BONE YARD—Rochester, NY
A few weeks ago, my band, Sik Twisted Smile, performed at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ with my boys from Black Water Rising and Sekond Skyn, with Corey Glover on vocals. The band that opened the night was Bone Yard from Rochester, NY. This gig for them was a traded gig with the boys from Black Water Rising. And we were more than happy to have them join us, cause they rocked.
They impressed me not just because their hard rock style is right up my alley, but because everyone in the band sang a song. They kind of remind me of Kiss, in that respect. Later, I went to myspace.com/boneyardtheband, to hear tracks like “Preacher Man,” “Voodoo Highway” and my favorite track “Trigger Finger.” These songs are just raw, southern hard rock. I love it!
Bone Yard is a new band that really isn’t that new. Though they made their debut on New Year’s Eve 2008, Bone Yard has been brewing in singer/guitarist JJ Lang’s head for years. He says that back in 1994, he envisioned a sound that was hard, raw and bluesy with guitars tuned to drop D. JJ claims that when Motley Crue released their self-titled CD without Vince Neil on it, his vision was realized, and that was the sound that he wanted for his new band. Originally calling the band, rachelsDEAD, JJ and Boneyard matured, through many incarnations, into a good ol’ hard rock band. The current lineup of Bone Yard is JJ Lang on guitar/vocals, Kevin Rothbeind on bass/vocals, Mick Lee on guitar/vocals and Brian Donnelly on the drums.
The boys from Bone Yard recorded their latest CD Voodoo Highway in two days for a mere $300. For those of you who have paid for studio time to record you know that it can be pretty expensive, but $300? Really? They are currently playing whenever and wherever they can to promote Voodoo Highway. They won’t be back at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ until January 29, 2011, but for now, you can get your Bone Yard fix at myspace.com/boneyardtheband.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My former Hostel Inc. brother/singer, Ray West and his solo project, APW recently opened for Doro Pesch at a sold out Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale, NY. This Thursday (10/28), Ray brings APW to the Gramercy Theater in NYC to open for The Devin Townsend Project. Yes, I said Devin Townsend, the unique looking, former leader of the metal band, Strapping Young Lad. Devin broke Strapping Young Lad up back in 2007 to spend more time with his family. After two years off, he’s been working on a four-album series called The Devin Townsend Project, with each CD written in a different style. For more on info on Devin Townsend, log onto myspace.com/devintownsenddtb or catch him live Thursday night with my boy Ray West and APW down at the Gramercy Theater in NYC.
I just checked out a video from Diablo Royale doing what they do best live on stage at The Highline Ballroom in NYC for Gotham Rock’s Two Year Anniversary Show. I’ve seen this band grow, and they truly are a force to be reckoned with on this scene. Check out their energy as they rock out their song “Resistance” from their latest CD Greedy Dogs on myspace.com/diabloroyale. Catch them live on Mischief Night, this Saturday Night (10/30) at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ.
And finally, speaking of videos, I just watched the latest video from Ape Fight, and I found myself cracking up over their idiocracy! That’s a word, right? The video is for their song “Sascrotch (Teresa’s Song)” off of their latest CD, Take Me to Your Beaver. The song seems to be about people who don’t shave their pubic hairs. At least that’s what I gathered from the video. Check it out at myspace.com/ApeFight. You will laugh your ass off!
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, or you can email me at chigger273@aol.com, where you can also let me know where you’re performing next. No cover bands, please! Also, check out my book, S**T Happens, available on Amazon.com now!
Just remember….We is all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
Tim Louie is the author of the new book, S**T Happens, available on Amazon.com now!
NJN Concert Calendar:
10/28—APW/Devin Townsend—The Gramercy Theater, NYC
10/28—Martyrd/The Misfits—Irving Plaza, NYC
10/30—Atom Strange—Ace of Clubs, NYC
10/30—Moth Eater—The Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY
10/30—Piston Driven—Ding Batz, Clifton, NJ
10/30—Blue Food/Thank You Scientist—The Bitter End, NYC
10/30—Bern and the Brights—Tierney’s Tavern, Montclair, NJ
10/30—Diablo Royale—Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ
11/5—Incognito Theory—Championship Bar and Grill, Trenton, NJ
11/5—Doubledge—The Sanctuary Fellowship, Bronx, NY
11/5—John Rango and Friends—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
11/7—Kindred Souls—Livingston Street Fair, Livingston, NJ
11/10—Killcode/Powerman 5000—Crazy Donkey, Farmingdale, NY
11/12—Sik Twisted Smile—Crash Mansion, NYC
11/12—Jeryl/Dira—Cool Beans Café, Oradell, NJ
11/12—With Daggers Drawn/Dead Men Dreaming/40 Below Summer—The Gramercy Theater, NYC
11/13—White Noise—Architekt Music, Butler, NJ
11/13—Killcode/APW—Ding Batz, Clifton, NJ
11/13—Bern and the Brights—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
