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what people are saying about the complaints!

Speaking of hard-working groups, our local boys The Complaints have been at it somewhere pretty much every night for more than a decade now, and their latest disc, Sunday Morning Radio, is a winning collection of tough, smart and tuneful rock (not surprisingly, if you know the band's oeuvre; it's got two songs inspired by Journal reporter Mike Stanton's book The Prince of Providence). They celebrate its release Sunday night at The Hi-Hat, 3 Davol Square, Providence. It's at 6 and it's free! Call (401) 453-6500.

This October marks 10 big years for Dean Petrella and The Complaints. "I can't believe it's been that long and we're still here! We were just boys when we started this whole thing." The trio is finishing its third full-length record. "It's been pretty slow going because of our busy schedule and we spent a lot of time and money putting together our own studio." You can sample a bit of their new work with a free download of "New Face" at (www.thecomplaints.com). Though reluctant to explain too much, Petrella says he wrote about his Dad's recent passing and the mixed emotions that went along with it. "I was inspired by some of my heroes like Elvis Costello, Neil Young, John Lennon, to try and take a sad subject and marry it to and upbeat pop-rock setting." You can catch The Complaints every Wednesday at the Escada Bar, at 1174 Douglas Avenue in North Providence. Call 401.353.8008 for details, but I'll tell you right now there's no cover and the band kicks in at 10 pm.

The service and food are top notch, yet the Complaints at Ri-Ra are still coming in. Double-check that capital C, grammar guardians, and you'll notice it's a proper noun were referring to. If the Complaints don't register with you, it's time to start registering with the Complaints. Do that by swinging into the famed Ri-Ra Irish Pub on Friday, Oct. 7 or Saturday, Oct. 8. Better yet, swing in on the 7th and the 8th to double your fun. Audience reactions to the band have run contradictory to their moniker, as fans have been enjoying their gigs up and down the East Coast for more than five years. These steadfast performers have been maintaining a rigorous touring schedule, performing upwards of 200 gigs per year. Thats more than your average tinker, tailor or toiler works combined.

As for the music itself, the Complaints play cutting-edge modern rock. Whether youre aware of it or not, you may have already been exposed to this Providence, R.I., bands signature sounds. They've been featured on MTVs Undressed program, and are also heard frequently on various college radio stations. The Ri-Ra pub is located inside The Quarter at the Tropicana. Catch the Complaints performances both nights this weekend at 11 p.m. Songs from their recent release, Criminal Mind (no relation to the Boogie Down Productions LP) will feature prominently in the sets. Those with weaker constitutions are advised to drink lots of coffee, because you'll be the one complaining if you miss either of these events.

Straightforward trio rock can be some powerful stuff-be it Husker Du or Iodine, it's amazing how thick and dangerous just guitar, bass and drums can be. The Complaints certainly have that edge. On Criminal Mind, they play intense, scowling rock with a mean left hook. It rocks, it's smart and singer Dean Petrella can sing one heck of an anthemic chorus. Even in their more mellow and playful moments like the intro to "No," The Complaints seem to be just barely restraining the urge to bang the hell out of their instruments. Throughout Criminal Mind they play straight-up, thoroughly enjoyable rock. .