This week marks the second week in a row that I’ll actually be featuring a band out of North Jersey. I mean, after all, this is North Jersey Notes, right? North Jersey bands have a bad habit of hiding for some reason and I’m not sure why. There are some great bands in the North Jersey area. This week, it’s a band that actually emailed my full-time job looking for a gig at the Rock ‘N’ Derby in Upstate New York, but when I noticed they were from Glen Rock, I decided to give them a listen, and I thought they were golden. I’m talking about the band Deaf Rhino. Singer Adam Schlett’s energy and vocals were reminiscent of Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters, which isn’t a bad band to be compared to.
Deaf Rhino recently released their debut CD, Dirt, Rust, Chaos, under their new band name of Deaf Rhino. According to their bio, they were formally known as Easy Company. Since the CD was released, it quickly gained some steam, garnering the band international attention online and it even found a home here on major U.S. radio stations’ airwaves. Dirt, Rust, Chaos is a completely self-released CD, which makes its success extra special for the band, who have been making music together since 2011. The success of their new CD is largely due to the radio airplay Deaf Rhino has been receiving on shows like “Out of the Box” on Q104.3 in NYC and “Rodney with the Rock” on KROQ in Los Angeles. Dirt, Rust, Chaos can also thank radio industry rag, FMQB’s specialty chart, where the CD remains in the Top 25 since it was released. Rounding out the band behind guitarist and singer Adam Schlett are lead guitarist Bobby Weir, bassist Tommy Scerbo and drummer Jack Biamonte.
Deaf Rhino are definitely a forced to be reckoned with on the Jersey music scene, but I get the sense they are destined for more than Jersey. In their short existence, they’ve already hosted multiple sold-out shows at places like NYC’s Arlene’s Grocery three times, Maxwell’s Tavern in Hoboken twice and The Bitter End in NYC three times. They’ve also rocked almost every room in the Tri-State Area. If you ask me, it’s time for Deaf Rhino to test the waters outside of this Tri-State Area and see what the rest of the world thinks of them. My guess: They’ll be a winner! For more info on Deaf Rhino, you need to visit DeafRhino.com or catch them live this Friday night (2/26) at Paul’s Tavern in Belmar, NJ.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My bros from Saint Caine have parted ways with guitarist Brian Quinn due to his new demanding touring schedule as guitarist for Candlebox. The split was amicable, however, as John Kosco and crew wanted to play more shows, while Brian’s touring with Candlebox would not allow it. Replacing Brian Quinn as Saint Caine guitarist is Daran Amos from the band Thunderbrew out of Wilmington, DE. So, welcome to Jersey, Daran. Catch Daran’s first North Jersey appearance with Saint Caine at the Stanhope House in Stanhope, NJ on April 22 with special guests Pat Llewellen And The Parade and my band Rahway. For more info on Saint Caine, visit SaintCaine.com.
My boys from Scars Of Envy have been added on to an enormous show at Starland Ballroom in Slayerville, NJ on June 4. They will be opening for the mighty Hatebreed and DevilDriver with Devil You Know featuring Howard Jones from Killswitch Engage. Other locals performing on this brutal show are my bros from Ashes Of Your Enemy and Negative Sky. If you can’t wait till June, you can check Scars Of Envy out at Shore Metal Madness IV on March 12 down at the Headliner Night Club in Neptune, NJ. For more info on Scars Of Envy, visit ScarsofEnvy.com.
Dave Incognito recently sent me the new Incognito Theory song “Desire” featuring Symphony X bassist Mike LePond, and I thought the song was killer. I’ve known Dave a long time and yes, I’ve busted his balls a lot in this column, but vocally, he’s really grown as a singer. His voice has really come a long way from the way I remembered it. Yes, it might sound like many bands out there, but today, I can truly call Dave Incognito a singer. Last weekend, the band celebrated the single’s release with a party at QXT’s in Newark, NJ featuring performances from Dying Eyes Of Sloth, Gathering After Ashes, and Hot Blonde Dead. Dave told me the full-length Incognito Theory CD is set to drop this fall and he’ll be releasing a Dying Eyes Of Sloth CD this summer. For more info about Incognito Theory, visit Facebook.com/IncognitoTheory.
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:
2/26—Zipperhead Productions Presents: The Rory Kelly Band/Natural Born Losers/Speed Queen—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
2/26—Joe Lynn Turner/Steve Bello—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
2/26—Vextion/Bobby Mahoney and The Seventh Son/Deaf Rhino—Paul’s Tavern, Lake Como, NJ
2/26—Midnight Mob/The Blackfires/Tempest City—DROM, NYC
2/26—Angelface/Headcase/Heavy Necker/Kosmic Daydream/Randy Haze Trio—The Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
2/26—Deaf Rhino—Paul’s Tavern, Belmar, NJ
2/27—TRAPT/Ronin/SYKA/Legacy/Corevalay/Gathering After Ashes/Empire Fallen—Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
2/27—Michael Graves/Negative Traction/Sometimes the Devil/Immoral Support/EXM/Wolves Attack—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
2/28—Joe Lynn Turner/Atom Strange—Blackthorn 51, Elmhurst, NY
3/1—Scottish Widows/Tempest City/Geoff Tate’s Operation Mindcrime—The Gramercy Theatre, NYC
3/4—Dinasour Eyelids—Court Tavern, New Brunswick, NJ
3/9—FLAW/We…Our War/Maggotmouth/Palaceburn/Pyramids—The Backstage at Championship Bar, Trenton, NJ
3/10—Silvergun Superman/The Lounge Creeps—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
3/11—ACEY SLADE/Smash Fashion/CREEM CIRCUS/Ten Ton Mojo—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
3/12—“Shore Metal Madness IV”—Vision of Disorder/VSSLS/Cyperna/Scars of Envy/Stagger/We Our War/Ixion Lux/Paralysis/Eye of Anubis/Comb the Desert—Headliner Night Club, Neptune, NJ
3/12—RockitFest IV – Ogre/PRB Street Gang/Sinners/Sickness/The Dirty Stayouts—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
3/12—Deaf Rhino/Wild Adriatic—The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
3/19—Four Year Strong/Light Years/Can’t Swim—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
3/25—Deaf Rhino—Bull Shooter’s Saloon, Philadelphia, PA
4/2—Jersey Campfire Productions Presents: Rahway/Sekond Skyn/One Hundred Thousand/Meatplow—Boneyard Bar and Grill, Atlantic City, NJ
4/3—Gothic Knights—Stage 48, NYC
