One of the bands I remembered playing with on a hot summer day in Lakewood, NJ at the failed Jersey Shore Music Festival a couple of years ago was a band called Sick Mind. I thought these kids were pretty decent and the best part about them? They were “kids.” Like Mötley Crüe stated in their spoken word song “In The Beginning” off of their Shout At The Devil record, “Those who have the youth, have the future.” At my age now, my dreams of being signed and touring are pretty much gone, but it was a great feeling to see that teenage angst and motivation in these young kids playing great music. I almost forgot about these kids in Sick Mind until I recently saw a photo post by my photog buddy, Jeff Crespi. So, I decided to check them out again and after listening to a few songs like “Jack In The Box,” “Wrekker” and the anthemic “Tight Aussie” off of the band’s website, sickmindrocks.com, I felt that these guys aren’t reinventing the wheel with music. They’re playing music that they enjoy playing and I enjoy listening to, which makes me feel good about the future of our Jersey music scene.
According to their bio, it took Sick Mind some time to get where they are today. After many of his bands fizzled out, guitarist Felix Skiver took it upon himself to search all over the state of Dirty Jersey to find musicians who shared the same passion and talent for music that he had. He found those qualities in fellow guitarist, Andrew Saul. The two began to write and build the foundation of Sick Mind. Skiver would soon tap bassist Jon Arban, a former bandmate and drummer Artie Revel to join the project. Sick Mind’s lineup was not complete and they knew they needed a powerful and charismatic frontman to round out their lineup, and in walked longtime friend of Skiver’s and Arban’s, Dominic Noviello. With a complete lineup, Sick Mind started turning out songs with catchy hooks and blistering guitar solos reminiscent of the ’80s hair metal era, which couldn’t come at a more perfect time. Sick Mind began working their way through the Jersey music scene and their sound began to catch on, helping them to hundreds of dedicated followers and growing.
With each band member of Sick Mind having influences ranging from ’70s rock to ’80s metal to ’90s alternative to the 2000s hardcore and sleaze, they’re a melting pot of some of the best music from the best decades in music! Sick Mind likes to look at themselves as the band that is bringing rock stardom back into rock and roll. They have a long way to go, but they’re off to a pretty good start. Their music is pretty good. I was listening to it while I was here at work prepping to write this column and my boss asked who I was listening to. It’s always a good sign when one of the bigger concert promoters in the area asks about the unsigned band I’m listening to. For more on Sick Mind, visit sickmindrocks.com.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
One of my new favorite locals, Robots And Monsters, will be opening for the legendary Anvil at the Blue Room in Secaucus, NJ on Feb. 7. I featured Robots And Monsters last year as one of my favorite new bands and not because I know singer Dylan Gadino and bassist Billy Bergman. They’re actually pretty awesome! If you haven’t checked them out yet, you’re the one missing out. Also performing at the Blue Room with Robots And Monsters and Anvil will be Lord Dying, Sunlord, The Donner Party, and Flathead Sky. If you can’t make that show, Robots And Monsters will also be performing tonight (1/28) at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ. For more on Robots and Monsters, visit robotsandmonster.net.
My bro Scotty O and his latest project, Causticaudio, recently released their debut EP, simply titled III, because there are only three songs on the EP: “No Stopping,” the riff-tastic “Magazine” and the very groovy “As I Lie.” Scotty’s thunderfoot drumming mixed with bassist Rich Tanis’ tasty bass grooves and singer Pat Piegari’s soulful vocals and catchy riffs all really complement each other for this well-rounded rock EP. For more on Causticaudio, log onto facebook.com/causticaudiomusic.
And finally, congrats to my bros from Audio Empire, whose song “Bleed Like You” was chosen as the winner of the WDHA “Homegrown Spotlight” Intro Riff Contest. So, basically, the lovely Lindsay Klein Hrynio will be opening every Homegrown Spotlight segment of her show with a clip of Audio Empire’s “Bleed Like You” for all of 2015. The boys have also announced that their first show of 2015 will be opening for the mighty Judas Priestess at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ on Feb. 6. For more on Audio Empire, visit audioempireband.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:
1/28—Robots and Monsters/Cancerslug—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
1/30—Empire Fallen (CD Release Party)/IronBound/Syka/One Hundred Thousand —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/Unhinged—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/6—Audio Empire/Judas Priestess—Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
2/7—BoundAlive—Roxy and Duke’s Roadhouse, Dunellen, NJ
2/7—Robots and Monsters/Anvil/Lord Dying/Sunlord/The Donner Party/Flathead Sky—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
2/12—Thank You Scientist/Periphery/Nothing More/Wovenwar—Irving Plaza, NYC
2/12—New Day Dawn/Sekond Skyn/Ronin/McLinton/Saliva/Saving Abel—The Headliner, Neptune, NJ
2/13—Steve Bello Band/Krown Point/Ripped Graffiti/Scottish Windows–Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
2/13—Rory Kelly—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/15—Brand of Julez—Santo’s Party House, NYC
2/21—The Battery Electric—Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, NJ
2/28—BoundAive—Bound Brook Hotel, Bound Brook, NJ
