Jersey Beat Music Fanzine
 


Pushin' Up The Daisies Festival Benefits
Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery

Dancing Tony Susco, the guru of downtown Jersey City's music scene, raised $3,500 to support the Historic JC & Harsimus Cemetery with an all-day music festival called Pushin' Up The Daisies on Saturday, May 12. A multi-generation crowd of hundreds watched ten local acts, enjoyed locally produced barbecue and baked goods, and basked under a gorgeous Spring sky as the cemetery literally came alive with good vibes and generous spirit. Read all the details here...


The Wrecking Ball Falls On Newark
Bruce & The E Streeters transform the fans

Bruce Springsteen brought his gala Wrecking Ball Tour to the Prudential Center in Newark for a night that was part rock show, part revival meeting. Our Phil Rainone was there...


No More Pain impress with blend of alt and prog

The young Jersey band No More Pain mixes impressive originals with unusual covers in a blazing display of technical skills and musical imagination. Phil Rainone reports here...


INSIDE MAMA COCO'S FUNKY KITCHEN:

Oliver Ignatius & Co. craft a new Brooklyn sound

It's an industrial building in a largely residential Brooklyn neighborhood. There's a cemetery across the street and a karate school upstairs. But in this non-descript basement space, dubbed Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen, a uniquely talented producer in his early twenties is churning out a series of indie rock recordings by unknown young bands with names like Oh! My Blackbird, Sons of An Illustrious Father, the Harmonica Lewinskies, and The Great American Novel. Jim Testa visits with Oliver Ignatius, the guru of Mama Coco's, to find out how so much great music is coming out of this virtually unknown studio. Read his story here...

Those Were The Days

rock the Blue Moon and

pay tribute to Clapton

The father and son team of Alan and Mike Lefton are always participating in interesting events that help rock South Amboy. This time around, they put together a tribute band called Those Were The Days that paid tribute to the music of Eric Clapton, raising the question "when is a cover not a cover?" How about when musicians bring their own original interpretations to classic songs and riffs?

Phil Rainone's review is here...


Catch 22's Kevin Gunther Shows His Classical Side

Graduates from Kean College with classical recital

Jersey Beat has long been a big fan of Jersey ska-punk heroes Catch 22. But who knew that the band's signature horn session included a classically trained musician? Trumpetist Kevin Gunther displayed his talents at his senior recital, and Phil Rainone was there...

New Brunswick's Screaming Females Get 'Ugly'

The NJ post-punk trio Screaming Females are back with their fifth full length, this time recorded with indie-rock legend Steve Albini at his Chicago studio. Check out reviews by Jim Testa, Paul Silver and Mikey Erg here...


Live review:
Cursive perplexes, Cymbals Eat Guitars enthrall

The Omaha-based Cursive came through NYC for two sold out shows at Bowery Ballroom with NJ's Cymbals Eat Guitars as support. Jim Testa caught the first night, read his review here...



FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

Editor Jim Testa reviews the long awaited debut full-length from Tacoma-turned-Brooklyn popster Oberhofer, and a pop-metal gem from Cock Douglas. Then there's the new EP from New Jersey's Nico Blues, a surprising blast of hi-energy hardcore from Mikey Erg, the reissue of Plow United frontman Brian McGee's 2010 solo album, and a new digital single from U Say USA. Read his reviews here...

 

Click here for listings...

TIM BARRY - 40 Miler (Chunksaah)

All killer and no filler: That's how Chris Mattern sums up Tim Barry's fifth solo album. With gritty musicianship and lyrics that make you feel you've grown up with the characters in his songs, Barry crafts punk rock that is both intensely personal and yet somehow universal. His best yet? That is Chris's assessment. Read his review here...

 

DROPKICK MURPHYS - Goin' Out In Style CD/DVD (Warner Music)

Phil Rainone takes on this career-spanning 2 CD and DVD package from the kings of Celtic punk, Boston's Dropkick Murphys. All the favorites are here, and the DVD will have you feeling like you're right there at Fenway Park watching the show. If you're a fan, you need this. If you like Celtic flavored punk rock and somehow haven't discovered the Dropkick Murphys yet, this collection will bring you up to date. Read Phil's review here

 

fIREHOSE – "lowFLOWs: the Columbia Anthology (’91-’93)" (Columbia/Legacy)

Columbia has emptied its vaults and packed everything that fIREHOSE released on the label on this nicely packaged 2-disc set. Mikey Erg provides an inventory of the guys who made flannel the national flag of the indie underground. Read his review here...

 


ALMOST THERE - Abandon The Ship (almostthererock.com)

The Jersey shore trio Almost There's first full-length mixes Nineties rock tropes with impeccable harmonies, power riffs, and singalong melodies. It's an impressive debut after a string of successful EP's. Read Jim Testa's review here...


SCREAMING FEMALES - Ugly (Don Giovanni)

Paul Silver proclaims Ugly as the first must-hear album of the year. Yes, this is the album that the New Brunswick garage punk trio made with legendary recording engineer Steve Albini, but the focus remains on Marissa Paternoster's distinctive and emotional yowl and fearless shredding, as well as the flawless rhythm section. Screamng Females don't depart from the formula they've crafted over their first four albums here, they embrace and embroider it. Read Paul's review here...


LEE RANALDO - Between The Times And The Tides (Matador)

Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo releases his first solo album just as his band of 30 years seems to be falling apart. Mark Weinberg finds Ranaldo's first full-length rock excusrion an entertaining diversion - not world-shattering or ground-breaking, perhaps, but a good way to take your mind off the impending divorce of indie rock's favorite couple. Read his review here...


EVERY TIME I DIE - Ex Lives (Epitaph)

Every Time I Die's Ex Lives focuses on the themes of betrayal and loss, interspersing frontman Keith Buckley's primal screams with post punk melodies.
Deb Draisin says it's fast, catchy, and mixes in just the right amount of mystery, making it one of the standout releases of 2012 so far. Read her review here...

 


NADA SURF - The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy (Barsuk)

You might remember Nada Surf's hit video for "Popular" but you might not know that the band has enjoyed a long and fruitful career beyond their single moment in the MTV spotlight. Rich Quinlan writes, "Nada Surf are not angry about growing up, they are embracing it with an honest acceptance. The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy is a strong statement from a band still worthy of the public’s attention." Read his review here...

The blogosphere has been raving about the looped electro-pop of songstress Grimes, but Paul says he just doesn't get the hype. But he is moved by several especially soulful tracks from the collaboration between Kevin Kinney & Tje Golden Palominos, and also sounds off on new releases from Public Jones and Saint Lucia. Jangly guitars and a light garage edge distinguish the latest effort from The Bats, which Paul recommends. He also has kind words for NJ's bubbly Boy Things and the epic, swirly Margo & The Nuclear So & So's. He also reviews new releases from The Explorers Club and buzz bands Perfume Genius and Polica.

Read Paul's column here...

You'll be hard pressed to find any information online about the oddly named Vertacyn Arc Materializer, but Rich says the group's debut is "a bizarre, poppy, trippy, effervescence jaunt of a record." He also reviews new releases from the Chumps, Joy As A Toy, and finds a real treasure in the new album from Lost In The Trees. The greatly underappreciated 90's indie rock combo Dunebuggy from Hoboken return with a never before release collection of tunes that displays the mastery of pop hooks that this group commanded.
Read Rich's column here...




All killer and no filler, that's the thumb's up on the latest solo release from Tim Barry. Chris also reviews the new EP from Chicago punk legend Marc Ruvolo's latest project Fur Coats, and new 7-inches from the Underlings, Mixtapes, and a split EP from Disconnected and Crazy & The Brain. Also, Chunksaah Records has finally released the long-lost final album by Boston punks The Explosion, and Chris says it's more than worth the wait.

He also reviews new releases from Queens noisemongers Freshkills and punk rockers The Destructors.

Read Chris' column here...

MVD Visual's latest documentary release brings together two things that our readers probably care a lot about - rock 'n' roll and comics. The Story of Rock N Roll Comics looks at those weird titles that transformed bands like Kiss and Guns N Roses into the heroes of their own comic books. Phil might be a diehard Yankees fan but he's still excited about the Dropkick Murphy's career-spanning 2 CD/DVD live collection Goin' Out In Style, recorded live in the hated Fenway Park. He also reviews new releases from the Spittin' Cobras, The Wild, Black Earth, and Penny Winblood. Phil finds nothing to be blue about Bring It On Home, the brilliant new album of blues covers from Joan Osborne. The n the new album from garage rockers The Chrome Cranks features "just the right mix of hypnotic, thrashing guitars mashed up against the manic vocals," says Phil.

Read Phil's column here...


by Joe Wawzyrniak

Brooklyn singer/songwriter Matt Cranstoun kicks off this column with an album that offers "a tasty, tuneful, and thrilling blend of folk, soul, rock, and gospel." Joe also reviews new releases from Wooden Wand, Through The Sparks, Alec Berlin, The Hollyhocks, Islands, Hellsongs, Tulipomania, and Jersey pop rockers Digger Phelps. Root Glen has taken up the challenge of releasing a new EP for every season of this year. Their new "Winter" EP gets a big thumbs up from Joe, who also reviews new releases from Orpheum Bell, Jack Brag, singer/songwriter Salim Nourallah, Little Hurricane, Stars In Coma, and singer/songwriters Marc Berger and Katrin. Joe checks out two stellar new releases from NJ's Dromedary Records, a solo album from singer/songwriter Guy Capacelatro III and the new joing from longtime alt-Americana rockers Cuppa Joe. Read Joe's column here...


by Tony B.

Tony has good things to report about the pop-punk bass/drums duo Street Eaters, then reviews new releases from By The Throat, Follow You Home, and Purple Melon.

Read his reviews here...

Noah likes but doesn't love the latest release from Gateway District, and checks out new stuff from Army Coach, Bob Burns, Candy Hearts, The Carmines, Closet Drama, Dee Cracks, Deep Sleep, Deertick, and the Dirt Slits.

Read Noah's column here...


By Michelle Rich

Michelle Rich joins the Jersey Beat.com staff with her insights and opinions about music and whatever might strike her fancy. In this initial column, she reviews new releases by The Amboys, Art Institute, Cecilia Celeste, Fed Up, The Parlor Mob, Transit, and The Embracers. Read her column here...

DAMIEN ELLINGHAUS:REVIEWS

Damien provides a track by track assessment of the return of violin-tinged pop punk megaband Yellowcard, then does the same thing for the new joint from Set Your Goals. He follows up with a review of the latest release from Heartsounds. Megadeath. Slayer. Metallica. Anthax. You don't need a rock critic to cover a concert like that, you need a Roman Catholic priest in full abortion regalia. And failing that, an acolyte of the Dark Lord, ready to interpret ever riff and undulating hip and tell all of us who wait here at foot of the mountain what it all means. Damien Ellinghaus looked the four Gods of Metal in the eyes... and you're just going to have to read his story to find out what happened.

Read his column here...

JOHNNY PUKE SAYS SO...

Johnny reviews the latest from "America's greatest cover band," the punk rock supergrouop Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, who take us to Japan for their new release. The masked naked guitarist of the Dwarves known only as Hewhocannotbenamed has released his first solo album, and you can just bet it's right up Johnny Puke's alley. He has less kind things to say for the regurgitated NYHC of Ultraviolence. Johnny gives his honest opinion of NOFX's "Cokie The Clown" EP - hardly crucial but certainly collectible? There's no doubt that Operation Ivy changed punk rock forever, but what's frontman Jesse Michaels done lately? His new band is called Classics Of Love and Johnny says that classic, it's not. Johnny also reviews the re-issue of a real classic, Hot Water Music's No Division.
Read Johnny's reviews here...

THE FRANCOS FILES
By Robert Barry Francos

The column formerly known as The Quiet Corners returns for its Fall 2011 installment. When we realized Robert was reviewing the likes of Spyro Gyra, D.O.A., Up For Nothing, and the Dwarves as well as the usual plethora of folksingers, singer/songwriters, and ethnic music, we realized it was time to rename the column. So click the link and and check Robert's latest musings on his quiet and not-so-quiet corner of Jersey Beat.

I SING THE MUSIC ELECTRIC by John Saavedra Jr.

John tackles the mixes messages of Heroes Of The Open End and flips over the energy and innovation of The Poison Control Center. No Use For Humans, the brainchild of Steven Honoshowsky, takes a lot of influence from 1980’s videogame culture, the 90’s Eurodance scene, and Vangelis’ amazing score for Blade Runner. In his first column for Jersey Beat.com, John Saavedra Jr. ponders these influences and how they affect modern music. He also reviews new releases by two other indie-pop auteurs, Shawn Fogel aka Golden Bloom and the Weehawken, NJ artist who goes by the name Graham Repulski. Read John's column here...

KATZ CRADLE - Reviews by Andrew Katz

YESTERDAY & TODAY: Andrew provides a look back at the barely-remembered 2006 release by Jersey powe-pop kids The Class Of '98 and then jumps forward to listen to the new album, a quantum leap forward in terms of wrangling the adolescent angst and confusion of adolescencen in a focused example of quality power-pop. Then, New Jersey's pop-punk scene has a new champion in Man Overboard, and the release of The Human Highlight Reel - a sort of greatest hits that collects the band's EP's with two new tracks - will hopefully introduce the genre to a new generation of fans. But the reissue of The Youth Ahead's For The Ones That Got Away just makes Andrew think of chicken fingers - bland fast good with little redeeming value. Then Andrew provides a preview of the upcoming EP from hixs favorite new hardcore band - HEROES. "Praiseworthy pop" is how Andrew describes the latest release from Ian Axel entitled This Is The New Year." Nothing wrong with wearing your emotions on your sleeve when those feelings are expressed so gracefully and with such meaningful connections. Andrew also tackles the new EP by the NJ duo known as Botanical Bullets and finds it is a welcomed relief, a breath of fresh air, a shot of vodka after a hard day’s work... an overall much needed originality that defies today’s drab, cliché music scene.

Read his reviews here...

DEBORAH J. DRAISIN -
REPORTS FROM THE FRONT

Reports from the field by our intrepid girl reporter, Deb Draisin...

- American PinUp interview
- Snowpocalypse - Home For The Holidays - The Blizzard, and finally, The Shows
- X Japan - Interview

- Leathermouth - Interview
- Fairmont - Transcendence CD
- Fairmont - Interview
- Bern & The Brights - Interview
- Brine & Bastards - Interview
- Alkaline Trio - Interview
- Jake Szufnarowski, RocksOff.com
- Theodore Grimm - Interview
- Picture Me Broken - Interview
- Theory Of Light - Interview
- Any Day Parade - Interview

PAST INTERVIEWS & FEATURES:


JerseyBeat.com is an independently published music fanzine covering punk, alternative, ska, techno and garage music, focusing on New Jersey and the Tri-State area. For the past 25 years, the Jersey Beat music fanzine has been the authority on the latest upcoming bands and a resource for all those interested in rock and roll.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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