New Track from HollowBoy

"I'm Not Me (If I'm Not With You)"

HollowBoy is Matthew Kessig, former drummer for Corrina, Corrina. His HollowBoy project is a solo endeavor. The latest effort from HollowBoy is a noisy, 3-minute, power-pop gem produced by Deaglan Howlett (Beauty, The Vansaders, ex-Corrina). The wall of guitars serves the song's sweet melody perfectly, and I can hear influences from bands like Teenage Fanclub and Guided By Voices.

It's cool when long-time friends of the site do cool stuff, especially during this time when inspiration hasn't been coming so easily. "I'm Not Me (If I'm Not With You)" is available now over at HollowBoy's Bandcamp page as a Name Your Price download.

New New Jersey Stuff from Ghost Camp, Fleeting, Little Rooney

Tony say, "Jersey is cool." (photo: CNN)

New(ish) Releases

Tony Bourdain did his New Jersey episode of Parts Unknown on CNN last night. The episode took him around his ancestral home to places like Camden, Atlantic City, and Asbury Park. It's cool to see places you know so well getting the recognition they deserve without the addition of any jokes or non-existent New Jersey accents (I have never, in my life, heard any person say the word "Joisey" seriously.).

On the musical side of things, we already know that there's a trove of great stuff coming from the Garden State -- too much stuff for me even to remember or acknowledge. I'm going to try, though, this week to call your attention to a few New Jersey releases that I may have been neglecting in favor of show reviews or photos. I think I'll use the roundup format this time, just so that I can cover as much as possible.

Here's the first of those. I'll try to do a couple more as the week progresses.

Ghost Camp, Tamal

New Brunswick's Ghost Camp used to be Osaka, and they were working on Tamal under that name until they decided to change just before the album's release. I shared a couple of singles from Tamal here: the melancholy "Always August" and the driving (Driving? Did I just do that?) "Transit."

The band refer to their sound as "witch punk," but I get a more straight-ahead post punk vibe from them -- post punk of the especially Joy Division variety. That's probably due, mostly, to David Pressler's vocals.

Tamal is decidedly lo-fi, which gives it kind of a far-off dreamy quality, especially on standout tracks like "Soft Eyes" and "Body Language." The whole record, though, is a great listen. Ghost Camp sound like they could have been making this music back when I was a teenager. That, coupled with the lo-fi sound of the recording, makes each song sound like a memory from somewhere in the back of my mind.

Tamal is available as a Name Your Price download at Ghost Camp's Bandcamp page.



Fleeting, Are We There Yet?

We premiered the first single -- "time killers" -- from Fleeting's debut EP here a few weeks ago. Since then, the band have unleashed their 4-song piano / trombone pop collection on the world via Sniffling Indie Kids / Choke Artist.

Are We There Yet? doesn't rely on conventional hooks or song structures. Instead, Liz Fackelman's piano and the pairing of her jazzy vocals with the more punk-influenced delivery of drummer Joe Scala are the focal point.

The EP's title is interesting since there's a lot of staying in place in these four songs. There are the titles like "time killers" and "rot away." Then there are lyrics like, "Just like that, you're off and running. Fucking leaving," implying that the narrator isn't going anywhere on "steady." And on "backbone," there's "If complacent's adjacent to living a lie, then we've just been wasting our time." I don't think they're there yet, no.

You can grab Are We There Yet? as a Name Your Price download from Fleeting's Bandcamp page.



Little Rooney, "Pissbaby"

Couldn't let this one go by without mention. Corrina, Corrina drummer Matt Kessig and Jonathan Aravich just released their first single as Little Rooney. The pair took on all instrumental, recording, mixing, and mastering duties on "Pissbaby."

It's a self-deprecating, pop punk kiss off and an excellent first effort. Now that the guys have one under their belt, maybe the next few will be easier.

You can download the track over at the shiny new Little Rooney Bandcamp page.

Friday Listening with Tenement, Sweet John Bloom, Corrina,Corrina

Tenement at Knitting Factory Brooklyn in February.

#POWERPOPPOPPUNK

Just running through the inbox and the social media feeds today and came up with a few gems for a Friday afternoon.

Tenement, "Curtains Closed"

Tenement have blown me away each time I've seen them. No filler. No stage banter. Just get up there and rattle off a bunch of songs that, taken together, really don't pigeonhole the band into any genre. Even if it makes things a little more difficult for shiftless, lazy bloggers like myself when it comes to writing about the Wisconsin trio, it's a refreshing and defiant approach.

This week, the band released "Curtains Closed" via a really fantastic write-up by Steven Spoerl at the blog Heartbreaking Bravery. It's an unconventional bit of piano and guitar-driven power pop from their upcoming 25-song Predatory Headlights. A collection that ambitious will definitely highlight all of the different places that Tenement will take you. It's out June 2nd via Don Giovanni Records. For the moment, just let this one take you into your weekend.



Sweet John Bloom, "Night Thing"

"Night Thing" from Cambridge, MA's Sweet John Bloom blends loud guitars and doubled vocals into a catchy combination reminiscent of the classic indie rock of bands like Superchunk or Pavement at their most concise. I came across this one while going through the inbox, and I've been listening to it all day. The song premiered over at Absolute Punk.

The band's Weird Prayer is due for a digital release via Tiny Engines on June 9th with vinyl slated for July. Tiny Engines have really put together an amazing stable of bands with Cayetana, Beach Slang, Restorations, and more. It sounds like they may have another good one on their hands.



Corrina, Corrina, "Distance"

Finally, our friends over at You Don't Know Jersey premiered the second track off of Corrina, Corrina's upcoming 2-song flexi for Little Dickman Records. "Distance" is another short, sharp, shock of pop punk that showcases the band's facility with creating a memorable song.

Head over to YDKJ for a fuller write-up, but just know that I'll be looking forward to hearing this one tonight at Langosta Lounge.



Time for a beer. Have a great weekend.

Exclusive Premiere: New Single from Corrina, Corrina

"Pratfall"

And our week of premieres continues here at CoolDad Music.

Today, we've got the latest effort from Red Bank pop punks Corrina, Corrina. The boys are almost done with this year at college. Somewhere between keeping up with their studies and playing the occasional show, they found time to head into Pete Steinkopf's Little Eden Studios to record two new tracks. You'll have to wait until early summer to get your hands on the two-song flexi disc from Little Dickman Records, but you can hear "Pratfall" right here, right now.

Just like pretty much their entire year-old debut LP, American Short Stories, "Pratfall" shows Corrina, Corrina to be a band with an ear for what makes a great punk / alt rock song. They're a band that worships at the feet of The Replacements, The Bouncing Souls, The Menzingers, and The Gaslight Anthem; and you can hear all of those influences coming through on "Pratfall." The track is a two-and-a-half minute mix of emotion, aggression, and accessibility that comes together in a way that's kind of just right.

I continue to be impressed that a band with 3 of its 4 members still in their teens can churn out songs with such polish. That's almost unfair to Corrina, Corrina, though. I'd be impressed with this stuff no matter how old they were.

Check out "Pratfall" below and keep your eyes peeled for the release date of the "Pratfall" / "Distance" flexi.

Corrina, Corrina will be back in town to play a free show at Langosta Lounge on May 15th with Sammy Kay.

Guest List(s): Corrina, Corrina Give Us Four, Four, Four Posts In One!

Corrina, Corrina at Red Bank Rehearsal Studios on Thanksgiving Eve

Essay Question

I asked the guys in Corrina, Corrina if they'd like to do a year-end list for the site this year. They said sure. They must have still been in end-of-semester exam mode because they gave me four full-on lists, one from each member.

Corrina, Corrina had a big year in 2014, releasing their first full-length, American Short Stories, on Little Dickman Records. Three of the four members graduated from high school and joined new bassist, Kyle Donovan, at Rowan University. So the band lives to fight another day.

School's out now for winter break, and Corrina, Corrina have promised some new songs and some new recorded material in the not-too-distant future. For now, check out each member's take on 2014.

Deaglan

My Favorite Songs of 2014

5. PUP, “Guilt Trip”

PUP is a straight up, kick-ya-in-the-dick rock band. The opener of their self-titled debut, “Guilt Trip,” has everything anyone would want in a song. Kinda freaky timing, SICK guitar lines and a SICKER guitar solo, gang vocals, harmonies / guitarmonies, hella distortion and feedback, and a crazy sing along chorus. If that doesn't convince you that this is one of the best songs ever, nothing will. Long live PUP. Shouts out to the other 30 kids that went out and saw them at the Lanes this past summer.

4. Against Me!, “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”

Probably the most important song to come out this year off the most important album to come out this year is its the title track. Against Me! telling it how it is. Heartbreaking yet up-lifting. Seriously, so so so so so important. Laura Jane Grace is a badass. 

3.  Ryan Adams, “My Wrecking Ball”

I’ve been a huge Ryan Adams fan since my introduction to him during freshman year of high school with his debut solo album Heartbreaker. His self titled release this year was a favorite of mine, and this song really stood out to me. This album was my go to “walking to class” album when it was released, and this song always blew me away every time I listened to it. Ryan Adams has one of the most effortless voices in music, and it really shines through on this track. I want him to sing me to sleep every night.

2.  Cloud Nothings, “I’m Not Part of Me”

This song became an instant favorite as soon as it was released as a single. I enjoyed Cloud Nothings’ previous release, Attack on Memory, but this song seemed to do it for me more than their previous hit, “Stay Useless.” I absolutely love how the bass drops out throughout the song, the floor tom verses vs the cymbal choruses, and that guitar tone. Damn. It's flawless. 

1.  Beach Slang, “Filthy Luck”

Beach Slang have to be the best band to come out of 2014. All of their songs are just absolute anthems. I remember hearing this on “Jaded Punk” the day it came out, when it was just a single. I must have replayed that fifty times that day. Beach Slang just keep getting better, but it will be hard to top this song. 

Other songs I absolutely adored: Radiator Hospital, “Fireworks,” Allison Crutchfield, “Supermoon,” Bob Mould, “I Dont Know You Anymore,” Smith Street Band, “Surrender,” The Lawrence Arms, “Seventeener (17th & 37th),” Eagulls, “Tough Luck,” Diarrhea Planet, “Heat Wave,” Mikey Erg, “You’ve Never Heard ‘My Aim is True,’” Chain and The Gang, “Never Been Properly Loved”

Thanks, CoolDad. Happy Festivus!

Matt

My Top 5 Favorite Songs From Local Bands of 2014

5.  Teenage Halloween, “Comic Book Love Song”

Teenage Halloween have recently taken the local New Jersey scene by storm, and with a song like this, there’s good reason. It wasn't until I experienced this song live at the Red Bank Rehearsal Studios, when it was upgraded to a full band delivery from its former acoustic recording, that I absolutely fell in love with it. Screaming “Little Johnny Robinson was saved by Rock’N’Roll” with the 9 other kids made that a song that I never wanna miss live. Super excited to hear it on the new Teenage Halloween album being released at some point in time probably / maybe / I think. 

4.  Black Flamingos, “Devil’s Punch Bowl”

This is the surf jazz /spy /sci-fi / spaghetti western song I’ve been waiting for my entire life. Black Flamingos have a special place in my heart because I first met frontman Rob when I started playing guitar back in 2009 and one day he played every single vocal part to a Beach Boys song on guitar and I think I might’ve cried in the bathroom shortly after. Fast-forward to a couple of months ago when I caught Black Flamingos at The Brighton Bar and they absolutely blew me away. Such technical bass, guitar, and drum parts all working together to make a song that makes me wish I was in a tuxedo every time I heard it. Check out the live version of this song to see its raw amazingness. 

3.  Hot Blood, “Class Warfare” 

What needs to be said about this song other than, THIS IS A WARRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Nothing. Literally nothing. This song is an anthem for all who just want to get their anger out with some aggressive moshing. I can’t think of a Hot Blood set where my favorite part wasn’t chanting “They’ve got the power, but we’ve got the numbers” with all my friends and familiar faces surrounding the microphone, only to be interrupted by a blood curdling scream from Mat Kiley, which sends the room erupting in a swarm of sweaty human bodies. Awesome rhythm section, anthemic lyrics, killer song. 

2.  The Vansaders, “Bullet”

This song, this damn song, is one of my favorite songs ever. I was just recently introduced to The Vansaders, and my God, I’m glad I was. From the powerful instrumental opening, to Doug Zambon’s first vocals, the fast-paced rhythm section pushing the song, to the incredibly awesome group vocals, nothing about this song could be any better. This album is a must-listen and I hope to see more from this band for years to come. There are two types of people in the world: people who love The Vansaders, and people that are wrong. 

1.  The Battery Electric, “Heathen”

Okay I know what you’re thinking: “Matt that song wasn’t released yet.” “Matt you’re biased because Brent was your guitar teacher and you’ve known him for almost a decade.” “Matt you play drums. Your opinion doesn't matter.” Well listen up, fictional jerk, because I’m about to justify why “Heathen” is my, and should be your, favorite song of the year.

If you are part of the Asbury Park scene, wear denim, have facial hair, or have ever said the word pimp, you know The Battery Electric. They are the most rock and roll band I have ever met, and their party powers would give Andrew WK a run for his money. “Heathen,” while not having been released yet, is without a doubt one of the best songs this band has ever written. It has rad vocals by frontman Ron Santee, punchy-as-hell guitar from my guitar idol Brent “Thor God of Rock” Bergholm, and mega-hunk rhythm from bassist Alex Rosen and drummer Kevin Troeller. The falsetto backup vocals sung by the band and the crowd are really the icing on this sexy cake of hunk-rock. This is without a doubt the most fun, energetic, and pimp-tastic song that has come from a local band this year, and I seriously can’t wait for their new album to be released. #RockPimps

Kyle

My Top 3 Small Releases of 2014

First off, I would like to send a HUUUUUGE thank you to CoolDad for asking us to do this. This is mega-cool. Now, onto the good stuff. As resident "New Guy" of Corrina, Corrina I realize that not many people in the area know me or what I'm into. So, here are three of my favorite small releases from the past year.

The Moms, Buy American

I'm from north Jersey (*boo* *hiss* yeah, I get it). We don't have as much of a local music community as the Asbury Park area, but we can produce some pretty solid bands. One of those bands is The Moms, hailing from New Brunswick. I had the pleasure of hearing them for the first time a little over two years ago at a back yard show in Clark, NJ, and I've been hooked ever since. Buy American, their debut full-length album, released by Paper + Plastick, is solid gold from end to end. This trio does an unbelievable job of pouring everything they have into a song. Their punchy, distorted chords are paired beautifully with surprisingly melodic yells. I have a feeling that these guys are going somewhere big.

Donovan Wolfington, Scary Stories You Tell in the Dark

At five songs, and a total running time of about eleven minutes, Donovan Wolfington (which is a fantastic name, by the way) managed to cram about 10 different genres of music into this EP. Transitioning from party punk into noise-pop and back into 90s grunge, often in the same song, it is hard to keep track of when one song ends and another begins. Of the five members in the band, three of them share singing duties and they come together wonderfully with lyrics that perfectly express the top-of-the-world mindset of a 21 year old college student: "And I still do whatever I want whenever I damn-well please and I mean everything I say, always."

Posture & The Grizzly, Busch Hymns

I am absolutely in love with this band. Posture & The Grizzly is the side project of a few members of Connecticut-based emo band, The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die. Quite the mouthful. Posture is more like TWIABP's pissed off little brother. This album is jam packed with eight beautiful, bite-sized, in your face punk songs. Although this is probably the most aggressive sounding selection from my list, I feel that the lyrics are the most heartfelt. The album's closing track, "Jordan Michael's Space Jam,” is my personal favorite. After seven energy filled songs, none of which were much over two minutes long, the eighth track starts with a much slower pace and ends in a refrain that begs to be shouted until your lungs collapse.

Honorable Mention: Head North / A Will Away, Split EP

I strongly encourage everyone to check out The Mayflower Collective. They're a DIY label started by members of local NJ bands Cross Town Train and On Your Marks. They're doing an awesome thing for the local scene and should be acknowledged for it. 

Brian

My Top 10 Albums of 2014

Beach Slang, Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken? 

I fell in love with this record immediately. It is a perfect combination of everything I love. There’s a real dreamy 80s/90s vibe throughout. I hear a lot of Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and Jawbreaker in the band; but the songs are still completely their own. The four songs really just sound like Beach Slang. Frontman, Jim Snyder, can do no wrong. As a long time fan of his old band, Weston, I got into Beach Slang very early on; and I’m really glad to see that they’re getting a lot of attention and doing some awesome tours. This is the best thing to come out this year. Best thing to come out in 1996… Weston, Got Beat Up. Peep it. 

PUP, PUP

I’m so happy I heard this band. This band has everything. Huge gang vocals and catchy choruses, accompanied by fuzzed out guitars ripping freaky solos. Imagine what Weezer would sound like if J. Mascis joined as a guitar player. Then multiply how awesome that would be by ten and you’re almost getting close to understanding how magnificent PUP is. I was able to catch them at the Lanes earlier this year and was blown away. They closed with a Beastie Boys cover, and the singer dove into the crowd off the monitor. They really looked like they enjoyed what they were doing. This has become my favorite LP of the year.

Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria Blues

This is the most important album to come out in a long time. I’ve loved Against Me! since I was really just a little kid. My older cousin showed me some of their music when I was in the 6^th or 7^th grade. I loved their early records but I really couldn’t get into their newer material like White Crosses. But a year or two ago, when Laura Jane Grace came out as a transgender woman, Against Me! totally changed, and they went back to making amazing music again. This is the most personal record I think I’ve ever heard. Really something special. I was lucky to have seen them play some of these songs at the Pony earlier this year. 

The Menzingers, Rented World

The Menzingers are my favorite current band. Everything they do is perfect to me. Their 2012 record, On The Impossible Past, is one of the best melodic punk records of the past ten years and one of my favorite albums of all time. Rented World, lacks some of what made On The Impossible Past great, but it’s the same band, and it’s really goddamn good. I’d say out of all the bands my band rips off on a daily basis, this is the band we rip off the most. This is the record that had the most plays for me this year. 

Joyce Manor, Never Hungover Again

This year Joyce Manor saw their biggest commercial success with Never Hungover Again. The kids love it. Because it totally rips. Okay, maybe it doesn’t “rip.”  It’s just kind of nice music to listen to driving around. The songs are quite a bit more poppy than the songs on the band’s other releases. Basically, Joyce Manor trim away all the fat, and what you get on this record are hooks. Hook after hook. In less than 20 minutes, this record does more for me than any hour-long shoegaze bullshit. 

The Lawrence Arms, Metropole

I grew up on the Epitaph and Fat Wreck rosters, so the return of The Lawrence Arms was the most exciting thing to happen for me this year. This year, eight years after their last album Oh! Calcutta!, they released Metropole and it is exactly what I needed. It’s the same old Larry Arms singing really great punk songs, reminding me that they are one of my favorite bands ever. If my band rips off The Menzingers more than any other band, we’re probably just unsuccessfully trying to rip off The Lawrence Arms. 

Restorations, LP3

Restorations put out consistently amazing records. This one is still relatively new but I’ve given it a lot of plays. Actually according to my Spotify, their song “Separate Songs” is my most played song this year. This may not have topped their 2013 release LP2 for me, but I totally think “Separate Songs” is their best song, and probably my favorite song of the year. 

Cheap Girls, Famous Graves

Cheap Girls could never put out a record that doesn’t make my year-end list. It’s actually pretty hard to talk about a Cheap Girls record. You can’t really compare their records to each other because they’re all so similar aside from slight differences in production. All I can say is that this record is great. I love it, and the song “Knock Me Over” really rules. 

Alex G, DSU

I had to include Alex G because he just impressed the hell out of me with DSU. This is a really soft, melodic, lo-fi, mostly acoustic record with 13 really perfect songs. In retrospect I’m pretty pissed I missed him at the Wunder Loft because I didn’t feel like driving in the rain. Alex G is only a college student, and the stuff he’s doing has me really excited about the direction music is headed.

The Hotelier, Home, Like No Place Is There

Wow. So this one is sort of “emo.” For a while that was a word used to describe something bad, and then more recently it was a word used to describe something good, and even more recently I sense it is starting to become a word to describe something bad again. Well, there is nothing bad about this record. So much emotion is packed into every chord and every lyric. This record sounds like it took a lot of hard work. The songs are crafted perfectly. One of the best newer bands. Totally worth a listen. #EmoRevival2014

Records I had all the reason but no time to write about: Chumped, The Smith Street Band, Hard Girls, Radiator Hospital, Bob Mould, Caves, Single Mothers, Allison Crutchfield, Antarctigo Vespucci, Little Big League, LVL Up, Cayetana, Modern Baseball, Sorority Noise, The Holy Mess, Andrew Jackson Jihad

The Replacements Played Forest Hills Stadium and Corrina, Corrina's Deaglan Howlett Was There, 9/19/14

Guest Review!

So I spent Friday night getting tacos and ice cream with CoolDaughter #2 as CoolMom took CoolDaughter #1 and her friends to see The Maze Runner. It's actually quite awesome hanging out with CD2 one on one. I don't know if it's a second child thing or what, but she loves having CoolMom and / or me all to herself. We came home and watched the Master Chef season finale on DVR. She laughed with mischievous glee at the thought of seeing the ending before her mother and sister.

It was a fun evening, and I honestly don't regret missing The Replacements and The Hold Steady out in Queens (or Stiff Little Fingers and The So So Glos at The Stone Pony) one, little bit.

And whaddya know? Corinna, Corrina's Deaglan Howlett went to the show; and I got him to give us a recap.

Some wise, old sage once described Corrina, Corrina's sound as "The Replacements via The Gaslight Anthem." The boys in the band thought that was apt, so I thought it would be interesting to get the take of someone whose own music has been so heavily influenced by the legendary Minnesota band.

Thanks, Deaglan. Any time you want to do another one of these, just let me know.

Intoxicated Lover Ending Our French Kiss…
by Deaglan Howlett

I left my house at 3:30 to catch the 4:00 train to Penn Station where I would then jump on the R subway to Forrest Hills Stadium to see my favorite band in the entire world, The Replacements. It wasn't too difficult to tell who exactly was on their way to see this show, although the 25/75 split between middle aged “hip” adults and drunk Yankees fans certainly helped. It was a special subway ride, with no words exchanged among the concertgoers, for we all understood the importance of the event that was taking place in just 2 hours.

As I got off the subway, I walked about two blocks before making a right, following the Heineken-sponsored  “Forrest Hills Stadium this way!” signs. As I embarked on what seemed like a five mile walk toward the entrance gate, I got to skip the line for alcoholic beverage wristbands (I’m just a kid.). I walked right up to security where I would take out my ticket and hear that wonderful “Do-Doo!” sound you hear after your ticket is scanned that means you’re in.

As I approached my seat, constantly checking my ticket for where my section was and to make sure I wasn't dreaming, Deer Tick went into “The Rock” off their latest album. By the time I sat down, their set had ended. As a fan, it was somewhat disappointing; but at this moment, nothing could bring me down.

Roughly 26 minutes passed until The Hold Steady hit the stage, earlier than scheduled, and nearly tore the place down. “Alright New York, this is pretty cool,” shouted Craig Finn before going into hit after hit. He owned the stage, with his wild “preachy” hand movements; and the sound was huge. Being a long time Hold Steady fan, I could tell how psyched they were to be opening up for such an important band. Finn even noted how, “It’s beyond thrilling to be opening up for my favorite band.” After the last chord on “Stay Positive,” he got to yell, “The Replacements are up next,” something you could tell he never thought he’d ever say.

As the night grew darker and colder, (good thing I bought that $50 ‘Mats sweatshirt), the anticipation grew stronger and the bleachers filled up. The stage lights flashed, and the house lights went down as “Jet Song” came on from the beloved West Side Story. One minute into the song, Paul, Tommy, Josh, and David ran onto the stage, Paul with a cigarette in hand as he mumbled something right before they broke into “Favorite Thing.” Everyone immediately lost their minds.

The band played a 29 song career spanning set, playing everything everyone wanted to hear, including songs people didn't even know they wanted. Who would've thought, after hearing Paul say, “I learned this riff,” that they'd go into “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5? (which was amazing by the way) They even played “Nowhere Is My Home,” which was particularly sad given Paul’s current (or pre-reunion, anyway) circumstance. The mood was lightened when Westerberg hit a sour chord at the end of “Achin' to Be” and laughed it off with the band. He nailed all the words in “Androgynous,” but lost it again three songs later on a bombastic cover of Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene,” asking if drummer Josh Freese “had the beat” after he'd sung out of rhythm. Realizing it was his own fault, Westerberg dropped the charade mumbling, “Ah fuck it” as they went back into the chorus one last time. Tommy then asked, “Is there something off that one record?” before they went into “Merry Go Round” which had the whole stadium singing at the top of their lungs.

The last 6 songs couldn't have been more perfect: “Can’t Hardly Wait," “Bastards of Young,” “White and Lazy,” “Left of the Dial,” “Alex Chilton.” And then they walked off the stage for a minute before ending with “Unsatisfied.” Paul then kicked and threw a couple of tennis balls into the crowd and even threw out a shirt he was wearing. He immediately yelled into the mic, “If there’s any cigarettes in there, throw ‘em back.” Of course, people were throwing packs of cigarettes at the stage as Paul vanished into the dark walking off the stage.

The walk out of the stadium was filled with more cigarette smoke and drunk reunions as I walked past notable Rolling Stone writer/author Rob Sheffield and hometown hero Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus.

It was as tight as it was sloppy. It was as endearing as it was pitiful. It was the only band who could possibly pull it off. It was The Replacements.

A Conversation with Corrina, Corrina

Pre-APYC Set Chat

I've been trying to move into the 21st century and get more multimedia content up here. So last night I sat down with Little Dickman Records artists Corrina, Corrina for an in-depth chat before their set at Asbury Park Yacht club. I got the whole thing on video. The foursome of Deaglan Howlett, Brian McKenna, Matthew Kessig, and Kyle "New Guy" Donovan have a series of dates coming up in support of their excellent debut LP American Short Stories.

The guys talked about what it's like to be an under-21 band in an over-21 world, how they stalked their way onto Asbury Park's Little Dickman Records, what they think of the new Gaslight Anthem album, and what's going to happen to the band now that all four members will be headed off to college. Check out the video to see what they had to say about all of that and more.

Just after our conversation, Corrina, Corrina were confirmed for tonight's tour kickoff show for Hot Blood and The Vansaders at The Wunderloft in Asbury Park. You can also catch them in someone's backyard in Howell for Yardfest on 8/22 or at The Brighton Bar with Black Flamingos and Groundskeeper on 8/25.

I'd just like to say thanks to the guys for spending such a long time with me right before playing a show, and I'd like to wish them the best of luck as they head off to college in a few weeks.

Scene Report: Corrina, Corrina and Gates at Asbury Lanes 7/10/14

NJ's Gates kicked off their tour with Have Mercy and Pentimento at Asbury Lanes.

Intensely Not Lame

Dude.

The Hold Steady's “Massive Nights” blares over on the TV as I write this. ESPN is running commercials for the MLB HR Derby just as often as we get speculation over where LeBron James will play next year. I'll stick to my story and another line from Craig Finn, “our songs are sing along songs." Asbury Lanes was five deep in bands that specialize in sing along songs. Saddle up. I'm still thinking about the loaded grilled cheese I rocked right before the first chord.

Red Bank locals Corrina, Corrina opened the night. I've been listening to their debut LP for a few months, and I'm still bummed I missed them at The Saint back in May. I was making up for lost time and was promptly informed that this was bassist Mike O'Connor's last show. Fear not. Amy and Chris from Little Dickman Records informed me that Corrina, Corrina have a show tonight at the Clash Bar! in Clifton. Carry on!

The early arriving crowd was treated to a blast of rock fury that would make Paul Westerberg proud. Corrina, Corrina's standout single “Denim Jacket” right on into a cover of Asbury regulars The Menzingers whipped the kids up into a frenzy. I'm looking forward to seeing Corrina, Corrina again. They've found the cure for being lame.

Stepped outside 'cause the Lanes are warm and I had to take a call. Crisis averted, and I was back to slide up front to see New Jersey's Gates. Truth be told, this was the reason I was here. Gates and I could not sync our schedules up over the last year. Their records have been on repeat at camp LaRock. I've been looking forward to this.

This is a three guitar attack. They play loud, and it is intense. Yes, "intense" is the word I'd use to describe Gates. You hang on every rise and fall. Every note. Pounding, blistering, raw, and emotional. Yeah, that's Gates for me. I implored a few friends to make it out; but, alas, my Bat Signal went unanswered. I've said it before: if Gates are in your town and you miss them, you're doing it all wrong. There was a new tune, and I believe they have a new record coming this fall. So, by all accounts, you still have a chance to right the wrongs and get into Gates now. You'll see the light.

CoolDad came a little late and got some snaps of Gates. Click up top on "Galleries" to see them all. Stay tuned for his report on Pentimento and Have Mercy who closed out the evening.

PHOTOS of Hot Blood from Corrina, Corrina's Record Release at The Saint, 5/10/14

Hot Blood played Saturday's Corrina, Corrina record release show at The Saint.

Post-Softball Hardcore

As I get older, I appreciate a nice early set that gets me home before 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning. Midday Saturday, though, is a tough one for a suburban cooldad of two. CoolDaughter #2 had a 1pm softball game; and, while I'm not the coach, I do like to help out with pitching and generally keeping those first- and second-grade girls in line.

That meant missing several of the openers on the bill for Corrina, Corrina's Saturday afternoon record release show at The Saint. I got into The Saint just as Have a Good Season were leaving the stage following performances by Luke Henderiks and Loser Year. I did make it in time to catch the short, incendiary set from Hot Blood.

As usual, the quartet of Mat Kiley, Alex Rosen, Charlie Schafer, and Billy Straniero left everything on the stage. They got the mostly young crowd's, well, blood boiling in preparation for the high-octane Corrina, Corrina set that was to follow.

Check out some highlights of Hot Blood's set. See more here.

PHOTOS of Corrina, Corrina Record Release Show at The Saint, 5/10/14

Alcohol-Free Craziness

Corrina, Corrina took over The Saint yesterday for an all-ages, alcohol-free, daytime, pop punk party marking the release of their excellent debut LP, American Short Stories. They played a jubilant set featuring songs from that record, some "old" songs from their Ayo, River! EP, and an homage to one of their influences in the form of a Gaslight Anthem cover.

Guitarists Deaglan Howlett and Brian McKenna traded off on lead vocals a few times throughout the set. McKenna is the more animated of the two and served as a fine ringmaster for the afternoon, while Howlett's delivery of "Denim Jacket" had the entire room shouting the chorus. Mike O'Connor was a stoic and steady presence on bass, and drummer Matthew Kessig -- in typical drummer fashion -- had to remind himself of his role by writing it across his shirt: "I'm the drummer of Corrina, Corrina."

Mat Kiley, frontman for Little Dickman labelmates Hot Blood, remained front and center for the entire set and is obviously a big influence on the young band. God help them.

Here are some photo highlights from the set. More up at Flickr, and pics of Hot Blood's set to follow soon.

Corrina, Corrina, American Short Stories, 2014

Album Review

In New Jersey, 17 year old drivers are not allowed to drive between the hours of 12:01 AM and 5 AM. Back in my day, this wasn't an issue; but it was a more reckless, more dangerous time in the mid-80s. If we wanted to stay out late and sit on the beach in West End or drink Dutch coffees at The Inkwell, we didn't really have to worry. Now, though, I imagine that new drivers have to plan their evenings pretty carefully if they want to stay within the law.

A few songs into The So So Glos' Labor Day set at Asbury Lanes last year, a young man near the stage asked frontman Alex Levine how late he thought the set would go. He pointed out that he and his friend still had restricted drivers licenses and couldn't drive past midnight. Levine asked him to get his mom on the phone.

"What's your name?"

"Deaglan."

"OK." Then, Levine said, holding the mic up to the young man's iPhone, "Ma'am, we have to drive back to Brooklyn tonight; so if it gets too late we'll drive Deaglan home."

Satisfied, Deaglan's mom gave the OK and the two were able to enjoy the rest of the show. That was my first experience with Corrina, Corrina.

Corrina, Corrina are the Red Bank quartet of Deaglan Howlett, Brian McKenna, Matthew Kessig, and Mike O'Connor. Earlier this month, the band released American Short Stories on Asbury Park's Little Dickman Records. The LP is an 11-song collection of surprisingly tight, surprisingly mature songs that fit right in with the venerable New Jersey pop punk tradition.

"Sea Song" opens the record and draws heavily on the expansive, punk-influenced rock of a band like The Gaslight Anthem. The chunky, bouncing power chords conjure images of kids jumping like crazy along with the music; while some really interesting lead guitar lines add ornamentation. Lyrics like, "I didn't wanna be a disappointment to my parents" -- and even a quick Dutch coffee reference -- will hit home for anyone who spent their formative years in a suburban enclave, especially the Jersey Shore.

The first third or so of the record stays in anthemic, alt-rock territory with "The Art of Racing" and the lead guitar driven one-two punch of "This One's For You, Charlie" and "2.5 Minute Drive." Things then change up a bit and go a little more traditionally pop punk, starting with the brief, bouncy "Stick."

The pair of tracks that follows dispenses with most of the riffage and sticks to pounding out punk rock chords. Album standout "Denim Jacket" describes a miserably failed attempt to locate the "cure for being lame," while "Fear of Missing Out" is a mosh-worthy critique of conformity.

The album closes with the lo-fi, acoustic title track. Like "National Anthem" on The Gaslight Anthem's Handwritten, it's a bit of a jarring shift from the tone of the rest of the record; but it's not a bad send-off after all of the high adrenaline.

I think, though I'm not sure, that the guys in Corrina, Corrina can all drive past midnight now. If you didn't know anything else about them, though, the songwriting and musicianship on American Short Stories would make you think that they've been old enough to go out driving that late for years by now.

American Short Stories is out now on Little Dickman Records. You can catch Corrina, Corrina live when they celebrate the record's release at The Saint with an (appropriately) all-ages matinee show featuring friends Hot Blood, Have a Good Season, and Loser Year on May 10th.