JUST - S/T CD

Having just seen half of what was one of the best show opening sets I've witnessed since Geronimo beat the Nazis.

Understandably, I was rather curious to hear what was within the prize handed out to us brave folks occupying the front of the room. As I attempted to upload the home made CD to my computer I noticed there was no track list or information available. Still curious, I went to the bands bandcamp page to find the information needed for s somewhat decent review.

With five songs barring the names 'Pan', 'Grass', 'Drain', 'Chest' and 'Treat'. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much at all from Brooklyn, New York's JUST. Perhaps that set was just an apparition or a full blown hoax. What JUST lack in a creative name, eye catching logo and catchy song titles. They more than make up for in muscular, dirty up the dance floor Hardcore. Great riifs, time changes and authoritative vocals. I guess it's a good sign when you don't flinch after listening  to something a half dozen times in one sitting

Recorded in October 2016 at Barber Shop Studios. JUST left me wanting to hear more as well as catching a full set one day soon. Let's hope the new year presents just such an opportunity. JD

JUST

Time for Something Else

This will most likely be the last post you see in a long time, if not ever.. While I hate to permanently close any doors, burn any bridges or exhaust any cliques. I haven't had the energy or interest in writing about music in a long time. My music blogging batteries are burnt out and after five years of consistently posting to United By Rocket Science. I no longer have the passion to go forward.

The departure of Dave and the fact that I became the only person who seems to contribute to another co-created, co-authored music blog have led me to think that any future endeavors would almost surely be both solo and less time consuming. Something that, at this point seems unlikely.

These five years years have taught me a lot about myself and my obsessive nature. How, whenever I take on any project. I develop this compulsive desire to make it bigger, better and to ultimately involve as many creative people as possible. While not a terribly bad thing. Putting that much passion or energy into anything can more than often result in burn out. One starts to expect too much from themselves and the people he/she chooses to involve.

In recent months and years my health has been a major cause of concern. Nothing I'd like to discuss in a public forum, but bad enough that I've told my doctors that I'm getting tired of fighting. And as much as they admire my resilience. I don't know how much longer I want to fight. Obviously, I needed to change some things in my life.

It all started slowly with a change of diet. My wife and I became vegetarians.  A stricter diet,  an exercise regiment and meditation followed. I began withdrawing from the rat race and rebuilding  my greatest passion, studio photography. I've been happier. And all I really want to be is happy. Over time, I've  learned that happiness often starts when you stop trying to make others happy. That's important, because United By Rocket Science stopped being fun for me and became more about setting deadlines and trying to please others. Something Dave and me never set out to do in the first place.

In the end, I'm very proud of what Dave G. and I created and built. Grateful for the many friends we made and the one's who contributed. Hopefully, the many people who stopped in to read the reviews and interviews, enjoyed the experience. But for now, it's time for something different.

Sincerely,
- James Damion

P.S. I'll be covering two upcoming Jersey City music festivals in the coming weeks and months. Sugarfest August 12th and 13th at The Citizen and The North Jersey Indie Rock Festival Saturday September 12th at Cathedral Hall. I'll be taking lots of pictures at both events and will most likely be posting some of them here.

Walk Proud - Too Much is Never Enough

I was rifling through some boxes of 7 inch EP's at a friends house the other day when I pulled Walk Proud's Be Yourself. Quickly, the memories of how positive and in particular, straightedge Hardcore had such a major impact on my life. For better or worse, bands such as Unity, Brotherhood and Insted (To name just a few.) payed countless visits to both my turntable and tape decks. Amongst those bands were many, less than original and downright formulaic bands I gave a pass due to their positive message and mosh worthy breakdowns.

In recalling Walk Proud, I can easily trace Be Yourself as the most generic and underwhelming records I had heard to date. Years later, as much as I personally disliked it. That same record became, for many fans of mediocrity, became a classic, milestone record. Most notably, the first release on the very influential New Age Records. 1990's RIP LP and 1991's One More Time EP followed on Nemesis Records before the band called it quits and inevitably reunited for 2003's Furious World compilation on basement records.

Fast forward to 2014 and an older, angrier and if musically possible, more generic sounding Walk Proud reappear on Hardcore's 40+ landscape. With a grand total of thirteen songs.
Too Much is Never Enough proves to be thirteen song too much. While die hard fans of the band might take a liking to this. Most fans of this style of music would do better with other dinosaurs of the genre such as Agnostic Front or Suicidal Tendencies.
James Damion

Know Records  Get it Here

Suspect - S/T LP

Featuring members of notables acts such as Tear it Up, Deep Sleep, Find Him and Kill Him and Stay Gold. Suspect avoid the Supergroup

trappings by making something that is all their own. Playing straight forward Hardcore that finds influence in early Socal Hardcore acts such as Uniform Choice.

Musically, Suspect is a vortex or speed and aggression with a surprising sense of melody. As I listened to these ten songs.
I felt as if I was being swept up in the eye of a tornado. Like many of the great Hardcore acts of both the past and the present. Suspect live and die by by the
"Loud, Fast, Rules" ethos. With seven of the ten songs coming in at under a minute and only one Intro/Tentative Step breaking the 2:00 minute marker. The term seems to serve as the perfect description of what Suspect have to offer. I highly recommend this one.
James Damion

React Records  Get it Here

Comeback Kid - Rain City Sessions

This year, like each and every year to follow I did everything in my power to avoid the temptations to buy records
I already owned in some way, shape or format while remaining monetarily healthy. It was a lot simpler than I thought.
"Go to the beach, feel the sun on my face and eat a good meal before returning home to the enormous amount of records I already own and barely listen to. As a record enthusiast and collector.              I find Record Store Day to be as amateur and misguided as a Santa Con bar crawl on           St. Patrick's Day.

Then came Comeback Kid's Rain City Sessions. The live EP recorded at
Rain City recorders on May 4th, 2014 features six previously unreleased live Comeback Kid classics as well as a impressively unwound cover of Nirvana's classic  Territorial Pissings.

While just an EP. Seven songs in all. Rain City Sessions made a lasting impression on this listener. Giving the overall feel of an LP with it's emotive and passionate attack at these songs. It seems just like yesterday when I was referring to them as leaders of a new breed of Hardcore bands that were returning positive Hardcore to it's long lost glory. Years later as I find my tastes evolving and aging out of the music. Rain City Sessions reminds me of everything I've grown to love about Comeback Kid in the last ten plus years. The energy, honesty and integrity. To put it lightly, Comeback Kid remind me of everything I still love about Hardcore. File under "Essential".  James Damion

There Will Be Quiet - The Story of Judge (Part 3)

Here's Part 3 of Noisey's documentary "The Story of Judge". This moving chapter brings up closer to the bands fateful, yet unexpected reunion at Hardcore's Black N' Blue in 2012.  

I recall many of the rumors about Mike in the early 90's, but some of the one's hear are like that of the Vikings. I highly recommend keeping up with this series. One can only hope there's a new record in the future with a lot less outside bullshit to ruin one of, if not the best bands to ever come out of New York. Keep hope alive. James Damion

Love Child - Migraine Music

Imagine my surprise when
I received an email from
Mayfly Records stating that the record I preordered back in October of 2014 was finally on it's way. As I arrived home today, "Migraine Music" was waiting to welcome me home.

Featuring a mere five songs, less than half of the eleven featured on their 2014 debut 7' "Everything is Fine, in Heaven". Lovechild manage do just as much damage, if not more on "Migraine Music".

The Boston MA. band formed out of the band Cerse in 2013 produce a venomous Hardcore Punk sound that ranges from a fast forward hyperactive attack to a stuck in cement, sludgy pace. The record opens promisingly with "Most Weekends" One of the three songs featuring spoken word samplings. "Colder Winter than Usual" perfectly sums up winter in Boston with it's metallic leads and psychotic vibe. The kinda of sound that could inspire the mental breakdown Jack Nicholson perfected in the horror classic "The Shining". Each of the five songs featured on "Migraine Music" work to cast a long shadow on this listener. In an admittedly short span of time. Lovechild have shown a great deal of growth and an ability to mature while staying true to their sound and overall style.

Aside the exorbitant amount of time it took the pressing plant took in producing this record and the fact that it arrived with noticeable damage to it's cover. This short, yet powerful blast of rage proved worth the wait.  This is a limited first press of 500 copies.
(400 Black / 100 Gold. So get them while they last. James Damion

Mayfly Records

Point Blank - 8 Song Demo

Hailing from Queens,New York. Point Blank are a relatively new band featuring a couple of Hardcore lifers with Danny Derella, a founding member of Underdog and NYHC representative Ken Wagner.

On their debut 8 song demo. The band delivers the goods with a mix of ingredients that give the early New York Hardcore sound a healthy update.
Point blank hit the mark straight from the opening bass line on the cd opener 'No More' to the all out verbal attack of
'Fuck Off' , and just about everywhere in between.
The demos forth entry
'Well Defined / It's Time' stands as my personal favorite with it's well paced delivery, anthemic vocals and break downs.

Point Blank's slow to mid pace sound brings Hardcore's past glories to the present righteously. And while listeners might find themselves placing Point Blank's sound somewhere in the mid 1980's.  Point Blank are in no way a nostalgia act. 

Point Blank's debut is a good one that leaves me wondering "What's Next?"
James Damion

Point Blank NYHC Bandcamp

Living Laser - Place on Earth

Simply stated, Living Laser is one of the very best Hardcore bands playing and releasing records today. While the upstate NY Hardcore act formed in 2010. Their sound and influences can easily be traced to the Hardcores early days and spirit. Inspired by bands such as the Bad Brains, Leeway, Chain of Strength and even more closer to my heart,
New York's Beyond.

On Place on Earth, Living Laser continue to establish themselves as one of Hardcore's best and brightest acts. Fast, energetic and electric. Smart, introspective lyrics.
Metalic riffs that give muscle to the songs Hardcore spirit. Jay's higher pitch vocals bring to mind that of Eddie Sutton of Leeway fame. Five songs that inspire, while feeding the listener with a caffeine like energy. The breakdowns and choruses are all up front and present. Place on Earth is just perfect from start to finish. A total must have for fans of the band and hardcore music alike.

Living Laser have become a personal favorite of mine for some time now and Place on Earth only serves to heighten my appreciation for what they're doing, which is enforcing my appreciation and love for Hardcore music more than thirty years after being introduced to the genre. James Damion

Frequency Deleted Records  Get it Here
Living Laser  Bandcamp

United By Images; Polyphony

My first taste of Polyphony came in April of 2011. That afternoon they played a rare all ages show in a disheveled room within the Court Tavern.
They were loud, abrasive and seemed to be in the throws of forging a sound that would guide them towards what they are today. In the three years that followed, I stayed in touch with Cameron, Marshall, Ariel and Wiggins through social media while getting the chance to see them play their first NYC show at one of my old haunts, ABC No Rio. There was an interview in the works for this blog at one time or another. Unfortunately, nothing came of it. The band is just now coming off tour and has played some local shows in the last week or so. Unfortunately for me, the flu has kept me from getting out to see them. Here's to hoping that 2015 offers new opportunities to see Polyphony again and again. James Damion

Polyphony Bandcamp
Polyphony Facebook

United By Images; Chambers (Old Love)

I was standing outside of ABC No Rio when I managed to start a conversation with Jim Testa of Jersey Beat. For whatever reason Jim seemed to know me. So when I enquired about the possibility of becoming a contributor. His response,
"We'll, I don't really cover much Hardcore."
though predictable, irked me. Looking back, I felt that somehow, a lot of people saw me as this one dimensional "Joe Hardcore" character more than twenty years after I last produced an issue of my short lived fanzine. One who was still referred to by many as James Unite. 

Regardless of any preconceived notions Jim might have had. I assured him that my interests in music lay far beyond that of any genre or sub genre labeling. Before long, my pestering paid off and Jim handed me my first assignment.
An interview with New Jersey Hardcore Metal act Chambers. While I had no prior knowledge of the band. I had their brand new album "Old Love" and two consecutive shows to help me get familiar. The first night I headed to Clifton's Dingbatz to see the band perform with the mind blowing
Tiger Flowers and a host of others.
What impressed me most about Chambers and singer Dan Pelic in particular, was how they took on the lazy son of a bitches who were too busy to leave the comfort zone of the bar. Chambers were one of the rare acts there, or anywhere else for that matter, to bring it to the crowd. Dan leaped from the comfort of the stage and got in the face of everyone while challenging those at the bar to make the price of admission worth a damn.
Before the end of the night. I had two new bands to cheer for and an interview set up for the next at Maxwells.

Aside from getting to experience some new music. The guys in Chambers were aces and the interview turned out to be the first of many collaborations with Jersey Beat and Jim Testa.
I also look at my interview with the band as a moment where my exposure to music and in particular, the NJ music scene began to broaden. Great thanks to Dan Pelic, Gregg Kautz and Vinnie Fiore for making my first assignment so enjoyable.
James Damion

Token Entry - From Beneath the Streets Reissue

Mad at the World records is currently taking preorders for the December reissue of 

Token Entry's From Beneath the Streets. Originally released in 1987 on Kevin Seconds 

(7 Seconds) Positive Force Records. As is with most reissues, several color versions will be made available. The reissue is a long time coming and has seen it's share of delays. However, if all goes well. It should ship within weeks. James Damion

Unboxing Unwound

I took some time to post several videos highlighting the unboxing of Numero Group's Unwound box sets. Earlier this year I purchased each of the three box sets Numero released. Each one a work of art in it's own right.  Whether you're familiar with the band Unwound or not. I highly recommend picking these up. Especially considering what a special band they really were. Take a look at these videos before ordering. James Damion

Numero Group Get them Here

Sheer Terror - Standing Up For Falling Down

If it were not for my close friend and fellow fanzine creator
Gina "Last Daze" Lawson,
(God rest her soul while providing it with plenty of drink, cigarettes and Hardcore.)
I probably would not have ever given much attention to
Sheer Terror. The truth of the matter is, that after first hearing them on my copy of
Big City Records
"One Big Crowd" compilation.
I never gave the band much more than a casual listen.
It wasn't until 2000's
"Bulldog Edition" that I really began to appreciate the bands legacy and well deserved reputation as the bastard sons of negative Hardcore.
"Standing Up for Falling Down", the bands first full length in eighteen years might be
Sheer Terror's best work to date. It would be hard to argue against it being their most cohesive. Raw, brutal, honest and surprisingly musical. Bulldozer guitar leads, dark bass lines and tribal beats led by Hardcores greatest MC and motivational sledgehammer,
Rev. Paul Bearer.  Perhaps Sheer Terror were an acquired taste for me personally.
As I get older though. I seem to find comfort in Sheer Terror's tongue in bleeding cheek style. Unlike many of their contemporaries. Sheer Terror just get bitter with age. If you love brutal, confrontational and honest Hardcore music. You have no excuse not to invest in this record. James Damion

Reaper Records  Buy it Here

Back Off / No Mistake Split EP

Mike Bromberg is a good egg. One who seems to think my opinion is worth checking in on every now and again. Being that Mike checked in with me and a select few on everything from the bands name to the songs and even the cover designs.

I was somewhat saddened to find out the bands lifespan would be such a short one.
Both bands exhibit a raw style prevalent in the sound of many of Hardcores early band.
Both No Mistake and particularly Back Off play use the "Loud, Fast, Rules" playbook to deliver their brands of Hardcore. A style I've always appreciated more than the Metal influenced bands that dominated the genre after 1985.
No Mistake and Back Off both manage to squeeze six songs on to their respected sides of this EP. Not a moment to spare when delivering the goods. A complete package, from the music to the graphics and the slate gray vinyl. The inlet also feature lyrics.
This way you'll know exactly what their screaming about. Though No Mistake are no longer. They left us with more than mere leftover. As for Back Off. Well, their still kicking and screaming. Snag a copy while there's still copies to snag. JD

Get it Here

Collapse - Apocalyptic Key EP

I first came across the band Collapse back in July of 2013 when I saw their name on a local Hardcore bill. At the time,
I couldn't help but wonder if it was a reunion of the short lived NYHC band featured on
Freddy Alva's New Breed Compilation. After seeing Detroit's Collapse on that sweat drenched July night, I learned different. As luck would have it, they had no relation to the aforementioned band of the same name. After witnessing their emotional and sonically ear shattering set that night and taking home their artfully packaged "Disarm" demo. I was more than happy to find out it wasn't a decades past band trying to relive their salad days.

During the year that has passed. I've heard very little about a band I gained an instant liking to. That was until I noticed a posting from the bands drummer Matthew Cross.

The bands sound reminds me of what would happen if Henry Rollins era Black Flag met up with New York Anarcho Punks Nausea to give Amy (Nausea) singing lessons. Though often sung in a screamo style. Ashleigh's vocals are never over the top or grinding. A trait that often makes so many screamo acts unlistenable. Though the seven songs featured on "Apocalyptic Key" are dark, somewhat dooming and ultimately, apocalyptic. A lot can be said for what's happening musically. Great leads, dark bass lines and punishing percussion more than compliment vocals that are delivered with passion and urgency. With song titles like
"Inside the Monster", "Infimary" and "Skulls". You pretty much know what you're getting in to. My advice is "dig deep and get dirty". This is definitely worth getting dirty over.
James Damion

Collapse Punk  Band Page
Bandcamp  Get it Here

7 Seconds - Leave A Light On

On the band's first full length in nine years. 7 Seconds, a band that is now thirty four years deep into their existence show no signs of ever slowing down or becoming a nostalgia act. Though time and age rarely serve bands well.
The years have been very good to Kevin and crew.
Now in their fifty's, the Reno pioneers of Positive Hardcore prove that Hardcore music is more than a passing trend or phase we go through in our teens and early twenties.
Core values that gave birth to positive hardcore still ring true while serving as inspiration for much of the material on
"Leave the Light on."
Featuring fourteen songs of uplifting, anthemic songs that you'll be singing along to from the get go. Anthems such as "Slogan on a Shirt", "I Have Faith in You",
"30 Years (And Still Going Wrong)" and "Leave the Light On" serve a stand outs for me personally. Overall, this is about as good as it gets. In my opinion, the best thing 7 Seconds has done in their post "Ourselves" lifespan. Get it. Listen. Love it. Live it.
James Damion

Rise Records  Get it Here

The Jonathan Levin Gallery Presents; "Mosh Pits" by Dan Witz

This past weekend I headed to Chelsea's Jonathan Levin Gallery to attend the book signing for "No Slam Dancing, No Stage Diving, No Spikes" As I made my way to the ninth floor and the gallery. I came across two current exhibitions. The book signing event sat amongst the awe inspiring paintings of Dan Witz fittingly titled "Mosh Pits". As I made my way from painting to painting. I couldn't help but appreciate the incredible detail and personality of his works. I felt drawn to the characters and personalities launched into battle by slowed down tribal rhythms. The expressions and detailed tattoos I'd seen countless times in others. 

Dan began his journey as a musician in his twenties before moving on to photography and eventually, painting. His experience photographing mosh pits at shows gave him the ability where he could sense the time, movement and flow of the crowd. Eventually allowing him to capture the energy and emotion in these paintings. I could say so much more but I'll leave it to you to see for yourself. 

James Damion

For more information visit:

Jonathan Levin Gallery

Jonathan Levin Gallery 529 West. 20th Street 9th Floor. New York, NY 10011

danwitz.com

jonathanlevinegallery.com

Black N' Blue Bowl 2014 Details Announced

 Black N' Blue Bowl 2014 Lineup was announced earlier this week. 

CLICK BANNER BELOW TO ORDER TICKETS OR VISIT GENERATION RECORDS (NYC) NYHC TATTOOS (NYC) OR LOTUS TATTOO (SAYVILLE, NY)

Click the link below for more information.

The Well Brooklyn

Getting to Know Essex County's Archie Alone

As much as Essex County's Archie Alone have quickly become a must see live act.
The band has also come to serve as torchbearers for a burgeoning New Jersey
Punk / Hardcore scene. Merging melodic Punk with metallic riffs and emotive vocals.
Archie Alone have quickly earned favorite status with this particular blogger. Since my initial experience with the quintet in May of 2013, I've had the pleasure of seeing the band numerous times at venues including ABC No Rio, The Court Tavern and their home base in Montclair, The Meatlocker. In that time, my curiosity, as well as my appreciation for the band have grown considerably for the band. After a recent show at Paterson's WPCS Radio. I decided to speed up the interview process and have the band fill in the blanks while answering some of my curiosities. Thanks to everyone in the band for participating. 
James Damion

James: My experience with and knowledge of the band only goes back as far as the
Spring of 2013. Can you tell me about how the band started and how long before
Archie Alone took shape?

Archie Alone: Since originally forming in 2008 the band has had an ever changing lineup.
In Spring of 2012, that lineup consisted of Nicole Mesce (vocals), Tony Mastrolia (bass), and two former members. We took on guitarist Cindy Ward, whom we had met while playing with her previous band. Shortly after Cindy joined the band, Nicole suggested her friend,
Pete Lepore, as our second guitarist. Thus filling the vacancy. After playing throughout the Summer and Fall. Our drummer decided to leave. His position was soon after filled by
Pete Clark, a former band mate of Cindy's. Since our first show in January of 2013,
the lineup has remained the same.

James: You mentioned Cindy was in a band prior to coming over. What was the bands name? Are they still playing together?

Archie Alone: Cindy was in a Metal-core band called Fantazma. Our current drummer Pete Clark actually joined them towards the end of their run. Fantazma has since called it quits.

James: Cindy, a few months back I began hearing about a side project.
Can you tell me a little about the band and how it differs from Archie Alone?

Archie Alone: This actually ties in perfectly with your prior question. Cindy's side project ironically consists of members that were all at one point in Fantazma. The new project is called Sightings. Pete Clark plays drums for them as well. The best way to describe it is alternative metal/hardcore. The genre can be pretty ambiguous at times. It differs greatly from Archie Alone primarily because it is heavier music with female screaming vocals.
It does compare with Archie alone however, in that it's aggressive and dynamic.

James: The name makes me think of two things. Old Archie Comics and Archie basically taking things into his own hands. Does the name hold any meaning to you or was it just something you pulled out of your hat?

Archie Alone: The name of the band actually came from
Tony's brother who had suggested it in passing.
When the time came for us to record our first demos, the sound engineer we were working with needed a name to put on his schedule so we used Archie Alone as a fill in for the time being. Its stuck ever since. The name "Archie Alone" comes from an episode of Archie Bunkers Place, a
spin-off of All in the Family. In the episode Edith, Archie's wife, passes away.

James: Back in the Summer we spoke briefly about an album and
(my hopes of a vinyl release.) In recent months I've heard talk about you recording.
How far have you come? How long before we get our greedy hands on a copy.

Archie Alone: We started recording late fall of 2013 and hope to release the full length in late Spring of 2014. We are shooting for about 10 to 12 songs and will be pressing them on CD's as well as availability online (iTunes, Spotify, etc.) Vinyl would be a nice addition in the future but we have no current plans on it.

James: The first time I saw you live, I was there to see Nick Lee and Moon Tooth.
Since then you've toured with them and Polyphony. How did that come together?
What were some of the highlights? Lowlights and shameful moments?

Archie Alone: The first time we met Moon Tooth was at the show you mentioned at
Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ. We took a real liking to them musically and personally.
We collaborated with them and played a few shows here in jersey and Long Island.
As for Polyphony, we met them through practicing and playing at the Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ. They are also a great group of musicians. Through getting to know them we decided to do a mini weekend tour with both of them. A few memorable moments with
Moon Tooth were hanging out here in Jersey, making them breakfast after a show at the Meatlocker, and other "extra curricular" activities. A lowlight of the weekend tour with the three bands was when Polyphony got "shunned" to the upstairs part of the venue we played in Philly due to the fact they're not all 21+. Luckily they still got to play, but they were not allowed to watch any of the bands because there was a bar. We all laugh it off now but it was definitely a bummer when it happened.

James: Your sound is self described as Pop Punk, Melodic Punk and even Alternative, Personally, I hear a lot of Metallic riffs coming from Cindy's guitar. It kind of gives the band a sound those genres rarely deliver. Is that trait something that creeped it way into the bands sound over time? Or was it there from the very beginning?

Archie Alone: Yes, heavier, more metallic guitar parts. Elements that gradually made their way into the band. Especially since the additions of  Cindy and Pete. Their influencs by heavier genres of music definitely played a part. Pete's influences consist of Have Heart, Strung Out and Wilhelm Scream amongst others. Cindy, on the other hand, has experience playing heavier music in her previous band which, thus, carries into Archie Alone.

James: How are the song writing duties distributed? What about the lyrics?

Archie Alone: Pete Lepore, our guitarist, comes to practice with a piece of music and we will all jam on it until we reach a common ground. The song gradually develops over time while going through trial and error with parts that work and do not. With each practice, we bring in new ideas that further develop and give the song more character. As far as lyrics go, they are all written by Nicole, either premeditated or as we write the song.

James: Nicole is one of the most powerful vocalists I've seen in my days. It seems she pours every ounce of energy, sweat and emotion into every performance.
Where is a lot of that coming from? Does it ever take it's toll?

Nicole: First of all thank you, that means a lot. The earlier lyrics that I wrote were based on the past and how I felt at the time. As Archie Alone progressed so did the feelings and emotions that I wanted to discuss. For me personally it's been a realization of my past events and how they do not define me; It has been more of a discovery of who I am as an individual. My main goal is to have people relate not to the specific situation in the song but to the specific emotion in the song. I want it to be personal and relate-able for the listener and the things he or she goes through. Mostly, it helps me theoretically, perhaps because I grew up listening to bands like "Saves the Day" and and even "Title Fight" who have influenced me to write with my emotions.

James: Montclair's Meatlocker seems to be a home away from home for the band. What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of playing a place so often?
Does the crowd change much depending on who you're playing with or does it stay relatively the same?

Archie Alone: The Meatlocker is absolutely our home away from home. We're always there whether we're practicing, playing a show or attending a show. Cindy also books a lot of shows there for touring bands as well. We benefit from playing there because we have met so many great people and bands who we have established friendships with. The shows are always a blast and low-stress.
The drawback may be that sometimes it's the same crowd that is seeing us. While the crowd does change depending on the type of show, there is still a built-in crowd that is typically there every weekend.

James: I couldn't help but notice a rather large SUA button on Pete's guitar strap. I've been a fan of the band since they were called Jellybean. Actually saw them play with Nick Lee's old band Exemption. How do you know them? Have you had a chance to play out with them?

Archie Alone: Pete Lepore knows SUA through his friend Leigh who he met while attending IAR. We have played with them once at a house show in New Brunswick.

James: You've got a big show coming up with Dingbatz with Such Gold. Tell me about that.

Cindy: Yes we do! We are really stoked about this one not only because we all are big fans of Such Gold but it's a show that we finally feel like we fit well on. It is an honor for us to share the stage with a band that we take influence from. Shout out to
Anthony from ACI for making this one happen. We are currently working on a tight set which includes a new song that we just finished. We are really excited to show everyone the new song because we feel like it defines us most as a band.
We hope to continue in that direction. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the show!

Important Links to Archie Alone:
Facebook
Twitter
Sound Cloud
Reverb Nation