cover story     music notes    theater arts     que pasa? opinion cafe     motion pictures   cd reviews     party scene

Music Notes Roundup: Haggis: Bagpipe World Order Wierd Al - Nixon scissor pose Aphrodite - drum & bass pleasure

Haggis - not afraid to take the world by the bagpipes

By Jessica Wolf

State Press Magazine

The members of the local band Haggis are goal-oriented fellows. But they don't ask for much. A few loyal fans, some good songs, perhaps a future recording deal.

Oh yeah, and world domination.

No just kidding. The somewhat goofy, yet "mild mannered" musicians are far from megalomaniacs-- though "Haggisized" songs have been popping up lately on compilation CD's in Australia and Italy as well as one on an independent east coast compilation to be released this week. And group members admit they'd like to get some more out-of-town gigs under their collective kilt.

This month Haggis have taken a few small but significant baby steps toward garnering some national attention for their pop-driven sound lead singer Brian Talenti has described as "arena rock for simple minds."

Haggis recently won the southwest regional portion of Bandemonium, a national unsigned band competition after performing at The Roxy in LA on February 18th. Their wacky Scottish-infested persona and music won the day and Haggis beat out the LA band they were performing with and essentially competing against.

One of nearly a thousand unsigned bands who entered the Sam Goody-sponsored competition; Haggis was among 16 chosen to compete and the only Arizona band on the billing.

"This contest has opened us up to a lot more avenues that we've ever been privy to before," bassist Moon said, with a touch of unassuming awe at the measure of success the group has been able to enjoy these days.

Bandemonium judges are in the process of reviewing contest video from regions competing across the country and the local boys will find out within the next week or two whether they've made the final cut and will be traveling to Del Boca Vista, Florida to perform in the final stage of the competition.

Talenti and Moon are confident and say the group is already practicing their shuffleboard.

"Jack (drums) and Tony (lead guitar) have actually already made a trip to the mall searching for Speedos," Moon joked.

Talenti added: "Yeah, Jack likes to show off his little links."

In all seriousness (which is hard to accomplish when you're a member of the Haggis militia), the experience thus far has already been worth it, Moon said.

"Regardless....if we don't even get to go to Florida, we are so much farther along than before...it's a win, win thing."

And a Bandemonium judge from LA rock station KROQ has added a little fuel to the Haggis peat fire these days, Moon said.

"She really took a liking to us," he said. "So much so that she contacted some record labels and told them to talk to us."

Moon said the group has been approached by three of the five major record labels and a few independents that are interested in learning and hearing more about the group.

So the future's looking pretty bright these days.

In the meantime, Haggis have been doing what they do best-- making their music, and poking fun at just about everything in sight. The group has been performing heavily around Tempe since the October release of Piper Down, Haggis' second album. But other than an impromptu session at a sod-laying party here and there, they've taken a little break in the weeks since their triumphant performance in LA to rest and regroup.

"Every now and then when you just go go go go, the human being in you comes out and says, 'I don't want to be in a club for a while," Talenti said. "I think Tony actually picked up his guitar the other day and jammed just for fun."

Talenti has been busy himself. As primary songwriter for the group, he's used the mini-vacation to take some fan suggestions to heart and write a more "dynamically-tempoed, yet not cheesy," radio-worthy tune that he's awfully proud of.

"I'm making a bold prediction right now, that within a year, this song will get airplay somehow, somewhere," he said with confidence. "Even if I have to buy my own ham radio."

Talenti and Moon admit that no matter the devotion level, being part of an unsigned, unknown rock and roll band can be a challenge -- it's hard to just get your music heard sometimes.

"On a level of difficulty from one to ten, I'd rate it a 20," Talenti said of getting airplay. "It's hard because most local unsigned bands cannot afford the kind of sound equipment needed to get a quality recording

"You have to hope you have a decent recording of a great song,."

The members of Haggis aren't afraid of a little hard work in order to accomplish their musical goals. Keep your eyes open for the group around town in the next couple of weeks as they are planning another assault on the local music scene.

And, you never know Pinky, tomorrow they may just try to take over the world.

After all, stardom has been predicted for at least one group member. Talenti recalls seeing a home video of his three-year-old self, who when asked what he was going to be when he grew up, his emphatic reply was, "I'm going to be famous!"

Of coarse, Talenti also remembers being mesmerized by a Beach Boys album his mother used to play for him over and over. Though he's not sure if it was simply the sight of the vinyl record going around and around that entranced him or the inspirational musical quality of "Good Vibrations."

"See, that's why he writes the music," Moon said. "Cuz I did the same thing, only I was listening to Snoopy and the Red Baron."

Figures.

cover story     music notes    theater arts     que pasa? opinion cafe     motion pictures   cd reviews     party scene