Jersey Beat and The Milwaukees are Going Back to Maxwell's. Thursday, July 2nd

Jersey Beat Showcase ft. The Milwaukees, Eastern Anchors, Bastards of Melody

When you think of the North Jersey music scene, two things should pop into your head immediately: Maxwell's and Jersey Beat. Maxwell's, the venerable and important Hoboken indie rock club, is now under new management and operating under the name Maxwell's Tavern. Jersey Beat, on the other hand, is still under the management of Jim Testa. Through Jersey Beat, just as he's done for the last 33 years, Jim Testa acts as a tireless champion of the tri-state area music scene.

On Thursday, July 2nd, Jersey Beat will host their first showcase at the new Maxwell's Tavern. The evening represents a couple of new beginnings. Maxwell's Tavern has been making some noise again on the musical front, presenting shows from local, independent acts for the last several months. Hosting a party with Jersey Beat would appear to cement their commitment to, once again, being a place where local, original acts can get a show. Headlining the bill are New Jersey rock and roll veterans The Milwaukees. The band have been on a hiatus since entering the world of parenthood, but they're coming back with a compilation of unreleased tracks called Vasectomies to be released at the show on Thursday, perhaps laying the groundwork for a new release down the road.

Joining The Milwaukees on the bill are Red Bank's Eastern Anchors. They'll be bringing their "poppiest band on a heavy night, or the heaviest band on a poppy night" sound to the proceedings. NJ / NY power pop power trio Bastards of Melody round things out.

So head to Maxwell's Tavern on Thursday, July 2nd, to celebrate some of what's made the New Jersey music scene so vibrant over the years while looking ahead to a promising future.

Doors for Thursday's show are at 8:30pm, and $10 gets you inside. Advance tickets are here.

Here's a New Video from Aviso' Hara

"Try this bitch again"

New Brunswick post-hardcore alt rockers Aviso' Hara are a band whose name I've been hearing a lot lately. Whether in idle conversation with The Everymen's Mike V. -- "I fucking love Aviso' Hara" -- or as one of the many Powerbunny 4x4 alumni receiving the re-release treatment from that label, Aviso' Hara appear to be making a mini comeback. Featuring David Urbano and Walter Greene of Eastern Anchors and Ralph Nicastro of Wreaths, the band have deep connections to our little neck of the woods.

So, both in terms of timing and proximity, today's release of the brand new video for "Try this bitch again" from 1999's goodnight sweetheart (Vital Cog Records) is newsworthy here at CoolDad Music. It's also a great song brimming with late 90s Jersey goodness and supported by a video pieced together from some wild and weird found footage. Lots of chimpanzee imagery going on here.

You can catch a rare Aviso' Hara live performance this Saturday, March 21st at The Court Tavern in New Brunswick. Joining Aviso' Hara on that bill will be Eastern Anchors, Wreaths, Stuyvesant, and Zero For Conduct.

New Single from Eastern Anchors, Split with Zero For Conduct

"Above Your Station" b/w "Average Marks Make Shitty Sparks"

Aside from a GoPro-shot video for "Under the Influence of fIREHOSE" that also works as a tribute to Modelo Especial, Red Bank's Eastern Anchors have been relatively quiet since the release of 2012's extremely solid Drunken Arts and Pure Science. That's about to change as the band are releasing a split single with New Brunswick's Zero For Conduct in anticipation of a full-length to come later this year.

The Anchors' track, "Above Your Station," rides a big, Bob Mouldian guitar riff and opens with the line, "Can't catch a break to save your soul. Raise up your kids on rock 'n roll." Hey. I try my best, guys. As on Drunken Arts..., mixing duties went to Tom Beaujour (Nada Surf, GBV, Jennifer O'Connor) and mastering to Kim Rosen of Knack Mastering; and the song does a good job of carrying the late 80s / early 90s indie rock torch ignited by the band's previous LP.

Zero For Conduct's "Average Marks Make Shitty Sparks" bounces on top of the bassline provided by newest member J. Pat Holden (who joins drummer Joe Dingerdissen and guitarist Morgan Chen) and will be the New Brunswick band's vinyl debut.

Nefarious Industries is taking pre-orders for the limited-to-500 vinyl run starting next week, but you can head over there now to preview the tracks.

If you'd like to see both bands live and/or pick up a record in person, they'll be playing a release show with Duochrome, The Milwaukees, and 4444 at the Court Tavern on August 15th.

Watch Eastern Anchors "Under the Influence of fIREHOSE"

They Jam Econo... ...For Now

Red Bank's Eastern Anchors, who have said that their brand of indie pop often makes them "either the poppiest band on a heavy night, or the heaviest band on a poppy night," released a video today for single "Under the Influence of fIREHOSE" from their upcoming Dragging Your Axe Behind You.

Shot using the band's new GoPro HERO3, the clip lives up to the "econo" ethics of fIREHOSE founder Mike Watt's first band. Though, the checks from that lucrative sponsorship deal with the brewers of Modelo Especial should start rolling in any day now.

Check out more from Eastern Anchors over at their Bandcamp page.