New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Makin Waves Record of the Week: "Dark Hour" by The Parlor Mob


By Bob Makin

originally published: 08/28/2019


I’ve always thought of The Parlor Mob as a hard rock band, not exactly Monster Magnet but continuing on that Pride of Red Bank tip. If I am correct in that assessment, their new album “Dark Hour,” their first full-length since the 2011 Roadrunner outing, “Dogs,” is quite a departure, half of which flirts with EDM.

Following the self-released 2015 EP, “Cry Wolf,” the 10-song album is the first ever released by Britannia Row Recordings, the new BMG label of the LP’s producer Malay, who won a Grammy with Frank Ocean and also has worked with John Legend and Alicia Keys. Tapping into his hip-hop and R&B expertise, Malay takes The Parlor Mob in a new 21st century rock direction with a groove-laden sound. 

A seamless synthesis of synthetic beats and exceptional drumming by founding skinsman Sam Bey propel blasts of emotion that live up to the album’s title, yet are dichotomously surrounded by an upbeat sound. Throughout, vocalist-lyricist Mark Melicia does a great harmonizing with himself within layers of vocals well assembled by Malay.

The resulting inventive, original sound will appeal to a diverse audience hopefully including their longtime fans who may be a bit jarred by the new direction. I particularly like the opening track, “All I’m Holding Onto,” Makin Waves Song of the Week at AsburyMusic.com, its “Radio Jersey” show, as well as Makin Waves’ Spotify and YouTube playlists. The track serves an eclectic example of what follows: a combination of moody but danceable rhythms and expression of angst and longing within The Parlor Mob’s foundation of edgy rock ‘n’ roll

“House of Cards” switches things up with a political-minded cross between Led Zeppelin and The White Stripes with great blues rock along the edge of garage rock in a statement about the current unsustainable climate, both political and atmospheric. The psycho drama of “Gun in My Hand” is the closest to The Parlor Mob of old with hard, heavy rhythms and a strong Zeppelin vibe, especially Mark’s Robert Plant-like vocals. And “No Harm” is an excellent showcase for Sam’s big beats and guitarist Paul Ritchie’s squawking psychedelics. 




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



Among the tracks that take the band in a danceable direction are the rhythmic tug-of-war of “Someday,” the surprisingly upbeat break up song “Setting with the Sun,” the ’80s-inspired “So Low,” the tribal-sounding closer, “Not Your World,” and the moody, atmospheric title track.

Fans can get their groove on during a month-long 20-city tour national tour that kicks off Sept. 24 in Cleveland and concludes with a hometown show on Oct. 25 at the Stone Pony. Fellow local faves Deal Casino are on half the tour, including area dates on Oct. 22 at World Café Live in Philadelphia and Oct. 23 at Metro in Baltimore.

 

 Bob Makin is the reporter for MyCentralJersey.com/entertainment and a former managing editor of The Aquarian Weekly, which launched this column in 1988. Contact him at makinwaves64@yahoo.com. And like Makin Waves at www.facebook.com/makinwavescolumn.



New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info





FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Tuesday

Tuesday Night Record Club - Crowded House

Tuesday, July 01, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Curtis

Curtis Salgado

Wednesday, July 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

John

John Lee & Friends

Thursday, July 03, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Blues

Blues People with Special Guest: Jeff Levine

Saturday, July 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Two

Two NJ Jazz Musicians Will Play with The Jazz Ambassadors in Morristown

Pianist Anthony Pocetti grew up in Hamilton, NJ, studying piano, "doing sort of traditional piano lessons. I have an uncle who was always encouraging me to get into the jazz thing. He gave me the (Miles Davis) Kind of Blue CD, and he knew that the jazz pianist Jim Ridl was living in Hamilton."



Asbury

Asbury Lanes presents There, There - A Tribute to Radiohead

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Asbury Lanes presents There, There on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 8:00pm. They are the premier Radiohead tribute act, playing songs from throughout the band's iconic multi-decade catalogue.



bergenPAC

bergenPAC presents Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90's Part 2

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- After a totally fly 2024 summer tour packed full of 90s boy band, pop, and R&B hits, RIAA-certified Gold a cappella group Straight No Chaser is back by popular demand with "Straight No Chaser Summer: 90s Part 2." The tour comes to Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) on Thursday, July 8, 2025 at 7:00pm.



Blue

Blue Curtain presents 2025 Summer Concert Series in Princeton

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Blue Curtain returns to Pettoranello Gardens Amphitheater this July with a free three-concert series. The 2025 season opens on Saturday, July 12 at 8:00pm with a performance by internationally acclaimed trombonist, composer, and bandleader Jimmy Bosch, also known as El Trombon Criollo.



NJPAC

NJPAC presents KEM with special guest Melania Fiona

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents a special evening with KEM, known as Soul's Greatness, on Friday, July 18, 2025 at 8:00pm. Special guest Melanie Fiona will open the night.