The RockNRoll Hi-Fives Played Their Two Final New Jersey Shows Ever, 12/27-12/28, 2019

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at FM in Jersey City

Make It Happen

So, that's it. This past Friday and Saturday, The RockNRoll Hi-Fives -- the father / mother / daughter / son rock music powerhouse -- played their last-ever shows in the state where the band was born. Two of the best rock and roll cities in New Jersey, maybe in the world, got doused in confetti and loving vibes as The RockNRoll Hi-Fives bid farewell to their friends and fans with shows at Asbury Park Yacht Club and FM Jersey City.

In Asbury, the band were joined by Mulch (who cover Dentist's catalog so well, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Mulch and Dentist are the same band). At FM, Well Wisher, Shithead's Rainbow, and WAVE helped with the send-off. Fittingly, Dancing Tony Susco, who gave The RockNRoll Hi-Fives, their first-ever gig, booked the show at FM. At both venues, confetti and glitter covered the floor and the audience by the end of the night. There were hugs and maybe some tears but no sadness. Everyone the Centenos reached through their music and exuberance over the last five years is happier for the experience, and that's something you just can't shake.

Mulch

Mulch

WAVE

WAVE

Shithead's Rainbow

Shithead's Rainbow

Well Wisher

Well Wisher

As far as CoolDad Music is concerned, The RockNRoll Hi-Fives have been one of the most important bands to this site over the last five years. I received a package containing the band's first EP, Make It Happen, and a bio / press release written by good pal, Michael VM, back in 2014. I listened to the music expecting to hear songs about rainbows and the ABCs. Instead, I heard a blend of power pop, punk, and indie rock that would appeal to fans of any age, and I was floored. The band tell me that I was the first site ever to write about their music, and I still remember Joe Centeno telling me that he couldn't wait for the kids to get home from school so they could see that they'd gotten a review online.

Later, The RockNRoll Hi-Fives would open the 2014 Little Dickman Records / CoolDad Music Holiday Benefit making them the first-ever band on the first-ever show I had a hand in booking. They would play that same event the following year, and it was there that they debuted Joe's trademark cape. The RockNRoll Hi-Fives opened the CoolDadMusic Fifth Anniversary show in 2017, upstairs at Asbury Park's Convention Hall.

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at APYC

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at APYC

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at APYC

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at APYC

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at APYC

Personally, one of the greatest things ever to come out of running this mid-life crisis project I call a blog is the friendship I've developed with Joe, Gloree, Eilee, and Evren Centeno. I still have the setlist from the show they played with A Giant Dog three days after my brother died, and the fact that they dedicated their set to my family and me from the stage during one of their most important shows up to that point is something for which I'll always be thankful. They've already opened their new home in North Carolina to me on multiple occasions. Late-night IM sessions with Joe have become part of my regular weekend post-show wind down. Our travels together through Japan -- from all the shows to eating Mexican food in an Osaka office tower to climbing on foot to the Nunobiki Herb Gardens in Kobe -- are some of my fondest memories.

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives have one, final show remaining on their calendar. It's on January 11th at Reggie's in Wilmington, in their adopted home state of North Carolina. Even after they decided to pack it in as a live act, in true RockNRoll Hi-Fives' fashion, they couldn't turn down a request from a good friend to play just one more time.

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at FM

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at FM

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at FM

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at FM

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at FM

If you missed out on The RockNRoll Hi-Fives during their run, you missed something great. But it's still possible to take inspiration from the band. There are few better things in this world than sharing what you love with those you love. If you do that, you can't help but send some excess good vibes out into the universe. When Eilee shot those confetti cannons out into audiences, the band were showering entire crowds with love and positivity. People took that home with them, took it to work with them on Monday morning; and the world was a little bit better for it. We can all do something similar in our own lives. I'm sure of it. Just stick to the plan and make it happen.

Pics:

APYC, 12/27/19
FM, 12/28/19

Interview: Natalie Newbold & Lucas Dalakian of Well Wisher with an Acoustic Performance of "Sweet" (VIDEO)

Natalie Newbold and Lucas Dalakian of Well Wisher

This Is Fine

On a gray Sunday morning, Rosi and I headed over to Hot Dog House in Asbury Park to meet up with Natalie Newbold and Lucas Dalakian at their band's practice space. Natalie and Lucas should be familiar faces to readers here. Natalie was a member of CDM faves, dollys; and Lucas has played in ROMP, Ragged Lines, and other bands that we've written about or booked over the years here at CoolDad Music. Together with Mike Lindardi and Lynsey Vandenberg, the pair form the indie / pop-punk quartet, Well Wisher.

Last fall, Well Wisher put out the excellent This Is Fine with 6131 Records; and, in the last year, the band have been on a steady, upward climb, opening for The Front Bottoms, Manchester Orchestra, Newfound Glory, and more.

When we got together with Natalie and Lucas, Well Wisher were preparing to head out on tour with their pals in Maine's Weakened Friends. It's a tour that will take them to Austin, TX for this year's South By Southwest Music Festival. While there, Well Wisher will be playing the Little Dickman Records / CoolDad Music-presented Rock or Die VI showcase at Austin's Hard Luck Lounge on March 14th.

Natalie and Lucas were kind enough to spend some time chatting with me about, among other things, the origins of Well Wisher, the making of the band's recent video for "Sweet," whether Natalie prefers drums or guitar, and their upcoming tour. Natalie also performed a pair of songs for us on her newly set up acoustic guitar. Check out our conversation below, and stay tuned at the end of the interview for "Sweet." You can also check out bonus song, "All My Love."

Once again, Rose Lamela did all the video, sound, and editing for this; and I owe her a whole bunch of tacos.

This Is Fine is out now on 6131 Records. All of Well Wisher's tour dates are listed below.

Interview / "Sweet"



Bonus Song! "All My Love" (Who says we don't love you?)



Well Wisher on Tour

A Few New Vids for Your Long Weekend: Sharkmuffin, Well Wisher, Pecas, Dear Boy

Sharkmuffin in "Liz Taylor"

Happy Post-Valentine's Day

I have to admit. I've been kind of slacking today. The cooldaughters were off from school for a 4-day, Presidents Day weekend, so we were all able to sleep in (relatively speaking). I've also developed this nervous tic over the last several months of becoming obsessed with something and really riding it into the ground. Today, that consisted of going back and forth with the various pairs of headphones I use for listening to music in my office and the different ways I connect them to my computer. Hours. Don't ask me why. It was a pretty mindless and unproductive exercise. Kind of worrying in a way...

Anyway...

Over the last day or so, we got some cool, new videos that I wanted to share with you.

Sharkmuffin, "Liz Taylor"

Sharkmuffin are back with another of their mind-bending videos. This time, the trio give us the clip for 2018 single "Liz Taylor." Shot and edited by Andrea Karo, "Liz Taylor" includes some pretty wild animation and, just maybe, a few glimpses of each of the members of Sharkmuffin in their true form.



Sharkmuffin are about to head out on tour, and they'll be appearing at the showcase we'll be co-hosting with Little Dickman Records on March 14th at Austin's Hard Luck Lounge along with a whole bunch of other bands, including...

Well Wisher, "Sweet"

Well Wisher released their video for This Is Fine track, "Sweet," to coincide with yesterday's holiday. The song is an ode to the redeeming power of new love, and the video -- produced and directed by Okie Dokie Studio -- is pretty darn sweet. It's nice to see something so optimistic during these troubled times.



Pecas, "T-Shirt"

Pecas (Brooklyn via Madrid artist Sandy Davis) released the video for "T-Shirt" yesterday. Another well-timed Valentine's Day release, "T-Shirt" explores the darker, more obsessive side of love as it slinks along on a sultry, kind of R&B vibe.



Pecas will be joining us at The Saint on March 25th as part of yet another bill we're co-hosting with Little Dickman Records that also includes Them Fangs and Gustaf.

Dear Boy, "Semester"

Los Angeles quartet, Dear Boy, aren't playing any shows for us, but they are releasing their The Strawberry EP on March 1st. Today they gave us the video for a track I've been absolutely loving over the last few weeks, "Semester."

It's that dreamy, ethereal kind of pop that I always find irresistible.



The band may not be playing any shows with us, but they will be down in Austin for SXSW. They're already on my must-catch list.

Have a great weekend.

Well Wisher, This Is Fine, 2018

Album Review

Let's get one thing out of the way first. I loved dollys. Their well-crafted pop reminded me of some of my favorite bands like The Smiths, Belle & Sebastian, Juliana Hatfield, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Alvvays. As the band evolved and drummer Natalie Newbold took on the role of full-time lead singer, dollys' sound came into full focus. They were a great band, and they meant a lot to CoolDad Music. And that's all I'm going to say about that, because, with This Is Fine, Newbold (on guitar, vocals, and keys here) and Well Wisher (Lucas Dalakian on guitar, Lynsey Vandenburg on bass, and Anthony D’Arcangelo on drums) make their own, individual statement that acknowledges the past while taking a triumphant step into the future.

Opener "Believe" sets up a lot of what's going on thematically with This Is Fine. After the song crashes its way in on a hail of guitars, Newbold sings with both a sense of disappointment ("It's not your job to believe in me / But would it be so bad") and self-confidence ("I had a great time without you / On a Monday night in June").

"Sweet" begins as a quiet and, well, sweet love song before turning up the pop-punk volume. Even when you've got the strength and confidence to be your own person, having someone in your corner helps: "But things that seem so wrong / Won't be for long / It's so sweet now that you love me." This idea is echoed later on "Half Bad." "Now my room's on fire / But I'm left smiling / Thinking of you / It's not half bad."

"I Know Better" has been a staple of Well Wisher sets for a while now. It's a a wild, upbeat crowd-pleaser that again, prioritizes self-confidence over giving into external forces that would make you doubt yourself.

Everything on This Is Fine comes together on the fantastic "Right As Rain." The song comes just after the album's halfway point and is its literal and figurative centerpiece. The song chugs in on some early-aughts sounding guitar; and, even as Newbold deals with loud neighbors, a sick cat, and wondering where life is going, I think the declaration that "This is fine" and "certainly better than ok" is sincere. And that's a healthy place to be, focusing on the positives rather than those things that can accumulate to drive you down.

As Newbold sings, "You've got to want to save yourself" on "All My Love," it's clear -- given everything else we've heard on the record to this point -- that this is advice that's coming from experience.

Well Wisher -- who now feature Mike Linardi on drums -- worked with producer Erik Kase Romero on This Is Fine, and the collaboration has resulted in a stellar debut. This Is Fine is full of heart. It's loud and cathartic. It's the feeling of having gone through the darkness and worked through to the other side into the light.

This Is Fine is out now on 6131 Records. Well Wisher play a release show on Saturday, October 6th, at Asbury Park Brewery with help from Slingshot Dakota, ManDancing, and latewaves.

Worriers' Lauren Denitzio Played Asbury Park Brewery w/ Natalie Newbold, Emily Bornemann, and Mikey Pellegrino, 3/22/18

Lauren Denitzio of Worriers

Solo But Not Alone

There's been a lot of "stuff" going around town this past week. We finally heard the plans for what's going to happen to the building that used to house Asbury Lanes, and it's caused some... ...conversation. Much of that conversation has centered on what it was that made Asbury Lanes special; and, while Asbury Lanes no longer exists, some of that spirit still flickers around town at shows like the one Aftermath Collective and House of Independents threw at Asbury Park Brewery last night.

Lauren Denitzio of Worriers returned to Asbury Park for an intimate solo set and headlined a bill that also included Natalie Newbold (Well Wisher), Emily Bornemann (Dentist), and Mikey Pellegrino (latewaves). It was a special evening. Each performer usually plays as part of a full band; and, naturally, there had to be some nerves. But everyone playing was in the same boat; and I think that gave everything a nice, communal feel. At any rate, if there were any nerves, they didn't hurt a single performance.

Mikey Pellegrino

One of the great things about hearing the songs stripped of their full-band arrangements, guitar solos, drum fills, is that you really notice what good songs they are. Natalie Newbold and I discussed this with reference to Emily Bornemann and Dentist following Newbold's set, but it was true across the board. latewaves, Dentist, Well Wisher, and Worriers can all get pretty loud in their own way; but, last night, everyone's songs held up -- shone even -- in the more intimate setting.

Emily Bornemann

And the interactions with the audience -- from Pellegrino's pointing out where the band would come in, to Bornemann's revealing that this was her first solo set in a decade, to Newbold's forgetting the opening line to one of her earliest songs, to Denitzio's admitting that they liked to be able to do shows like this whenever the rest of the band was unavailable -- felt natural, like a shared experience among friends.

Natalie Newbold

Just a sweet, sweet night. I could go on about it, but I just wanted to acknowledge that there are still plenty of chances to support cool things in and around Asbury Park. It's easy to get down on the way things are trending, and I forget that sometimes. Last night was a nice reminder of what we can still do.

10 Favorite Cover Songs of 2017

A Giant Dog

Year-End Coverage

New Jersey. Jersey Shore. Asbury Park. Covers, baby!

10. Yawn Mower, "Margaritaville" (Jimmy Buffett)

The first time I heard the guys do this one, I think, was at Trenton's Millhill Basement. It had to be a nod to Jimmy Buffett superfan, Chris Dickman, who was there because Little Dickman Records and I were co-presenting the show. The song was barely recognizable then. Now, it's recognizable as both Buffett and Yawn Mower. It has that Yawn Mower drone that's, weirdly, doomy and fun at the same time.



9. SLEEPiES, "I Wanna Holler" (Gary U.S. Bonds)

I love SLEEPiES. Jersey loves Gary U.S. Bonds. This one is from about 20 years before he started collaborating with The Boss, and SLEEPiES give it a western-y vibe for 2017.



8. Jonathan Rado, "Thunder Road" (Bruce Springsteen)

C'mon. This had to be here. It's a pretty faithful rendition of a song for which I have every little vocal inflection from the original committed to memory. It comes from Rado's full-album cover of Born to Run.



7. Low Cut Connie, "Controversy" (Prince)

This one falls into that category of a cover that's a perfect match for the artist (See below). Prince is a clear influence on Low Cut Connie's Adam Weiner, and this is a fitting tribute.



6. Well Wisher, "Teenage Dirtbag" (Wheatus)

Well Wisher, the project of former dollys drummer Natalie Newbold, has been covering this one since they began. The song is like an O. Henry story with that cool twist ending. You can find the studio version featuring Newbold (vocals / guitar), Erik Kase Romero (bass), and Mike Lindardi (drums) over at Well Wisher's website. This is a video shot by YouTube user Nathen Hutchison.



5. Sharif Mekawy of Looms, "Hummingbird" (Wilco)

"Hummingbird" is, by far, my favorite post-Jay Bennett Wilco song. Mekawy did this as part of the I'll Be Around Wilco tribute album (on which, amazingly, nobody covered "Jesus Etc.," the song from which the comp takes its title) to benefit The Project Matters. I could listen to this version 1000 times, and I probably have.



4. dollys, "The Way You Make Me Feel" (Michael Jackson)

I first heard dollys do this one at the Indie Pop Winter Formal I threw at The Saint to start 2016. To kick off 2017, they released this on the Covers tape they put out with Little Game Records to benefit Planned Parenthood. dollys do an amazing job here of translating this very 80s pop classic into their own three-piece format.



3. Charly Bliss, "Steal My Sunshine" (Len)

I went to the release show for Charly Bliss's Guppy back in May, and they busted out this cover of Len's "Steal My Sunshine." I remember thinking back then that the combination of bubblegum pop and 90s nostalgia was a perfect match for Charly Bliss. I guess it was an easy choice for them when they went in to do an A.V. Undercover session.



2. Daddy Issues, "Boys of Summer" (Don Henley)

This is a great, great song. I went to the second or third ever concert of my life (Don Henley / Katrina and The Waves) on the strength of this song alone. Daddy Issues dirty up the pristine, 80s cool of the original.



1. A Giant Dog, "Angst in My Pants" (Sparks)

Confession: I didn't know this was a cover until after I'd been listening to Toy for a while. That's kind of inexcusable considering that I think it's on the Valley Girl soundtrack. Anyway. I loved this one even before I knew it was a cover. It's done kind of double-time when compared to the original, and the building tension and release are cathartic.

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.

Well Wisher Released a Pair of Tracks and Played Wonder Bar with Weakened Friends, Doc Emmett, and The North American, 11/14/16

Last Night, I Said, "I'll Go"

Well Wisher are Natalie Newbold and Erik Kase Romero of dollys along with Mike Linardi of ROMP, Toy Cars, and more. Last night they played their very first show, and it came hot on the heels of the release of their first two singles. Unsurprisingly, Well Wisher display a knack similar to dollys for tightly-crafted pop; but Well Wisher's approach is definitely more power pop / rock and roll.

Well Wisher were joined on last night's bill by Portland, ME's Weakened Friends, Doc Emmett -- a project featuring members of Toy Cars and Goodbye Tiger, and The North American. It was a solid evening of East Coast indie rock and one of the most well-attended Monday nights at Wonder Bar in a while.

Check out the new tracks from Well Wisher...

...and, while you're at it, why not give a listen to the latest from Weakened Friends,

Doc Emmett,

and The North American?



Pics from the evening are on the Facebook page and will be available in the Flickr galleries as soon as Flickr stops sucking.