Noise Candy

A New Jersey music blog/website that shares information on your favorite artists. Discover. Discuss. Listen.

[noisecandy-blog1]

Vigil To Reflect On The Life and Work Of Lil Peep To Be Held In Liberty State Park

11/20/17

   News broke this past week of the passing of rapper Lil Peep. The 21 year old rising star passed away due to prescription medication Xanax laced with the deadly drug Fentanyl. 

  Almost immediately talking heads felt it necessary to condemn the current state of hip hop and it’s glorification of drugs. It was as if they were using Peep’s death to further their own political agenda.

  Is there a “drug problem” in today’s hip hop? Possibly. It was not too long ago we lost New York City pioneer A$AP Yams. Hell, my favorite emcee Eyedea passed away nearly 7 years ago due to drugs. But maybe this is indicative of an overall epidemic gripping the nation around opiate use. Maybe this epidemic is now reaching the hip hop community. Maybe it is not our place to pass judgement on the victims but instead redirect our anger towards the system that is allowing this to occur. Big Pharma, failed criminal justice system, doctors and hospitals all play a part in this.

   Or maybe we need to sit back for a second and love the life we are living for it is delicate and fleeting.

   I was introduced to the music of Lil Peep this past summer by my good friend Chris, who has battled addiction. We listened to “Crybaby” and “Star Shopping”. Peep’s music was different from the dime-a-dozen trap rappers saturating an already saturated market. 

  Peep was brave enough to make himself vulnerable. Rap is a hyper-macho genre of music. Rapping about depression and heartbreak has historically been viewed as weak. Lil Peep disregarded all that to put out music a lot of us can relate and find solace in. 

  I only wish he could have found solace in his work the way so many of us did. His blossoming career was cut way too short.

  On Saturday November 25th, 2017 there will be a vigil hosted for Lil Peep at Liberty State Park. The details are below. It will be an event for healing and reflection on his life and work.

R.I.P. Lil Peep

[noisecandy-blog1]

Fire Is Motion’s Latest Release Will Get You Through the Late Autumn Blues

11/18/2017

 My timeline has been blowing up with friends sharing this EP by Union’s very own Fire Is Motion.  The dreamy emo collective is gearing up for a major show at Starland Ballroom opening up for Montclair juggernauts Pinegrove. It is during this exciting time that Fire Is Motion decided to gift us with this delightful 5-song EP Still, I Try.

 The EP opens up with the atmospheric medley “Yesterday’s Coffee” in which the horns welcome the second half of this track in a splendid surprise for listeners. The track ends on a faster pace as if the passion and rawness this EP contains begins to spill forward.

  The second track “Who Knows?” is a drum driven nihilistic poem. It manages to capture the complex questions of life in a beautiful manner. “Who’s gonna give you love when I die?” This line sticks out as the drums mimic my heartbeat as we fear asking these things.  By far my favorite track on this EP.

  The outgoing track on the EP and second question “How Long to Get Home?” wraps up this beautiful project perfectly. It’s a song you want to listen to driving down fall foliage littered back roads in wooden North Jersey. It is lively and explosive, a last gasp of defiance against the oncoming coldness of winter.

  At times this EP reminds me of Arcade Fire with it’s moments of grandeur. Other times it reminds me of Owen reminiscent of Kinsella’s quiet vulnerable lyrical epiphanies. Still, I Try is a treat and something to help us cope with the diminished daylight. Something making this winter in North Jersey a little more bearable.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fireismotion/

Bandcamp: https://fireismotion.bandcamp.com

[noisecandy-blog1]

Last Call For 10th Street Live

11/18/2017

   Kenilworth live music venue and restaurant, 10th Street Live, will be dimming the lights on their stage and closing it’s doors on November 27th. Gone another space for musicians and comedians to display their talent. Probably to be torn down and replaced with those generic Avalon-built townhomes that our generation will never afford.

   10th Street was not a bad venue. It was decent sized, had good food, and the stage/sound equipment was optimal. It just felt like it was never used to it’s potential. Indie circuit, college radio bands could have easily turned this into a spot date venue for touring but instead 10th Street went the route of dad rock cover bands and Maroon 5 wannabes. Booking was not one of the strong points. 

   Drawbacks aside, the location was prime. The venue was located in the industrial side of Kenilworth and surrounded by a large parking lot. I recall hosting a benefit show back in college with local juggernauts Use Big Words and Jean Pool playing. 

   It’s never a good when a performance space closes down. In the past few years we’ve seen so many great venues disappear. 10th Street joins a list that includes the much beloved Asbury Lanes and Atlantic City’s sole venue The Boneyard. The lack of proper and legit venues for musicians to play at will only push the community further underground. Something we aren’t opposed to. Nonetheless why can’t we have it all? 

   Here’s hoping that another bar/venue comes after 10th Street and brings some spark to suburban New Jersey. 

[noisecandy-blog1]

WHAT THE SMOCK IS GOING ON?

11/18/2017

   Music you listen to when they shoot your ashes out of a 50 foot canon in the Mojave Desert. Ricocheting out of this world like a supersonic doctor with a soundtrack worthy of going boom. Smock is gritty, coarse like sand. You want to rub their music into your teeth.

    Formed in May of 2017, Smock hails from the Bloomfield area. A far contrast for their stoner rock sound reminiscent of California bands like Nebula and Queens of the Stone Age. Smock sounds like late 90′s Palm Desert in all the right ways. 

   Drummer Dylan Morris is a beast at his craft. The lead singer Jesse Benicaso’s voice floats above the electric energy of Cameron Smith and Zach Inkley. 

  If you want to gnash your teeth at a live Smock performance, these dudes are out here putting in work. All the North Jersey haunts from The Meatlocker to Index Art Gallery to The Clash Bar. This is one of Garden State’s bands to watch. Catch them soon! They’re playing on November 30th at Rob’s Place in Union.  Listen to their first single “Chug” on their bandcamp below.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smockband/

Bandcamp: https://smockband.bandcamp.com

[noisecandy-blog1]

How Samad Savage Is Starting A Movement

By Louis Nicastro.  07/06/17.

 Friday, July 7th, 2017. The legendary Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, New Jersey, will come alive with the spirit of hip hop. Here is the home of our story’s hero, Samad Savage.

 This talented young man, alongside companions J.1.DA, Jay Illicit, IB Mattic, Tennis Boys, Driicky Graham and Blezst will take the stage at The ‘Clair Concert.

 Savage’s quest is to build a hip hop scene in the town he loves. His music paints a picture of positivity and his message is uplifting. Savage draws influence from emcees like Lupe Fiasco and Eminem.

 By channeling his musical ability, Samad Savage is seeking to make the world a better place, starting in his own backyard.

(Tickets for The ‘Clair Concert are available at the Wellmont Theatre box office for $20.)

For more of Samad Savage visit his website at www.samadsavage.com.

[noisecandy-blog1]

Channeling The Spirit Of Fugazi For Guidance

by Rebecca Panico

07/06/17

In times of trouble, I ask myself: What would Fugazi do?

Fugazi was a prominent band during the heydays of Washington D.C.’s punk scene in the 80s and 90s. For me, they were a band that knew life was tough and challenging, but reminded fans to hold on to their morals -- no matter what the cost.

Fugazi was known as a DIY straightedge band, meaning they were against drugs, alcohol and tobacco. A biography about Pearl Jam talks about why those guys idolized Fugazi. I know. Why the eff am I talking about Pearl Jam? Because the book captures the essence of Fugazi pretty well in this passage:

"[Fugazi] wanted nothing to do with MTV, and refused to give interviews to all but the tiniest of fanzines, a means not only of shunning the media circus, but also of protesting the alcohol and cigarette ads that filled the pages of glossy rock magazines like Rolling Stone and Spin. [...] When it came to ethics, they were unimpeachable (Five Against One, Kim Neely).”

Ian MacKaye, one of the band’s frontmen, even spoke at public council meetings about the need for all ages venues. Fugazi played mostly all-ages shows to make sure their music was accessible to all. And you wouldn’t see people violently moshing at their shows: Fugazi would kick you out if you came to punch people as a form of catharsis.

It’s a bit ironic that I idolize a band that shunned mainstream media because now I work in journalism. That’s to say, I don’t agree with everything Fugazi believed in, nor did the band make me want to take up journalism. Instead, the band gave me the bite to pursue it.

Tough, ethical situations are thrown my way on a daily basis in this field. It’s not a profession for the weak minded or a wavering soul. My profession is one that calls for true independence. And I gained that independence -- a.k.a learning how to think for your damn self and not being controlled by advertisers or people’s PR spin -- through Fugazi’s songs.

“Long Distance Runner” -- a song off their 1995 album titled “Red Medicine” -- is one of my favorites. It compares life to a marathon, but urges listeners not to get caught up in the rat race.

Fugazi - “Long Distance Runner”

Sometimes I wonder if I’ll be able to survive the rat race while staying true to my morals. I didn’t work my ass off to get through college to sell out. I never expected to make a lot of money in journalism, but I certainly want to make a living doing it.

About a month after graduating, I’m starting to realize that I’m going to be challenged in ways that cannot be solved by listening to pillowy, far-away songs of D.I.Y. rock gods whose networth is way more than mine will ever be. It’s easy to stay true to your ideals when you don’t have to worry about basic necessities like food, rent and other bills.

I guess I’m writing this just so I have something to look back on when life inevitably challenges me. To remind myself that no matter how hard the fight gets, to stay true to myself and the public. Not to be swayed. And I’ll have Fugazi to help me -- at least a little -- along the way.

[noisecandy-blog1]

Winski’s The Secrets To Self Doubt EP Review

07/05/17

  Buffalo native, Ed Slowinski, is the mastermind behind the upstate New York pop punk band Winski. This past spring they released their first EP as a full band. 

  The Secrets To Self Doubt is a high octane, three track EP that burns with nostalgia of the early 2000s emo wave which gave rise to bands like Senses Fail and Saves The Day. 

  On tracks “Make Things Worse” and “When You Told Me” heartbroken angst rings loud. This project couldn’t help but remind me of one of my favorite home-state bands as a New Jersey youth, Armor For Sleep. 

  The closing track “Bother” draws a curtain upon the EP with the repeated lines  of “I won’t bother you anymore”. You can tell this track was very cathartic for Slowinski, as he sings sentiments most of us have felt one time or another.

  If you find yourself longing for the glory days when Warped Tour was not complete dog shit and Fuse TV still aired Steven’s Untitled Rock Show then find some solace in Winski keeping that fire alive. 

Music below:

Bandcamp: https://winski.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winskiny/

[noisecandy-blog1]

Bettysally Shines With Garage Rock Grooves

07/04/17

   On a Thursday night in a dive bar in Union, New Jersey surf rock serenades the alleyways littered with discarded cigarettes. Four piece, Bettysally, are jamming away amongst the patrons pounding down Pabst and playing pool.        

   Hailing from nearby Cranford, Bettysally is at the forefront of this newly energized Elizabeth/Union based music wave. Having played this bar once before acoustically, Bettysally has returned to play once more as a full band. 

  At one point my attention is grabbed away from my delicious plate of onion rings as I was almost certain lead vocalist, Holden Baranowski, was about to play an Interpol cover. Interpol isn't the only influence I hear in the music. You can distinctly hear how bands like Waaves and The Strokes have made their impact on Bettysally's self-titled release from last autumn. 

   In writing for Noise Candy I go to a lot shows. Some are more tedious to sit through than others. Bettysally is a relief as I can only describe their set best with one word...fun. Their music is fun to listen to. Their performances are fun to watch. And after a hard day's work or whatever bullshit life throws your way you deserve to have some fun. I look forward to seeing this band grow. They are young and have a bright future ahead of them.

Find there music below:

Bandcamp: https://bettysally.bandcamp.com

Photo Credit: Jenna Kettler

[noisecandy-blog1]

Recording, Touring, & Pizza: An Interview With American Beauty

07/02/17

  We here at Noise Candy had a chance to sit with American Beauty at one of their shows and get the low down on their formation and what plans they have for the future.

Noise Candy: Here with Diego Solano from American Beauty. How it going man?

Diego: It’s going good. Happy to be here.

Noise Candy: How many shows have you all played so far?

Diego: This is our fourth show

Noise Candy: And where are you all based out of?

Diego: We’re from Elizabeth, New Jersey

(Cheers from the crowd gathered outside)

Noise Candy: How long ago did you guys become a band?

Diego: Well Me and Frank started jamming around the beginning of the year. Kevin and Markus joined in about three months ago. As a full band we’ve been jamming together for about three months. 

Noise Candy: Nice. Nice. Are you guys in the studio?

Diego: Right now we’re in the studio recording a two song EP. We’re mixing drums and it should be out by the end of the month actually.

Noise Candy: Looking forward to it. Besides this show tonight, are there any upcoming shows you’d like to plug?

Diego: We have a show July 7th, in Montclair at The Meatlocker and July 8th at Cianfano’s in Elizabeth.

Noise Candy: Who are your band’s influences?

Diego: Brand New, some Tiny Moving Parts in there, a little bit of The Smiths in there. Just a little bit. 

Noise Candy: Any plans on touring in the works?

Diego: Touring? Yeah we definitely want to get one tour in before the end of the year. 

(Frank enters the interview)

Noise Candy: Frank from American Beauty is with us. Frank, how ya doin’?

Frank: Hey, how’s it going?

Noise Candy: We’re interviewing American Beauty

Frank: Oh yeah? I know those guys!

Noise Candy: So Frank, who influences you as a musician?

Frank: Um, Turnover. Turnover is one of the favorites. I don’t know. I listen to a little everything. I don’t really have a favorite drummer I work off of. I just kinda do what I do.

Noise Candy: How do you measure success as your band? What are your goals?

Diego: Honestly just having fun with it dude. Doing things like this. Having friends here. Playing songs I wrote in my bedroom. That’s success to me. If it doesn’t go anymore than this I’ll still be satisfied because we had fun with it.

Noise Candy: One last bonus question. Best pizza in Elizabeth, New Jersey?

Diego: That’s pretty hard. I’m gonna go with North End pizza. Spot right by my house.

Frank: I don’t really eat pizza in Elizabeth. But I’ll give a shoutout to Roma’s Pizza in Garwood, New Jersey.  

You can check out American Beauty’s music below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmericBeauty/

[noisecandy-blog1]

HOLD ON, CAULFIELD DROPPED A NEW EP AND IT’S A SUMMER FAVORITE.

06/27/17

I finally got around to listening to Hold On, Caulfield’s recently dropped 4-track EP You’re Not Gonna Make It. The NY five-piece band is hitting hard with this recent release and staying true to the 90′s emo-revival of recent years. 

Their opening track, Jam, careens through the first few minutes with post-rock influences and build up that comes to a beautiful halt with an eerie sample. The second track, The Scholar (Gaby’s In The Ivies), carries the torch along the path paved by bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral. The third track, Love is two letters from loss, starts with gnashed-teeth poetry and spirals into a total mental scaffolding implosion. An implosion that leaves the dust cloud seeping into the final track off the EP, 3 A.M. You can hear a slight early Tigers Jaw influence on this excellent outro.

Undoubtedly, this EP leaves the listener wanting more. Hold On, Caulfield will be performing at Time To Die? Fest 2 on July 1st at Boontunes. Be sure to check them out and get your hands on a copy of this EP. 

[noisecandy-blog1]

New Brunswick indie pop trio, dollys, announces final Record and their breakup.

06/26/17

     The news came at noon via dolly’s Facebook page. The band released this following message. 

    “Hey everyone. After four and a half years as a band, we’re heartbroken to say that dollys has come to an end. It’s hard to express the level of gratitude we have for all of you for your support and help over the years, but we want each of you to know that the only reason we made it this far was because of you all. Everything we’ve ever done as a band was a result of love, dedication, and hard work. We obsessively tried to improve every aspect of our band and how we worked and it was because we wanted to give back to all of you - the kindhearted and accepting people who believed in us and our songs. We love you so much for it, and we believe in you too. We hope that the music we have made and the record that we will be releasing will help you through tough times.        

   Our new and final record, “tense” will be released July 21st via Sniffling Indie Kids on Spotify, and you can pre-order CDs or the digital album from our Bandcamp page here: http://dollys.bandcamp.com”

    No word has been released regarding a final show. 

Photo credit:  Kelsey Ayres

[noisecandy-blog1]

DIY SPIRIT IS ALIVE AND WELL IN UNION, NEW JERSEY.

06/23/17

If you’re a musician in New Jersey trying to make a name for yourself in the underground, DIY community, you’re most likely going to play in the college basements of New Brunswick or the art spaces of Montclair. Sandwiched geographically as the middle point between both those cities is Union, New Jersey. 

Union is a working-class town bordering New Jersey’s third largest city, Elizabeth. It is also home to Kean University and almost every important highway in North Jersey runs through the area. Union is also known to be one of the most culturally diverse towns in New Jersey. There are sizeable Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Haitian, African-American and Fillipino populations within the community. 

What Union is starting to witness is a rebirth to it’s music community. Over the past year a handful of underground venues have opened their doors to musicians. Places like The Owl’s Nest, Bebop Motel, and Rob’s Place have all hosted stacked lineups. 

Community staples such as Van Gogh’s Ear Cafe, Sharkey’s Campus Inn, and Rock N’ Joe’s all offer a more official venue for the local music lover and regularly host shows. The neighboring city of Elizabeth is also home to a popular venue for North Jersey musicians, Cianfano’s. 

Just this month alone we’ve seen Union host one of the best record release parties of the year.

And the momentum kept going at last night’s premiere show at Rob’s Place. Dozens of sweaty kids poured into a basement to see a killer lineup of local favorites El Americano, Fire is Motion, Living Tradition (video above), American Beauty, and Empty Parking Lot. Humidity and the crash of cymbals filled the house. This is one of the first house shows I’ve been to that has offered it’s attendees a free buffet. I loaded up on sausage and peppers and went back inside to catch some of El Americano’s amazing set. 

You could not have asked for a more perfect show. The respect and diversity within the Union/Elizabeth area’s music community is something a lot of other DIY scenes can learn from. Everyone has value. Everyone can contribute in their own way. Start a band, rent a house with some friends and host shows, use your artistic ability to make flyers, invite friends to an event, share music, or you can be like us here at Noise Candy headquarters and write about music until your fingers turn blue. 

[noisecandy-blog1]

CHAOS CHAOS BRING A MUCH NEEDED BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO FIREFLY FESTIVAL 

06/22/17

It goes without saying that many of us were underwhelmed by the released lineup of the sixth year of Firefly Music Festival. The band-heavy lineups of the past gave way to a more EDM saturated lineup this year with a sprinkling of older bands to appeal to our middle school nostalgia (*cough* Franz Ferdinand *cough*). 

After a couple of days of hearing DJ’s hype up drop after drop I grew bored and decided to check the lineup for the smaller Treehouse Sessions Stage. To my delight I noticed Chaos Chaos was performing Saturday. 

Chaos Chaos is a Brooklyn-based sister duo with an experimental pop sound. I’m going to be honest with you people. I discovered Chaos Chaos from the hit Adult Swim show, Rick & Morty, which used the song “Do You Feel It?” (off their 2014 album Committed To The Crime) in one of the more somber and emotional scenes the show has had (Season 2 Episode 3). 

I knew, however, that these sisters had a lot more to offer and was eager to hear them perform. Also, their set was on one of the few stages located in The Woodlands that provided much needed shade on this blistering hot weekend. 

I arrived shortly before their set to see a decent sized crowd forming. There seemed to be an minor issue with the PA system which had a slight static through some of their set. Undeterred by the technical issue, the sisters drove home a powerful set with moments bursting with energy to slower, more soulful ballads. 

Before the final song, the sisters announced a new album coming soon. I left the Treehouse Stage grateful for their performance. It hearken back to the foundation of Firefly Music Festival. I miss the weekends when bands like Alabama Shakes and The Joy Formidable brought down the house. I understand that things change with the times and Firefly is no exception. Nonetheless, hearing a set like the one Chaos Chaos delivered reminds me that the original spirit lives on. 

I am eager to hear the new album because these talented sisters are undoubtedly destined for great things. 

Please check out Chaos Chaos below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/chaoschaosofficial

Bandcamp: https://chaoschaos.bandcamp.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/chaoschaosband/

[noisecandy-blog1]

ANNA LUNOE AT FIREFLY 2017

Lets get real, there are not a lot of women in the DJ scene. Looking around and discovering new artists has been very beneficial with my find of Anna Lunoe. This Australian artist has risen in popularity throughout the years with her mixes “Breathe” and “All Out”. With her new label, Hyper House, she’s only growing. 

She occasionally mixes on Diplo and Friends, which are episodes of up-and-coming DJ’s. She was the first solo woman DJ to have a set and perform on Electric Daisy Carnival’s main-stage. Performing at festivals such as, Camp Bisco, Firefly, Cochella and more, she is one of the most influential women within the EDM community.

When seeing her set at Firefly 2017 she came out with so much velocity. The majority of the crowd had yet to experience anything she had created and the energy was too powerful to describe. What makes Lunoe unique is that she gets the crowd involved by coming front to the stage; getting them pumped and revived as they dance through the night. For the people in the crowd that didn’t know her, they were completely shocked when Lunoe announced she was doing well for a pregnant DJ. With mixing songs and using her own vocals, she’s leaving her mark on the EDM industry and is a rising inspirational artist that is worth the time to check out.

Links to check out

https://soundcloud.com/anna-lunoe/anna-lunoe-radioactive

https://soundcloud.com/anna-lunoe/godzilla-1

https://soundcloud.com/nickraymondg/anna-lunoe-all-out-thissongissickcom-premiere

[noisecandy-blog1]

TRÜ DEBUT EP RELEASE SHOW

In a musty, obscure dive bar on the border of Elizabeth, NJ, sits Sharkey’s Campus Inn, the venue that hosted one of the largest and most energetic shows Union County has seen. 

On Saturday, June 10th, 2017, Montclair-based post-rock heroes Trü released their self-titled EP to a fiery beer guzzling crowd of fans. Trü delivered fast-paced, yet soothing tunes from their four-track EP that sounded reminiscent of early Moving Mountains. 

A stand-out song from their EP is the drum leading track “Take A Peek”. Trü drummer, Steve Cirri, navigates his bandmates into a hypnotic, danceable tune that sounded like a garage rock Echo & The Bunnymen. 

Great music was not the only thing Trü gave to their fans on this night. The first 50 guests in attendance recieved a goodie bag. Attendees also received a copy of the EP.

The lineup was undoubtedly one not to be missed. Local juggernauts Young House and Whiner added their energy and flavor to the night along with Brooklyn-based No Honeymoon. 

The night concluded with shots of Jameson and camaraderie amongst the attendees. The next morning was brutal but well worth it as this might have been the highlight release show of the 2017 summer. 

 Below is a link to Trü’s Bandcamp and Facebook page. Be sure to get a copy of their EP!

Bandcamp:  https://ohhhhtru.bandcamp.com/releases

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohtru/

Photo Credit: Rob Scheuerman

[flumemuslc]

Visit Original Link

I Met You; Anna Lunoe & Flume