Category: Punk

Saint Free Gives off that Valentine Fever with New Single

Saint Free, also known as Bradley Freedman, picked up his first guitar at age 12. He always had a love for music, especially after watching his uncle and cousins play guitar. After getting the courage to perform in a school talent show, he knew that he found his way. This Rochester-based musician is known for his magnetic blend of pop, rock, punk, and reggae. His new single “Bond With Bondage” displays his free-spirit and energy.

Saint Free released his new song today, Feb. 14. As the first single off of his upcoming second album, “Bond With Bondage” explores various moods. The artist shifts between gritty vocals and a soft falsetto. With catchy pop hooks and playful lyrics, Saint Free builds a lively tempo that’s sure to make this Valentine’s Day groovier.

Bond with Bondage takes you on a journey from broken heart to whips and chains in the dungeon. Its exploratory, the message mirrored by the tempo and chord changes. It never lacks for inspiration or excitement, a song that keeps you interested as much by the musical content as by lines like, ‘I’m like a modern-day Shakespeare’s demented little cousin.’ It’s a wild ride from start to finish.
Bradley Freedman

“Bond With Bondage” will appear on the new Saint Free album, set to release later this summer. Made with producer Sam Polizzi, the album is an open forum on how to love music and play with an open heart. Saint Free applies his creative vocal range and rhythmic guitars into each of his songs, similarly to the work of The Mowgli’s and Sublime. While waiting antically for new work by Saint Free, make sure to check out his first EP.

February 14, 2021
Long Island’s Card Reader Takes First Place at Interstate Music Awards

Long Island pop-punk band Card Reader won first place at the Interstate Music Awards, an underground artist competition created by the CEO of Interstate Music, Jeff Peterson.

Long Island Pop-Punk Band Card Reader

Card Reader, won the Interstate Music Awards out of hundreds of submissions. Their first place prized earned them $5000 in gift cards, as well as the opportunity to perform live on the Interstate Music stage in Wisconsin later this year.

In a year of uncertainty and lockdown, Card Reader continued to put out music, their bright sound illuminating days spent inside. This spring they will be releasing an acoustic EP set to release on Friday, March 26th. It will contain new versions of previously released tracks, stripped down and engineered by their very own Matt Sullivan. They will also be recording their sophomore EP this April with veteran producer, Nik Bruzzese, at Gradwell House in Haddon Heights, New Jersey.

Guitarist and vocalist, Tom Petito, spoke about Card Reader’s big win and the road ahead. “We’re fired up right now. Starting 2021 off on the right foot is crucial for any band. I think we did just that. We received a big wave of support in this competition and winning it all has been an unreal experience. Our family, friends, & fans had our back in a big way.

We’ll use this momentum to help fuel the fire as we prepare to record our new EP in the spring. Nik reached out to us after the contest win and expressed his desire to take our sound to the next level. We couldn’t agree more. It’s our move now and our opportunity to show the music world that Card Reader is for real.

Stream their music on Spotify, Apple Music, or Bandcamp and find Card Reader on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Watch their studio documentary for their 2020 EP Mental Scars here.

February 9, 2021
Turkuaz shares “Remain in Light” set featuring Talking Heads members

Originally premiered on the Bonnaroo Virtual Roo-ality, Turkuaz played a set of Remain in Light alongside two Talking Heads members, Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew. Although the album came out in 1980, the legacy of the band and passion of the existing band members continues to carry on well into 2021.

Turkuaz Announce “Remain in Light” Shows with Talking Heads

Based in Brooklyn, Turkuaz is a band of nine members that strive to combine and perfectly balance harmonies of powerful voices, a variety of instrumentals, and an intense consonance incorporating elements from multiple genres.

Remain in Light and Talking Heads have been part of the soundtrack of our lives, and a huge inspiration to us as a band since day one. It was definitely unlike anything I had ever seen and is still unlike anything I have ever seen. It was right about the time we were starting this band. We wanted to cover their material as much as we could so we could get inside the arrangements and figure out what was going on—what made it feel that way and sound that way.
Dave Brandwein [ Turkuaz’s guitar/vocalist] on the collaboration with Talking Heads

Originally set to tour alongside Harrison and Belew in the summer of 2020, COVID-19 unfortunately interrupted their plans and derailed live music for the foreseeable future. Turkuaz’s “Ophidiophobia” had garnered a lot of excitement, having yet to be performed live, so it was added alongside the Remain in Light tour. As live concerts seem unlikely anytime soon and the band was itching to perform, Bonnaroo Virtual Roo-Ality offered them a chance to perform several setlists together to an adoring virtual audience.

The setlist consisted of “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads, “Houses in Motion” by Talking Heads, “Ophidiophobia” by Turkuaz, followed by the final “Crosseyed and Painless” by Talking Heads. The chemistry between the band and Talking Heads members is evident in their performance and how perfectly they bounce off of each other’s vibe.

What a joy it is to be playing music with Adrian Belew again. Having recently produced music for Turkuaz, it was like I was introducing close friends who had never met. We all left the rehearsal very excited.
Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads on performing alongside the band

February 6, 2021
Sylvain Sylvain of New York Dolls Dies at 69 from Cancer

New York Dolls’ rhythm guitarists, Sylvain Sylvain died Wednesday after a two and a half year battle with cancer. On January 14, an official statement was released on his Facebook page.

As we mourn his loss, the statement quickly leans to celebrate his vast accomplishments. “While we grieve his loss, we know that he is finally at peace and out of pain. Please crank up his music, light a candle, say a prayer and let’s send this beautiful doll on his way.”

Egypt born Sylvain Mizrahi, was born on Valentine’s Day, 1951. He fled to New York with his family, living Buffalo and Queens. Syl went to high school in Queens, along with lead guitarist Johnny Thunders and drummer Billy Murcia.

Sylvain Sylvain was so punk, he, along with the Dolls, paved the way before punk-rock was punk-rock. New York Dolls founded in 1971, 50 years ago. Syl and the Dolls heavily influenced the underground movement. They were labeled as “one of the most influential rock bands of the last 20 years,” by British writer Colin Larkin (Encyclopedia of Popular Music). The Dolls went on to influence punk and rock icons that are common place in our music library, including the Sex Pistols, the Ramones and Kiss.

Patti Smith Group’s guitarist, Lenny Kaye, tipped his hat to Syl in the social media statement. “They [original Dolls] became a quasar in the rock firmament; embodying trash, glam, garage-to-punk, the ambisexual affirmation of music played louder.”

Sylvain’s role in the band was as lynchpin, keeping the revolving satellites of his bandmates in precision. Though he tried valiantly to keep the band going, in the end the Dolls’ moral fable overwhelmed them, not before seeding an influence that would engender many rock generations yet to come.
Lenny Kaye – American Guitarist, Composer

Despite this feat the band lacked commercial success. One thing that remains true, Sylvain Sylvain was apart of New York history. He embodied punk, fashion and influenced New York style.

The New York Dolls heralded the future, made it easy to dance to. From the time I first saw their poster appear on the wall of Village Oldies in 1972… the New York Dolls were the heated core of this music we hail, the band that makes you want to form a band. Syl never stopped. In his solo lifeline, he was welcomed all over the world, from England to Japan, but most of all the rock dens of New York City…
Still Syl. His corkscrew curls, tireless bounce, exulting in living his dream, asking the crowd to sing along, and so we will. His twin names, mirrored, becomes us. Thank you Sylvain x 2, for your heart, belief, and the way you whacked that E chord. Sleep Baby Doll.

https://youtu.be/wun5Cg-xr-s

January 17, 2021