The Aquarian Weekly

Paramount Sessions: Labor Day Extravaganza

Eric Farwell — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:32:32 +0000

Paramount Sessions is a free event held in Asbury Park on Labor Day weekend. Filled with street musicians, food donations and a concert featuring up and coming local bands, the planners of the event hope this will be one for the history books. The concert is hosted by local music legend Glen Burtnik, and is sure to be something great to see for people who live in Asbury. All ages. Free. Sept. 4 to 5.

Interview With Artist Chet Zar: Inked Art

Tim Louie — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:52:36 +0000

I was recently introduced to the dark and eerie world of artist Chet Zar at the Visionary Arts Tattoo Festival in Asbury Park. After interviewing the festival’s promoter, Naomi Fabricant, last month, I couldn’t wait to see Chet’s work in person and he didn’t let me down. Chet’s artwork is truly dark, scary and amazing to see. It was very reminiscent to the tattoo artwork of the legendary Paul Booth. Chet’s drawings, paintings and sculptures led to his involvement in movies and music videos making him a household name in the art world.

A Southern California native, Zar’s life in…

Interview with Ween: Dean Ween Casts a Wider Net

Patrick Slevin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:45:26 +0000

For almost two years now, Dean Ween, aka Mickey Melchiondo, has been guiding fishing trips along the Jersey Shore and the Delaware River. You could see the business model as a Venn diagram; people who like Ween, a criminally underappreciated rock band from New Hope, PA, and people who are interested in fishing.

But hey, even if you don’t like Ween, Mickey will still take you out fishing. Probably.

It seems, though, the two worlds are mostly distinct. Sure, you can go check out Mickey’s Brownie Troop videos online and see him fishing with the Butthole Surfers’ Gibby Haynes, but…

Interview with Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach: Straight From the Heart

Bryan Reesman — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:37:13 +0000

Papa Roach are the true underdogs of the modern hard rock scene. Despite the fact that they initially made their fortunes with nü-metal, they have grown into a melodic rock beast that is way better than what they started out as and is better than what many critics or fickle, trendy listeners might think. After exploding into mainstream success with the triple-platinum Infest back in 2000, the powerhouse quartet have been on a wild ride on the rock ‘n’ roll rollercoaster, experiencing highs and lows that are reflected in their distinctly catchy and intensely personal music. The group recently parted…

Power Balladz @ Midtown Theater

Diane Casazza — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:19:53 +0000

NEW YORK, NY—“Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” “Sister Christian”—all in the first 15 minutes—if you are not brought back to the good ol’ days of 25 years past, than you are most certainly not breathing! Power Balladz, the new cabaret musical at the Midtown Theater in glorious Times Square, began its open-ended run Aug. 19 to a rock and roll party that wowed the crowd. From the first song to the closing audience-karaoke rendition of “Mustang Sally” the fans were in love. In love with the memories, the moments, the singers on stage, the total rock experience.…

The Gathering of the Vibes @ Seaside Park

Adrienne Rizzo — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:11:03 +0000

BRIDGEPORT, CT—The 15th annual Gathering Of The Vibes once again took place in Bridgeport, CT, from July 29 through Aug. 1. The festival made its home for the fourth year in a row at Seaside Park where roughly 20,000 revelers per day enjoyed four days of beautiful weather, incredible music and NO MUD! The only rain felt was the intermittent sprinkling that came down early Thursday morning during the camper check-in. Soon the menacing clouds and storm predictions blew away along with most of the cares and attachments of everyday life. Thursday began the reunion of the Vibe Tribe family…

Isobel Campbell And Mark Lanegan: Hawk

JJ Koczan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:05 +0000

The third collaborative full-length between former Belle And Sebastian vocalist/cellist Isobel Campbell and former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan (those are by no means the duo’s only points of contribution), Hawk is a dreamy and sometimes moody collection of blissful pop, classically structured and impeccably arranged. Without being a stylistic throwback, it reminds of a time when pop appeal meant more than just whose cell phones or sedans your songs were being used to sell.

Townes Van Zandt and Willy Mason also show up, and Lanegan has the lead on a few tracks (he and Campbell try gloriously to out-sultry…

Goo Goo Dolls: Something For The Rest Of Us

Olivia Taubner — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:55:37 +0000

Something For The Rest Of Us is just that, a collection of “oblique” songs (as John Rzeznik describes them) written for the world to interpret in their own unique way.

Rzeznik’s voice is in its best shape since 1998’s Dizzy Up The Girl, with more distinction and emotion than ever, and he’s retained the rare ability to articulate thoughts in few words (a Lennon-ism). Even Goo Goo Dolls founder and bassist Robby Takac’s songs are full of melody and emotion with their regular punk rock flare embedded.

It’s easy to tell that background musicians Korel Tunador (eerily good harmonies, keys,…

Shoreworld: Janet Labelle & Phil Petillo

John Pfeiffer — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:52:45 +0000

New Jersey artist Janet Labelle is back and sharper than ever with her newest disk titled Moon Songs, a five song EP exploring the waters of pop tinged soul, girl powered alt-rock and the fire fueled world that she continues to light up. Janet was once the lead singer of Avery, a great Jersey band with promise and talent that broke up a few years back, dissipating into Shoreworld history.

I always love a survivor. The artist that crawls out of the wreckage of the past while retaining their vision of creation, moving into the next new phase of adventure…

Reality Check: Free Speech Redux

James Campion — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:40:25 +0000

“There continues to be a difficulty among Americans as to the veracity of the First Amendment. It is an article of law, which gives every citizen of this republic the right to speak one’s mind without the fear of government oppression. This does not include endangering others. It does include upsetting and defaming others with the notable exception of Lord Libel and Duke Slander. Everything else is, as they like to say at 4:00 am on McDougal Street, “Nothin’ but a pawty.” – James Campion, Freedom of Speech Case 1,653: Dr. Laura vs. GLAAD, Issue: 6/14/00.

The back of my…