When Jewel Fetish recently traveled to Memphis to cut a demo tape funded by its publisher, MCA Publishing, the band wanted to capture that ”soulful, Rolling Stones, `Wild Horses` vibe,” says guitarist Craig Calvert. So producer Eli Ball brought in producer/keyboardist Jim Dickinson, who actually played on ”Wild Horses.”
Dickinson not only banged the keys on the Jewel Fetish songs but also co- produced them. The band was so happy with its new fleshed-out sound that it has taken to hiring a keyboard player and background singers for its live shows.
”We`ve gone from what people thought was a hard-rock band to become this rootsy band that sounds like Janis Joplin singing for the Stones,” Calvert says. The band`s next show is an acoustic gig Friday night at the Blue Room.
– A Daisy by any other name: Daisy Chain may have a major-label deal, but it needs a new name. Seems that a band called Daisy Chainsaw has been hitting it big in Europe, and, according to Daisy Chain`s Los Angeles-based manager, Jeff Kwatinetz, the country is littered with other Daisy Chains, one of which plays L.A. every three weeks or so.
”It`s just a nightmare because every time they play, people call to have me put them on the guest list,” Kwatinetz says.
The new name must be in place by April, when the band is set to release its debut EP for Mercury, with an album to follow in August or September. The band has been recording at Royal Recorders in Lake Geneva with producer Phil Bonnano.
– Stepping out: Artistic Feet will have one more show in March before calling it quits. ”There were five people in the band, and individual callings ended up weighing a little more heavily than the collective calling,” manager Eric Selz says, adding that singer Mike Kroll will be moving to New York while the other main songwriter, Mike Dix, is moving to Japan.
– New arrivals: Shrimp Boat`s much-delayed album, ”Duende” (Bar None)
should finally be hitting the stores this week…. Sphinx has a new three-song cassette available at shows and various local record stores.
