Lewiston jams on the river

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, August 19, 2006

Dave Rave

Pryceless Productions and Water Street Landing have teamed up to create the first-ever “Lewiston River Jam.” The concert, featuring Fancy Trash, The Failyears and the Dave Rave Band, takes place tonight, starting at 9 p.m.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing around Buffalo and Lewiston,” Rave said this week. “I’m very excited to be coming back and playing some music.”

The Hamilton native and former Teenage Head rhythm guitarist is something of a pop-punk legend, having worked with Daniel Lanois, the famed U2 producer. He also shaped some of Madonna’s early work.

“We were very fortunate,” he said of working with Lanois. “We were all guys from the neighborhood. He was one of us ... at the time, no one knew what the future would hold. We (knew we) had an ace that could guide our career.”

Rave recently released a two-disc anthology with Bullseye Records of Canada. The album features danceable tracks including “When Patti Rocked,” “Everyday Magic” and “Love Fades.”

“I’ve been on a lot of different labels,” he said. “I like Bullseye because they care about me.”

“The result has been very rewarding,” Rave added.

He said his goal remains to be like the bands he grew up with, groups like The Rolling Stones, Nick Lowe and The Ramones.

“They liberated pop music,” he said. “They took it and put it on its head.”

The “musician’s musician” promises “River Jam” will be an old-school punk party -- with heavy crowd involvement.

“(I like it when the audience) is having a good time, in the classic sense that they’re involved,” he said.

“I always like to have energy,” he added. “I like the participation with an audience.”

Water Street Landing, 115 S. Water St., Lewiston, hosts “Lewiston River Jam.” Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the door, as well as at Terrapin Station and New World Records in Buffalo, and Favorite’s Pizzeria in Lewiston.