Kanye West is an artist known for taking risks and pushing the boundaries of hip-hop. In his latest album Yeezus,
Kanye once again proves his ability to draw listeners out of their
comfort zone and into his world. The entire album consists of 10 songs
and runs for a total of approximately 41 minutes. Right from the start,
the listener is subjected to heavy, distorted synths which sound angry
and unpredictable as if Kanye is prepping us for the tone of his album.
The
instrumentation however, fits well with the subject matter of the album
as well as Kanye’s current state of mind. In the tracks “Black
Skinhead” and “New Slaves,” quite possibly his angriest songs on the
album, he expresses his frustration with the criticism he receives from
media as well as how blacks are portrayed in the eyes of Middle America.
Aside
from speaking on his criticisms, Kanye also criticizes other rappers
and challenges them to stop portraying stereotypical images of black
males. He bashes artists to create their own style and art as opposed to
copying one another. Perhaps Kanye sees himself as the only hip-hop
artist pushing the playing field to another level, thus justifying his
braggadocio persona and ego as we hear in “I Am A God.”
After
the first four songs on the album where Kanye observes the world around
him, he spends the majority of the rest of Yeezus reflecting on his own
life, mainly his longing for a meaningful relationship. Starting from
“Hold My Liquor,” Kanye takes us on a journey of his failed
relationships and empty sexcapades up till he finally finds solace in
“Bound 2.”
Fans of classic Kanye will find little of what they are used to in Yeezus. Although his raps are nowhere near the days of The College Dropout and Late Registration, the production hooks the listener. Yeezus
is experimental compared to the other hip-hop releases of 2013. Listen
to it with an open mind in the context of Kanye’s current stage in life.
Comparing it to his previous albums will only set you up for
disappointment.
She Said Fire, a contemporary four piece rock band based right here in NYC, released anEP called Boom on April 9th of this year.
With Joshua Hawksley on vocals, Peter Strzelecki on guitar, Chris Moss on bass, and the latest addition of Christina Vitucci on drums, the band soon began their recording at producer Mike Watts's VuDu Studios after their enthusiastic response to their EP, To Whom It May Concern.
This is their first discography and also their first single, "Funhouse," under the name She Said Fire, who were formerly named The August Infinity.
The title of the EP really explains the gist of it, "boom." SSF takes different genres of music andmakes them work well together. As a contemporary rock band, they take poplike elements aswell as post hardcore elements creating the sound of She Said Fire and making it as explosiveas ever.
I saw an acoustic performance of theirs at the Full Cup on Staten Island about a monthago and thought they were weird. Joshua had this incredible voice and he was moving around inhis seat like he couldn't contain himself, they were also doing the screams from their songsacoustically which is something I've never experienced before.
Their single "Funhouse" was the hard hitter of the album, giving off a funky laid back sound almost a little seductive. Heavy wah pedals drive the song into the upbeat ska rock feel of thechorus. Then right after that is the soothing ballad of "Better Ways", with a slow but powerfulbeat and heartfelt vocals (making this my favorite song on the EP.)
She Said Fire is the first EP I've been able to enjoy in a while. I highly recommend it and if theymake it to a venue near you, check them out! They love interacting with the audience and talkingto fans.
The Almost is back after four years with their third release, Fear Outside Our Bones, which will be out June 11th.
The
Almost recorded this album in five days in a small room better known as
Nashville's Omni Studios were they were going to approach this album in
a completely different fashion.
After listening to this album, I
was pleasantly surprised. A lot of the songs off this release are very
slow. It may take a little getting used to for fans that were very big
into their previous albums, Monster, Monster (2009) and Southern Weather
(2007), which have a generally more upbeat vibe. One of my favorite
aspects about this release is that they generally went for something
different. In my personal opinion, it’s very commendable when musicians
challenge themselves and don’t end up being a one trick pony.
For
those who pick up this album in June, you will instantly be able to
tell after listening to the first few songs that some of the
inspirations come from blues and southern rock. Being that I’m more
attracted to upbeat tempos and intricate drum patterns, “I Won’t Let Go”
is my favorite song off this release. Aaron Gillespie sings with so
much soul and passion on that particular track. It was actually the only
song that I played more than three times while going through the
album. The title track “Fear Inside Our Bones” also stands out to me.
It possesses such a vintage vibe especially in the intro leading up in
the chorus. I love how it picks up in the chorus. The patterns
throughout the song flow exceptionally. I feel the point of any song is
to be able to sing along and the chorus combine with the message is very
strong.
My final thoughts to the fans of The Almost, it’s worth listening to Fear Outside Our Bones
from beginning to end. You’ll be able to appreciate how the album
starts off very bluesy and becomes more progressive. The element of
southern rock is contained in every song, but it’s expressed in so many
varieties that it’s enjoyable.
Hailing from Wells, Maine, Cam Groves released his album, Hope Something Cool Happens (2011). As a side note, I booked Cam Groves at the Full Cup December 2012 along with Spose, Educated Advocates, and Kristina Kentigan. I decided to buy an album from each artist to review and this is what I bought.
After listening to the first song on this album, I was instantly hooked into listening to more because of the humorous originality of Cam Groves. That first song is “Stand Still.” I can always respect when an artist perfectly explains his/her life with no exaggeration. It’s hard for rappers these days to be honest with themselves in their music. Cam Groves does the opposite and his substance is relatable to the working, middle class trying to catch a break and have fun.
One of the coolest tracks on this album is “Studio Beat-Box.” It’s rare nowadays to have beat-box on a track in a 21st century. It definitely shows the type of Hip-Hop that he’s influenced by. As far as flow, I feel like it’s one of his best tracks on the album. The multi-syllables match together concisely.
The last song, “You Can’t Stop Me” is my favorite off this album. Regina Lucchese really purifies the hook and convinces you to pay attention to the verses that Cam Groves raps. It’s a very motivating and simple song not to mention how relatable it is for everyone. The song is about perseverance. His humor is incorporated smoothly in this and there’s nothing too outlandish that would turn a listener off on this song.
What was the experience of playing the BRM Music Festival like?
The Broken Records Festival was a chance to get all of the seasoned Staten Island acts together in one place. As far as Paraiso goes, we haven’t been around for very long, so we were very grateful to have been asked to play with bands that had many more shows behind them, as well as fans. With the exceptional turnout of that night, it was hard to not feel the energy of the crowd and performers..and sweat. It made Killmeyer’s, a familiar venue, feel like the first time we played there. All the acts played together with a superb unity and there was no sense of any bad vibes, which tends to happen very easily, being how split music scenes can get. The event was really just a celebration of music, and we feel we did our part well. It was definitely one of the best shows we’ve ever played together as a group.
What would you like to see the festival grow to?
The growth of the festival really has nothing to do with us, or any of the bands involved. It’s about the fans, so really, the people to ask would be them, and our only duty as a band is to recruit more of them! Of course we would love to see the festival grow to something gigantic, but maybe that’s not what we need right now. I think that eight dollars to sweat it out with a crowd full of musicians is more than any of us, or any fan, could ever want. And of course a couple of beers help too. We shouldn’t worry about the 10,000 crowd venues, keeping the event small is the only way of insuring it stays with the local bands, rather, we should increase the prestige of the event, and make the local scene an icon for great music. Have different bands try out every year, but make sure every band has an equal chance for a spot on the bill.
Where does the name Paraiso come from?
"Paraiso” of course means “paradise,” in Spanish. Paraiso, for us, is an actual place, that was then used as the band name, but the meaning has extended from that to something greater. It is often in a saddened state that we, as humans, dream about paradise. We all have certainly been there, but one person’s idea of paradise could mean something completely different from another person’s idea. We want to simply extend that feeling of joy which comes from thinking about paradise from us, to the listener, because to us, music is the only “self help” we’ve ever known.
How did the band form?
Ricky started playing guitar seriously during high school, and began a solo blues/reggae acoustic act. He played shows around the island and would occasionally borrow members from his high school friend Pete’s band, West of Dennis, for larger shows. Ricky soon realized that this was not the direction he wanted his music to go in, nor was it loud enough to upset the neighbors, so he began searching for a full-time band. Peter was still playing guitar and singing in West of Dennis, but knew that with college coming, and none of his bandmates around, he needed to find a new musical something to keep occupied. Unfortunately, Peter’s skills on the guitar were no match for Ricky’s self-taught guitar wankery, but he had always had a desire to play drums. And being that Ricky didn’t know the difference between a “paradiddle” and “a pair of diddles” he was in. Now as much as Rick and Pete liked the Black Keys, they knew that they were going to need a bassist. Luckily for them, a local show booker told them that he knew a bassist that needed a band. This bassist was none other than Mike, who turned out to live but a block away from where Pete grew up. And I, the all knowing narrator, have always been here..living under your bed at night, where you can’t see me.
What message would Paraiso like to convey if any?
We really have no agendas as a band other than trying to spread our music to as many people as we can, no matter what hardships we may face. There’s a lot of people out there who need an emotional lift, or even a friendly face, and we want to help them find their Paraiso.
Staten Island’s Own Friction Division Brings the Funk to the Island.
Staten
Island hosts many local bands such as Dead Men Dreaming, Dark Aura and
Process of Fusion. Recently, the Island has welcomed Friction Division, a
band that combines funk and rock.
Friction
Division started in 2008 consisting of only three permanent members as
they had a revolving door of drummers until earlier this summer. As of
July 2011, Frank Delegro took over the position and has began to play
shows with the band.
“At
the first show I couldn’t stop sweating. I was so scared. The second show I felt a lot more comfortable.
It’s a cool feeling to know that the audience really likes the music you play for them, I can’t explain it in words how that feels,” explained drummer Delegro.
The
members of Friction Division hope to a change the feelings of those
that listen to music in today’s world. They strive to change people’s
mindset about music or at the very least open their mind to more music
out there.
“Our
music changes every song we make. One minute were writing a heavy song
that makes you want to punch the guy next to you, next minute were
writing a funky rock song that makes you want to dance, our music is
already changing but I hope it will change people’s minds on rock
music,” Delegro explained.
The band has been influenced by a variety of artists and genres.
Lead
guitarist Mike Alexander explains, “We all are influenced by different
things. Joe is greatly influenced by funk music. Huston likes a lot of
alternative stuff and a lot of acoustic singer/songwriters.”
As
for Alexander, he prefers heavy rock. “Jerry Cantrell of Alice in
Chains and Zakk Wylde were huge influences on me growing up… those two
alone were also very diverse and they showed me that you can also be
sensitive as a guitarist and as a songwriter.”
Individually,
the band members have their own goals and their own opinions on the
future goals of the band. They do however share a common goal of getting
a record deal.
“Our
current goal is to slowly record an EP. When I mean slowly I mean we'll
do one song at a time and post them individually online as a means to
get us gigs at better clubs throughout NYC and perhaps other spots too,”
Alexander said.
Friction
Division play cover songs and also have some of their own hits such as "Take Me Away," "Grasp," "Highway" and "Not Yet." They plan to continue touring
and sharing their unique sound.
“I
would say that Friction Division is definitely a melting pot of
everybody's musical interests and they just happen to blend in a way
that I've never experienced in over the last 14 years I've been playing
in bands.” CONTACTS
Curious Volume first released Mumbles And Whispers back in 2009, but have recently revived the classic simply by including an ampersand in its
title.
The band has said that instead of just bringing the album back
for another go around they have improved on its sound and have brought
their audience a better representation of the music they wanted them to
hear. The album contains eight songs which touch upon themes like being
true to yourself and not buying into the lies of others. It is apparent
throughout the album that Curious Volume is displeased with the societal
“norms” of acquiring vast riches and talentless fame, so much that lead
singer, Andrew Paladino, is vocal about just having his girl, his
guitar, and his friends to keep him going. Lyrics are constantly about
life; about the hypocrites within, love lost through the process, and
the beauty it can bring if you just stop long enough to realize it.
Curious Volume is a mix of punk and ska which the band sometimes refers
to as “Skate Punk.” While the album seems to be about specific times in
the bands life, going as far as directly giving a shout out to Staten
Island and a few of its towns, the lyrics hold a certain familiarity
that almost anyone within its shores and beyond can relate to. The
album's opening tune, “About Anything,” is a short, just under three
minute song, about the simplicity of happiness if you stop worrying
about nonsense, shrug off negativity and just smile.
Next on M&W is
“Any Other Night,” which kicks off with a gradual increase in the
percussion and string intensity before switching to an up tempo ska
beat. The lyrics justify the saying that “It's the little things that
count.”
Song number tres, “Vs. World,” slows down the hype from the
last two songs with an organ-like trance accompanying the talk about
never compromising your dreams. About halfway through the song the beat
picks up and you're told that, where you are might be is where you're
meant to be. This song is followed by “Fifteen Minutes,” which the band
says has practically become a different song altogether since its last
recording. Lyrically the song brings up the point that while people
might understand what you're saying at first, sometimes, it's only a
matter of time before they move on with their lives and forgot what you
even taught them. These statements are accompanied by a funky bass and
an uptempo guitar line.
The following two songs are titled
“Thoughts from the Eltingville/Annadale Train Station(s).” Eltingville,
the shortest song on the album, is also one of the slower ones,
describing the want to escape from things like lost love and monotonous
life. Annadale builds up from the last song's slower rhythm to a fast
paced piece about the regrets and pains of a break up.
“Dent”
immediately kicks off with the all too common instance in life in which
we want to go out and live our dreams but sometimes it's our own homes
that hold us back. The chorus combats this “feeling” by exclaiming that
everything has slipped away and that “away” is some place you might have
to go in order to realize your true potential. Mumbles & Whispers
finale, “There Will Come a Day,” is composed of harsh words about the
selfishness of some people (though it seems a bit more specific than
just “some people”). Even with the negative vibe, the song continues the
quick upbeat trends of the previous songs.
If you're a fan of
bands like Streetlight Manifesto, NOFX, or just the local Staten Island
music scene, I would highly recommend giving Mumbles & Whispers a
listen. Download it for free at http://curiousvolume.bandcamp.com/album/mumbles-whispers.
Anticipating the End, you’re a band from New Jersey. I’m from New
York, how would you describe your sound to someone who doesn’t locally
know you?
I would describe our sound as something never heard
before. We basically put our heads together with all of our influences
and put them into this band. We are definitely alternative with some
electronica and a mash of other genres because we have a lot of variety
in our music. That's what makes our music and sound so unique esspecially
at our age.
Your band is composed of six different members; is it difficult to maintain or does everyone play their own unique part? Definitely; all I can say to anyone out there who's starting or is a
starter in a band that it isn't easy. You can't just pick up an instrument
and call yourself a musician, you gotta work your heart out and put
your mind to the music. Getting everyone to practice is sometimes crazy
because we're only 16 and well transportation is limited until we get our
license. My message out to everyone is if you're gonna start a band with 3
or 4 or 5 or 6 guys just know you can't mess around, you gotta be serious
and dedicated and you may end up like us, making a difference in the
industry
Your song “Bravery” focuses very much on fighting
against any hate or negativity. Was there a specific event that led to
the composing of this song? This song came together by one
word, "3/4," meaning the time signature of the song. It's actually 6/8
but it's basically the same thing. The true meaning of the song was about
bullying and how we all witnessed it infront of us. We just wanted to make a song people can relate
to and be able to say "hey im not afraid to stand up for myself!" The
lyrics say it all in the song, every word is true.
You recently got booked to play at Six Flags Great Adventure, how has that impacted you all as a band?
It has definitely pushed us to the point where we know we're on the
verge to enter the music industry. Six Flags is a really big venue for
us and only a few bands ever get to stand on that stage. We're honored to
be one of those bands. we were always made fun of and told we wouldnt
be anything so this is a big in your face to the people who said we
werent good enough.
Is there a plan for an album release in the future? Yes! The name will be announced very very soon, but we are anticipating
for it to be released in the fall. Expect songs just as good as the ones
we have up. We made sure they were all high caliber songs and that we
add variety so people who like different sounds will have something of
ours to enjoy.
Who are your main influences? Linkin Park, Muse, Pendulum, and Three Days
Grace.
What’s the relationship with your fans like? We love our fans so much. We are always open to more and having more
activity on our facebook if it was possible. At this point in time I believe more will come and more gifts will be given to the really loyal
ones.
Anthony, this is more of a personal question, rather
than one for the band, but the song “Gone” is about a significant loss
in your life. I don’t mean to ask a question that has probably been
asked a thousand times but how did this event lead to the writing of the
song and how has it affected your music career? When I was 14 I loved to hangout with my neighbor, Adam. He was a drummer and he always loved jamming. So one day, I learned a song and we jammed. His friends and him showed me Linkin Park, and I was IN LOVE after I heard "Faint."
Two months later my dad passed away and I was crushed. It
was such a bad time for me, but Adam was there. Then a month later he was
gone, and I was all alone. Then I made
ATE and added the members that are here today. We officialy started in January of 2012, but we were around in June of 2011. My dad was the real
reason I came into music. I put passion and commitment into everything. I studied my butt off for two years and bam, I became who I am today. I wouldn't be anything without my dad, and thats why I wrote "Gone."
If there was a movie about Anticipating the End, which actors, if any, would portray each member of the band? Anthony - John Travolta (young) Russell - Matt Timmons Tom - Michael Cera Evan - Woody Harrelson (with glasses) Danny - Ido Mosseri (from Zohan) Kyle - Adam Sandler (maybe)
What are some bands that you guys would like to headline a tour or show with? I mean, professionally I'd say Muse, Linkin Park, or Three Days Grace. Locally, I'd say Alter The Ending, 287, The First Law, Standby, and
Forever Broken.
Is the band looking to get signed onto a record label or are you looking to produce your own music? We're looking to get signed. We're actually on the hunt thanks to our
promoters working hard on finding labels that fit us and also that will
support us so we can make more music and be able to do more things. Right now we're in talks with some big labels but we aren't sure if we
will choose them or the other one we find so you'll just have to wait and
find out
Where does the song writing process usually start?
A melody or even simply someone presenting a new idea. We work off that, dissect it, then rebuild it and add little things into it to give it
that pop and ATE feel. We work with an
underrated producer who reads our minds all the time and just makes
magic happen.
In my interviews I like to
randomly pit two pop culture and/or media figures against each other and
find out the bands opinion on the outcome. So here it goes, in a bare
knuckle brawl, who would win The Terminator or Iron Man? I'd have to say the Terminator. That guy is crazy! He'll be back so.....
Ryan, Brendan, and I (Dave), met in 2004 and have played together ever since. We got the opportunity to go on a national tour pretty early on that really pushed us out of the nest in terms of touring. It was an awesome experience and we learned a lot. We put out Come Alive in Feb. 2011 and then Ben joined the band this past fall (2011), while he was attending Berklee in Boston.
I understand that a few months ago your guitarist Shea took a leave from the band, if you don't mind me asking how has this effected you and how has your new guitarist Ben been holding up?
It was tough to lose Shea who we had been playing with since 2007. He is our friend and a great guitarist, and he just felt he needed to leave this past summer, so there's no hard feelings at all.
We had played with Ben only a few times when he decided to move/tour with us to LA. He's been a welcome addition to the group. With a new member comes new influences and tendencies. Ben's are all right in the direction we've wanted to go for a while. He's bluesy and rocky, so we're having a blast writing and playing together.
Has everyone in the band wanted a career in music from their youth or were their other plans in store?
We've all played music since we were young, and if you keep at that sort of thing, it tends to become something you want to do. We realized it was possible to make a career out of music right before we embarked on, and during, that first national tour. Although we were hardly out of the red. We were attending college right up until that tour, creating a "safety net" for ourselves, but once we got a taste of touring and recording full-time, we haven't looked back.
You've worked with Warren Huart in the past; was this a learning experience for the band?
We learned a ton working with Warren on Come Alive. He had great insights that taught us a lot in the process. The entire recording experience was different than any we had had in the past, so it took us to a new step as a band.
If you search "The Gallery" on any search engine of choice you will receive a variety of "Galleries" other than your group. How would you guys make sure that your "The Gallery" is the one that everyone is looking for?
In hindsight, maybe we could have been more specific [laughs]. No, we like it. We hope our songs speak louder than we do. Just remember: Google a song name, along with our band name, for best results.
Building on the topic of your name, how did everyone agree on "The Gallery"? Is there a meaning behind it?
There were several things that influenced what became our band name, but none were terribly personal reasons or connections. We eventually came to "The Gallery" from some other ideas, and everyone agreed, so we kept it.
You have a Facebook, Twitter, your own page, etc. How else do you interact with your fans and what would you like to say to them right now?
Other than coming to a show, those are the most readily available places to connect with us. We hope one day to actually play for all the people we've connected with on various social networks, but in the meantime, hit us up on any of them, we'll respond.
In your travels have you met any bands or artists that you would like to collaborate and/or tour with? Give them a shout out.
We've met so many awesome bands since we started this thing, made great friends that we'd love to tour with. We were recently at SXSW in Austin, TX, and we met up with some friends from home that now have a band:
In terms of collaborating, we haven't given that much thought to be honest. It would be a lot of fun to do some collab projects with the bands I just mentioned as a matter of fact.
Now, say each member of The Gallery were to switch instruments and vocals with the other members of the band, how do you think would work out musically?
Funny you ask that. We were practicing the other week, took a quick water break, and as we individually walked back into the practice room, Ry (drummer) had picked up Bren's guitar, so our friend Zack hopped on the drums, and Bren stood out front just to sing. Not a full mixup, but it actually worked out alright, and proved to be helpful, in a way, to hear the song from a different perspective like that.
To date, what would you say your greatest accomplishments as band has been?
I would say each song is an accomplishment in itself. We can't do anything without the songs.
Does song-writing come naturally to you guys?
Songwriting is definitely a learned and honed skill. Everyone has tendencies as well, so it's the combination of what's already inside, as well as what you choose to practice and learn.
Would The Gallery like to share any plans they may have for future tours, albums, or anything of the sort?
We're writing songs right now to be recorded in a few months. We plan on releasing those couple songs for free and making a few west coast tour loops to promote them. We're playing in the LA area as much as we can as well in the meantime (4/6 - On The Rox, 5/10 - Viper Room).
Who do you think would win in a fight, Batman or James Bond? If there's any disagreement,well, what's your reasoning?
Batman has a lot of cool gear, a "suit of armor," and a mask, but James has a gun. There's an old saying about this sort of thing...
The Bamboozle Festival; an annual three day long music event that showcases some of the most recognized and established names in the music industry, is celebrating its tenth anniversary since their inception and thus will be returning to its roots in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
With the likes of Blink-182, Bon Jovi, and, Skrillex headlining, on top of more potential bands and artists not yet announced for the show, the hype for the 18th through the 20th of May comes as no surprise. Ticket sales are racking up, with both excitement and disgust being discussed as a hot topic among us concert goers. But, while we all complain about a favorite artist not being on that list, or take days off from work and school to go see our favorite band play the main stage, and even start booking hotel rooms close by the venue, why haven’t we really heard about some of the up and coming bands playing their way for a shot to perform at one of the biggest festivals in the nation?
Since January these young bands have been in competition with each other, playing weekend shows, selling tickets with little profit other than getting their name out to the public. From solo artists to diverse bands fusing different styles and genres into one package, theirs has been a fight for chance to play alongside idols and a chance to make it in an industry few even consider possible to break through. For some, this contest is their first shot at glory, for others this is a retry from previous years of not making it, and for a select few who have won in the past, it is another chance to play at the Bamboozle.
Saturday, March 3rd I travelled to New Jersey to support the bands in the semi-finals of The Break contest. While pacing the rooms of the Stone Pony (where the first ever Bamboozle in 2003 took place) I met and spoke with a handful of artists; all easy-going and friendly, showing no signs of diva attitude or exaggeration. Even after the interview/intro videos my crew and I found ourselves conversing with almost all the artists about our favorite music and stories, among other things. It is apparent that this group is just as down-to-earth bunch really striving for their goals. It was a pleasure speaking with all of them and I wish them nothing but the best for their future in music; good luck to all.
The Finalists for The Stone Pony are:
Fixed At Zero
Political Party Crashers
Kid Felix
Rachel Miller
Xero Gravity
Until Holy
Halogens
The Perfect Gentlemen
A Balance Between
Money Green Gang
Halogens
Four piece from Wall, New Jersey Funky Punk Jam
Bandmates Zach Henry and Charlie Throckmorton had recorded acoustic tracks well before becoming the band Halogens. After some time they came across drummer George Saives, who recorded some beats for them. After seeing how well George worked out they finalized the band by recruiting Tim Wuestneck on bass. They are influenced by bands like Umphrey's McGee, Blink-182, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Front Bottoms. Be on the look out for their first album, coming soon. Halogens will be advancing to the finals of the Break Contest.
Five Piece Rock/Rap Experimental from Staten Island, New York
Process of Fusion has successfully brought together Coheed & Cambria-like vocals with Linkin Park-esque rapping. Singer Justin Sarachik along with singer/bassist Patrick Wakie mix both rock and rap vocals with the guitars of Rose Couchon and Dylan Klein. Though unable to make it to the finals they have not slowed down on their music careers. Showcasing their newest song “Closer Then I Thought,” and performing a fantastic cover of the Incubus song “Pardon Me” were the first in many new things they have planned for themselves and their fans. Process of Fusion has been planning tours and shows in the coming months including one for The Broken Records Collective that occurred on March 10th at 9pm in the Lizard Lounge of Staten Island. The bands Facebook is also telling everyone to “keep June 22nd on your calendars!” Could this be a possible show, tour, album, or something entirely different? Visit their page for more updates and a look at where the band is heading in the future.
Rachel Miller Solo Artist from Lodi, New Jersey Rock
Beginning her career at three years of age, she has been involved in music before she even started school. Being the only solo artist I saw, I must commend her bravery in tackling the stage alone. This is her first time playing in the Break Contest and has made it to the Regional Finals. She is an avid Green Day and My Chemical Romance fan and draws inspiration for her music from them as well as other artists. As an interesting fact, her original song “Johnny” was written about one of the Joker’s henchman from The Dark Knight movie’s opening scene. She is also in the process of recording a demo and says that she will be releasing a single soon so check out her Facebook to stay updated.
Four piece from Hazlet, New Jersey Rock/Alternative/Acoustic
Another band hailing from New Jersey, Silent Perfection uses every members vocal chops on top of their instrumental talent. Upon meeting them they allowed me to sample their music by giving me a demo and I must point out their astounding vocal range during their songs harmonies. Guitar is played and Main Vocals are sung by Jim Long, while Lead guitar is played by Robert Engel. Jordan Bowen is on the drums and Carmine Flumano rounds it up on bass. The band came together early 2011 and has not stopped performing since. Aside from the Break Contest they plan on playing more shows leading up to Bamboozle. Check out their facebook page for details. Silent Perfection has advanced to the Finals of The Break Contest.
Suburbia Four piece from Fort Lee, New Jersey Alternative/Rock
Suburbia hails from New Jersey like many of the other Semi-finalists from the Break Contest. Playing lead guitar and singing for the band is Zen Thomas, followed by Marco Rojas on Rhythm Guitar, Luis Pimental on Bass and Max Samouhos on Drums. Bassist Luis also plays the keyboard for the band. The band is influenced by Guns ‘N Roses, Aerosmith, and Muse, among others. The band unfortunately did not make it to the finals but check out their Facebook page to see where the band stands on moving forward.
Until Holy Five piece from Marlboro, New Jersey Metal
Until Holy was the last band I saw perform before I had to part ways with the Stone Pony. From their first song to their phenomenal cover of "Chop Suey" by System of a Down, Until Holy won over the crowd and the judges and moved on through to the finals of the Break contest. Going from a “regular” singing voice to gritty screaming howls is one of lead vocalists Mike Drake’s specialties as shown in the songs performed. The band is completed by Matt Herman on Bass, Artie Lee and Joe Capalbo both on Guitar, and Anthony Tritto on Drums. Until Holy also has a few tracks on iTunes, so if you like what you hear from Facebook or Reverbnation, go check it out.
Kid Felix, which had its start in 2011, is composed of Singer Jake Falana, Guitarists John Ambrutis and Brett Hagen, Keys Player Ken Baxter, Julian Ungerer on Bass, and John Szachewicz drumming it out. The band has made a stamp in Philly and hope, with the help of their first official EP, that they’ll be able to tour around reaching out to new fans. They will be advancing to the Break Contest Finals at the Stone Pony.
X-Phaze Six piece from New Jersey Hip-Hop/Hard Rock/Reggae
Forming toward the end of Vocalist AJ Mahyar’s freshman year of high school, X-Phaze consists of Blake Szostak on Guitar, Tim Henshaw on Bass, Alex Herbert on Drums, Austin Riddoux playing both the bongos and keyboard, and Denzil Chambers playing the Keytar. Though they are from the same high school the band is a mixed bag from different parts of New Jersey; Aj, Alex, Blake, and Tim are from Mendham, while Denzil and Austin are from Parsippany and Sea Girt, respectively. The band plays around with many genres including pop and reggae but mainly stick to a hip-hop/rock fusion. Though they did not make it to the finals in the Break Contest, they were chosen by Yuuzoo to perform at the Yuuzoo VIP tent at Bamboozle. They currently have a video for their song “Enemies” up on their Youtube channel. For more info on the band, check out their multitude of social media websites.
Three piece from Marlboro, New Jersey Hard Rock/Metal
Xero Gravity is made up of Guitarist Alex Peragine, Bassist/Vocalist Jack Rose, and Drummer Steven Rago, Fifteen, Fourteen, and Twelve years old respectively. During the Stone Pony Semi’s they pulled out all the stops and covered Seasons in the Abyss by Slayer, not an easy task. This fantastic cover, along with their natural talent and loyal fans, is what has brought them into the Finals of the Bamboozle Break Contest. Steven has played drums for four years, Jack has slapped bass for five, and Alex has played guitar for around six years. Collectively they have been a band for a half a year.
The
local music scene of Staten Island has a never ending flow of sound
coming from its home shores. While there is a rather large collection of
Hardcore bands saturating the isle there is at least one band that
alters the formula and throws a melodic-indie twist on their own version
of it. The band Wester has gone through more than one name change but
every member has stayed within the band, all since their start in a much
larger band, Super Happy Fun Band (now defunct). Band-mates Steven
Bacas, Christopher Peters, Michael Scionti, and Jason Roschbach wanted
more out of their music and came together to form the group Story, which
stuck to more traditional Hardcore music. After some time playing as Story the band changed their name to Sink
You Fool, a shout out to a favorite movie of the artists (points to
anyone who knows which film). Under this alias they wrote, composed, and
covered a broad variation of Ska music, but late in 2010 the bands
direction changed yet again and they became what we know now as Wester.
The band has stuck to it’s Melodic Hardcore mix to produce two EP’s; the first called, Freight in Limbo, released in 2011, and the second, Flux,
coming out late 2012. Steve, the bands lead guitarist, described both
EP’s as music driven by “relatable sadness.” Lead singer Jason compares
some of his lyrics to the feeling of heartbreak, something he and many
of us know all too well. Unable to comment on the EP was the bands
drummer, Chris, and bass player, Mike. Though both were unable to attend
the interview, Steve and Jason spoke on behalf of the absent members.
Wester compares themselves to bands like Brand New and Lifetime and hopes that with the release of Flux,
playing shows through out the year, and accumulating fan support they
can get signed onto a record label, which is most bands dream.
Steve
had made it clear throughout the interview that he did not want to see
this group “die out,” as he has seen of some of his past musical
endeavors. The four piece wishes to tour within the coming months but
said that nothing is currently planned. When asked why there were no
definitive tour dates Wester explained that with all the band mates
either attending college or working full time that it was becoming
difficult to work around all their schedules. They did promise, however,
that it would not affect their future in music and pledged to keep
working with what they are given.
If you’re interested in Wester check out their music at www.reverbnation.com/WesterNY (which has their first EP available for your
listening pleasure) and look for updates on their facebook page at www.facebook.com/WesterNY. Be on the look out for Wester as their album
release gets closer and their vision of making it big moves forward.
