Yes, I featured a band from upstate New York last week, but another band has piqued my interest from up that way. This is a band that I’ve heard a lot about, but never really had a chance to give them a listen until today. The name of the band is Retrofeelya, and I love them! The name is fitting since the band does have a retro-hair band feel to them. I listened to the tracks “Beautiful (Please, Please, Please),” “Addicted” and “The Show” off of their 2015 release, Future Disease, and the songs “Moonstruck,” “B.S.,” “The Spot” and my favorite track “Down and Dirty” off of the band’s latest EP, Non-Stop. Personally, my band Rahway would be a perfect fit for these guys to do some shows together with.
According to their bio, Retrofeelya is a five-piece rock band based out of Poughkeepsie, NY who bring to the local music scene their unique sound focusing on catchy hooks, creative lyrics, dynamic melodies and infectious riffs. Retrofeelya formed back in 2015 and have already developed a growing fan base throughout the state of New York and parts of New Jersey. Since this past spring, the band has been playing shows like they were going out of style. They’ve played local bars, college shows, horror conventions, and even had the chance to share the stage with amazing bands like Buckcherry, Daughtry and Twisted Sister. On top of all that, Retrofeelya played their first headlining show on in October only after 10 months of performing live shows. In the midst of all these amazing opportunities, the band released their first EP in 2015 called Future Disease, followed by their second EP, Non-Stop, which was released back in September 2016. Retrofeelya is made up of singer Eric Dalton, guitarists Mike Wunderlich and Tommy Leak Jr., bassist Steve Albea and drummer James Fabio. Together, Retrofeelya is characterized by their extremely energetic and enthusiastic live shows, and are often compared to bands like Def Leppard, infused with today’s pop elements.
Currently, Retrofeelya is working on funding for their first music video and putting together a tour to kick off in their hometown in Poughkeepsie and branching out across the country. Their EPs Future Disease and Non-Stop are available at the band’s live shows, but are also available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and wherever CDs or downloads are sold! I’d love to see these guys come to North Jersey and I would love to do a show with them! Check Retrofeelya out at Retrofeelya.rocks. It’s hard not to like these kids!
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
A couple of weekends ago, I was out at NAMM in Anaheim, CA for the annual music gear geek gathering, which reminded me of Comic Con for musicians. Anyway, I got to catch up with Rachel Bolan from the band Skid Row, and since they are a Jersey band, I guess this news belongs in North Jersey Notes. So, Rachel told me that they have officially named former Dragonforce frontman ZP Theart as the new singer of Skid Row. ZP has been filling in while the band found “THE” guy and it turned out ZP was him. Rachel told me the band couldn’t be happier and they’re working on a CD of brand new songs. He also hinted at another “covers” CD from the band. That puts an end to all of the classic lineup reunion rumors! For more on Skid Row, visit SkidRow.com.
While out at NAMM, I also ran into Mike Gowen, guitarist of the band MoTHER, who was out there playing with Doc Coyle’s new project. For those living under a rock, Doc is from the mighty Jersey metal band, God Forbid. Anyway, Mike was telling me about MoTHER’s new single, “Medicine,” which I got to hear via Flexitone Records, and the song rocks. It’s got a killer hook and a cool harmonica intro. It’s a very well-written song! For more on MoTHER, visit RockYourMother.com.
And finally, speaking of reunions and NAMM, within the last few weeks (at NAMM and a Rahway show), I ran into members of a popular Jersey band who have confirmed that they will be reuniting for a local show this year. I promised I wouldn’t leak the info, but I also didn’t mention who it was. So, I’ll just leave this right here, but this will be exciting news when I can officially leak it.
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:
2/9—Weapons of Anew/Nonpoint/Alter Bridge—The Playstation Theater, NYC
2/9—The Breakout/Sunday Brave/The Empty Frame/The Shaking Trees/Casual Friday—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/10—From The Depths/Ender/Reborn Divided/Oceans Of Illusion—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
2/10—Dirty Black 7/Ryder/Orbynot/Singaya/Uncrated—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/10—Antigone Rising/Girl Bands Rock/Whiskey Crossing—Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
2/11—Lieder—The Clash Bar, Clifton, NJ
2/15—The Bunny The Bear/I Set My Friends on Fire/Across the White Water Tower/Alive in Fiction/Ocean of Illusions/Circadian Lapse—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/16—ABAKUS3/Dogparc/Joe Billy/Casey Honig and Ivan Rocks/Quantum Peruvian—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/17—Trixter/Reality Suite/Mr. RocknRoll Project/Lunatic Fringe—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
2/17—Unkempt Herald/It Is Written/Psilocybe/Embrace Agony/Inari One—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/18—Saving Abel/Funeral Students/ELI – The Band/Corners Of Sanctuary/White-Washed Walls/Everything Falls—Standhope House, Stanhope, NJ
2/19—hedPE/Motograter/Ender/Seas of Wake/Among Us/Know Your Enemy/Throat/Raftree—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
2/19—Abnormality/Dead City Crown/Deadtide/Vision Serpent—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/20—Great American Ghost/Until We Are Ghosts/Bungler/Young Graves/Wither/Ana Sapphira/Refinement/Unwill/On Sight—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/23—Retrofeelya/Jessica Chertock—Amityville Music Hall, Amityville, NY
2/23—Our Fears/The Black Lagoon/Zach Russack/The Dark Matters/Strange Eclipse—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/24—Argyle Goolsby and the Roving Midnight/The Cryptkeeper 5/Skunk Daze/Devil In Belfry/The Zombie Mafia—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/25—Jersey Campfire Presents Downshallow “Reunion Show”/Everything Falls—Tenth Street Live, Kenilworth, NJ
2/25—Bubba Grouch/Our Black Friday—The Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
2/25—Dead Empires/Mantismass/Floods/Warmth—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
2/26—Ikillya/Sun and Flesh/Robots and Monsters/Signals of Bedlam—The Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY
3/11—Overkill/Nile/Amorphis/Swallow The Sun/Xenophile/We…Our War/Enrage—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
