Congrats to my brothers from Diablo Royale! They recently won a two-date battle of the bands making them fliptup.com’s “Band Of The Year.” The first date took place back in July, which made them the New York region champs. The finals took place a few weekends ago, where the three top bands in the country took the stage. Fans voted online and through text messages. With over 1,000 votes and the judges’ blessing, Diablo Royale won the “Band Of The Year” honors, meaning that they won $2,500 cash, a free music video to be produced, and distribution and media promotion in the Philippines. So, please help me congratulate Diablo Royale on rocking hard and making us proud!
I guess while I’m feeling generous with congratulations, I also want to send one out to the boys from Echofission! Why them again? Because they’ve officially gone national! Two songs from their latest CD, The Straights, were recently featured on Fox Sports Radio’s J.T. And The Brick’s radio program. The songs were featured on a segment called “MySpace Mondays.” So, congrats to them—again! To learn more about Echofission, log onto echofission.com.
Does anyone remember me mentioning a reality show featuring the folks at Aarius Studios in Sayreville, NJ? Well, the pilot has finally hit the airwaves! That’s right! Joe and his crew have a story to tell and it all comes out on film. The show is filmed right out of the studio warehouse down in Sayreville, NJ, where they have been filming for months. To watch the full pilot episode, log onto youtube.com/MusicIncorporated08.
Anyone else go to the Black Water Rising EP release party a couple of weekends ago at the Lucky 13 Saloon in Brooklyn, NY? My lady friend and I did, and we had a blast! It was a nice intimate setting for my boys to play in. They played on the floor in a packed room that felt like hundreds of people when in actuality there was only probably around 50 people in the joint. Everyone was pretty much on top of the band, who played in front of both bathroom entrances, so that alone made for a good time! The boys from Black Water Rising ripped through songs off of the EP like “Living Proof,” my favorite song “Hate Machine,” and their hit single “Brother Go On,” and they rocked like they always do! Buy their EP now at myspace.com/ blackwaterrising or catch them live tonight, Nov. 5, down at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ.
One band that I haven’t heard from in quite awhile is a band called Kindred Souls. They recently emailed me to update me on what’s been happening, and it seems like a lot has been happening with them and for them. They’re currently in the studio recording their new CD, Social Ninja, with producer Loren Toolajian, whom also produced Sheryl Crow, Alicia Keys, and American Idol star Jennifer Hudson, to name a few. Kindred Souls also, just this past weekend, performed on the main stage of the IMG New York City Marathon down at Central Park South in NYC. This was their fifth year performing at the international event. For more on Kindred Souls, log onto kindred-souls.com.
And finally, after not hearing from John Kosco and his cohorts from Saint Caine in months, well actually since the departure of guitarist Joey “Smokes” Wilkinson, arose a brand new song on the band’s MySpace page, myspace.com/saintcaine, called “Any Day Now.” Now, I’ve never heard this song before, and John just recently posted it and people are commenting on how much they like the new song, so I guess that it’s safe to assume that it is indeed a new song, and it does rock! But what does the mysterious Saint Caine have up their sleeves? They haven’t found a guitar player to fill Joe’s vacancy, and they haven’t played a live show in almost a year, but they’re still turning out new songs. Inquiring minds do want to know, John! What’s the story? Find out more about Saint Caine at myspace.com/saintcaine.
That’s all for now! If your band is from North Jersey and you want some exposure, send your demos and press kits to Arts Weekly, c/o Tim Louie P.O. Box 1140 Little Falls, NJ 07424. No cover bands, please!
Just remember… We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
