Cambridge Chronicle/Tab 12/25/02

Zeitgeist Presents

Velvet Underground at Warhol’s Factory

By Susie Davidson

CORRESPONDENT

All tomorrow’s parties will converge this coming Monday at the Zeitgeist, for a “Velvet Underground at Andy Warhol’s Factory” pre-punk recall.

Organized by vet scenester Kenne Highland and conceived by Zeitgeist maestro Alan Nidle, the evening will include lots of Velvet tribute acts and Velvet stand-ins, complete with Soho décor and appropriate ambiance. Costumes are encouraged (Campbell’s soup cans and otherwise). The pre-New Year’s Eve fun begins at 8 p.m.

“It was Alan's idea,” said Highland. “The place will look like Warhol’s Factory with tinfoil, silk screen T-shirts - you never know with Alan; he’s doing the visuals.”

Highland, a Virginia native who works in the mailroom at Mass. General Hospital (“we sing show tunes at work,” he said), currently fronts Kenne Highland and his Vatican Sex Kittens, a group formed in 2001 with Aram Heller on lead guitar, Scott Ferguson on rhythm guitar, Carl Biancucci on bass and Matt Burns on drums. The group performs Highland’s originals as well as songs of the Stooges and the MC5, and selections from the Lenny Kaye’s Nuggets and Pebbles record series of the mid-60s. They regularly play at the Abbey Lounge and Kirkland Café in Somerville, O'Brien's in Allston and the Midway Café in J.P. On April 3, Highland will celebrate his birthday with a party and performance at the Plough and Stars.

In Boston since 1980 following a Marines stint, Highland has been in many of the Boston scene’s most memorable garage and punk outfits, including the Exploding Pidgins, the Hopelessly Obscure, Johnny and the Jumper Cables, and the Kenne Highland Clan. He also founded the seminal pre-punk Indiana band the Gizmos, and is known for his driving guitar, classic rhythms and devotion to the early days of rock and roll. He writes for Boston Groupie News.

At Zeitgeist, Highland will lead The Plastic Explosives! as “Lou Reed” on guitar and vocals, with Ad Frank as “John Cale” on keys and vocals, Rachel Lee on keys, John Martin on bass and John Chilson on drums. Martin, a scientist by day who plays locally in the Chilly Kurtz Combo, is classically trained and performs in the Reading Symphony Orchestra. Chilson, who plays for TV Eye, was in San Diego garage bands the Troubles and the Loons. Lee works in the Kenmore Square Nuggets store; a cohort's perception of as a modern-day Madonna led to the Vatican Sex Kittens moniker of Highland’s regular band.

Frank, formerly of Permafrost and Myles Deathmuffin, is a Melrose native who will also do his own acoustic guitar set of John Cale songs. Highland recruited Frank after recently seeing him play solo at the Abbey Lounge, where he included several songs from Cale’s Songs For a Rainy Afternoon.

The acoustic VelveTeens, featuring Natalie Flanagan on vocals and guitar, Emily Grogan on vocals and guitar, and Boston Herald journalist Robin Vaughn on vocals and guitar, will be performing as well. Flanagan will do songs from the Loaded album, and Vaughn will sing a Nico song.

Lastly, Venus in Furs will be performed, along with original tunes, by Monique Ortiz of Somerville, who plays in the guitarless combo Bourbon Princess, which has released two CDs, 3:15 and Stopline (a new one is imminent). But the Velvets will be the focus.

“The White Light White Heat album will be played in its entirety,” Highland promised, "including all 18 minutes of Sister Ray, with a 60s-era Vox amp”.

Solo guitar sets by Dave Barton (ex-Outlets) and by John Felice (ex-Real Kids) are planned, to round out the exemplary musical bill.

"For foil-wrapped Femme Fatales, leather European Sons, Venus in Furs, and all you protest kids,” said Highland, “Go bananas!" He cautioned that amphetamines are not included.

“It’ll be like Halloween for New Year’s Eve.”

Velvet Underground at Andy Warhol’s Factory begins at 8 p.m. on Dec. 30, with a $7 suggested donation. The Zeitgeist Gallery is located at 1353 Cambridge St. in Inman Square. This is an all-ages production. For ticket information, visit www.zeitgeist-gallery.org or call 617-876-6060. Performers’ CDs are sold at the shows.