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Kathleen Cei ( New Haven Advocate)
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"He's a sound editor at Warner Brothers," beamed mom Cherisse at cafe nine while her L.A. pop scenester son Rick Hromadka played a solo (Maple Mars-less) set a few weeks ago (opening for Los Gatos), visiting his New Haven hometown for a family reunion. "They played his music on ER, Third Watch, Power Rangers and Sweet Valley High," she continued, leaning in a little closer to add, "and he's cute, too." She forgot to mention his charismatic yet humble stage presence and witty Jason Falkner-esque paisley power pop prowess to the growing list of charms that was unfolding song after song. She did remember to proudly point out her other two sons in the club, including drummer Mike Hromadka of local metal fave Illface. Although mom called out for "Afterglow," Hromadka channeled Chilton instead and covered The Box Tops' "The Letter." Gatos' Ross Hallen snuck onstage to place a new hat next to a guitar stand, in preparation for his upcoming set, like it was an instrument. "I got it in the Keys, man. It's totally swank," he told fellow Gato Buzz Gordo, who was watching Hromadka up close near the stage. From the sidelines, Gordo shared a chilling Chilton insight from a story he'd read about his recording techniques while producing The Cramps. According to Gordo, Alex Chilton put a gun to vocalist Lux Interior's head, telling him to "sing it right." Hromadka's set was filled out with a few songs from old Double Naught Spies (his former L.A. band; no relation to the New Haven band by the same name) days: "I'm in your smile, I'm in your mind/I'm in your eyes, I'm in your shine/I'm in your sky, I'm in your lair/ I'm in your comb, I'm in your hair/Like Sonny & Cher ..." adding that the "last song, 'Automatic,' was about a crazy chick, and the next song is about a crazy chick, too. That's the only kind you meet in L.A. You don't meet many crazy chicks in Connecticut. I think I only got laid like three times before I left." Off the stage, a few "stupid covers" and Maple Mars songs later, Hromadka talked more about his Warner Brothers job, where he creates everything from the sound of a car starting up to the sound of wind, to "walla"--general background noise. He seems flattered by the Falkner comparison; he's a fan of the former Jellyfish's guitar skills; he's even lucky enough to have seen him play in someone's living room. Of course, Hromadka's familiar with fellow New
Haven-L.A. pop scene transfer Jon Brion (formerly of The Bats and The
Excerpts back in his New Haven days; these days known for his free-for-all
Friday night star-studded gigs at L.A.'s Largo, as wells as his production
work with Aimee Mann and Fiona Apple, to name a few). Hromadka added that
"'Meaningless' [from Brion's solo CD with the same title] is such
a great song
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