Words by Emily Lozeau

Photo by Buzz Jar

When asked how or why they became musicians, all four members of Buzz Jar gave similar responses. “My house was full of guitars,” singer and guitarist Johanna Hiller said. Drummer John Willis said as a kid he would drum and bang on tables and finally received a drum set after writing a persuasive letter to his parents. Regardless of circumstance, the four musicians grew up surrounded by music.

As a group, these four have been together since August of this year. Hiller and Jake Brennan (singer and guitarist) are the band’s original members. They were joined later by bassist Willy Lamb-Orgel and most recently Willis. Brennan explains that as a sound, he does not feel that categorizing Buzz Jar is a necessary task. “Every time we play we sound like the same four people; we’ve built a sound that’s our own. [We don’t categorize ourselves] not because it’s ground breaking but because genres do more bad than good.” Lamb-Orgel agrees, “You have to be removed from it to know what you sound like.”

Hiller and Brennan are the band’s two songwriters. Brennan writes mainly about personal experiences and situations he has found himself in, rather than political music. He feels that “Good art should be interpreted in different ways. I don’t feel, necessarily, that I need to explain in detail what every song means.”

Hiller estimates she writes about a quarter of the band’s songs. “It’s strange,” she explains, “something happened since I moved to Vermont - I can only write soft jazz-country winter songs.”

The four are quick to admit that living in such a cold climate has affected their music’s style profoundly. Brennan feels living here has greatly impacted his writing as well, “The way you feel physically, and it makes music sound different. Like J.J. Cale. His playing sounds like he’s in a room that is so unbearably hot and he can’t exert any more effort.”

Buzz Jar’s music has the opposite feeling. “There’s something to be said about living in Vermont and being cold all the time; there’s a distance to [the music],” Hiller says. No matter how they write their music individually, it is always transformed when the band comes together as a whole.

“That being said, we’re a post-rock-free country band, ”Lamb-Orgel jokes.

Willis said in the past Buzz Jar did mostly live shows in downtown Burlington, but as of late, the band is in an “input” rather than “output” phase. Brennan, a prolific writer, noted they have an extensive library of songs, and that there will be recordings coming soon. Their recent break was a result of not wanting to play the same songs over and over live and that in order to accomplish the “buffing up” they desire, a move to a warmer climate might be in order in the near future.

Buzz Jar is playing tonight, 3-10-10 at Higher Ground. Doors open at 7:30pm, the  show is at 8:00pm.

http://www.highergroundmusic.com/calendar/show/3414/

You can check out Buzz Jar’s music online at:

http://www.myspace.com/buzzjar

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buzz-Jar/42521868406

Big Heavy World is fundraising for the next 87 days to replace our old web server, which can’t handle the new audio and video content we’ll be pouring on soon (live and archived concerts, musician interviews…). We’ve gotten some support from the State of Vermont for the new one, and from Small Dog Electronics but still have to pull a chunk of $ together to make it happen. To raise the last $1,000 we applied for a Kickstarter.com project and were accepted. See http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1699726140/a-new-server-for-vermont-made-music - they’re a cool new way for arts projects to fundraise - they make it fun. Thanks for pitching in!

Luke Tyrrell started at the Radiator in January, 2010 on an internship from his school to better his job experience for the future. Because he had to. On a visit from school home to Arizona in November, 2009 he had a layover in Washington D.C. for more than three hours. He was supposed to go to Philadelphia on that flight but it was delayed until forever. He asked if there was another flight leaving sooner. Before the school could realize it  - and they should have - he was on a different flight that landed a thousand miles short, in Washington D.C. Once in our nation’s capitol he decided to go outside of the airport to visit some of the memorials and monuments and to come back hopefully on time for a plane that went all the way to Arizona. When he arrived back at school a few days later his headmaster realized that he needed to get more experience outside of school by getting an internship. And here he is.

Meet our new BHW writer!: “My name is Michael Fecher and I am interested in Big Heavy World for two main reasons: writing and music. I am a junior at Saint Michael’s college and I am a “coach” in the writing center which is a program to help my peers with the general writing process. I also enjoy creative writing; I had a piece published in the local “Onion River Review” last spring. Musically, I live with members of two local bands on campus (Fink and Free Louis.) I host a radio show with one of my roommates on WWPV (from 10-12 on friday mornings) and I believe in buying records at record stores.

Words by John Degnan

Photos by Amozen and Nikk McCarron

“I like to think of myself as Jimmy Buffet on Red Bull,” admits Iain White. White, guitarist for the band Amozen, has gathered with the rest of the band at Big Heavy World, outside the studio of 105.9FM WOMM-LP The Radiator. Amozen is Vermont born and bred, having grown up jamming together in the St. Albans area. White, along with band member Blaine LaChance, both play guitar, sing, and write. Their guitar work is bolstered by Matt Dulude on drums and percussion, and Big Matty Pendris on bass and harmonica.

Amozen is a live musical force to be reckoned with. They have played all over Vermont including the requisite live music venues Nectar’s and Higher Ground, but also college campuses in Burlington, Johnson, and Lyndonville. Amozen’s résumé even includes sharing a stage with Braddigan (formerly of Dispatch) and Rhode Island’s hit rock/indie band Zox. “It’s all about the crowd,” explains Blaine LaChance, “we want people to get up and dance!”

Having grown up playing in Vermont all of their lives, Amozen has amassed a strong local following. In spite of this, the band craves the open road and the broadened fan base that usually follows gigs in other cities. Perhaps a starting point for their music to reach new ears will be the band’s performance at Jay Peak Ski Resort on March 13th as part of the resort’s Après Ski Series. Jay Peak, only ten miles from the Canadian border, regularly draws an international crowd – exactly what Amozen needs to grow.

Amozen’s music can be found online at http://www.myspace.com/amozen/ and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amozen/9903445035.

with your host, Kelsey Hanrahan. Johnny Azer sang on the show today and the energy surfing through the studio was a tidal wave.

Johnny Azer, “No One Seems” (LIVE)

Johnny Azer, “Heart Could Hear” (LIVE)

Johnny Azer, “What Could Never Be” (LIVE)

Johnny Azer, “Ruby Tuesday” (Rolling Stones Cover) *LIVE*

Johnny Azer, “Bad” (LIVE)

Johnny Azer, “Girls I Could Never Have” (LIVE)

Thanks for tuning in to ROCKET SHOP every Wednesday from 8-9pm. SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC!

By Dina Al-Ziab
Photo by Kate Worley

It could be considered a serendipitous twist of fate that Kelsey Hanrahan became the host of ‘Rocket Shop.’ Rocket Shop, a weekly radio program that broadcasts on 105.9 FM WOMM-LP The Radiator, plays old and new music from the Vermont Music Library collection. What started out as an internship in 2008 turned into Kelsey promoting some of the sickest Vermont musicians. In her experience on Rocket Shop, working side by side with the director of Big Heavy World, Jim Lockridge, she has met a multitude of amazing musicians, poets, comics and more.

At first, Kelsey only did weekly updates on the show until Jim recognized that she was a natural behind the mic. “He just kind of ushered me into the host spot,” says Hanrahan. “I never thought I’d do a radio show but when he said it, I was like, why not.” Now you can tune in every Wednesday from 8-9pm and listen to live bands playing from the studio, or music from one of Kelsey’s own Vermont music playlists.

Kelsey plays music that ranges from folk, to jam, to funk, and back around, ensuring there is always something for everyone. Her own music tastes are just as diverse (although she is really into the jam scene), but nothing is out of her range. Whether it’s the metal her boyfriend is listening to or the mellow melodies of Jack Johnson, Kelsey appreciates all styles of music. In the summer, she enjoys attending music festivals, avidly listening for new sounds and names to talk about on Rocket Shop.

With such positive reception to music from all backgrounds, Kelsey was an obvious candidate to host Rocket Shop. Before entering into the world of radio hosting, she was taking classes as a Public Relations major before a friend suggested she take the Music and Business course taught by Jim Lockridge. It was a small class, just a handful of students, which allowed Kelsey and Jim to connect on a personal level. “He brought us on some really cool field trips to places like Higher Ground,” says Kelsey.  “We got to check out Pure Pop and learn how they run the store. It was totally my thing.”

For Kelsey, it is always a treat having someone play live in the studio. Recently she hosted CrowfeatheR, Guides for the Future, and John Tubbs, amongst other local artists. She makes it easy for people to want to talk to her and even the shyest of musicians can rock out in their own style in her presence. She is a natural; even interviewing her was like speaking with an old friend.

The great thing about Kelsey is that she works hard for the musicians who appear or will be appearing on her show. She goes to shows at Nectar’s, Radio Bean and other local venues, scoping out new sounds to promote on the show. Kelsey is always open to suggestions and to people who seek her out who want to be on the show. Rocket Shop is a creative outlet for artists to project their original pieces, and Kelsey is a supportive host who welcomes them into her studio. This certainly explains why Rocket Shop has been going strong for the last three years.

Kelsey is hoping to continue with Rocket Shop even after she graduates from Champlain College in the winter. There is no denying she loves her job by the enthusiasm in her voice as she speaks about the guests she’s had in the studio or the new band she checked out over the weekend. Simply put, it’s Kelsey’s passion. “I’d love to stay at The Radiator for as long as I can,” says Kelsey. “I love doing it, it’s worth it.”

My name is Maxx Vick - I did this video (and videos to come) to support Big Heavy World. I was asked to do a PSA for my Electronic Recording Arts Class at Burlington Tech Center and when I heard that Big Heavy was looking for someone to do some video for them, I jumped on the chance. I’ve known about Big Heavy for quite some time being a local and a part of the Burlington hardcore scene. I’ve seen all of the useful things Big Heavy does for local music, and for youth of Burlington, so in this video I tried to encompass everything that Big Heavy World stands for. It’s short but sweet, and I hope to do more work with Jim and the Crew in the near future. I’d like to hope that this video not only educates people about what Big Heavy World is all about, but also what the Burlington music scene is all about.

I’d like to thank the following bands (in no real order):
Crucial Times, Local http://www.myspace.com/finishhimhardcore
Alive And Well, Local http://www.myspace.com/iamaliveandwell
Defeater, Boston Mass, http://www.myspace.com/defeater
The Flood, Local http://www.myspace.com/thefloodny
From The Ground Up, Local http://www.myspace.com/fromthegroundup

Words by John Degnan

Photo by J. Lockridge

“What happened to the freaks?” Nick Kirshnit wonders aloud. Kirshnet, along with band mate Eli Chalmer, aren’t shy about their distaste (or maybe it’s ambivalence)  for today’s popular music. The musicians are two thirds of a trio named Durians, not “the” Durians, as they insist they have no affiliation with the Norwegian acid-jazz band that shares their name. Kirshnit and Chalmer, minus their drummer Simon Plumpton, had come to Big Heavy World to  discuss the “hodgepodge of our take on sub-genres of electronica.” Just prior to the interview they appeared on ‘Rocket Shop,’ Big Heavy World’s weekly local music radio hour broadcast on WOMM-LP 105.9FM The Radiator.

Durians, which is currently in the middle of a February residency at Nectar’s in downtown Burlington, is a genre-melding power trio of live, electroacoustic dance beat experimentation. The word “electroacoustic” is used intentionally. Finding acoustic sounds too limiting, the trio incorporate computers into every dimension of their sound. The sounds from acoustic instruments such as trumpets, trombones, guitars, and even an old fashioned recorder are fed through computers and modulated to the artist’s liking. “Computers enable the world,” Chalmer exclaims, his eyes lighting up with possibilities. All three of Durians’ members are multi instrumentalists. Kirshnit specializes in electric/MIDI bass, laptop, and trumpet. Chalmer gets creative with keyboards, laptop, trombone, recorder, and a gizmo called a lunchbox. Plumpton holds onto the heartbeat of the group with drums and electronic percussion.

Finding the Burlington, Vermont scene hard to break into with their unusual blend of experimental dance music, Durians are ready to tour. The musicians aspire to “travel and find the freaks” where their music is celebrated as the main focus, rather than the background ambiance it has been at some Vermont live music venues. Montreal, Québec is a possibility, as there is a strong experimental music community there. Until then, Durians will continue to experiment and create new sounds and melodies that push the boundaries of traditional music genres.

With your host Kelsey Hanrahan. I had two amazing guests this week, Amozen who are a 4 piece band that have a great jam/folk/alternative sound. They played live in the studio and chatted about upcoming shows and an album in the works. Durians, a  3 piece electronica band, also hung out for the second half of the show and spun some of their recently recorded live tracks from their Monday night residency at Nectars.

Amozen

Amozen, “Wheels of Emotion”

Amozen, “9 months” (LIVE)

Amozen, “Live” (LIVE)

Durians

Durians, “You Love Drugs”

Durians, “Coral”

Durians, “N’Splorn

Thanks for tuning into Rocket Shop on Wednesday’s from 8-9pm on The Radiator 105.9 FM WOMM-LP. SUPPORT LOCAL VERMONT MUSIC!