PHLUXSTOCK 2000 ROCKS MACHIAS

Well over three hundred rock fans, mostly high school age students and their families, converged on the Performing Arts Center at the University of Maine at Machias on Saturday night, June 17th, for the second annual PHLUXSTOCK battle of the bands. A dozen bands from the region played mostly original songs, with a few rock classic covers thrown in. When the dust had all settled just after midnight on Sunday (Father's Day), the winning band, three guys from Machias High School - bassman Dan Mosley, guitarist Jeremy Hall, and drummer Trevor Pennell - who really rock in a band called Static, walked away with $200 in prize money.

A high point of the evening was the first collaboration of two well-known and highly regarded regional musicians, monster guitarist Chris Silverthorne of Calais High School and bluesman Ian Parker of Washington Academy, who along with drummer Jason Greene and bass player Mark Campbell performed the first set after intermission. Playing as The Barefoot Servants, they covered a wide range of rock classics, and midway through their set Silverthorne's cover of Jimi Hendrix's take on the "Star Spangled Banner" brought the crowd to its feet.

Sponsored by the new Interdisciplinary Fine Arts Program at the University of Maine at Machias, and organized by the Portland area rock band PHLUX, the event was designed to provide a venue for young area musicians, and to feature their talents at a professionally organized concert. PHLUX guitarist Cody Phipps, one of the moving forces behind the event, spoke to the crowd in support of the arts at the University. He said "If you are enjoying this show, consider Machias when you are looking for a college to attend. Neat stuff like this goes on here all the time."

Other bands showcased at the concert included Applesauce, Asphalt, Constructive Interference, Dragon, Hail, Magyk 8, Silver Fusion, Underground Express, and PHLUX, which performed on one of the two stages between sets by the guest musicians. PHLUX band members Clint Phipps, Cody Phipps, and Greg Angus handled band introductions and other MC duties. Professional stage lighting was provided by the University, with PHLUX staff at the lighting console, and sound equipment for the bands was provided by the University and PHLUX. At the end of the show, a total of fifteen PHLUX staff members, including security, lighting, sound, ticket sales, merchandise sales, and roadies were called to the PHLUX stage to take a bow.

According to Ellen Farnsworth, Stage Front Director at the University, a tentative date of Saturday, June 16th, 2001, has been set for "PHLUXSTOCK 2001, a Rock Odyssey." Interested musicians may contact PHLUX or phlux.net webmaster Zach Beane at http://www.phlux.net.

Band members may be contacted at (207) 774-5969.