Kelly Shepsko
Breathing Blue Announce Barbeque In July
Breathing Blue, a 5-piece New Jersey-grown band that seems to be exploding all over the tri-state area, is throwing a party to celebrate summer with their fans. The “Breathing Blue Barbeque,” will take place all day starting at 2p.m. on Saturday, July 9th at local venue staple The Brighton Bar.
Ever since Breathing Blue released the Breathing Blue EP in June 2010, their presence has been increasingly well known in the alternative music scene. With numerous reviews and positive feedback on the band showing up in the press in places like Absolute Punk and Alter The Press , it can be anticipated that their catchy tunes and intricate guitar work will soon be showcased on rock stations across the nation. Popular tracks like “Sparkle,” and “Chase The World” draw listeners in with vocalist Justin Sanford’s rich lyrics and sound with strong guitar, bass and drums to back it up.
Breathing Blue is known for their unique style in thinking outside-of-the-box when it comes to self-representation. Any band can play a show, but they always stand out above the rest and take it to a new level, especially for this show by inviting other vendors like award-winning Bullfrog’s BBQ to provide tasty cuisine for the crowd during the show, serving more than your average backyard burgers and hotdogs. They’ve invited at least half a dozen other special guests to share the outdoor stage with them to rock this all day event, and when nighttime falls, the party will continue inside The Brighton Bar. Admission is $10; it is a rain-or-shine event, and is all ages to enter, 21+ to drink.
Breathing Blue’s EP can be purchased over at Amazon
The Starting Line Announces “Break” Is Over
Since taking a break in 2008 to focus on separate projects, The Starting Line have been engaging in much activity in recent time, hinting that the band may be back together, and even possibly working on a new album. They have announced a few playing dates with All Time Low for their, “Gimme Summer Ya’ Love” tour, which will be played with other bands such as Cartel, Mayday Parade, and a few others. The official statement from Matt Watts, lead guitarist, is below:
“I just happened to read all the tweets and postings about everyone’s excitement about the TSL “break” being over. First off, I’d like to thank everyone for the excitement and enthusiasm, it really means a lot! It wasn’t intended to sound like an official announcement that the break is over, we all felt like it was over once we started playing shows again, but I guess hadn’t publicly acknowledged so.
So to address it:
As you’ve probably noticed, TSL has become slightly more active, and we even have a few new songs in the works. The main reason behind the break was to take some time and evaluate things, touring for 8+ years got really exhausting and we all needed to take a step away to see if TSL was something that we all still loved and wanted to pursue. After taking a much needed break, we’re all at a point where we truly love and appreciate what we were able to do together, and genuinely miss playing shows, writing, and being around one another.
Playing shows with the band, and even just getting together to hang out has been more fun than ever, everything is feeling great and natural, and seems as exciting as when we first started out. There’s just an undeniable chemistry and energy present that seemed to be lacking near the end of things.
That being said, we’re playing more shows and writing new music, but there’s no specific timeline that we’re on, nor do we have any real plans (as of right now), to be touring full time. That doesn’t mean that we won’t be playing shows in your city/town, it just means that we probably won’t be taking a traditional approach to touring and being an active band. All of us have various things and commitments happening in our lives that aren’t really conducive to year round touring. However, we do plan on playing shows more frequently and (slowly) working on a new album at some point. We’re also trying to figure out a way to get to some of the cities that we haven’t played since we went on “break” (talking to all of you on the West Coast).
We’ll keep you guys updated on any new developments!”
Interview: Sink Tapes
We recently got a chance to speak to Gabe Chilarello, lead vocals of Sink Tapes, an indie band based out of the Asbury area of New Jersey. We were able to learn a lot about the background of the band, their first album, Same Strange Dream, their upcoming sophomore album, what they’re all about, and what they’re about to bring to the plate.
Sink Tapes: It’s probably better left unsaid. It’s kind of one of those things that no one will understand. It’s a name we decided to go with because we had already been called a few other things and we were forced to figure out what to call ourselves, and something just happened where we decided the name Sink Tapes. There’s no meaning to it, but we had people telling us we should be “sync” tapes, but we like NOT making sense so it makes it fun, just like how our songs are. Just fun.
LitS: When did Sink Tapes first form as a band?
Sink Tapes: We probably started playing about two summers ago as Sink Tapes with our original songs. We first met through friends; none of us go to the same schools and we just started seeing each other at shows in the Asbury area so we decided to jam together on covers and what not. Eventually, we played a backyard show with a few bands and since then we just kept playing. I don’t think we meant it to happen, but it slowly got serious yet fun, and now we’re working on our second album.
LitS: Are your current members the original members?
Sink Tapes: Yes, it’s just Alex, Ricky, Tom and I, just like it has always been. Alex goes to school in Maryland, which sucks, but whenever he comes home we make it a point to play shows as a four-piece.
LitS: So, when he’s not around, you still perform with just the three of you guys?
Sink Tapes: We don’t prefer to play with just the three of us because with Alex, we have a more complete sound, of course. But over a few months, we relearned how to play our songs as a three piece so we could continue to play while he was in Maryland so we don’t slow down and we’re able to keep process. When he goes to school in the fall, we definitely want to travel there and play a bunch of shows with him in his area. (more…)
Jimmie’s Chicken Shack Playing Free Show at Jersey Shore
A favorite alternative band of the ‘90s is making their way to the Seaside Music Festival in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, next week. Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, best known for their fun, upbeat MTV hits, “High,” and “Do Right,” will be making their appearance at the festival on Saturday, May 21st, and all events during this 3-day music-lover’s fest are free admission.
Jimmie’s Chicken Shack hails from Annapolis, MD and has been rocking stages across the US since 1994. Originally signed to Elton John’s Rocket Records, they releasedPushing the Salmanilla Envelope, and are currently signed to their own label, Fowl Records. The band could be described as a staple for the emergence of post-grunge music in the ‘90s through their involvement with MTV. Jimmie’s Chicken Shack’s style can be compared to funky acts such as The Bloodhound Gang and Insane Clown Posse, for the band is known for putting on captivating shows.
Jimmie’s Chicken Shack will be playing on the Beach Stage, on the sands outside the Aztec Bar and boardwalk in Seaside Heights. Admission is free and all-ages at this stage, and a map of the festival, band lineup, and more information can be found here.
Dredg Releases Fifth Album Tomorrow
Dredg will be releasing their fifth full-length album, Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy, on Tuesday, May 3rd via Superball Music. Not many of their fans know what to expect, for on their official website, it claims that, “this album is completely different from everything that dredg has done before.” Many have thought that it would be a continuance of their last album released in 2009, The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion, but dredg claims that there will be no doubt of surprise within the new album. It has been released in Europe throughout the past week, so some leaks may be available on the Internet, but I think I’ll wait until tomorrow to see what kind of change the band is talking about. Dredg is currently on this album’s promotional tour with The Dear Hunter, Balance and Composure, and The Trophy Fire.
Review: ‘Sucker Punch’ Soundtrack
Sucker Punch Soundtrack
Released: March 22nd, 2011
Label: WaterTower Music
Purchase: iTunes | Amazon
The Sucker Punch soundtrack was released about a month ago and has generated a large amount of buzz — and has brought itself to last week’s #1 spot on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart. It doesn’t surprise me that it climbed its way there in such a short amount of time; it is genius in the fact that the soundtrack is comprised of uniquely revamped classic covers. It is true that any artist can cover a song and put some of their own flavor into it, but the cover soundtrack made for Sucker Punch is filled with amazing new renditions of songs like, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This),” by Eurythmics and “Tomorrow Never Knows,” by The Beatles.
The soundtrack opens with film-star Emily Browning and her lullaby version of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)”. Right away, I was immediately impressed with her vocal talent. How many times do you find that you have the main character of a film featured in various songs on the film’s soundtrack that can actually sing them well?
Then comes, “Army of Me (Sucker Punch Remix),” with Björk featuring Skunk Anansie, remade from her 1995 hit single off the album Post that seems to be mellow throughout but ends in shrills, heavy guitar and drums.
“White Rabbit,” covered by Emiliana Torrini, seems to describe being in a surreal universe similar to the plot of Alice In Wonderland; it’s no coincidence that critics describe Sucker Punch as similar to “Alice In Wonderland, but with machine guns.”
The fourth track is one of my favorites — a high-intensity mash-up of “I Want It All”/”We Will Rock You”, featuring the rock music staple Queen with Armageddon Aka Geddy. It is a great balance of hip-hop and rock that anyone could enjoy dancing to.
“Search and Destroy” brings back Skunk Anansie in this solo track with sweet guitar riffs and more of a late ‘80s, early ‘90s punk rock feel.
One of the more noted tracks comes next — a cover of The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows,” by Alison Mosshard and Carla Azar, that sort of reminds me of “Army of Me”. This is because both tracks clock in at almost seven minutes long and have a more melodic, relaxing feel, but the tracks contrast because of the ending. Five minutes into “Tomorrow Never Knows”, the piano chimes in and then the break-down begins with heavy synths and drums.
Next, my personal favorite track of the album sweeps through. “Where Is My Mind?” by Yoav featuring Emily Browning begins the first verse and chorus with Yoav’s soft voice and then chimes with Browning for the second verse. For the second chorus, they harmonize together to produce a beautiful version of Eurythmics’ hit, and just when you think the track is over, everything speeds up to surprise the listener again; one thing this soundtrack does well.
Track eight, “Asleep,” is again performed by Browning; “Asleep” is another ‘lullaby,’ similar in style to her rendition of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”. Ballads are her strength because of her calming voice and she nails this track for sure.
The soundtrack closes with “Love Is the Drug” by Carla Gugino and Oscar Isaac, originally by Roxy Music, bringing a sexy vibe to Sucker Punch. Isaac throws soul into the track like it’s no task and Gugino reinforces that this is no ordinary cover.
8.0
Standout Tracks: “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Emily Browning, “I Want It All”/”We Will Rock You” Mash-Up by Queen with Armageddon Aka Geddy and “Where Is My Mind?” by Yoav featuring Emily Browning
Taking Back Sunday Reveals Track and Album Art
Taking Back Sunday has released the album artwork for their first album since the original Tell All Your Friends line-up with John Nolan and Shaun Cooper reunited. The self-titled album is to be released this summer on June 28th, 2011, and as of last week, one of the 11 tracks, “El Paso,” was posted as a lyric video on their official website as a preview of what to expect in the upcoming album. It is also interesting that on their album artwork, they compiled a sub-title based off all of their four previous albums. Take a listen below.
Track: Emery – “Scissors”
Track: “Scissors”
Artist: Emery
Release Date: January 26, 2011
Label: Tooth & Nail Records/Solid State Records
Although post-hardcore band Emery released a preview clip of “Scissors” back in January when they announced the release of their fifth album We Do What We Want, the entire track is worth a listen. We Do What We Want was released on March 29th and is noted for being their heaviest album yet, but Devin Shelton’s melodic vocals keep Emery’s sound to what listeners have always appreciated. The first nine seconds of the track could fool listeners, because right away, it appears that the entire track could be covered in screams and double-bass hits, but then Shelton’s voice takes over, delivering passionate lyrics that shine the whole way through, especially during the build-up to the breakdown. “Hands held towards the sky in the cool air of October, the whispers were always there, but they never caught up to your words, so will December find me all alone,” sets up an ending to “Scissors” that closes as hard as the track begins.
“Scissors” is from We Do What We Want, out now via Tooth & Nail Records and Solid State Records.
Listen: Via Emery’s Myspace
Rating: 7.5/10
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