I recently received an email from John Giordano, bassist for a band called Pending out of Garwood, NJ. Whenever I receive emails from groups, of course, I’m always curious to hear what they sound like. For the most part, if they’re not that good, I won’t write about them, but sometimes it’s fun to write about them and make fun of the fact that they are trying to be a band. This is not one of those occasions, as Pending are a pretty good alternative rock band! Singer EJ Gaub had the perfect alt rock voice and adding pianist/keyboardist Jen Davis was the perfect touch to round out their sound.
Pending formed in 2012 in Garwood, home of The Crossroads. Being that they’ve only been around for less than a year, they really don’t have much of a history as a band, but for being together for less than a year, Pending actually sounded like they had their shit together compared to most groups that I’ve heard who have been around a lot longer than they have. Pending’s lineup consists of singer and guitarist EJ Gaub, pianist/keyboardist Jen Davis, bassist John Giordano, guitarist Liam Hughes, and drummer Justin Bellifemine.
Pending released their first CD, Without Halo, this past June, which featured the songs “Walk On,” “Expendable Income” and “Redemption.” They’re also already in the studio working on CD number two, which they hope to release in the fall of this year. John also said in the email that Pending will be playing some live shows in the coming months and to stay tuned to pendingmusic.com for those dates. Dare I say, “Live dates Pending?”
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
Some old buddies of mine, Damn This Desert Air, from Wayne, NJ, whom I haven’t heard from in almost three years, have finally released a new CD called Pyramids, and this disc is awesome! I loved these guys back then and my opinion on them hasn’t changed at all! The lead single “Hanger” and the songs “Slave” and “Egypt” really prove that this band is sonically sound and fully matured! Check them out now at facebook.com/damnthisdesertair.
On August 10, my bro John Rango and The John Rango Band will be putting on a benefit show in Saddle Brook at the VFW Hall on Market Street to raise money for scholarship in the name of a few friends that we had in high school who lost their lives at an early age. The night will be filled with music by The John Rango Band along with some special guest appearances from former members of Mucky Pup and maybe even yours truly! For tickets to this event, email sbhsclassof95@gmail.com.
And finally, the NYC music scene lost another staple in Nik Rexhaj, also known as Nik RockMetal to the rest of us. I didn’t know Nik on a personal level, but he was another soldier just trying to support a music scene that really does not get the support that it deserves. I’m not sure of the cause of his untimely death, but his presence at local shows will be missed. My heart goes out to Nik’s family and friends. R.I.P. Nik RockMetal.
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:
8/1—GENERATION KILL (Featuring Rob Dukes of Exodus)/Suffer Your Fate/Thanatotic Desire/Voodoo Prophet—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/1—Saint Caine/Great White—Bergen PAC, Englewood, NJ
8/2—Panzie*/Tang/Ashes In The Sky—Even Flow Bar and Grill, Bayshore, NY
8/2—Aarius Studios Benefit—Bayshore Bar and Grill, Hazlet, NJ
8/3—Kosmic Daydream—Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ
8/3—Meatplow—The Legendary Dobbs, Philadelphia, PA
8/3—Aarius Studios Benefit—Bayshore Bar and Grill, Hazlet, NJ
8/3—Tarpit Boogie—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
8/4—Major League/Joy Ride/Voted Most Likely/Yes Virginia/Breaking Even/GNGR/Day In Day Our/23 Missed Calls—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/7—The Dirty Pearls—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
8/8—Statik Silence—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/10—Julius Seizure/The Summoned/Thanatotic Desire/That Of A Lion/Dispute To Flames/Half-Witted Dogs/Hail Harbor/Lethal Affection/Invidious/Cause Of Affliction/Absit/Cover Her Face—The Washington Theater, Washington, NJ
8/10—John Rango and Friends—Saddle Brook VFW, Saddle Brook, NJ
8/11—A Balance Between/Another Distraction/Stella Demure/Hot.Blonde Dead/Half-Witted Dogs—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/15—Cause Of Affliction/Threatpoint/Curse Of Sorrow—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/18—the BULLET BOYS/BaddHabbit/Grind Axis/Street Light Circus—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/22—Ted Poley (Danger Danger)/Enuff Z’Nuff/Bang Tango/American Angel—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/23—Killcode/Ten Ton Mojo/Bound By Substance/Mother/Brand Of Julez—The Bowery Ballroom, NYC
8/24—Julius Seizure/Seas Of Wake/Gyre/Toothgrinder—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/25—Aurin/Sinners/Sins Of Heaven/Xenophile—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/29—Enemy Of Everyone—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
