A couple of weeks ago, I stopped in at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ to see my bros from The Dirty Stayouts perform their second set of the day, plus my bro, Steve “Zipperhead” Murafsky, was promoting the show, and he’s been trying to get me to come to one of his shows for quite some time, so I figured I’d surprise him. I’m glad that I did because the headlining act was truly amazing, and after watching them, I witnessed what rock ‘n’ roll was really missing: good music and lots of fun! The name of the band was Rory Kelly’s Triple Threat, and yes, they’re from North Carolina, but I saw them here in New Jersey and they rocked!
According to the band’s bio, Rory Kelly is a self-taught musician who picked up the guitar when he was a young boy growing up in the rural town of Marion, North Carolina. While his mom slung drinks behind the bar, Rory strummed his guitar alongside his father, drummer Mike Kelly, who is currently the drummer of Triple Threat, in a house band playing local music dives. Here’s the connection to the local Jersey music scene: Mike Kelly has quite the backstory in thrash metal as a member of the infamous Old Bridge Militia, who have risen on the scene once again. After years of honing his guitar and stage skills with the Crank County Daredevils, who saw some success in the U.S., Rory would eventually head down his own road in 2010. Rory would recruit his former musical partner and father Mike to form two-thirds of what would ultimately become the current version of the band. Together they recorded and produced what critics are calling “swamp rock” with their first CD, Better Than The Blues. When demand for Better Than The Blues outweighed the supply, Rory needed to take his show live, so he added seasoned bassist Billy Miller to the band and this power trio was complete.
The addition of Miller brought a new dynamic into the band. Southern rock/swamp rock was born. Rory Kelly’s Triple Threat live show was something else to experience. They were full of energy and full of stomp! The songs “Go To Man,” “Hittin’ The Bottom” and “Don’t Shake My Family Tree” really get your rump shaking. You need to check out Rory Kelly’s Triple Threat now and bring them back to Jersey soon. Visit them at facebook.com/rorykellystriplethreat.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My bro Pete Wells and his boys from Apathy played a killer set last weekend at the Starland Ballroom in Slayerville, NJ when they opened for the mighty Overkill and Prong. They even unleashed some new Apathy material to the rabid crowd who welcomed the new music with open arms. For more on Apathy and any upcoming shows, log onto apathy-nj.com.
My bros from Audio Empire will be performing a fun show to celebrate Halloween at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ on Oct. 24. Why is it a fun show? I’m glad you asked. It turns out the boys from Audio Empire will be dressing up like KISS and performing a full KISS set. Now, I’m not sure about you, but this is something even I would like to see. Also performing will be Reality Suite, who will be performing a set of Mötley Crüe songs. Now, you know that is something I wouldn’t want to miss. If you can’t make this show, Audio Empire will be back at Mexicali Live on Dec. 5 for a return engagement opening for Red Dragon Cartel, featuring Jake E. Lee, again. For more on Audio Empire, visit audioempireband.com.
And finally, a photo of my bro John Fattoruso, aka Johnny Fatts, formerly of Stereo Mud and Black Water Rising, has surfaced on Facebook of John picking up his guitar and rocking like a man again. John hasn’t been seen since he parted ways with my bros from Black Water Rising. So, it’s good to see him jamming again. The name of this new project is Zire’s War, which also features Joey Z from Life Of Agony and Stereo Mud. I wish I had more info on this new project, but you’ll learn more about it as I do. I will tell you this, though: It looks awesome so far! Keep your ears peeled for Zire’s War.
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:
10/2—Killcode/Craving Strange/Breakage Rising/Long Gone Day—Santos Party House, NYC
10/3—Tara Elliot—Wonder Bar, Asbury Park, NJ
10/3—Lies Beneath/Tired Wings/Mahavatar/METALFIER/Bury The Memories/Risers/Relicseed/RIOT OF THE BLOOD—Tobacco Road, NYC
10/4—HYNGD/Jaded Past—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/4—Into The Coven/Revel 9/Archimage/Scars Of Envy/Fear The Masses/Risk All In Life/No Honor Among Thieves/Stagger—Cherry Street Station, Wallingford, CT
10/4—Paralysis/Valence/Wolfcloak/Panic/Endless Lament/Locus Mortis—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
10/9—In Our Glory/Out Of Ashes/Crash The Bear/September’s Ghost/Answer Infinity—Court Tavern, New Brunswick, NJ
10/10—Methane/Pralaya—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/11—Syka/Lacuna Coil/Devil You Know/Starset—Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY
10/14—Agent Orange—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
10/14—Hookers ‘N’ Blow/Daisy Berkowitz—The Bowery Electric, NYC
10/16—MILLIONAIRES/LANDON TEWERS/Robbie Maxx/Monday Night Bear Claw/Brendan Starr—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/17—Aurin/Voodoo Terror Tribe—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/18—Scars of Envy/Stagger/Lower The Veil—The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
10/18—Morningside Lane/SHAT—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
10/19—Scottish Windows—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
10/24—Lower The Veil/Sekond Skyn—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/24—New Day Dawn/Knucklebone/Blues Field Drive/Half Normal—The Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
10/24—Audio Empire/Reality Suite—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
10/25—Seas Of Wake—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
