NO MORE PAIN—Old Bridge, NJ
I recently learned about a great up and coming band out of Old Bridge, NJ. The name of the band is No More Pain and, believe me, there is no pain when you’re listening to their music. These young lads are good! I was turned onto their MySpace page, myspace.com/nomorepainmusic, where I got to hear a few older tracks like “So They Say,” “Hell Is Home,” which has amazing guitar work by Mike Roman, and then there was my favorite track, “Dismantled And Twisted,” where singer Ryan Sullivan really impressed the hell out of me with his voice.
No More Pain formed in 2008 when guitarist Mike Roman began writing songs, but needed help expressing them. This led him to his cousin, singer Ryan Sullivan, who, at the time, handled both vocals and drums. The duo continued to write when one of Mike’s high school chums, Jason Weinstein, joined the band to play bass, and the lineup of No More Pain was complete. Well, they thought so, anyway! After a handful of gigs, the trio realized that they would need more members if they were to achieve the sound they wanted. After a few months of auditions, keyboardist Matt McDermott, drummer Dan Rainone and guitarist Mike Santini joined the band in 2010.
No More Pain is currently in the studio recording some new material at Shore Fire Studios in Long Branch, NJ. They recently had two songs featured on the “Honor Thy Drummer” tribute to Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy, which is awesome! You can catch No More Pain live on April 8 at The Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ. For more info on the band or to find out where they’re playing next, log onto nomorepainmusic.com.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My Sik Twisted Smile brethren, Gerard DiNola and Adrian Freyre, have recently put their old band, Trimm, back together for one show. On April 15 they will be opening for Skid Row at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. Cashmier and The Jersey Syndicate will also be among the openers for one of New Jersey’s favorite hard rock acts. After speaking with my bro, Adrian, it seemed uncertain if this will just be a one off show for Trimm or the mark of a new beginning for the band. If you’d like more info on this show or tickets, log onto starlandballroom.com.
I just received an email from Voodoo Terror Tribe guitarist Emir Erkal, telling me that he also plays guitar for Lyken21, who’s been on the Jersey scene for quite some time. Emir told me that they’re sort of his side project. Lyken21 will be performing on April 22 at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, opening for A Pale Horse Named Death, featuring members from Life of Agony, Type-O-Negative, BioHazard, and Danzig. Also performing will be the band, Seventh Void, which features members from Type-O-Negative and InHumane. This show should be a good one! For more info on Lyken21, log onto facebook.com/lyken21.
And finally, my bros Brett Aveni and Ron Scalzo finally debuted their band Return to Earth live a couple of weeks ago at The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ with The Last Days of Empire, Thank You Scientist, and Dead Empires opening. The Metal Blades recording artists, Return to Earth also features Coheed and Cambria drummer Chris Pennie. This show marked the first of what, hopefully, will be many more shows to come for Return to Earth. For more info on my boys, log onto returntoearthmusic.com.
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:
3/30—Steve Brown and Dennis Zimmer—Senorita’s Mexican Grill, Clark, NJ
3/31—Charetta—Mulcahy’s, Wantagh, NY
3/31—Steve Brown and Dennis Zimmer—The Firehouse Eatery, Rahway, NJ
4/1—Betrayus—7 Days Bar and Grill, Union Beach, NJ
4/1—Knollwood/Legionary/Circle of Insanity—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
4/2—Long Gone Day—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
4/8—Long Gone Day/Lowdown/Dollhouse Murder—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
4/8—No More Pain—Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
4/9—Incognito Theory—The Warehouse, Staten Island, NY
4/10—Scarlet Carson—The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
4/15—Dead Fish Handshake—The Cup Complex, Linden, NJ
4/15—Skid Row/Trimm/Cashmier/The Jersey Syndicate—The Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
4/16—Will KIllmore—Olive’s, Nyack, NY
