Stay tuned as local musician builds her band

A great band is a miracle of chemistry — a perfect concoction of musical talent, taste and timing. Perhaps more importantly, a great band is the result of a lot of hard work and a hefty load of luck.

Don’t take our word for it. Local musician Michael Scott Parker has been trying to recruit a band for months. She’s determined to gather the perfect musicians for a permanent band before this summer, when she and her new group will tour Europe.

So far, she has a few maybes from friends and acquaintances, but advertising and asking around haven’t yielded much interest. Parker wants to assemble an all-female indie-rock band. She wants at least two musicians, a drummer and another artist who can add unique flair.

If you’re interested in joining Parker’s band, e-mail her at michael@oh-mymusic.com. To learn more about Parker and hear samples of her music, check her Web site at www.ohmymusic.com. The Gazette plans to track Parker’s progress to give readers a firsthand look at what it takes to assemble a band in our area.

LOSING OUR EXUBERANCE

Colorado Springs will soon lose one of its finest and funniest. Malcolm Lucard, the mandolin, banjo and guitar player who has thrilled listeners with songs about love, babies, cockroaches and moon colonies, is moving. Lucard and his family are relocating to the country of pocket knives and chocolate. They expect to land in Switzerland in July.

In his more than 10 years in Colorado Springs, Lucard performed as a solo artist and in the bands Irrational Exuberance, Fedora and the Goods, among others.

Lucard is one of those rare musicians blessed with ample talent, keen insight, humor and a need to experiment with every genre. He’s surprising. He’s creative. He’s a little weird. Yep, we’ll miss him.

Lucard wants to make the most of his time left here. He’s working on new albums he hopes to release in summer and playing plenty of shows. Check www.malcolmlucard. com for updates.

A list of farewell gigs (with more to come):

Irrational Exuberance, Cedars Jazz Club, 3125 Sinton Road, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, free, 578-5744; Fedora (as part of Jeremy Van Hoy trombone recital), Packard Hall, Colorado College, 7:30 p.m. March 31, free, 389-6606; Fedora, Shuga’s, 702 S. Cascade Ave., 6:30 p.m. April 1, free, 328-1412; Irrational Exuberance, The Ancient Mariner, 960 Manitou Ave., 9:30 p.m. April 8, free, 685-5503.

NEW WAY FOR WAYFARER

The Wayfarer British & Irish Pub, which has provided Colorado Springs with music, beer and Scotch eggs (a weirdly yummy deep-fried combination of gravy, sausage and hard- boiled egg), changed ownership March 20.

The pub at 520 S. Tejon St. has become McCabe’s Tavern.

The Wayfarer’s owner, Heather Wiley, said she’s ready to get out of the pub business and is happy to be selling the business to Greg Howard, former general manager of Phantom Canyon Brewing Co.

“There’s a lot of emotional ties to the place,” Wiley said. “I’m happy that Greg’s the one buying it because he’ll do a good job.”

An East Coast native, Howard said he grew to love the Irish-American pubs that dotted the cities. He plans to keep the Wayfarer’s Irish theme, while adding some personal touches.

“For the last year, I’ve been looking for a place of my own,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to have a tavern, and I think the time is right.”

He’s keeping menu items like Scotch eggs and corned beef and cabbage but says he’ll gradually add other pub fare, like steaks, seafood, salads and prime rib.

Howard says he won’t host any bands right away, but eventually he plans to add live acoustic music a few times a week.

The grand opening will be today and Saturday. Traditional Irish band Tim Finnigan performs 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. today. The shows are free.

MR. BIGGER

Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center is back, and it’s bigger, better and more adult-friendly.

The family destination, which closed temporarily in February after a small fire, reopened last weekend and unveiled a new events center.

Located inside Mr. Biggs, 5825 Mark Dabling Blvd., the Event Center at Mr. Biggs City can seat 800 and easily accommodate 1,000 dancers. It boasts a $75,000 sound and light system and a 20-by-20-foot projector screen.

The 12,000-square-foot room is designed to look like a town square, with painted facades and a fake water tower; a small bar in the corner looks like an Italian vendor’s stand. Think cheesy chic.

Matt Van Auken, vice president of operations, said the space will be used for concerts, dances and conferences. He plans to host national acts about four times a year and have events two to three times a month.

Little has been confirmed so far, but Van Auken says he’s interested in booking comedian Kathleen Madigan or rocker Edwin McCain. He’s also planning a “Big City Idol” event, modeled after “American Idol” and lasting six to eight weeks.