IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING WHERE TO GET THE FIRST LIBATIONS OF THE DAY OK, by now, you all know that the 25th anniversary of Larkfest is this weekend (or LARKfest, as they’re putting it now), and you’ve probably already packed your bags, prepared after-party plans, and designated sober drivers. Organizers are offering even more this year with digital dating, family arts and crafts, and so on (check page 39 for more information). And, of course, we’re all keeping our fingers crossed for great weather on Saturday, and the forecast still looks promising. (If it rains, don’t blame me for jinxing it.) Another new addition to the LARKfest fun is compliments of one of our favorite Lark Street restaurants, Justin’s (301 Lark St., Albany). Already famous for their brunch, the restaurant is serving up its first annual Bloody Mary Larkfest Rock & Roll Breakfast (consisting of, we’re told, egg sandwiches and Bloody Marys—yum!). Nikki and Doug from WEQX will be on hand to do a live feed from the restaurant, and different LARKfest-featured acts will stop by throughout the morning, including Everclear’s Art Alexakis, who’ll hold a meet-and-greet. The Rock & Roll Breakfast will take place from 9 to 11 AM at Justin’s on Saturday (Sept. 16). For more information, call the restaurant at 463-0341.

Kamikaze Hearts

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME A’COMIN’ After three long years of waiting, fans of the Kamikaze Hearts can finally get their grubby little hands on the new, much anticipated, full-length album by the band, called Oneida Road (Collar City). From where we stand, it looks as though the Hearts have been through the ringer trying to see this album to fruition. According to the band, “We are talking four different re-records of the entire album, computer failures, near death experiences—the whole ten yards. What emerged from these sessions is the band’s most detailed, complete and stunning endeavor to date.” Needless to say, we’re very excited. At the suggestion of the folks over at the Iron Horse Entertainment Group, the Hearts will hold their CD-release party at a Northampton venue (the Iron Horse Music Hall, to be precise, at 20 Center St., Northampton, Mass.) on Sept. 29 at 10 PM. At the show, the band will perform the entire new album from beginning to end. And since the Kamikaze Hearts love you, they’ve chartered an Adirondack Trailways bus (that’s right, our boys travel in style) to help Capital Region-based fans make the 90-mile trip to Northampton to attend the show. Bus riders will pay one price for the ride, the ticket to the show, and a CD. Also, the band have hinted at probable surprises once you’re on the bus (and they have you and you’re trapped and you can’t get out! . . . oh, wait . . . ). For more details, or to sign up for the bus trip, visit the KHearts Web site at www.kamikazehearts.com or www.myspace.com/kamikazehearts.

JUST SUPER A profile of Super 400 bassist Lori Friday appeared in the most recent issue of Bass Guitar Magazine. In it, Friday is quoted as saying, “Every time we play a show, we’re going into battle.” Anyone who’s witnessed a show knows that Friday speaks the truth. On another note, it’s been rumored that the band are gearing up to release a new disc this fall, but for those of you who can’t wait, there’s a new track ready for consumption featured on Super 400’s MySpace site, www.myspace.com/super400, called “Push Back Now.” Go get it, kids.

ROCK THE VOTE Here’s where your vote will really count (and you don’t even have to be 18 to qualify). You have the power to decide who opens for the Strokes (besides South, who are already on the bill) when they play the Washington Avenue Armory (corner of Washington Avenue and Lark Street, Albany) on Oct. 6. The nominees (chosen from bands who have been featured on EQX-Posure) competing to open for the Strokes are the Decadent Royals, Grey Sky Sunday, Bicycle Mary, the Loyalty, and Blackcat Elliot. Bonus: One voter will be chosen at random to be a roadie for a day—the lucky winner will receive a pair of tickets to the show, introduce the EQX-Posure band before they play, and get to meet the Strokes. In order to vote for your favorite of these bands, visit the WEQX Web site (www.weqx.com) and follow links to e-mail in your vote before Sept. 28. To buy tickets for the Strokes show, call the Armory box office at 694-7160 ext. 26.

SPEAKING OF BLACKCAT ELLIOT Never Come Clean, the sophomore effort by these garage rockers, will hit the streets next week. Join Blackcat Elliot (who were voted Albany’s Best Kept Secret on our Best Of Reader’s Picks issue earlier this year) when they celebrate the release of the new disc on Sept. 23 at Positively Fourth Street (87 Fourth St., Troy). Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers will open the show, and there will be raffles, door prizes and other fun stuff, and Jason Irwin of WEQX will host the shindig.

—Kathryn Lurie

Got Rough Mix items? Contact Kathryn Lurie at klurie@metroland.net or 463-2500 ext. 143.