Last week I hit up Q Division in Somerville to take part in PARLOUR BELLS gang-vocal recording session for "Airwaves," a track the glam-infused noir-pop band whipped up specifically as a tribute to WFNX, just in time for their performance Saturday, June 30, at the We Want The Airwaves tribute show at the Paradise Rock Club. Luckily, you can't really hear my dumb-ass voice in the song, which we world premiered Sunday night on Boston Accents, drowned out by more than 20 members of the Boston music community dubbed the Metropolitan Chorale.
To support "Airwaves" and raise awareness to the cause, the 'Bells also released this video yesterday, a behind the scenes look at the June 21 pow wow at Q Division that also captures some WFNX testimony from the participants. I'm pretty sure I Irish goodbye'd the joint before they threw the camera my way. But it was a blast to take part in the revelry, even if it was a bummer event that inspired it.
Parlour Bells vocalist Glenn di Benedetto told the Phoenix that the band will try to perform the song at the Dise this weekend, and will invite all members of the chorale up on stage to fill out the rousing chorus. Also on the "We Want The Airwaves" bill are O Positive, Orbit, and Garvy J, and the night will feature several DJ sets by former WFNX DJs Adam 12, Bruce McDonald, Duane Bruce and Boy Troy.
X-Nite DJ Mike Gioscia spins the dance party until last call, and all proceeds benefit The Progeria Research Foundation. Good cause, above all.
Oh and hey, take note: former WFNX music director McDonald will be warming up for the show by hitting the Lynn studio from 2 to 6pm on Friday, bringing a bit of old-school to the 101.7 FM airwaves. We're told Dave Herlihy, Gang Of Four's Hugo Burnham, the Smithereens' Pat DiNizio, and the Chameleons' Mark Burgess, among others, will be calling in to chat and share stories about the station.
In the meantime, here's the chorus to "Airwaves":
"We I lay down, hear myself again
On the airwaves, postmeridian
Then I look around and find that you aren't there
I think a radio station just went off the air."
The Parlour Bells Metropolitan Chorale features Kerri-Ann Richard, Richard Bouchard, Anngelle Wood, Michael Marotta, Chris Mulvey, Lisa Libera, Leesa Coyne, Adam Ritchie, Rishava Green, Matt King, Michael J. Epstein, Sophia Cacciola, Jessica Sun Lee, Adam Anderson, Michael Gonzales, Ken Marcou, Tom Roppelt, Joel Edinberg, Rachel Blumenthal, Sarah Rabdau, and Peter Moore.
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