Drummer Bows Out of Tramps

Cadillac Tramps, the biggest local draw among Orange County’s current pack of grass-roots alternative-rock contenders, has switched drummers as it prepares to release its second album.

Jamie Reidling, who played on the new release, “Tombstone Radio,” as well as on the Tramps’ debut album, left the band last month. Steve (Spanky) Barrios, a former member of the Orange County punk band China White, has taken his place.

Reidling, 23, said the birth of his first child three months ago made it impossible to continue with the Tramps and their active schedule of national touring. “It’s at the point where (the band’s touring) is not making money,” Reidling said. “If I could support my family (with band earnings), I would do it.” Reidling is working as a house painter but continues to keep his hand in the local rock scene as a member of the Goods. The Goods’ other members are bassist Nick Sjobeck and singer-guitarist Tony Scalzo, both of whom previously played with Reidling in Electric Cool Aid.

Tramps guitarist Brian Coakley said Tuesday that Barrios won the drum slot after 12 players auditioned and “he ended up blowing everyone away.” The four other Tramps have known the new drummer for years, Coakley said. “He’s our type of guy right off the bat. There’s plenty of talent in our circle of friends.”

Reidling’s departure (his last show with the band was May 2 at the Meadowlark Restaurant in Cypress) forced the band to cancel four Southern California dates and put off touring plans, Coakley said. The Tramps will play a series of area shows starting late this month as a warm-up for a national tour coinciding with their album’s August release.

50% OFF: Launching a new record company is risky enough, but a fledgling Costa Mesa-based label has run into one that nobody anticipates: the theft of half its inventory.

Granted, Stab You in the Back Records didn’t have a very big inventory: just 1,000 copies of its first release, a vinyl single by the Goods. About half of those were swiped in a recent break-in at the label’s office upstairs from the Newport Roadhouse, according to Craig McGahey, one of the partners in Stab You in the Back.

McGahey said the foul play against Stab You in the Back was committed by a disgruntled would-be concert-goer who was turned away from one of the Roadhouse’s New Klub on the Block shows for being under age. Stolen audio and video equipment was recovered later, but 500 Goods singles are still missing, said McGahey, who is also NKOTB’s promoter.

“It’s kind of taken the air out of us. It’s discouraging,” the label boss said. But Stab You in the Back will press ahead with efforts to find rock-media attention and a national distributor for its releases, and it will print up more Goods records if the demand arises (the other 500 copies were placed in local stores). McGahey, Orange County’s king of alphabet rock, said that SYITB, like NKOTB, will be devoted to providing exposure to local alternative rockers.

4 ROCK 4 AIDS--A foursome of Orange County alternative-rock bands will tee it up for an AIDS benefit concert on Thursday at Old World, 7561 Center Drive, Huntington Beach.

Performing, in order of appearance, are Hagfish, Standard Fruit, Fisthammer Freedom (including former National People’s Gang members Deyo and Michael Glines and Scott Dibble) and Edge. The show starts at 8 p.m., with tickets $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Proceeds will go to the Children’s AIDS Center at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. The show’s organizer is Michael Marckx, the Edge drummer, who has done volunteer work at the Children’s AIDS Center. Information: (714) 631-8825.

UNSIGNED BANDS WANTED: Soundcheck, a national contest for unsigned rock bands, is seeking entries for its sixth annual competition. The contest, which carries a first prize of $10,000 and a performing trip to Japan, as well as national television exposure, is sponsored by the Buena Park-based Yamaha Corp. of America. It is open to bands of two or more members, who must submit demo tapes of two original songs. A panel of music-industry professionals will judge the entries for musicianship, originality, songwriting and performance. Judges will pick 20 semifinalist bands to compete in further rounds, with live finals to be conducted in Los Angeles. The deadline is June 30; interested musicians can find entry kits at Yamaha musical equipment dealers, or by calling (800) 451-7625.