When One Door Closes. Another One Opens.

 Back in late 2016 I was offered my very own column on the former print zine and current website Jersey Beat. The offer to write just about anything I want and the chance to have it posted on one of independent music's longest running platform was, to say the very least, enticing.  As Jim has become both a friend and someone whose varied taste in music has helped broaden my own. Trusting him to give me the freedom to let my opinions run amok came naturally.

You can check out my Jersey Beat Column 'United By James;,  Here
 
 Since embarking on my column in early 2017. I've continued reviewing music and books, while occasionally doing an interview. (My personal favorite part of music journalism.) With Dave gone, my moving out West and my Jersey Beat column. Chances of future United By Rocket Science post seem pointless. Still, I will keep the site online. We did some good, creative things and met some great people during the blogs time and there would be no reason to erase that.
Currently Accepting; Punk/Hardcore/Metal, Reggae/Ska/Dub/Rocksteady,Indie Rock/Pop/Soul,Shoegaze /Dream Pop
Please, do not send; Corporate Rock, Country, Classical,  Dance/Electronic

If you'd like to have your music reviewed, You can either send me a private email requesting a mailing address or send a download or link to your bandcamp account.  Send all  submissions to damionphoto@gmail.com

Archie Alone, Polyphony and International Override play L.E.S. Stronghold ABC No Rio

While many of my friends and contemporaries were getting their groove on at either the Black N Blue Bowl or the countless other shows that were scheduled around the tri-state area. I decided to take the more relaxed approach and head to one of my old stomping grounds to catch a handful of Jersey locals play their first sets at the Lower East Side's Punk Rock holdout ABC No Rio.

I got to ABC around 3:00 (The time the show was listed to start.) and there was not a guitar, amp or snare to be seen. So with the help of ABC kingpin Escheider, I finally got the keys to ABC No Rio's zine library. Over the years I had heard of this massive archive of fanzines but having gone to shows there for over twenty years and having been friends with just about anyone and everyone involved in putting on shows there. I'd pretty much regarded it as myth. Likening it to that of Bigfoot or The Life cereal kid dying from an overdose of
Pop Rocks. As I stood amongst the endless bookshelves of zines I thought thought
"I can kill an hour or a decade up here." It was insane.

After a couple of years of not seeing or hearing much from New Jersey's Polyphony I've been experiencing a renaissance of sorts with the band in 2013 with their recent series of shows at Montclair's hole in the ass The Meatlocker. The band plays a mix of screamo and hardcore that I really enjoy. Their live sets alway seem to always ignite the crowd and get everybody moving. Marshall and Cameron (Polyphony's singer and guitarist) provide energy and a sense of anything can happen unpredictabilty while drummer Wiggins and bassist Ariel seem to anchor the bands sound. It's really great to see the progress these kids have made over the past couple of years. After the show the band jumped in their go karts and headed south to Philly for their second show of the day. Impressive

Polyphony

Clifton New Jersey's International Override played an excellent set of punk that fused elements of soul, funk, punk and even 90's revivalist ska. They totally had the uplift mojo party plan in check. International Override

If you've been reading my recent show reviews you are well aware of how much I've grown to enjoy Archie Alone. The self desribed Pop Punk band from Jersey deliver their sound with a lot more kick and power than that sub genre might limit them too. The more I get to hear them the more I'm reminded of former Jersey noise makers Kid Dynamite. Their set had a ton of energy. Keeping everyone in the room on their toes.  Archie Alone

I was in a pretty bad mood due to a lack of sleep and an overabundance of clashes with local junkies in recent days. However, despite the weather, the turnout and the fact that I decided to forgo a huge Hardcore show in what was this years Black N Blue Bowl. I really enjoyed seeing some new favorites play a venue that for me, holds a lot of good memories. Thanks to Polyphony, Archie Alone and ABC No Rio for reminding me that life is always about the little pleasures. James Damion

... And Now, A Few Words From Man on Fire

 Clifton, New Jersey's Man on Fire are a Hardcore band that caught our attention earlier this year with a few stellar shows and a record that perfectly fused some of our favorite elements of HardCore's past and present. With the bands new record "Strange Days Have Found Us" due for release in a matter of weeks. I jumped on the chance to reach out to the band to find out just what started the fire and how they plan to continue fanning the flames.

Man on Fire is:

Brian Goglia - Vocals  Matt Harvey - Guitar Marcin Wysocki - Bass  Dan Pelic - Drums

James: Tell us how the band got started and how you met.

Brian bought this shirt at the Michael Landon Estate Sale

Brian: I've been playing music with Matt for a while and we had fucked around in the basements of New Brunswick with me yelling obscenities and him playing pretty raw riffs while we were partying. He proposed the idea to that he wanted to start a punk band and wanted to do know if i would to do vocals.
I was way down. Any chance I get to make people feel really uncomfortable is cool with me.
It was orginally myself, Matt and our buddy Mike writing songs over in New Brunswick and then eventually adding Marcin on bass. Logistically we needed to find a drummer up in North Jersey and Matt had played with Dan in bands before.
He rules, so he came in and took over role as drummer boy/czar.

James: How long was it before you really began to gel? Did you originally set out to become a Hardcore band?

Brian: I'd definitely say it was when we started writing songs for our newest record.
A lot of the original EP was written by Matt and Mike, but once we started writing as a four piece things really began to take shape. We're definitely trying as hard as possible not to pigeon hole ourselves into one particular style. We all dig heavy shit and thats a huge part of what the band is; but youll notice a lot more experimental/shoegaze type influence coming in on this newest record.

James:What were some of the sounds that inspired you both individually and as a band?

Brian: my personal influences range all across the board when it comes to writing/performing; I would say the most relevant and pertinent would be Black Flag, Fugazi, Freddy Mercury, Bear VS Shark, MewithoutYou, Glassjaw, and the RZA, the GZA,
Ol Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Ghostface Killah and the Method Man.

Anyone who can give off gnarly energy that resonates to the listener inspires me, thats my favorite part of music. Just primal energy being thrown around like dookie in a drunken monkey cage.

Dan Pelic wrecking havoc with Chambers in 2010

James: The first thing that really caught me off guard was Dan moving from vocals in his previous bands (Chambers, Something About Death and Dying) to the drums. He was a pretty intense frontman. I'm very interested in what went into making that change.

Brian: It was literally Dan just being awesome and filling our need for a drummer.
He is such a huge asset to have in the band. Just giving tips for recording vocals, adding background vocals, ideas, etc. On top of that, being a sick drummer.

James: You've got another EP due out soon.  How far into the recording are you and when can we expect to hear the finished version?

Brian: We're doing a dual release weekend with our buddies in the band "France" on September 7th and September 8th in Clifton and New Brunswick. We'll have it streaming the week before and available for download starting the 7th before we get the means to press hard copies.

James: As it developed did you see much of a musical difference from
"I Thought My Friends Were Punk"?

Brian: We definitely expanded off that sound. "I Thought My Friends Were Punk" was a building block. Figuring out what works with the elements we have in order. Once we established that we tried to push things in every direction possible on this newest record. You'll hear songs that are very much old school punk/hardcore and others that are centered around grooves and hooks. Still, there are others that breathe a little more. Experimenting with different sounds and structures.
However, the foundation established on that first EP hasnt gone anywhere.

James: Did you record at Treehouse Studios again?

Brian: Hell yeah! We did with Frank Marra, who really gave insight into how to make these songs as big as possible. There are tons of layers, huge, heavy shit all over. We couldn't be happier with where we recorded and how it came out.

James: Was there anything specific Frank (Treehouse) brought out in you or your sound that made the difference?

Brian: As a vocalist he made me feel at home. He let me drink whiskey, record shit at my own pace and he was definitely open to ideas I had as well as providing me with his own ideas that would make a part go from pretty good to awesome. I'm not 100% used to being the vocalist in a band quite yet. I was always a bassist, so it was huge to have someone with patience and insight like Frank.

James: Brian, I've noticed that you tend to cling to the mic stand when playing live. You also have no issues with taking it to the crowd. Tell me a little bit about what you're going through mentally when you're kicking it live.

Brian: I find it best to have a clear head on stage. I spend the majority of the time just feeling out the drums and letting the music take me wherever it may be. It's always fun to mix it up with crowd. Apathy can be a killer, so i take every opportunity to get people engaged. A live performance is a give and take from both the performer and the crowd.
So my mentality is,  I'm here showing you what this music means to me and you showed up to watch. So lets make things interesting. Show me you have some type of raw emotion/music breeding inside you. We're not up there playing Top 40 covers.
You came to the punk rock show. Let's fuck this place up.

James: Dan, how is law school going to ultimately effect your dedication to the band?

Dan: School is the priority, but playing music is obviously a passion that isn't going away. I make the time for it. Other people I know who have started law school have seen their creative exploits suffer greatly because they just don't have the energy. Thankfully, I'm managing to excel in school and keep playing. If we ever became a "full-time touring band," the current shared view is that I'd write with the band, but not tour, except as my schedule allows. School isn't so much the ultimate constraint; it's when I begin practicing.

James: Tell us about The Fort and what went down there? Are there any plans to resume shows there or are the cops keeping a watchful eye on the place?

Dan: There was never any police involvement. It was a typical Landlord/Tenant dispute with an overzealous, townie landlord "with connections." He was trying to intimidate the proprietor of the place, claiming his "buddies" at the department had the place staked out as if what was going on there was illegal. That was found to be false. Basically, the landlord didn't like his lessee using the space for what he saw as some sort of dangerous and illegitimate business activity outside what was stipulated in their commercial lease agreement. There's talk between the landlord and his tenant to do shows there in a more limited capacity but I am not and may not become involved.

Man on Fire  Facebook
Man on Fire  Bandcamp

Polyphony: Your Basement Never Sounded this Good.

Polyphony are an up and coming Maplewood band out to prove themselves while setting out on a path to success. They're here and determined to be heard, no matter how much the neighbors complain.

The band, comprised of brothers Marshall (Vocals) and Cameron (Lead Guitar) Davidson are the main songwriters and driving force behind the band while Dylan Reichman, (Drums)

Ariel Golden (Bass)

and Justin Cheang (Rhythm Guitar) round out the band as the essential rhythm and back bone. Dylan with his impeccable timing and Ariel with her driving bass licks give the band a stable and even danceable feel.

Add Justin prolific rhythm and you've got an unstoppable force.

They delivered an amazing set on the night I saw them. The crowd sang along, moshed and banged their heads in unity with the band. It was a thing of beauty. The band played a mix of favorites from 'Rough Cuts' while throwing in a number of new songs that had the crowd on their toes and wanting more.

I had a chance to talk to the band and ask a few questions about the music, high school and finding their way. Here's what they had to share... Shannon Perez

Shannon: What are some of the biggest struggles you've faced

as a young Hardcore Band?

Dylan: Getting through High School, internships and trying to get into college when your band is starting to get big. It's been hard to manage.

Marshall: Trying to get shows. We play a lof of basement shows and I love how close up and personal it is.

Ariel: Getting people to take us seriously. Most people think, "Oh, there just kids".

So getting anything besides basement shows has been hard.

Shannon: What are some of your favorite things about playing music together?

Cameron: The feeling I get when I write a really good part. Writing a really good song and sharing it together for the first time. It feels perfect.

Dylan: I take a lot of pride in what we do. Music is my passion. I don't want to come off like I'm full of myself but it surprises me. The things we come up

with. It just feels awesome.

Shannon: Tell me about the album and what's coming up for Polyphony.

Marshall: We self recorded 'Rough Cuts', something we're pretty proud of. In working on the second album we brought in a producer. We don't have a name for it yet but it should feature twelve songs, all but two being new songs.

Needless to say, we're pretty excited about it. We're looking for a September release.

Shannon: What are some of the bands that influenced you?

Justin: I'm a Manson fan

Shannon: Charlie or Marilyn?

Justin: Both, Charlie had that song 'Eyes of a Dreamer'. I saw Marilyn Manson open for Slayer. A lot of what I come up with is influenced by them.

Marshall: Page 99, Botch.

Shannon: What gear are you using to achieve your sound?

Cameron: Boss Distortion DS-1. A Tuna Melt Dancelectro Tremelo.

Justin: I'm using the same thing but would like to pick up a Loop Pedal.

Shannon: Where do you see yourselves a year from now?

Ariel: Playing more shows and working on our album.

Justin: Hopefully playing really good music and moving up the ladder.

Marshall: I want to continue expanding on what we've created. I hope we all stay close.

We're all still in High School. I'm a Senior, they're all Juniors. My going to college could create problems in determining whether or not we stay together.

Shannon: Where do you see yourself fitting in musically?

Ariel: The New Brunswick scene seems really cool and the people involved are really cool. We just really want to have an influence on the people who listen to and enjoy our music. We want to make those connections that will help us move forward and get more shows.

Shannon: (Noticing Justin's flesh wounds) Do you get more hickeys now that you're in a band. I'm losing count. How many are you currently sporting?

Justin: I'm up to four. I've always been getting them. I'm both a gentleman and a slut.

Ask anyone. They can vouch for me.

Polyphony Facebook

Sick Jerk? - Frauds

I picked up a copy of 'Frauds' after experiencing a less than stellar set they played at a friends garage show. Let's just say the cost of two dollars and my morbid curiosity got the best of me on that night. Upon listening to ten tracks on this DIY disc I can't help but think,

"I could have gotten two Cokes and a Snickers with that two bucks."

As the disc opens you are lulled into a false sense of security. Reassuring yourself, "This isn't bad." "I mean I'm getting a little Dead Milkmen meets Ween on horse tranquilizers here." But that sense of hope quickly fades as the disc drags you into what feels like an endless bad trip.

Rockaway, New Jersey's 'Sick Jerk?'s sound is laid back, jangly, lazy and drags throughout. On "In Space No One Can Here You Say AHHHHH", a 5:27 minute descent into hell, you feel as if you're going to slit your throat just to save your ears from any more pain. 'Believe the Lie' and 'Buckshot Party' are the only standout tracks on here. The fact that they're buried towards the back doesn't do nearly enough to bring you back from your deep sleep. It's very rare when I can't find anything good to say about a release but I will have to make an exception here. Judge for yourself, if you dare.

James Damion

Sick Jerk Facebook

Four Fingers Summer Demo

As our friends Four Fingers return from their summer tour I thought I'd take a moment to post their summer demo and let you know they'll be playing a homecoming show at Montclair's sweat box The Meatlocker. The show will also be celebrating bassist Ryan Betrix's birthday which falls on the 27th. Sadly I will not be able to make it but I wanted to wish him an early Happy Birthday regardless. Have a blast Ryan. James Damion

Four Fingers Summer Demo