SPOONFED—Cliffside Park, NJ
I recently received an email from former Apathy bassist John Titkamason asking me to give his new project, Spoonfed, a listen. I logged onto spoonfednj.com, where I heard some of the most brutal attacks on NJ metal that I’ve heard in a while. The songs “Choke” and “Kill Me Before Sunrise” are incredibly aggressive vocally with guitar riffs that just keep punching you in the head until you submit. But then a song called “Darkness Faded” came on. This song was much less aggressive, and exhibited a whole different side of the band making them extremely diverse! Very nice!
Spoonfed formed back in 2010 when singer Juri Marusic went looking to start a music project that was heavy and mean. Juri managed to contact former Apathy bassist John Titkamason, and Spoonfed was born. Juri and John’s mission was to round out the Spoodfed lineup by finding the right musicians to help them take the music scene by surprise. John was contacted by an old high school chum about a guitar player who might be interested. So John and Juri met with guitarist Rob Milani, and decided to move forward with him. The missing piece to their puzzle was a drummer. After two months of auditions, Chris Monaco tore it up and joined the band.
Spoonfed is currently writing new material for their debut full-length CD, which they hope to fill with 13 tracks. For now, you can purchase their self-titled demo via spoonfednj.com, where you can also find out where they’re playing next. Or you can just catch them live at The Blue Room in Secaucus, NJ, on Dec. 10.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My old bud, Evan Toth, seems to be on his way back to the main stage these days. He’ll be taking the stage this Thursday night (Dec. 1) at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ, with Jay Della Vale and A Clean Getaway. All proceeds from this show will go to benefit Movember, Prostate Cancer Foundation and Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Foundation. The following weekend Evan and his Evan Toth Band will be heading up to Westchester on Dec. 9 to open for the legendary Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes at The Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY. For more info on these shows, log onto evantoth.com.
The Compulsions have finally released their long-awaited debut CD, Beat The Devil, via iTunes. This CD features a core line-up of main Compulsion Rob Carlyle, guitarist Richard Fortus from Guns ‘N’ Roses, bassist Sami Yaffa from The New York Dolls and drummer Frank Ferrer, also from Guns ‘N’ Roses, along with many of Rob’s favorite local musicians, including legendary bluesman Hubert Sumlin from Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. Go to your iTunes store today and download Beat The Devil! You won’t be let down! Trust me!
And finally, a big show hits Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ, this Thursday night (12/1)! Steel Panther makes their first stop in New Jersey in two years. This time they’ll have The Jersey Syndicate opening for them. If you haven’t seen Steel Panther live yet, you have no idea what you’re missing! Tickets might still be available, and trust me; you’ll want to see this show! For more ticket info, log onto starlandballroom.com.
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:
11/30—Steel Panther/Fosterchild—Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
12/1—Steve Brown—Firehouse Eatery, Rahway, NJ
12/1—Evan Toth Band/Jay Della Vale/A Clean Getaway—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
12/1—Steel Panther/The Jersey Syndicate—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
12/2—Steve Brown—Willie McBride’s II, Branchburgh, NJ
12/3—Jaded Past/Ted Poley—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/3—Sundown Conspiracy—The Loop Lounge, Passaic Park, NJ
12/3—Steve Brown and the Fallout—Blackthorn, Parsippany, NJ
12/4—Our Black Friday—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
12/5—Steve Brown and the Fallout—Sands Casino, Bethlehem, PA
12/9—Rhythm Trip (reunion show)/Sic Flux/Mindswitch/Lionel Pryor/Purveyor—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/9—Evan Toth Band/Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes—Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
12/9—A Pale Horse Named Death—Webster Hall, NYC
12/9—Steve Brown—Beachcomber Club, Seaside Heights, NJ
12/10—Borgo Pass—The Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY
12/10—Kix/Spread Eagle/Trimm/The Dirty Stayouts/Circle of Insanity—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
12/10—A Pale Horse Named Death/BoundAlive/Lykken 21/Black Ocean/CookieHead—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/10—Doomsday Prophecy—The Irish, Kearny, NJ
12/10—Arch Demon/Spoonfed/Morningside Lane/Embrace Agony—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
12/10—Steve Brown—Chakra, Paramus, NJ
