I recently received an email to check out this band out of Bloomfield, NJ, called Tashjian. Then again, can you call two guys with a pair of Les Pauls, two smart phones, one computer, one sampler, one drum machine, no amps and no vocals a band? Technically they’re a duo that just makes noise. I have to be honest—when I first heard “Panov At Play,” I thought, “Oh great! What the hell is this piece of crap I’m listening to?” However, the more I listened to it, the more I understood where Tashjian was going with their music. It almost hypnotizes you. Most of my readers might listen to their music and say that there’s no way that I could possibly like this, but I really did enjoy it! I actually liked the song “Panov At Sea” the most off of the duo’s most recent EP, The Great Panov. Don’t ask who Panov is! I’m still trying to figure these nerds out since they don’t even have names. They go by Tashjian 1 and Tashjian 2. Very Nerdy!
Tashjian is an extremely unconventional rock band. According to their bio, they’re not sure why they chose the name Tashjian for their project, but they do know that they bonded over their love of tea and German cars, which they used as inspiration for most, if not all, of the lyrics to their songs. The two commenced and started the project in April 2011 to confuse the hell out of critics and writers just like me. If you ask me, after listening to their music, they sound like two Trekkies who decided that they wanted to make music that only Trekkies would love. Again, I wish I can tell you who Tashjian is, but I guess the mystery behind the band is what makes people want to know more.
The band currently has three self-released EPs available online. There’s Panov 123, Panov In Motion, and The Great Panov. They are currently working on their first full-length CD, which will have to do with Panov in some shape or form. Tashjian actually takes their show on the road too! Unlike most bands, they play a consistent diet of shows about once every two to three weeks. Find out where these weirdos are playing next at reverbnation.com/tashjian.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
Congrats to my bros from BoundAlive! They recently won an E-World Music Award for Best Rock/Metal/Punk Band with their song “Lights Out!” The award ceremony was an online event that took place live from Paramount Studios in Hollywood and is used to celebrate excellence in independent music. So this is kind of a big deal for the boys in BoundAlive! You can hear the award-winning “Lights Out!” live on Thursday night (7/5) at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ. For more on BoundAlive, log onto reverbnation.com/boundalive.
In case you haven’t heard yet, I’ve been hosting a brand new webcast called Project: American Studio based out of Aarius Studios in Old Bridge, NJ. The online episodes will be used to coincide with Joe and Crystal Cattano’s upcoming new reality show, Getting The Band Back Together. The webisodes will be a visual version of this column where a local unsigned band will be featured in each show. The first show features my boys Scarlet Carson and it can be seen at youtu.be/ShpoZn_eu0E. Some other upcoming artists include Zombie Mafia, A Clever Con, Set It Free, Dead Fish Handshake and Black Water Rising. If you’d like to take part in an upcoming webcast, just contact me at the email address below.
And finally, I need to get something off my chest that’s been bothering me for weeks regarding bands who email me their information asking for a review in my column. If you don’t have thick enough skin to read an honest opinion about your band, then don’t bother contacting me. This is a business and not everyone is going to like what you’re doing. Just because I don’t like your music, it doesn’t mean that 10 other people will feel the same as I do. My opinions of all your works are my own and are never influenced by anyone. Also, if you have a problem with my review on you, have a backbone and email me directly with the address below. Don’t be a wuss and leave wall comments about me or my family members on Facebook because that’s just high school B.S. You know who you are and you’re not going anywhere in this business if you can’t even handle an honest opinion from me.
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:
7/5—BoundAlive—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/6—Panzie*/Gas NYC/Rahway—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/6—Ixion Lux—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
7/6—Trimm/Filter—The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
7/7—Set It Free/Breathing Blue—Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, NJ
7/11—Cashmier/Ace Frehley—Best Buy Theater, NYC
7/13—Midnight Mosaic—EJ’s Tavern, Seaside Heights, NJ
7/13—Darkness Fest—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/14—Monmouth School Of Rock/Xero Gravity/Ixion Lux/Lower The Veil/Sleepy Hollow/Exxplorer/Prophet/Black Water Rising/Cycle Of Pain—Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ
7/14—Mother/Scarlet Carson—The Legendary Dobbs, Philadelphia, PA
7/14—InDisguise—The Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
7/14—The Plot Thickens/BoundAlive/Fever Vein—The Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
7/15—Aurin/Spineshank/The Agonist—Championships Bar and Grill, Trenton, NJ
7/19—The August Infinity—Highline Ballroom, NYC
7/20—Panzie*/Anaka–The Gamercy, NYC
7/21—Killcode—Irving Plaza, NYC
7/28—Scarlet Carson/Life Without Warning/Set It Free—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
7/28—Panzie*–The Hampton Bowl, Hampton, NY
8/4—Black Water Rising/Kix/Our Black Friday—Rockin’ The Lake Summer Festival, Pompton Lakes, NJ
