Happy New Year and Thank You

Happy New Year, everyone!
2011 was a slow year for the music blog but thankfull we became a music label offering pressing and consulting services for bands. It's been a great experience and I'm excited for two upcoming releases in the next few months. First is Those Mockingbirds 'Fa Sol La' on 12'' Vinyl out January 31st. Pre-orders with two different packages just launched here: www.starbeatmusic.bigcartel.com The second release is a cassette tape release, which I'll announce later this month.

I'd like to thank the following people for their help, encouragement, inspiration or kind words about Star Beat Music: my label buddy Jeff; Adam, Tory, Kevin, Rob, Jon of Those Mockingbirds; Greg and Kyle at Merovingian Music; Jayme and R.J. at Mightier Than Sword and everyone who's read Star Beat Music and supported us!

- Star

Happy July

Hi readers,

Today I write to you after a week since my last post on CoCo Moore's new band Big Nils. The past several months of this blog has been very inconsistent. I want to blame work for the lack of new posts but I know better than that. Because when I want to do something I will do it, despite having time constraints. I write very systematically. That is that I have an outline and notes, and have to format reviews, news, etc in the same way. I don't simply just start writing. For me it's a very thought out process and thus a time consuming process. I'm very particular on how I want to express my thoughts. Sometimes I think too much about it and get to emotional over the words I want to communicate. Sometimes it's hard to vulnerable in this way. I can't even tell you how much I want to write about RVIVR and La Dispute, two of my current favorite bands. Their music speaks to me in ways that hasn't in quite sometime. I want to make this blog very personal and story-oriented. I want to have regular posts. I want to take risks in my writing. I don't want this to be something that I keep dwelling on. I just need to do it. 

With that, I'm excited to get some posts up on Secret Country, How Do We Jump This High?,Born in a Cent, Melissa and Paul, Porchistas, Philth Harmonic, and Dead Ringer, among several others. 

My friend Julie writes some great, personalized writing with thorough analysis on lyrics that is something I hope to similarly achieve. Check out some of her pieces on Kevin Devine, David Bazan, Manchester Orchestra, The Sun Parade, and more here: http://www.juliedworman.com/ 

Happy July. Be well.

An Update

I apologize for the lack of new posts. Work has taken over my life leaving me little time to focus on music writing. I hope to back by July. You might see short posts here and there. I hope you understand. In the meanwhile, please check out my back posts. 

On a sweet note, I'm off work on Friday, so I'm check out Title Fight & Such Gold at Generation Records. Then on Monday I'm seeing Trial, Another Breath, and The Saddest Landscape at the Studio on Webster Hall!

Stay posi,

Star

The State of Star Beat Music

Publicists, Marketers, Bands, Readers, Friends, On-Lookers, please read:

You may have noticed that in the past two months I've updated this blog sporadically. I've taken breaks, then posted, then stopped, and so fourth. This most recent break has been for two weeks now. So what's up? Well, the truth is that I've felt unmotivated to write about music. I've felt overwhelmed from the amount of requests I get to write about bands and shows. It's hard to sift through what's good and bottom line is most pitches aren't that good and are too long. I feel like it's becoming my job to write but it's not. I do this as a hobby but I take it seriously. I love music and writing. At the point at which it feels like work to me, then something has to change. I write to promote the bands I love. Sure, I'll take a pitch and check out a band, but I might not always post about it. I want to write positive reviews. I don't want to spend my time writing about a band I don't like. That's not what I'm here for. 

Also, I'm not particularly happy with my writing. My writing is boring. This needs to change. Music writing should motivate, explain, be written with feeling. It should tell a story. It shouldn't be the same regurgitated news shit that everyone else posts. Paraphrasing can be necessary but not too often. I need to write with my heart. With everything I got. I want to write about the bands I love and know. I want my writing to evoke aliveness. To tell the reader exactly how I feel about a band. I don't want the writing to sounded forced, like I'm writing to please someone or because I have to, or it's a bland news piece.

I don't want the music shoved down my throat or well, into my ears, and I don't want it to sound like I'm shoving it into yours, either. I want to write naturally. So I need to get back to focus. I need a new direction. So what to do? Do away with all the pitches and write about the bands I love and the bands I discover that are good. Maybe. Ok, well I'll still take pitches, I'm just going to be more honest about what I do and do not want to write about. If I haven't gotten back to you I probably will. I apologize for not returning some emails. But I'm getting back into this. I'm also sorry if you sent me a CD and I have yet to write a review or listen to it. For now, I'm not accepting any CD's in the mail, as gracious a thought as that is.

I'm also looking to expand. This comes both in excitement and fear. Excitement because I can write about bands outside of the NJ/NY area, but fear because now I'm potentially open to reaching an overwhelming number of pitches. What made Star Beat so exciting in the beginning was that I wasn't getting pitches. I was actively seeking out bands. I was discovering the music myself.

I want to personalize it and write less about music news. I want it to be more passionate. I want to write about vinyl, analyze lyrics, do features on bands and bikes (you'd be amazed at how many Brooklyn musicians bike), and cool things. I felt that Star Beat Music was getting a bit boring. I know the content was okay, but I wasn't having fun with it anymore. It's time for me take control and get into some fun, informative, passionate, music writing. Thanks for reading. Hopefully we will get things rolling this week with a few pieces. Until then I encourage you to read some back pieces.

Here are some new features we're planning:

1. BANDS AND BIKES: It strikes me that many musicians, particularly, in Brooklyn ride bikes. I find this neat. I want to find a way to tie that into writing. Does biking having any relation to the bands lyrics? Has any band ever toured by bike? Has a musicians ever ridden to a show locally? Is this something you would be interested in reading about? What questions would you ask? Why is biking popular for Brooklyn musicians? Where else is biking popular?

2. OPEN LETTERS TO BANDS: This is a feature where I write letters to bands expressing my thoughts about their show, their album, or band in general. It allows me to be direct and personal. This might be challenging especially for the bands I love. My plan is to make these letters short and sweet. Hopefully I don't cry in this process. There's something about writing a personalized letter, exposing your emotions to someone, or in most cases an entire band, and then publicizing.

3. PICTURE PROMPT: Remember in 8th grade or high school where you were given a picture and you had to write a story that involved the photo? Well, in this case I'd post one picture from a show and then write a story (show review) that revolves around the image or includes the image. Sounds fun!

4. LYRICS POST: Post lyrics to song, then write about what the song means to me. 

5. VINYL: Post pictures of recent vinyl purchase. Write about the packaging, color, layout, artwork, where to get it, who released it, etc, and what I find attractive about the vinyl plus post photos of it!

6. NEWS: I would post a piece of music news, then my reaction to the news!

What are your thoughts on these features?

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers, 

Today is Star Beat Music's 2-year anniversary since myself, Starchild, made the first entry on this blog. Since then the site has evolved and grown. We got a new layout, domain name, and expanded our coverage of music and events. I've strived to make this a site that covers a wide range of music including rock, hardcore, metal, indie, folk, alternative, and every now and again hip-hop and dance. 

Being from Newark, New Jersey I started to cover music in New Jersey. But I also wanted to cover music in NYC and even upstate. But at the same time I didn't want to just write about artists and bands from NJ and NYC. So we cover bands that are from or come through the area. I've thus been able to not only write about bands like Screaming Females, The Gaslight Anthem, The Measure (SA), Exit She Calls, Kevin Devine, and Kiss Kiss, but also Murder By Death, Kimya Dawson, mewithoutYou, Heartless Bastards, Los Campesinos, and Civil Twilight. 

There are currently some 500 posts here. I've done my best to archive posts, so that you can find them easily, whether by the menu tabs on the top of the page, the archive on the left, the band's list on the right, or the search engine. I welcome you to look at older posts and learn more about some of the unsigned, underground acts we've covered as well as up-and-coming bands. We strongly encourage comments and our new reactions feature. We're interested in what you think and what bands you enjoy.

Here's what has happened:

1. New URL- www.starbeatmusic.net Be sure to bookmark the page
2. Questions- www.formspring.Me/starbeatmusic In a local band? Need advice? Need recommendations for music? Wondering what my first show was? Ask away.
3. New writers- In an effort to have expand coverage and gather various views, we've recruited a few writers. Welcome, Roz Smith and Zandra Ruiz. They'll be contributing from time to time.

Finally, we're looking for your help!

* Go to shows in New Jersey or NYC? Take photos? We want to hear from you.

* We're looking for a few people to write cd reviews for us.

* We're also looking for any ideas you have for new content. 

If you want to help E-MAIL US with "Interested in Contributing" in the subject.

Thank you for reading,

Star, Founder / Writer

Star Beat Music

www.starbeatmusic.net 

www.twitter.com/starbeat

The Besties (2004-2009), Shows, 7inch, & Video

The Besties "Prison Song" @ Knitting Factory 2007


The Besties, Brooklyn's deliciously catchy pop/punk 4-piece is calling it quits. Last night they announced this news via myspace. The band's latest album Home Free was release this past February. I'll always remember how fun this band was and how they had two keyboardist. I saw them last year in a New Brunswick basement, it hardly seemed like they had room to set up all their instruments. Check out the band in December and pick up their new 7-inch. Below is the statement from the band:

Hi.
So, bad news first: The Besties are officially done. As happens with many awesome relationships, stuff happens and things get hard, and so you end it and remain friends and all that junk. It’s like that. We guess? Well, Kelly moved to Asheville, and Frank renewed his vows with the city of Boston. And other stuff. So there’s that.

Here’s the good news! We are playing two last shows around NYC in December, and we plan on going out with a serious bang. So sell some CDs (keep the Lemonheads ones), bodily fluids or organs for plane ticket money, start hitchhiking, do whatever you need to do – let’s party! The shows are:
***Friday December 4th at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park , NJ with The Measure, Black Wine, Psyched to Die and Night Birds. This is Jay Insult's annual b-day extravaganza and you were probably going to go anyway. Can you even believe that lineup? Makes our heads spin.

*** Sunday December 6th Final Show at Braur Falls in Brooklyn, NY with our dearest buds The Specific Heats and Bunnygrunt, who are coming ALL THE WAY FROM ST. LOUIS TO PLAY THIS SHOW!!! Holy crap! Now that's love. Plus, for any outta towners who are on the fence about coming... Psssst! Our good friends the mighty Pants Yell are playing Bruar Falls the night before (the 5th) in celebration of their new record on Slumberland.

So come hang out, and make a weekend of it! We would love to see every single one of your beautiful faces there.

More good news! We have one last 7” coming out as part of the Art of The Underground single series - http://www.artoftheunderground.com/single-series.php More details on that soon!

And we have a new video up here - http://estherbell.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=35 – so even if you miss the shows, you can watch us play ‘Helgafell’ for all eternity. This was written and directed by the lovely and talented Esther Bell. Check her out, she rules!

We are very likely more heartbroken about this than anyone – this band has shaped our lives in so many ways, and is responsible for us meeting so many incredible people and bands. Thank you so much to everyone who bought our records, came to see us play (or played with us!), set up a show for us, let us sleep on your floor, or pointed us towards the best burritos in town. You are all awesome and we love you!

No sad goodbyes!
xoxo
Kelly, Marisa, Frank and Rikky

This Saturday it's Star Child's Final Show on WSOU w/ acoustic sets by Kevin Devine, Joe Wilson, Exit She Calls, and ShiraGirl

Dear Readers,

I’ll be celebrating four years at 89.5 FM-WSOU with my last show on Saturday, September 5th from 7pm-2am. Since I graduated from Seton Hall University in May I have to do a final show at the end of the summer. During my time at the station I was an assistant producer, newscaster, and assistant and director of promotions. It was an amazing run, where I worked with great people, got to voice my opinion, go to some great shows, meet some awesome bands, and interview some cool ones as well. Some highlights include interviewing Murder by Death and Poison the Well, meeting Megadeth and Slipknot, doing stage announcements for Rise Against and Atreyu to sold out crowds at Nokia Theatre, Times Square and seeing Interpol and Muse at Madison Square Garden for free.

I’ve interviewed Artimus Pyledriver, Fear Before the March of Flames, Marc Rizzo (of Soulfly), In This Moment, Tim from Rise Against, Doug of the Sleeping, Tommy of The Autumn Offering, Marissa of Screaming Females, Shira of ShiraGirl, Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses, Otep Shamaya of OTEP. On Tuesday, September 2 at 4pm I’ll do my final interview before my last show with Suicide City. They'll talk about their new album "FRENZY" and the future.

My last show will be on Saturday, September 5th. I'm going to play an eclectic mix of music, tell some station stories, get roasted (I'm sure) by fellow staff members and friends, and maybe a few other surprises. Expect to hear music from The Beatles, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Gaslight Anthem, mewithoutYou, Have Heart, Screaming Females, Blink-182, Lauryn, Fuel and many more.

I'm also honored to announced interviews and acoustic performances by:

Kevin Devine (folk, indie rock singer from Brooklyn)

Joe Wilson (folk Jersey singer from Feeling Left Out & We're All Broken)

Exit She Calls (sweet, catchy alternative rock from Bergen County, New Jersey)

ShiraGirl (all-girl punk outfit from New York)

Thank you for joining me in celebrating my time at one of the leading college radio station's in the country! It's been an amazing run. You can listen on your FM-dial in New Jersey and NYC or www.wsou.net anywhere else. Also, call in at 973-761-9768 (WSOU)

Thanks,
Star Child

The Sleeping return to Long Island for 4 Shows 9.13-9.16

On Thursday post-hardcore lads The Sleeping announced via a MySpace bulletin that the band would return to Long Island. Here's the statement from the band:

Ladies and Gentleman, we have been patiently waiting for the perfect time to return to the Island and with tons of proper planning, the time has finally arrived.

We will be playing FOUR SHOWS BACK TO BACK starting September 13th-16th at Broadway Bar in Amityville, NY. That's FOUR SHOWS for FOUR NIGHTS IN A ROW and that's not all:

Each night will be a different set and a different theme. There's also going to be different bands supporting us and a killer after-party after each show. You can come to one show if you want but if you like to rock the fuck out and party then you're really not going to want to miss ALL FOUR DAYS of The Sleeping's long awaited LONG ISLAND RETURN!!

Don't forget that each night will have different VERY SPECIAL GUESTS (which we will start announcing very soon) so come rock out with us and some of our closest friends!

Each show will cost only $12 BUT if you head over to the bar you can find out how to get special deals on all FOUR DAYS!!

Well, Long Island, we are very proud to be back in our hood, so why not make it extra special?

As for TOURING PLANS... we will see you all soon as well. ;)

Douglas



*THESE SHOWS ARE ALL AGES SHOWS!!*

You can find out about the special ticket deals by heading to:

Broadway Bar (The old VP South)
198 Rt. 110
Amityville, NY 11701

Monday Update

Bad Blood @ Meat Town USA, New Brunswick, NJ 4/18/09
Good Monday Readers and Onlookers,

Excuse me for the lack of updates. I’m gearing up to graduate from Seton Hall University, so it’s been hectic. I still need to write up a review and post photos of Screaming Females record release show at Meat Town USA and Alkaline Trio’s show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. I hope to have all this up by the end of the week.

This week is another epic basement show at Death City in New Brunswick with The Sleeping, Paulson, and Closure in Moscow. It’s $7, all ages, and in intimate quarters at 6pm, so arrive early. The bands are sure to set it off.

For those closer to NYC, Suicide City is performing a free show at Virgin Megastore in Union Square on the same day at 5pm. Later, Andrea Gibson and others perform some spoken word poetry at Sidewalk Cafe. Free entry, but 2 drink minimum.

Marc Rizzo (of Soulfly) & his band will perform at Dingbatz in Clifton on May 17 with Doomsday Prophecy, Thanatotic Desire, Sedna, and Knollwood. Doors at 4pm.

Monotonix have announced a tentative title for their new album, “where were you when it happened?” It’ll feature 8 songs and clock in at 30 minutes. It “gets pretty fast and fun sometimes and pretty slow and heavy at other times,” the band said. It’ll be available on CD and vinyl on Drag City in U.K in August and the U.S and Europe in September. Monotonix will perform it’s only spring East Coast appearance on Tuesday, May 19th at Brooklyn’s Club Europa. They’ll play with The Homosexuals and Rice.

A Lifelike Story and Seeking through Silence are looking for drummers. If you have the skills contact them.

That's all for now. Stay well, folks.

Star

Titus Andronicus music video shoot in Brooklyn this Monday, plus Record Store Day shows

Titus Andronicus "Thunder Road" & "Upon Viewing Brueghel's 'Landscape and the Fall of Icarus'" @ Maxwell's, Hoboken 1/14/09


Titus Andronicus are filming a video for "Upon Viewing Brueghel's 'Landscape and the Fall of Icarus'" at Silent Barn in Brooklyn, NY this Monday afternoon at 4pm. Details are below. The band will also perform at 3:30pm at Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ for Record Store Day on April 18th before playing at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Lucero.

Our masters at eXtra Large Recordings have decided that the audiotory elements of Titus Andronicus are not doing the job as far as moving units is concerned, and so we must enter the visual world in the form of a music video for our forthcoming UK single, "Upon Viewing Brueghel's 'Landscape and the Fall of Icarus.'"

Since the men of Titus Andronicus are all ugly bastards, we humbly request yr presence at Silent Barn on this coming Monday (this is where we are going to make the video), so that you, in all yr beauty, can dance and throw confetti and pretend that Titus Andronicus are actually playing music instead of just pretending. In this way, perhaps we can manipulate the record-buying public into allowing us to seperate them from their hard-earned money, the fools.

The prancing around will begin at around 4:30 PM and continue long into the evening. If any of you still have jobs for some reason, or some other obligation to see to, it will be perfectly fine in you want to come at a time after 4:30 PM. Nobody will think ill of you. We just desire yr presence in whatever way it may manifest itself.

We ask with the utmost humility that you come equipped with either a white or black t-shirt and pants.
No print on them please - a shirt turned inside out would be okay!

Also, please feel free to invite all yr friends so that we can create the illusion that everyone loves us.

This is all happening at Silent Barn, which can be reached by taking the L Train to Halsey, or by taking the M to Myrtle/Wyckoff. Here is Silent Barn on Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Okay, that's all. Please come, or our self esteem will suffer irreperable damage.
Try having that on yr conscience!

Greg Attonito of the Bouncing Souls Solo Dates, Tonight in New Brunswick

Greg, Shanti & Vic Acoustic Show Is Coming To Town!

Hey All, It's Greg here making more and more music! The Souls 20th anniversary has been trucking along at a good pace..good shows and good times complete with volcano eruptions in Alaska, sunny days in Hawaii and truck breakdowns in Louisianna.
Tomorrow starts another tour with the amazingly talented Shanti, and the endlessly cool Vic, from the Slackers. We have a mixed bag of music happening with the three of us that is going to make a great night out. Come check out the dates at www.myspace.com/gregattonito

4.02. Tumulty’s Pub ,New Brunswick, Nj
4.03.Middle East Upstairs, Boston, Ma
4.04. CafeNine, New Haven, Ct
4.05. Firehouse No.13, Providence, Ri
4.07. The Record Collector, Bordentown, Nj
4.08. Ottobar, Baltimore, Md
4.09.The Barbary, Philadelphia, Pa
4.10. Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, Nj
4.11. The Knitting Factory , Ny, Ny

See Ya There!
Greg"
From MySpace blog

Last Minet looking for female guitartist & vocalist

New Jersey's Last Minet is looking for a female guitarist. Details below:

hey whats up, we're an all FEMALE rock/experimental band called LAST MINET(*last minute*). we're looking for a possible 2nd guitarist or lead vocalist [[preferebly between the ages of 18 - 24 or at least has the face to pull it off]].

if yer interested in checking us out or possibly working with us, message me back. we've played at the knitting factory a few times, played at rutgers, ramapo, and other universities, school of rock, fat baby, many other venues throughout nj n ny, have reg radio interviews, photoshoots.. the real deal.

our studio is located in hoboken, nj but were all from hudson/bergen county. let us know!!

**WE HAVE A BATTLE OF THE BANDS COMING UP. WINNER PLAYS AT 6FLAGS WITH NATIONAL ACTS**

If you're interested contact Zuri at toyouimshort@aol.com or through MySpace.

The Champagne Charade looking for a drummer+New Song

The Champagne Charade, 2008. Photo by Charlie.





















New Jersey's rock act The Champagne Charade is searching for a drummer. Here's a statement from the band:

"Chris Crypts has decided to take a break from music and has departed The Champagne Charade. We appreciate his help and dedication over this past year, and we wish him the best. But where there is change there is growth - and we are starting the search with bright eyes!

If you or anyone you know thinks they would like to audition, please message us here on myspace or email thechampagnecharade@yahoo.com! We don't have many requirements, of course the more experience you have; the better - but we will give everyone a fair chance. Must be 18+ and ready & willing to tour!

Also our performances usually include some sort of 'costuming', you arent required to wear makeup but you might have to wear black pants and a cotton biker jacket...haha. (Its nothing serious, but if you refuse to wear anything but jnco's or something - dont write.) We all contribute equally to the success of this band, and if you arent super motivated to be successful then you might not make the cut."

UPDATE 1/31/09
"Testify" Acoustic with Saetia & Rob:

Message from New Brunswick's Like Trains and Taxis: Tour Dates

"Hey Everyone!

A week from today we’ll be embarking on our first month long tour in support of our debut EP, which is available now on iTunes, Amazon. com and CD baby.
Joining us on the road will be two amazing artists:

Jessica Tonder: www. myspace. com/jessicatonder
and
Diverse: www. chocolateindustries. com/diverse/index. php.

Tonder's intoxicating and versatile style has gained her a reputation among music blogs as "Atlanta's best female voice". Working alongside Grammy-nominated producer Derrick "Drop" Braxton (Lupe Fiasco's The Cool), she also recently released her own debut album, "The Robot and the Little Girl". Her soulful combination of influences ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Radiohead achieves a sound that is as new as it is experimental and artistic.

Diverse calls himself a poet before a rapper and his soul, jazz, and hip hop influences have informed what the Chicago Tribune calls his "casually cerebral verbal flow". His full-length debut album, "One A.M." (Chocolate Industries) has generated buzz not only because of its all-star cast of producers, including Prefuse 73, Madlib, and RJD2 but also because it is proof that Diverse is "poised to become an icon of progress who still connects with the masses" (Rockpile Magazine).

The tour officially begins in Atlanta on January 19th and will end in Chicago on February 11th. In between we’ll be making lots of stops, including amazing shows with some special guests in Philadelphia, New Brunswick, and New York City, so be sure to take a look at our calender and find out when we’ll be in a city near you.

This Wednesday we’ll be kicking things off in Red Bank, NJ at the Downtown Cafe. It’ll be the last show we play before we leave for Georgia so if you’re in the area, come send us off. Joining us on the bill will be our good friend Tom Deis (Via Audio), who will be doing a rare, solo acoustic set.

Here are the details:

Like Trains & Taxis @ The Downtown Cafe
10 West Front Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
w/ Tom Deis
9pm
Free!!!

*Cheers*"

We’re All Broken to release 6-song EP in April + Tour Dates

photo by Chris Kelly














Letter from We're All Broken:

“Hello friends. We have some very exciting news to kick off 2009. We will be putting out an EP with our great friends at Devildance Records. It will come out in mid April and will be released on 12" vinyl as well as CD. This EP will feature 6 songs and we couldn't be more excited. The songs are recorded, cover art is coming in, and everything is sounding and looking amazing. We will have more info on this towards the end of the month, so stay tuned… We're All Broken is turning it up for 2009. The news does not end there…

We will be hitting the road again starting in May. It has been a while since we have gone on tour, and we are looking forward to getting back out, meeting new people and sharing our new musical visions. We have been writing a whole batch of new songs and we are so excited to share, we cannot keep them under wraps for too much longer. For this reason, 2009 will also see the release of 2 additional EP's from our band. These will come out shortly following our April release, and will be available for downloadable purchase online, anywhere music is sold digitally.

To add more fuel to the fire, we will be updating our Myspace page with new video footage from recent shows, as well as new songs!!! 2009 will be the official release of anything and everything We're All Broken, and we are so fortunate to be able to say that these are the best songs we've ever written as a band. We can't wait to share all of this with all of you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our band along our journey. 2009 will be an amazing ride.

We love all of you.

Frank, Joe, Casey, Jarett, and Joe”

We’re All Broken Tour Dates:

1/21 @ Lola’s Tattoo Shop Party at Lenora’s Bar and Grill, Hackensack, NJ
1/22 @ Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY
1/30 @ The Harmony Garage, Wilmington, DE w/ Paulson
1/31 @ Mill Hill, Trenton, NJ w/ Minnesota’s Calling, The Ruining + 1 TBA. 21+

Happy Jet Black New Year!!

Dear Readers,

Today I launched a new MySpace page for my promotional endeavors. I also changed the about me section. Star Beat will focus on New Jersey music, but still update you on bands from across the globe. What sparked this direction was seeing basements show in New Brunswick and realizing how much independent, DIY acts are out there in NJ that are worthy of exposure. Also, being from New Jersey I feel that the state deserves more coverage. My friends tell me they don't know what's going on in Jersey. So many of them flock to NYC for everything music. I must admit I rarely go to shows in NJ because of lack of transportation, mostly. I always hear about what's going on in NYC and being in Newark, the city is a PATH train away. But I want to uncover the music scene is New Jersey, starting with the basement shows in New Brunswick to the clubs to the bigger venues and even church shows, like the hardcore ones that are going on in Edison at the Stelton Church. There will be more media i.e. photos and video content I hope to include in this blog. Also, must shout out BrooklynVegan for inspiring me to do a blog like this. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy your stay and bookmark this site because there is plenty in store this year.

All the best,
Star, Star Beat Music

Enjoy one of New Brunswick's best. Thursday started out playing basement shows and in March they headline The Taste of Chaos Tour 2009, where they will perform at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ.

"Jet Black New Year" at Hellfest.



"As we kiss hard on the lips and swear,
"this year will be better than the last"

Jet black, the ink that spells your name
Jet black, the blood that's in your veins
Jet black, we say, "how long can we take this chance not to celebrate?"

There's music playing
though we dance to the beat of our own black hearts
Draw diagrams of suicide on each other's wrists
then trace them with razorblades"

Cheeky Cancels Winter Tour

New York's Cheeky have issued the following letter regarding its January tour:

"HELLO ALL:

We are sad to announce that we will NOT be touring with Little Lungs this January. Little Lungs will still be proceeding with the tour, but we just can't do it.

We want to say we are so sorry to anyone who helped us book these shows. We really appreciate all of your help and were super psyched to come play your cities.Also, to anyone who contacted us about booking a show who we did not respond to, we simply did not know if this tour was going to go on, and we thought it best not to reply until we really knew.

We will STILL be playing the following dates from the tour:

JANUARY 1: BROOKLYN, NY with LITTLE LUNGS, PS ELIOT, MORE
JANUARY 2: NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ with LITTLE LUNGS, PS ELIOT, SPELLS
JANUARY 3: EASTON, PA with LITTLE LUNGS, HIGHTIDE HOTEL, MY HEART TO JOY

we also have a few more shows coming up:

JANUARY 23: BROOKLYN, NY with EMERGENCY PARTY, BONEZONE, STUPID PARTY, SCREAMING FEMALES, SHELLSHAG

FEBRUARY 7: HOBOKEN, NJ with FOR SCIENCE, THE MEASURE, SCREAMING FEMALES, MORE

In the next month or so we will be heading in to record the full length. We are so, so excited about this.Thanks to you, Choke on a Cheeseburger is pretty much SOLD OUT and has been sent to the plant for a 2nd pressing. We should have more 7"s soon, and they are still in stock & available at Interpunk.

THANK YOU for everything again! We are planning for a LONG tour this summer (all the way out to the West coast).Hopefully we'll see you then!"

LOVE, CHEEKY

AFI enter studio to record 8th album

note from jade
"Hello dear, it's time. We've officially finished writing the 8th AFI album, and now we enter the studio to put it on tape. We have a fabulous producer we'll be working with, David Bottrill, who has worked on some fantastic and legendary albums by Peter Gabriel, Muse, Silverchair, Placebo, and Tool. We've spent this whole year crafting these songs and we're impatient to share them, so let's get busy. Love, Davey, Adam, Hunter, and Me"