Stuyvesant - Shmyvesant

Is it me, or do bands these days seem to take themselves way too serious. With all the competition, grabbing for press and campaigning for votes. The indie scene is beginning to look like it forgot to have fun.  Lucky for us we have Stuyvesant to balance things out by reminding everyone that making music is supposed to be a fun, creative outlet that makes everyone involved feel good and not worry about the daily pressures and bullshit life sends our way on a fairly daily basis. Like a reliable friend or a good, stiff drink. Stuyvesant never seem to let us down. Their music sticks with us through both the good times and the bad. They're always there to remind us of the good things. The simple pleasures. Whether it's through their hook laden melodies, their uplifting singalong choruses or maybe their incredible ability to allow us to be silly and just have fun, even it it's at their own expense. Each one of these qualities go a long way towards making Stuyvesant so accessible and endearing to those to us.

The bands latest, Shmyvesant marks Stuyvesants third full length release and the debut release for Al (Dromedary) Crisafulli's new label, Sugarblast Records. The record opens with Baby Bear.  A song that immediately puts the spotlight on those aforementioned hooks and melodies. More than ever before, I'm instantly reminded of how vital the combination of Sean Adams and Ralph Malanga's are to what makes this band so loved. As much as I've come to love their former bands Friends, Romans, Countrymen and Footstone.
It's nearly impossible to measure the improvement made when bringing the two together.
To say that they compliment one another would be, at the very least, an understatement.
The album seamlessly flows from one song to another, with tracks like Hellbent for Heather, Oatmeal Song, Shhh and Until You Came Around leading the way. Stuyvesant's effortless ability to create punk infused power pop melodies, hooks and sing along choruses make even the most jaded old curmudgeon sing along and dance with uncoordinated, wild abandon. Overall, Shmyvesant closes out a tough year on a high not and reminds us we we shouldn't rush to deliver those "Best of" lists. The more I listen and experience Stuyvesant. The more I realize how they are to the present what bands like Superchunk, Big Drill Car and ALL were to me in the 90's. Not a bad class to be included in if you ask me.
James Damion

Sugarblast Music  Get it Here

Stuyvesant Says Goodbye to Maxwell's

Last night I dusted off my old bones and headed over to Maxwells just in time to catch my favorite Crunch Pop nerds Stuyvesant. As the closing of
this legendary club looms near, every day I've had the opportunity to reflect on my twenty plus years of  going to shows on 11th and Washington.

From my early days of taking the Path from Manhattan to see acts such as Helmet,
Big Drill Car,

Sunny Day Real Estate,
The Doughboys, Knapsack and Dahlia Seed. (Just to name a select few.) To my nights walking or riding my bike from my nearby digs in Hoboken. Maxwells, for me and many others has been about the people just as much as it's been about the music.
The waiters, waitresses, bartenders, door and sound peeps and of course
Todd Abramson.

Each and every one of them played a part in making Maxwells a special place.

In recent years I've grown very accustomed to seeing the band Stuyvesant play Maxwells.
It wouldn't be any stretch of the imagination to describe them as Maxwells house band or for lack of a better term
'house blend'. The two go hand in hand in that I just could not imagine experiencing either without feeling a sense of joy. Good music, good vibes, good people. What else can you ask for?

No matter how tired, busy or downright sweaty I had become in the days leading up to Stuyvesant's final Maxwells show. I knew in my heart of hearts that there wasn't anything that was going to keep me from making an appearance. Prior to arriving; I can honestly say I was not in the highest of spirits. Thankfully that mood changed as soon as I made my way through the doors.

As the band took the stage with an unfamiliar face setting up behind the drums. "Where's Pete?" I thought. Turns out it was Friends, Romans, Countrymen drummer Dan Murphy. Without skipping a beat the crowd was treated to a single song quickie of a reunion with a performance of 'Marry Me, Fly Free'.
After a few hugs and some high fives from friends and family Dan became one of the crowd and Pete Martinez  ascended to his proper place behind the skins. From there on it was all Stuyvesant all the time.

The band put on a spirited set that brought to mind many exemplary nights at Maxwell's. The energy from both the band and crowd were electric. I don't think anyone really wanted it to end. The fact that we wouldn't let them leave the stage after two encores proves that.
The band was unplugging their gear for what might have been the third time when the crowds chants were met by
"Don't you people have to go to work in the morning?" The truth is, we didn't care. With a new record due soon, I know I'll be seeing Stuyvesant again in the near future. It's just kind of sad knowing it won't be at Maxwells.

Special thanks go out to Ralph, Brian, Sean and Pete for making it such a fun night.
I appreciate their giving into my nerdy request to each sign their set list. One day that shit is going to put my kids through college. James Damion