I recently got a text from my bro, Steve Brown from Trixter, letting me know that he just produced a new band out of North Jersey, and felt that they could use some press. For Steve’s sake, this band had better be good! The name of the band is 100 to One, and they actually express mailed me their debut CD, which was appropriately titled “Long Shot.” Get it? 100 to One? “Long Shot?” Anyway, these five guys were actually children!
I had to hear what Steve did with this band, so I popped their CD in and they weren’t bad at all! The opening track “Stuck Again” was as catchy as the closing track “Got to Go,” which the band has a video for on their website, 100toone.com. The song “Party Room” was anthemic, but aren’t these kids too young to party? Then there’s the song “My Addiction.” I couldn’t help, but think ‘what do these children know about addiction?’ Singer Cameron Perez sounds great for his age, but what happens when he hits puberty? Will there be a Peter Brady moment? These kids are talented and have a great mentor in Steve Brown.
100 to One formed when brothers, Dillon and Dean D’Antuono and brothers, Sam and Thomas Doolen decided to team up and play music together. The foursome needed a singer since Thomas, Dillon, and Dean switched it up on guitars and bass while Sam held down the drum position. The boys tapped on their buddy Cameron Perez to sing for them to complete the lineup of 100 to One. The quintet would start out playing covers from bands like Green Day, AC/DC, and Van Halen until they realized that they preferred to write their own music rather than playing other people’s music. After a few original gigs, they caught the ear of Trixter guitarist Steve Brown, who offered his services and produced the band’s debut CD Long Shot, which is available now on iTunes.
For a bunch of kids, 100 to One doesn’t seem to be doing too badly for themselves thus far. They seem to be landing some pretty high-profiled gigs like the one on Aug. 28 with New Jersey rockers, Skid Row down at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. You have to check out 100 to One when you get a minute. You’ll be hearing a lot from these guys for years to come! Check them out now at 100toone.com.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My ‘guitar hero”, Steve Bello, recently sent me a message letting me know that he will officially be going into the studio to record his upcoming CD, Go Berzerk, in mid-September at Bennett Studios in Englewood, NJ. The CD is set to be engineered by Grammy Award-winning engineer, Johnnie Truesdale.
Steve also stated that rehearsals have been pretty intense, the songs are now super-tight, and he feels that “this is the best line-up he’s had to date”! The Steve Bello Band lineup now includes Steve Bello, bassist Joe DeMott, and drummer Ed Faust. To catch up with the Steve Bello Band, long onto myspace.com/stevebello.
New Jersey’s own 40 Below Summer will be returning to the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on October 2 with God Forbid, Dead Men Dreaming, and With Daggers Drawn in tow. Yes, I know! 40 Below Summer singer Max Illidge and guitarist Joey D’Amico are in With Daggers Drawn. Well, it turns out; Max and Joey will be pulling double duty that night. They will play a full set with their new band and then with 40 Below Summer, they will perform their 2001 CD “Invitation to Dance” in its entirety. For tickets to this unbelievable show, log onto Starlandballroom.com.
And finally, speaking of the Starland Ballroom, I needed to mention the debut of my new North Jersey band, Sik Twisted Smile at the Starland Ballroom, was amazing! The sold-out crowd was very responsive to our music, and headliners Candlebox loved the band so much that even they mentioned the us during their set, only to hear the crowd roar when hearing the name Sik Twisted Smile. Without sounding biased, some great things are in store for this band, so keep your ears peeled! Check out my new band at myspace.com/siktwiztedsmile.
Just remember….We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
NJN Concert Calendar:
8/18—Filter Effect/Queensryche—Paramount Theater, Asbury Park, NJ
8/20—ZO2—The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY
8/21—Filter Effect—Keansburg Rock Festival, Keansburg, NJ
8/22—Steve Brown—Tiki Stadium, Keansburg, NJ
8/22—Filter Effect—Ding Batz, Clifton, NJ
8/25—Diablo Royale—Santos Party House, NYC
8/27—Voodoo Terror Tribe/Cookiehead—Ding Batz, Clifton, NJ
8/27—Steve Brown and The Fallout—The Beachcomber Bar, Seaside Heights, NJ
8/28—ZO2—Queens Library, Flushing, NY
8/28—Borgo Pass—Ace of Clubs, NYC
8/28—Will Killmore—Bogota VFW, Bogota, NJ
8/28—Steve Brown—The Beachcomber Bar, Seaside Heights, NJ
8/29—Kindred Souls—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
8/29—Murder League All-Stars—Bar A, Lake Como, NJ
8/29—Steve Brown and The Fallout—PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
8/31—Filter Effect—Webster Hall, NYC
9/2—Auraborus—Crash Mansion, NYC
