Digging deep The well-rooted scene; plus, a scorching set from Sasquatch BY BOB GULLA

It doesn’t matter if you’re in Woonsocket or Westerly, Providence or Ponagansett. Roots music rules in Rhode Island. Other styles have come and gone here (where is indie pop?) and there are hale undercurrents of punk, metal, and noise, thankfully, but roots is where it’s at around here: blues, rockabilly, swing, R&B and all the fellow permutations. It never seems to go away. Why is this? Well, familiarity is one reason. If you grow up listening to this music, chances are, if you become a musician, you’ll end up playing it. But, more importantly, roots music is the kind of stuff people play because they love it. It’s not a moneymaker by any stretch. It’s simply music you can play because you love it. You think local legend Paul Geremia does it for the paycheck? How about Roomful? You think they’re only in it for the money? How about Duke Robillard and his big ol’ collection of hollowbodies? Or Sasquatch . . . You think he and all the other dudes who have been so faithful to rockabilly are pressing for their big chance at stardom? This state might not be breaking bands and sending them skyward toward fame and fortune, but it does host way more than its share of players who are in it because they love it.

Psycho Dave Caetano’s wacky musings on Burning Miles of Sin (Wet Floor), the new Sick-A-Billys disc, surpass anything he’s done thus far in many ways. Most critically, the songs manage to capture the sound and the fury of his crew’s live set. To achieve that effect, the whole disc was recorded live in a single eight-hour session, and the sonic blitzkrieg paid off. With his buddies bassist Johnny Custom and drummer Mike Levesque in tow, Caetano roars and burns through a set of satisfying psychobilly freakouts. His vocals are clear and delightfully crude (make sure the kiddies aren’t within earshot!) and pushed way up front in the mix, and his greaseball Vega guitar licks aren’t far behind. Most of the tunes here are quick, venomous blasts, pivoting on a particularly crass lyric and a meaty hook. "Hot N’ Faster," the jamming-est, hardest-rockin’ tune on the disc, brings it home the way the band likes to get it on live. Ditto for "Mean, Mean Man," which you’d be pardoned for assuming was an autobiographical chestnut. "Almost Forgotten," while traditional, manages to filter in a few crashing licks, the kind that distinguish this band from its punkabilly brethren. In fact, the guy plays a savage guitar, and his licks spread across these songs like gasoline in a rain puddle.

Having paid his dues for many years now, it’s great to hear Sasquatch’s labors bear this most excellent fruit. Catch ’em the next time around.

Sasquatch &THE SICK-A-BILLYS +Hot rod Fury | Bank Street CafŽ, 637 Bank Street, New London, CT |Nov 25 | 860.444.1444 | The Blackstone, 129 Mendon Road, Cumberland |Dec 3 | 401.726.2181

BUSY BRT

On Saturday (the 26th), the Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, presents their 6th Annual Homecoming Concert. The lineup features Robbie O’Connell, the Atwater-Donnelly Trio, the Bohemian Quartet, John Fuzek, Martin Grosswendt, Rory Raven, Ken Lyon and the Skeleton Crew, and Pendragon. With family and friends in town for Turkey Day, the fundraiser, hosted by Pendragon, will filter 100 percent of the proceeds from the concert and a silent auction to support the BRT’s excellent programming and operating expenses. The BRT has so far presented more than 430 concerts, dances, and children’s events for more than 32,000 people. The show on Saturday starts at 8 pm and admission is $15. For reservations or information, call 401.725.9272 or go to www.riverfolk.org. Beginning at 7 pm and during intermission, the silent auction will feature CDs, jewelry, original artwork, Christmas items, and gift certificates.

WOONSOCKET CALLING

Ken Lyon, known to some as "the godfather of Rhode Island blues," will hang with eggroll fans at Chan’s Jazz & Blues Concert Series on Friday (the 25th) with his Skeleton Crew. Lyon will do what he does best, which means a program of cracklin’ acoustic blues. He’ll be joined by Bob Drouin on fiddle, banjo, and guitar, "Little Richard" Calitri on harmonica, and Justin "Buzz" Lyon on bass guitar. On Wednesday (the 30th) at Chan’s, Lyon returns for more fun, this time an open mike blues jam with a bunch of his friends. Keep your money in your wallet for that one, as admission is free.

On Saturday, if you’re not busy at the BRT Homecoming, you can catch more action at Chan’s. The musical host will be Stefan Couture and the Campfire Orchestra, which is always a really good shew . . . or shows, ’cuz they play at 8 and 10 pm. Chan’s is at 267 Main Street in Woonsocket. For information, call 401.765.1900.

WANDERING EYE

The new Rhode Island Songwriters Association CD is out. The unabridged title is Volume 1: A Collection of Songs Written for the RISA Songwriters In the Round Shows. And it was recorded live at AS220. To order a copy, send $12.50 (includes S&H) to RISA, Post Office Box 367, Harmony, RI 02829. To hear cuts from the disc, go to the RISA website at www.risongwriters.com.

Paul Geremia returns to Stone Soup on Saturday. Paul’s a first-rate bluesman, as well as a songwriter, a scholar of early jazz and blues, and one of the best country blues fingerpickers around. Stone Soup has been a happy home for him for a long time, and he’s been known to give some transcendent performances. The concert begins at 8 pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket Arts Center, 210 Main Street, Pawtucket. Tickets are $12. Call 401.457.7147. There will be an open mic preceding the performance, so bring your fave kazoo.

On Wednesday, Home BRU’d Live at GIZA will present Uncle Everett, Orange Jam Conspiracy, and Sediment. Go to www.gizari.comfor more input.

E-mail with your music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.