Images from Kylesa's Visit to J.C.'s Monty Hall

A few weeks back I had the chance to catch personal favorites Kylesa in an intimate setting at Jersey City's Monty Hall. To see the show review you can go to Document Fanzine 

James Damion

Kylesa's Laura Pleasants

Phillip Cope of Kylesa

Savannah GA.'s Kylesa

Inter Arma's Mike Paparo

Richmond VA's Inter Arma

Ontario Canada's Indian Handcrafts

United By Images; The Milwaukees at Maxwell's 7/2/2015

Milwaukees guitarist Jeff Nordstedt asked if I would post some extra pictures from this Thursday's show at Maxwell's. So I decided to add some additional ones to go with the show review I posted. Included is the set list I snagged from Jeff. James Damion
The Milwaukees

Jersey City's The Black Hollies Call it Quits

Jersey City's The Black Hollies have officially called it quits. The band originally formed in 2005 and featured Herb Willey and John Gonneli of The Rye Coalition. The quartet quickly signed with Brooklyn's Ernest Jennings Records and officially debuted in 2006 with the 

self-produced "Crimson Reflections". The bands sound was a perfect mix of 60's, Alternative, Psychedelic, Space Rock, Garage, Noise and Rock. Their most recent release was 2014's "Somewhere Between Here and Nowhere." Needless to say, they left us with a lot of great music and memories. They will surely be missed. No reason has been given for the breakup as of yet. One can only hope it's an internet hoax or a belated April Fools joke.

The Black Hollies

Cold Fur -Blouses of the Holy / 667 The Neighbor of the Beast

On their second EP to date Jersey City hell raisers
Cold Fur continue to take a blowtorch and chainsaw to what has become accepted as
Rock & Roll in many circles these days. Bringing a mix of abusive Stoner and Hard Rock to abusive levels of debauchery

Like a dark and heavy cloud descending on a small town, Cold Fur come heavy and loud. Offering unapologetic, balls out, tongue firmly placed in cheek rock at it's very best.
Killing Horse records should hire a tour bus to carry this bands cojones from show to show. Though the band,
it's personnel and sound will always share a connection with and ultimately be compared to The Rye Coalition  I don't think that's in any way a bad thing. Depending on your positioning, 'Blouses of the Holy' and '667 Neighbor of the Beast' will either keep you on your toes or knock you on your ass. Go get some. James Damion

KillingHorse Records  Get it Here

Star Beat Records Celebrate a Year of Musical Excellence

This past week I went to my first show of the year in attending Star Beat Music's first anniversary shindig at the Lamp Post in Jersey City. Though I had a shot at a last minute ticket to see Quicksand I wasn't quite in the mood to attend a big and somewhat impersonal show. I'm sure I'll have the chance to see them again when the weather gets warmer. Getting back to my night at the Lamp Post. I had gotten a message from my buddy
Adam Bird of Those Mockingbirds a few weeks earlier, inviting me to a "Secret Show'.
My mind immediately conjured up thoughts of some sexy loft show with suggestive lighting, fancy drinks served in knee high hooker boots and a cast of shady hipsters dressed in their best pimp wear. Upon hearing that it was being held at a tiny bar where the band is pinned between the bathroom and the kitchen door. Any such visions quickly faded. Regardless, the bands were excellent, the crowd responsive and the vodka tasted just as good in a glass as it would in a boot.

Melissa Luciolla

I got there just in time to see Melissa Luciolla open the nights event. Melissa, best known from Melissa and Paul, (One of New Jersey's most deservingly notable acts.) had been doing some solo work as of late and I was eager to listen to what she had to offer. Melissa's soulful, bluesy voice and inspiring guitar work was just what this old man needed to shake the cold off and get the late night off to a roaring start. You can check out Melissa's solo work as well as her Melissa and Paul releases and news here. melissaandpaul

Brooklyn  two piece  Hilly Eye followed and didn't really leave the best impression on me. After just a few songs I headed to the bar for a refill and some conversation with a few friends. Hilly Eye

Those Mockingbirds Adam Bird

Soon after, the nights secret band was revealed as none other than
Those Mockingbirds.
The band just finished recording their new album and performed a set that gave us a nice taste of what's coming. I really like this band a lot. They've got a great rock sound. One that seems to been completely ignored by FM radio for some time.
The band combines excellent hooks and rhythms with notable songwriting and structure.
The bands singer/lead guitarist Adam has excellent charisma and stage presence
(Though the Lamp Post lacks anything remotely close to a stage.) I always look forward to seeing them live. Can't wait to hear the new album.
Band Site

Ralph Icastro of Boxed Wine

Putting the perfect end to an almost perfect night was Boxed Wine. I first heard about them through none other than a above mentioned Adam Bird about a year and a half ago. At the time, I couldn't decide if "Boxed Wine" was the worst band name ever chosen or the absolute best. I'm still kinda on the fence. Ask me any given day and you'll probably get a different answer. Regardless, Boxed Wine are an elixir to be savored and appreciated if not danced to spastically. As much as I loved the bands self titled EP See Review Here, the bands just released "Cheap Fun" EP is a nice step forward.
Prior to the bands set I had the pleasure of meeting the bands guitarist Ralph Icastro.
We had been friends on Facebook for sometime and had been exchanging pleasantries as of late. However, like it is with many of my acquaintances on social networks. I wouldn't know them if I walked past them on the street or if I had to pick them out in a lineup. Getting to put a face to the Facebook picture is always a step in the right direction.

Boxed Wine

As the band set up I was surprised by one thing. In listening to the bands quirky and very danceable rhythmic  beats, I couldn't help but think I'd be watching keyboards, samplers and
Mac Books roll into the bar. While instead I watched in respectful awe as guitar, bass and drums began to fill the space. It was great getting to finally catch Boxed Wine in a live and intimate environment. One simply cannot be mad, sad or surly when listening to what this band has to offer. Pure mirth with nerdy melodies that would have even the grumpiest feet looking to spring into action. It was an extreme pleasure getting to come out and support these guys, no matter how cold it was outside. Congratulations to the bands and to Star Beat Music on their first anniversary; I can't wait to see what year two brings. Check out the new EP here Boxed Wine
See you guys when the weather gets warmer. James Damion

Real Cops - 2012 Demo Tape

 I actually got off my lazy old ass and went to see one of my current favorite punk/hardcore bands Deep Sleep last night in a tiny basement somewhere in the nether regions of New Jersey, and not only did Deep Sleep kick some serious ass but as an added bonus I was more than pleasantly surprised by opening act Real Cops from Jersey City NJ.

The real cops brought down the house  with a ripping set of loose angry hardcore that had me catching myself with a smile on my face on more than one occasion. After the bands set I quickly made a dash for their merch table and grabbed a copy of their 2012 demo tape, slid it in my pocket and found myself wondering over the next 24 hours if the tape could possibly capture with my ears what I had just witnessed with my eyes.

For the most part the demo tape delivered on the promise of the bands live set...the music is fast yet punishing with excellent angry vocals and plenty of energy to go around, on the downside the cassette format holds back the sound quality a bit or at least on my tape it does, and the loose  feel of the live performance has been tightened up as you would expect, however part of me sort of hoped that the recorded songs held onto at least a little bit of the looseness in the guitars that was demonstrated in the live setting. Overall the positives well outweigh the couple of negatives I mentioned, also if I had not seen the band live prior to hearing them then I would have gone into this tape with no preconceived notions and would be all together raving about it...that being said please email the band , buy a demo tape and support them live...you will not be disappointed...Dave G.

P.S. Just discovered the Real Cops bandcamp page where you can download the demo for free...the quality of the band camp files is excellent and it clears up my complaint about the quality of the cassette format. The more I listen to this demo the more I like it...   

Realcopsnj@gmail.com 

Bandcamp: listen to the demo