An interesting band came across my desk a couple of weeks ago and I finally got around to listening to them. I have to say that they’re an acquired taste, but now that I’ve acquired that taste, I like it! I’m talking about this up-and-coming metal band out of Fort Lee, NJ who call themselves Me With Creeps. With a name like that, how can you not give these guys a listen? After hearing songs like “Try You On,” “Super Six” and “Mr. Garrity”… Okay, so when I say an acquired taste, it’s because right out of the box, you hear these amazing and bone-crunching guitar riffs supported by this growling vocal that makes you want to clear your own throat while you’re listening to it. But then after listening to a few of the songs, you analyze the song as a whole, and you realize, “I get it now!” These songs are pretty bad ass!
Me With Creeps formed back in 2010, and have, since, found some local success on Seton Hall’s Pirate radio station, WSOU, due to popular demand of their music from their loyal following. How? The answer is simple and comes with a recipe. It’s because they play fun, no-frills, adrenaline-pumping heavy metal! Yes, a couple bands named Metallica and Anthrax have done that before, and yes, Me With Creeps aren’t reinventing heavy metal, but the band’s energy and enthusiasm sets them apart from the rest of the music scene. However, Me With Creeps, as a band, are far more accomplished and polished than many might think when first giving them a listen. Like I said earlier, an acquired taste! Singer Dom Ostuni primarily sings with more of roar that is recognizable, but can also sing with a clean vocal, which is evident on their song “Super Six.” Personally, I like his clean vocals very much. Rounding out the rest of Me With Creeps are guitarists George Adamz and Bobby Torres, bassist Alfred Chester, drummer Pat Cancian and keyboardist Sean Mulligan.
Me With Creeps is a “wrecking crew” to keep your ears peeled for here on the Jersey music scene in 2016. These guys will be making some noise this year. They’ve already been added to the big Ill Nino return to the Starland Ballroom in Slayerville, NJ on May 22. You can also catch them live at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ this Sunday, May 13. For more info on Me With Creeps, visit Facebook.com/MeWithCreeps.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
Okay, so major news from my buds from upstate New York’s Nasty Habit, whom I’ve featured in this column some time last year thanks to producer Stacy O’Dell. Well, the band has parted ways with drummer David Jordan, as well as the name, Nasty Habit. They’ve recently brought on drummer Brandon Young to fill their drummer void and a new band name, Major Crush, to give the band a fresh new start. With that fresh new start comes a new EP produced by Stacy O’Dell. The new CD features songs like “One Life,” the radio-friendly “Unconditional,” “Somebody Save Me” and the lead-off single, “You Ain’t A Saint.” These songs are a little bit grittier than the Nasty Habit stuff, but all that means is that my boys are maturing as songwriters and musicians. For more on Major Crush, visit MajorCrushBand.com.
My bros from Anaka recently had their video for their song “Deathborn” added to MTV’s rotation, though I’m not sure what that even means anymore at MTV. Do they even play videos anymore? Back in my day, we used to look forward to the Headbanger’s Ball every weekend. Not so much the case anymore. Regardless, congrats to the Anaka boys for reaching such an amazing feat! For more on Anaka, visit Anaka.net.
And finally, my bros from Cycle of Pain, featuring JD Deservio from Black Label Society, recently released their latest single for the song “Dirt,” and I have to say, not because I know them, this song is awesome! It has that Black Label grit with an Alice In Chains feel. I actually love the song and haven’t been able to stop listening to it. It’s heavy and groovy, which is what all bass players strive for. Hats off to Cycle of Pain on this song! Now, let’s hear more! For more on Cycle of Pain, visit Facebook.com/Cycle-of-Pain-88241448126.
That’s all for now! If your band is from North Jersey, and you want some exposure, send your press kits to Arts Weekly, c/o Tim Louie P.O. Box 1140, Little Falls, NJ 07424, or you can email me at tim@theaquarian.com, where you can also let me know where you’re performing next!
Just remember….We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
Tim Louie is the Author of S**t Happens.
NJN Concert Calendar:
3/9—FLAW/We…Our War/Maggotmouth/Palaceburn/Pyramids—The Backstage at Championship Bar, Trenton, NJ
3/9—Fastride/The Not Mikes/Marc Delgado Of Wounded Knee/Fifth Street—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
3/10—Silvergun Superman/The Lounge Creeps—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
3/11—ACEY SLADE/Smash Fashion/CREEM CIRCUS/Ten Ton Mojo—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
3/12—“Shore Metal Madness IV”—Vision of Disorder/VSSLS/Cyperna/Scars of Envy/Stagger/We Our War/Ixion Lux/Paralysis/Eye of Anubis/Comb the Desert—Headliner Night Club, Neptune, NJ
3/12—RockitFest IV – Ogre/PRB Street Gang/Sinners/Sickness/The Dirty Stayouts—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
3/12—Deaf Rhino/Wild Adriatic—The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
3/12—Full Scale Riot/Year of the Dragon/Ex-Mothers—Gutter Bar, Brooklyn, NY
3/13—Me With Creeps/A Boy Name John/Mothergoose/Summit/GKM—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
3/18—Christine Martucci Band—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
3/19—Anaka/SOS NYC/Proxima Control/Kore Rozzik—Black Bear Bar, Brooklyn, NY
3/19—Four Year Strong/Light Years/Can’t Swim—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
3/19—Me With Creeps—QXT’s Night Club, Newark, NJ
3/20—Born A New/Premonitions/Sentinels/Kaonashi/Borderlines/Hot Gospel/Abhorrence/Refinement—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
3/24—Answer Infinity/Triple Scoop/Sinertia/Minor King/Asphalt Grey—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
3/25—Deaf Rhino—Bull Shooter’s Saloon, Philadelphia, PA
3/25—Danger Danger—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
3/25—Whiplash/Psychoprism/Half-Witted Dogs/Deathrash/Voidless—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
4/2—Jersey Campfire Productions Presents: Rahway/Sekond Skyn/One Hundred Thousand/Meatplow—Boneyard Bar and Grill, Atlantic City, NJ
4/2—Crash NYC/Trapped In The Shadows/Saturn’s Return/Lorie De Winter—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
4/2—Major Crush—The Shop, Brooklyn, NY
4/3—Gothic Knights—Stage 48, NYC
4/16—Me With Creeps—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
