Erie's two movie festivals are both planning to bring in special musical guests.
First up: The Great Lake Independent Film Festival will welcome Guns n' Roses keyboard player Dizzy Reed. He'll attend the event and also perform on Sept. 29 at the Roadhouse Theatre.
Reed joined GNR in 1990, in time to play on the band's monster "Use Your Illusion" albums. as well as the covers' album "The Spaghetti Incident?" He still tours when GNR hits the road, and will be featured on the long-delayed "Chinese Democracy" CD.
Show details are yet to be announced. The Great Lakes Film Festival will be held Sept. 27-30 at the Roadhouse.The film lineup is posted at www.greatlakesfilmfest.com.
Not to be outdone, the Eerie Horror Film Festival will welcome legendary horror-rock band the Misfits on Oct. 11 at the Cellblock. It'll be one of the first dates on the band's 30th anniversary tour. The band includes original members Jerry Only (bass), Robo (drums), plus Dez Cadena (guitar, formerly of Black Flag.) This ought to be a wild, crazy show: Misfits influenced scores of bands over the years, from Metallica to My Chemical Romance. George Romero directed the video of their song, "Scream."
Their Erie appearance will bring screams of joy from longtime fans. Look for ticket information soon.
Trance's end of summer bash on Sept. 2 has lost the Telefonics but gained the Angry Wigs, the band that plays music from "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." Mas Nova, Letters to the Dead, Dirt McGurtt, Phantasm, Matty B and the Dirty Pickles, Spooner, Moving in Stereo, Killerinas, Bob Bearfield, and Jake Johns also play.
Acoustic acts will play first, likely outside on the Trance deck. Look for an outdoor cookout in the afternoon. Music will start at 1 p.m. and this will be an all ages show. Advance tickets are $5, available in the martini bar at Trance, 1607 Raspberry St., or online at www.myspace.com/masnova
Looks like Pat Monahan won't play Erie on the first leg of his solo tour; the itinerary was unveiled earlier this week. He will play Cleveland's House of Blues on Oct. 20, however.
"Last of Seven," Monahan's solo CD, is due out on Sept. 18. First impression: It's way more eclectic than Train, with gospel flourishes, intimate piano ballads, a little soul struttin', and some high-powered, up-tempo albeit slicker songs. Graham Nash helps turn "Cowboys & Indians" into a CSNY-sounding track. Richie Sambora plays guitar on "Someday," which could follow soaring first single "Her Eyes" -- a tribute to his current girlfriend -- up the charts. Brandi Carlisle and Monahan sound fantastic singing together on the pensive ballad "Pirate on the Run."
Look for a full-length review on the Pop Etc. page on Sept. 17.