My bro Steve Murafsky, who is also known as Zipperhead on the Jersey Shore music scene, introduced me to the music Tara Elliott a while back when he booked her to perform at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ. He always raved about her, which put her on my radar. I recently logged onto Tara’s website, theredvelvets.com, and after listening to a few songs like “Twenty-First Century Mata Hari,” “Drop A Needle On tTe King” and a cover of Yoko Ono’s “Death Of Samantha,” I was sold. Her voice is unbelievable and powerful. It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets to kick off 2015.
If you’re familiar with the Jersey Shore music scene, Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets is one name that will come to mind. According to their bio, the band’s been around since 2008, and Tara’s powerhouse vocals and The Red Velvets’ killer rock riffs have really mesmerized audiences and helped build a solid following among the Central Jersey region’s punk, metal and hard rock scene. Tara even won the Top Female Vocalist award back in 2012 at the Asbury Music Awards. Whether she’s opening for former New York Dolls singer David Johansen or headlining a show at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ, Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets deliver a high-energy rock show that has drawn comparisons to the late Janis Joplin, Iggy And The Stooges and The White Stripes. Joining Tara in The Red Velvets is guitarist Joe Taylor, who some might know from his work with my bros in Cycle Of Pain, the legendary Doro Pesch and Lita Ford, and bassist Mike Doc.
Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets’ sophomore effort, Drop A Needle On The King, was written and produced by Tara with some help from Tony Donato. The disc received rave reviews leading to CD sales that exceeded Tara’s expectations. The new attention Tara started to receive earned her opening slots for Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Artimus Pyle, David Bowie’s Earl Slick, Bon Jovi’s David Bryan, David Johansen and Steve Conte of the New York Dolls, The Dollyrots, and Nicole Atkins. The list goes on and on, and I’m sure it will not be ending anytime soon! Tara was also recently nominated in five categories at this year’s 2014 Asbury Music Awards for Top Music Video, Top Local Album Release, Song Of The Year, Top Female Vocalist and Top Punk Band. Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets will be a force to be reckoned with in this New Year as Tara looks to branch out beyond the Jersey Shore. She hits The Bowery Electric in NYC next Tuesday night (1/13), which is an industry night for those of you who don’t know. For more on Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets or to find out where she’s playing next, log onto theredvelvets.com, and thank you, Zipperhead, for another great recommendation!
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My boys from Empire Fallen have a new EP coming out called A New Poison. They’ve even posted songs from the new EP on their ReverbNation page, reverbnation.com/empirefallennj, which they will be celebrating at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ at the end of the month with a CD release party. If you haven’t heard these guys yet, you need to! If you can’t wait until the end of the month to catch them live, then catch them this Friday night (1/9) at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ with Ascending From Ashes, my buds from Killcode, Long Gone Day and New Day Dawn.
My bro Steve Bello will turning his focus back onto the Steve Bello Band here in 2015. Steve says he’s been working on new music with his partners, drummer KamranVaziri and bassist Joe DeMott, since it’s almost been four years since Steve released his last CD, Go Bezerk! If you miss Steve Bello Band’s style of ProgMetalFunk (Steve made that up!), catch the band live at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ next Wednesday night (1/14). For more dates and more info from Steve Bello Band, visit steviehimself.wix.com/bello1969.
And finally, my buds in Brand Of Julez have a new drummer. His name is Chris Nichols and according to lead singer, guitarist and the band’s namesake, Julez Zamora, Chris brings an energy behind that kit that Brand Of Julez really needed live. The band is currently putting the finishing touches on some new material for their upcoming CD. For more info on Brand Of Julez and to find out where they’re playing next, log onto facebook.com/brandofjulez.
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:
1/7—KoverUp Band/Doghöuse/Mary’s Basement/Hadar Baron—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
1/9—Bound By Substance/Super Gravity—Mercury Lounge, NYC
1/9—Ascending From Ashes/Killcode/Long Gone Day/Empire Fallen/New Day Dawn—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
1/11—Asterplace (from Tokyo, Japan)/Ashes to Rain/Soraia—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
1/11—All New Atmosphere—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
1/13—Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets—The Mercury Lounge, NYC
1/14—The Howler Weary/Steve Bello Band/Sam and Margot—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
1/16—Civic/Corevalay—Maxwell’sTavern, Hoboken, NJ
1/17—Silent Horror/Darrow Chemical Company/The Cryptkeeper Five—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
1/17—Lower The Veil/Atom Strange/Christian Morelli/Empire Fallen/Jaded Past/Lost Cause/That’s What She Said/McClinton—West Side Bar and Grill, Woodland Park, NJ
1/21—SYKA—Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY
1/23—Lethal Affection/Dark Matter/COMMON WEALTH/Libricide/Pralaya/Sun and Flesh—The Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY
1/23—Empire Fallen—Old Canal Inn, Nutley, NJ
1/24—SYKA—The Bitter End, NYC
1/24—Don Jamieson/Circuitry/Wrathstack/Meat For The Beast—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
1/24—Aurin—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
1/24—Divergence/Entropy/This Life We Live/A Great Day To Die/Lies Beneath/Plague of Humanity—The Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY
1/30—Empire Fallen (CD Release Party)—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
1/30—Shift/Pralaya/Harvest Falls/King Kelly/Science/Animal Pharmacy—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
1/31—That Metal Show Live featuring Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, and Jim Florentine/SYKA/Lightning Lord—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
2/6—Steve Bello Band—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/7—BoundAlive—Roxy and Duke’s Roadhouse, Dunellen, NJ
2/13—Steve Bello Band/Krown Point/Ripped Graffiti/Scottish Windows–Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
2/15—Brand of Julez—Santos Party House, NYC
