Rekindling the fire

The Blake Babies are back. \nAfter a 10-year hiatus, vocalist Juliana Hatfield, guitarist John Strohm and drummer Freda Love are all grown up -- sort of. \nFormed in 1986, The Blake Babies broke out on the Boston music scene. Bloomington natives Strohm and his former girlfriend Love left home so Strohm could attend Berklee School of Music. The youthful pair met up with Hatfield, who must have caught their attention with her innocent, wispy voice. \nIt was instant chemistry. The trio made its name in "Boston's celebrated music scene," according to the band's biography, and did the independent, local club hopping-recording thing. Then The Blake Babies were blessed with the aspiring musician's miracle of miracles: They were discovered.\n"We were kind of an intense band, really in the sort of post-punk era," Love says. "We had really diverse influences, but we were listening to a lot of bands in common like X and the Replacements." \nThe Blake Babies also threw in some "anger, youthful exuberance and naivete."\nProducer Gary Smith of the Throwing Muses and the Pixies signed The Blake Babies to Mammoth Records, at which the band put out Earwig and Sunburn. After touring and enjoying the success of college radio, the band suffered some internal conflict, and the musicians went their separate ways.\nForward some years: Drummer Love sees Hatfield perform and remembers why The Blake Babies were a good thing. Some phone calling, persuasion ensues, and the trio decides to make another album. \nStrohm says the musicians' darkest fear is that fans would think the new album is just a weak attempt to rejuvenate their careers, although he doesn't feel that will be the sentiment. \nGod Bless The Blake Babies was recorded in 10 days at Echo Park studios in Bloomington. \n"I guess I didn't know what to expect," Love says. "We didn't have any rehearsal or really any preparation beforehand, so it kinda just unfolded really naturally."\nYet at the end, the band is happy. Without knowing whether it would even be able to create a new record, the musicians are glad to know the 12 tracks turned out well.\nStrohm says the sound had changed surprisingly little. Although it is more sad than angry, as he thought it would be, he feels the band fell into a familiar groove. His friends say, "Wow, this record really sounds like a Blake Babies record."\nBeginning this weekend at the Cellar Lounge, The Blake Babies will tour to support the new album, which will include a show in Boston and South by Southwest, a tremendous meet and greet for the music business, in Austin, Texas.\nThe new tour will also boast a new bass player, Daniel D. Johnston, a friend of Strohm's.\nAfter rehearsing for two days, the band will take the stage at the Cellar Lounge to what Strohm hopes is a good way to "ease in" to touring again. In contrast with the small bar setting, the March 9 Boston show will have a capacity of 1,200. \nSince the band's demise, the three have not been lacking in activities. Hatfield is pursuing a relatively successful solo career while Strohm and Love have been in various bands. Love plays in Mysteries of Life with her husband Jake Smith, instructs yoga, studies at IU and raises two children. Strohm is also married and attends school at the University of Alabama while pursuing various musical projects. \nStrohm says eventually he and Love both began to entertain the idea of doing something other than music for the rest of their lives. The ability to release an album and tour after the fact is "completely gravy."\nOne thought the band hasn't entertained yet is staying together after the tour. \n"Basically, we're just not really projecting ahead," Love says. "We're going to focus on promoting this record, playing the songs. Maybe if it goes well, we'll make another record. But honestly, we haven't talked about it at all. I think we just want to wait and see what it's like to be together again."\nThe Blake Babies will play Saturday at the Cellar Lounge, 123 S. Walnut St. God Bless The Blake Babies will be released Tuesday. For more tour dates and information, check out www.blakebabies.com.