Album Review: Glass Bottom Hope

As The Dive expands, so must our geographical comprehension. We love the amazing bands that play throughout the New Jersey scene, but we have been expanding our Band Camp search to include other locations like New York, Pennsylvania, California, Canada, and England. One of the gems from the state of Pennsylvania is the awesome album Glass Bottom Hope by Tune In Tokyo.

Tune In Tokyo has an awesome pop punk style that the entire album is drenched in from begginning to end. The band has an obvious knack for catchy melodies and strong beats. You voice will be hoarse and your feet will be tired from singing the choruses and tapping your toes to the beat so much during the album.

Glass Bottom Hope is a must have record in my book. The beats are so infectious you will catch them like a cold and you will not regret it one bit. Pick it up on their Band Camp for name-your-price. While you are at it, check out their Facebook profile and send a few likes and feedback their way.

-Garvey

Shot Not: Breaking Through The Long Island Barrier

(photo courtesy of Facebook)

Long Island can seem like its own world sometimes. There are a lot of undiscovered bands trapped behind that barrier and it seems pretty hard to escape it. Hopefully, the awesome Long Island Shot Not can make it through the barrier and spread their music wide.

The band got their name from the term "shot not," which is used to get out of doing mundane chores by saying the word before everybody else in the group. It is comprised of three friends, Alec, Tom, and Neil, who were looking for a steady band to play in after after previous band enterprises failed. They have been spreading their unique brand of punk with a little pop mixed in throughout the Long Island and New York area along with some awesome friends like Tomahawk Chop and Fumblerooski. 

Their sound is heavenly influenced by bands such as Blink 182, Green Day, Cursive, Latterman, Alkaline Trio. Their music making process is slow but it is totally worth it in the end when you hear their stuff. Songs such as "Wrong Side of the Bed" can always get the crowd excited.

Check out their Facebook and Myspace. Also you can download their EPs The Life on their BandCamp and There's Still Time! Check out these guys so you can be the first to know them before they break through the Long Island barrier. 

-Garvey

The Dive Podcast Episode 11 - Shot Not Interview

While Gardizzle does spend his first half hour alone, he is soon accompanied by the amazing band locked away in the music abyss Shot Not. Check out this interview featuring the band and their awesome pop-punk sound!

Event Spotlight: 5/6 Screaming Females w/ No Pasaran, Ben Franklin, EULA @ The Irish

Who: Screaming Females, ¡No Pasaran!, Ben Franklin, EULA

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6

Where: The Irish, 95 Kearny Ave, Kearny, NJ 

Cost: $10 at door/Ticketfly

Are you looking for some really awesome concerts to go to this Friday but unsure where to go? I have an offer that you find quite enticing.


The Irish, one of the coolest venues in the Kearny, NJ area, is holding quite an awesome show this Friday, May 6.


Headlining the show is Screaming Females, a band that has become quite known around the NJ scene for their rock sound. This will actually be there return to the Irish and they are very excited to melt a new round of faces.


Also playing the show are two bands signed to the Killing Horse independent record label: ¡No Pasaran! and Ben Franklin. ¡No Pasaran! just finished recording a new 7" which is due out this summer and they have been bathing New Jersey in their awesome punk rock sound.  Ben Franklin just released their 7" "Urgency" and they are excited to get the crowd going with their unique brand of Gonzo rock.  This will be the first time both bands have played at The Irish since they became part of Killing Horse Records.


EULA is a post-rock band from Connecticut that has been expanding to other parts such as Brooklyn and now New Jersey. This will be there first time rocking at The Irish.


This looks to be an awesome group of bands at an awesome venue for the low price of $10. Tickets be bought in advance at TicketFly. Doors are at 7:30 and show starts at 8:00. Be there!

-Garvey

The Dive Podcast Episode 10 - No Band 2

Yeah...you can totally skip this episode. It is just Gardizzle talking a lot. No band or Rozzey Roz to talk with. Gardizzle will not be offended if you skip this episode.

Super Rocket Car: Super *Beeping* Awesome

 (from left to right) David, Sagar, JR, and Bobby

Super Rocket Car is band form Mountainside, NJ that has been leaving their happy-go-lucky mark on the NJ scene with their energetic and danceable music.  They started as a band called Camping Equipment, but felt that they needed a change after two members dropped out and were replaced.  Since then, they have been developing the "handsome" sound that is now Super Rocket Car.

Their sound results from a harmonious clashing of the bands various interests. Their sound is a sort of compromise among the various sounds of Oasis, Incubus, The Strokes, Minus The Bear, Blink 182, and Counting Crows; resulting, predominantly, in a alternative pop rock sound. Fights do sometimes break out about songs and the style of music, but compromise is always there to settle things down.

All hardworking college students, they do find it hard to maintain the band, but thanks to dedication and a the institution of a pizza rule, practice and shows have been doable.  Their career seems to be building now as more and more shows are being performed.  They have even developed a strong following with the homeless community of New Jersey too, and they seem to very active fans of Super Rocket Car.

If you do not believe that there sound truly is handsome, then check out their 4-track EP which is available for free off of their BandCamp for free.  Then when you realize that their music is handsome, follow them on Facebook and Twitter and regularly check out their website for more updates.  It might not be long before Super Rocket Car rockets into fame.

-Garvey

Album Review: I Love Mashelf, Yup Yup

Sometimes in music: the simpler, the better.  Some songs just do not require two guitars, three voices, and all of that other polyphonic texture.  Music is sometimes better when it is just simply a voice and a nice acoustic guitar.  Tica Douglas is a prime example of what amazing music one woman and a guitar can do.

This young woman, who graduated from Dartmouth College, is originally from Maine. After a musical excursion in Europe, she has decided to try her hand in the American musical scene.

Douglas' acoustic pop sound is not entirely unique but she does perfect this style of music.  Her smooth voice is a great complement to the back up acoustic guitar.  However, the true genius of Douglas' music lies in her lyrics. She has a great use of storytelling in her lyrics and behind those lyrics lies seemingly infinite wisdom.  

Douglas' first album "I Love Mashelf, Yup Yup" is available through BandCamp for $10 and you can buy individual tracks for a $1 a piece.  Each song is filled with acoustic goodness and a simple yet wise message.  I Love "I Love Mashelf, Yup Yup" Yup Yup!

-Garvey