Monday, March 14, 2005
Hoboken Rock City - Show #2 - Notes
Dirty Old Town – TED LEO/PHARMACISTS
Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is Dead, Lookout!, 2003
An Irish tune by a Jersey guy in honor of Hoboken's St. Patrick's Day parade, which blew through town like a natural disaster on the first Saturday in March.
Things Fall Apart – GROUP SOUNDS
Group Sounds, no label, 2005
A band that's really starting to happen around New York City. They played The Bowery Ballroom with Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV last week. They're also playing the soon-to-be-defunct Luna Lounge this Saturday, March 19 with The Vitamen. Free downloads at their website.
Let Me Out – JONNY POLONSKY
The Power Of Sound, Loveless, 2004
A power pop god ever since his 1996 debut Hi My Name Is Jonny. Check out my interview with Jonny.
Mounds Of Money – THE CAPITOL YEARS
Let Them Drink, Burn And Shiver, 2005
Jersey-bred, Philly-based Shai Halperin's band. A former Rutgers guy and WRSU dj, in fact. The album just came out March 8. Currently touring the world and elsewhere—get the dates on the website.
Subdued – NUMBER TWELVE
Number Twelve, no label, 2004
Yowza! This New York/Strong Island female power trio kicks ass and takes names.
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So Here We Are – BLOC PARTY
Silent Alarm, Vice, 2005
Album came out in U.K. a couple weeks ago and debuted at #3. Out in the states March 22. A release so highly anticipated there may already be a backlash.
Up On Colours – CASIONAUTS
Bailamos! Murimos! Juntos!, Omega Point, 2005
Michigan new wave/punk crazies. They had a Jersey gig this past Saturday that may or may not have been at the Metuchen V.F.W. hall.
Ouija Me - COMMUNIQUE
Poison Arrows, Lookout!, 2004
San Francisco-based synthie rockers.
Samantha Secret Agent – ALL GIRL SUMMER FUN BAND
2, K, 2003
Super cool twee multi-culti female quartet out of the Pacific Northwest. Shout out to K Records, the legendary label from Olympia, Washington, for being the first label to grant this show blanket permission to use its music.
Happy Mondays – MY TEENAGE STRIDE
Major Major, Becalmed, 2004
Jedediah Smith from Brooklyn wrote and played the whole album himself. Reminds me a little of Stephin Merritt. Love the lyrics on this one.
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JERSEY ROCK CITY SET
Cherry Hi-Way – THE HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS
Heels ‘n’ Wheels, Get Hip, 2005
Not an all-girl group. The new album is out the first week of April, and the band is playing at its record release party at Maxwell’s on Friday, April 22.
Elvis – SIT N’ SPIN
Doin’ Time With, Blood Red, 2004
Female trio that started out a while back in New Brunswick and are still based out of Jersey. Fronted by Heidi Lieb, also of local alt-/old-timey country heroes The Lonesome Prairie Dogs.
The Day Roy Orbison Died – THE MARYS
Our Friends, no label, c. early 1990s
Written by the late Don Brody, one of the pillars of the Hoboken musical scene in the ‘90s. One of the most poignant songs I have ever heard.
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One of my favorite singers and songwriters, EDWYN COLLINS, had a cerebral hemmorhage on Feb. 20. He had emergency surgery on the Feb. 25. On his website's bulletin board, fans have been posting well wishes. His wife Grace has provided occasional updates. It sounds like Edwyn is going to recover, though to what extent is unclear at this point.
Recommended reading:
• The Sound Of Young Scotland, a wonderful primer on the early '80s Scottish scene with special attention to Edwyn's band Orange Juice.
• My 1997 interview with Edwyn.
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We’re Gonna Live In The Trees – ROBYN HITCHCOCK
Spooked, Yep Roc, 2004
Great acoustic-flavored album from the former Soft Boy. Tickets still available as of press time for his show at Maxwell's on Saturday, March 26.
7 Seas (live) – HAMELL ON TRIAL
Ed’s Not Dead: Hamell Comes Alive, Such-A-Punch, 2000
Must-have live album by a must-see live performer, the king of punk-folk.
Sammy’s Bat – DAN BERN
My Country II: Music To Beat Bush By, Messenger, 2004
Political parable with a Sammy Sosa reference. And I am so happy spring training is here.
On Saturday nights in March, you can see me spin live at The Goldhawk, located at 10th and Park in Hoboken. 10 p.m. till last call.
Thank you: Pat Pierson, Tris McCall, John and Frank Navin, Adam Shore at Vice, Erin at Lookout!, Amber at K Records, David at Yep Roc, Cynthia Santiglia, Lauren O’Reilly, Ed Hamell, Jonny Polonsky, Group Sounds, Shirley Halperin, Shai Halperin, Jedediah Smith, Tom Swope, Heidi Lieb, Jon Cendrowski, Miki in Dan Bern’s office, and all the listeners.
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