New Notable New Jersey Releases from Wetbrain, Julian Fulton, and Black Flamingos

Black Flamingos celebrated the release of Neon Boneyard at Jack's Music this past weekend.

New Stuff

So, I'm like some weekly book review site now with a "New & Notable" section. Not really, as this isn't likely any kind of regular section, and it's really just about me catching up on stuff that I've been meaning to mention to you for a while.

Wetbrain, A Certain Light

Former Dentist rhythm section, Rudy Meier and Nick Kaelblein, have struck out on their own with Wetbrain. Early this year, Wetbrain released their first LP in the form of A Certain Light. The album is 10 (well, 11) tracks that veer off into experimental indie rock.

Opener "Walk It Off" displays some of the left-field guitar sounds of early Modest Mouse. "Pirouette" is proggy, jazzy. "Sewage" comes with a rougher edge as Meier sounds like the mundane everyday is pushing him to the limits of sanity. The title track is a quiet and atmospheric take on lost innocence. Closer "Wise Up" has a little of that Modest Mouse feel again and also contains hidden track "Asshole," which is as bitter as the title would suggest.

A Certain Light is varied and, at times, even weird; but that's its charm. It's available now over at Wetbrain's Bandcamp page.



Julian Fulton, Battered Receptions

Julian Fulton has been a fixture on the New Jersey music scene -- both as a solo artist and with his band The Zombie Gospel -- since he was 17 years old. His latest release, Battered Receptions, is a solo effort that he worked on while members of The Zombie Gospel were otherwise engaged.

The 5-song EP ranges from the catchy, Dirty Projectors-esque pop rock of "Rosie's Disposition" to the bluesy psychedelia of "Howl" to the prog rock of "For You." Fulton shows an amazing range of musicianship and songwriting talent over a relatively small selection of songs.

Battered Receptions is available over at Julian Fulton's Bandcamp page.



Black Flamingos, Neon Boneyard

Instrumental surf power trio Black Flamingos just released their first full-length last Friday. Neon Boneyard finds the band adding horns and keys to their arsenal, and the result is going to make you want to go out and buy a 60s convertible muscle car.

The album opens cinematically with "The Gurch," a horn section adding drama to Robert Butkowski's guitar. "Linty Dock" has always been a favorite of mine from Black Flamingos' live shows, and it sounds great here -- especially the little bit of guitar dirt that gets thrown in towards the end. There are covers of a couple of classics like "Theme from The Traitors" and "The Unknown Rider." I'd say something cliché here like, "Just in time for summer...," but this isn't just a summer album. It conjures as many images of cars, motorcycles, and leather jackets as it does of surfboards and Hawaiian shirts.

Neon Boneyard is a joint release between Little Dickman Records and Hi-Tide Recordings. You can get it at The Black Flamingos Bandcamp page or over in the Little Dickman store.

Black Flamingos Releasing Debut LP on 5/19. "The Gurch" Available Today.

Photo: Magdalena O'Connell

Neon Boneyard

This past summer, we premiered "The Gurch," the first single off of Black Flamingos' upcoming debut LP. That LP, Neon Boneyard, just got a release date (5/19); and "The Gurch" finally hits all of your favorite download / streaming sites today.

Back in July, I said of the single:

"...on "The Gurch," Black Flamingos fill things out with the addition of a horn section. It's another layer that further fleshes out that cinematic image of headlights and chrome hubcaps rolling through the fog on a beachside road."

Black Flamingos recorded all of Neon Boneyard at Retromedia Sound Studios in Red Bank last summer. Everything was done live to analog tape with minimal editing; and, if "The Gurch" is any indication, the band and Adam Vaccarelli were able to capture all the energy and spontaneity of a Black Flamingos live performance.

The release of Neon Boneyard comes right in the middle of a busy spring and summer for Black Flamingos who will be touring around the Northeast in May, heading off to Italy for the Surfer Joe Summer Festival in June, and playing the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival in August.

Neon Boneyard is due on May 19th as a joint release between Hi-Tide Recordings and Little Dickman Records. You can pre-order the album over at Bandcamp, and you can listen to / grab "The Gurch" from iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, etc., etc... You can also check it out (again) right here, and then have a look at what Black Flamingos will be up to for the next few months.



Black Flamingos Dates
May 2-14 - Northeast US dates with Surfer Joe Lorenzo Valdambrini & Band

June 19-27 - Italy dates, including a headlining performance at the Surfer Joe Summer Festival in
Livorno - the World's #1 Surf Music Event

July 14-16 - Viva East Rockabilly Weekender

August 26 - Asbury Park Surf Music Festival supporting Los Straitjackets, The Fathoms & Aqualads

October 13-22 - West Coast US dates

Coupla Halloween-Type Things from where is my spaceship, Ex-Girlfriends, and a New 7" from Black Flamingos

Black Flamingos are releasing a new 7" and playing The Saint tonight.

Halloweekend

Halloween's on a Monday this year, so this weekend is the big-time party fun-fest. I spent most of the day running around looking for dalmatian ears to complete CoolDaughter #1's costume. Apparently, she and CoolMom couldn't get it together in time to order them for the Halloween dance tonight.

Guess what. There aren't any dalmatian ears to be had locally. But a pair of rabbit ears, a little bending, and a Sharpie equal problem solved. Who's a CoolDad? Yeah, that's right.

Anyway. A few things came across this week that seemed appropriate for this weekend so...

where is my spaceship, "Thinkin Bout My Tombstone"

When I was in Europe with the family this summer, we took a tour of the bizarre Paris catacombs. Over the years, the city of Paris had both been filling up its cemeteries and carving out a network of limestone caves as they built the city's largest structures. One day, someone got the bright idea to make room for new residents in the cemeteries by relocating the current occupants to the caves beneath the city. The result is a mind-bogglingly huge ossuary made up of meticulous arrangements of skulls and other bones.

CoolMom was reading about the place as we walked through and mentioned, "There are apparently some pretty famous people down here."

CoolDaughter #2 quickly replied, "Welp. They all look the same now."

All of this is, maybe, meant to assure where is my spaceship's Josh Evensen, who we see in this video lamenting the low station of his future small-town cemetery neighbors, that even the big-city cemeteries are full of total losers.

This one was directed by Evensen and Ashley Tobin.



Ex-Girlfriends, "Bones"

We recently premiered the first-ever single, "My First Abortion," from Brooklyn supergroup Ex-Girlfriends. Co-fronted by Sharkmuffin's Tarra Thiessen and Sidebitch's Heather Cousins, the five women of Ex-Girlfriends channel some of their more riotous forebears, both male and female, through some aggressive guitar and a snotty vocal delivery.

In the video for second single "Bones," Ex-Girlfriends work some Craft-style magic to raise a bleached-blonde guy from the dead for some Jersey Shore summer shenanigans. By the end of the clip, though, we're pretty sure things didn't go totally according to plan.

Thomas Ignatius directed "Bones"



Black Flamingos, "Flamingo Twist" b/w "Neon Boneyard"

This week, Black Flamingos announced that they'd be releasing their first-ever 7", "Flamingo Twist" b/w "Neon Boneyard." Pre-orders are up now, and the single is expected to ship at the end of January. You can check out both tracks at the band's Bandcamp page.



I also wanted to mention Black Flamingos because, tonight, the guys will be joined by The Primitive finks, DJ Sufferin Bastard, DJ Elle Von Skelle and Robbie, DJ Hi-Tide, and DJ Felton Fink for "Monster Surfing Time" at The Saint. There will be a costume contest, B-movies, tiki drinks, and some spooky stories told by me as GhoulDad. You'll get to hear Black Flamingos play "Haunted Hall" live, and I'll give you some theories on how Convention Hall got so haunted in the first place.

Things get started at The Saint at 8pm.

Have a fun and safe Halloween. Check all your candy and don't drink and drive.

Premiere: New Single from Black Flamingos

Black Flamingos at last year's AP Surf Music Festival

"The Gurch"

Last year, Black Flamingos released their six-track, self-titled EP with Little Dickman Records. Back then, I said that the surf rock trio of Robbie Butkowski, Vincent Minervino, and Declan O'Connell sounded like they were broadcasting from "...some weird place where everyone drives vintage cars through the nighttime fog, but it's totally the future." The band bring their own simultaneously dark and upbeat spin to a familiar genre. The guys are back and readying a new album, Neon Boneyard, for release late this summer; and we've got the first single right here.

Black Flamingos went into Retromedia Sound Studios with Adam Vaccarelli to record the new tracks. The signature sound of Butkowski's guitar (Side Note: CoolMom and I were walking down the Asbury boardwalk one night. I heard the strains of a guitar coming from the Anchor's Bend, turned to CoolMom and said, "That's Robbie!" We walked back; and, sure enough, there he was wailing away in the bar.) is still there; but, on "The Gurch," Black Flamingos fill things out with the addition of a horn section. It's another layer that further fleshes out that cinematic image of headlights and chrome hubcaps rolling through the fog on a beachside road.

Check out "The Gurch" and look for Neon Boneyard later this summer.

Also, coming later this summer, on August 27th, is the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival at Anchor's Bend. Black Flamingos are part of that bill which also features Messer Chups from St. Petersburg, Russia, The Primitive Finks, Bongo Surf, and many more.

Asbury Park Surf Music Festival Set for Anchor's Bend and Grand Arcade on 8/27

Messer Chups. Photo courtesy of the band.

Lineup Announced

The Asbury Park Surf Music Festival has become the East Coast's #1 surf music event. Following the closure of the fest's old home, the wonderful Asbury Lanes, husband-and-wife organizers Vincent Minervino and Magdalena O'Connell have relocated the festivities to the beachfront. The 2016 incarnation of the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival will take place on August 27th on the beach at Anchor's Bend and inside the Grand Arcade at Asbury Park's Convention Hall.

Topping this year's lineup are Messer Chups all the way from St. Petersburg, Russia. Other acts include return engagements from Atomic Mosquitos, Primitive Finks, Blue Wave Theory, Asbury Park's own Black Flamingos, and more.



This year, the festival will partner with the Asbury Park Bazaar to curate a market inside the Grand Arcade. As the Asbury Park Bazaar has been doing for a while now, the market will feature local and handmade goods from around the area.

Once again, there will be classic cars and a tropical Tiki drink menu curated by Vincent and Magdalena.

Check out the complete festival lineup below, and you can keep up with all the news regarding the festival, as well as purchase tickets, over at APSurfMusicFest.com.

Asbury Park Surf Music Festival Full Music Lineup

Messer Chups (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Black Flamingos (Asbury Park, NJ)
The Nebulas (Providence, RI)
Atomic Mosquitos (Arlington, VA)
The Primitive Finks (Philadelphia, PA)
Slowey & The Boats (Philadelphia, PA)
The Sharkskins (Philadelphia, PA)
Blue Wave Theory (Cherry Hills, NJ)
The Tarantinos NYC (Astoria, NY)
The Televisionaries (Rochester, NY)
Bongo Surf (Jersey City, NJ)

Black Flamingos, "Jingle Bell Rock"

Black Flamingos at The Little Dickman Records / CoolDad Music holiday benefit show.

Live on WRSU

Our good buddies, Black Flamingos, have been busy. They recently played the Little Dickman Records / CoolDad Music holiday benefit at Porta. Since then, you've been able to catch them around Asbury at places like Convention Hall or the Asbury Festhalle and Biergarten. They also just happened to pick up an Asbury Music Award for Top Surf / Garage Band.

At this time of year, the guys are not above including the occasional holiday classic in their sets. Last week, Black Flamingos made a stop at WRSU Rutgers Radio; and, true to form, spread some holiday cheer with a live rendition of "Jingle Bell Rock" complete with sleigh bells. This one will have to tide you over until Black Flamingos come back in January from a short, well-deserved holiday break, but you could always pick up their excellent self-titled EP for yourself or your special holiday someone.

New Local Sounds from Seaside Caves, The Jolly Daggers, and Black Flamingos

The Jolly Daggers are just one of several recent Asbury Park releases.

Hey, Neighbor

It's been a strong couple of weeks for Asbury Park-based releases. In one of my famous Friday afternoon roundups, I wanted to call your attention to three things that have hit us recently.

Seaside Caves, "The Rage"

Seaside Caves put out one of my favorite EPs of 2014 when they released their self-titled debut at the end of last year. Since then, they've snagged opening slots for both Home for the Holidays and Home for the Summer with The Bouncing Souls; and Chunksaah Records gave Seaside Caves a physical release on vinyl.

Yesterday, the band released single "The Rage." It's another retro-inspired trip that unfurls in smears of gothic black and white over the course of its five minutes. "I wanna feel alive," sings bassist Todd Wacha as his buried vocals trail off under a wall of synths. Like all of Seaside Caves' previous work, "The Rage" makes me want to head for those shoeboxes in the closet so that I can sift through the creased and faded pictures from my high school days.

Check out "The Rage" below and come check Seaside Caves out live on Friday, November 13th, at Asbury Park Yacht Club. It's a free, CDM-presented show that also features our friends Overlake and Dead Stars.



The Jolly Daggers, Singles

The Jolly Daggers are Captain Fun Ron Santee of The Battery Electric, Robert Butkowski of Black Flamingos / Plato Zorba, Sweet Joey of Ba Babes, and Boris Thertus of super-human feats of athleticism. They've played a couple of local shows so far and promise more for the future. While we wait for that, though, the pirate crew have put out a series of singles recorded at Word of Mouth Studios in Long Branch and mastered by Derril Sellers. Studio bassist Brent Bergholm plays on each of the tracks.

There are the appropriately pirate-themed tracks of "Yo Ho" -- its opening smooch is pure Captain Fun -- and "Sailing the Black Seas." There are the more straight garage-y tracks like the soulful "See It All Through" and the rowdy "Who Killed the Postman." Each track offered up by the band has a lo-fi, retro feel anchored (ha! "anchored") by Robbie Butkowski's twangy and surf-tinged guitar.

This is music for swaying and rocking. This is music for hoisting up a tankard of rum with one arm while draping the other arm across the shoulders of your mate.

Check out everything that The Jolly Daggers have uploaded to Bandcamp (weirdly, all as individual singles) and stay on watch for their next local raid.



Black Flamingos, Black Flamingos EP

Last Friday, Black Flamingos released their self-titled, debut EP on Little Dickman Records. The instrumental surf trio of Robert Butkowski, Vincent Minervino, and Declan O'Connell bring a dark originality to a well-worn genre.

I really love this band. Every track features the familiar twang and reverb of surf rock; but they come from a different place. It's like some weird place where everyone drives vintage cars through the nighttime fog, but it's totally the future. Does that make sense?

Each of the five tracks is a winner. If I had to give special mention to any of them, I'd probably say "Okinawa" (which premiered right here) and "Shark Repellant;" but just listen to the record front to back and you won't be disappointed.

Black Flamingos are celebrating the release of the EP with a free show at Asbury Park Yacht Club next Friday, October 30th. Also on that bill are The Coffin Daggers and The Primitive Finks. Wear a costume.

Premiere: First Single from Black Flamingos' Self-titled EP

Black Flamingos at the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival in July

"Okinawa"

Quite simply, I love local surf rock trio Black Flamingos. Robbie Butkowski (guitar), Declan O'Connell (bass), and Vincent Minervino (drums) all have other projects; but they definitely make some magic when they come together as Black Flamingos. The power trio setup gives Butkowski a chance to open up and go wild on guitar, and all the reverb and twang gets me... right here... you know?

Anyway, I'm thrilled that the guys are allowing me to give you the first taste of their upcoming, self-titled EP. The record is due from Little Dickman on October 16th, but you can take a listen to single "Okinawa" right now. The song is a careening tribute to traditional surf instrumentals with Black Flamingos' signature edge and just a hint of darkness.

Black Flamingos was engineered and mixed at Coffe Haus Studios in Freehold, NJ and features some amazing artwork by Sol Rac.

You've got two chances to catch Black Flamingos live this weekend as they play Friday at The Claddagh in Highlands and head to Roxy & Duke's in Dunellen for the Rockabilly Rally on Saturday afternoon.

Photos from a Big Weekend of Record Releases and Surf Music: Deal Casino, Hey Anna, dollys, Smalltalk, Dentist, Black Flamingos, Night Birds, MORE

Husband and wife Vincent Minervino of The Brigantines and Magdalena O'Connell organized the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival.

Nika, Run Koko, and The Asbury Park Surf Music Festival

A couple of weekends ago, I stopped into Asbury Lanes during one of their Eat, Drink, Bowl, Hang Friday nights. "Where have you been? It's been weeks."

It had been a little while since I'd been at Asbury Lanes. CoolMom's been doing a lot of traveling. I spent some time in Brooklyn for Northside Festival. The cooldaughters have their evening swim meets. I just haven't been getting out there like I usually do. I made up for lost time this weekend, though.

Friday saw record releases from both Deal Casino and Hey Anna. Deal Casino held their party for Nika at Asbury Lanes with Smalltalk, dollys, and Deaf Rhino. They absolutely packed out the place and pulled out all the stops with extra lights, smoke, and their usual all-out show. Hey Anna went a little more low-key, but no less impressive, at the Run Koko release with a late set at The Saint.

On Saturday, Asbury Lanes hosted the second annual Asbury Park Surf Music Festival. I spent from 1pm until about 1am enjoying the music, taking pictures, hanging out with friends, and -- yeah -- trying a couple of the tiki drinks. I was blown away by traditional surf bands like Blue Wave Theory and The Sharkskins. As always, our friends in The Brigantines, Black Flamingos, and Dentist were fantastic. Things got harder and darker as the day closed with great sets from Night Birds and The Coffin Daggers. Special shout out to Disco Mike, who danced non-stop, all day long to just about every band that played.

Click through on the links below for pictures from both days.

NOTE: Thanks to some slow service at the North Eats food truck pavilion, I missed one band at the festival. Sadly, that band was one of our favorites, Plato Zorba. I came back inside the Lanes and Ryan Gregg was just dismantling his keyboard. Damn. I hear there was a mummy and everything. They are a fantastic avant-garde surf band, and I urge you to check out their album Pageant of the Transmundane. Also, here are some pics from their release show a while back.

Friday, 7/10/15

Asbury Lanes
Deaf Rhino

dollys

Smalltalk

Deal Casino

The Saint
Hey Anna

Saturday, 7/11/15

The Asbury Park Surf Music Festival at Asbury Lanes

The Primitive Finks

The Second Annual Asbury Park Surf Music Festival, This Saturday, July 11th at Asbury Lanes

The Brigantines at the winter warm-up for the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival back in January. Catch them at this year's summer festival this Saturday at Asbury Lanes.

Summer Surf

"We just wanted to have a party that we would want to go to." That's what Magdalena O'Connell, co-founder of the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival, told me over beer, burgers, and wursts at the Asbury Park Festhalle and Biergarten. The first year of the festival, she and her then-fiancé, Vincent Minervino of The Brigantines and Black Flamingos, fantasized about heading to Livorno, Italy for the Surfer Joe Summer Festival as their honeymoon. After considering the costs and logistics of the trip, the pair decided that it might be easier (Easier? Really?) to put together a festival of their own in Asbury Park. O'Connell and Minervino booked the date at the retro-cool Asbury Lanes, and the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival was born.

Last year's fest drew hundreds of surf music fans to the daylong party that, in addition to some of the East Coast's best surf bands, featured classic cars, vendors, and specialty drinks. This year's party is shaping up to be bigger on all fronts.

There are the bands. With sounds ranging from the classic surf of Boston's The Fathoms to the more aggressive sounds of bands like NYC's Coffin Daggers and NJ's Night Birds in their instrumental incarnation to the surf-tinged pop of locals Glycerine Queens and Dentist, there should be something for both hardcore surf fans and those just looking for a summer dance party. Favorites like Black Flamingos, Plato Zorba, The Brigantines, The Sharkskins, and Los Pocos Locos, along with many others will be returning this year.

Minervino told me, "People can be more critical of rock music -- 'I like this. I don't like that.' -- but surf music just makes everyone have a good time. You can go up front and dance, or you can sit and have a conversation at the bar."

There are the cars. This year, Tuckerton's Dead Rodz Revival will be organizing the show of pre-1978 hot rods. Cars will be on display outside of Asbury Lanes, and owners can email the club to reserve their spot.

There are the drinks. Born as they were planning their wedding, the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival receives as much attention from Vincent and Magdalena as their own big event did. The pair told me that they and the bartenders at Asbury Lanes are meticulously planning and testing specialty cocktails to serve in the tiki bar they're creating for the event.

There are the vendors. Big Slick Pomade Co., Little Dickman Records, ACDWSH, Groovy Graveyard, Dead Rodz, Bettie's Bombshells, Jetty, Southern Tier Brewing, Vintage Variety Shop, Central Jersey Rolller Vixens, Garden State Beard & Mustache Society, and more will have tables at the event.

Put all of that together with all-day surf movies and guest DJ sets from the bands, and you've got a great summer party.

"The thing I remember most about last year is all the dancing," said O'Connell.

So come to Asbury Lanes this Saturday, July 11th at noon. Enjoy a specialty cocktail, say a Tillie Sunburn. Ogle some classic cars or browse some of the unique offerings from the on-site vendors. And bring your dancing shoes. The Asbury Park Surf Music Festival is a party anybody would love to attend.

The Second Annual Asbury Park Surf Music Festival takes place on July 11th at Asbury Lanes starting at 12 noon. Advance tickets for this ALL AGES event are available here.

Asbury Park Surf Music Festival's Winter Beach Bash at The Wonder Bar, 1/23/15 (PHOTOS)

We got to watch a bullfight at the Winter Beach Bash.

Black Flamingos, Los Pocos Locos, The Brigantines, Plato Zorba

"We're gonna play one more song, then we're gonna have a bullfight," said Steve Clar / Dirty Sanchez of Los Pocos Locos.

Then there was a bullfight.

Such was the atmosphere at last night's Winter Beach Bash at The Wonder Bar. It was a party for those of us who don't necessarily go away for ski weekends but, instead, pine for the hazy lazy days of summer. It was also a showcase of the deep -- and deepening -- well of talent in our local surf rock community.

In addition to Los Pocos Locos, the crowd got sets from Black Flamingos, The Brigantines, and Plato Zorba. Guitarist Robert Butkowski amazed with both Black Flamingos and Plato Zorba, the Flamingos delivering their traditional surf sounds while Plato Zorba gave things a weird and trippy twist. Los Pocos Locos gave us originals, surf-style covers, and the drama of the corrida. The Brigantines got the crowd dancing by the end of their set.

The snow fell throughout the night, and it was a cold and soggy trip home. The party inside The Wonder Bar, though, was a welcome dose of warmth. Check out photo highlights below. The rest of the pictures are in the galleries.

Black Flamingos Live at Coffee Haus Studios

"The Devil's Punch Bowl"

I got to see Black Flamingos for the first time as part of the Little Dickman Records' show at The Brighton Bar last night. A power trio featuring Bog Iron Bloom's Declan O'Connell, The Brigantines' Vincent Minervino, and Plato Zorba's surf guitar virtuoso Robert Butkowski, Black Flamingos offered up some instrumental surf jams to close an evening that served as both a debut for Groundskeeper and a college send-off for Corrina, Corrina. Even though the band claimed just to be jamming and having fun, they pretty much blew me away.

Recently, Black Flamingos did a live session at Freehold's Coffee Haus Studios, and released a video for "The Devil's Punch Bowl." Check that out below to get an idea of what Black Flamingos are all about.

You've got another chance to catch Black Flamingos live this Friday when they play a free show at Asbury Park Yacht club with Creeptones.