What do you get when you place members of Candlebox, Sevendust and The Infinite Staircase into a room? That’s an easy answer! You come out with Le Projet (pronounced–Lay Pro-ZHAY)! While Candlebox and Sevendust might be considered more of a national act, Infinite Staircase certainly is a local act, and guitarist Lenny Cerzosie deserves some kudos on being part of an amazing project. It was my boy Smitty from Zenergy Entertainment and Lenny’s brother, Jeff, the other half of The Infinite Staircase, who brought Le Projet to my attention. The Infinite Staircase boys are no strangers to jamming with some big names in rock, as Zakk Wylde and JD DeServio from Black Label Society have written with the boys in the past and so have Morgan Rose from Sevendust and Kevin Martin from Candlebox, who are actually in Le Projet. Anyway, I got to hear the songs “Little Shits” and “Save Yourself” through a live stream, and I have to say right away that I’m a fan! I always loved Kevin Martin’s voice and these songs really bring me back to that first Candlebox record. Then you add Morgan Rose to the mix? Le Projet is Le Rock Band Wet Dream!
Earlier this year, singer Kevin Martin, drummer Morgan Rose, bassist Adam Kury, also from Candlebox, and guitarist Lenny Cerzosie decided take their longtime friendships and past musical collaborations to start something new, which led to the quartet entering a recording studio to begin recording their first EP back in May. According to their bio, within three and a half days, these guys fully recorded three brand new songs from scratch with the help of former BLS guitarist Nick Catanese during the recording sessions. Those songs became “Little Shits,” “Save Yourself” and “Head Down.” Initially, the idea for this project started back in 2013 when Kevin, Morgan and Lenny released the song “The Pride” to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy as part of Lenny’s band, The Infinite Staircase. The song spent six weeks in the American Mainstream Rock Radio Top 40 Charts, peaking at number 27. The chemistry between the three musicians was undeniable that they started talking about future collaborations together. Obviously, everyone’s schedules were busy, but a few months ago, the Cerzosie brothers reached out to everyone, who seemed to be on a common break in their schedules around the middle of May, and everything finally seemed to fall into place.
Just like every unsigned band looking for funding these days, Le Projet have decided to take to crowdfunding in order to fund the debut Le Projet CD and their upcoming tour. You can donate by visiting indiegogo.com/projects/le-projet-album-tour, where 45s and signed memorabilia from Morgan and Kevin will be distributed for contributions. Check Le Projet out now at facebook.com/leprojetofficial.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
One of my former Z100 co-workers and fellow lover of ’80s hair metal, Ron Scalzo, who is also known as his alter ego Q*Ball, is releasing his last CD ever with The Last Q*Ball Album. When I asked Ronnie if this was indeed true, he responded that it was. The Last Q*Ball Album is almost as sad to hear about as Mötley Crüe’s final tour. Then again, not many believe that this is Mötley’s final ride, so should I believe that this is Q*Ball’s final album? I guess until he’s bored and feels like creating again. Until then, download The Last Q*Ball Album on lastqball.com.
One of my favorite local metal guitar players, Angel Vivaldi, just released a brand new music video for his song “Two” off of his latest CD, Away With Words, Part 1. After watching this video, you’ll learn that Angel has a way with his guitar playing too. The funny thing is after taking a look at his CD, “Two” is not really the title of the song. It’s just the second song on the CD. Is there anything that Angel does that doesn’t make you think? Even his guitar playing makes you think, “How the f**k did he play that?” Anyway, check out Angel Vivaldi’s music video for “Two” on facebook.com/angelvivaldi.
And finally, my bros from Julius Seizure have been added to a killer new metal show at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ on Dec. 27 featuring Battlecross, Wretched, War Of Ages and Monument Of A Memory. My teeth hurt just hearing this lineup! This show is not for the weak-hearted. If this is not you, then hit Julius Seizure up for tickets at facebook.com/juliusseizureband.
That’s all for now! If your band is from North Jersey, and you want some exposure, send your press kits to Arts Weekly, c/o Tim Louie P.O. Box 1140, Little Falls, NJ 07424, or you can email me at tim@theaquarian.com, where you can also let me know where you’re performing next!
Just remember….We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
Tim Louie is the Author of S**t Happens.
NJN Concert Calendar:
11/14—Supersuckers/Long Gone Day/The Black Clouds/After The Burn/Kosmic Daydream/Big Tom and The Guns—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
11/15—Queen V/The Battery Electric/Hot Blood and Sunshine/The Rain—Lot 13 Longbar, Bayonne, NJ
11/15—Gears/Losing September/One Day Waiting/Mesmeria/Ashes Of Our Sins/Steel Spade Syndicate/Stealing Fame—Backstage at Championships Sports Bar and Grill, Trenton, NJ
11/15—Roulette/LEEDS/We’re Ghosts Now/Modern Suits/True Friends and Dead Ends—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
11/15—Noc Boots—Bread, NYC
11/17—Kurt Travis/Hotel Books/Tommy Boys—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/19—Syka/F-Units—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
11/21—Scottish Widows—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
11/22—Gathering After Ashes/Dying Eyes Of Sloth/Decimate The Living/Day of Doom/Nole/Joe Caravella of The Reign (acoustic set)—Gussy’s Bar, Astoria, NY
11/26—KnuckleHead/The Growling Hounds—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/28—Queen V—Rockwood Music Hall, NYC
1/30—Homicidal/Danny Diablo/UNDIVIDED/FULL SCALE RIOT/Buried Before Death/Paralysis—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
12/2—Famous Last Words/For All I Am/Kingdom Of Giants/Whether, I/Ashes Of My Regret/GlassHouses—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/5—Red Dragon Cartel/Audio Empire/Lipstick Magazine—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
12/5—Ted Poley/Rock Kandy—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/10—Otan Vargas—Mulcahy’s, Wantagh, NY
12/13—Oraculum/Angel Vivaldi/Gyre/Ascending From Ashes/Canopy Veil/As Glory Fades/Eels Of Love/Localide—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/19—That Metal Show’s Holiday Bash featuring Psychoprism/Madysin Hatter/Gathering After Ashes/Stereo Outlaws—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/27—Battlecross/Wretched/War Of Ages/Julius Seizure/Monument Of A Memory—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
