Melissa and Paul - Live Hard EP

Think of all the beautiful eccentricities of the White Stripes with female vocals and a more skilled and complex male drummer. That was the first thing that came to mind when listening to this beautiful six song EP. Melissa's soulful, haunting, banshee vocals and twangy guitar on top of Paul's loose, jazzy percussion are a perfect mix. The music is bluesy, soulful and instantly addictive. The lyrics on "Live Hard" speak volumes about the records title.  "The Suns gotta set to rise/Gotta be dead once to be alive" and "One things for sure - that I'm not ready to die" remind us how important it is to live every moment. Just as this record reminds us how powerful and important music can really be when it's done from the heart.

Though immediate comparisons to the White Stripes and the Screaming Females are inevitable; Melissa & Paul always come off sounding fresh and original. They are a
"Dynamic Duo" in every sense of the term.

"Live Hard" was recorded during a weekend in October 2011 which would otherwise be a side note if these songs didn't exemplify the mood of that particular month. With this release and the release of Those Mockingbirds "Fa So La", Star Beat Music is definitely making a name for themselves as a powerhouse in 2012 and beyond. The attention to quality on the music is matched by the detail and beauty of their packaging and the artwork within.
James Damion


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Melissa and Paul

MELISSA & PAUL TO RELEASE 'LIVE HARD' EP ON VINYL AND CASSETTE TAPE VINYL OUT APRIL 13, TAPE OUT APRIL 21

New Jersey's Melissa & Paul teamed up with Bedside Manner Collective, Gruff Beard Records and Star Beat Music to release their upcoming EP 'Live Hard.' Bedside Manner and Gruff Beard Records will release 300 10" records on white, black and opaque blue vinyl on April 13 and Star Beat Music will release 50 hand numbered white cassette tapes on Record Store Day (April 21st).

"Live Hard," Melissa & Paul's follow up to their 2011 debut, successfully fuses punk and blues with a touch of garage. Melissa's vocal performance lends itself to greats like Nancy Sinatra and Patti Smith and she would fit nicely with the '90's Riot Grrrl wave. Melissa & Paul fluctuate between a Screaming Females-esque sound and a "reverse White Stripes" yet not-so minimal vibe, while paying homage to greats like Hendrix and Nirvana. The 6-song EP sounds natural on tape and vinyl as the lo-fi and grainy sound compliments Melissa & Paul's raw and energetic performance that they actually did record in a garage

"Live Hard is about doing things instead of just talking about doing things," drummer Paul said. With that said, this summer Melissa & Paul will be touring the east coast/midwest with Boy Things and the west coast with Dead Ringer. But before that you can check out the band's record release shows coming up in mid-April.

Tracklisting:

 01.Oh My

02. Yeah, I'm Alive

03. Ready to Die

04. 30 Days

05. Lazy Man

06. Try Hard (Everyday)

Melissa & Paul is:

Melissa Lucciola - Guitar/Vocals

Paul Chiesa - Drums/Backing Vocals

'Live Hard' Release Shows:

Friday, 4/13: Record Release #1 Official 10'' release show @ Vernon VFW, Vernon, NJ w/ Boy Things, Keith Kenny and Jessica Joyce. All ages. 8pm. $5.

Saturday, 4/14: Record Release #2 City Lights NYC Presents: @ The Suffolk, 107 Suffolk St, New York, NY w/ Conor & the Stonehill Kids, Libel, and Perp Walk. 21+. 9pm. $6.

Saturday, 4/21: Record Release #3 Star Beat Music Showcase @ Hell's Kitchen, Newark, NJ w/ The Naked Heroes, SixtoEight Mathematics. 21+. 9:30pm. $5.

Melissa and Paul  Wordpress