JADED PAST—South Plainfield, NJ
I recently stumbled across a new band with a familiar voice. The name of the band is Jaded Past, and for some reason the name seems to fit the band. I gave Jaded Past a listen on reverbnation.com/jadedpast, I heard a retro-sounding vocal that I knew I’d heard before. The songs “Roxy Roller” and “One Step Closer” had that sleazy sound that would’ve packed quite a crowd at the old Studio One in Newark, NJ, back in the ‘80s. The vocals belonged to George Becker, who used to go by the name Rat Rage, singer of the old and extremely popular North Jersey glam band Wicked Sin.
Wicked Sin was a very popular glam trash rock band who were staples of the New York and New Jersey music scene in the mid to late ‘80s. Wicked Sin regrouped last year and released a full-length CD called Strictly For Pleasure, which can be purchased on CDbaby.com and iTunes. So, instead of waiting for Wicked Sin’s next run, singer George Becker decided to put Jaded Past together and go from there. Joining George “Rage” Becker in Jaded Past is a guy called LSD on guitar, Mark Mayer on bass and Paul Bergen on drums.
Back in April, Jaded Past released a four-song EP called Bad Influence, which features the songs I mentioned earlier. This EP can also be found on CDbaby.com and iTunes. These guys might have a retro-sound, but hey, retro is in!
Catch Jaded Past live this Sunday night at Roxy And Dukes in Dunellen, NJ, or wait until Nov. 5 to catch them with my bros from Spread Eagle and Long Gone Day at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ. If you’d like to give Jaded Past a listen, log onto reverbnation.com/jadedpast.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
Local guitar hero Steve Bello finally sent me a copy of his new CD, Go Bezerk!, and it was more than worth the wait! I already heard “Surfing To Venus,” so that was no surprise, but the title track, “Scratch That Itch,” “Throwing Away My Skin” and “Chomp” were tasty little nuggets of ear candy. Steve says he’s getting much airplay overseas in Italy, Greece and Belgium, while recently receiving some domestic airplay in Las Vegas. This is great news for a local guitar hero! Check out Steve Bello and his new CD, Go Bezerk! at facebook.com/steviehimself.
My buds, Joe and Crystal Cattano at AARIUS Rehearsal Studios in Sayreville, NJ, have teamed up with a major cable network to film a TV pilot for a reality show that is about men and women who have successful careers by day, but are closet rock stars at night. AARIUS is currently casting for this show and the participants selected will be given a rock ‘n’ roll makeover, which will include promotion, recording, rehearsal and management, all courtesy of AARIUS Studios. Applicants should email realityTV@aariusstudios.com no later than this Friday (Sept. 23).
Speaking of Joe Cattano, has anyone seen his band, Makara’s new “9/11 Tribute” music video featuring local rap artist Uni V. Sol? It’s awesome! Check it out now on YouTube.
And finally, it seems local music has another new home. My bro Tim McMurtrie from Murder League All-Stars has taken over The Blue Room in Secaucus, NJ, and joining Tim on this venture is a couple of familiar faces in Jay Sick and my pal Sue Delaney, formerly of Dingbatz. Tim’s first order of business was giving the room a full makeover updating the sound system and lighting system with all new gear. As for the local music scene, on Thursday nights, The Blue Room will open its doors to local bands and 89.5 FM WSOU’s “The Great NJ Band Hunt” hosted by Jay Sick and Tim’s Tripsquad Productions. If you want to get your band in to play the new Blue Room Lounge in Secaucus, NJ, email Tim McMurtrie at tripsquad-tim@hotmail.com. Finally, another rock club to play in the area that might even be just as reputable as Dingbatz!
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 tim@theaquarian.com, where you can also let me know where you’re performing next!
Just remember: We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
Tim Louie is the Author of S**t Happens.
NJN Concert Calendar:
9/22—Steve Brown—Firehouse Eatery, Rahway, NJ
9/23—Boundalive—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/23—Borgo Pass—Juggs-N-Strokers, Merrick, NY
9/24—Steve Brown and the Fallout—Seniorita’s Hyatt Hills Golf Club, Clark, NJ
9/24—Scarlet Carson CD Release Party/Life Without Warning/The New Black/Jaded Faith/Dive/Set It Free—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
9/24—Midnight Mosaic—Kenny’s Castaways, NYC
9/24—Fate Strikes Twice/Afroman—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/25—Jaded Past—Roxy and Duke’s Bandfest, Dunellen, NJ
9/29—Borgo Pass—Saint Vitus Bar, Brooklyn, NY
9/30—Steve Brown and the Fallout—Blackthorn, Parsippany, NJ
9/30—The Dirty Stayouts—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
9/30—John Rango (acoustic show)—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
10/1—Thank You Scientest/East of the Wall/Jolly—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
10/2—Kill Devil Hill/Texas Hippie Coalition—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/8—Sacred Oath/Spoonfed—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/8—Steve Brown and the Fallout—Grasshopper Off The Green, Morristown, NJ
10/13—With Dagger’s Drawn—Dobb’s, Philadelphia, PA
10/14—Fate Strikes Twice/August Infinity—The Studio at Webster Hall, NYC
10/14—In Disguise/Sundown Conspiracy—The Cup Complex, Linden, NJ
10/15—Audio Insight—Casey O’Tooles, Wayne, NJ
