Getting serious Barn Burning brings the house down BY BOB GULLA

It’s harder than hell breaking out of Providence, no matter how good you are. Not only do you have to contend with internal problems that seem to be a requirement for every band, you also have to figure out a way to reach audiences in other markets. How do you do that? One way local boys Anthony LoFreddio and Barn Burning have done it is to sign with a label outside of town. Their recent deal with the Catamount label down in Nashville not only suits their neo-roots musical style, it helps them with radio, promotion, and publicity, and gives them a way station down south. The label recently reissued the band’s gorgeous full-length WeatheredBound. Now they have to tour the hell out of the record to see what kind of audiences they can turn up.

"I’ve been booking the crap out of the band," says LoFreddio. "That’s the only way to do it. We tour the record as often and as long as we can." And the reception? "Some cities are better than others. We’ve gotten good responses from places we’ve played, like Columbus, Ohio, and Worcester."

Despite reaching far out into the country for success, Loffreddio has had to deal with lineup issues. "I’ve found that the more work there is for the band, the less commitment I get," he says. "It’s understandable because it’s becoming more of a real thing. The demand is higher to be out there to tour and keep your weekends open. It’s hard when people have other life commitments."

Most of BB’s personnel is different from the record. You’ll get a chance to meet them at their big gig this weekend at AS220. There’s new violin player Audrey Ryan (Cambridge, Audrey Ryan Band), a new drummer in James Toomey (from Worcester, formerly of hardcore band Split), and new bass player J.P. Perez.

"We’re in a big state of flux right now, but I think we’re stronger. Generally I do most of the writing, so it’ll still sound like Barn Burning." Which is always a good thing.

For now, the band continues to tour, with designs on heading out to SXSW in March and a West Coast tour thereafter. They also would like to put together an acoustic EP to tide audiences over who have already worn out their copy of Weatheredbound.

Barn Burning, Reverend Glass Eye, Two Cow Garage, and Elgin James will play at AS220 on Saturday, January 24. The show starts at 9 p.m. and the cover is $6.

PUNK & DISORDERLY. Not only have the Sleazies added a new guitarist to the mix in Pete Burr (Mother Jefferson, Backwash), they’ve also added a new album to their discography. Trite Ditties and Meaningless Crap (Pelado), the oh-so-humble name of that new project, will enjoy its official CD release at the Green Room this Saturday. Also on the bill are Spitzz (Boston), the Clap (Long Island), and Some Action (NYC).

"This will be our first show as a four-piece," says lead Sleaze Jami. "We’re now twice as bristling with guitars as we were before. And Pete sings and stuff, too."

If the new disc is anything like the band’s earlier material, (the singles "Operate On Myself" and "Glue Sandwich" come to mind), well, you can brace yourself for a barrage of blurry punk riffage, a healthy dose of sick humor, and a ton of fun.

The GreenRoom bash is the second half of a two-day tour of Boston and Providence for everybody except the Clap. Spitzz/Some Action/ Sleazies also play the Abbey Lounge in Boston on Friday (the 23rd).

You can track down more information at the band’s website: www.sleazies.com

SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. Erik Lee Conley, J.J. Royal, and Jay Nadeau of Point .08 are recruiting help from artists, managers, labels, DJs, radio stations, and distribution companies to help assemble, duplicate, distribute, advertise, and play a compilation CD of all musical styles to raise money for the Rhode Island nightclub fire victims. Says the band, "After the fire, many bands played local gigs to help, which defrayed the immediate funeral and medical costs, but that time has passed. As the one-year anniversary draws near, we are in a rush to put out a compilation to raise money for the burn victims. Our friends are dead and buried, but we must not forget that many more were burned and survived."

The Station Family Fund has recently put out an S.O.S. for donations at www.stationfamilyfund.org. "We feel we can raise a large sum for them if everyone in the music biz chips in. Please help us to help them. If you know anyone that may be an asset to our cause, we urge you to forward this request."

Point .08 can be reached at (401) 331-2848 or eman@point08.com.

WANDERING EYE. The series known as "Your Roots Are Showing" that takes place at the Century Lounge aims to put the spotlight on regional bands whose music is influenced by American roots music, from country and blues to all variations of Americana, twang, rockabilly, and honky-tonk in between. The second night in this series will feature Bertrand Laurence (influenced by Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Jelly Roll Morton, and Big Bill Broonzy), Aoife O’Donovan, and Crooked Still (she of the Wayfaring Strangers) hinging on banjo, cello, and bass; local heroes the Dirty Truckers (who recall garage rootsers like Slobberbone); and Lucky 57, your hosts, who serve up post-punk as filtered through the sensibilities of a trad-country outfit. A lineup worth checking out, Lucky 57 stars Sue Metro of the former art-punk band High Risk Group on lap steel, Kip McCloud of pre-riot grrrl band Quivvver on guitar and vocals, and Malcolm Travis (ex-Human Sexual Response, the Zulus and Bob Mould’s Sugar) drumming.

Also on Friday at 9 p.m. over at AS220, L.P., Matt Everett, the White Man, and Marissa Nadler make for a seriously interesting bill. L.P. distills the emotion and swagger of classic acts like Janis Joplin and the Rolling Stones into her own intoxicating strain of modern rock. Matt Everett, formerly of several local bright lights (Amoebic Ensemble, Iditarod, et al.) combines equal parts Fred Frith and Nick Drake, and his songs range from pop to peculiar. Marissa Nadler haunts audiences with mournful dirges and dark astral melodies.

Eric Fontana heads up a new electric trio called the Ultra Fine Reducers, featuring Thomas Brinkley on bass and Mike Levesque on drums. They’ll be playing at Turtle Soup on Broadway in Providence on Friday from 9:30 to midnight.

There’s a massive punk blowout at Lupo’s at the Strand on Saturday night, featuring the nearly famous M-80 and the soon-to-be nearly famous Monty’s Fan Club, plus Throne and Can’t Face the Falling. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7. This is an all-ages show, so finish up your dinner and head over; you’re bound to be fighting off the skate rats. Admission is $10 a head.

Illustrious Day will be playing a show with Averi, Mappari, and Atlantic recording artists New Blood Revival on Saturday (the 24th) at the Living Room. The show is all-ages, the cover is $10, and doors open at 8 p.m.

Also on Saturday at Cats on Broadway in Pawtucket, a few bands will be looking to take the chill out of the unkind winter. It’s officially called the Second Annual Routine 8 Sno-Ball and it features, among other very special guests, Slugworth and Jesus Candy.

Your music news is welcome at big.daddy1@cox.net.