Upcoming Melissa & Paul Shows (NJ, NY, MA)

Melissa & Paul are back from touring the west coast with Dead Ringer and are ready to rip up Jersey and the east coast. Here are some upcoming shows. Also, make sure to check out their latest release, Live Hard, at their bandcamp: http://melissaandpaul.bandcamp.com/album/live-hard-10. We have a few tapes left, so get one before they are sold out at www.starbeatmusic.storenvy.com

July 27th @ Fort Squint, New Brunswick, NJ w/ Good Friend Electric farewell show, Conor & the Stonehill Kids, The Painters, Feudalism

July 28th @ Vinyl Lounge, Nyack, NY w/ Bern & the Brights, Atlas (acoustic show)

July 29th @ Midway Cafe, Boston, MA w/ Conor & the Stonehill Kids, Lions Don't Eat Lions

August 8th @ Meatlocker, Montclair, NJ w/ Fools Rush (Portland), Dad Brother, Ba Babes, Conor & the Stonehill Kids. $7. All Ages. 9pm.

August 12th @ Arlene's Grocery, New York, NY w/ Socratic, Warren and Fire, Keith Kenny, France. 21+. $7. 7pm.

August 14th @ The DAAC, Grand Rapids, MI w/ Boy Things and Trinket. $5. 8pm.

September 28th @ B.B. King Blues Club (Lucille's) w/ The Young Presidents, Love Assassin, Julia Weldon. 8pm. $10.

Montclair Music Jam f/ Melissa & Paul and Bern & the Brights on May 25th

Cool independent music showcase featuring our very Melissa & Paul and our dear Bern & the Brights with I.O.U, Near, and Pinegrove. They will perform at the First Congregational Church of Montclair on Friday, May 25th. All Ages like shows should be. This is the really deal, talented local bands in one place.

Here's what the organizers had to say about the show:

MMJ is a homespun operation aimed at providing a venue for some of New Jersey's best, but largely unrecognized bands. Our goal is to select only the finest bands that are producing new, original music. We are musicians and music lovers looking to connect great bands with great audiences. I think we've got something really cool here, and I hope you want to be a part of it.

Melissa & Paul join the Star Beat Music family, Live Hard EP out April 21

Melissa & Paul 'Live Hard' tape cover

I'm pleased to announce our second label release will be NJ's duo Melissa & Paul's new EP 'Live Hard' on white limited edition, hand-numbered cassette tape, out Record Store Day, April 21st. They'll also release a 10'' vinyl on Bedside Manner and Gruff Beard Records. 

“We thought it would be cool to have a limited edition of tapes and think that tapes are more valuable than cd's,” said drummer Paul.  

The band mesh blues, garage, and punk rock for a dynamic sound that is moving and full. I first heard about the band through my friend Kristia, who plays in Dead Ringer. She said I would love them, since I enjoyed Screaming Females so much. I was drawn to the band's sound that's reminiscent of Patti Smith and Jimi Hendrix but with punk beats.

Here are some words from my label partner Jeff Lambert:

For anyone who is following what we are doing with this label…thank you…it means the world to me that people are noticing the bands that Star and I care about and nonetheless are supporting the cause. So for those of you who care this is what's up at Star Beat Music.

This release we're doing is our second and rightly so, a tape suits well as the follow-up to our vinyl release of Those Mockingbirds' 'Fa Sol La'.  Melissa & Paul's 'Live Hard' is a refresher for punk and blues fans alike. This 6-song EP captures the raw energy of their live show and their D.I.Y ethos is prevalent across Sides A/B.

For me this project has been so much more laid back in many ways…I'll start off by saying tapes are cheaper than vinyls….by A LOT!! One thing that's been really special about this release is that it has been a great way to not only meet but work with some of the other labels in the area. Labels I admire because they are following that D.I.Y. mentality, pushing the bands they love, giving us all hope to chase this dream of finding that community of people that think and feel just like me and you. This has been a great experience for me so far working on this tape release. I feel like everyday I learn something new by doing this label and that I have the chance to meet and work with incredible people and music. One little thing I learned is that the tape inserts are called J-Cards. I know it may sound minuscule to most, but I went to school for music and that's just one of the things no one mentions to you until you're fully immersed with the medium. The EP is a co-release with Gruff Beard Records and Bedside Manner Collective. It's an honor to work together on this release and it's great to see two other labels on board with this incredible 2-piece rock act.

I agree, cassette tape is the right format for these six raw, bluesy punk songs. The vocals have emotion and energy. Melissa knows how to hold notes in the right places and has that extra “oomph” in her voice similar to Patti Smith.

Some of my first cassette tapes were Nirvana's “In Utero,” and Skid Row's “self titled.” I used to constantly listen to the radio with my double deck cassette player and record songs off the radio and then make mixes tapes. Cassette tape has that little crackle that makes the music feel so much closer, like you're hearing it live. It was pretty much all I listened to until I got a record player. I'm excited to be releasing a cassette tape for them. So, rock'n'roll fans rejoice because, Live Hard will soon be owning your car cassette decks or portable cassette players! 

Tracklisting:

01.Oh My
02. Yeah, I'm Alive
03. Ready to Die
04. 30 Days
05. Lazy Man
06. Try Hard (Everyday) 

Upcoming Shows:

Friday, 4/13: Vinyl Release TBA, Near Vernon, NY w/ Boy Things, Keith Kenny and Jessica Joyce

Saturday, 4/21: Tape Release @ Hell's Kitchen, Newark, NJ w/ The Naked Heroes

Free Music Stream Round-Up 7/1

Paul Cherch plays in Young American Artists and Melissa and Paul, who will be touring with Dead Ringer in August. Check this awesome music out!

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Young American Artists- Wasted Minds EP
Oak Ridge, New Jersey
Black Flag meets a more punk rock / hardcore version of Nirvana and Mudhoney
http://youngamericanartists.bandcamp.com/

Melissa and Paul- Distractions / Goin' Home 7''
Northern New Jersey
Punk duo with psychedelic, garage, and blues undertones 
http://melissaandpaul.bandcamp.com/

Dead Ringer- Enjoy the Ride EP
Northern New Jersey
Pop-Punk influenced by Dillinger Four, Discount, and Jawbreaker
http://deadringer.bandcamp.com/

Tour Dates: Dead Ringer / Melissa & Paul

NJ's pop-punk trio Dead Ringer and garage punk duo Melissa & Paul will be hitting the road this August. Dead Ringer will be touring in support of their new EP Enjoy the Ride on Gruff Beard Records and Melissa & Paul will be supporting their self-released Distractions/Goin' Home double 7''.

Hey, all! We're very excited to be touring this August with Melissa & Paul! Here are the confirmed dates. There are a few dates that we need help with so feel free to suggest promoters and/or venues, DIY spaces, houses, and etc. Drop us an email at: deadringernj@gmail.com 

- Dead Ringer

Dead Ringer / Melissa & Paul Tour Dates: 

August 4th - Acheron, Brooklyn NY
August 6th - The Meatlocker, Montclair NJ
August 7th - The Marvelous Records , Philadelphia PA
August 8th - Charm City Art Space, Baltimore MD
August 9th - TBA Harrisonburg, VA
August 10th - TBA Greensboro, NC
August 11th - House Show, Asheville NC
August 12th - Savannah GA (HELP!)
August 13th - TBA Orlando FL
August 14th - The Hold Tight House, Tampa FL
August 15th - 1982 Bar, Gainesville FL
August 16th - TBA Birmingham AL
August 17th - Nashville TN (HELP!)
August 18th - Black Sheep Cafe, Springfield IL
August 19th - Ames Progressive, Ames IA
August 20th - Dingus House, Minneapolis MN
August 21st - TBA, Chicago IL
August 22nd - Indianapolis IN (HELP!)
August 23rd - Trumbull Plex, Detroit MI
August 24th - Now That's Class Bar, Cleveland OH
August 25th - 222 Ormsby, Pittsburgh PA
August 26th - House Show Buffalo, NY
August 27th - Albany NY (HELP!)
August 28th - O'brien's Pub, Allston MA
August 29th - Pigeon Hole Gallery, New London CT