I was recently emailed about a great band out of West New York, NJ. The name of the band is Nuclear Harvest, and when I popped onto their MySpace page to hear a few of their songs, their music reminded me so much of the music that I’ve written with my old band Smoke Star. Two songs in particular reminded me of my old band, “Abandon” and “The Beginning.” Needless to say, I have a soft spot in my heart for this band. Vocally, though, I felt that something was missing. Not that singer Matthew Boutillier has a horrible voice, I thought that he had an excellent voice, and I can’t seem to put my finger on it, but it just seemed to be lacking something in the way the songs were sung. Then again, I’m one person and the next reviewer might love the way the vocals sound, but with the style of music Nuclear Harvest is writing, I picture something a little bit more aggressive. Regardless, this is some great music by these boys!
Based out of West New York, NJ, Nuclear Harvest claims to be a band “that’ll catch you off guard with they’re in-your-face songwriting style.” I might have to agree as their riffs are really catchy and aggressive in nature, which would land them in the hard rock category on the local scene. The band recently finalized their line-up with the addition of singer Matthew Boutillier, who’s no stranger to playing big shows. He’s opened for national acts like Ill Nino, OTEP, Walls Of Jericho, Soulfly, Kittie, and Powerman 5000, making him a perfect fit for this band destined for great things. The members of Nuclear Harvest are said to be influenced by many bands from the rock scene both past and present, which explains their highly energetic, intense, and raw sound that fits on this unclaimed scene today. Singer Matthew Boutillier is surrounded by guitarists Marc Bernuy and Anthony Gomes, bassist Johnny B., and drummer Thomas Finch.
Nuclear Harvest is currently putting the finishing touches on their self-titled debut CD, which they are hoping to have out this spring. For now, the boys from West New York, NJ, will be promoting their upcoming new CD with their energetic live shows around the tri-state area and beyond.
North Jersey Notes Updates
To promote the upcoming, highly-anticipated Hades reunion show at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, on April 21, Hades guitarist Dan Lorenzo recently took over the halls of Seton Hall’s Pirate Radio station, WSOU, for a half hour. Dan spoke of the reunion show while spinning some of his favorite tracks from Clutch, Corrosion Of Conformity, Overkill, and Autumn Hour, which is Hades’ singer Alan Tecchio’s new project.
I just received an email from my bud and Cashmier singer, Vinnie Albano, letting me know about a very cool show happening this Saturday night, April 3, down at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. The line-up consists of Cashmier, Chris Vaughn Band, American Angel, Xenon, and Law And Order. The show is being listed as “The Birch Hill Nite Club Reunion.” For those of you scratching your heads, The Birch Hill Nite Club was the premiere rock club down in Old Bridge, NJ, for local and national acts to play at not so long ago. Vince also told me that Law And Order used to open for his band Cashmier many moons ago, which I found pretty funny! If you can’t head down south, there’s a makeup reunion show happening up north the same night at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ. I’m talking about the Trixter reunion show that was rescheduled from February.
And finally, keeping with the theme of this week’s reunion updates, my bass brother, Dave Neabore recently emailed me to let me know that Dog Eat Dog is also reuniting for two very special shows with the original line-up to commemorate their 20th Anniversary. They’ll be performing this Friday night, April 2, at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ, and Saturday night, April 3, at Webster Hall in NYC. It sounds like this weekend is going to be a busy one! Dave also told me that at these two shows Dog Eat Dog will only be performing songs off of their Warrant EP and All Boro Kings. This will be the first U.S. show for Dog Eat Dog in four years, and the only chance to see the original line-up.
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, where you can also let me know where you’re performing next. No cover bands, please! Also, if you haven’t checked out my podcast yet, do it now at northjerseynotes.mypodcast.com!
Just remember….We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
NJN Concert Calendar
3/31—Steve Brown—The Grasshopper Also, Carlstadt, NJ
4/1—Steve Brown—The Firehouse Eatery and Pub, Rahway, NJ
4/2—Pain of Days—Ace of Clubs, NYC
4/2—Dog Eat Dog—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
4/2—Steve Brown—Arirang Japanese Steakhouse, Mountainside, NJ
4/3—Cashmier/American Angel/Xenon/Law and Order—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
4/3—Trixter (make-up date)—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
4/3—Nuclear Harvest—Don Hill’s, NYC
4/3—Black Water Rising—Juggs-N-Strokers, Merrick, NY
4/3—Dog Eat Dog—Webster Hall, NYC
4/3—Diablo Royale—The College Corner, Elmira, NY
4/9—Uncle Freak—The Loop Lounge, Passaic Park, NJ
4/9—Trixter/L.A. Guns—The Crazy Donkey, Farmingdale, NY
4/10—Our Black Friday—The Cup Complex, Linden, NJ
4/10—Kosmic Daydream—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
4/10—Pain of Days (Rock N Roll for Nick Benefit)—Tiki Stadium, Keansburg, NJ
4/11—Ender/Fantazma—Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ
4/16—Ghost and the Big Sky—Shortways Barn, Hawthorne, NJ
4/16—Moth Eater—Mr. Beery’s, Bethpage, NY
4/17—Our Black Friday—Big John’s Pub, Newfoundland, NJ
4/17—Ender—24 Club, Princeton, NJ
4/21—Hades—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
