day to launch their first annual “Hometown Throwup.” “The band that wouldn’t go away,” as they’ve dubbed themselves according to manager and RAGING TEENS frontman Kevin Patey, are spending a week at O’Brien’s. And like the Murphys, they’re tapping a bevy of local punk bands to open, including FAR FROM FINISHED and THE ALRIGHTERS (February 2), NOWHERE USA (February 4, an all-ages matinee), the CURSES and DEATH AND TAXES (February 4, a 21-plus night show), the WELCH BOYS and the GOOD FIGHT (February 5). “Nine shows in seven days,” notes Patey. “The big question is will everyone’s livers hold up!”

THE FIGGS recorded 25 songs in four days during an epic session in late January with Scott Janovitz at his Moontower recording studio in Cambridge. A slew of friends were present, including BRETT ROSENBERG and ED VALAUSKAS, who plays bass in Gent’s other outfit, the Gentlemen, but the album is expected to emerge sans guests — the first of their albums to do so since The Figgs Couldn’t Get High nearly a decade ago. “They are mostly rave-ups in a trying-to-write-‘Pictures of Lily’ state of mind,” says singer/guitarist Mike Gent. “Most of the new record will be fast/early Who-type songs. Wait a minute . . . didn’t the Jam do that already?” Look for the album this fall, on a label TBD. They’ll preview it with a spring single featuring two bonus songs. Plans for a spring tour are in the works, as are a slew of cool releases for 2007, which will mark the band’s 20th anniversary. In related news: the GENTLEMEN have begun work on their fourth album; Gent is also slowly compiling a solo record and may play on the next Gram Parsons outing.

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On the Web:

Ligeia: http://myspace.com/ligeia
Ferret Recordings: http://www.ferretstlye.com/
Darkbuster: http://www.darkbuster.net/
The Figgs: http://www.thefiggs.net/

Email the author:

Sarah Tomlinson: stomlins@mindspring.com