Boxed Wine stay catchy on 'Cheap, Fun'

Sometimes you gotta dance. With no fear. With no embarrassment. Sometimes the music just takes over. This is how I feel when I listen to Boxed Wine. When I first saw them at the Lamp Post in Jersey City for Lamplighter's show, I was impressed by how catchy they are without sounding like they are trying too hard. From the catchy "Why can't we stay" line to "Boomerang" this 3-song EP goes by quickly leaving my feet, hips and shoulders wanting more. These songs have a crunchy tight and crispy feel coated in melodic sugary goodness that's undeniably joyous. These boys and newest tambourinist Kyra carry the indie-dance pop genre well and I can't wait to hear more songs from them. This is certainly good clean fun, or as Boxed Wine put it 'Cheap, Fun'. It's available for free/pay-what-you-want at http://boxedwine.bandcamp.com/

Boxed Wine will be playing at our showcase on Jan. 31st at The Lamp Post in Jersey City, NJ.

Atlas post new EP

Atlas (ex-Control, Stillwelle, Young American Artists) have made its 3-song EP available for download.

New Control album out today

Before I head to work I wanted to let ya'll know about Control's new album. "Obsolete Through Automation" is the Jefferson, New Jersey band's debut full-length with 11-songs. It's available digitally for only $4. "Live Together, Die Alone" was the first song that stood out, though I still need to listen to the rest of this album.

 http://controlisaband.bandcamp.com/album/obsolete-through-automation

Screaming Females, No Pasaran, Ben Franklin, Eula in Kearny, NJ on May 6th

I'm pleased to announce my former hometown of Kearny, NJ will witness a quadruple shot of rock when Screaming Females, No Pasaran, Ben Franklin, and Eula come to play there on May 6th. It's a Friday, one of the best days to go out, so why not catch a show? If the weather turns out nice that evening I'm going to plan a bike ride starting in Newark to the venue, The Irish at 95 Kearny Ave, a short 15-20 minute breeze of a ride. This show is being put together by the good folks at Killing Horse Records ,who house Ben Franklin and No Pasaran. Ben Franklin just dropped their wicked good 7'' single called Urgency and No Pasaran is in the studio working on their 7'' single to be released this summer. Eula is coming out from CT for this gig. I haven't heard them but the Facebook invite calls them noisey post-punk, which sounds good to me. Screaming Females, of course will bring the sweet licks and dancey bass for a dashing rock 'n' roll live show that will leave a jaw-dropping impression. 10 beans for this one.

Advance tickets here: http://www.ticketfly.com/event/33605/

Facebook Invite: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157130091013067

UPDATE: My bike group has planned a ride to Kearny. Tonight, May 6, at 7pm. Meet at Beaver Street (between Broad and Mulberry) in Newark. Details with the route and map here: http://www.brickcitybikecollective.org/archives/810

The Pantry Party f/ Invisible Lines this Saturday in Pequannock, NJ

Join The Pantry Party at The Knights of Columbus on 84 Lincoln Park Road in Pequannock, NJ this Saturday, March 5th featuring performances by Cabin 49, The Invicible Lines, Chris Aiello & Kevin Romoser, Lazy Sunday, and D-Tox aka Julio. Artists Jocelyn Ortega, Wendy Strauss, Keith Stanley, Joe Scordo, and Chris Rowland will also present their art. The show is all ages, begins at 7pm and costs $10. Bring canned goods. For every can you bring, you get $1 off the price of admission.

www.thepantryparty.com

River City Extension to play CMJ w/ Kevin Devine, Voodoo Music Festival

River City Extension is an indie-folk rock band from Toms River, NJ. Their brand of music is touching, honest, and heartfelt. They are a band with a sense of musical craft. Their sound is best described as orchestral with elements of punk, country, folk, and world music. Their songs are filled with piano, cello, trumpet, and djembe (a type of hand drum), plus vocals from 4 members. Their sound is charming, sensual, energetic. In this regard the band standout. Their music is so full and driving. It's not boring and this band is a sure keeper.

Their latest release The Unmistakable Man takes you on a musical journey that will carry you to another world. Fans of such acts like The Avett Brothers, Mumford and Son, Murder by Death, Man Man, and Spoon will find River City Extension similarly good. If someone outside New Jersey tells me what bands from the area they should check out, one of the first I'd list is River City Exntesion.

They performs at the CMJ Music Marathon with Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band, Miniature Tigers, Death on Two Wheels, and Oh Land at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Oct. 19th. More info here. They'll also play Voodoo Music Festival on Oct. 30 on the main stage with Ozzy Osbourne and Cage the Elephant.

EP Review: Airplane Noise soften your heart on power popper 'Getting Down'

Airplane Noise- Getting Down
Back to Work Records
Florence, New Jersey
Released August 2010

For fans of: Weezer, Death Cab for Cutie, Reggie and the Full Effect 

Airplane Noise is a power pop band.; however so, the songs have slight ska and folk elements. Their songs feature keyboard, harmonica, tambourine, and xylophone. The first two songs "Go Ahead" and "Last Night" are upbeat and poppy, but the last three take on a lighter tone and features some acoustic guitar. "Goodbye" gets rockin' but still has a light and sad tone to it. My favorite line is: "Friends don’t take breaks, so why are you going? We both made mistakes, so why are we throwing things away?" from "Last Night." Might as well check it out if you'r e into this. The album's up for free here: http://www.airplanenoiseband.com/

Jack Skuller- Love is a Drum (video)

DOWNLOAD: Jack Skuller- Love is a Drum 

Leave it 14-year old Weehawken, New Jerseyan, Jack Skuller to talk about love. The teen offers some advice: If you play out of tune, she's gonna walk out on you. This is from his rockabilly tune "Love is a Drum," which has some sweet guitar licks. The song was produced by Daniel Rey, who worked with The Ramones and also features Nada Surf's Ira Elliot on drums. The catchy song ends with the line "love hurts." He's already played at Maxwell's twice and word has it he'll perform at the CMJ Music Marathon in October. Keep an eye out. Who knows if this kid will be the Elvis of Jersey. 

The single is available as a limited edition 7'' vinyl and as a digial download on Hoboken based label Bar/None Records. 

Album Review: Full of Fancy play bouncy, sweet punk on 'Liquid Nature'

Full of Fancy- Liquid Nature 

Release June 23, 2010

New Jersey

Don Giovanni Records

Full of Fancy's new album Liquid Nature has 22 songs. 11 new songs, 11 singles from previous releases. Together it's a new and old take on Full of Fancy in one shot. The songs range from poppy to punk to sad to groovy. 

The new songs have a summertime vibe of being away from dear ones, wanting love and good weather, and feeling emotional."Basement" is a great representation of the band's sound. Bouncy and bursting with pop-punk flavor.

"Weather" is a somber song that reminds me of the now defunct New York band One True Thing. Here the band tones it down to sing "Tell me that I worry for nothing." After is a song that reminds me of Screaming Females. Heavy. Groovy. Instrumenal. This is the title track "Liquid Nature"-- a killer track. Certaintly unexpected from this band. "Dear Summer" is about anticipating summer. The album concludes with a cute song called "Dumb Is Forever," about being shy when you're in love.

The second part of the album features the quick "Soule Cake," "Gym Class," "Notebook," and "Whoa Theodore Whoa." This album is filled with wonderful songs. 

Liquid Nature is available from Don Giovanni Records store. 

Live Review: Black Gold / Sherwood / Reece / Morning @ School of Rock, South Hackensack, NJ

Black Gold @ School of Rock 3-16-10

Photos and story by Rozlyn Smith

I had the pleasure of seeing Black Gold perform at the School of Rock in South Hackensack, NJ. on March 10th. When Black Gold took the stage, my mouth started to water over Erick Ronick's (ex-Panic! At the Disco keyboardist) keyboard-it is gorgeous! With the amount of dancing that went on, it surely seemed that the crowd responded very well to their set list, which included “Detroit,” “Shine,” and “The Come Down.” I must say Eric Ronick is an amazing vocalist and keyboardist and Than Luu really knows how to play the drums. I could not believe how much heart and soul this band put into their performance. 

Though their bassist had some technical difficulties the band managed to push through the challenge at hand and put on an amazing show. The talent this duo has left me speechless. What I listened to on their MySpace page, and what I heard live blew me out of the water (and that's a good thing). I even picked up a copy of their CD Rush and I can't stop listening to it. This duo is one to watch out for. With their energy and talent there is nothing they can't do or achieve!

The Front Bottoms (an acoustic band) is recording new music & touring

The Front Bottoms, a New Jersey acoustic-folk band, have a bunch of upcoming local shows, are planning an east coast mini-tour in early April, and recording songs for a new album. The band features Brian S. on acoustic guitar and vocals, Brian U. on keyboard, and Matt on drums. The three-piece plan on playing shows in Connecticut and  Pennsylvania. They also recently recorded 3 more songs for their new album. They are in the running for WRSU 88.7 Rutgers Radio 1st annual BeatBlast at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick, which showcases local music.  Information on the BeatBlast can be found here. 

The band is planning on releasing an EP on tape. Keyboardist Brian Uychick said: "Better dust off your tape players, get ready to put a Front Bottoms cassette in your dashboard and give your cassette adapter a break."

This Friday the band performs at the Meatlocker in Montclair with Washington Square Park, The Exotic Aquatic, Jeff Kummer (of the Early November), and special guests. The show is free and all ages at 8pm.8 Park Street.

Mutiny Within Schedule Record Release Shows & Sonata Arctica Tour

Photo by Laura DeSantis-Olsson

Six-piece metal band Mutiny Within from Edison, NJ is performing a record release show at Vintage Vinyl in Fords. The in-store will celebrate the release of the band's new self-titled debut album on Roadrunner Records. It begins at 7pm. They also perform on Feb. 24 at Looney Tunes in West Babylon, NY at 6pm. Metal Sucks is streaming the band's entire new album here. Then on April 2 the band begins a tour with Sonata Arctica and Power Glove. They'll be in NYC on April 5.

The band's video for "Awake" can be viewed here.

Bayonet (members of Senses Fail & The Banner) post update

Bayonet, a hardcore/punk from New Jersey that features members of Senses Fail, The Banner, and Fit for an Autopsy have issued an update on the band via mypsace:

We've just been holed up writing new stuff. Getting ready to play some shows soon too. Buddy returns from SF tour in a week or so, and we will handle the final business garbage to get this EP out to everyone finally. Sorry for the wait. Thanks to everyone for still dropping us messages and keeping in touch. We really appreciate your enthusiasm.

The band features Buddy Nielsen of Sense Fail on lead vocals, Jeremy Comitas formerly of The Banner on guitar & vocals, Will Putney on bass, Dayn Viglione on guitar, and Chris Peixoto on drums.

Jared Grabb, Lead Pipe Cinch, and Will Dailey perform at upcoming TM Promotions shows

TM Promotions have three diverse shows coming up in New York and New Jersey.

Tuesday, June 9th
Acoustic/Singer-Writer Showcase
Shrine | 2271 Adam Clayton Powell blvd. | New York | NY | 10030
Jared Grabb former vocalist of Scout's honor, Tina Sparkle former members of Scout's Honor and the Forecast, Jenna Nichols, Sean Morris, Denise Barbarita, and White Noise supremacists
Doors at 6pm
Tickets $10

Friday, June 19th
Three local rock bands
The Tank | 354 W. 45th St.| New York | NY | 10030
Lead Pipe Cinch, Color Engine, and The Red Lights
Doors at 7pm
Tickets $10

Sunday, June 21st
Best acoustic rock in the area at Maxwell's
Jon Robert, Will Dailey, Nick Howard and Anthony Melillo
Maxwell's | 1039 Washington St. | Hoboken, NJ
Doors at 7:30pm
Tickets $10

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*"

NJ Band Graduates, Gaslight Anthem at Webster Hall on-sale Friday+Brian Fallon solo dates

We are the last of the jukebox Romeos…

(The Gaslight Anthem @ Area 4 Festival 2008)

“And if they end it all,
By the end of tonight,
If the big bomb drops down,
Over this quiet Edison sky.
We'll blow one last kiss,
To all the beautiful nights like this,
Under these central Jersey sky.”

Brian Fallon (singer of the Gaslight Anthem) will perform an intimate solo show at New Brunswick’s Court Tavern on January 24, a venue the band used to play before they started blowing up. Then his band headlines a European and North American tour.

It’s amazing when the bands in your town become popular. It’s kind of a rush when you can say, I saw that band at a basement show and now they’re huge. Or I was friends with the guitarist or I ate dinner with the band. Or I was at the band’s first show. I remember when My Chemical Romance was playing the Loop Lounge in Passaic, NJ and a handful to 50 kids would show up. They’ve now played the venue of all venues, Madison Square Garden. The band is practically from my hometown, Newark, but more appropriate they are from Kearney and Belleville, New Jersey.

For one Jersey kid who enjoys going to shows and recently got into the New Brunswick scene, it’s incredible to see The Gaslight Anthem making their mark. Last year the band released “The 59 Sound,” which is on plenty of top album release for 2008 lists, opened for Rise Against, Thrice, and Alkaline Trio, performed on Conan O’Brien, and opened for the Bouncing Souls, just to name some highlights.

Tickets for the Gaslight Anthem’s show at Webster Hall on March 27 go on-sale this Friday at noon. Heartless Bastards will open. Tickets available here.

In February the band heads to Europe, then in March they headline a North American tour with Heartless Bastards. Tour dates and ticket info available at their MySpace.

Brian Fallon Solo Tour Dates:
1/24 @ Court Tavern, New Brunswick 9pm $10
1/25 @ The Middle East, Cambridge, MA 8pm $10

Marc Rizzo Interview on WSOU, Thursday + NJ Show, Friday

New Jersey’s guitar virtuoso, Marc Rizzo will be interviewed on 89.5 FM WSOU this Thursday (1/8/09) at 3:30pm. Rizzo will discuss his show in NJ on Friday, upcoming Soulfly dates, and his other musical projects and happenings.

I will be interviewing him. If you have any questions, please send a reply in the comments.

Rizzo performs with Mercury Morning at Mexacali Live in Teaneck, NJ this Friday at 9pm. Tickets are $10 in advance here, $12 at the door. Mexacali Live is located at 1409 Queen Anne Rd, Teaneck, NJ. 201-833-0011 or Mexicalilive.com for more information.

Check out Rizzo’s projects:
Soulfly
Cavelera Conspiracy
Marc Rizzo solo
Inpsychobleedia

Vivian Girls/Screaming Females/Mirrors & Wires played Court Tavern, NJ 1/4/09, Tour Dates

photos by thepiratehat



















The show was supposed to happen at the Loft, but ended up being at the Court Tavern, which was a better choice, even though the minors couldn’t get in, because the sound was better and I could see the bands. It was an exciting night with friends and one of mine was witnessing his second show ever.

Mirrors and Wires, from New Brunswick played first. They were a four piece instrumental horror punk rock band. What was interesting about this band was they had a theremin player. According to Wikipedia, it’s “an early electronic musical instrument controlled without contact from the player.” From what I saw it looked like an instrument that created sound without touching the instrument by making a motion in the air near the instrument. It was interesting. Pretty groovy.

Screaming Females, the trio garage punk rock n roll extraordinaires played a healthy dose of groovy tunes that entertained me and my friend, along with a room full of people. It was nice to see the band in a club setting, as opposed to in a house, where the sound is often off, the vocals are low and unclear, and when it’s packed hard to see the band. I felt like just the front row was rocking out. The band played so many new songs and ones I didn’t recognize, except was previous shows. However, it wasn’t hard getting into the songs. The last song, “Reggae” was a really good song. I’m excited for the new album, "Power Move." I grabbed the setlist at the end.



I picked up the band’s 2008 live cd-r and also a tape with lead singer Marissa’s solo music. I also got a pin.

None of my friends, except Steve were excited for Vivian Girls. It was kinda funny. However, Vivian Girls played their best performance at this show of the three times I’ve seen them. While they didn’t have the most energetic live set or have something in their set to actually captivate, they played well and entertained with some funny comments. “Tell the World” was their single and they played it so well. I rocked out.

Mirrors and Wires has one upcoming show in their hometown, while Screaming Females and Vivian Girls will be touring with big names, Throwing Muses and M. Ward. Tour dates below.












































Mirrors and Wires Tour Dates:
1/ 18 @ Death Valley, New Brunswick, NJ w/ Bagger Vance, Color Change, and Silent Way

Screaming Females Tour Dates:

NY/NJ/PA:
1/ 16 @ The Parlor, New Brunswick, NJ w/ The Sass Dragons and Slaw
1/23 @ Don Pedro’s, Brooklyn, NY w/ Shellshag, Cheeky, Emergency Party, Bonezone
2/7 @ Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ (SF Headlining) Don Giovanni Showcase w/ For Science (last show), The Measure [SA], Cheeky, Groucho Marxists, Pregnant, and The Steinways
2/19 @ Don Pedro’s, Brooklyn, NY
2/20 @ Haverford Free Library, Haverford, PA
2/27 @ TBA, New Brunswick, NJ w/ Liquid Limbs

Tour with Throwing Muses and 50FOOTWAVE
3/10 @ World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
3/12 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
3/14 @ Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA

Vivian Girls Tour Dates:

1/11 @ Kidrockers at the Living Room (for kids), NY, NY
1/14 @ Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ w/ Titus Andronicus & Spider Bags
1/20 @ Danbro Warehouse, Brooklyn, NY w/ Fucked Up, Pissed Jeans, and more

2/6 @ 4AD Muziekclub, Diksmuide, Belgium w/ Crystal Antlers
2/7 @ RoTown, Rottedam, Netherlands
2/8 @ Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2/9 @ Trix, Antwerp, Belgium
2/10 @ Triniaires, Metz, France
2/11 @ La Laiterie, Strasbourg, France
2/12 @ Woodstock Boogie Bar, Limoges, France
2/13 @ Point Ephemere, Paris, France
2/14 @ Proud Galleries, London, UK
2/15 @ Carling Academy Islington, London, UK with Black Lips

Tour with M. Ward:
2/19 @ The Apollo Theatre, NY, NY
2/20 @ Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
2/21 @ Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, Washington, DC

Screaming Females/ The Pussy Pirates/The Invicible Gods/ Slaw @ NJ Basement Show

For a few years now, I’ve heard about the legendary basement shows in Meat Town USA, the city that breeds punk bands like Thursday, Lifetime, The Ergs, and the infectious, guitar drenching, chaotic explosion called Screaming Females. The 3-piece performed with Ann Harbor, Michigan’s, The Pussy Pirates, Slaw, and Invincible Gods, my first house show on September 16.

I would be in for a treat. As the night went on the room would fill with eager fans ready to dance. At 7 p.m. the show began with a fast, catchy punk set by The Invincible Gods, led by singer Candace. There was complementing vocals provided by the guitarist. She sung and screamed in such a way that made me smile. They started off the night right.

Slaw played straight fast punk. The 20 minute set with by quickly, but got the crowd moving. It’s tough to move around in a basement given the small space, all the items off to the side, and the low ceiling. Nonetheless there was a small pit and a few people dancing all around. 

The Pussy Pirates with their mo-hawks and alto and tenor saxophones, drummer in a jock strap, and vocals from everyone provided a delicious punk-fusion. There set was nice, it was fun to watch, dance, and listen to. The five players were all female, except the drummer. There was also so Spanish singing and a rendition of “La Bamba.” Never before I had heard a sound like the one The Pussy Pirates created, so bravo to them. It was an enjoyable set. 

The anticipation built for Screaming Females. Before long the band started playing. With all the handle and rawness in her, Marissa played the guitar with ripping chords. The songs are so rockin’ and everyone in the band rocks as hard as they can. It’s always incredible watching SF, even though it was only my second time, I’ve seen video to prove their awesomeness. Tonight they would not play “Boyfriend,” my favorite song. It got pretty hot in that basement and everyone looked to be sweaty, bodies collided, people were singing, and dancing all around. It was indeed a "fun" show. 

This is where the do it yourself punk ethic came from. This is the social-political bands came out of. This is the kinda thing helps that keeps me interested in music. Yay, for the basement show. 

Screaming Females will play the following area dates before they head off to tour until Mid November.

September 25: Record Release and Tour Kick Off @ Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, NJ with Hunchback and Full of Fancy. The band will be releasing two new split 7 inches featuring both bands. 

September 26: The Fort in Brooklyn, NY with Stupid Party

September 27: Silent Barn in Brooklyn, NY with Neptune, These Are Powers, and Marnie Stern

Also, check out the Pussy Pirates for more tour dates.