Righteous rock favorites DAMONE continue a month-long residency upstairs at the Middle East on Monday, gearing up for the release of a new album on Island/Def Jam in early 2006. According to manager Pete Galli, who also guides the Bravery and Bleu, the album was recorded in the Allston apartment of singer-guitarist Noelle LeBlanc and drummer Dustin Hengst, then mixed by vets Tom Lord Alge and Mike Shipley, the long-time engineer for Def Leppard and AC/DC producer Mutt Lange. Look for a Japanese import EP in November with three album tracks and two non-album B-sides . . . Hard-rock heroes LAMONT celebrate the release of a new EP, Muscle, Guts and Luck, Saturday at the Middle East. Recorded in June 2004 with Andrew Schneider at Allston’s Mad Oak Studios, it takes its title from a Johnny Cash song — but it could also be the band’s new motto. Bassist Jase Forney suffered a broken sternum and ribs, and a bruised heart and spleen, when the band’s new van fell on him while he was fixing it last month. The freak accident forced the cancellation of all but three shows of the band’s autumn tour. Still, they hope to have a full-length ready by next spring . . . DJ David Virr, who goes by Dave Duncan on the air, is taking over WFNX 101.7’s local music show New England Product; Virr has hosted the popular Anglophile specialty show British Accents on WMFO 91.5 since 1999 and filled in at ’FNX since 2003 . . . Veteran booking agent Martin Doyle, most recently at the Overdraught, has taken over booking duties at O’Brien’s in Allston. The venue shares an owner with Great Scott, and GS booker Carl Lavin says he foresees a collaborative relationship between the two venues . . . In one day last week, two local music landmarks were felled: the building that housed the Goth dance haven Man Ray was razed, and a fond adieu was bid to THE RAILING AROUND THE GREAT SCOTT STAGE, a hazard that befuddled countless performers. Among those who are probably not sad to see the fence go: Read Yellow singer/guitarist Evan Kenney, who once brained himself on it during a frenzied show. "Stupidest thing I ever did," he said at the time.

Sarah Tomlinson can be reached at stomlins@mindspring.com