Tragically Yours bassist Doug Hoekstra recently sent me an email through the brand new Aquarian website and he wanted me to give his band a listen. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m always a little leery when bands ask me to give them a listen because I’m always afraid of what I will hear. This time, I lucked out! Tragically Yours have this great modern rock about them. Singer Joe De Prospero reminds me of Scott Weiland on a song called “Sister Stone” off of the band’s debut CD, Redemption Of The Damned. The hook in the song was taken right out of a Stone Temple Pilots book. Nice job! Musically, songs like “Give Me One Reason” and “Bittersweet You” have a Velvet Revolver and Stone Temple Pilots feel to them with the powerful rock riffs and infectious melodies. I really dug the songs that I heard, and the melodies will be stuck in your head for hours.
Tragically Yours was formed in 2008 out of lovely Wayne, NJ, when bassist Doug Hoekstra went looking for a new avenue to express the songs that had been floating around in his head. He recruited singer Joe De Prospero and long-time friend Danny Glozzy to play drums. The Tragically Yours project was on its way. While writing Doug’s songs and developing their own style, the threesome went through a long and painful search for the right guitarist to complete the line-up. They came across Ian Stafford, who played guitar for the now defunct Sleeping Revolt. His playing skills brought a whole new life to Doug’s songs. Tragically Yours was ready!
They recently released their debut CD, Redemption Of The Damned, which can be purchased on the band’s MySpace page, myspace.com/TragicallyYours. You can actually catch these boys live this Friday night, Sept. 11, after remembering 9/11 down at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ. You can also go to their MySpace page to find out where they’re playing next!
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My boys The Compulsions from NYC will be performing a Music Industry Showcase at the Bowery Electric down on the Bowery in NYC on Sept.17. The event will also feature Frank Ferrer and Richard Fortus from Guns ‘N Roses and Sami Yaffa from the legendary New York Dolls. This should be an amazing night! The Compulsions’ latest single, “Jungle Disease,” is getting such rave reviews that it was even featured on WRXP’s The Rock Show with Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram. “Jungle Disease” is a rockin’ track and probably the best that I’ve heard from these boys yet! Check it out on myspace.com/thecompulsions.
I just got a text from Incognito Theory singer Dave Incognito letting me know that he had some good news about the band, as he always does! Dave told me that Incognito Theory finally released their long-awaited debut CD, Forsaken, which can be purchased at myspace.com/incognitotheory or through CD Baby. He also told me that he and guitarist/producer Ronnie Blakkfoxx have settled on a final line-up! So, Incognito Theory is: Dave Incognito on vocals, Ron Blakkfoxx on guitars, Jay Prussack on guitars, Steve Bloodgood on bass, and Rob Goellner on drums. The band should be hitting a stage near you this fall to promote Forsaken. To find out where they’ll be playing log onto myspace.com/incognitotheory.
And finally, speaking of CD releases, my new band, Mean Venus, has released their second full-length CD titled Crazy Ass American. The CD can be purchased on iTunes, Amazon, Napster, and other digital download sites. If you want to give Mean Venus a listen before buying the CD, you can listen to the title track “Crazy Ass American” and the latest single, “Next Time Around,” on myspace.com/wwwmeanvenuscom or meanvenus.com. You can also catch Mean Venus live at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, on Sept. 19 when we open for ‘80s Christian Rock icons, Stryper.
That’s all for now! And remember, 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!
NJN Concert Calendar:
9/9—Rahway/Lillian Axe—Mexicali Blues Café, Teaneck, NJ
9/10—Rahway/Lillian Axe—Don Hill’s, NYC
9/11—Tragically Yours—Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ
9/11—Hyphen-One and Daylow—Utica Music Fest, Utica, NY
9/11—The Dirty Stayouts—The Loop Lounge, Passaic Park, NJ
9/11—Infernophonic/Seven Witches—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/12—Life Without Warning—Jimmy Rock Café, Moonachie, NJ
9/12—Charetta—Crash Mansion, NYC
9/12—Ape Fight—Rudy’s, New Haven, CT
9/12—Kosmic Daydream—The Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
9/12—Blinded By Anger/Akora—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/12—Hyphen-One and Daylow—Utica Music Fest, Utica, NY
9/14—Diablo Royale—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
9/17—The Compulsions—The Bowery Electric, NYC
9/18—Our Black Friday—Mount Holleran’s Towne Tavern, Parsippany, NJ
9/19—Apathy—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/19—Mean Venus/Stryper—The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
9/19—Hybrid Dawn/Charetta—L’Amour, Staten Island, NY
9/21—Diablo Royale—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
9/25—Mean Venus—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/27—Milan/Marcy Playground/Nine Days/Jimmie’s Chicken Shack—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
9/27—Our Black Friday “Jam For Janice Benefit”—Lurker Park, East Hanover, NJ
9/28—Diablo Royale—Arlene’s Grocery, NY
