Hayseed doesn’t play an instrument, which is why collaboration is so important to him, but he writes the lyrics and the music and sings. He’s hooked up with Bonepony (who played as his band at a couple South By Southwests), Blueground Undergrass, and Hensley Sturgis, among others. “They learn my songs, and I go up as a special guest,” says Hayseed. “They play my songs in their style.” So if there are any musicians out there lookin’ to jam with Hayseed, contact him at 383-3775 or hayseedsings@yahoo.com. Lucinda Willams just might drop by (in your dreams) while you’re jamming.

PERFECT PITCH: Sev Statik, a member of L.A.-based hiphop band Tunnel Rats, is just one of the many collaborators with Pitch Control Music, a group of area music fans and artists trying to create a healthy and vibrant hiphop scene. With a Web site (www.pitchcontrolmusic.com), and a fanzine that just hit the stands (check Music Shack), these folks are hard at work to solidify the scene and provide help and information to those who need it. The first issue of Pitch Control Music contains info on Statik, All Bully, F-Timmi, Bust, Family Ties, Wetwerks and more. PCM has a bunch of area gigs lined up, so check out the Web site for that info and more.

BUS TRIP IN EVERY KEY: Speaking of Bruise Bros. (and we were, ’cause they’re playing a show with All Bully at Ziggy’s Nov. 1; we just didn’t say it out loud), the band is heading to New York City to play CMJ on Oct. 30, and they’ll bring any paying fan with ’em. The bus leaves from the Latham Price Chopper (on Route 9) at 6 PM (the show’s at the Elbow Room at 10 PM, in case you miss the bus), and $30 will get you transport, beverages and cover charge. Contact bruisebro@prodigy.net to get your damn self on the list.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MISS MARY’S: Shit. Shit. Shit. Miss Mary’s is closed. Ordered to cease and desist by the city of Albany.

Miss Mary’s has been open since last December, and the not-for-profit arts space that sat at 5 New Scotland Ave. hosted many a show—art, poetry, music, frenzied freak-out—in its short lifespan, and we loved them for it.

Shit.

According to Dave Walsh, “a worker who helped establish and run Miss Mary’s Art Space Inc.,” they believed that they had the correct permits to operate, and they signed a lease and got themselves insured. “Someone complained to the city and the city was forced to act upon that complaint,” he says.

“We attempted to be good neighbors. We tried to keep our sidewalk relatively trash free,” says Walsh, and adds that the police were never called to the venue, and there were no violent acts, “Although I did see a guy hit himself in the head with a full can of beer at the Warpipe show for some reason.”

“We were able to present, what I came to believe was some of the finest and most vibrant artists in the area,” Walsh states.“We were small but mighty I would say.”

Already, folks are searching for another spot to continue in this tradition, as shows had been booked for the next few months. “Meanwhile 5 New Scotland will return for now to its most recent permitted use,” Walsh says, “a vacant storefront with a smelly wino dozing in the doorway. . . . The Miss Mary experience taught me there’s a lot of cool shit going on around here and all it needs is a venue.”

HURRY UP AND WAIT: The Wait are celebrating a couple of things next Thursday, Oct. 24. Firstly, their new release, Hollywood, which was produced and engineered by Dominick Campana of Paint Chip Records. They’ll play a record-release show at Valentine’s on that night (that’s Thursday, for those of you that don’t read linearly). Second: The Wait are happy to announce their new management/promotions firm, L.A.-based Bounce Entertainment. Three and Four: Apparently there is a feeding frenzy of label interest, with many representatives attending the CD-release show; and a single off the release, “Can’t Do Right,” is in regular rotation on WEQX-102.7 FM.

JUST LIKE FINE WINE: It’s been a while since we’ve had some recorded music by the Kamikaze Hearts (Best Acoustic Band of 2001, Best New Band of 2000), but wait no longer, kids: The Hearts are unveiling their new release on Saturday (Oct. 19), when they open for Richard Buckner at WAMC’s Linda Norris Auditorium. The CD was recorded by Brent Gorton (of the Stars of Rock) in the months between and including July and September of this year. Early last week, we here at the Metroland offices put the disc on our official CD-player/mind-alteration unit, and if you miss the chance to get one of your own, you can have ours—when you pry it outta our cold, dead hands.

—Kate Sipher