Morticia's Chair makes 'pirate music,' Cleveland style

by John Benson/Special to The Plain Dealer

Thursday November 13, 2008, 12:18 PM

Morticia's Chair, pirate rock

Hometown: Cleveland

Years performing: 10

Day gig: professional photographers

When describing the sound of his band Morticia's Chair, singer Mark Kae said the group plays pirate rock. Arrr we talking more Captain Jack or Captain Hook? "I'd say Captain Jack because it's bawdy music a bit and misanthropic in a way," said former ScrewTractor vocalist Kae, a 1979 Cleveland Heights High School graduate. "It's kind of like Celtic-meets-Bowie-meets-Zeppelin. Other influences are Echo & the Bunnymen and Bauhaus. They used to call us gothic, but I think that was more because of the name Morticia Addams. Actually we were making fun of goth kids. I used to be a goth kid in the early '80s, and we're not all depressing. It's sort of like tongue-in-cheek. It's just Cleveland music. North Coast music." Morticia's Chair, which recently released its third studio album "Beautiful Monsters," has booked a 9 p.m. show Saturday at the Winchester Tavern & Music Hall, 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood. Also on the bill is former Clevelander Jann Klose. Tickets are $5. Call 216-226-5681.

Up, up and away: While Royal Suburban Sky members -- Mark Davidson (bass, vocals), Brook Rodia (guitar, vocals) and Suede Brothers member Mike Varga (drums) -- may cite familiar influences, the trio is hoping its sound transcends any local genres. "We play indie alternative music with a little bit of a hint of blues," said Davidson, a 2008 Mentor High School graduate and current Kent State University student. "We get compared to Jimi Hendrix mixed with The White Stripes, and right now we're working on our first album. We're unlike really any other band in our scene." Songs scheduled to be on the band's new album include the acoustic "Wildflower," dirty blues sounding "Abandon" and the in-your-face "Breakaway." Royal Suburban Sky is scheduled to play at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Roc Bar, 1220 Old River Road, Cleveland. Also on the bill are The Brain Brothers, Bessy Lous and Sean Stark. Tickets are $5. Call 216-771-6655.

Grade A metal: When Vintage Manifest formed over a year ago, its members -- Darrin "Nothing" Lewis (vocals, guitar), Eric Neff (guitar), Ian Charbonneau (bass), Ryan Stone (keyboards) and Neal Kelly (drums) -- had one simple mission: "We're trying to bring back the bands like Alice Cooper and Kiss, when bands put on a full theatrical show," said Lewis, a 2007 Garfield Heights High School graduate. "We just don't want to be a bunch of guys on the stage with a guitar. We play metal-industrial, and try to keep it electronic." While quickly after forming the group wrote and released debut EP, "Silhouettes and Guillotines," its first full-length album is due out next summer. The upcoming effort will include EP carryovers "Blades Don't Need Reloading" and "Let There Be Night." You can see Vintage Manifest in action at the "Thanksgiving Jam" at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Agora Ballroom, 5001 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. Also on the bill are Fine Young Gentlemen, Forever's Not Yours, Dying Breath and Nightmares or Reality. Tickets are $7. Call 216-881-6911.