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Articles
11/19/2008 2:05:32 PM CD Review
by Adam Wujtewicz
CD Review of The Reducers: Guitars, Bass and Drums
Angst In Space is an indie/rock trio that has been together since June of 2005. They have played shows throughout Connecticut, pleasing crowds of varying sizes with their wide range of musical styles and their energetic live performances. Every once in a while, the band goes into hibernation, returning a few months later with a new sound that somehow manages to retain the same character of the band. They as yet have had difficulty releasing a CD because they're never satisfied with their recordings. The band is always changing and growing, but remains the same fun-loving Angst In Space.
Anne has been playing solo shows, (just her and her drum machine), since January of 2007 and previously played in the 9 Day Wonders, the Uninformed, the Skin Walkers, and most recently the Cavities (www.myspace.com/cavities). She spends most of her time going to shows and says that music is the most important thing in her life.
You may know Meghan & Adam from wailingcity.com, the New London music and arts scene-based website. Meghan also plays drums in local band The Paul Brockett Roadshow, and Adam previously played bass for The Hand Grenade Serenade, and now currently runs his own recording studio, Strident Lake. The two formed this side project to do something different music-wise in New London... just bass and drums. Playing music is just another thing they both share a love for -- besides eachother. Not surprising, the collaboration works... music is how they met afterall.
"Brazen Hussy, New London's girly punk super-group. I say girly, which may be unfair given the fact that two of the four band members are dudes, but with the aggro-vox of lead hussy Sara Florek and the mangled guitars of Liz Larson up front, the outfit is a real feminine riot." - Matt Clark, New London Day, January 24, 2008
Daniel Spurr : An expert in myrmilogical field studies, Danny is on sabbatical from his research in the Belgian Congo. He learned how to play the Banjo by watching the intricate feeding habits of leaf cutter ants. He also strums the git-fiddle and yodels. Daniel Thompson : A refugee from southern Connecticut and a daredevil fighter pilot, he has assumed the role of a restless youth to hide his secret identity. He plays the fiddle and mouth organ when not busy eating cookies. Doug Schaefer : Breaker of washboards and wind, this Dude knows how to have a good time. Just keep a safe distance.
Chasing Trinity is a 5 piece Ska/Punk/Rock/Anything goes band hailing from New London County. This odd combination of music styles has allowed them to play any venue, with any band and put on a bone shattering, ear drum bleeding, no nonsense show. They have been rockin' socks off for over 6 years and there is no end in sight. On their rise to fame they have completed two full-length albums, several compilation albums, as well as a split CD with New London's own Hand Grenade Serenade. Their ability to control a crowd is one of the main reasons why it's just not a show if Chasing Trinity isn't on the bill.
Dan is in a band called The Can Kickers. Liz is in a band called The Liz Larsons. Dan started to play some of his songs at open mic. Liz wanted an opportunity to play the drums.
Mostly punk, a little indie-rock, and throw in tons of energy and this is one band that will make you want to pass out from exhaustion when they're done with you. They're one of the longest living NL rock bands to date... having been through drummer after drummer, tons of lineup changes and years of experience. Surviving it all, founder Matt Potter's genius song writing, along with Dave Freeburg's smack-you-in-the-face bass grooves set this band apart from any other in our area. Rock out HARD to this band...
The Fatalists are one of many loud punk rock bands in the "Wailing City", and are one of the many younger bands to break into the New London music scene in 2008. The Band features Zak Dunn on lead vox & guitar, Jesse Edwards on lead guitar & vox, Eric Sargent on bass guitar & vox, and Marcus Dipollina on drums. They have recorded several demos - one of which is currently available to the public and are working on more music for their first full length release. They are also very involved in the community: in addition to playing a slew of benefits & fundraisers, they have more recently become involved with W-CAST, (Wailing City All-ages Scen Team), and are ace volunteers for the all ages music scene! Expect awesome things from this band in the near future!
In the course of fusing their “new classic” style, Flowers & Kain have consistently shown their ability to transcend genres and unify people through music. Listeners often compare their works to a new –school Sublime, and Jay-Z collaborating with Led Zepplin. Flowers and Kain fans would agree, after leaving a show there’s a feeling of reconnection with their musical soul, an intoxication from the pulse of an amazing live experience. Using what they know about popular music and a raw sense of creativity, F’n’K appeals to all audiences in a seamless, timeless blend of hip-hop, rock, reggae, soul, R&B… and so much more.
Gone For Good is part of the new crop of bands erupting out of the Connecticut music scene. The band boasts a modern sound with classic overtones, taking cues from every decade of rock ’n’ roll. To hear an audience pinpoint just what they sound like is amusing... "Queens Of The Stone Age." "No, they sound like The Stray Cats." "No way, dude, they sound like Supergrass." A confusing, yet welcome, mix of opinions.
The band formed in the fall of 2006 after playing in various local bands for the better part of a decade. After playing a gig with a band that featured drummer Josh Leece, guitarist/vocalist Nicholas T. Johns and bassist/vocalist Ryan Perkins decided that they wanted Leece in their band. A handle of Southern Comfort later, Leece agreed and Gone For Good was born.
Awesome country/honky-tonk from New London County! Ken Atkins runs the ever famous "Blue Collar Happy Hour" at The Bank Street Cafe in New London every Friday night from 6pm to 8:30pm. Catch them on this bill every first Friday of the month! The band: Ken Atkins - Vocals, Electric Guitar; Sue Mackay - Accordian; Tom Trombley - Drums, backing Vocals; To Benoit - Electric Bass, backing Vocals; Paul "Barefoot" Davis - Harmonica
Lo-Fi RadioStars came to life in the fall of 2006 formed by John Fries (Vocals, Guitar, Songwriter) & Bobby Crash (Percussion).
At the heart of the band’s sound is its ability to seamlessly blend thoughtful songwriting with strong musicianship. Coupled with the members’ varied musical backgrounds, this winning combination produces an extremely powerful & recognizable sound. Partners Bobby Crash on drums, Josh Candler on bass, Jed Johnson on organ & John Fries on vocals & guitar have been working musicians in the New London area for over 10 years, and have a long history of working together on various projects. Eric Fries on guitar, brought into the fold in the summer of 2007, adds the final piece to the puzzle. Lo-Fi RadioStars weaves rock, blues and soul through every set to produce a sound that’s accessible to a wide variety of listeners.
Matt Gouette is hands down one of the musical geniuses of New London. Not only a singer/songwriter, but a talented musician -- he plays all instruments on all his recordings. You can certainly hear influence of The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Elliott Smith, David Bowie & The Cure in his music. He also has a few tricks up his sleeve... ask him to do a couple rap songs for ya -- you won't be disappointed!
You know the feeling that you get, when it stops itching and you can stroke it intelligently while you intently listen to someone speak? That is the feeling you get when you listen to the music of Mustache.You will automatically know what people are talking about in conversations. Women (or Men) will flock to your side to touch your new facial hair that sprouted and flourished during our set.All in all,you will have confidence,and a new sense of wonder after witnessing the songs of Mustache. Having formed as an acoustic folk duo in the spring of '06 (Jon and Tony previously spent the last 6 years fronting R.I. based Jam Band In The Woods) they eventually picked up Jed Johnson on Drums and The Dills on Bass guitar. A description that has come up time after time is "Porn Folk" which is fairly accurate! Collectively with years in the CT.music scene under their belts, they are poised to tour in the northeast this winter in support of their new album "Beyond Thunderbone" due in Oct.'08.
The Paul Brockett Roadshow Band was formed in December 2005, with a debut show at The Bank Street Café on December 23, 2005 in their home town of the “Whaling City”… New London, Connecticut! Since then, the band has spent 3 years playing over 80 live shows in cities such as Providence, Boston, Portland, New York City, and of course New London. Having all come from various backgrounds of music, Paul Brockett, (previously from Paisely Jungle & Gods Green Teeth JUST to name a few), Meghan Killimade, (previously from 3$ depth charge & April In Nevada), and Dave Anderson, (previously an acclaimed gigging NYC musician who plays just about everything known to man), have created a genre that is rather hard to classify – and is all their own. The “PBR” sound is often described as “country inspired rock n’roll”, or “country songs with punk beats”. In addition to country and rock, you can most certainly hear influences of punk, blues, funk, and folk in PBR’s tunes. Go ahead, we dare ya… try to classify ‘em!
"Quiet Life could conceivably have the next “What’s The Story (Morning Glory)”."- [Neufutur] ----- "Pleasant chord progressions, soft harmonies, and enough of a Southern wail to double check the band's Connecticut address."- [Chattanooga Times Free Press] -------- "Near-flawless renditions of classic L.A. Canyon rock...loose, affectionate playing, and each song registers catchy, rust belt elements. You soak in this like a whiskey at quitting time."- [Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover]
Have you had an occurrence re-occur? Well, that’s what happened to Jason Banta and Corina Malbaurn. They were both part of the punk/ska trio Rotzkinder in 1997. After only a few short months they disbanded and went on to perform with other bands such as Dear Jupiter, April In Nevada, Warpiper and Rockhouse. In 2007 they ran into each other in cyberspace and both had the desire to rock again. In need of a drummer, one had materialized in the summer of ’07 at a music festival. It was Eric Kendall, formally of Savalas Youth and Forthright. His aggressive, dominant playing style was a perfect match to release the thunderous music held within. This is how Recur Occurrence came to be. If you are looking for a melodic, heavy hitting, riff driven rock band, Recur Occurrence won't let you down.
Let's face it -- it had to start somewhere! The Reducers are quite possibly thought of as the fathers of New London local music. These same 4 guys have been giving us good old rock n' roll since 1978, with no signs of stopping! This summer they'll celebrate their 30th anniversary with a brand new CD! Check out their website and see why they are dubbed "america's best un-signed band"!
The Rivergods are a songwriter-based band, whose line-up has meandered and grown and shifted over the years, but continues to employ diverse musical talents to support the nucleus of singers Parent and Brossard. The two also happen to be husband and wife, which perhaps accounts for the stark intimacy of their harmony vocalizing. The Rivergods were born in 1997, and continue to enjoy critical acclaim and a loyal fan base around southern New England. They have had a few CDs out; their last full-length studio CD Time Has Come was hailed as "simply excellent" by Boston's Soundcheck Magazine. (And have you heard Rivolver?) They have played many shows and festivals over the years, including the NEMO New Music Showcase in Boston in 2001, and NXNE in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1999. They have been profiled in No Depression Magazine (the quote "bible of alternative country"), but have remained on the cusp of more wide-spread popularity.
Probably the best rock n' roll band to ever come out of New London...
The sudden death of beloved brother & lead guitarist, Phil Agins, in April 2008, lead to the bands unfortunate and untimely demise. Athough bitter-sweet, all surviving members of The Royale Brothers can be found in other current local bands and continue to play on strong with Phil in their hearts: Bobby Crash (drummer) is currently playing in Lo-Fi Radio Stars, Sebastian Coppotelli (rhythym guitar) currently plays in Fatal Film, and singer Joey Royale continues to write songs of his own and performs frequently with The Paul Brockett Roadshow Band and Estrogen & Tonic. Also, Bobby, Dan & Seb are involved in a brand new project, (Nov 2008), writing and performing children's music called The Dulls.
A scholarship fund has been opened by Phil's family in his name, to The Berklee College of Music. Donations can be made here:
Local Southern Rock from Uncasville -- led by powerhouse vocals from singer-songwriter Sue, the Sue Menhart Band fuses traditional southern rock and old-time blues with new millennium pop to create a unique live sound. Sue’s songwriting style hints of Lucinda Williams – dark, simple and true - but yet her live show has the passion and energy of a Bruce Springsteen concert. Sue’s voice reminds listeners of Susan Tedeschi and Bonnie Raitt, but yet according to IndieMusic.com, is “a totally original and distinctive voice.” -- “A mix of folkish singer/songwriter lyrics paired with a rock sound. Think Jackson Browne meets Journey, or Bob Dylan meets Boston.” (Norwich Bulletin); “A collection of big-throated blues-rock songs with shades of the Fabulous Thunderbirds." (Hartford Courant)
.. Hmmmm...What Should You Know About Us? Well, We Are the Suicide Dolls...We Play What We Like To Call Noise-Rock...Our Live Sets Are 85% Rehearsed/15% Improv, So We're Not Sure What Will Happen 100% Of The Time...We Are One Of Those "Loud Bands" You Always Hear About, But Can Be Soft At Times, Too...We're A Little Silly, But So Are You...We're The Suicide Dolls, The Next Generation of Punk/Rock/Noise! Accept No Immitations--Turn It Up, Yo!
First a duo, now a quartet, The Thick Thieves enjoy playing strange venues, singing half-assed vocal harmony, and just being able to play some of their melodies for anyone who cares to listen. They are "Four-man Folk" based from the tops of the hills in Mystic down to the streets of New London and shoreline of Waterford. The sound changes song by song but yet still has a common thread to tie the set nicely together. They've been around for a greater part of almost 3 years now and are still growing and improving.
"Then out of nowhere there did appear, all these people with weird beards. One of the weird beards came after them and said, 'this is the land of crazyness.'" The land is New London, if you may, and the crazyness is the Weird Beards, the band that scribed the words above for its song, "Weird Beards." The Beards are completely unique, featuring non-traditional instruments, non-traditional lyrics and non-traditional song styles. They are Brian Skidmore, 31, Jay Silva, 23, and Jake Kaiser (Skidmore said he was "in his fifties"). "I would describe it as a unique experience," Skidmore said. The Beards formed last year-they're hosting their one year anniversary party April 20-after Skidmore destroyed his ukulele. "I ended up smashing my old ukulele in my show," he said. He turned to Kaiser, who makes instruments, and after recieving a new baritone ukulele, Skidmore recieved a bandmate. After some jam sessions, Silva entered the band. The Beards play regular New London haunts such as the Bank Street Cafe, Bean & Leaf, the Oasis and O'Neils Brass Rail, and are pretty well known in the New London music scene. ~ From a "LOCAL MUSIC SCENE" write up by, TIM MALCOLM, NORWICH BULLETIN.
"The revival of British Indie, from Montville CT (of all places)." - [Steven Buttery of Brava Spectre] -------- "I don't know where the fuck you kids came from but this is phenomenal." - [Sebastian of Fatal Film/The Royale Brothers] ------- "A good blend of pop and art school indie rock, Uncasville power trio Wonderlust is a band you could prolly do the "nod" to while inside you were feeling extremely happy. It's not super wattered down like most radio pop and it's not overly pretentious like a whole lot of indie bands. "Summer Sweater" is a song that could bring us all a little closer together."
- [Critic Adam Wujtewicz of Wailingcity.com] ----- "I think Syd (Scelfo) could have the fastest tremelo of anyone I have ever seen, but don't quote me or anything." - [Joe Katz of the The Book Slave]
Golden Street Gallery 11/22/2008 6:00:00 PM [7 Year Anniversary/Art Opening] Featuring Sgott Mackenzie & Greg Bowerman: "The Giant Squid & The Seagull" release
