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By ALAN K. STOUT; Times Leader Staff Writer
Friday, December 26, 1997     Page:

First off, I’d like to thank everybody who took time to vote in this year’s
readers poll.
   
As in previous years, we weren’t sure what would happen when “Sound Choice
IV” was launched on Friday, Dec. 5.
    Would the readers vote in large numbers like they had in years past?
   
Is there still an interest in the local music scene like there once was?
   
Did we make the right decision by letting club owners nominate the acts
this year?
   
After a month of mayhem- from phone, mail, fax and e-mail votes- the answer
to all three questions is apparently “yes.”
   
In addition to UUU and our two other finalists, a few other acts also fared
very well in the poll. Like every year, The Dead Letters received lots of
votes by mail and by fax, which should come as no surprise. The group just
gave a stellar performance to a packed house at The Woodlands on Black Friday,
and always have maintained a solid fan base.
   
Also getting quite a few calls were The Pee Pees. After only a few shows
last year, the fun-filled performers were among the finalists in “Sound Choice
III.” This year, they’ve been one of the areas busiest bands and have
continued to build a steady following. The guys in the band also always take a
great interest in the poll, which I really appreciate.
   
It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see both bands back in the thick of
things next year.
   
Pinch- an original hard-core act- also did well, as did Jabberwocky.
   
Also receiving votes were the Armadillos, Balance 23, Beef, Bedford,
Believer, Bliss, Bondage Penguins; Bonejak, Reggie Brown & The Soulbusters,
Clove, Daddy-O & The Sax Maniax, Fabulous Disaster, 52nd Street, Flaxy Morgan,
40-Lb. Head, Ginger, G-Money, Frank Grace & The Detonators, Harpo, Honey
Buzzards, Malice, Mase, Midnight Rodeo, Migrane, Psycho Betty, Riverside,
Small Town, Something Else, Clarence Spady, Sting Ray’s Blues Band, Strawberry
Jam, George Wesley and Which Doctor.
   
The idea of “Sound Choice” is simply to bring together the local music
scene and help raise awareness of how many talented acts perform throughout
the area each weekend. People, I’ve found, are very passionate about music,
and the same feeling that makes you want to play a song you like for a friend
or turn them on to one of your favorite bands is the same emotion that likely
inspires you to vote.
   
People always will believe that their favorite band is the best band.
   
That’s what makes this whole thing fun.
   
Thanks again to everyone who voted.
   
And thanks to all of the clubs that participated, The Gallery of Sound and
The Wall stores, The Morning Hot Heads and Mark McCarthy at Hot 97, Jeff
Walker at KRZ and Mark Reimiller at The Bear for helping spread the word about
“Sound Choice IV.”
   
Oh … and to the guy who called twice and voted for the Beatles, let us
know the next time they’re in one of the area clubs. Maybe we can get ’em on
the ballot next year.
   
More responses …
   
“They play good songs … they sound great and the singer connects with the
crowd really well.”-
   
MariJo Watchilla, Wilkes-Barre, on The Dead Letters.
   
“The music is great. They get the crowd into their act.”-
   
Steve McCafferty, Kingston, on Jabberwocky.
   
“This is a great act. They get the whole audience involved and they’re just
good all around people.”-
   
Harry Escarge, Wilkes-Barre, on The Pee Pees.
   
“They’re great musicians and a great bunch of guys … I just love ’em.”-
   
Lorrie Mrozowski, Coal Township, on Strawberry Jam.