I was recently contacted by a pretty good indie rock band out of Highland Park, NJ that calls themselves The Fletchers. They have a new CD out called Reset The Dial, which was the premise of the email. (Yes, people still send those. Believe it or not, I still receive actual press kits too. I just haven’t been up to Aquarian headquarters to pick them up in a while, so those who snail mailed me a press kit back in 2012, don’t worry, I’ll get to you. Best way to let me know about your band is email or hit my up on Facebook like everyone else.) Anyway, there was some curiosity in giving The Fletchers a listen, so I popped onto CD Baby to give Reset The Dial a quick listen, and I really liked what I heard. I really felt a Beatles meets the Foo Fighters vibe. I’m not sure if this is what the band was striving for, but that’s what I got out of songs like “Right For You,” “Please Me Now,” “Four Days” and the title-track. They also did a great cover of The Clash’s “London Calling.”
The Fletchers have put out releases every year since the band formed back in 2008. Apparently, the first three CDs were written and delivered with great urgency for some reason. With this fourth record, The Fletchers decided to slow things down and experience life-changing events while relishing in the freedom to write and perform and then finally record and produce on their own terms. Because the band had more time to write, singer and guitarist Gary Kaplan, guitarist Rob Freda, bassist Dan Coffey and drummer Cliff Heaton were able to collaborate more as a band on Reset The Dial than they were able to on previous efforts, which drew broader inspirations and experiences as well as offered some deeper influences and musical elements. When it came time to put the songs on tape, Kaplan pursued the band’s vision with co-producer and recording engineer Erik Kvortek in tow.
The Fletchers released their fourth opus, Reset The Dial, this past September with a CD release party at The Court Tavern in New Brunswick, NJ. Since the release, the CD’s been burning up the CMJ charts, which is something every indie rock band wants. The group is gearing up to do some touring to promote Reset The Dial in the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled for some local dates. For now, give them a listen at thefletchersmusic.com.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My Smoke Star bro, Scotty O, who also spends time behind the kit for The Dirty Stayouts, has been working on a new project with guitarist Pat Piegari and bassist Rich Tanis called causticaudio. Now, the project isn’t really that new, as the band is about to release EP number three simply called Three, which Scotty O says is appropriate since the group is still a trio. Keep an eye out for this power trio! They have something pretty good going on. Check causticaudio out at facebook.com/causticaudiomusic.
Dave Incognito and his band Dying Eyes Of Sloth recently released their brand new music video for their song “Beneath The Haunting Skies” from the band’s EP, Book Of Blood. The video can be seen on the band’s YouTube page, youtube.com/dyingeyesofsloth. The video is a tad bit creepy. I mean, what music video filmed in a graveyard isn’t creepy? Anyway, the song is pretty heavy and vocally where Dave belongs. In the past, I’ve advised Dave to sing more than scream, which he did try with bands like InDisguise and Incognito Theory, but this is where he really belongs. Check Dying Eyes Of Sloth out at dyingeyesofsloth.com.
And finally, my bro Marc Rizzo from Soulfly is bringing his solo project, Marc Rizzo And The Corrupters, to The Blue Room in Secaucus, NJ on Dec. 20 for his annual “A Very Metal Christmas” show, where fans are urged to bring an unwrapped toy to be donated to the Archdiocese of Paterson. It’s awesome that Marc does this every year! So, if you’re free on Dec. 20, get your ass down to The Blue Room and donate some toys and listen to some amazing metal! For more info, visit facebook.com/theblueroomclub or marcrizzo.net.
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:
12/10—Otan Vargas—Mulcahy’s, Wantagh, NY
12/10—Samarian—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
12/11—CHARETTA/Eric from Face The King/Ghosts of Eden/Otan Vargas/REVEL 9/Statue of Anne/Srotakin IV—Lovecraft Bar NYC, NYC
12/11—Prehistoric Forest/Jaded Past/Against Grace—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
12/12—Big City Rebels 6/Santa Cruz/Sweet Cyanide/Station/Nasty Habit/Wicked—The Studio at Webster Hall, NYC
12/12—Horizon Edge/From Below/Fear Report/Srotakin IV—Fontana’s Bar, NYC
12/12—Otan Vargas/Ascending From Ashes/Hidden Cabins/David Marin/NettyRose/Mystic Haze—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
12/13—Oraculum/Angel Vivaldi/Gyre/Ascending From Ashes/Canopy Veil/As Glory Fades/Eels Of Love/Localide—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/13—Killcode/John Corabi—Revolution Bar and Music Hall, Amityville, NY
12/13—Lords of Mercy/White Tiger—Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
12/19—Ropetree/Buckcherry—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
12/19—That Metal Show’s Holiday Bash featuring Psychoprism/Madysin Hatter/Gathering After Ashes/Stereo Outlaws—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/20—Marc Rizzo and the Corrupters—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
12/20—Lieder—The Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
12/20—The Dirty Stayouts/Who Killed Marilyn—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/21—Agnostic Front/HUGE/Negative Traction/Negative Sky/Mass Punishment—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
12/27—Battlecross/Wretched/War Of Ages/Julius Seizure/Monument Of A Memory—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/27—Syka/Andrew W.K.—GameChanger World, Howell, NJ
12/29—Lower The Veil/Clutch—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
1/9/15—Bound By Substance/Super Gravity—Mercury Lounge, NYC
