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rock

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There are lots of local songwriter showcase/open mic gigs that don''t get much ink. These showcases give musicians a chance to flex their craftsmanship without having to face the grim expectancy of a crowd at a paid gig. For the listener they often provide a raw look at a musician''s talent, because most of the songs are brand-new and not yet refined in the songwriting process.

Here''s a basic list of some showcases being held on a regular basis...

Open Electric Jams: Mondays at Viva & Long Bar; Acoustic Showcase: Tuesdays at Long Bar; Butter Electric Jam: Thursdays at Viva; Rama Acoustic Jam: Fridays at Juice & Java.

Like the MTV Unplugged series, these forums open up the doors to the heart and soul of performing musicians, young and old, who want to express something genuine to their listeners.

For musicians there are some basic "schoolyard" rules to remember when you show up to play one of these events.

Schoolyard Rules:

1. Tune your instrument

2. Never play a song the host usually covers.

3. Don''t play or sing if you''re too drunk to get on stage.

4. Shouting obscenities in the middle of your set is not always artistic.

5. When you get up there and sound horrible, refer to either rule 1. or 3.

For a listener there is just one thing to do--listen!

Websites

Some of the artists who send in their addresses will get reviewed, those chosen will win something small, cheap, and insignificant.

Dog Loves Girl (www.doglovesgirl. com). John Peterson, the singer/songwriter for the band bought the domain name, plastered links to the band''s show schedule, and posted photographs of people who showed up to their gigs along with brief descriptions and humorous jokes next to each one. Here you can find pictures of other Monterey bands that DLG has played with as well as some simple contact information. All in all, an interesting, but not overly complex website.

Amazon Mollies (www.amazonmollies.com). The Mollies have a new site being built for them, but for now, the scattered nature of the current one will have to do. Online you can buy a special edition of their new album, Sugar Molly, scheduled for release next month. The online version comes with an extra track called "She Wants to Tell Ya." (And, yes, it''s a remake of the previous radio-only release "Tina," which featured the band''s producer Roger Mason, and Mac Tally of Foamscape on guitar.) The site consists essentially of an email link and a bucket of MP3s. Basically, it''s a very business-like site oriented toward selling their records. The future may find the Amazon Mollies with a more colorful "Indie-girls against the world" online look, but for now, we''ll have to wait.

The flesh and blood Amazon Mollies have recently gone through another change in line up, and a move northward in venues to perform in.

"We''ve been ''regrouping'' upon losing our second guitar player to the sordid trinity of sex, drugs and rock ''n'' roll in May," says Antonette of the Amazon Mollies. Their new guitarist, Molly D. Rock, will make her first appearance performing with them tomorrow night at the Paradise Lounge in San Francisco.