Okay, so I know this band isn’t a North Jersey band, but they’re performing at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ this Thursday night (6/30) and they are pretty bad ass! The name of the band is Continental and it features original Dropkick Murphys guitarist and songwriter Rick Barton and his son and bassist Stephen Barton. After listening to the a song called “Home On The Range” and a song called “1000 Miles” off the CD Millionaires, I would have to say that this is a pretty rockin’ father-son project! This is just good old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll at its finest. No re-inventing the wheel happening here.
According to their bio, the concept for Continental began with Rick’s son, Stephen, who after hearing a rough solo recording of his dad playing his original composition of a song called “Curious Spell” back in 2009, encouraged his old man to put a band together and bring this style of songwriting on the road. Rick’s resume boasted notable Boston acts like The Outlets, Everybody Out! and as I said, the Dropkick Murphys. Rick describes his songwriting as “a blend of folk, punk, and country with a heartfelt message of love, loss, pleasure, and pain,” which explains their sound of a unique blend of rock that draws influences from punk, country, folk, and blues. The father and son duo went on to recruit drummer Tom Mazelewski, guitarist Dave DePrest and their pilgrimage began. Continental set out on their first full U.S. tour back in September 2010 as support for the Street Dogs and Flatfoot 56 and have not looked back since. They’ve toured the country multiple times on headlining tours or as support and making appearances at festivals like the Vans Warped Tour.
Continental released their debut full-length CD, All A Man Can Do, back in 2012, which gained them much notoriety and helped them build their fan base. In October 2014, Continental released their most recent EP, Millionaires, which they’ve been supporting with their live shows. According to the band’s bio, “Their blue-collar mentality may mean that the band spends more time in a van and sleeping on floors than they do at home, but in the minds of the Bartons this is a small sacrifice to make as they dedicate themselves to the delivery of their music.” Catch Continental live this Thursday night (6/30) at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ. For more info, visit Facebook.com/ContinentalBand.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My little bros from Brand Of Julez will be embarking on their first tour of the Midwest with a national artist to be named later. Yes, I said, “to be named later.” Apparently, at press time, the boys would like to stay hush hush as to who the national act is for now, but they will be heading out in August for a month-long stint. You can catch the Zamora brothers and their new Brand Of Julez co-conspirators on a few upcoming local shows before they hit the road. Take a look at the concert calendar to find out where Brand Of Julez will be playing before they head out west. For more info on Brand Of Julez, visit Facebook.com/BrandofJulez.
My brothers from Mother… Did that sound weird? Anyway, Mother has finally headed into the studio for the first time in two years to record some new material. They’re working with producer David Ivory, who’s known for his work with The Roots, Halestorm, Erykah Badu and Patti Labelle, at Dylanava Studios right outside of Philly. The boys are beyond stoked to finally be putting out new material. So, get ready to “Rock Your Mother!” For more on the new Mother CD, visit RockYourMother.com.
And finally, my buds from Paralysis have a new five-song EP out called You Can’t Win. The EP is filled with some old-school thrash metal with thrash metal legends like Gerre from Tankard, Bobby Gustafson from Overkill and Josh Christian from Toxic, making guest appearances on the CD. The CD also features the first appearance of new drummer Weston Mahalic and the solos by Xenophile lead guitarist Ron Iglesias. For more on Paralysis, visit Facebook.com/ParalysisNJ.
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:
6/30—Continental—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
7/1—The Hannas/The Detours/Harry Jay Smith and the Bling/Skunk Daze/Disposable—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/1—Brand of Julez—Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall, Wantagh, NY
7/6—Impossible Cities/Ryan Zimmerman And Catcha Fish/Red House/Dijon—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/7—Benchpress/Impact/Hangman/Wastelands/MVA—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/8—Tommy London Presents: Panzie*/Midnight Crisis/All Night Sounds—Arlene’s Grocery, NYC
7/8—Cosmic American Derelicts/The Neverends/Nemes—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/9—Natural Born Losers—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/9—Borgo Pass/Black Dawn/Blacque Jacque Shellacque/Hatweed Jack/Drastic Measures—Revolution Bar and Music Hall, Amityville, NY
7/9—Brand of Julez—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
7/13—Don’t Tell Maggie/Joseph Pagano Band/Illegally Blind/Low Roads Ghost—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/15—Corevalay—Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
7/15—Reality Suite/Chevonne And The Fuzz/Last Minet—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/16—Brand of Julez—Championship Bar, Trenton, NJ
7/16—Dinosaur Eyelids—Leftfield, NYC
7/17—Illusionist/Resentment/Revelations/Kaonashi/To Live As Wolves/Polarity/Shallow Views—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/20—The Ivory/In Angles/Use Big Words/The Funeral Portrait—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/21—Famous Last Words/Outline In Color/It Lives It Breathes/Open Your Eyes—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/22—Brand Of Julez—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
7/23—Morningside Lane/The Clocktown Giants—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
7/23—Brand of Julez—Whiskey Tango, Fords, NJ
7/29—6 Prong Paw/Framework/Unkempt Herald/Mikell’s Plot/Paulus Hook/Bullet Train—Al Cibelli’s Restaurant and Bar, Perth Amboy, NJ
8/5—Brand of Julez—NIHIL Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
8/5—Seas of Wake/Fear Factory—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
8/6—Brand of Julez—Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
8/11—Abandoned By Bears/Save The Lost Boys/Southview—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
8/11—New Day Dawn/Baelfire/Steve Bello/Lita Ford—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
8/13—Arc’d Angel/Damn Glad/The Primadonnaz/The Dead—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
