Just when I start to think that the future of this Jersey music scene seems a little meek, I find a band of kids who totally restore my faith in the scene. I’m not sure how, but I stumbled upon a bunch of kids from Flemington, whose riffs of doom really tickled my fancy. The name of the band was Silence In The Grey, and these kids write songs better than some of the dudes my age. Usually when I hear young bands they have that, “I wanna be a rock star overnight” sound, or they sound like every metal band on the circuit. Well, Silence In The Grey seem to follow the beat of their own drum. Singer and guitarist Andrew Hudkins really tells a story with his singing, which is something you just don’t hear from many young bands. The songs that really tickled my fancy were “Lifelessly Awake,” “Prophecy Of The Damned” and my favorite track, “White Lady.”
Silence In The Grey was formed back in 2013 after singer Andrew Hudkins and drummer Kurt Schwoerer’s old band, Elephant Sun, called it quits. Andrew and Kurt wanted a heavier sound that they couldn’t find with Elephant Sun. Isn’t that the way it is whenever band members leave to start new projects? Soon, they recruited bass player Mike Glasser, whose thunderous bass sound has changed the sound of Silence In The Grey from a mid-tempo stoner rock band to a super heavy doom metal band. Their heavily influenced death metal, classical music, and black metal sound helped them create some completely diverse music.
Silence In The Grey released a new EP back in February called On The Fringe Of Winter, which features the songs “White Lady,” “A Walk To Beautiful” and “Eyes Of Glass (Reprise).” The songs are killer, and if it hasn’t already, I’m sure the EP will garner these young lads quite the following, especially when people hear the song “White Lady.” Find out where Silence In The Grey will be playing next or give the band a listen at facebook.com/silenceinthegrey.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
Just a reminder, the extremely talented TM Stevens will be bringing his Shocka Zooloo show back to The Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ on Aug. 9 by popular demand. TM has once again tapped my bro and guitar whiz, Steve Bello, and former Plasmatics drummer TC Tolliver to reprise their roles in the band since it was so successful the last time around. This is a hot ticket this weekend, so get your asses to Long Branch to see this power trio! For more info, log onto facebook.com/steviehimself.
One of my favorite people on the Jersey music scene is Ethan Murphy of Scars Of Envy. This guy does it all. He and guitarist Jeff Anthony have Scars Of Envy back up and running again with a full band and they’re ready to get back out there full force! When Ethan isn’t screaming for Scars, he’s been spending his time playing bass for some more of my bros, Apostrophes. These guys are a bit more hard rock than the metal Ethan plays in Scars Of Envy, but it’s interesting to see him playing another instrument. Ethan is a huge supporter of this music scene and now it seems he’s trying to take it over all on his own! Check out Scars Of Envy at facebook.com/scarsofenvyband or catch them live this Saturday night (8/9) at The Saint in Asbury Park with Ixion Lux, Stagger, Negative Sky, Ashes Of Your Enemy, Ketosis and Xero Gravity, and don’t forget to check out Apostrophes at facebook.com/apostrophes01.
And finally, am I the only one super-pumped about the recent announcement regarding the return of Life Of Agony? Better yet, am I the only one who let out a loud, “Fuck yes!” after reading the news about Life Of Agony playing their only U.S. performance at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville on September 13? Yes, things might be a little different with Mina Caputo singing, but they’ll be the same because it’s the same person! Mina is the female version of singer Keith Caputo. For those of you LOA fans scratching your heads and living under a rock, Keith is a transsexual who’s been going by the name Mina. Who cares? Life Of Agony are back! For more info on these local heroes, log onto lifeofagony.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:
8/8—TNA/King’s X—Stage 48, NYC
8/9—TM Stevens’ Shocka Zooloo—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
8/9—Thanatotic Desire/Seas Of Wake/This Is A Lifetime/Die A Hero/Framework—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/9—Ixion Lux/Stagger/Negative Sky/Scars Of Envy/Ashes Of Your Enemy/Ketosis/Xero Gravity—The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
8/9—Knucklebone—Vasa Park, Budd Lake, NJ
8/9—The Bullet Boys/Flowers To Flames—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
8/10—Black Tongue/Villains/Lifeforms/Dealey Plaza/Beyond Treachery/Spawned/Depreciator—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/11—Forevermore/Restless Streets—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/14—Stickup Kid/Seaway/Candy Hearts/Driver Friendly/McCalister/Legends—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/14—Revocation/Burial Mound/Prosper Or Perish/Morta/We Our War—Harper’s Pub and Restaurant, Clementon, NJ
8/14—Scars Of Envy—The Legendary Dobbs, Philadelphia, PA
8/18—Doyle—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
8/19—Basement/Superheaven/Pity Sex/Ovlov—Webster Hall, NYC
8/20—Everyone Dies In Utah/The Paramedic/Sirena/Illuminate Me—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/21—The Dirty Pearls/Killcode/Mother/Ten Ton Mojo/The Threads/The Liza Colby Sound/J And The 9s/DJ Ian El Dorado—The Bowery Ballroom, NYC
8/22—40 Below Summer/Dizneyfist—Slake, NYC
8/22—Fuel/End Of An Era/PLANESIDE/Donovan’s Devils/Paris Under Fire—The Headliner, Neptune, NJ
8/22—Any Everyday/McClinton/Sonic Reign—Rhythms NJ, Manville, NJ
8/23—Lethal Affection/Syka/Donovan’s Devils/Roulette/Through The Grey/ Feeny—Roxy and Dukes, Dunellen, NJ
8/26—Straight Line Stitch—The Legendary Dobbs, Philadelphia, PA
9/13—Life Of Agony—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
9/13—Dead Fish Handshake/Waking Heroes/Syrens Calling/Sins Of Heaven/Woods Of Arden/House Of Thieves—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
