A couple weeks ago, I stopped in at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ to see my buds Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine from That Metal Show, and the first music performers to hit the stage that night was this band from New York City that I’ve never heard of before. The name of the band was Station, and my first reaction, just from their appearance on stage with skinny jeans, really long hair and some with even Spandex pants on, was what year is it again? Was this another Steel Panther rip-off? But then they started playing and I couldn’t turn away! I felt like I was at Studio 1 in Newark all over again. I’m not even kidding this time. Their sound was so retro-1980s Studio 1’s music scene. I have to admit that I felt young listening to them. I almost asked them for a demo. (Do bands even make those anymore? Aren’t they EPs now?) Anyway, singer Patrick Kearney’s voice was amazingly high! This kid would have been a star in the ’80s. Also, who plays Jackson guitars anymore? These guys do! I have to admit I was blown away only because I’m a product of that music time period.
Station formed in 2011 and are quickly becoming one of the hottest new bands to come out of NYC. Witnessing their high-energy stage show with amazing melodies, wide-open hooks and shredding guitar leads really makes you feel like you walked into an MTV Headbanger’s Ball 1980 hair band time machine. In their short time together, Station have already shared the stages with marquee names like Pat Benatar, Vince Neil from Mötley Crüe, Bret Michaels from Poison, and .38 Special. I mean, I’ve seen bands try to bring back that whole ’80s glam look, but I think these guys might actually be able to pull it off. They were that good! In fact, as I watched them, I was almost embarrassed to let my friends know that I actually liked the band. I don’t care what anyone says, but there is still a market for this type of music. It would be great to see them put on Mötley Crüe’s farewell tour, as if to pass the torch. Just sayin’.
Station recently released their debut EP, Wired, which they recorded in Nashville with the legendary producer Michael Wagener, who’s best known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Extreme, Dokken and Warrant. The EP features the songs “Everything,” “True Believer,” “I’d Understand” and “Don’t Take Heaven Away From Me.” Station were also invited to play Rocklahoma back in May, where I can imagine they fit right in! You have to check these guys out! Especially those of you who grew up in the time period that I grew up in! It’s great to see that these kids will never lose that time in music. Give Station a listen now at stationband.com and jump on the bandwagon now before they pull out of the “station.” Get it?
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
Big congrats to my bros from Audio Empire who recently signed on with Mojo6 Management. It sounds like teaming up with this new management company is already paying off. The boys have already landed a few endorsement deals, they’ve been put into a recording studio and they have a deal to film a brand new music video. That’s not too bad! And who said you don’t need management? Catch Audio Empire at Mexicali Live on April 2 when they open for Red Dragon Cartel featuring the return of Jake E. Lee! For more info on Audio Empire, log onto audioempireband.com.
Speaking of Mexicali Live, as previously mentioned, Diane Lane from Lane Six Entertainment hosted a fun show at the Teaneck venue featuring my bros Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine from That Metal Show with performances by Eric Martin from Mr. Big, “Metal Mike” Chlasciak from Halford, the aforementioned Station, my buds from Xero Gravity and Ixion Lux. The night was filled with laughter and great music. Eddie, Don and Jim each did some stand-up time alone on stage, followed by a Q and A and, of course, a “Stump The Trunk” segment. If you missed this show, they’ll be doing it again at the Starland Ballroom on February 15 with different bands. So, if you can’t make it to a taping of That Metal Show in New York, this is definitely the next best thing! Kudos to my new bud Diane Lane on a great event! Find out where her next event is at facebook.com/lanesixentertainment.
And finally, Rock N’ Roll Heaven and the Old Bridge Metal Militia are at it again! Last year, they brought us an amazing event at the Encore Event Center in Freehold, NJ featuring Twisted Sister, Anvil, Raven, The Rods and Lords Of Mercy. This year, they recently announced that on May 3, they will be hosting an event at the Starland Ballroom with the mighty King’s X and a T.T. Quick reunion co-headlining the event with more performers to be announced. All I can say is stay tuned…
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:
2/6—The Jersey Syndicate/Gin Blossoms—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
2/7—Frankenstein 3000/Lower The Veil/Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets/Buzzard Wagon/The Battery Electric—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
2/7—Sundown Conspiracy/Coffee Brains—Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
2/7—Jotunheim/Silent Exposure/Concrete Burial/Wolfcloak—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
2/8—Pralaya/Thank You Scientist/Ascending From Ashes—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
2/8—Tarpit Boogie/Clamfight/Toxicology/Another Distraction —Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/8—Black Sun Rising/Mesmeria/The Unknown/Sekond Skyn—Finnegan’s Wake, Philadelphia, PA
2/11—Dead Fish Handshake/3 Doors Down—Bergen PAC, Englewood, NJ
2/11—Junior Watson/Dean Shot Band—Roxy and Duke’s Roadhouse, Dunellen, NJ
2/13—Steve Brown and Terry Farley—Thatcher McGhee’s, Pompton Lakes, NJ
2/15—Steve Brown and the Fallout—Willie McBride’s, Branchburgh, NJ
2/21—Trailer Park Mafia—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/21—Dead Fish Handshake—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
2/22—Buzzard Wagon/Natural Born Losers—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/27—Governing Murphy—The Legendary Dobbs, Philadelphia, PA
3/8—BlackOcean/Cycle Of Pain/Black Water Rising/Sekond Skyn/New Theory—The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
3/15—Stagger/Darkness Descends/Negative Sky/Cyperna/Gyre/Apostasy/ Eye Of Anubis/Julius Seizure/Mass Punishment/Scars Of Envy—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
