Buffalo Tom frontman Bill Janovitz has just completed sessions for a new solo album, his first since 1997's Lonesome Billy. Principally an acoustic record, Janovitz recorded the ten-song Up Here in Cambridge, Massachusetts' Fort Apache Studios with engineer Brian Brown. Coming to his aid were longtime BT keyboardist Phil Aiken and Fuzzy singer Chris Toppin, who previously dueted with Janovitz on Lonesome's "Red Balloon."

"It's not really the same as Lonesome Billy," Janovitz says. "It's got some country flare to it but it's mostly just folky, stripped down acoustic songs."

Janovitz has been shopping the record to upper tier indies and expects to have it out in the coming months, if not via a label than perhaps through his Web site at www.fortapache.net/billjanovitz/index.html. In the meantime, he's also busying himself fronting a new outfit, Crown Victoria. Composed of Janovitz, Aiken, bassist Josh Lattanzi and ex-Letters to Cleo drummer Tom Polce, the band is also busy shopping for a label.

As if all that weren't enough, Janovitz has yet another act, the Bathing Beauties. Something of Massachusetts supergroup, the band is Janovitz, Toppin, Paul Kolderie (who has produced albums for the likes of Radiohead and Hole ), Mike Leahy (formerly of the Blake Babies ) and Dean Fisher (formerly of the Juliana Hatfield Three). The Beauties play country covers and a host of original material in the "country, rock and soul range."

All will wait however while Buffalo Tom complete a rare string of West Coast dates. Beginning November 27 at Portland's Crystal Ballroom, the brief tour is to promote Asides of Buffalo Tom, a recently released collection of singles and fan favorites.

GREG HELLER
(November 17, 2000)