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ROCK ON! This Week's Sound Bites...4/2/15

By Danny Coleman

originally published: 04/02/2015

"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!

THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS

 Alchemist & Barrister

28 Witherspoon Street Princeton

(609) 924-5555

Thurs. 10 p.m. Bob & Steve

All shows 21+

Amalfi's Restaurant

 

Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info

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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

 

Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info

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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+ 

 

Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info

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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 Lake

101 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

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Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled “Rock On Radio” airing Sunday evenings at 7:000pm EST on multiple internet radio outlets where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.

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