Wednesday is upon us, easily my favorite day of the week. Yes, of course, it means it’s halfway done, but it also means it’s time to pour our emotions on the page when it comes to music that is on the radar. Thanks for all of the submissions that have been coming in as of late; I have so much music to choose from! Tons of cool things are naturally happening on the local front, but this week, I have to bring up one of the best things to have happened to my personal library in quite a long time: A band that I adore and have sang praise about for many years is back and buzzing!
If you haven’t lived under a rock for the past five years, you will have heard of a band that goes by the name of The Parlor Mob. Yes, I was just as disappointed as you were when they took a minor hiatus, but just a few short weeks ago, they arose from the local grounds with a simple Facebook message stating, “Hello.” Those five letters alone caused more emotion to run through my body than any sappy chick flick ever has. They teased us all that they had some updates to share with us, and now it’s all out in the open. They will be releasing a new record and hitting the road on a mini-tour, stopping at their home field of The Stone Pony on Aug. 30.
Now, I don’t need to sit here and praise how talented these guys are, but I will anyway. I still have their past two albums in heavy rotation biweekly, and reference this group almost any time a deep musical conversation comes up with my friends or coworkers. And You Were A Crow along with Dogs are two completely different, amazing records. You can hear influences throughout of ’70s rock and roll, back when music was timeless and an actual art form. Not to throw any shade out there, but it’s nice to see this sound resurfacing, and I hope it stays afloat.
They have released a new song to hold us over, and it’s entitled “The Day You Were Born.” In typical Parlor Mob fashion, it’s heavy as hell, but it may be heavier than anything I’ve ever heard them record, in the best way possible. They also announced that their new album will be called Cry Wolf. This song is over seven minutes along, and every minute of it is complete killer. The drumming is so intense on this track I can almost feel it in my heartbeat every time I play it through my speakers. In my opinion, this was the perfect single to kick the prelaunch off with, for it is familiar to Parlor Mob diehards, yet completely appealing to a new generation of fans as well. I could easily hear this song being played on the radio, or over the ice at an NHL game (preferably Devils; sorry Ranger fans in the band). I’ve always respected this group not only because of their talent, but also because of their broad range; they have heavy, they have catchy, they have slower, and it’s all fit to perfection. I highly recommend you check out this new single as an appetizer for their new record. The musicianship here is top-notch on every level.
Now, I am not sitting here saying this band is back forever, because I am uncertain of their status, but it doesn’t even matter. So, what does it mean, what is their status, and what is happening in the future? I have no idea, and honestly prefer to keep it that way, leaving me with an open mind and appreciating how much I’ve enjoyed and continue to enjoy being a fan. This column is to bring to your attention that one of the best local rock bands of our generation is doing something new, something fresh, and something worth checking out. In a heavy digital age of music, The Parlor Mob will time and time, track by track be a breath of fresh air into the lungs of the industry. Many of them have side-projects that are equally as kick-ass, and even if all this new record means is each one of them is making music, on one front or another, I am totally satisfied with that. In terms of rock and roll itself, I have yet to find a band as natural and raw as them. They have a retro take on modern rock with each release, and I am sure this record will follow that trend and bring it to completely new levels.
You can catch The Parlor Mob at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park on Saturday, Aug. 30! Trust me when I say they put on a live show you don’t want to miss, and you better see them while you can, for no one knows for sure what the future has in store for them! I think it’s safe to say that they are a band that all New Jersey musicians aspire to be like, and rightfully so.
I will see you all at The Parlor Mob’s show on Aug. 30. In the meantime, head on over to their website at theparlormob.com to stream their new single, “The Day You Were Born,” and get in the mood for their new record! I will be back next week with another band of your liking, whether it’s someone making a comeback, someone starting off, or just someone who has been around for quite some time, and we will put them in the local spotlight where they belong!
