I featured a band called Sick Mind a few years back here in North Jersey Notes, and one of the components that really stood out like a sore thumb was guitarist Felix Skiver, who had the look and the makings of an up-and-coming rock star. Basically, he stuck out like a sore thumb in Sick Mind. But just like most musicians in Jersey, you just whittle away until you find the right fit and the right musicians for the style of music that you want to play. Well, it looks like Felix has found this with New York City’s Echo Black. I happened to come across the band when they came up on my Facebook newsfeed and I saw Felix in the band photo, this time fitting right in with the band and not sticking out like a sore thumb. Needless to say the photo piqued my interest.
According to their bio, Echo Black was formed by frontman Danny Blu earlier this year. Originally a fellow Jersey boy, Blu has been a performer his entire life. He made the move to New York City in the fall of 2008 to pursue a career in acting and singing. In March 2010, Blu started to write and record his own music as he worked with producer Bobby Amaru, who now fronts the band Saliva. He would record 10 original songs and one cover, which would be considered his first studio effort, Do Your Worst, garnering Blu much acclaim. He would play the NYC circuit with the live version of his band. In February 2014, Blu would release his second studio CD, Saint, which led to more radio airplay and a national tour the following June. Here in 2015, he’s put together his latest project under the name Echo Black, which features my bud and guitarist Felix Skiver, bassist Rob Gnarly and drummer Billy Long.
Earlier this month, Echo Black released their debut single and music video for their song “Burn Another Day” featuring Davey Suicide on guest vocals. Blu says, “This song marks both a beginning and an end for us; the close of one chapter and the opening of another. We are hungry and we are coming out with guns blazing!” They certainly are. Echo Black hits the road with Combichrist and The Birthday Massacre next week to kick off their first national tour. For more info on Echo Black and their new song, “Burn Another Day,” now available on iTunes and Amazon.com, visit Facebook.com/EchoBlackMusic.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My old bud Dave Incognito from Dying Eyes Of Sloth and Incognito Theory recently sent me sent me the second single off of Incognito Theory’s upcoming EP, Draw The Line. The song is called “My Dying Soul” and it might be the best I’ve heard Dave’s vocals in years. Yeah, I know he does that screaming thing on Dying Eyes Of Sloth, but the melodies and deep vocal on this song is perfect. This song might actually be the best song I’ve heard from Incognito Theory yet. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the EP. Look for it in early 2016. For more on Incognito Theory, visit facebook.com/IncognitoTheory.
There’s a great FREE show coming to the River Rock Restaurant and Marina Bar in Brick, NJ this Saturday night (10/24) featuring Saving Abel, End Of An Era, Sekond Skyn and New Day Dawn. The show is set to be a benefit for Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization in the U.S. that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. For more on this amazing event, visit any of the aforementioned band’s Facebook pages.
And finally, I just got to hear the new CD from Reality Suite, SKINN, which features the title-track, “Wingman,” “Playing With Fire” and “Save My Life,” and these songs are killer! They are well-written and singer Kimmii Heart’s vocals are powerful. I hate to compare, but after listening to these songs, it reminded me of Halestorm meets NYC’s Charetta. For more on Reality Suite and their new CD, SKINN, visit RealitySuite.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:
10/24—Rebel Revolution/Mach 22/Pavelle/Clashing Plaid/Black Sun Rising—Bull Shooters Saloon, Philadelphia, PA
10/24—Whiplash/Attaker/Legion/The Heist—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
10/24—Sekond Skyn/End of an Era/New Day Dawn/Saving Abel—River Rock Restaurant and Marina Bar, Brick, NJ
10/24—You, Me, and Everyone We Know/Morningside Lane/Bobby Mahoney and the Seventh Son/Help Me Help You—Maxwell’s Tavern, Hoboken, NJ
10/29—Jersey Campfires Production Presents: Lights Over Hudson/A Midnight Tragedy/Empire Fallen/Blackout Paul/Prodigal Sons—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
10/29—Echo Black/Combichrist/The Birthday Massacre—The Marlin Room at Webster Hall, NYC
10/31—Black Water Rising/Lords of Mercy/High Octane/Common Wealth—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
10/31—Dying Eyes of Sloth—Soul Sounds, Patchogue, NY
10/31—Echo Black/Combichrist/The Birthday Massacre—The Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
10/31—Meatplow/Earthmouth/Bloodeagle/Beyond Fallen—Diane’s Deli and Internet Café, Pittston, PA
11/4—Scottish Windows/Skid Row—Irving Plaza, NYC
11/6—Corevalay—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/7—Sworn Enemy/Robots And Monsters/Hellshot/Juan Bond—The Grand Victory, Brooklyn, NY
11/7—Generation Kill (featuring DMC from RUN DMC)/Ogre—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/13—Malvador/Seas of Wake/The Things They Carried/That of A Lion/Comb The Desert/Enochian—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/15—SYKA/GWAR/Born of Osiris/Battlecross—Webster Hall, NYC
11/20—Saint Caine/Rahway/Carry Out Your Dead—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/21—SYKA/Dragonforce/Kamelot—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
11/21—Killcode/New Day Dawn/Ronin—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
11/21—All Out War/Apparition/Spectral Voices/Decimate The Living/The Fallen Prodigy/Robots and Monsters/Red 100/DRAW THE LINE—Blackthorn 51, Elmhurst, NY
11/27—Jersey Campfires Production Presents: Syka/Know Your Enemy—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
11/28—Jersey Campfires Productions Presents: Rahway/Pool of Thornes/Shattered Skin/Bone Devil/Meatplow—The Boneyard, Atlantic City, NJ
