Star Beat Music

Those Mockingbirds enter "Don't Stray" for movie feature, chance to play The Letterman Show

2012-05-18T17:44:00.000-04:00

Our very own Those Mockingbirds is in the running to have "Don't Stray" featured in a movie. The winning band will not only be featured in the movie but also perform on the Letterman show. How rad would it be to see a local New Jersey band represented on national TV? Pretty rad, well then check out the link, listen to the song and get voting. You can vote once per day. Let's do!

http://redbullsoundstage.com/moviechallenge/BandDetails.aspx?b=35814&s=4

Montclair Music Jam f/ Melissa & Paul and Bern & the Brights on May 25th

2012-05-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

Cool independent music showcase featuring our very Melissa & Paul and our dear Bern & the Brights with I.O.U, Near, and Pinegrove. They will perform at the First Congregational Church of Montclair on Friday, May 25th. All Ages like shows should be. This is the really deal, talented local bands in one place.

Here's what the organizers had to say about the show:

MMJ is a homespun operation aimed at providing a venue for some of New Jersey's best, but largely unrecognized bands. Our goal is to select only the finest bands that are producing new, original music. We are musicians and music lovers looking to connect great bands with great audiences. I think we've got something really cool here, and I hope you want to be a part of it.

Review: Secret Country- Seven Days A Week 7''

2012-05-16T17:33:00.001-04:00

Secret Country
7 Days A Week 7''
Killing Horse Records
Release: May 22, 2012

A: 7 Days A Week
B: Deep-Fried Delight

Secret Country make country music sound like fun rock'n'roll with the same southern toned lyrics about booze and good eating. It's refreshing to hear their style in the unsuspecting town of Kearny, New Jersey. There's no guessing about what the lyrics mean here, they're singing about drinkin' 7 days a week, real party animals, I tell you. With songs about whiskey, fried-chicken, and plus-sized love, it's hard to not smile, sing-a-long, and dance when you listen to these songs. These songs definitely translate well live and put you in the mood to have fun. Country is one of my least favorite genres but Secret Country seem to get it right in the best way. A stream of the title track is available for your listening pleasure above.

The two songs will be available on 300 black 7'' vinyl records on May 22nd but of course the party will start early. What better place for a record release show for Secret Country then at Donegal Saloon in their hometown of Kearny? The whole shabang goes does Friday, May 18th. So come down to support them. Opening is soulful rockers Old Wives and indie/folk band Thomas Wesley Stern. More info here. If you dig the tunes, you can pre-order the record here or get one at the show.

Leda (formerly Amy Klein and the Blue Star Band) debut two new songs and line-up

2012-05-14T16:16:00.000-04:00

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://leda.bandcamp.com/album/a-thimble-b-w-halfway"&amp;gt;A Thimble b/w Halfway by Leda&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt; Here are two new tunes from Leda (formerly Amy Klein & the Blue Star Band). Amy Klein was in one of my favorite bands, Titus Andronicus, and now is doing her own thing with Leda and Hilly Eye. These songs are folk-rock and highlights Amy's amazing voice, her voice seems to change with every new band she's in to suit the music.

Here's the new line-up:
amy klein - guitar/vox
kiri oliver - keys/vox
heidi vanderlee - cello
charlene obernauer - bass
colin brooks - drums

Some upcoming shows:

May 15th - at Big Snow Buffalo Lodge with Emerald Lakes, Young Unknowns, & Cindy Lou Gooden, 8 PM, all ages.http://www.facebook.com/events/225119890925426/

May 19th - at the Cuddle Cave with Sea of Bees, Field Mouse, and Jo Schornikow, 7 PM, all ages. http://www.facebook.com/events/224039267705313/

June 1st - at Union Pool with Noon:30 and Play/Start, 8 PM, 21+. http://www.facebook.com/events/233252670109325/ (featuring special guest Nick Shuminsky of Free Energy on drums!)

Those Mockingbirds release free single

2012-04-24T14:04:00.001-04:00

Listen to Those Mockingbirds delicious new single "The Difference Between Love + Addiction" here. It's a free single!

Record Store Day 2012 Photo Recap

2012-04-23T18:55:00.001-04:00

Our first Record Store Day was a fun one. We followed Those Mockingbirds for two acoustic performances, then hit up Hellz Kitchen in our hometown for our tape release for Melissa & Paul with The Naked Heroes and Six To Eight Mathematics. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported during the day. Here are some photos of the day.

Those Mockingbirds playing their first performance at Tunes in Hoboken. We got treated to an acoustic rendition of their new single that drops tomorrow, "The Difference Between Love and Addiction," a new untitled song about "going to hell," the band's cover for Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," "Honest, Honest" and a few others. You can pick up the gold version of Fa Sol La in the store.

We then made our way to Little Falls for the Dinosaur Records in-store. Find out more about the store owned by former misfits player "Mr.Chip" over at Lamplighter.

The store is serious about Dinosaurs!

This is the punk/hardcore/metal section. Jersey love with Gaslight Anthem "The '59 Sound" and a great post-hardcore pick with Touche Amore.

Tory and Adam from Those Mockingbirds doing their thing. This was an intimate show with family and friends.

Jon and Tory doing their thing. They pretty much played the same songs from Tunes but in different order and took out "Honest, Honest" for a special request for "The Deer and the Derrick," which they closed with.

Support local music, pick up Fa Sol La at Dinosaur Records. Black AND Gold available!

Melissa and Paul at Hellz Kitchen in Newark numbering the j-cards and stuffing the tapes for "Live Hard" with the lyric inserts and download cards. Get the tape at www.starbeatmusic.bigcartel.com or get the vinyl from Gruff Beard Records and Bedside Manner/Melissa & Paul.

The merch table. Ya know just some tapes, vinyls, magazines, stickers and shirts.

Melissa (of Melissa & Paul).

Paul (of Melissa & Paul). It was great to have them play in my hometown for the tape release show. "Try Hard (Everyday)" was so good.

The Naked Heroes were wild. They ripped Hellz kitchen up. Thanks!

RECORD STORE DAY 2012

2012-04-21T13:06:00.000-04:00

Happy Record Store Day!
We know everyone is making their way out to celebrate and get some new stuff! To celebrate this we have released our Cassette for Melissa & Paul's newest EP 'Live Hard'. This will be available at our showcase tonight at Hellz Kitchen in Newark, NJ at 9PM with The Naked Heroes and Six to Eight Mathematics. The 10" vinyl out on Gruff Beard Records will be available at Tunes in Hoboken today as well!
We're going to be pretty busy today with In-stores for Those Mockingbirds at Tunes in Hoboken at 3PM and Dinosaur Records in Little Falls at 6PM. The band will be playing a very intimate "unplugged" set.

Thanks for supporting our label and hope to see you later tonight.

So Much Happening at Star Beat Music!

2012-04-13T18:00:00.000-04:00

Things have been a little hectic lately over here as we gear up for some big shows for Those Mockingbirds, Our Tape Release for Melissa & Paul's 'Live Hard' and of course Record Store Day!

Those Mockingbirds take the stage with Hidden Hospitals and Gabriel, The Marine tonight at Sullivan Hall in NYC! Couldn't be happier to say that and see these guys getting the shows they deserve. Star will be rockin' out with them tonight.

Melissa & Paul Have a full weekend of shows coming up to celebrate the release of their 10" vinyl "Live Hard" on Gruff Beard Records and Bedside Manner Collective. Jeff is more than stoked to be seeing them in Vernon NJ tonight!

Record Store Day is going to be huge we've got 2 performances for Those Mockingbirds. The first is at Tunes in Hoboken at 3pm and then Dinosaur Records in the singer Adam's hometown of Little Falls NJ happening at 6pm. That night Melissa & Paul will be rockin' out with us in Newark as we celebrate the release of 'Live Hard' on cassette at Hellz Kitchen.

It feels good to be this busy, for all the info check out the rest of the site and also twitter.com/starbeat!

Happy Friday the 13th! <3

Melissa & Paul "Live Hard" tape pre-order

2012-04-13T17:12:00.003-04:00

We got the tape order in today for Melissa & Paul's new EP "Live Hard." You know what that means? That means we're posting pre-orders now! See? Friday the 13th is actually pretty good, isn't it? If you're the kind of person that likes to hear the record before you buy it, then you're in luck, because like we posted below PunkNews was kind enough to stream the EP for us. The official release for the tape is April 21st at Hell's Kitchen in Newark, NJ for our showcase. The pre-order is available here: www.starbeatmusic.bigcartel.com

Melissa & Paul "Live Hard" EP stream on PunkNews

2012-04-13T13:00:00.000-04:00

"Live Out" 10" out on white, black, and opaque blue vinyl

Our good friends at PunkNews are showing some love to our very own Melissa & Paul. Enjoy the vinyl release preview today by streaming 'Live Hard.' The 10" vinyl will be available courtesy of Gruff Beard Records and Bedside Manner tonight at Vernon VFW in Vernon, NJ, tomorrow at The Charleston in Brooklyn, and next Saturday at Hell's Kitchen in Newark. More on the shows here.

News: http://www.punknews.org/article/46933

Stream: http://www.punknews.org/bands/melissaandpaul

Friday the 13% Sale

2012-04-13T11:45:00.002-04:00

Friday The 13th doesn't have to be all superstition and bad luck. We'll be bringing you some good updates all day long. First, ycan pick up Those Mockingbirds "Fa Sol La" 12" and merch today for 13% off and give Friday the 13th the finger. Adam Bird did....

www.starbeatmusic.bigcartel.com

Also, Those Mockingbirds play Sullivan Hall tonight in NYC with Hidden Hospitals (ex- Kiss Kiss / Damiera), Gabriel the Maine, and Abel. Info here.

Star Beat Music Presents: Those Mockingbirds at TUNES, label showcase at Hell's Kitchen 4/21

2012-04-12T13:14:00.000-04:00

We're presenting two Record Store Day related events on April 21st. At 3pm Those Mockingbirds is performing an acoustic set at TUNES, 225 Washington St, Hoboken. The event is free and all ages. Then at 9pm join us for our first label showcase at Hell's Kitchen, 150 Lafayette St, Newark for Melissa & Paul's "Live Hard" tape release show with The Naked Heroes and Six to Eight Mathematics. The show is $5 and 21+. The first 30 people through the door will be entered into a raffle to win free records. Check out the video flyer we made for that here.

An Interview with Kristin Hersh

2012-04-10T11:27:00.000-04:00

Three years ago I had a great conversation with Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave. The following resonated with me:

They thought we were from outer space and that's strange for people who are being authentic. You shouldn’t really be called strange if you’re only telling the truth and not adopting anything false. It was a little disheartening for us to keep pointing out that three of us were female and we were young. It seemed so beside the point to us. Young to us just meant stupid, ignorant, or wait til you grow up and then we'll listen to your band. And female, my god, I really just don’t believe that male and female people are different. I don’t buy into gender segregation in anyway. I just can't come up with a single character trait I would attribute solely to one sex or the another, so I just threw it our the window and I assumed that anybody of any gender, race, persuasion, age even would be able to listen to a song that was honest. It should be coming from your humanity and should be received that way. Ultimately that is what happened. My audience now is a wide cross section of people. That’s as it should be. It's a high honor to not be associated with straight white female cause that’s what I am... in my age group because I have no describable demographic, which I think is very moving. I appreciate that. I would've appreciated it when we were teenagers I just didn’t get it for a few years. - Kristin Hersh on the reaction Throwing Muses received when she started the band at 14

Hersh currently has an inspiring memoir called "Rat Girl" out that is highly recommended.

Video: Star Beat Music showcase @ Hell's Kitchen 4/21

2012-04-09T14:37:00.000-04:00

You're invited to Star Beat Music's first label showcase! Rock'n'roll, giveaways, booze, and good times.

The Neutron Drivers release new 7'', perform at Maxwell's on Friday with Radio Exiles

2012-04-04T13:51:00.000-04:00

Rock'n' roll Jersey band, The Neutron Drivers recently released a 7'' on classic black vinyl with full color sleeves. They squeezed 5-songs on this one and you can hear songs from it at Maxwell's in Hoboken this Friday.

Side A:

It's Not Me (It's You)
Age and Guile
Long Way Down

Side B
Mirrored Walls
Strange Lullabies

You can preview the tunes here: http://theneutrondrivers.com/category/music/ It's available at TUNES in Hoboken, so make sure to pass by and support local music.

Free outdoor concert, Groove on Grove returns this Wednesday w/ 1 + 9s & Defending Champions

2012-04-03T12:55:00.000-04:00

Groove on Grove in Jersey City is back this Wednesday, so hop on the PATH train and get off at Grove Street. When you exit you'll be welcomed to music, food, and fun in an all ages, outdoor enviornment. The Defending Champions are a rowdy ska band in the vein of RX bandits. The One and Nines are a smooth rythmn and blues band. Food Will Win the War is accordion-infused, violin-tinged glockenspiel rock.

6 pm | The Defending Champions
7 pm | ...The One and Nines
8 pm | Food Will Win the War

Facebook Invite

What we've been up to and where we're going

2012-03-30T15:19:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone,

Spring is finally upon on us and I have some news to share. We now have two artists on the label, Those Mockingbirds and Melissa & Paul. Our follow-up release to Those Mockingbirds 'Fa Sol La' 12'' EP is Melissa & Paul's "Live Hard" cassette tape, which is a joint release with Gruff Beard Records and Bedside Manner, who are releasing the 10'' version of the EP. The official release date for "Live Hard" is Record Store Day, April 21. The band has three record release shows to celebrate the release: April 13 at Vernon VFW in Vernon, NJ, April 14 at The Suffolk in NYC, and April 21 at Hell's Kitchen in Newark, NJ.

The Hell's Kitchen show is Star Beat Music's first official label showcase featuring The Naked Heroes, Melissa & Paul, and SixtoEight Mathematics. Cover is $5 and doors open at 9:30pm. 21+. It'll be a rock'n'roll party with giveaways for Live Hard and Fa Sol La and a celebration of our existence as a blog and music label. We're really excited to get moving with showcasing bands we love.

Pre-orders for the limited edition tape will be up sometime next week, so keep an eye for that.

In Those Mockingbirds news....
Campus Buzz on 89.5 fm WSOU recently played Those Mockingbirds "The Bloodiest Gums," so make sure to call 973-761-9768 every Sunday from 8-11pm to request Those Mockingbirds! The show is the powerhouse of indie and alternative rock on the station.

Those Mockingbirds' Adam and Tory recently did a cover of Smashing Pumpkins "Disarm." Check that out here.

We still have t-shirt and poster packages for Fa Sol La at our store: www.starbeatmusic.bigcartel.com The first person to order something will get a bonus 7''. Your choose of Flogging Molly, Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Ramones or Yeah Yeah Yeahs. So get ordering! You can stream is here.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading and supporting.

Those Mockingbirds cover Smashing Pumpkins "Disarm"

2012-03-30T14:30:00.003-04:00

Those Mockingbirds did a guitar/violin version of 'Pumpkins "Disarm." They have two upcoming shows next month: April 4th at The Downtown in Red Bank and April 13th at Sullivan Hall in NYC with Hidden Hospitals (ex-Damiera, Kiss Kiss) and Gabriel the Marine. Tickets for the NYC show is available here. Fa Sol La 12'' is also available for order at www.starbeatmusic.bigcartel.com

Melissa & Paul "Live Hard" NJ/NY 10'' and tape release tour poster April 13, 14, 21

2012-03-30T13:16:00.000-04:00

Poster I designed for Melissa & Paul's three record release shows.
Which one are you coming to?

Star Beat Music label showcase @ Hell's Kitchen in Newark, 4/21

2012-03-28T22:33:00.000-04:00

We're excited to announce our first label showcase at Hell's Kitchen in Newark on Record Store Day, April 21. We have our label band, Melissa & Paul performing in celebration of their Live Hard 10''/tape. The release is a joint effort with Bedside Manner, Gruff Beard Records, and Star Beat Music. Also performing is The Naked Heroes (from Brooklyn). It'll be their first New Jersey show, so show them some love. SixtoEightMathematics is also performing. This is gonna be a rock'n'roll showcase you don't wanna miss. We'll be giving away some prizes and having a good time. Scoop the flyer below for details.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/344798842223640/

Melissa & Paul join the Star Beat Music family, Live Hard EP out April 21

2012-03-12T17:00:00.000-04:00

Melissa & Paul 'Live Hard' tape cover

I'm pleased to announce our second label release will be NJ's duo Melissa & Paul's new EP 'Live Hard' on white limited edition, hand-numbered cassette tape, out Record Store Day, April 21st. They'll also release a 10'' vinyl on Bedside Manner and Gruff Beard Records.

“We thought it would be cool to have a limited edition of tapes and think that tapes are more valuable than cd's,” said drummer Paul.

The band mesh blues, garage, and punk rock for a dynamic sound that is moving and full. I first heard about the band through my friend Kristia, who plays in Dead Ringer. She said I would love them, since I enjoyed Screaming Females so much. I was drawn to the band's sound that's reminiscent of Patti Smith and Jimi Hendrix but with punk beats.

Here are some words from my label partner Jeff Lambert:

For anyone who is following what we are doing with this label…thank you…it means the world to me that people are noticing the bands that Star and I care about and nonetheless are supporting the cause. So for those of you who care this is what's up at Star Beat Music.

This release we're doing is our second and rightly so, a tape suits well as the follow-up to our vinyl release of Those Mockingbirds' 'Fa Sol La'. Melissa & Paul's 'Live Hard' is a refresher for punk and blues fans alike. This 6-song EP captures the raw energy of their live show and their D.I.Y ethos is prevalent across Sides A/B.

For me this project has been so much more laid back in many ways…I'll start off by saying tapes are cheaper than vinyls….by A LOT!! One thing that's been really special about this release is that it has been a great way to not only meet but work with some of the other labels in the area. Labels I admire because they are following that D.I.Y. mentality, pushing the bands they love, giving us all hope to chase this dream of finding that community of people that think and feel just like me and you. This has been a great experience for me so far working on this tape release. I feel like everyday I learn something new by doing this label and that I have the chance to meet and work with incredible people and music. One little thing I learned is that the tape inserts are called J-Cards. I know it may sound minuscule to most, but I went to school for music and that's just one of the things no one mentions to you until you're fully immersed with the medium. The EP is a co-release with Gruff Beard Records and Bedside Manner Collective. It's an honor to work together on this release and it's great to see two other labels on board with this incredible 2-piece rock act.

I agree, cassette tape is the right format for these six raw, bluesy punk songs. The vocals have emotion and energy. Melissa knows how to hold notes in the right places and has that extra “oomph” in her voice similar to Patti Smith.

Some of my first cassette tapes were Nirvana's “In Utero,” and Skid Row's “self titled.” I used to constantly listen to the radio with my double deck cassette player and record songs off the radio and then make mixes tapes. Cassette tape has that little crackle that makes the music feel so much closer, like you're hearing it live. It was pretty much all I listened to until I got a record player. I'm excited to be releasing a cassette tape for them. So, rock'n'roll fans rejoice because, Live Hard will soon be owning your car cassette decks or portable cassette players!

Tracklisting:

01.Oh My
02. Yeah, I'm Alive
03. Ready to Die
04. 30 Days
05. Lazy Man
06. Try Hard (Everyday)

Upcoming Shows:

Friday, 4/13: Vinyl Release TBA, Near Vernon, NY w/ Boy Things, Keith Kenny and Jessica Joyce

Saturday, 4/21: Tape Release @ Hell's Kitchen, Newark, NJ w/ The Naked Heroes

Meet Pause, Lost Romance, Jim Heffernan @ Hell's Kitchen 2-25-12

2012-02-20T18:15:00.000-05:00

This Saturday I booked a show at Hell's Kitchen in Newark for Voodoo Rock Saturdays featuring Meet Pause, Lost Romance, and Jim Heffernan. Cover's only $5. Doors are at 9:30pm. Come rock out with me!

Tiny Giant Showcase f/ Those Mockingbirds in Brooklyn 2/15

2012-02-13T22:15:00.000-05:00

Tiny Giant Artist Collective presents four New Jersey bands this Wed. Feb. 15th at Death By Audio in Brooklyn, NY. Come hang at one of the best d.i.y. venues in NYC with four ace bands. Let's dance and get sweaty together.

Those Mockingbirds (alt-rock with indie flavor from Montclair, NJ on Star Beat Music) www.thosemockingbirds.com
The Everymen (spastic rock'n'roll from Tuckerton, NJ) http://theeverymen.bandcamp.com/
The Nico Blues (alternative rock from Wayne, NJ on Killing Horse Records) http://thenicoblues.bandcamp.com
Brick and Mortar (indie-reggae vibes from Asbury Park, NJ) http://brmr.net/

8pm Doors / 9pm Show / ALL AGES / $7

Paper Thick Walls bring their indie-folk songs to Brooklyn on Feb. 15

2012-02-10T22:49:00.000-05:00

Chicago's Paper Thick Walls is making its way Williamsburg, Brooklyn's Spike Hill on Feb. 15 to charm you with their indie-folk songs. The dual vocals of Eric and Kate caress back and fourth with the orchestral tones of their music for a magical and pleasant sound. The band's use of piano, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, and trumpet is beautiful. With Runaway Dorothy and Tin Ryans. More info here: http://www.spikehillmusic.com/event/91207/

Here's a video for their song “Orange Tree” directed by Kevin Pickman and Stefeni Tormanen

Orange Tree from Paper Thick Walls on http://vimeo.com">Vimeo.

My Pet Dragon offer free songs for Valentine's Day to sweeten your day

2012-02-10T22:43:00.000-05:00

You know what's sweet? Free things. Yeah, that's right. My Pet Dragon is offering 5 free songs from now until Valentine's Day, Feb. 14^th. Songs include “U R,” “Siren,” “Darling,” “Majestic Lover,” and “Love Anthem.” Quintessential love mix songs. Grab 'em here.