Jay Berndt & The Orphans Rockin' Out In Providence

One day, we will be able to envision the notion of Jay Berndt getting onto stages far and wide. As of now, he is content to play on home turf and has left touring for other pursuits. Knowing that he has a whole new project cookin' over top of a good flame, good things are about to erupt in the north east. 

Need more info on Jay Berndt?

Jay Berndt & The Orphans - photo © Kate Kelley 2012

Jay Berndt & The Orphans - photo © Kate Kelley 2012, rockin' at Neighbor Days in Providence, RI

Jay Berndt & The Orphans - photo © Kate Kelley 2012

Catch Jay Berndt on 9.15.12 In Providence at Neighbor Days

If yall aren't signed up for Jay Berndt's email newsletter and are fans, sign up to be informed of upcoming shows. Here is a snippet from his latest info... 

If you need to sign up, check out Jay Berndt on Facebook and you can join the list there

"Just wanted to keep you posted with a few shows we have coming up. Our next show is for the Narragansett Beer Neighbor Day Block Party in Providence, this Saturday 9/15 in Luongo Square between the Avery and E&O bars! The party starts at noon and is free to the public. Their are so many great Providence bands playing and a ton of local vendors. We're very excited and honored to be playing. Hope to see you there!!

Saturday 9/15: Neighbor Days Block Party- 18 Luongo Memorial Sq Providence, RI 02903
                     
12:30 - Avery Stage: Black Oil Incinerator
1:15 - E&O Stage: Northern Lands
2:00 - Avery Stage: The 'Mericans
2:45 - E&O Stage: Atlantic Thrills
3:30 - Avery Stage: The Tower & The Fool
4:15 - E&O Stage: She Rides
5:00 - Avery Stage: Jay Berndt & The Orphans

Saturday 9/22: Beatniks  - 433 Park Ave. Worcester, MA 01610 $5.00 9pm 21+
Huxster
Jay Berndt & The Orphans
Audrey Can't Die"

Jay Berndt and She Rides play Neighbor Days in Providence, RI on 9.15.12

She Rides Rages In Philadelphia with Argonauts, American Speedway and Halo of Snakes

The wild one's in She Rides are currently on a full US Tour and they stopped in the Carolina's for a few days and we were able to hammer out some details on the new album and work on some video footage. Below is a show write up from Blow The Scene and killer photos from a show in Philadelphia with American Speedway, Argonauts and Halo of Snakes.


Link to article on Blow The Scene

"Philadelphia’s American Speedway played host to an eclectic and thunderous tour package last weekend with a lineup that included renowned bands Halo of Snakes, She Rides, and Argonauts for an enthralled crowd at Philadelphia’s Kung Fu Necktie venue. 

American Speedway are currently supporting their latest full-length A Bigger Boat, which was released in early 2011 via Prophase Music as the followup to their debut LP Ship Of Fools, which dominated Sirius punk radio in the late 2000s and garnered the band much attention in the underground scene. American Speedway have continued to hone their sonic attack of speedy rock anthems supporting such mainstays at The Bronx, Valient Thorr, and The Supersuckers, to name just a few. 

Supporting acts for this bill feature members of more prominent bands that you can shake a stick at, in fact, you could hardly call these bands “support.” Argonauts, who feature drummer Dave Witte (Municipal Waste, Burnt by The Sun, Human Remains, Discordance Axis, Birds of Prey, etc), Chris Alfano (East of the Wall), John Adubato (Burnt By The Sun) and Brett Bamburg (The Post Man Syndrome), have been garnering a slew of attention as they continue to build a steady fan base with numerous regional tour dates. Although the band has kept their recorded efforts under lock and key thus far, buzz is quickly growing around this all-star lineup. We recently caught up drummer Dave Witte for an in-depth interview, so be sure to check that out if you missed it.

She Rides, featuring George Radford (Dropdead, Sin of Angels) and Dave Booth (Sin of Angels), along with Berklee School of Music grad William Kalalas, provide an alcohol fueled sleazy punk rock jamboree that was more than enough to rise the temperature on the floor. The band is currently working on a forthcoming LP set for a 2012 release. Harvcore Records recording artist Halo Of Snakes are no band to sleep on either. Combining elements of traditional hardcore with blues and stoner-rock, this local act drew the attention of the full house and got the show off to a proper start for what was a fantastic evening of music.

We know you are here for the pictures, so without further ado.."

George of She Rides jammin' in Philadelphia

Billy and Chan of She Rides in Philadelphia

Andrew of She Rides in Philadelphia

George of She Rides in Philadelphia

Chan of She Rides in Philadelphia

Dan of She Rides in Philadelphia

Dan of She Rides in Philadelphia

She Rides US Tour Dates

She Rides US Spring Tour 2012

SXSW AND MORE TOUR 2012

3/2/12 Providence, RI @ local 121 w/mastehead & the silks

3/3/12 NYC @ ABC no RIO (day show)

3/3/12 Brooklyn, NY @ the archeron

3/4/12 Philly, PA @kung fu necktie w/ halo of snakes, american speedway

3/5/12 Raleigh, NC @ deep elm

3/6/12 Fayetteville, NC @ the black cat

3/7/12 Greensboro, NC @ TBA

3/8/12 Atlanta, GA @ The Highlander w/ campaign & the party pirates

3/9/12 HELP! somewhere between atlanta and New Oleans

3/10/12 New Orleans, LA @ HELP!

3/11/12 Off to hang/Baton Rouge, LA/anywhere along RT 10 @ HELP

3/12/12 Anywhere between NOLA and Houston @ HELP

3/13/12 houston, TX @ TBA

3/14/12 SXSW @ we're available/going to see a storm of light

3/15/12 SXSW @ the annex 1808

3/16/12 SXSW @ we're available/going to hot water music

3/17/12 SXSW @ we're available/going to see torche

3/18/12 El paso, TX @ sleepless nights (houseshow)

3/19/12 Tucson, AZ @ HELP!!!!

3/20/12 Tucson, AZ @ HELP!!!

3/21/12 Phoenix, AZ @ Wallstreet 

3/22/12 San diego, CA @ bar 11

3/23/12 Los angeles, CA @ dollhut

3/24/12 Los angeles, CA @ redwood bar and grill

3/25/12 Fresno, CA @ HELP!

3/26/12 Las Vegas, NV @ HELP!/day off to party

3/27/12 Flagstaff, AZ @ HELP!

3/28/12 Albuquerque, NM @ amped

3/29/12 Amarillo, TX @ TBA warehouse

3/30/12 Tulsa, OK @ Downtown lounge

3/31/12 Decatur, IL @ Donnies Homespun w/soy city stranglers

4/1/12 Columbus, OH @ The shrunken head

4/2/12 Cleveland, OH @ now that's class

4/3/12 buffalo, NY @ TBA/HELP!

4/4/12 Albany, NY @ valentine's

4/5/12 Pittsfield, MA @ TBA

4/6/12 Springfield, MA @ HELP!

4/7/12 Wallingford, CT @ cherry st station w/ flesh hammer

She Rides - The Life Of The Party, Making Metal Fun

The fellas in She Rides have been turning heads in the north east for a few years now and after their last EP with us, we know that something big is about to break. Their high octane sound and incendiary live show is what first caught our attention and we will know it will for the masses as well.

Get the EP - Buy The Ticket

Link to full magazine over on Issuu

"At the far end of subtle lies She Rides, a band comprising five of your younger brothers whose Adderall fueled redfinition of Party Metal, a sadly overlooked genre, has found the band weaving a delicate course between self-referential, hyperbolic promotion and sheer hedonism. If the opening salvo of the band's mission statement doesn't make its intent known through sheer liberal use of grammar - "What says rock and roll that hasn't already been said before." (Question mark implied, I guess) - then what, I  implore you does?

She Rides is simply an awesome club band full throttle, straight up boozing rock n' roll whose disregard for taste or pretension is a refreshing slap on the ass for a widely complacent music scene whose tastes in heavy music seem to too often swerve towards overly brainy nerd metal or tired hardcore.

Part of the secret to their success is George Radford's razor-sharp songwriting - short, intense bursts of jagged riffs that plunge themselves directly into the bloodstream without any indulgent meandering or long winded intros, outros or midtros and large scale thunderous progression from the "Hot For Teacher" graduate degree program of hard rock pyrotechnics. At their core these good pop songs really - albeit pop songs with titles like the charming "Party In The Piss Kitchen" or the absolutely perfect "Woah Dude!"

It's the rest of the group, however, that really brings it all too life, especially during live performances, perhaps the environment to which their music is best suited. Singer Dan Brown makes absolutely no attempt to control the sheer insanity of his live presence. With little regard for technique or timing, Brown throws himself headfirst into the concrete columns of every tune, never in one place for more than a second, gregarious sometimes to the point of intolerability. He's gushingly thankful for each and every second he gets to front the unstoppable live force and completely unwavering in his desire to put on the Show - not simply a show, or just another She Rides show but the best show you've ever seen or he'll buy your next 'Gansett. (And don't worry, they have plenty; the company has been sponsoring the band for over a year now.)

She Rides spent most of last year releasing and touring in support of their EP, Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride on the Rusty Knuckles label, and they have no plans to rest. They should have the next record out by early 2012 just in time for another US tour and another stop at South By Southwest, their fourth invite, rageforever.com."

She Rides - Buy The Ticket by RustyKnuckles

Providence Monthly - Featuring She Rides

She Rides article in Providence Monthly

She Rides at Rusty Knuckles SXSW Music Showcase - Photo by Jonathan McPhail

She Rides - Loud, Raucous & Belligerent Rock N’ Roll

Huge shout out out over to Chris at Hellride Music for the review on She Rides. We know these ocean state fellas are ready for big stages, but does the world know it yet? This year they will have their shot opening up for some huge bands and swaying the masses in their favor. Also be on the lookout for a new track they are working on for a 7" vinyl split with Crank County Daredevils. Both bands are working on a cover song that will sure as hell match their style and make folks turn their heads in a "holy shit" kind of way.

Buy The She Rides ep

Link To She Rides review on Hellride Music

"Loud, raucous and belligerent rock n’ roll falls out of my area of expertise. If there isn’t muted e-string chugs and/or occult references, I’m usually at a loss for adequate metaphors, allegories and pith. I have to reach waaaaay back into the medial temporal lobes for appropriate terminology and dusty, long forgotten references.

From the Ocean State, appropriately descended from the first colonials to call bullshit on Britain’s tyrannical grip on New England, come She Rides. Seemingly raucous young fellas full of vim and vigor, their EP Buy The Ticket is one part Iggy & The Stooges, one part MC5, another part ANTiSEEN (who happen to be label-mates) chaos with a tad of Thin Lizzy guitar harmony. Four tracks and a quarter hour steeped in youthful rebellious abandon, irresponsible amounts of alcoholic beverages and violent moshing. It’s fast, loud and insolent, like your neighbor’s ADD-addled kid. And just as obnoxious.

Really, it’s about time Rock n’ Roll tapped into its testicles again. She Rides is a throwback to a golden era of unabashed rebellious music, not the packaged-up, watered-down, mainstreamed innocuous stuff that passes for rock these days. Remember a young Mick and Keith? Or Iggy rolling around on glass? How about pogo-ing to any number of bands on the SST roster? Man, I sound old. Well, it’s true. As loud, dirty and obnoxious as it sounds, She Rides sparks the nostalgic spirit of “Fuck You”-isms deep within my soul. It’s the real deal, and sounds like it" - Chris Barnes 

She Rides - Buy The Ticket by RustyKnuckles

She Rides - Party In The Piss Kitchen by RustyKnuckles

She Rides & Narragansett Beer = Party Music

It is no secret that the fellas in She Rides are about to do a full US invasion tour and wherever they go the suds will fly. Also it has come to our attention that they recently scored quite the sponsorship with a locally famous brewery out of Providence, RI called Narragansett Beer.

"It all started with John H. Fehlberg, Augustus F. Borchandt, Herman G. Possner, George M. Gerhard, Constand A. Moeller, and Jacob Wirth. In 1888, these local businessmen—”The Original Six”—came together to form the Narragansett Brewing Company. With $150,000 in capital and funds from Butterine (Fehlberg’s predecessor to margarine), a brick brewing house was built. In December of 1890, the first beer was produced, and the following year the company officially incorporated."

Beer and Rock N' Roll go hand in hand and with Hellbound Glory and Flat Tires being unofficially endorsed by Pabst Blue Ribbon, we are itchin' to taste some of the Gansett suds and let the good times roll. Hopefully the fine folks over at Narragansett will send them on the road and keep the van stocked with at least a kegerator. If they are so inclined we wouldn't mind a care package shipped south as well.

Narragansett Beer

Webster Hall in NYC on 11.3.10 with Every Time I Die, How and Trap Them

Webster Hall in NYC on 11.3.10 with Every Time I Die, How and Trap Them

Webster Hall in NYC on 11.3.10 with Every Time I Die, How and Trap Them

Jay Berndt - Tom Waits Tribute Providence

Ol' Jay Berndt is quite proud to be a part of the Tom Waits tribute up in Providence, so we hope that anyone in the area can make it out to the show. Should be a cool event and quite interested to hear from Jay the songs he will be covering and that of the other players as well. Really stoked that Tom is on his way into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame and proud to know him. We were fortunate enough to get to work with him a few years back on a couple of projects and became friends over never ending pots of coffee and talking on music and design. Miss hangin' with ya Tom!

More Info on the Tom Waits Tribute in Providence, RI

On the heels of Tom Waits's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The 201 hosts a Tom Waits Tribute on April 1, 2011!

All proceeds will be donated to Amos House's Soup Kitchen.

Ben Pilgrim
Brown Bird
Jay Berndt
Jess Powers
last good tooth
Mark Cutler
Tai Awolaju
Tig & Bean
Tony the Bookie
Vudu Bevy
The Wrong Reasons

A Production of aboutonething.com
http://www.aboutonething.com/

Sponsored by They're Using Tools!
http://theyreusingtools.com/

Hosted by The 201
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-201/220492045617
201 Westminster St.
Providence, RI, 02903

See also Tom Waits Tribute Somerville at P.A.'s Lounge:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=191551907542389

A couple of great tracks from Tom...

Jesse Leach Referencing Jay Berndt, Gotta Love it

There are times when you reflect on the past and think on the defining moments in which an event became a game changer. We were forwarded this article written by Jesse Leach, who used to sing for a "decent" sized band called Killswitch Engage. You ever heard of them? Yep, thought so, and who now fronts his killer new project, Times of Grace, also with Adam from Killswitch Engage. Jesse recounts one of those moments in time and guess who he happens to reflect on? None other than our hombre Jay Berndt. Ol' Jay used to sing in a well known metal band called Kilgore and made a lasting impression on Jesse, funny how some things work out. Read an excerpt from the article below or just click the link and read it in entirety.

Excerpt below is from the full article posted on Gun Shy Assassin

"There are no guarantees that this will last, as with anything in this life, it is fleeting. So all of that being said, I am going to just pay some respects to a place, a scene, a people who were my teachers and peers. Without the influence and struggles of the Providence, Rhode Island, area “music scene,” I would not be who I am today.

I was 15 years old; I just got my first pair of “combat” boots, was just getting into Fugazi, Minor threat, Operation Ivy and various other popular punk/hardcore bands. I was so excited and eager for this music I knew little about. I would soon learn the ethos of DIY and the terms “scene,” “scenester,” “poseur,” and “show,” among many other things. It all started with a show at the rather locally famous “Club Baby Head.” The bill included various local bands but my memory fails me to name them — but the band that was most memorable to me was Smudge (who later became Kilgore Smudge and then Kilgore).

They were a great mix of the new sound I was really liking but a sound I was already aware of; bands like Faith No More, Alice in Chains, etc. The lead singer had a beard, long hair and a flat cap on. His voice was huge and his stage presence and humorous banter in between songs was all-consuming to me. I was in my first “pit” and got kicked in the head as well as lost my breath from being sucker punched by a flying fist. I could barely sleep that night — I was hooked. Little did I know this was for life.

Back then, Providence had various venues to see local and national acts: The Living Room, The Met Cafe, As220, Lupos and The Strand, among others. My new drug was “shows” or concerts, as I would call them before knowing the “lingo.” I made it my business to get out to as many shows as I could, meeting all kinds of interesting and eccentric people. I bought fanzines (underground magazines written and produced by fans), 7 inches (45 vinyl record singles). There was a hang out that everyone would go to before and after shows called “Thayer Street.” Thayer Street was the mecca of underground and counter culture back then. On any given day there were punks, psychobilly/rockabilly punks, skins, rude boys and ska kids, hardcore kids, ravers, crusty punks, peace punks, goths, alterna-teens and old school rockers. I would hang out there whenever I could and after shows, my friends and I would be there until the cops told us to go home.

"There were great independent record stores that helped feed my new addiction as well; In Your Ear Records, Toms Tracks, Contrast Records and more that escape me. It was an incredible place filled with so many opportunities and people willing to share their experience and love of music. Providence, back then, was a place where for the first time in my awkward teenage years, I felt I had a place and a “scene” to call my own.

As much as I could sit here and reminisce about the glory days of my youth and for the sake of keeping this a column and not a short book, I will just bullet point bands and people that I owe a thank you and a nod of respect to for helping raise and inspire me:

Jay Berndt – Lead singer of Kilgore and currently an amazing rock country blues singer songwriter as well as an engineer/producer: here is some archive footage of the band that started it all for me and Jay present day."

Check out Jay Berndt and Kilgore back in the day....