SCARLET CARSON—Toms River, NJ
I found an amazing band out of Toms River, NJ that could possibly be the next big rock band to come out of Dirty Jersey. They’re young, they have a great look and their music is extremely rock radio-friendly! The name of the band is Scarlet Carson, and they get it. Most bands in Jersey seem to have forgotten the lost art of the image. Playing and writing music is only a third of the game. The business aspect is another part and then there’s the image and look of the band. A band can suck, but their image and attitude can draw attention from fans.
Just look at Motley Crue, admittedly horrible musicians, but they built a fan base around their attitude and look. Scarlet Carson however, can play! I loved their songs “Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘N’ Roll,” “Daddy’s Little Girl” and of course, the radio hit “West Coast Dreamer.” Singer, Santino Hollywood, has an amazing voice, and in song “West Coast Dreamer,” when he sings “Dreaming of the West Coast, while I’m dying on the East, I’m a Hollywood Rock Star, it’s what I bleed,” he summed up my whole life!
Scarlet Carson formed in 2008 and took on the rock sound of the West Coast. What do I mean by that? I mean that they were influenced by bands like Guns N Roses, Avenged Sevenfold, Buckcherry, Papa Roach and Motley Crue, all of whom are from the beautiful west coast! Though, they do have a west coast sound, Scarlet Carson is made up of all New Jersey natives in Hollywood as lead singer, a lead guitarist named Stone, rhythm guitarist Tommy Licore, bassist Mike O’Mayhem and a dude named Raab behind the kit. This ‘self-proclaimed’ pack of musical deviants has already begun carving out their niche on the local music scene with performances at the 2009 Warped Tour at Monmouth Raceway and the 2009 and 2010 Bamboozle Festival. They were also the 2009 winners of the WRAT’s Ratfest Band search contest allowing them to play the Monster Energy stage opening for Motley Crue, Godsmack and Drowning Pool. They didn’t stop there as they’ve also won the 2010 Break Contest allowing them their slot on the main stage of the 2010 Bamboozle Festival.
This band only formed in 2008, and they’ve accomplished all of this in a span of two years. Back in April, Scarlet Carson performed a sold-out Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ opening for Papa Roach. In August, they opened for New Jersey’s own Skid Row at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and most recently, Scarlet Carson opened for Motley Crue head howler, Vince Neil at Irving Plaza in NYC. They have a full-length CD called Burn It All available now on scarletcarson.com, where you can get all of your info about the band. Trust me, this band is worth the listen!
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
The boys from Panzie* are back in the studio to record their still untitled CD with the same guy that is producing the upcoming Killcode record. The Panzie* CD will feature 10 brand new songs, minus “Alphabet Soup,” which is featured on the band’s soon-to-be released demo making the song a kind of collector’s item. You can still hear “Alphabet Soup” at myspace.com/panzierocknroll. The band is also currently looking for a new bass player and drummer. If you’re interested, contact them on that very same myspace page.
Looks like my boy, Jeff Baron from the band Ghost and the Big Sky, is back in his seat behind the drums. Jeff, who is also known as Rinkus Tinkerton, was in a really bad motorcycle accident a few months back. After surgery and months of therapy, Jeff, or Rinkus, is ready to rock again! I’m not sure if riding a motorcycle is in his near future, but welcome back anyway, Jeff! Speaking of Ghost and the Big Sky, the boys recently released a video for their song “Bordertown,” which is also featured in the movie Laid Off. Log onto myspace.com/ghostandthebigsky, to see the video for “Bordertown” or to find out when Ghost and the Big Sky is playing next!
And finally, Echofission singer, Geb just finished up work on his duet project EP, Ain’t Life Sweet, with solo artist Jaymie Gerard. The EP was produced by Ape Fight’s MOD Alien and is currently available on iTunes for a mere $3.96. To give Ain’t Life Sweet a listen, you can log onto their widget, tunecore.com/widgets/show/9516.
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!
Just remember… We are all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
Tim Louie is the Author of S**t Happens.
NJN Concert Calendar:
11/17—Steve Brown—The Copper Bottom, Florida, NY
11/19—Incognito Theory—Architekt Music, Butler, NJ
11/19—Steve Brown—Arirang Hibachi Steakhouse, Mountainside, NJ
11/20—Apathy/Overkill—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
11/20—Anaka—Song’s W.G., Brooklyn, NY
11/20—Woodfish—The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
11/20—Steve Brown and the Fallout—The Grasshopper, Wayne, NJ
11/24—Mucky Pup/Murphy’s Law—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
11/24—Life Without Warning—Architekt Music, Butler, NJ
11/26—Trixter/Jersey Syndicate—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
11/27—Rahway—The Fixx, Red Bank, NJ
11/27—Steve Brown and the Fallout—The Firehouse Eatery and Pub, Rahway, NJ
12/3—With Daggers Drawn/Nonpoint/In This Moment/Taking Dawn—Santos Party House, NYC
12/4—Christa Renee/Daylow—National Underground, NYC
12/4—Anaka—Don Hill’s, NYC
12/4—Borgo Pass—Jugs and Strokers, Merrick, NY
12/8—Third Kind—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
12/10—Shat/Piston Driven/Boundalive—Ding Batz, Clifton, NJ
