Sharp Notes November 18 2000

Local soul singer Joi has been chosen to replace former En Vogue vocalist Dawn Robinson in her most recent group, Lucy Pearl. Joi will join the “supergroup,” which also features Raphael Saadiq (Tony Toni Tone) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest), on its forthcoming tour. Joi also has a solo album coming out next year on Universal Records.
Smoke out. The re-issue of Smoke’s Heaven on a Popsicle Stick CD is now available. Boasting new graphics and cleaner sound, the disc, along with other Smoke ephemera, is available at www.benjaminremembered.com and www.benjaminsmoke.com.
Diestra is heading to L.A. to film segments of the TV mini-series “Phoenix Rising,” which they describe as a “90210”-type teen show with a Latin rock theme. Television seems to agree with them; they also appear in a McDonald’s commercial currently airing on Univision.
Film on film. Losing Grace, a new indie flick opening soon, features Film performing “Lead Machine.” Check out www.losinggrace.com for the tune and the scoop.
According to the band, Jack West’s song “Back to Texas” is being considered by the Board of Tourism for the State of Texas in their next campaign to increase travel there. Check it out at artists.mp3s.com/artists/169/jack_west.html.
Nashville Pussy joins an eclectic lineup of Steve Earle, Tom Waits and the Supersuckers on Free the West Memphis 3: A Benefit for Truth & Justice, an album earmarked to aid a non-profit group that helps wrongly imprisoned people. NP pounds out AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” in typical pile-driving fashion.