Boy Things: 7" Fundraiser Show

Our main goal at FFOMusic is to connect music lovers with local venues, artistic news, and music professionals.  That is what makes Boy Things' Saturday, March 31st show at Bar 46 so awesome!  This is a rare show that has the potential to bring the Northern New Jersey music community together.  The show is meant as a fundraiser for their newest EP, so it's important that we support this deserving and ardent band from Hackettstown, NJ.  It's an event so charming it could be the back-story to an indie film with a cult following.

So, without further ado, I properly introduce you to Boy Things, an indie-pop-math-punk-synth-rock band full of self proclaimed "cannibals"...  The band includes Beth Hansen (vocals), Adam Cumisky (guitar), Vince Rickey (bass), Eric Dryburgh (drums), and Blake Kelevra (Synth).  So far the band has released two EPs, one that is self-titled from 2011 and "Growing Up" which was released at the beginning of 2012.


Earlier last week I spoke with Erik Dryburgh, the man, the myth, the legend, and the drummer.  Here's what he had to say:

"The title of the new EP is called Equations and well we are really excited about it. For people who come out on the 31st, we possibly will play some of the new tracks!"

When asked about shows in the future:

• "Our next show is in Vernon for Melissa and Paul's record release show on April 13th.  Then 

  we are playing in the spring, getting ready for to tour, but mostly just promoting our new EP."
  
  

How do you think the new EP sounds compared to what you've released in the past?

"It's different compared to our first EPs. The songs cover a wide variety of sounds within our genre. Unlike the first EPs that were very pop/ pop punk influenced these new songs have some more technical parts, along with strong melodies, and definitely lots of rhythmic drive. As a musician doing the band thing for a long time (don't know if you remember goodnight streetlight?) I can't remember the last time I was this happy with a band. I''m very proud of this new EP and the members of Boy Things. I'm really excited to see where we go in the future."


If you're looking to join in on the fun the show is located in Great Meadows, NJ at Bar 46.  It's impossible to miss since it's located directly on Route 46 about 2 miles outside of Hackettstown.  Links for the show and Boy Things can be found below.  You can expect to see FFOMusic there as well, so come hang out with us!  I expect the show to be as hair-raising as Beth Hansen's freak out at the end of their song "Dirty Dancing".


Event:
http://www.facebook.com/events/359933220697380/
Band:
http://www.facebook.com/BoyThings
Listen and Download the EPs here:
http://boythings.bandcamp.com/

Article By: Michael Berger

The Shins' New Album Doesn't Disappoint

Photo credit: Loren Kessell

I just got my bundle today! I have been a big fan of The Shins for a few years now, and every album they release never fails to amaze me. Luckily for me, I experienced it on vinyl.

Port of Morrow, released March 20th, is an album that sticks to The Shins typical sound, but experiments with it at the same time. It is an album I can listen to from start to finish. The lead singer, James Mercer, sings in his usual tone throughout the album, but it's the lyrics and interesting musical composition that caught my attention.


The album opens with the song "The Rifle's Spiral," a catchy tune with a powerful message about someone's place in life. It evokes power in a way that makes the listeners think. The lyrics are intricate, and it takes a few listens to start understanding the message.


"Simple Song," the hit single off of the album earned its place as the single for a reason. It is the typical Shins ballad about love. It talks about being lifted up by someone's love, and how much of an impression someone leaves on us. I love this song, and the lyrics are worth looking up. Some of the comparisons are intriguing. For example, Mercer sings about his life being a boat marooned on an island and the person he loves creates a flood to give him a lift. It is an interesting metaphor that adds depth to the song.


The Shins have gained popularity over the years, and their songs have been featured in films like Garden State. They are a band worth listening to, and if you get the chance purchase the album on vinyl! The artwork is phenomenal, and you will get a warm sound.


For more information about The Shins and their tour dates, check out their website:
http://www.theshins.com/home 


A post by: Loren Kessell

The New Crew Part 3: Johnny A

Last night at a local bar I get a text, get my phone out, and slide it open to find the words, "you ski?" on the screen of my iphone.  The text was sent from a friend sitting only 5 feet away from me. His name is Johnny A and this is his introduction.

"Howdy folks, the names John. To give a little background, I live in good ole Hackettstown and am about to graduate from Centenary College for Graphic Design. I’m always up to have a good time and hang out with some friends, whether its sitting around just talking or going out to the bars (cause there’s so many to choose from in H-Town). I love making people laugh, Its always been something I’ve done even if it means making a fool of myself. As for my future, I have no idea. I hope to find a job doing something related to graphic design, who knows I could be that guy who designs the new Pepsi logo.

I guess you can say I have a wide spread interest in music, from jamming out to some Dubstep or Hip-Hop, to chilling out with Etta James or Otis Redding. I’m usually up to give anything a shot. I used to be the type to say, “ I like anything but country” but after listening to a few songs I’m trying to leave that mentality. My musical taste has changed quite a bit over the years, the first band I was obsessed with was the Beach Boys when I was real young , then the first CD I ever bought was the soundtrack to The Rugrats Movie. Admit it there were some sweet tracks on that bad boy.

I still remember the moment when I first became interested in actual music, not Rugrat remakes. I was sleeping over my friend Matt’s house and we were watching Cartoon Network who used to play music videos late at night, almost like a prelude to the Adult Swim era. The music video for Gorillaz’s Clint Eastwood came on and I became hooked. It wasn’t long until I had their CD and was listening to it constantly on my Walkman. I still love the Gorillaz, but sadly I never got the chance to see them perform live, but with the release of their new video “Do Ya Thing” out now I have new found hope of my dreams coming true.

After my Gorillaz phase I got sucked into Rap and Hip Hop, first listening to the mainstream songs on the Radio then starting to get into specific artist. Two of the first I got into were T.I. and Young Jeezy and I would switch between the two CD’s each day so I had something different to listen to at the bus stop. Once I finally discovered Limewire my music taste started to slowly expand into all different genres, from The Arctic Monkeys to Immortal Technique.

Nowadays I’ve been getting more and more into the Dubstep scene, while also discovering new Hip Hop as well. Dubstep has become more popular everyday gathering vast amounts of people and demanding attention, even if you consider it not "real music". To me, I think its definitely real music, yes it sounds nothing like music of yester-year but as our culture evolves our music does too. Dubstep itself has even gone through massive changes, starting in the mid 2000’s with heavy sub bass and chill beats we now have fast paced electro beats with overwhelming bass, which brings up the debate of what is real Dubstep. I truly don’t care what’s “real” and what’s not, I just listen to what sounds good. With new producers and teenagers becoming “Dubstep Dj’s” all around us, Dubstep is easily one of the fastest growing genres as of right now. The issue with any growing genre is that you have to weed out all the crap, and believe me dubstep has its fair share of it.

A quick summary of current favorites that I keep finding myself listening to are Macklemore, Adventure Club, Flux Pavillion (Saw in concert), Rizzle Kicks, Nero, Wiz Khalifa, Zeds Dead (Saw in concert), Sol, Chiddy Bang, Pretty Lights, Feed Me and many more. I hope all this information has let you get to know me a little bit better. I’m going to try my best to bring you the best new music I can with updates on old favorites as well!"

The New Crew Part 2: Loren Kessell

It is my pleasure to introduce Loren Kessell as a part of the FFOMusic team!  Loren is a communications major at Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ but her concentration is journalism.  Rather than have me blab on about all the details of Miss Kessell, let's have her show off a little bit of writing skill!

"I'm a girl with big dreams who loves everything life has to offer. I'm the first person to say yes to an adventure, and if I wasn't in school I'd love to travel all over the world as well as to other states. I am a book worm, and my favorite book is Adverbs by Daniel Handler. During the summer my life consists of hiking, beach trips, bonfires, driving with my windows down while blasting music, and other stuff that probably won't fit in one post. 

Although I seem cool, I'm actually a huge dork but I think that's lovable. My quirkiness lends itself to interesting moments that eventually turn into great stories. My love for writing started when I was little, and my grandpa helped me perfect the craft. Everyone has a story to tell, and I want to be the one who helps spread it to others. 

Music is a huge part of my life, but there are a few defining artists who shaped my music taste. My number one band who got me into what I listen to now is Weezer. Ever since I listened to the blue album in 8th grade I've never stopped. "In The Garage" became my favorite song, and people probably hated me for playing that album 24/7. 

Death Cab For Cutie is another band that has shaped my music taste. Ben Gibbard writes some of the best lyrics I've ever heard, and I can always relate to what he talks about. My favorite album is Transatlanticism, and I often listen to it on repeat. I'm fortunate enough to be seeing them play in April, and I am beyond excited.

The best show I attended in 2011 is a tough one! I saw Girl Talk, Cage The Elephant, Against Me!, Bassnectar, TV On The Radio, Peter Bjorn and John, Pixies, and The Bouncing Souls. All of these shows were unbelievably good, but the Bassnectar and Peter Bjorn and John are tied in first place. 

Bassnectar created an event on Governor's Island called Bass Island, and the bass was so fantastic that I think the whole island was going to crack in half. Lupe Fiasco opened for him, but the energy increased by a long shot when Bassnectar took the stage. He had stage presence like no one I have ever seen, and he got the crowd of 10,000+ people dancing.

I saw Peter Bjorn and John at the Bowery Ballroom, and I was right at the front of the stage. The band played all of my favorite songs besides "Up Against The Wall," but that was fine since they were amazing. Peter jumped into the audience during "Young Folks," and I managed to leave with a pick.

I could go on and on and on, but I think this gives you enough of an idea about what I'm like! I'm looking forward to writing, and I hope you all enjoy reading!"

Gotye
Making Mirrors



Everyone seems to be throwing around Wouter De Backer's stage name, Gotye, lately. Who can blame them? The 31-year-old singer-songwriter is a musical genius whose video for the song, "Somebody That I Used To Know," went viral on YouTube. I have had this song on repeat since I first heard it, but naturally I had to explore the rest of the album. He is an excellent Belgian-Australian multi-instrumentalist whose talent should be commended.


Making Mirrors, his third album, is sweet, indie goodness that should not be overlooked. Although "Somebody That I Used To Know" is the popular track, all of the others are of equal magnitude. "Eyes Wide Open" is another track worth listening to on this album. Music-wise the instruments are more upbeat, but the song itself is contemplative. Most people can relate to a relationship gone wrong, and Gotye offers an all too understandable perspective. 


"I Feel Better" is a catchy track that serves as a bounce-back from tracks like "Eyes Wide Open." Gotye sings in a soulful way, and this song shows off his instrumental talents. Although the lyrics are simple, they convey the lighthearted message. Gotye explores the other kind of relationship; he explores the one that brings happiness. When I first heard this song I couldn't help but feel a little fuzzy inside.


Listen to the entire album, because each song is different. Gotye's lyrics are interesting and relatable, not to mention his instrumental talent provides for a good listen. He is currently touring, but due to his popularity every show is sold out. To look into more about Gotye, you can visit his website: http://gotye.com/ or follow him on Twitter (@gotye). 


A Post By: Loren Kessell 

Gates
The Sun Will Rise and Lead Me Home, EP

This review is for a good friend Shawn Paterson, who threatened to mince me up with a katana if I didn’t comply and write this. This is also for Gates, a band from the heartland. The heartland being Jersey of course. Having only known about this band for a total of 7 hours as of this writing, I must say, they are not hard to enjoy.

Gates’ EP, The Sun Will Rise and Lead Me Home, starts with a calm intricacy of plucking and bumping electric guitar strings. “A Vague Ambition” is like a musical fog being lifted from a lush field. It truly had me picturing beautiful things. The song sets up the feel of the rest of the album. The blending of beautiful guitar riffs and distant  gravely vocals go with the fantastic cocktail of angst, maturity, and worldliness. Fans of Circa Survive, This Town Needs Guns and Polar Bear Club will feel right at home here. 

The first thing I noticed when I began to listen critically was that many of the songs tended to blend together. A lot of the guitar sounds started sounding too similar, mix that with the distance in the singer’s voice and you can easily become confused as to which particular song you’re listening to. Each song lacks its own distinct punch that sets it apart. That being said, I strongly believe in music with such qualities. This is the kind of music that you put on, sit on your couch and just soak in. The sounds are hypnotizing and enthralling. The steady drum beats, the organized lunacy of the lead guitar keep you drawn. It’s music that one might experience, rather than listen to. 

The lyrics are very well written and stand with a broad chest and strong shoulders. They have a message and want you to hear it. However, when the lyrics are sung alongside the instruments, they can become lost in the music. The lyrics deserve more than they’re dealt in some cases. “In The Morning” is beautifully written, but it took some research to discover that. The vocals start strong, then are mixed into the music and take a back seat to guitar riffs. I think some songs would benefit from a little more volume behind the vocals, this may only be a post production issue, but I would like to hear that voice catch the light when it counts. 

All in all I’m very pleased with Gates’ release The Sun Will Rise and Lead Me Home. It’s truly beautiful music, and with some fine tuning it the sun will only shine brighter upon them, leading many more to this unique and talented band.

The aforementioned EP is available on their website (http://gatesnj.com/) for free, which I found out after spending about $6 on iTunes (well worth it!). They also have some great T-Shirts for sale! 

You can follow the band on Twitter at @gatesmusic.


A Post By: Michael Montgomery

The New Crew Part 1: Mike Montgomery

Meet Mike Montgomery, amateur burrito connoisseur and current Political Science Major at West Chester University.  His real interest, however, lies in writing and art.  Some of Mike's interests include playing intramural soccer and being a part of the Residence Housing Association for his dorm, organizing events and planning outings for the other residents.  His favorite food currently is Chicken Pad Thai with Lime Sauce.  Amen!  Mike is also allergic to 4 kinds of antibiotics, thinks cats have more personality then most people do, and like's to show off his wild side with crazy socks... So let's do a little sit down with Mike, shall we?

So Mike what are some of you're favorite artists/bands?

"My favorite artists of all time are Saves the Day and Say Anything. Saves the Day has been in my life for a while and I can always come back to their music, they are my musical home. I go back to them without fail.  Say Anything won my affection around the end of grade school. Their album "...Is A Real Boy" chiseled itself a place in my heart. Max Bemis is my my favorite song writer, at least back when he was mentally unstable.

My recent favorites have been Surfer Blood and Now, Now (formerly Now, Now Every Children). Surfer Blood has a distinct Neo Surf Rock feel that files them into a unique, but quickly growing genre. Now, Now uses a hypnotizing blend of simple chords and a cute female voice. Very standard indie stuff."

What was the best show you attended in 2011?


"The best show I've seen in 2011 had to be The AP Tour at The Starland Ballroom. It featured; Sharks, The Swellers, Title Fight, (a Frank-less) Gallows, and Four Year Strong.

Sharks bring a Clash-like sound to the modern punk table. They're relatively new to the game, but are going to hit home for fans of the classic punk sound.  They didn’t move much during their set, but it went with the stoic attitude of the singer and all of the leather and black cotton on stage. Their band’s T-Shirts look awesome, by the way. At least one member from each of the following acts were sporting a Sharks tee.

The Swellers put on the best performance of the entire show. They sound identical to their recordings. All were clean cut and wearing plain black tees, the kind of guys who were only there to establish themselves as musicians. Not enough good things can be said about them in a manageable paragraph. Check them out and see for yourself.

Title Fight played an average set, they sounded like they were playing music underwater. Their recordings are better, but their performances leave some room for improvement. That being said, they're not my cup of tea. The crowd responded well to their yelling and off key riffs. Lot's of movement, lots of bloody noses.

Gallows is not and never will be the same without Frank. Their new singer (ex guitarist from Alexisonfire, I believe) had a crap haircut and a patchy beard. He was sweaty and screamed indiscernible nonsense into a spit covered mic. The bass was far too loud and the crowd was almost completely unresponsive. He also commanded a lot of respect and encouraged harming other members in the crowd. All in the name of Hardcore, of course.

Four Year Strong reeled in the slack the past two acts let out. If you didn’t know, they are an energetic hardcore pop punk band with chugging riffs and a lot of strong voices. They saved the show, providing excellent sound, fanservice and a ton of fun."

The Last Great American Roadhouse

For the most part Main Street of Stanhope, NJ is quaint and quiet.  But every Wednesday about twenty or so punks, hippies, fans, or whatever can be seen outside smoking their cigarettes on the porch of The Stanhope House.  At about 8:30pm on March 14th the weather must have been just perfectly strange or the planets must have been nonaligned in a jumbled mess because the music blaring through the walls as I walked up was utterly Hard and perfectly Core.
The sign coming in read "No Moshing" but it didn't stop some from trying.  As I walked in I was greeted by my friend's on stage Ben Scardo and Ricky Hall of the band BDFM, making it just in time to see them play a Ukulele included cover of a Dead Kennedy's song.  Walking up to the bar a sign reads $2 Rolling Rocks and $3 PBRs.  About 5minutes later friends Collin, Kelsey and fellow writer of this blog Loren Kessel walk in.
As the night went on the music got more Hardcore and at one point insanely Metal.  So we abandoned our spot in front of the standard crowd line standing about 7 feet back from the stage and headed toward the bar.  So maybe the metal wasn't our thing, but the crowd it attracts and the comradery of the bands made the venue special.  The silence between each set invited a ghostly feeling as each group of friends talk among themselves, their voices echoing within the history of the walls.  Then maybe the most important question of the night came to light, "How long has this place been around?"  After some research I found my answer and more!  I could paraphrase but the website says it best.

"If walls could talk, the old walls of the Stanhope House (c.1794), the Last Great American Road House, would have some serious stories to tell. The club was the stomping grounds and post-show hangout of a massive array of loved blues legends.Imagine, the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn scrubbing dishes in the kitchen after a late night, jam packed gig. Picture Muddy Waters' deep, grainy voice trading chicken recipes with former club Matron, Mama Wrobleski or the original Hoochie Coochie Man, Willie Dixon stopping by for Thanksgiving dinner. All of it happened at The Stanhope House, one of the last great blues bastions left in America."

In conclusion the show was great... because the atmosphere was amazing.  I wasn't the biggest fan of the music besides BDFM but that didn't stop me from enjoying myself!  If your wondering what the venue's schedule looks like my answer is incredibly impressive, for such a small venue.  Recently a friend watched as 40 year old men threw on their old leather jackets and skanked to The Toasters.  On Sunday March 18th Post-Rock band Moving Mountains headlines for a ticket price of $12.  But the show flyer that made my pupils dilate as I read the name was... Big D & The Kids Table on May 11th for a ticket price of $12 dollars!  Oh did I forget to mention that if you enjoy blues guitarist the calender is full of $25 dollar shows to see guitarists that my generation has never heard of?  

Post by: Mike Berger

Links: http://www.stanhopehousenj.com/

http://www.facebook.com/BDFMango 

GROUPLOVE's "Never Trust A Happy Song" Can Sure Feel The Love!

From the peppy clap opener of "Itchin On A Photograph" to the sad acoustic closer "Close Your Eyes And Count To Ten" this Album does not disappoint. For a band that's only been around since 2009 they are quickly making a name for themselves. Newest hit "Coulors" has been featured on both Madden 2012 and Fifa 2012.  You may also have heard their song "Tongue Tied" featured in the newest IPAD commercial.

But one of the most esthetic features of the band is possibly the story of their formation. The members met at an artist residency in Crete, the very beautiful island off of Greece. Without getting in to too much detail the Group eventually parted ways back to their several residencies in NY, LA, and England sending emails of "Grouplove" back and forth before meeting in LA to record a self titled EP in 2010.

If that's not enough frosting on the cupcake the band includes the son of singer/songwriter Steve Gadd of UK band Stray, Sean Gadd. Oh and the son of former Yes guitarist Trever Rabbin, Ryan Rabbin.