Dan Monda, drummer of the band HMS Revenge, recently emailed me saying that he would “really, really, really, really appreciate it” if I would check out his band. I did just that, like I always do when bands email me, and I loved it! I heard a really heavy Radiohead influence on all of the songs and maybe even Jeff Buckley or Jimmy Gnecco influence on them, as well. Bottom line is these guys were awesome! Singer Rick Warren’s vocals were very powerful, yet soothing a la Thom Yorke on songs like “125,” “Entwined,” and “Sell My Skin.” Also being a sucker for cool bass lines, I particularly favored bass player Tom Warren’s lines.
HMS Revenge was formed by lead singer and guitarist, Rick Warren just last summer while on a break from his solo career where he was promoting his CD, Pink. Rick is no stranger to this music lifestyle. His mother is a professional opera singer while his dad is world renowned opera teacher, Michael Warren.
Rick eventually grew tired of the solo thing and began working on songs with drummer Dan Monda. The duo would continue writing, but needed to find like-minded musicians, which they did in lead guitarist Ciaran O’Donnell and Rick’s brother and bass player, Tom Warren. HMS Revenge would release their self-titled debut EP earlier this year.
Since releasing their self-titled debut EP, HMS Revenge has established a pretty strong fan base in the northern New Jersey/New York City region. The band was also extremely happy to have inked a management deal recently with Center Mass Media, an award winning film and entertainment production company. For more info on HMS Revenge or to hear what they sound like, log onto myspace.com/hmsrevenge.
North Jersey Notes Updates
My new favorite reality show, Project: American Studio featuring Aarius Studio owners Joe and Crystal Cattano and their favorite employee, Cigar, filmed an upcoming episode at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, last weekend. The show was set to follow former Rob Halford and Sebastian Bach guitarist “Metal” Mike Chlasciak’s solo performance at the rock club where he blew the roof off of the place. You’ll just have to wait and see the next episode of Project: American Studio to see what I’m talking about! You can catch an episode online only, for now, at myspace.com/projectamericanstudio.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, guitar whiz Steve Bello seems to have come out of retirement once again! Well, last week, Steve excitedly emailed me a new track that he recorded live in the rehearsal studio with two condenser mics. The song was called “Surfing To Venus” and it blew me away! The track was awesome and if this is any indication of what Steve is coming back with, fans of Steve Bello Band are in for a real treat! Steve Bello Band now consists of Steve Bello on guitar, Joe DeMott on the five-string bass, and my bro, Eddie Faust on drums! Steve said that he hopes to begin recording the upcoming Steve Bello Band CD, Go Berzerk, sometime in August. For more on the Steve Bello Band, log onto myspace.com/stevebello.
And finally, in some upsetting news, my brothers from Piston Driven have parted ways with bass player A.J. Tes, who has moved on to play bass for a solo artist named Riley Grace. This leaves a vacancy in the bass player position for the band, so if you think you have what it takes to play bass for Piston Driven, contact the band on their MySpace page, myspace.com/pistondriven, where you can also hear what they sound like if you’re not familiar with them.
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
5/26—Steve Brown—The Grasshopper, Morristown, NJ
5/27—Kosmic Daydream—The Bayou, Mount Vernon, NY
5/28—Uncle Freak—Casey O’Tooles, Wayne, NJ
5/28—Last Days of Empire—Crocodile Rock Café, Allentown, PA
5/28—Steve Brown and the Fallout—The Beachcomber Bar, Seaside Heights, NJ
5/29—Ghost and the Big Sky—Peakpack All Day Music Festival, Peapack, NJ
5/29—Steve Brown—The Beachcomber Bar, Seaside Heights, NJ
5/29—Evan Toth and Friends—The Triad Theater, NYC
5/29—Will Killmore—Fiesta Cancun, Nanuet, NY
5/29—Black Water Rising—The Vibe Lounge, Rockville Centre, NY
6/3—HMS Revenge—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
6/4—Will Killmore—The Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY
6/4—The Evan Toth Trio—NJPAC, Newark, NJ
6/5—Christine Martucci—The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
6/11—Diablo Royale—Jugs and Strokers, Merrick, NY
6/11—The Briar Patch—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
6/12—Diablo Royale—Crash Mansion, NYC
6/12—Will Killmore—Bogota VFW, Bogota, NJ
6/12—Atom Strange—Local 629 Bar, NYC
