Anyone ever hear of a band called Syrens Calling? Neither have I, until I took a closer look and realized it was none other than Scarlet Carson with a new name and new singer! Apparently, the band kept things under wraps while they re-tooled since the departure of singer Santino Noir, who has moved on to a solo project. Guitarist Tommy Herres stepped up to be the new frontman, but now that didn’t seem to work out either. So, the band decided to change the name to Syrens Calling keeping the “S” and “C” abbreviation and revealed their new singer right before New Year’s with their first gig at The Saint in Asbury Park. The new singer’s name is Walt Figueroa. I’ve seen Walt sing once as he fronted a cover band called Severed Hand, featuring Jack Frost from Seven Witches and Joe Cattano from Aarius Studios, and this kid blew me away as he sang Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford almost effortlessly. Who does that?
Syrens Calling is an action-packed music machine ready to lay down the audio gauntlet to any ear willing to listen. Their blend of classic hard rock with modern metal and a twinge of some dark-edged blues is simply ear candy. Oh yeah, and some powerful vocals don’t hurt either. Trust me when I tell you, without blowing his head up, this kid Walter is the second coming of Sebastian Bach. When I saw him live, I was with Ray West from Spread Eagle and we both looked at each other with a “holy shit!” look on our faces. Syrens Calling are so new that there is not much to tell of them just yet, but I wanted to be the first to jump on them. As I said earlier, Syrens Calling consists of former members of Scarlet Carson: guitarist Stone, bassist Mayhem and drummer Raab, while Metal Matt Stallions, formerly of the band Kuda, fills the void left behind by guitarist Tommy Herres. Matt was part of Scarlet Carson at the very end. And then there’s new singer Walter Figueroa from Severed Hand and Attacker.
To me, this is a huge move for the band formerly known as Scarlet Carson. As long as these guys play their cards right, expect a big year out of Syrens Calling and expect to hear their name more in 2014. Also, if you ask me, Figueroa also just bumped this band up to a serious force to be reckoned with. Okay, I’ll get off his jock now. Check out the artists formerly known as Scarlet Carson, Syrens Calling, now at facebook.com/syrenscalling. By the way, the band posted some video footage from their Saint show. Check this out if you don’t believe me: youtu.be/_1GUxOulmKc
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My buds in The Dirty Stayouts have a new music video out for their song “Work.” These cats are probably one of the hardest working Jersey bands on the circuit! Every time I turn around, I see them playing shows at various venues around New Jersey. I’m convinced that they will literally play next to a taco stand if someone offered them a gig next to one. Anyway, if you’ve never seen The Dirty Stayouts live, this music video might give you a little insight as to what to expect at one of their shows: “fights, chicks making out and rockin’ music!” Take a look at “Work” now at youtu.be/laKH-zVCRi4 and check out The Dirty Stayouts at facebook.com/thedirtystayouts.
The crew at Deal Casino have a new EP out called The Runaways. The EP is actually really good and extremely well written! It’s four songs including the tracks “Hurricane,” “Tomorrow,” “Blanck” and the title-track. If you’ve never heard these guys before, quit wasting time and check out Deal Casino now at facebook.com/dealcasinoNJ.
And finally, some shows you might not want to miss this weekend in North Jersey. Eric Martin from Mr. Big will be at Dingbatz in Clifton on Friday (1/17) with my buds Scotty Dunbar, McClinton and New Day Dawn. If you’re in Queens, check out Atom Strange at Blackthorn 51 in Elmhurst. On Saturday (1/18), there’s That Metal Show Live at Mexicali Live in Teaneck featuring Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine with Eric Martin, Metal Mike, Xero Gravity and Ixion Lux. If you’re in the Long Branch area, there’s Audio Empire, Vextion, Spider Rockets and Pyramada at the Brighton Bar. These are some great shows this weekend! Don’t miss out and support your local music scene for crying out loud!
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:
1/16—A Pale Horse Named Death/Borgo Pass—The Studio At Webster Hall, NYC
1/17—Eric Martin (voice of Mr. Big)/Scotty Dunbar/Joy Ride/New Day Dawn/McClinton/Pounds The Lbs/Scottish Widows/Autobiography Of Man—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
1/17—Syrens Calling—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
1/17—Atom Strange—Blackthorn 51, Elmhurst, NY
1/17—Governing Murphy—Jilly’s, Scranton, PA
1/17—Steve Brown and Terry Farley—Valley Stables, Oakland, NJ
1/18—Syka/In This Moment/Butcher Babies—Webster Theater, Hartford, CT
1/18—Audio Empire/Vextion/Spider Rockets/June Divided/Pyramada—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
1/18—That Metal Show Live (Eric Martin/Metal Mike/Station/Xero Gravity/Ixion Lux)—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
1/22—Reagan Youth—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
1/25—Waking Heroes/The Black Clouds/Revel 9/Finding Westerly/Civic—Crossroads, Garwood, NJ
1/25—Kosmic Daydream/Jaded Past—The Cup Complex, Linden, NJ
2/1—Lords Of Mercy—The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
2/1—Black Tooth Grin/Half-Witted Dogs/Xenophile/The Battery Electric/Lower The Veil/The Dirty Stayouts/Sinsanity—The Blue Room Lounge, Secaucus, NJ
2/6—The Jersey Syndicate/Gin Blossoms—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
2/7—Frankenstein 3000/Lower The Veil/Tara Elliot And The Red Velvets/Buzzard Wagon/The Battery Electric—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
2/8—Tarpit Boogie—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/13—Steve Brown and Terry Farley—Thatcher McGhee’s, Pompton Lakes, NJ
2/15—Steve Brown and the Fallout—Willie McBride’s, Branchburg, NJ
