An old face showed his ugly head in a new project. Well, his head is not really that ugly. I’m not talking about former Panzie* singer Johnny Hawaiian. He recently shot me a private message on Facebook to let me know about his new project, Spiderlord. He let me listen to the band’s first single, “Wrathchild,” and I have to say the song rocks! I mean, I couldn’t shake the whole voice of Panzie* thing because I still felt like it sounded like Panzie*, but either way, it was great to see Hawaiian doing what Hawaiian does best! Check out Johnny Hawaiian and the Spiderlords at facebook.com/spiderlordsweb.
Speaking of old ugly faces, another bro has a new project about ready to break out. I’m talking about former Scarlet Carson guitarist Tom Herres. He’s in a new band called Gears. The problem is that they’re not from Jersey. They’re a Miami-based band and they’re currently writing and recording their upcoming EP with Corey Lowery from Eye Empire, Dark New Day and Stereomud, and yes, he’s Clint Lowery from Sevendust’s brother. Gears haven’t put anything out yet and they’re already creating quite a buzz. Their debut EP, Set In Motion, is looking at a late May, early June release. Keep your ears peeled for Gears at facebook.com/gearsofficial.
In keeping up with the band musical chairs theme, I know these guys are a bit more national, but my bud Rex Brown from Kill Devil Hill sent me a text a few weeks ago to tell me that drummer Vinny Appice, who left the band earlier in the year, has been replaced by local boy Johnny Kelly, who is best known for his work with Type O Negative, Danzig and A Pale Horse Named Death. Rex sounded really excited about the lineup adjustment. Keep an eye out for Kill Devil Hill performing on our shores sometime in May. For now, log onto killdevilhillmusic.com for more.
Since the word “kill” is on my mind, I know that these guys have been in my column a lot lately, but Killcode have released their first single with Panzie* guitarist D.C. Gonzalez slinging the axe for them. The song is called “Slave,” and it totally blows away the new Metallica song, “The Lords Of Summer.” All kidding aside, the new Killcode track does rock. As usual, it’s riff-driven, accompanied with some killer backbeat grooves, and rounded out by the catchy melodies of singer Tom Morrissey. If you’re a fan of the Code, you will love this song. Check it out now at reverbnation.com/killcode.
Killcode are not the only ones with new music out. My old buds from Rahway have recently released a new song just in time for their show with Kix at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville this Friday night. The song is called “Now,” and it’s typical Rahway with great riffs, great basslines and powerful drums, with the debut of new singer Greg Schumann, whose voice is just amazing! It’s great to see that Rahway have stood the test of time, as most local bands have come and gone, but they’re still banging out some great tunes. Hear Rahway play “Now” live when they perform with Kix, Madysin Hatter and Cashmier this Friday night at Starland Ballrom, or check them out at rahwayband.com.
And finally, I recently heard some more amazing new music from the local scene coming from my bros in Audio Empire, who just released their new song, “No Escape.” This might be my favorite track from the A.E. crew yet. I love the driving bass and drums, the razor-sharp guitar work and singer David Marcus proving once again to be one of my favorite singers on the music scene. I remember hearing this song live at The Saint in Asbury Park when our bands played together, and it was great to hear that Audio Empire captured that “live” energy on tape. Many bands have a hard time doing that. Hear “No Escape” live tonight (4/2) at Mexicali Live in Teaneck when Audio Empire open for Jake E. Lee’s new project, Red Dragon Cartel, or check the song out at audioempireband.com.
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:
4/2—Audio Empire/Red Dragon Cartel—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
4/4—Rahway/Madysin Hatter/Cashmier/Kix—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
4/4—Steve Brown and the Fallout—Willie McBride’s, Branchburg, NJ
4/4—Living Colour—Trinity UMC, Ewing, NJ
4/4—Governing Murphy/Buckcherry—Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg, PA
4/4—Faster Pussycat/Knucklebone—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
4/5—Killcode/Ten Ton Mojo/Mother/Long Gone Day—The Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY
4/5—Dead Fish Handshake/Scott Stapp—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
4/5—Tarpit Boogie/Silence Equals Death/Faction Zero—Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
4/5—Eye Of Anubis—Blackthorn 51, Elmhurst, NY
4/5—This Is A Lifetime/Autobiography Of Man/When Winter Fell/Mindswitch/Sundown Conspiracy/Absit—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
4/6—Hot Blood/End Of An Era/A Balance Between/Vextion/The Antics—The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
4/6—Beyond Dishonor/Anchorlines/A Wake In Providence/Franchise/Born A New/Monument Of A Memory—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
4/11—Marc Rizzo/Navene-K—Slake, NYC
4/12—Trixter/Jaded Past/Eighteenth Hour—Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
4/13—Steve Brown and Dennis Zimmer—Grasshopper, Morristown, NJ
4/13—From The Depths/Forbidden Territory/Ocean Of Illusions/SYKA/As Glory Fades/The Empty Frame—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
4/16—Seas Of Wake/All That Remains/Darkest Hour/Wilson—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
4/17—Gothic Knights/Queensryche—Bergen PAC, Englewood, NJ
4/18—Steve Brown—Willie McBride’s, Branchburg, NJ
4/18—Diesel America/Brand Of Julez/The Dark Riders/Full Molder—Slake, NYC
4/20—The Independents/Monster Rat/Danse dE Sade/True Revolution—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
4/21—Forevermore/The Ongoing Concept/Sycamour/My Enemies And I—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
4/24—Steve Brown and Terry Farley—Thatcher McGhee’s, Pompton Lakes, NJ
4/25—Kucklebone/Flowers To Flames/Sebastian Bach—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
4/25—New Theory/Reach/Revenir/Answer Infinity/Sundown Conspiracy/Burning Red Sun—Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
4/26—Civic/Gazelle—Crossroads, Garwood, NJ
4/30—Battlecross/Beyond Dishonor/Julius Seizure/Burial Mound—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
