An old North Jersey Notes friend of mine, Kraig Marshall, from the band State Of Revolution, recently reached out to me to check out a brand new project that he’s been working on. Of course, since I’ve known Kraig for so long through writing this column, I was more than happy to oblige. The name of his new project is Bastard Brigade and I have to say that if you love old school punk, you’ll love these guys! Some of it reminds me of early Sex Pistols meets modern day Green Day on songs like “Young And Pissed” and “Wrecking Ball,” but then songs like “What Did We Do,” which was my favorite track, come on and you think, “Wow! These guys are so diverse!” “What Did We Do” and “Death For Days” sounded more like a hard rock and metal track vocally, but then the song “Yanni Is A Skinhead” had more of a pop punk feel. I really liked the energy of Kraig’s new project! Oh, wait! As I’m writing this, I have a new favorite song! It’s called “Southern Sun” and it almost has a Down feel to it. Wow, the Bastard Brigade is here!
Guitarist and singer Kraig Marshall formed Bastard Brigade back in May earlier this year in his hometown of Clifton. Kraig had to put his present project, State Of Revolution, which he does with his wife/singer Sibvon Rose, on hold because the couple is expecting their first child at the beginning of the new year. So, a huge congrats to the new mommy and daddy! Marshall, who constantly needs to create, decided to put a project together with a couple of his fellow School Of Rock instructors. Oh, did I mention that he’s a School Of Rock instructor? Anyway, Kraig put his Bastard Brigade together, which consisted of his fellow instructors, singer Maurice “Moe” Watson and bassist Marc Shelton, and he even threw in someone familiar on drums in John “JP” Purcell, who plays with him in State Of Revolution.
I have to admit that I was really impressed with this new project of Kraig’s and would like to see it go further! He told me that they are putting the finishing touches on their debut CD, Get Violent, and hope to have it out sometime after the new Marshall baby is born. If you can’t wait until 2013 to hear Bastard Brigade, catch them live this Friday night (12/21) at The Blue Room in Secaucus. You can also check them out on bastardbrigade.com. Trust me, you will love this stuff, and I’m not just saying it because I know Kraig. These are some killer songs!
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
The guys from Dinosaur Eyelids have a new CD available via amazon.com. The name of the disc is Conflagration, which is a large destructive fire, and if it sounds anything like the previous two CDs, that’s exactly what Dinosaur Eyelids will be creating! I’m supposed to get my copy of Conflagration in a few days, so I’ll let you know how it is. Keep up to date on these guys on dinosaureyelids.com and buy their third CD, Conflagration, on Amazon.
One of my new favorite local bands that I will be featuring in the very near future, Seas Of Wake, from Newton, have recently released a new single that totally kicks ass. The song is called “Welcome The Blistering” and it is thunderously brutal! You can download it for free right now at soundcloud.com/seasofwake. Catch Seas Of Wake’s energetic live show at Dingbatz on Thursday night (12/20) and then again on 12/29 when they open for the recently reunited 40 Below Summer, or check them out at facebook.com/seasofwake.
And finally, my bros from Audio Machine seem to have parted ways with my old Mean Venus and Sik Twisted Smile guitarist, Marcelo Cardosa, due to some personal issues. I hope Marcelo finds something new soon because he’s one talented mofo when it comes to shredding. Filling the Audio Machine guitarist void for now is another brother of mine, former Lowbuz guitarist Rob “The Rob” Tarulli. I’m not sure if The Rob is going to be a permanent member or not, but I, personally, think he’s a perfect fit for the band. Check Audio Machine out on facebook.com/audiomachinemusic.
Oh wait! Don’t forget! My bro Marc Rizzo rocks The Blue Room this Saturday night (12/22) with Carnavarice Breath, my bros Scars Of Envy and Murder League All-Stars, my new boys Brand Of Julez, and Lethal Affection. Bring an unwrapped toy to this amazing benefit toy event and see these great bands this weekend!
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:
12/20—Beyond Visible/Seas Of Wake/Halfwitted Dogs/The Dead Elvi—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/20—Mercury Morning—R-Bar, NYC
12/21—Bastard Brigade—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
12/21—Hanzel Und Gretyl/Doomsday Prophecy/Darkness Descends/The Persevering Promise—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/21—Kosmic Daydream—Hat City Kitchen, Orange, NJ
12/22—Marc Rizzo/Carnavarice Breath/Scars Of Envy/Murder League All-Stars/Brand Of Julez/Lethal Affection—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
12/22—Ghosts Of Eden/Bound By Substance/Revel 9/Last Stand For Lucy—Mercury Lounge, NYC
12/22—Blue Movie/Devilhaus/Station/Wetspot—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/27—Julius Seizure/Thanatotic Desire/Shadows Of Dawn—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/28—40 Below Summer/Thy Will Be Done/Darkness Descends/Mindswitch/Beyond Visible —Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/29—40 Below Summer/Seas Of Wake/Aurin/Empire Fallen—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/31—Atom Strange—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
1/4/2013—The Dirty Pearls—The Bowery Ballroom, NYC
1/4/2013—Michale Graves/The Dead Elvi/The Unknown—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
1/5/2013—Fever Vein/Gas NYC—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
1/5/2013—BlackOcean—La Grand Fromage, Atlantic City, NJ
1/11/2013—Alekhine’s Gun/Seas Of Wake/Leech/Valor—The Studio at Webster Hall, NYC
1/12/2013—Dead Fish Handshake/Scars Of Envy/Ixion Lux—Roxy and Dukes Roadhouse, Dunellen, NJ
1/13/2013—Ionia/Saint Diablo—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
1/13/2013—Lords of Mercy—The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
