Tri-State Rock - Latest Updates

‘Cabin by the Sea’ arrived just in time for the middle of the summer festivities. Invite a group of buddies to a BBQ, serve up the drinks, food and press play! Or why not take a drive to a park with the windows down while Dirty J and Duddy B flow with lyrical style and percussionist Jon Olazabal, drummer Matt Ochoa, and bassist David Foral, make you rock steady to the sound of your own heartbeat?

Don't you just love it when you discover an album that instantly becomes your go-to "tension-diffuser playlist" against a cruddy day?  If you answered, "YES!", then you're already predisposed to an affinity for Alabama Shakes' debut album Boys & Girls.  Think about it -- no hassle to pluck songs from every crevice of your computer or mobile device, no arranging (then rearranging) tracks to make a perfect mix -- just a ready-made album where all you have to do is press the little triangle "play" symbol.  AHH.  Let the healing begin.

Alabama Shakes bring something special to the table with this album.  If you were fortunate enough to catch the album's first track, "Hold On", as iTunes' free single not too long ago, then you're ahead of the game.  You had somewhat early exposure to the Alabama quartet's soothing "roots rock" sound.  The other tracks on Boys & Girls are no different in quality.  They're all gripping.  It's no wonder Alabama Shakes have caused a media stir since they released their self-titled, four-song EP in September 2011.  It's like they took a swig of Janis Joplin's smashing vocals, a dash of The Black Keys' chops, & a tinge of My Morning Jacket's eccentric Americana, boiled them in a cauldron, & harvested the awesome sound heard in Boys & Girls.

Some Nights is not merely an album – it’s a musical masterpiece that makes getting slapped with tickets for noise ordinance violations (in the name of fun.) well worth it.  The sophomore album of the NYC-based indie rock trio consists of 11 brilliant tracks capable of stirring up euphoric uprisings in any living being’s visceral parts – and that’s putting it mildly.

Venturing from the indie pop genre of their 2009 debut album Aim and Ignite, Nate Ruess (lead vocals), Jack Antonoff (guitar/vocals), & Andrew Dost (keyboard/vocals) employ a hip-hop influence in their sophomore album that jolts the band into genre-bending territory.  In an interview with blogcritics.org, Dost credited Kanye West’s critically-acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (from 2010) for inspiring fun.’s stylistic epiphany, which resulted in the band’s enlistment of producer Jeff Bhasker, who had a hand in producing West’s album.  Together, they developed Some Nights, a majestic blend of cool indie pop, laced with hip-hop grandiosity, & presented with outstanding theatrics reminiscent of the glam rock band Queen’s heydays.

We live in tough times. Now, you can deny this and listen to the suits on T.V. spew their poison propaganda on how our economy is “healing”. You can sit and job search with your degrees on your wall or years of experience aching in your bones while you listen to your favorite politician preach on about how the unemployment rate is dropping. Or, take a chance. Open your eyes and take a good hard look around.

We, as hard working middle class Americans are a dying breed. Work, sleep, work, sleep, and repeat seem to be a trend that we are stuck in.  “Thinking that your life at the time is defined by a hammer and a nail, and you just gotta like it!” MIDDLE CLASS RUT’s Zack (guitar, vox) half yells, half sings in the song, “Lifelong Dayshift”.  As a matter of fact, Zack and Sean (percussion, vox, guitar) have their eyes open, and they won’t be denied their chance to shed light on truth. 

Lyrical content can capture a fan base and create life-long listeners. Many new artists lack the words to connect to listeners on a personal/emotional level. In a music industry clearly dominated by GAGAS, PERRYS, and quite frankly lyrically elementary music, one can truly appreciate a diamond in the rough.

THE VEER UNION speaks to anyone who has ever gone through trialing times. The new album, "Divide the Blackened Sky" touches on real life issues which affect people from all walks of life. The ten track sophomore album paints emotional portraits that one can't help to want to sing along to. Hell, I was on the train earlier today and found myself wanting to sing at the top of my lungs. I was very tempted to, especially on a packed uptown 4 train.

 Not only does “Divide the Blackened Sky” connect with the listener on an personal level, but also provides some crunching guitar riffs, heavy bass lines, and awesome drum patterns. It all meshes into an album that will not leave my IPod anytime soon. Songs of disappointment and letdowns combine with the ever inspirational get up and comeback cries. 

Touring with a similar band this spring Smile Empty Soul, The Veer Union embarks on a conquest to help the fallen and voiceless. There is no doubt in my mind they will succeed. (Watch the lyrical video to the "Bitter End" below) For more on The Veer Union other great news, interviews, and everything that rocks visit tri-staterock.com