Paraiso Shares Their Thoughts on the Broken Records Festival

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.

Interview by Paul Marino

Check out the album review I did on Paraiso

Curious Volume 'Mumbles & Whispers' Album Review by Paul Marino

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.


Read Q&A interview with Curious Volume here


Check out Curious Volume at these sites:

http://curiousvolume.com/

http://www.facebook.com/curiousvolume

https://twitter.com/#!/curiousvolume

http://www.myspace.com/curiousvolume

http://soundcloud.com/curiousvolume

http://www.last.fm/music/Curious+Volume

http://www.youtube.com/curiousvolume

CuriousVolume@gmail.com

Anticipating the End Interview by Paul Marino

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.....



http://www.anticipatingtheend.weebly.com
http://www.facebook.com/AnticipatingTheEnd
http://www.myspace.com/AnticipatingTheEndNJ
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http://www.twitter.com/ATEmusic8
http://www.reverbnation.com/Anticipating...

Mikey Wax Interview by Paul Marino

How and where did you get your start? 

Well, if we're gonna be specific, I was eight. My dad was a piano player and taught me how to play my first piece of classical music. I started writing songs that were really bad, but I loved playing. Fast forward ten years or so, I released my first album in late 08' that spread pretty well on Facebook and Youtube. I got featured on the YouTube homepage and my album made the top-40 on the iTunes pop charts. I started touring based on that initial online fan base. 

At what point did you feel that what you're doing now became a full-time career? Providing that's how you feel about your music. 

After I released my first album I was working a day job and kind of sitting around in my apartment waiting for something to happen. I soon realized that I had to be touring and growing my fan base outside the online world to really have a future in music. I was able to support a few bigger artists on some east-coast tours due to the support I had from fans online. I started building it one fan at a time. What really made it full-time was when I put the word out about my first house concert tour two summers ago. I couldn't believe the response. I did around 60 house concerts in the span of two months, often doing two shows a day on Saturday's and Sundays. I started selling out of CD's and merch at these shows, and I was traveling solo so expenses were low. It turned into a full-time thing. 

You've been playing annual house tours; what were some experiences you'd like to share about them? How do they differ from other types of shows and tours you've done?

House shows are different in that there are no rules. They can be as basic as no amp, totally acoustic,  just 25 people squeezing together in a living room.. or it can be 200 people in a backyard. I leave it up to the fans who book me how they want the evening to be. It's usually very loose, and you can connect with your fans on an even more personal level. Whenever I'm back in their town playing a venue show, I find that the fans I made from the house concerts are always in the front seats. 

Your music has been used in shows like Ghost Whisperer and The Real World. Those honestly seem very different from each other in terms of genre and the audience they're reaching out to. How did you and your music get involved in these shows? 

Most of these placements are the work of 3rd party licensing companies that work directly with these shows and provide music. If the music happens to fit a specific scene, you might get lucky and get a placement. 

Your relationship with your fans, whats it like? Do they influence your music to some effect or is your sound coming solely from you? 

I'm very thankful to have the support of my fans and have been able to put out a couple records now. Through outlets like Twitter and Facebook posts, my fans play along well and are very responsive. I'm always excited to hear feedback or read tweets from them, and hopefully they are happy to hear from me too on a daily basis. Influences for songs can come from all over, but I just want to write good music that moves me and hopefully will move a few other people too. 

What would you say to someone who has never heard you before? How would you get them to listen? 

I would kidnap them in a cop car, lock them in the back seat, and play my record over and over. 

If you wouldn't mind, what has been one of your embarrassing on-stage moments? And in contrast, have you had any "Super Star" stage moments that you'd like to share? 

I'm lucky I've never had any really terrible embarrassing on-stage moments yet. I think the worse was a big show in New York City at an up-scale venue called City Winery. It was a sold-out crowd opening for Howie Day, I walked on stage, and of course, the battery in my guitar felt like giving up.  I had to entertain the crowd with jokes while we looked for a 2nd guitar. However, I cracked some kind of joke like "I like to start every show like this…it's all good." I find if you're real with the audience, they will most likely forgive you and cheer you on. A recent super-star moment was a 100 or so fans in Corpus Christi, TX singing along to the chorus of my single "Counting On You." I was so surprised they all knew the words and sang out loud. 

I keep asking two part questions, my apologies, here's a single one. Whats next up for you and your music? 

That's like one and half questions. I'm currently writing a lot of new music, and I'm touring pretty often through the Summer. The song I mentioned earlier "Counting On You" is right now #41 on the Hot AC charts. I'm hopeful that song and my new album Constant Motion will continue to grow so I can tell you more super-star moments next interview. 

How would you say you've evolved as an artist from your first entry into the music industry to now? 

I think whatever career you pursue, you just naturally get better at what you do on a daily basis. I think I've improved in all areas of music, from the songwriting process, to recording, performing, and the business side. 

How has your most recent album Constant Motion been doing; Has it met your expectations? 

I think it was the right album for me at this point in my career. My first album, Change Again, was a slower-paced, moody album, and Constant Motion is a bit more of an up-tempo pop album. My fans have been reacting really well to it, and radio has been playing the first single, so I'm happy with the response so far. 

On whichever mp3 player you may own, who do you find yourself listening to the most? Are they an inspiration to you? 

I usually do Pandora cause I like to go for runs and not have to create my own playlist. Lately I've been putting on Fitz and the Tantrums. Great songs and I love the throw-back 70's vibe. 

Are you spontaneous in song-writing or is it something you work on slowly until you approve? 

I think it's a combo of both. If there is something I come upon and it's "wow this can be all mine," I'll probably go with it and finish it on the spot. Due to all the touring I've been doing though, that isn't as easy now as say when I used to sit in my college dorm room avoiding doing a paper. 

In the time between touring and composing, what do you usually find yourself doing for fun? 

I was joking with my friends the other day that I've become pretty boring. It's always nice to see my friends and family back in NY, but even if I have a weekend off and I'm home, I won't really party too hard with my buddies, cause right now I'm so focused on my career and I don't want to risk losing my voice on an off-night for a show the following Wednesday. So for fun I like seeing movies, running, drinking coffee and reading the paper. Real rockstar-ish. 

Since we've already talked about your fans and their support, what would you say to anyone who speaks negatively of you? 

Thanks for taking time out of your day to talk about me. 

Final question, who do you think would win in a fight, Cordell Walker aka Texas Ranger or Bruce Lee? 

Texas Ranger, every time.

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http://www.mikeywax.com

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Interview with The Gallery by Paul Marino

How did you guys get your start as a band?

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:

Mercies (https://www.facebook.com/merciesmusic). They're awesome guys. We'd love to tour with them and many others. Just to name a few: 

Our amazing friends in Asper Kourt (https://www.facebook.com/asper.kourt). 

We saw States (https://www.facebook.com/statesmusic) played SXSW this year too, and thought it would be a lot of fun to tour with them as well. 

We also played with a great band a few years ago, The Canvas Waiting (https://www.facebook.com/thecanvaswaiting) who are great guys.

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...

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http://www.thegallerymusic.com

Wester Interview by Paul Marino

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.
    

Four Nights Gone Interview by Paul Marino

Sometimes it takes a little persistence to get what you want. After running through a few changes as a band, Four Nights Gone, the hard rock/alternative metal players from Staten Island, New York have secured their niche in sound and are looking to run full steam ahead with their music blasting.


The foundation for the group started with band mates Damian LaRocco and Steven “Lobes” Romano playing under other band titles with a different guitarist and bassist. This singer/drummer combo felt as if their future in the industry was going nowhere until finding Imran Xhelili in September of 2010 for guitar, and Alex Basovskiy the following year, also in September, for bass. Almost directly after their replacement in the strings department the newly formed Four Nights Gone recorded two singles, “Crash and Burn” and “My Last Call” in studio. The success of these songs was immediate and their new EP containing both tracks has given the band a lot of forward momentum on the music scene.





While on my way to interview the band I listened to the aforementioned EP, titled Crash and Burn, released January 20th, 2012, and noticed similarities in play style with rock groups like Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace. This did not come as a surprise to me given that much of the band draws their inspiration from them as well as other artists that you would commonly associate with the genre of hard rock such as Chevelle, Staind, and Thrice. The instruments of the EP have a heavy edge surrounding them that coincide with the lyrics proclaiming uncertainty and loss throughout life. When asked about the recurring themes in the songs, singer Damian said that he vents about his own life and the stresses of it through the music. He and Steve also explained that the EP embodies the strength to “overcome hardships” and “become a better person.”

Moving away from the EP, I asked FNG what their plans were for the future and without hesitation they responded with talks of tour planning and dreams of turning music into a career. The plan going forth is to tour this upcoming summer on a grand road trip that starts in New York, runs all the way down to Florida, and then continues with more shows on the way back home. Unsigned, the band is hoping to open at multiple different venues along the way and get noticed. Every member of Four Nights Gone says that they want to get bigger and get signed; the dedication to their music is unwavering.

All seems to be on coarse for stardom; reinforcing this is their fan base, which Mr. LaRocco says “reaches out as far as Australia.” While an Australian tour seems a bit out of reach right now, Four Nights Gone’s clear determination to “make it” will give them the opportunity to tour further than just the east coast in the coming years. The band is heading out of the local scene for a bit though, with their recent booking for February 22nd , 2012 at New York City’s Hard Rock Café. The band is ecstatic to play this venue and say that they’d like to invite anyone and everyone to come and enjoy this free show.

After meeting with the members of Four Nights Gone I can once again say that it is a relief to watch talent rise above the sea of mediocrity. With the band playing their first show together at Dock Street’s The Battle of The Bands and making it to play at the well-known Starland Ballroom, the talent I speak of is pretty obvious.

If you’re interested in the band, check them out on their Facebook, where FNG will keep you updated on their progress as a group. They also have Bandcamp and Reverbnation pages up for you to tune into, and don’t forget about their Youtube page for videos of shows, songs, and other such shenanigans. These young men are aiming high for their success and keep pushing the envelope with their rock. They’ve come a long way in the less than two years they’ve been playing together and there’s no sign of a slow down. They won’t fade, and they will not crash and burn.

The Hard Rock Café is located at 1501 broadway New York, NY 10036
Dock Street is on 691 Bay Street of Staten Island New York, Staten Island 10304  and The Starland Ballroom is situated at 570 Jernee Mill Road  Sayreville, NJ 08872


www.facebook.com/FourNightsGone
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFourNightsGone
http://www.reverbnation.com/fournightsgone
fournightsgone.bandcamp.com  

Process of Fusion 'Connections' Album Review by Paul Marino

Process of Fusion – Connections EP Review
Written by Paul Marino

Progressive rock/rap group Process of Fusion is not afraid to experiment. With vocals comparable to Coheed & Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez along with rap that will remind the listener of Pre-Meteora Linkin Park, Process of Fusion boldly and successfully mixes two different and distinct singer’s voices into all their tracks. This melding of vocal styles, along with edgy and energized drums, bass, guitar and keys, is what sets Process of Fusion apart from many other bands on the market. Following the success of their first EP State of Mind, Process of Fusion has unleashed another EP into the music world titled Connections. Connections is a five song album featuring empowering lyrics about finding a place to belong, guitar riffs that flow with the mood, and even melodies not unlike that of the group God is an Astronaut.


The first song on the EP, “Moment of Clarity,” combines both vocals and rap with fast-paced drums and strings in a song that encourages making the most of life and living in the moment. Next up is “Aspire, Inspire, Expire,” which again perfectly has Singers Patrick Wakie and Justin Sarachik’s voices reflect each other. AIE picks up quickly and then slows itself down all the while talking about the paths of life and the challenges faced when travelling down them. “What Brought Us Here” scales down on the energy of the first two tracks, but keeps along with the messages of looking within yourself and finding where you belong. It is also worth noting that this song has a very strong, very powerful, guitar solo that stands up with any modern era rock ballad.

Fourth on the set list is the song “Connections,” which throws the listener back into the fast paced, stylized and intense sound of POF without feeling disconnected from the song prior. Again, the message of self-realization is apparent throughout. The final song on the EP, “Lights In The Sky,” continues the bands perfect blend of rap and rock with a hint of instrumentals similar to the previously mentioned God is An Astronaut. This song features the sound the listener is by now accustomed to and even throws in some group vocals at its close. 


The album ends leaving listeners with the feeling of hope for your future. This album is recommended for anyone looking for a pick me up, someone looking for musical motivation, or anybody who is looking for more than what the media defines as rock nowadays. For more on Process of Fusion’s unique sound check out their Facebook and Twitter pages and be sure to wish them luck in their battle to get on the Bamboozle band roster. Voting for them probably wouldn’t hurt either.  

Strange Brew Interview by Paul Marino

In a time that can arguably be called the Electronic Age of Music it is refreshing to see a group of young musicians leave the monotony of the mainstream and turn to rock as their major influence. Strange Brew is the self proclaimed “Funky Hard Rock” five-piece hailing from Staten Island, New York, with the stage presence and attitude to bring along a loyal fan base wherever they jam. With few “Brewpies” missing any performances and with packed out venues every show, it is hard to argue Strange Brew’s success. Between writing original lyrics and playing covers from the likes of Billy Joel, Avenged Sevenfold, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, with an album release in the summer of 2012, it is amazing how much the band has accomplished in the short time they have been together. Since their start in the summer of ’09, Strange Brew is an ever-evolving musical tour de’ force composed of Armand Lane as Lead Vocalist and Keys Player, Johnny Baldofsky and Mike D’Ambrosi each playing Guitar, Matt D’Ambrosi slapping the bass, and Justin Salud rounding out the band with his Drums.

I recently got to sit down with Strange Brew and talk to them about where they see their band going and what definitive plans they have for the future; I also got an inside look at how the band manages stage performances, practices, and produces their distinctive funking sound.

   

Prior to the interview Strange Brew was unsigned, working on their own dime and playing shows when they could, but as of January 18 they have been signed onto the Broken Records Collective music label. Armand Lane says, on behalf of the band, that “We’re incredibly excited to be part of this collaboration. We feel that it is a huge opportunity to be a part of something bigger than us…We can’t wait to start playing some shows with all the talent involved.” On top of this great news for the band, fans have gotten some exciting news about the aforementioned album release this summer. The band promised a full length 10 song album of original music and lyrics. The whole album is being recorded, mixed, and produced by Strange Brew but has yet to be titled.

    

I started the interview by asking how the band practiced on their down time and how they went about writing their original songs. Strange Brew began by saying that “what starts as a practice will turn into a 2-3 hour jam session.” For their original song and lyric writing the band says that usually a member will approach the band with a sample of music (what guitarists Mike and Johnny did with what eventually became Strange Brew’s new single “Born To Please”), then work around the sound and churn out the bands next hit. 

Speaking of their new single, “Born to Please” was first showcased during the Friday the 13^th show at the Bitter End in Manhattan, New York. This show has been Strange Brew’s most successful to date with the band bringing in just under a hundred people for their set. Lyrically the song is suggestive and flaunts it throughout; it was the perfect way to rally the crowd and get them pumped up for the next hour of Brewery. Strange Brew played flawlessly the whole show and got through every song on their set list, even after a broken kick pedal incident in which Justin kicked the bass drum for a full song before another band graciously let them use theirs. Justin said, in regards to their music and how they perform live, that “Sixty percent is focused towards music. The rest is recovery,” a good analogy for their most recent show. 

   

Strange Brew has natural talent with an ability to please and there is no sign of a slowdown; they have active accounts on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter that receive constant updates. For more information on the band and to try out their funky spin on hard rock go to each website’s respective page and end it with a /StrangeBrewNY (ex. Youtube.com/StrangeBrewNY). 

You can also email the band at StrangeBrewRocks@ymail.com. At the close of the interview the band wanted to give a shout out to Airistotle, The Brew Crew, The Brewpies, and all the other friends and family that have supported them through their career in music. They would also like to thank The Bitter End for inviting them to their stage and allowing them more than a full hour of play time.  Be ready for a potential summer tour with their new label-mates, prepare for the full album release, and brush up on your Brew by visiting their web pages. The last thing Armand Lane had to say before the end of the interview was “Expect us.” Don’t worry Armand, we will not forget.

http://www.facebook.com/StrangeBrewNY