"Really cool man; it's just a natural progression for the band," says Fire From The Gods vocalist AJ Channer about the current "Headbang For The Highway: The Alumni Tour And The Battle For the All Stars Tour 2015." "There have been other bands before us, the program really works and we are stoked to do this; it's not just our name attached to it."
"Headbang For The Highway" is a series of shows throughout the country akin to a Battle of the Bands type format with multiple metal bands advancing and vying for opening slots at festivals and concerts throughout the U.S. This current tour offers a host of former winners who will be rockin' the house to earn a spot on "The Summer Slaughter Tour 2015." Channer and his Fire From The Gods band mates are part of the "Alumni" who will be bringing their hard hitting brand of metal to Championship Bar and Grill in Trenton, NJ on April 4. "I love that room in the back," says Channer who is no stranger to the Central Jersey club; one of the few all metal clubs in the state. "I'm not from that area but I've played there more than a few times and I'm familiar with the Jersey bands; good scene and a great venue. There seems to be a passion within at Champs, I'm looking forward to being back there." The band hit the road for a bit, using a show in Dallas and then shows in their hometown of Austin, TX to get their rock rollin'. "We got 10 days. We started in Dallas, then we hit SXSW in our hometown of Austin which was incredibly bad ass," said an enthusiastic AJ. "We've got some really cool stuff going on as a band and this is only part of it." The "Cool Stuff' to which he refers is a decision on a record label, a new CD or EP and a tour post Headbang. "We've got so much happening. We've got forty days in tour dates at the moment, three new songs, an awesome new producer from Black Look Sound who was the brains behind "Politically Incorrect" and a decision to make; whether or not to stay indie or go a different route and sign with an established label." According to Channer, these decisions will be made as a unit and he has total confidence in his band mates now and in the future. "We've got more work ahead of us," he stated matter of factually. "We have a group of guys, dedicated guys, which is rare with a lot of bands. I'm in New York and they're all in Texas; the internet helps but I travel to them. We have a decision to make as to release an EP or a full length disc and what to do with the three new singles; much of which is affected by the business decision of indie or established label route. We figure that by the end of 2015 we'll have concrete work while releasing singles here and there but again it all comes down to that label decision; we'll see." You can see the "Headbang For the Highway" shows on April 3 and April 4 at "Champs" as it's known; located at 931 Chambers Street in Trenton, NJ. Tickets cost $15 and are available on line at www.brownpapertickets.com . That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Bob & Steve
All shows 21+
Amalfi's Restaurant
146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1599
Fri. 8:30 p.m. The Dadz
Amarones Windsor Inn
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. "Country" Ron Crites
Fri. 8 p.m. Rick & Kenny
Sat. 8 p.m. Meg Hanson w/ Billy Hill
Wed. 7:30 p.m. Robert Bruce
Blend Bar & Bistro
911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
Fri. 5 p.m. "Headbang For the Highway Presents: Reborn Divided, Circuit of Suns, Beyond Treachery, Midnite Hellion, Bow to the Fallen, Sicada, Centralia, Starve As Wolves, Purple Abaddon, Mindless Flesh. All ages, $15
Sat. 5 p.m. Proletariat, Lit By Darkness, Sovereign Kings, Draped In Dread, The Artisan, Ne(me)sis, Tears Of Requiem, General Collection, Volt, Silent To Slaughter, Fire From The Gods. All ages, $15
Sun. 5 p.m. One Eyed Doll, Molly Rhythm, Local Demise, Endless Lament, Unholy Dispute, Roulette, Uprise Shadow. All ages, $12
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Webb T w/ Face Rickman. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Dog & Bull Brew House
810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
8 p.m. Dane Duo
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" w/ Mischka Machez (9 p.m.) Wizard Duo
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. Mischka Machez (9 p.m.) New Pony
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. The Evolution Jazz Band (3 p.m.) Brian Bortnick
Mon. 8 p.m. Keith Lesnik Trio
Tues. 8 p.m. Sister Blue
Wed. 8 p.m. Kevin Toft & The All Star Band
Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100
Thurs. Ladies Night
Sun. 4 p.m. Irish Sessions
Mon. Military Day
Fran's Pub
116 S. Main St. New Hope, PA.
(215) 862-5539
Thurs. 9 p.m. Curtain Call
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows 21+
Halo Pub
4617 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-1811
Sat. 7 p.m. Deb & Mike
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main Street. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. 10 p.m. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 9:30 p.m. "Good Friday" College Night DJ Dance Party
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Bigg Romeo
Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
All shows 21+
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 10 p.m. The Ernie White Band
Sat. 10 p.m. Tangled
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Fri. 9 p.m. Billy Hector Band
Sat. (3 p.m.) Modzilla (9 p.m.) Dusty Mason Band w/ Rushland
Sun. 9 p.m. Sugar Burns
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night w/ Tim
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern
2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Paint the Roses Tea and Café
37 West Broad Street Hopewell
(609) 466-8200
Sat. 11 a.m. Bryan Hill
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. The Drunk Monkeys
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing
1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Sensei Juan & The Black Belts
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Danielle Stewart
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Out of The Red
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Deep Release
Randy Now's Man Cave
134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Check web site for upcoming events
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 10 p.m. "College Night" w/ DJ Paul Desisto
Fri. 4 p.m. Happy Hour Buffet. $10
Sat. 4 p.m. "The Day Party" DJs/Dancing, $20
All Shows 21+
Tavern On The Lake101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. Sneak Attack
Sat. 9 p.m. Anything Goes
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The HOB Tavern
146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. DJ Fatha Ramzee
Sat. 10 p.m. Milan and the sour Goat
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 8:30 p.m. Tune Trivia (10:30 p.m.) DJ Rockn Ron
Wed. 10 p.m. Heads Up / DJ Rockn Ron
The Record Collector
358 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Fri. 8 p.m. Raymond The Amish Comic. Ages 16+, doors at 7:30 p.m., $15 (advance)
Sat. 8 p.m. Ricky Byrd / Lucinda & Michael. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (advance)
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check web site for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson
Wed. 9 p.m. Paul Weise
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz
702 Pine St. Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Thurs. 8 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Hek Cat
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. Cinema Thursday Presents: "The Watermelon"
Fri. 7 p.m. First Friday
Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic.
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Stoop Kids. ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Freekbass. ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night
Tues. 9 p.m. Challenge Accepted
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
