Beloved ex-Vegas rock ’n’ roll duo The Mad Caps announced that they’re calling it quits, with a June 1 Facebook post. “I woke up to a lot of messages. People sent in their condolences like we died,” singer/guitarist Ted Rader says from Seattle. “I didn’t think people really cared … We hadn’t been playing shows for a while. We were both pretty busy [and drummer] Jon [Realmuto] undertook a lot of responsibility for his PhD.”
Realmuto will continue to pursue that degree (in mechanical engineering) in Seattle while Rader relocates to Portland to launch a new musical project. “We still played music and loved each other, [but] it got to the point where I was writing music that was not for a two-piece.” Rader adds, “I really love traveling and touring. I don’t really like Seattle that much … The people who are making it here are the people who are going around and socializing and I’m already anti-social enough.”
Rader says he already has an entire album’s worth of music for his new unnamed Portland three-piece, featuring organ player Jaclyn Hardin (formerly of A Happy Death) and Nik Barnaby (who goes by Ladywolf). And even though it’s goodbye to The Mad Caps for now, it isn’t necessarily forever. “The plan is, Jonny will continue to be a part of future projects, like studio recordings,” Rader says. “I’m so happy it ended on a good note.” Keep your eyes peeled for a new solo music video, released by Rader June 15 at sandsvacationrecords.com—and possibly a live Mad Caps album from ’09 in July.
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Late last year, GoldBoot won Artist of the Year honors in a competition run by Five of Five Music Entertainment, an undergraduate music program at California State University, Northridge. Since then, Five of Five has assisted the Vegas two-piece in recording a new album, producing a music video and building its fanbase—and now, the duo is gearing up to celebrate its debut full-length, BlackWhiteGold, June 26 at Backstage Bar & Billiards (and online at goldbootmusic.com). “It’s a point for us to try and be that band that starts small in Vegas and ends up big in Vegas,” guitarist Logan Lanning says.
In January, Lanning and drummer Bobby Lucy enlisted friend and producer/engineer Andy Carpenter, spending two weeks at his Anaheim, California, studio and working 14-hour days until their project was complete. GoldBoot’s first single, the shiny, radio-forward “Wild Feelings,” will be accompanied by a video shot under Five of Five’s direction. “For this approach, we weren’t really trying to hide behind the fact that we are a two piece and [that] it’s impossible to pull that off live,” Lanning says. “We used the benefits of the technology that’s available today … Does it have a good melody? Does it have a good backbeat? That was the focal point.”
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As if Zach Saucier and Mac Purdy didn’t see enough of each other already, the Payola Presley members are teaming up create their own Vegas-based record label, Savory Records. The independent imprint’s first artist is singer/songwriter Erica Scarano, also known as Everose. “Even indie labels overshadow their talent. We’re trying to do the opposite,” Saucier says. “We are down to work with anybody that has the same vision we do. If we have art that you want to get out, we can help you do it.”
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Folk duo Coastwest Unrestwill release its fourth LP, Black Desert Sweet Mojave, July 28 on Reclaim Records. Recorded at Portland’s Jackpot! Recording Studios, the album features 10 songs written by brothers Josh (drums) and Noah Dickie (vocals, guitar). According to a release, Black Desert focuses on the “connectedness to everyone and everything”—especially in the Southwest. The first single, “All the F*ck You’s” is streaming now at soundcloud.com.
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Vegas hard-rock band Otherwise announced its North American summer tour this week, including 11 dates as direct support for Canadian rock group Three Days Grace, two stops with Florida rockers Shinedown and four music festivals, including the inaugural Loudwire Music Festival in Grand Junction, Colorado. Visit weareotherwise.com for the band’s full tour schedule.
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Electronic post-punk group Fake Drugs—former Las Vegan (and current STRFKR member) Keil Corcoran performing with ex-Curl Up and Die guitarist Matt Fuchs—will play a free show at Velveteen Rabbit on June 12.
