photo by Mark Jaworski
New Jersey-based artist Greg Amici presents his new single "No Fool", a classic rock stinger that follows his latest offering "I'll Be Back", both of which preview his forthcoming Tragicomic album, a storied set of 12 songs that blends absurdist-rock, ska, Americana, folk-punk and straight-up classic rock, with a clear-eyed view of the world through Amici’s unique lens. Greg's lyrics often offer an unexpected turn of phrase, delivered with full-throated rock power.
With roots firmly planted in Jersey, his creative journey has taken him from the heart of Manhattan to Los Angeles and back again. In the late '90s, Greg formed Big Honey, a NYC-based band whose rise peaked with an appearance at the CMJ Music Festival but paused indefinitely when a vocal polyp sidelined Greg for years. Despite this setback, he didn't let his distinctive voice and songwriting abilities go to waste, returning to the studio after a 16-year hiatus.
Reuniting with producer James Mastro (The Bongos, Mott the Hoople, Ian Hunter) and engineer / drummer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Luna) at Magic Door Studio in Montclair, the resultant 'Tragicomic' album was mastered by award-winning engineer Greg Calbi (John Lennon, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Talking Heads, Patti Smith, Tom Petty).
"I was in my 30s, and a young waitress with whom I often discussed French and Russian literature (and, of course, nothing other than French and Russian literature) invited me to audit one of her classes at her Ivy League university. I don’t remember much of what happened during the class, but I do remember feeling ridiculous, stuffed in a tablet-armed school desk, bored by the same inane theoretical discussions that I’d suffered through and contributed to fifteen years earlier," says Greg Amici.
"That’s the only personal truth to the story told in this song. It became a story about a loser, not me. I’m not old enough to have fled to Canada during the Vietnam War, I’ve never had Botox, and as for Viagra -- well, the very idea…"
The 'Tragicomic' album also involved former Amici bandmates Joe Gentile (Big Honey) and Tommy Aboussleman (Electric TNT), along with special guests Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith Band) and Renee LoBue (Elk City) contributing to the recording. Whether it’s a "serial killer romance" or a biting satire, Greg Amici proves that a Jersey count knows how to count on rock ‘n’ roll.
Calling himself a "count in name only", tracing his aristocratic lineage through Italian family names such as Benedetti, Stalute and Scala, Greg found his calling as a musician in high school, inspired by local bands. Picking up the guitar in his late teens, he founded his first band, The Clergy, and later teamed up with a musical partner to form the '80s alt-rock band Junk.
"No Fool" is out now, available from fine online music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full Tragicomic album will be released on June 13 via Magic Door Records. Amici will be supporting this album with a series of live performances, to be announced soon.
photo by Mark Jaworsk
