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ROCK ON! This Week's Sound Bites...5/8/14

By Danny Coleman

originally published: 05/08/2014
2014 has seen the spawn of the Foo Fighters and Chevy Metal and it is known as The Birds of Satan!

Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has combined forces with Chevy Metal’s Wiley Hodgden and Mick Murphy to form what is being called an “American Progressive Rock Super Group.” This trio has assembled and already released a seven track self-titled disc that pays homage to a slew of 70’s groups like Queen, David Bowie, Aerosmith and more. Even fellow Foo Fighters Dave Grohl, Rami Jaffee and Pat Smear are all featured on the disc as well.

Track 1, “The Ballad of The Birds of Satan” sets the tone right out of the shoot with what can only be classified as their “opus;” a nine minute and twenty eight second roller coaster ride that has more twists, turns, stops, starts and timing changes then a steep mountain road.

The disc’s current single and Track 2 “Thanks For The Line,” is a syncopated, upbeat rocker with a Queen-like mid-section and bridge that gives way to the choppy, yet driving rhythm that makes this tune go.

The third track, “Pieces Of The Puzzle,” much like the entire album, features great drum and guitar work. This tune definitely has punk overtones and a definitively progressive sound; yet is packaged in a neat pop style that resonates well as the band flows from one style to the next flawlessly.

“Raspberries” is next in the four slot, which is shocking, as just when you think the boys are going to slow things down a bit with this offering; they kick it up a notch and it’s off to the races. This is perhaps the straightest forward cut on the record when it comes to just pure drive. Noticeably absent are the multiple changes that are present throughout the majority of this disc.

 

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One of the things that will make this album a standout new release is the band makes incredible use of dynamics from start to finish. Track 5, “Nothing At All,” combines acoustic and electric guitar with some very poignant style changes and dominant drum parts; making this a great toe tapper or head banger whichever you prefer to do.

Track 6, “Wait Til Tomorrow” is once again full of timing changes over a fast punk beat and just flat out rocks from start to finish. With lyrics like, “Why can’t it wait til tomorrow, one more bad mistake is all I want…” the band gets your attention and holds it; don’t blink, you may miss something.

Finishing up this initial compilation of great talents and styles is the seventh and final Track, “Too Far Gone To See.” Like the opening cut which starts off with drums, this obviously slower piece with techno sound effects ends the same way; with Hawkins closing the door after another great riff laden passage.

Overall, it is amazing how these guys and this disc have flown under the radar a bit. Rife with superior musicianship, talent and songwriting; this is one of the better debut efforts produced in a very long time. Murphy’s guitar work simply sizzles throughout, Hodgden’s bass and at times haunting vocals force you to pay attention and Hawkins’ drum work proves that he fits easily into the upper echelon of his ilk. Shanabelle Records has a definite hit on their hands as they distribute this on iTunes and Amazon.

The Birds of Satan have several teaser videos available and a web site; both of which are as mysterious as the band themselves. Go to www.thebirdsofsatan.com to find out more.

This space welcomes any suggestions and/or comments. Please send them to: Rockonradio1460@hotmail.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

 

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28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555

Thurs. 10 p.m. Justin Turk

Sun. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson

Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night Hosted by Eric Puliti

All shows 21+

Amarones Windsor Inn

29 Church St. Windsor

(609) 448-714

Thurs. (6:30 p.m.)Pizza Night w/Scott Gager & Debbie (7:30 p.m.) Texas Hold'em

Fri. 8 p.m. The Blue Moons

Sat. 8 p.m. Larry D

Tues. 7:30 p.m. Texas Hold'em

Blend

911 Rte. 33 Hamilton

(609) 245-8887

Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Tues. 8 p.m. Trivia Jam

Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612

Sat. 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Daryl Yokley Sax Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)

Chambers Walk Cafe
2667 Main St. Lawrenceville
(609) 896-5995

Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton

The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton

(609) 394-7437

Fri. 5 p.m. "Head Bang for the Highway 2014" feat. Throat, Limb By Limb, Lies Beneath, Thrashole, A Life Thereafter, Burial Mound, Cracked Alice, Me With Creeps, Doing Better, (TBA). All ages, $15.

Sat. 4 p.m. "Head Bag for the Highway 2014" feat. The Anti Kythera Mechanism, Morta, ZFL, Bury The Memories, Julius Seizure, Reborn Divided, WE...Our War, Prosper Or Perish, Death Rattle and special appearances by Ashes Within and Toothgrinder. All ages,$10

Sun. 2 p.m. "Head Bang for the Highway" feat. Witness For Hope, Accident Prone, Sky Came Burning, Arabella, Closer To Closure, Destruction Upon us, A Crowd Like You, Handed To The Thousands, Inventure, A Wake In Providence, Lessons Learned, Proletariat, Zombie Frogs, In Depths & Tides. All ages, $10

 

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

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Wed. 6 p.m. No Bragging Rights, Proletariat, Beyond Dishonor, My Flesh May Fail, DieVersE, Hopeless Martyr. All ages, $12.

Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100

Sun. 4 p.m.Billy O'neal

Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen

Fran's Pub

116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.

(215)862-5539

Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Night

Sat. 8 p.m. Toga Party Band

Sun. 3 p.m. Tone Rangers

Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam

All shows 21+

Halo Pub

4617 Nottingham Way Hamilton Square

(609) 586-1811

Sat. 7 p.m. John & Mags

Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897

Thurs. 7 p.m. The Wailers w/ Makua Rothman and Jah People. Doors at 6 p.m., general admission, $35

Fri. 8:30 p.m. Sindi Raymond Band

Sat. (2 p.m.) School of Rock End of Season Concert. $10 (8:30 p.m.) Coast 2 Coast

Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridge

Tues. 8 p.m. XTU 30th Anniversary X STOP

Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran & Friends

All shows 21+

Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435

Fri. 10 p.m. The Dawgs

Sat. 10 p.m. Soul Custody
All shows 21+

John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981

Thurs. 9 p.m. Town Drunks Comedy & Music

Fri. 8 p.m. Red Rover Burlesque

Sat. (3 p.m.) Crosscut Saw (9:30 p.m.) The Late Ancients w/ Skip's Museum

Sun. (3 p.m.) Jamie Salvatore (9:30 p.m.) Chris Harford & The Band of Changes

Mon. Open Mic.

Wed. The Invitational (Featuring John & Peter's House Band)
All shows 21+

JoJo's Tavern

2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton

(609) 586-2678

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke

Millhill Basement

300 South Broad St. Trenton

(609) 989-1600

Sat. 9 p.m. Keith Monacchio, Johnny Ott, Chris Pinto, Johnny Affatato.

Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979

Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Sat. 9:30 p.m. John Love Band

All shows 21+

Patriot's Crossing

1339 River Rd. Titusville

(609) 737-2780

Fri. 7:30 p.m. Steve Bross

Sat. 7:30 p.m. Sharks On Bicycle

Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008

Fri. 9:30 p.m. No Way Out

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Polish Nannies

RHO Waterfront

50 Riverview Plaza Trenton

(609) 393-7300

Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Paul Desisto

Fri. (4:30 p.m.) Mark Giovi $10 buffet(8:30 p.m.) The Papa Deluxe Band (10 p.m.) DJ Jimmie Palumbo

Sat. Ladies Night (Bar Only)

Sun. 10 a.m. Mother's Day Brunch

All Shows 21+

Spigola Ristorante

3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd. Hamilton

Fri. 8:30 p.m. DJ John Rossi

Sat. 8:30 p.m. Meg Hanson Band feat. Billy Hill

Sunsets at Cream Ridge

181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge

(609) 208-2500

Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Joe Kaplow

Fri. (6 p.m.) John Patrick (9:30 p.m.) King Mosquito

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Thomas Wesley Stern

Sun. Mother's Day Brunch

Mon. 7 p.m. Open Mic. and Karaoke w/ Rich Barry

Tavern On The Lake

101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345

Fri. 9 p.m. Counterfeiters

Sat. 9 p.m. Blues Tattoo

Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night

The Cool Cricket

216 4th St. Fieldsboro

(609) 291-9110

Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Sat. 9 p.m. Old School

The Ivy Inn

248 Nassau St. Princeton

(609) 921-8555

Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr

Fri. 10 p.m. Jam Lab

Sat. 10 p.m. Rhyme & Reason

Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr

The Record Collector

358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown

(609) 324-0880

Fri. 8 p.m. Ricky Byrd (Joan Jett) / Simon Kirke (Bad Co.).All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (advance)

Sun. 8 p.m. Dwight Twilley Band / The PezBand. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $25 (advance).

The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007

Fri. 9 p.m. DJ T Dogg

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Kharma Train

All shows 21+

The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200

Sat. 8 p.m. Sonu Nigam Live in Concert w/ Symphony Orchestra. Doors at 6:30 p.m., $35, $55, $75, $100, (VIP) $125, (VVIP) $150

Sun. 2 p.m. Trenton Freedom vs. Harrisburg Stampede

Wed. 7 p.m. Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents: Legends. Doors at 6 p.m., $15, (VIP) $45, (Front Row) $80

The Yardley Inn

82 E. Afton Ave. Yardley, PA.

(215) 493-3800

Sat. 10 p.m. Paul Plumeri & Jerry Monk

Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554

Fri. 9 p.m. Birmingham 6

Sat. 9 p.m. Radio Fiction

Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Taylor Reed

Wed. 9 p.m. Paul Wiese

All shows 21+

Trenton Social

449 South Broad Street Trenton

(609) 989-7777

Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays Presents: The Works of Sam Goetz

Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx

Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree

Tues. 9 p.m. LiveMusic/Open Mic.

Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300

Fri. 10 p.m. Philly Funk Authority. $5 (coverage)

Sat. 10 p.m. Anders & Friends. $5 (cover charge)

Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night Hosted by Something Shiny

All shows 21+

Villa Romanza

429 Rte. 156 Hamilton

(609) 585-1717

Thurs. 5:30 p.m. Trenton Freedom Coach's Show

Wildflowers Inn

2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington

Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke

All shows 21+

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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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