The full Monty The Fan Club flirts with the big time BY BOB GULLA

A little-known Cranston band called Monty’s Fan Club has won two national contests sponsored by Ernie Ball/MusicMan and the Warped Tour production company. They won first place out of 2800 bands from across the country in the online competition, taking home thousands of dollars in professional music gear. Winners were determined by online voting; more than a million votes were cast. As part of the contest, Monty’s Fan Club won a spot on the Ernie Ball Local Heroes Stage at the Vans Warped Tour (Boston) this past summer, playing in front of thousands of fans, and was even asked back to play at the Warped Tour stop in Camden, New Jersey. Most recently, they were one of four bands chosen out of the same 2800 to be flown out to Hollywood, CA to play for room full of record label executives at the world-famous Key Club on December 10. The Warped Tour Production company and other music industry professionals picked the bands to play the showcase, which will also feature Warped Tour headliners the Vandals. The Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands is the longest-running and largest live music promotion of its kind, giving young emerging bands worldwide a chance to hit the big time. The band’s next local gig isn’t until January 3 with M-80, Can’t Face the Falling, and Throne. For more info check: www. montysfanclub.com.

AMOS HOUSE. The Amos House Collection III is available this week in record stores everywhere. The third volume in the noble charity compilation series to benefit Amos House of Providence is a double CD featuring 20 rare and exclusive tracks from Wilco, Elf Power, Spoon, Super Furry Animals, Wheat, Califone, and more. The Amos House is, of course, a non-profit charity organization dedicated to providing direct support for people in need by offering resources that help them achieve greater stability and self-reliance in their lives. Twenty talented artists have come together to contribute their work to help the cause, and the awareness of the series has grown considerably. Past contributors include Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, and Death Cab for Cutie. You can hear Wilco’s " Let Me Come Home " and Richard Davies’s " Kal " by going to www.wishingtree records.com and clicking on WishingTree radio. Check the site for the final track listing for the collection and see if you don’t wanna get your hands on it tout suite.

WANDERING EYE. On Saturday (the 29th), the Blizzard of ’78, the Dirty Truckers, and the Dickens comprise a seriously cool triple bill which will go down at Jake’s. Cover? Not!

Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem will show you just how much fun traditional acoustic music can be. The band features Arbo (vocals and fiddle) with Andrew Kinsey (vocals, bass, banjo and ukelele), Anand Nayak (vocals, guitar), and Scott Kessel (vocals, percussion). Together they produce a funky, soulful blend of four-part harmonies, with the sublime lead singing of Rani. Why don’t you take a trip down to Stone Soup Coffeehouse, where they will be performing on Saturday at 8 p.m. The venue is located at the Arts Center of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket (210 Main Street). It’s easy to find and tickets are terrifically affordable at $12.

I know they’re from Boston, but the Family Jewels’s gig at AS220 on Saturday is one you should consider. The Family Jewels is a very cool new group playing some very hot old music. The sextet is Asa Brebner, Shaun Wolf Wortis, Joey Pesce, Andrew Mazzone, Billy Beard, and Paul Ahlstrand, who have worked with Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Toni Lynn Washington, ’Til Tuesday, Robin Lane and the Chartbusters, and Jonathan Richman’s Modern Lovers. The band was formed around the members’ mutual love of American roots music and they play everything from honky-tonk to doo-wop, blues to jump swing, New Orleans second-line to rockabilly. If that ain’t enough the Neo-’90s Dance Band is also performing that night. Special host for the night is Sir Guy d’Guy.

ZOX plays the Ocean Mist in Matunuck also on Saturday. The groove-happy bunch is touring tirelessly now in support of their debut, Take Me Home. The show is $5, begins at 9 p.m. and is 18-plus. For more information call 782-3740, and check out ZOX at www.zoxband.com.

We’re sad to report that Jamie " Diablo " Souza is leaving Sasquatch and the Sick-a-billys. According to Dave Sasquatch, " Jamie has shown more love and dedication for the music than can be described in one lifetime. There are no hard feelings at all. " Of course, a drummer who shares the same vision as an entire band is very tough to find. " We have a space, PA, love, vision, and many gigs. It is all about The Music. " Track him down at sasquatch815@cox.net if you’re interested.

E-mail me at big.daddy1@cox.net