The Week That Was

Eagles Of Death Metal at House of Independents

10/2 - 10/8, 2017

It's been tough for me to focus enough over the last month or so to do some of the things I find most mentally taxing around here like write album or show reviews. I'm grateful to have wonderful contributors like Henry, Matt, and Ken to pick up some of the slack while I focus on things like editing photos or sharing out songs, videos, and premieres. I have been trying to get out to some shows, but even that has taken a lot more effort on my part than it has in the past. This past week, though, was particularly active for me; and I didn't want to let it just go by without mentioning some of the great experiences.

Well Wisher

Monday, 10/2. Well Wisher, Big Nothing, Earth Telephone, Thin Lips at Wonder Bar.

This ended up being a great one. I've seen Natalie Newbold's Well Wisher several times over the last year or so, and I've really enjoyed their 90s-influenced brand of pop. They've been through a few line-up changes; and, on this night, they had Earth Telephone / Yawn Mower drummer, Biff Swenson, sitting in. His own band, Earth Telephone, were celebrating the recent release of their excellent EP Loss. It's a collection that's been resonating quite a bit with me lately, and you should check it out over at Earth Telephone's Bandcamp.

Thin Lips

Philly's Big Nothing put out their own self-titled EP over the summer. Like the rest of the bands on the bill, their sound weaves between pop and punk without ever actually being what I'd classify as pop-punk. Thin Lips closed things out; and, again, just another really good set. I hadn't seen them since, I think, around 2015 at Asbury Lanes. Monday night's show took place on the eve of Asbury Lanes's final show that same year; and I found myself, at various times throughout the night, -- with the bands that were playing, the friends that turned out -- thinking that this felt like one of those weeknight Lanes shows I'd stumble into every once in a while.

Good times.

J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.

Tuesday, 10/3. Dinosaur Jr., Easy Action at Brooklyn Bowl.

My plans for Tuesday were to sit home and watch the Yankees / Twins Wildcard Playoff Game. I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and saw that Garden State Beard and Mustache Society President / CoolDad Music contributor, Matt Chrystal, had won tickets to see Dinosaur Jr. at Brooklyn Bowl.

I sent him a text, intending to express my jealousy at his getting free tickets to see, maybe, my favorite band that said something along the lines of "FUCK YOU FOREVER." He texted back, "The timing of this is so funny, because I was just texting to ask you if you wanted to be my plus-1."

Oops.

We patched things up, and I met him at Brooklyn Bowl for the show. Easy Action, featuring John Brannon of Negative Approach on lead vocals, opened with a relentless 45-minute set, rattling off song after song with no filler. Dinosaur Jr. came out and blew the space away with their sheer volume as they ticked off most of the big ones like "Thumb," "Watch the Corners," "Out There," "Feel The Pain," "Little Fury Things," "The Wagon," "Start Choppin'," "Freak Scene," and "Just Like Heaven." They did their usual Deep Wound cover and then brought out Negative Approach for "Can't Tell No One" and "Nothing."

On the way out, we ran into Dinosaur Jr. drummer, Murph, and got a picture with him.

Me, Murph, Matt

Fun night.

Wednesday, 10/4. Home.

Oginalii

Thursday, 10/5. Oginalii, Algebra II at Asbury Park Brewery; The Yawpers at The Saint.

I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, when I noticed that Algebra II were in search of a cello for their last-minute show at Asbury Park Brewery that night. "CoolDaughter 2 has a cello," I thought; so I volunteered it. That night I headed out to see the CD2's cello in action.

Oginalii were up from Nashville and, damn. What a nice surprise. Kind of psychedelic, kind of sludge-y maybe. Elements of classic rock and elements of something a little more ambient.

Algebra II

Algebra II released their debut EP (4 years in the making), Milkshake Summer, back in August. It's an eclectic set of semi-sweet, off-kilter pop songs that I really enjoy hearing live. CD2's cello (well, its player, Gabriella Ibacache, really) performed excellently.

The Yawpers

As I was heading to my car, I got a text from Matt at The Saint that said, "yawpers on come here." We'd just published Matt's interview with Yawpers' frontman, Nate Cook, on Tuesday; so I headed next door. Whoa!

Blistering doesn't begin to describe the set The Yawpers turned in. A blend of country, blues, and punk, the band left everything onstage.

Friday / Saturday. Uncle / Family-related things.

Dave Catching and Jesse Hughes of Eagles Of Death Metal

Sunday, 10/8. Eagles Of Death Metal, The Battery Electric at House of Independents.

Battery's big night. Our friends and Asbury's own The Battery Electric have forged a friendship with Jesse Hughes and Eagles Of Death Metal. You can read all about that in Matt's interview with Ron Santee. This show was a long time in the making, and both bands made the most of it.

The Battery Electric

House of Independents was sold out, and The Battery Electric brought it for the hometown crowd. I'd wedged myself right up front among the EODM die-hards so I could take some pictures, and the response from those unfamiliar with the boys was positive. There were plenty of dyed-in-the-wool Battery fans in the house going bananas as well.

Eagles Of Death Metal took the stage; and, from the first moments, it was obvious that the match between the two bands was perfect. Jesse Hughes started out by shaking hands with everyone in the front row and then went on to lead the proceedings like a preacher (He is an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church.). At various points, he donned Bond St. Bar and Battery Electric T-Shirts. The crowd danced all night. I'd never seen the place so crazy or so packed.

I walked out into the Asbury night; got in the van; and headed home, sweaty and tired with a few hundred pictures. I'm all set to do it again in the weeks to come. Keep on keeping on.

Q & A With Captain Fun, Ron Santee on The Battery Electric and Eagles Of Death Metal

Ron Santee and The Battery Electric open for Eagles Of Death Metal tonight at House Of Independents in Asbury.

TBE + EODM
By Matt Chrystal

There's been a highly visible "bromance" brewing between Asbury Park's hard-partying, breakout band, The Battery Electric, and their high-profile, rock n roll heroes in Eagles Of Death Metal.

Eagles Of Death Metal's frontman, Jesse Hughes, was spotted flipping through a Battery Electric promotional coloring book as far back as 2014's Coachella festival and has also been caught rocking a Battery Electric "Heathen" t-shirt while on stage at several performances since then.

The Battery Electric recorded their version of Eagles Of Death Metal's "I Love You All the Time," as an expression of unity after the terrorist attack that occurred during an Eagles Of Death Metal show in Paris in 2015.

Just recently, The Battery Electric spent a portion of their summer opening for Eagles Of Death Metal at a series of shows in the Midwest.

And now there's a big buzz throughout Asbury Park as both bands are set to reunite and rock out at a sold-out show tonight at House of Independents. Speaking of getting buzzed in Asbury Park, I recently bellied up to the bar with Ron Santee, aka Captain Fun, of The Battery Electric to have a few bourbons and chat with him about how this rock n roll-relationship-of-mutual-admiration came to be and how happenstance (not to mention, a lot of hard work and hard rocking) is about to take his band to the next level.

Cool Matty C: You have admitted to being a big fan of Eagles Of Death Metal before this friendship between your band and theirs came together. What was it that drew you to them?

Ron Santee: I found out about them through Queens Of The Stone Age, and Eagles Of Death Metal became one of my favorite bands right after my first listen of their first album, Peace, Love, Death Metal. It was just right up my alley; feel-good, garage rock n roll.

CMC: From what I have heard, it seems like your friendship with Eagles Of Death Metal happened both randomly and organically. Could you share how you initially hooked up with them?

RS: My friend Katie was living out in Los Angeles and posted a pic of her hanging with Jesse Hughes. I saw it and was like, "Whoa, that dude is one of my heroes!" She didn't even know he was in a band. She played him some Battery Electric music, and I guess he dug it from the get-go 'cause he then posted a bunch of our music videos on Facebook!

That was really fuckin' cool and super rad of him. He's a true genuine dude!

CMC: You recently went on a mini-tour with Eagles Of Death Metal and opened up shows for them in Detroit, Louisville, and Indianapolis. How did that go and what were your take-aways from that experience?

RS: The tour was so rad! I feel we are a really good match for their fanbase. We both are feel-good, no bullshit, back-to-basics rock n roll. We were honored to be asked to do that!

CMC: What does it mean for you to have this sold-out show with one of your favorite bands in your hometown of Asbury Park, NJ?

RS: It's really just kind of unreal, to be completely honest. They really are one of our biggest influences. I'm really psyched for people to see their live show. They are incredible live.

CMC: What's next for the dynamic duo of Eagles Of Death Metal and The Battery Electric? Can we expect a new Battery Electric album anytime soon? And if so, can you let us in on some details?

RS: We will actually be recording the new album next month at Rancho De La Luna (in Joshua Tree, California) with Dave Catching and Jesse Hughes of Eagles Of Death Metal producing it. We have got a ton of new tunes to pick from and a few older ones to throw on it as well. The whole thing is rad! As Jesse says, "It's like being invited into the big club of rock n roll." We are super blessed to be able to have this all happen and are truly grateful.

The Battery Electric and Eagles Of Death Metal will be performing TONIGHT at the House of Independents in Asbury Park, NJ. The show is SOLD OUT.

For additional tour dates, information and to keep up with both bands, please check out:  
www.eaglesofdeathmetal.com 
and
www.thebatteryelectric.bandcamp.com.

The Battery Electric Cover Eagles of Death Metal for The Sweet Stuff Foundation

"I Love You All the Time"

Following the recent coordinated terrorist attacks on Paris that took the lives of 130 people including their own merchandise manager, Nick Alexander, Eagles of Death Metal began a campaign to raise funds via The Sweet Stuff Foundation. The band asked artists of all genres to cover their track "I Love You All the Time" with all proceeds going to victims' families.

"Do you mind if we test something out on you?" asked The Battery Electric's Ron Santee during their late set at The Saint on Saturday. The crowd obliged, and the band did their rendition of "I Love You All the Time," promising that they'd be recording it in the next day or so. Well, it just so happens that the big-hearted Battery boys went into Coffee Haüs Studios yesterday to lay down their version of the song and help the victims of Paris. The band put their own high-octane spin on the track, which you can stream and purchase via this link RIGHT HERE.

The horrors of this world touch people everywhere -- from Paris to Beirut to San Bernardino and beyond; but peace-loving people around the world need to stick together to bring a little light during what can seem like some pretty dark times.