Just when I thought that I knew just about everyone on the North Jersey music scene, I find these guys. Psychoprism. I did not recognize a name in this lineup and you would think that I would’ve known one of these guys since they come from Fair Lawn and I grew in the neighboring town of Saddle Brook. Regardless of my geography lesson, after listening to a couple of songs from Psychoprism, all I have to say is…mind blown! These guys remind of the Jersey version of Queensryche. In fact, it wouldn’t shock me to find out that singer Jess Rittgers once fronted a Queensryche tribute band. His voice is that amazing! It doesn’t stop there, though. On the songs “Stained Glass” and “Defiance” off of the band’s EP, Bloodlines, the music was so technical and progressive that it was a thing of beauty to listen to. I, for one, would love to see these guys live! And I cannot believe they’re from Fair Lawn, NJ!
According to their bio, Psychoprism formed back in early 2012 when singer Jess Rittgers answered, of all things, a Craigslist ad placed by guitarist, Bill Visser. Don’t all band histories start this way? Someone answered an ad in the paper or now it’s Craigslist. Anyway, after many conversations about this project, Bill finally sent Jess a rough mix of a song idea. Jess threw some vocals on it and sent it back to Bill within a week, which led to Bill taking down his ad on Craigslist. Jess and Bill agreed to finally meet in person to lay down tracks for what would become the song “Defiance.” They would use their recording to build the rest of the band. Drummer Kevin Myers, allegedly, kept appearing at auditions substituting for the drum machine, so Jess and Bill finally asked him to join the band. Guitarist and keyboardist Adam Peterson auditioned for the band over an email all the way from San Antonio, Texas. Upon getting the gig, he packed up whatever he could fit into his truck and literally drove cross country in time to make the band photo shoot. The final piece of the puzzle was bassist Michael James, who just kind of just appeared out of nowhere, but Jess and Bill are happy that he did. Psychoprism was born.
Psychopriosm released their debut EP, Bloodlines, earlier this year, which has garnered them much attention already. Trust me, the reason why they are getting this attention is because the musicianship on this EP is unreal and you will think so too after you hear it. Check Psychoprism out now at psychoprism.com or catch them live at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ on Nov. 8 with Beyond Fallen and Crime X Scene.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
I just finished watching the new Voodoo Terror Tribe music video for their song “Bloodsoaked” off of the band’s latest CD, A Walk In Hell, and holy crap! When the hell did Voodoo Terror Tribe become a speed metal band? This band scares the hell out of me now. I mean that in the best way possible because it seems that they’ve finally found their identity and I really like it. This new direction fits the band’s name and new persona. “Bloodsoaked” is already garnering VTT some major attention from some major media. Check Voodoo Terror Tribe out at vttrocks.com or catch them live this Sunday night (11/2) at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ.
My bros from Apostrophes have been working hard on some new material as well as breathing new life into their older songs with the addition of some new members. I mentioned a few weeks ago that my bro and Scars Of Envy frontman, Ethan Murphy, joined the band as a bass player. Well, Ethan wasn’t the only Scars member to join Apostrophes; Scars guitarist Jeff Anthony has joined the band as well to become the lead guitarist. With this lineup, the band has become a force to be reckoned with on the Jersey music scene. It also sounds like the Apostrophes boys hope to have a new full-length CD out by the beginning of the 2015. For more on Apostrophes, visit facebook.com/Apostrophes01.
And finally, my buds from She Said Fire are gearing up to record their next EP with superstar producer, Drew Fulk, who is known for his work with Motionless In White and Heartist. As they did with their debut EP, Boom, She Said Fire have turned to the crowdfunding site, Kickstarter, once again to raise funds to pay for the recording. If you’d like to donate toward She Said Fire’s project, log onto kickstarter.com/projects/shesaidfire/help-she-said-fire-record-new-ep-with-drew-fulk or check out She Said Fire by visiting shesaidfire.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:
10/30—Disposable/The Damn Long Hairs/Blisstique/Blue Skeleton/Weird Faces—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/31—Kore Rozzik/Streetlight Circus/ELECTRIC BLACK HORSE/Von Voigt/The Boom Section/Striven—Blackthorn 51, Elmhurst, NY
11/1—Queen V—Trend Coffee and Tea House, Montclair, NJ
11/1—Ashes Of Your Enemy/Ixion Lux/Proletariat/Thanatotic Desire/Nuse—Court Tavern, New Brunswick, NJ
11/1—Dick And The Deer Gutters/Sekond Skyn/Ratfarm/Ancora/Headstone Oneeighteen—The Legendary Dobbs, Philadelphia, PA
11/1—Sardonica/Slaughtered Grace/Robots And Monsters—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/1—Mother/Cracked Alice/The Liza Colby Sound—The Mercury Lounge, NYC
11/1—Sekond Skyn—The Legendary Dobbs, Philadelphia, PA
11/1—Atom Strange—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
11/2— Aurin/Nonpoint/GEMINI SYNDROME/Three Years Hollow—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
11/2—Voodoo Terror Tribe/GENITORTURERS—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
11/2—Continental featuring Rick from Dropkick Murphy’s/Archie Alone—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/3—Veara/Sudden Suspension/Bad Case Of Big Mouth/McCalister/Joy Ride—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/6—Queen V/Molly Adele Brown—The Bitter End, NYC
11/6—Zephaniah/Sun And Flesh/HexVoid—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/8—End Of An Era/PLANESIDE/The Skinney/Through the Grey/Paris Under Fire—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
11/8—Tarpit Boogie/Dead Drop/Buried Under Ruined Nations—The Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
11/8—ANTiSEEN—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
11/8—Beyond Fallen/Psychoprism/Crime X Scene—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/14—Supersuckers—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
11/15—Queen V/The Battery Electric/Hot Blood And Sunshine/The Rain—Lot 13 Longbar, Bayonne, NJ
11/17—Kurt Travis/Hotel Books/Tommy Boys—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/19—Syka—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
11/21—Scottish Widows—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
11/28—Queen V—Rockwood Music Hall, NYC
