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LOOK BACK IN ARGYLE:
Jersey Beat Celebrates 20 Years of Bouncing Souls

In honor of the Bouncing Souls' 20th anniversary year, we have not one, not two, but THREE special interviews.

First, Deb Draisin chats with the Bouncing Souls and some of the group's fans and supporters to talk about what the last 20 years have meant, and how the band will be commemorating this special milestone.

Jason Walsh also had a chance to speak with lead singer Greg Attonito to help preview the anniversary shows.

Then we print for the first time an interview with Greg that took place as the keynote address of the 2004 DIY Convention, which traces the band's history and tells the story of how the Souls' built their own DIY support system, complete with merchandising, booking, and their own label.


IT'S THE END OF THE YEAR AS WE KNOW IT

Jersey Beat Staffers Pick The Best of 2008

See our staff's picks here...

The Quiet Corner Best of 2008 here...


FISHIN' MUSICIAN:
Mickey Melchiondo And The Lure Of The Deep

Every one knows that Mickey - aka Dean Ween - has a way with a hook, but few know that his passions go beyond music. When he's not shredding on guitar, you can find him fishing - or filming episodes of his Internet tv show Brownie Troop F.S., about all things anglerish. Jim Testa drops anchor for a chat with the Weenster about his piscatory pursuits. Read Jim's interview here...

CASH CASH:
NJ Dance Popsters
Prep For Success

Roseland NJ's Cash Cash will be releasing their debut album in January, after tearing up NJ clubs for the last few years. We talk to lead singer Jean Paul Makhlouf about major labels, the Jersey music scene, and pop bands using autotune, among other things.

Read Jim Testa's interview here...

A Christmas Chat
With The Fleshtones' Peter Zaremba


Ageless garage-rock icons The Fleshtones return to New Jersey this Saturday, December 13 to help celebrate the release of their new Christmas LP. Phil Rainone chatted with lead singer Peter Zaremba about the band's incredible longevity and the eternal appeal of garage rock. Read the interview here...


JERSEY BEAT INTERVIEW: FAIRMONT


Deb Draisin brings us up to date with the travails and triumphs of Fairmont, 10 year veterans of the Jersey music scene, now celebrating the release of their fifth full-length album, Transcendence. Read Deb's interview here...

Live Review:
Glen Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza:

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree With An All-Star Cast

Phil Rainone reports on Glen Burtnik's annual Xmas Xtravanganza for NJ charities, which brought an all star cast of friends and family together to help rock in the holidays. Read Phil's review here...


Live Review:
Gogol Bordello at Webster Hall NYC

Fernando Vazquez reports on the gypsy-punk insanity of a typical over-the-top Gogol Bordello show that turned a typical concert into a magical celebration of ethnic cultures and danceable rhythms.

Read his review here...

 

THAT'S NOT FUNNY!
A Column By Joe Evans III

Power Violence For The Comically Inclined

An interview with the "three great dudes" of Affirmative Action Jackson, a thrash trio who'll also make you laugh

Read Joe's column here...


INTERVIEW:
Houston Calls...But Is Anyone Listening?

Seems like only yesterday that Houston Calls were one of the flagship bands among the fleet of Jersey emo acts that helped transform Drive-Thru Records into one of the country's most important indie labels. But with the release of their second album, the band's wondering if that ship has sailed without them.
Read Jim Testa's interview here...

INTERVIEW: Phil Alvin of The Blasters

An American Original Brings a 'Blast' of Real American Music to The Saint's 14th Anniversary

Phil Alvin and his legendary roots-rockin' combo The Blasters brought an electrifying blast of true rock 'n' roll to the Saint in honor of the Asbury Park club's 14th anniversary. Phil Rainone was there to dig the vibes as well as the rockin' tuneage from Jersey new-wave pioneers The Bangs and DJ Lenny Lounge, then sat down with Phil Alvin for a one-on-one interview.
Updated with live photos!
Read Phil's interview with Phil Alvin here...
Read Phil's show review here...


FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
Peachcake and Pop tarts,




 



  • Peachcake - What Year Will You Have The World?

  • Deena - Somewhere In Blue

  • The Jizzmoes/Body of Castle

  • Gordon Gano's Army - S/T

View the complete Editor's Desk article...



No Sleep Til Gainesville!
DILLINGER FOUR: The Jersey Beat Interview

Our ace muckraking reporters Dave Dillon and Jon Robinson track down Minneapolis' notorious bubblegum-punk quartet Dillinger Four backstage in Baltimore, and probe the group's feelings about their latest album, future plans, Internet piracy, Dave Matthews, and their newfound love of autotune. Say what??

Read the interview here...





AARGH!! Brine & Bastards bring Pirate Punk to Jersey

They're scurvy, rowdy, mutinous sea dogs -- and they just happen to be one of the most original punk bands in the Garden State. Meet Brine & Bastards, and get ready to shiver ye timbers. Deb Draisin walks the plank with these gobs...




THING-ONE: Nuclear Fusion

NJ's Thing-One combines rock, pop, jazz, soul, and hip-hop, making them one of the most unique and exciting underground bands in the Garden State. Rich Quinlan talks to lead singer Joey Palestina about where Thing-One came from and where the band hopes it's going.

Read Rich's interview here...

FEATURE REVIEWS:

Darren Deicide - The Jersey Devil Is Here (Everreviledrecords.com)

NJ's Darren Deicide delivers mysterious, raw blues-rock more than living up to the legend of the creepy malevolent Jersey Devil.
Read Phil Rainone's review here...

The Love Me Nots - Detroit (Atomic A Go Go)

The Love Me Nots create a blend of harmonic and hormonal old school rock and roll, blending raw blitzkrieg guitars with heavy, heavy beats and bass, all lined up perfectly under solid vocals.

Read Phil Rainone's review here...


No Bunny - Love Visions (1-2-3-4-Go Records)

Justin Champlin's lo-fi garagey punk is like Jay Reatard on acid - and in a bunny mask. Phil Rainone thinks it's one of the most rockin'est things he's heard in a while!
Read Phil's review here...



All-American Rejects - When The World Comes Down (Interscope)

Dick Nothing acknowledges the undeniable pop appeal of the All-American Rejects' latest full-length, but also finds them... annoying.
Read his review here....

 

The Prozacs - Playing The Chords We Love (Cheapskate)

Pop Punk doesn't get much more perfect than the Prozacs, says Dick Nothing, who has nothing but raves about this new platter whose subjects range from the lack of freedom in modern society to sweet lullabyes to singer Jay Prozac's infant song.
Read the review here...

The Subhumans - Death Was Too Kind (Alternative Tentacles)

Alternative Tentacles brings back one of the pillars of Canada's early hardcore-punk scene with this compilation of the band's classic out-of-print singles, EP's, and albums. Phil Rainone says the band's personality-laden attack retains a freshness that today's punk rockers could do well to emulate. Read the review here...

Zigman Bird - Balls Marie (zigmanbird.com)

Scrappy "Fing" Lamberton on bass and Bill Homeyer on drums sock out in unison with a wallop and swoop, while Keith Beck on lead guitar and vocals not only rocks out, but strips rock 'n' roll down to it's primal state. Read Phil Rainone's review here

 

American Speedway - Ship Of Fools (Prophase)

Solid musicianship and stripped-down emotionalism will grab you by the throat when listening to the pure hardcore punk of American Speedway, which Phil Rainone says deliver a winning combination of punch and intelligence.
Read Phil's review here...

The Sketch - Best Kid In Town (Engineer)

John Brhel has lots of nice things to say about the UK's The Sketch, power-pop in the style of Weezer and The Anniversary, with echoes of Superchunk and Velocity Girl. Sounds pretty good to us! Read John's review here...

 

Tim Barry - Manchester (Suburban Home)

Chris Mattern swoons over the new solo album from Avail lead singer Tim Barry, whose simple, stripped down arrangements remain quintessentially punk-rock.
Read Chris' review here...

JERSEY BEAT COLUMNS:

DAVE RUN IT REVIEWS

Longtime Jersey Beat contributor Dave Run It hands down his judgment on releases by Static Radio NJ, The Safes, and The Offramps.

Read Dave's reviews here...

THE QUIET CORNER
by Robert Barry Francos

Best of 2008 Edition:

Robert Francos brings a unique twist to the usual year-end best-of list, choosing the albums he's listened to the most over the past 12 months - and still enjoys hearing cover to cover today. Robert's favorites run the gamut from punk to pop divas, singer/songwriters to sloppy bar bands, proving not everything's quiet in The Quiet Corner.
Read Robert's column here...


THE QUINLAN CHRONICLES by Rich Quinlan

The classic beer-soaked American of Ghostwriter and the warm, inviting Euro-pop of Lightning Daze are Rich's two new finds. He also finds lot to like on the new full-length from Brooklyn-via-New Brunswick's The Measure (SA) and also reviews new 7 inches from Stay Alive and Unwelcome Guests. Read Rich's column here...


THE WORLD ACCORDING TO WAWZYRNIAK - by Joe Wawzyrniak

Joe reviews new albums by I Am The Branch, Sonic Bliss, Canadian Invasion, and Daniel Harris. Thirty years into a landmark career, The Cure are still making albums with purity and passion, as evidenced by 4:13 Dream, which Joe W. finds exhilarating and a total triumpth.
View the complete article....

METAL AS ALL HELL by Dan Siano

Dan gets blown away by the two-disc set by Sweden's masters of black metal, Dark Funeral. He also checks out Chicago's Bible of the Devil, the latest from old reliables Pro-Pain, and new releases from Slank and Xystus. The highly hyped Bring Me The Horizon doesn't impress Dan Siano, who rates it as "heard it all before metalcore." And he has even less to say about Escape The Fate, other than it's merely emo/screamo/hardcore posing as real metal. He does have some good things to say about the enigmatic Grails and their instrumental post-metal. In other reviews, Dan has nothing but praise for Hate, who "come at you with a modern brutal death metal approach with tinges of black metal." But he has less than favorable words for the likes of Marionette and Sonic Syndicate. Also: Sybreed, Suspyre, Textures, Waylander, Bleeding Through, Brother Von Doom, Gama Bomb, and the new DVD documentary of the hardcore thrash scene, Get Thrashed.
Read Dan's column here...

THE SILVER LINING by Paul Silver

The big find in Paul Silver's latest column are the Color Wheels from upstate New York, featuring a husband/wife team playing intriguing pop tunes. "Some of it sounds a little awkward and geeky, some of it just soars, but it all rocks," enthuses Paul. He also uncovers real roots rock 'n' roll coming from The Neighborhood Bullys, and also reviews new releases from Tally Hall, The Quit, The Bloodsugars, Gentleman Auction House, Happy Anarchy, and Iota.
Real Paul's reviews here...

MATTERN OF FACT by Chris Mattern

Our newest columnist Chris Matterns kicks things off with reviews of The Monikers ("simply playing great poppy punk rock, full of great hooks and lyrics about alcohol and insubordination,") Like Trains & Taxis, Mr. Russia, Gee Davey and Knife The Sympony.

Read Chris' column here...

PUNK OR NOTHING by Dick Nothing

Dick Nothing gets an advance listen to one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the new year, Let Me Run's Meet Me At The Bottom. Scheduled to be released on January 20, 2009, the album arrives just in time to wash away the holiday blues with its powerful, energetic reimagining of classic New Jersey punk and classic rock theme. Read Dick's column here...

POP PUNK!
By All Ages Dave Dillon

Dave Dillon likes the pop-punk sounds of Banner Pilot as well as the demo tape (!) from Long Island's Iron Chic, and also reviews new releases from Bridge & Tunnel and The Riot Before. Dave found "Collected Sounds" by the Dustheads the most tortured release of the year, a mashup of classic Black Flag hardcore and heavy stoner riffage. He also reviews new releases by Heavy Heavy Low Low and pop/punk from Italy's The Veterans.
Read Dave's review here...

 

ROCK N ROLL ADDICTION:
Chapter 8 - The Boro

A Column By Daniel McDermott

What was it about his hometown of Hillsborough that produced so many rock 'n' rollers in the 90's, wonders Dan McDermott in this installment of his ongoing memoir. From Flinch to Loose to Mars Needs Women to True Love, some of the best Jersey bands of a generation came from this sleepy little suburb.
View Rock N Roll Addiction -Chapter 8...

Your Friends & Neighbors by Tris McCall

Tris looks at the new pop-prog release by NJ's Spiraling. "So far, I’ve probably heard about a hundred albums released this year. I can’t say that any of them is better than Time Travel Made Easy. The new Spiraling album is cogent, entertaining, well-written, and well-played; on top of that, it sounds terrific."

Read Tris' full review here...


INTERVIEWS & FEATURES:

More Jersey Beat Columns

  • It's Time To Party With Noah WK
    Noah reviews two new pop-punk releases from Rally Records - the Jetty Boys and All-Star Assassins - as well as new releases from Orion Experience, Faraquet, Hammerlock, and Labor Party.
  • Dave Run It
    The Wacky Hi-Jinks of Adrenalin OD, Co Co B's, The Pagans, Teachers' Pet, Swallow
  • Savage Slices: Reviews by Eric Savage
    Streetdogs; Jim Boggia; Nurse With Wound, Windmill Tammany Hally NYC, Monkey Paw, The Deacons, Model/Actress, The Ike Reilly Assassination, Sons Of Cyrus, Irving, Landlord, and more.

  • Mike Ramek's HardCore Report:
    Shai Halud; Sworn Enemy; Purpose, Madball, Agnostic Front/Discipline, Born/Dead, Hopesfall, Monster Squad. Another Breath, The Break In, The Burning Paris, Capital, Count The Hours

  • The Silver Lining: Reviews By Paul Silver
    City And Skyway, Ghost Buffalo, National Rifle, PonytaleThe Morning Benders, The Chapin Sisters, The Handcuffs, Dive Index, Sky Cries Mary; Trolleyvox, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, The Black Swans, Cheyenne, Hit & Mrs.

  • Acoustic & Then Some By Brook Pridemore
    Folk, anti-folk, singer/songwriters, and other stuff that won't bust your eardrums.

  • Wowie Zowie: Psychedelic & Beyond by Rick Kutner - Updated January 23
    Snowden, Black Mountain, Eddie Vedder, Goon Moon, Blaqk Audio; Queens Of The Stone Age,  Coheed & Cambria, This Holiday Life; Gasoline Heart; Be Bop Deluxe, Daft Punk, Deadsy, The Flaming Lips, The Mars Volta, New York Dolls, Placebo, The Raspberries, Samiam, Snatches of Pink, T Rex, VHS Or Beta, Valient Thorr, VanDer Graaf Generator

  • Book and Zine Reviews
    The Red Album of Asbury Park by Al Austin

    Music Fanzine - Jersey Beat

Jersey Beat CD Reviews:

Music Fanzine - Jersey Beat

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JerseyBeat.com is an independently published music fanzine covering punk, alternative, ska, techno and garage music, focusing on New Jersey and the Tri-State area. For the past 25 years, the Jersey Beat music fanzine has been the authority on the latest upcoming bands and a resource for all those interested in rock and roll.


 
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