Popa's Top 2014 Releases

Been digging on the end of year lists compiled by those whose tastes I like and yowza, some good stuff came out in '14 many obvious choices for those with discerning tastes, though unfortunately there are omissions when wittleing down.  Here is an eclectic list that got my ears all a tingle this year. Hope you'll take some time and check out these up and coming movers and shakers and help them get on the lists that matter next year.

Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray - Lean Into The Wind


Mat D and the Profane Saints  - Holyoke


Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons’ - Hey Kid


Darrin Bradbury - True Love
Those Mockingbirds – Penny The Dreadful
The Everymen - Givin' Up On Free Jazz


The Harmonica Lewinskies - Dad Rock
Lara Hope & The Ark-Tones -  Luck Maker


The Lucky Jukebox Brigade - Familiar Fevers

Blackwater Jukebox
The Nuclears - This Is How We Party

Briana Layon & The Boys Debut LP Touch and Go


The Moonshine - And Now
Thomas Bryan Eaton - We All Want To Be Love
Deena – Rock River
Mud Rey – Lusi
Francie Moon – Glass House

Graveyard Train - Takes One To Know One

The Warren G. Hardings - Get A Life


Joe Sundell – The Hat Thief

Those Mockingbirds announce Tour Dates

Those Mockingbirds announce Tour Dates, featured on the latest cover of The Aquarian Weekly

2/18 - WDHA - 105.5 FM (in NJ)
2/19 - Atlantic City NJ - La Grand Fromage
2/20 - Reading, PA - Reverb
2/21 - Campbell Hill, NY - The Venue
2/22 - Brooklyn NY - Spike Hill
3/6 - Hartford, CT - Webster Underground
3/7 - Pittsfield, MA - Casey's
3/8 - Providence, RI - Dive Bar
3/9 - Boston, MA - Middle East
3/16 - Middletown NY - Sounds Asylum
3/27 - Dunellen, NJ - Roxy & Dukes
4/9 - Washington DC - Black Cat
4/11 - Columbus OH - Kobo
4/12 - The Forum - Buffalo NY

Download the single 'A Ballad From Hell' from the upcoming LP Penny the Dreadful

Download Those Mockingbirds A Ballad From Hell

Back in December Those Mockingbirds dropped a new video “How To Rob A Bank” which scored a convincing win in the polls on mtvu The Freshmen and was put in full rotation on mtvU in January that gave us a glimpse of the high octane Rock and Roll coming from the band this year.

Featuring artwork drawn by 7-year-old Bella Agnello, daughter of legendary indie producer John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Kurt Vile, Dinosaur Jr.), the radio-ready track received over 2,100 streams in the first 24 hours of its release.

"'How To Rob A Bank’ is my attempt to write as close to a good old fashioned rock ’n’ roll song as my band mates would let me get away with,” explains vocalist and guitarist Adam Bird. “I even chose the bank robbery theme as my metaphor because it felt somewhat old-timey to me. Lyrically, the entire song is a metaphor for keeping secrets, specifically ones that I was becoming paranoid would be found out. Nothing criminal though, don't worry!”

For their upcoming LP, “Penny the Dreadful,” the band worked with producer Dean Baltulonis (The Hold Steady) and engineer Howard Willing (Smashing Pumpkins, MUTEMATH).

“Dean was fantastic,” says Bird. “He took a role during pre-production, and we rented a cabin up in New Hampshire for two days to track demos live. He was very hands on with us in a comfortable way, and totally kicked my ass on vocals in a way I had never been pushed before. The results are easily the best vocals I've ever laid down.”

“Howard came in after we tracked, and everything he touches sounds amazing. He was working on the Smashing Pumpkins box set around the same time, and being one of my favorite bands ever, I felt like he was sprinkling a touch of Pumpkin dust on our stuff as well.”

“We want to make a dent in the world. However big or small that dent is, does not concern us. We simply want to leave our mark. To put it another way, we don't aspire to be rich or famous. If we did, we wouldn't be playing in a rock ’n’ roll band with classical touches. Because that's just not cool at all right now,” says Bird with a laugh. We want our music to outlast us. That's the goal. Plain and simple.” 

Download the first single 'A Ballad From Hell' from the upcoming LP Penny the Dreadful

How To Rob A Bank

Those Mockingbirds, will have a limited quantity of physical copies of the "How To Rob A Bank" CD single available at the 10/24 release show at Santo's Party House, complete with a second unreleased bonus track.
Oct 19 The Paper Box Brooklyn, NY
Oct 24 Santos Party House New York, NY

The artwork was hand drawn by Bella Agnello, the 7-year-old daughter of legendary producer John Agnello (who has worked with Sonic Youth,Dinosaur Jr, Kurt Vile, The Thermals.) The single is available on ITunes here!

Those Mockingbirds Announce East Coast Tour Dates

Those Mockingbirds are from left to right: Jon Gianino (Guitar), Kevin Walters (Drums, Vocals, Percussion), Adam Bird (Vocals, Guitars), Tory Anne Daines (Vocals, Violin, Keys), Rob Fitzgerald (Bass, Vocals). Photo Credit: Misha Shade.

Their latest single The Difference Between Love + Addiction is available for free on soundcloud

UPCOMING SHOWS

Wed Jul 17 07:00 PM - The Leaky Lifeboat Seaford, NY

Thu Jul 18 08:00 PM - TT The Bear's Cambridge, MA

Fri Jul 19 06:30 PM - The Sad Café Plaistow, NH

Sat Jul 20 06:30 PM  - Heirloom Arts Theater Danbury, CT

Sun Jul 21 08:00 PM - Genos Portland, ME

Wed Jul 24 08:00 PM - The Trocadero Theatre Balcony Philadelphia, PA

Thu Jul 25 08:00 PM - Black Cat Washington, DC

Fri Jul 26 08:00 PM - Crocodile Rock Allentown, PA

Sat Jul 27 08:00 PM - Union Hall Brooklyn, NY

Sun Jul 28 07:00 PM - The Vintage Theater Scranton, PA

Put Those Mockingbirds on The Late Show!!

New Jersey rockers Those Mockingbirds being a finalist in the Red Bull Soundstage 'We Made This Movie' have been selected to be in the final round to play The Late Show with David Letterman and they need your help, you can vote once a day, please do, and tell your friends. Bookmark this LINK and vote daily. More info and commentary here on facebook. Voting ends on Adam's Birthday, JULY 31! Make his Birthday wish come true!

Go here and download The Difference Between Love and Addiction for free

Boy Things join Star Beat Music!

New Jersey Indie Label and Blog Star Beat Music, home of two of this bloggers favorite Jersey artists Those Mockingbirds and Melissa & Paul have announced the signing of Hacketstown NJ rockers Boy Things Congratulations to all and long live physical media!
Star Beat Music is a multi-purpose, ever-growing independent record label based in Newark, NJ, that focuses on a diverse musical palette of bands through physical releases, blogging, booking, and consulting


Update: 'Equations' released June 2nd Listen and buy digital below.
Pre-orders for NJ indie-pop band, Boy Things 'Equations' 7'' EP. This release is a joint effort between Boy Things and Bedside Manner Collective. It's limited to 300 and pressed on black vinyl.

Press release:  

Boy Things is the perfect band for StarBeat Music. I feel as though the bands personality itself is aligned with the core identity of our label. We like to pick bands that are getting themselves out there in every way possible. Bands that genuinely wish to connect with fans and friends and for some reason, so far, most of them are all co-ed. I think the signing of Boy Things for Distribution and Marketing for their newest EP 'Equations' on 7" Black Vinyl and a small run of exclusive SBM tapes of the bands first 2 Ep's is great for our label as it opens up a new avenue and perspective for us on coordinating and planning vinyl releases. I am proud to help the best bands in the area get what they need to keep their music in people's heads and more importantly get some music in their fan's hands. This signing is great for us and I'm hoping to have the Tape in hand for a July 24th Release date, the 26th should be the release show and coincidentally the kickoff show of the Band's East Coast run with SBM label mates Melissa & Paul. Read more

Vocals- Beth Hansen

Guitar- Adam Cumiskey

Bass- Vince Rickey

Drums- Eric Dryburgh

Synth- Blake Kelevra

GET IT HERE NOW! NEW! single from Those Mockingbirds

Those Mockingbirds - New single 'The Difference Between Love and Addiction' Get it HERE NOW!

Love [luhv] noun, verb

a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

Addiction [uh-dik-shuhn] noun

the state of being enslaved to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.