The Headlocks are another one of those bands that reside on Staten Island and are seen around here and there, but never really get the credit they deserve for their work outside the only borough without a subway system.

The band consists of 12 members that make up this striking collective of roots and folk rockers.

When Rob Carey’s Jack White-like vocals blend with Frank Duffy’s acoustic guitar, Steve Pepe’s organ, and about a dozen other factors including background vocals, harmonica, trumpet, and bass, nothing short of magic happens.

It’s hard for any band, let alone one with 12 members, to gel their sounds and come up with a harmonizing final product. But, surprisingly (or maybe not), The Headlocks seem to pull this off with seemingly no effort at all.

It’s the band’s lackadaisical attitude that keeps them an inviing band to encounter.

With jam-driven songs like “Driving In The Dark” complimented by softer guitar-strummers like “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the band’s cd, “Cuckoo Bird,” released last year, manages to be a no-filler album that generously packs-in the catchy folk while also knowing when and where to add the right touches of, say, trumpet or harmonica.

Speaking of the right touches, The Headlocks are looking to touch some lives and make a difference tonight at Edgewater Hall by performing for “Art For Heart Saves The Music.”

This will be a benefit concert to help raise money and awareness to support funding for music programs in public schools.

Other performers include The Higher Concept, Heavy Weather, and The Threadz (to name a few).

So if you’d like to check out The Headlocks and help support music in school, come to Edgewater Hall tonight at 6pm (691 Bay Street).

Maybe you’ll even get to meet Frank Duffy.

Listen to The Headlocks Here

Art For Heart info Here

This Saturday at Martini Red, several events, let alone bands, will be packed into one night.

At 9:30, Tommy Bones and Phoebe Blue of Blurple will be performing their eccentric brand of Anti-Folk as they celebrate the release of their debut CD.

Next, at 11pm, In Buenos Aires performs an hour-long set of their Kid-A-on-steroids electronic-funk style instrumentals.

From 12am to 1am is Glass Trees and their Psychedelic, lo-fi, Indie rock with a wink-nod to Avery Tare.

Rounding out the night is DJ Dave Elliot spinning his web of funk and eclectic beats all night long.

I predict a lot of dim lighting and flashy lights augmenting a trippy night of Psychedelics….music, that is.

Local, alt-rock outfit The Great Unwashed have been fairly low-key these past few months but have been getting back in the swing of things playing a recent gig at Cargo Cafe.

Now the local rock staples are taking their brand of Replacements-inspired rock off-Island with a show at Arlene’s Grocery in Manhattan this Friday.

The band goes on at 11pm amidst a lineup that includes acts like Secret Radio, Catch The Mouse, and Cudzoo And The Faggettes (I’m especially curious about what this band sounds like).

So instead of getting blasted with your friends in your mom’s basement, come get blasted with your friends in the city while supporting a Great (stupid pun) local band.

Listen @ Myspace.com/thegreatunclean

These horses are ready for a pajama party. Are you?

This Saturday, to celebrate the birthdays of both Christine Simon (Who Is Gail Lane) and Frank Duffy (The Headlocks), Martini Red (372 Van Duzer St.) will be throwing a big, old-fashioned, drunk-off-your-ass pajama party.

Featuring the musical stylings of the Brooklyn funk act Whooping Crane, with their 70’s-inspired sound. Plus, a Brooklyn band playing on SI (WHAT WHAT WHAAATTTT???)!

Also playing will be Staten Island’s own The Headlocks; Way to make Frank Duffy work the night of his birthday.

So come dressed for success (i.e. footie pajamas) and be sure to wish Christine and Frank a Happy Birthday.

Also, I hear there MIGHT be cake…::shifts eyes:: but you didn’t hear it from me.

The Melonfarmers are a quirky rock group with deep roots planted in the lighter-side of rock.

With songs about mermaids, Dojo parties, BBQs, snack foods, drive-by condiment tossing, and sharp fellas, The Melonfarmers have done more than their fair-share to be original on a local landscape that can sometimes seem a bit too-crowded with the same-old-same-old.

Live shows are often filled with top hats, mermaid wands, gongs, and various sporadic dancing. Enough going on to give anyone attending a reason to get happy.

The group was formed in the mid-’oos, but the Melonfarmers lore goes back a bit farther than that.

“I started taking bass lessons with Steve Pepe in the late 90s at Lane Music,” Said Brian Haley, lead vocalist/primary songwriter, “Once we got bored with lessons I brought in a song I wrote called ‘Cheese Doodles of Love.’”

A mutual love of Haley’s quirky sensibilities led to Pepe inviting him to join a vocal ensemble in 2005, which became the band “The Post-Modern Folk Revolution.”

Said Haley, “We would basically do covers of classic rock songs like the Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkle, etc. Then we eventually starting adding Melonfarmers stuff to the sets. When the Melonfarmers starting getting attention we decided to do more of those tunes and eventually they consumed The Post Modern Folk Revolution and that’s how we got the current 10 person line up.”

Yes, 10 people.

Haley on vocals, Steve Pepe on guitar, Angelo Kelly on bass, Tom Bones on drums, Tim Ledwith on keys, Pete Pitarresi on djembe, Jill Pitaressi, Eileen Pitarresi, Christina Scaglione, and Nicole Graci in the “Melon Patch” (backup singers).

You’d think with that many people in one band, enough hands could be occupied on recording an album.

But as Haley points out, “It’s not the easiest thing in the world to get 10 working class peeps in the same place at the same time to get it done.”

Until then, people will have to make due by catching their eccentric live shows and listening to their quirky tunes on Myspace.

“We’re shooting for a 2025 release date.”

This Wednesday, DockStreet.com and Comic Book Jones team-up to bring you The Mighty Vin Show (podcast).

Details (from Facebook…written by me…so I’m not being THAT lazy by copying and pasting):

Comic Book Jones and DockStreet.com Presents: “The Mighty Vin Show” podcast recorded LIVE February 17th at 6pm @ Comic Book Jones and up a few days later on the internets for download and listening pleasure.

The podcast will consist of interests and guests from the local community such as bands/live sets, comics, personalities, and of course, occasional guests from the world of comic books.

This will be a “test show” of sorts. Come check it out and show some support and it will almost definitely become a weekly thing (FREE live music/guests/podcast/possible giveaways and fun times every Wed night at CBJ? WHAT!!!).

This week’s guests include:

Musician Matt Wilson (www.myspace.com/theradiantradish)

Comedian/Local Pundit Tim Duffy (www.midevenings.com)

Local band The Seconds (www.myspace.com/thesecondsnyc)

and Socko Jones talking about all the recent goings-on in the comic book world.

*Both Matt Wilson and The Seconds will be doing live sets as well as talking about music and comic books.

So come on down to Comic Book Jones Wednesday February 17th around 6pm for FREE music/podcast/entertainment/coffee/and, hopefully, fun.

Did we mention it’s all FREE!!!!!

In case you were out celebrating Valentine’s day yesterday, our sister company Chez Vous Caterers launched a sweepstakes to give away a FREE wedding (or other large party) as the grand prize.

From the site: “Thank you for checking out Chez Vous BIG giveaway! Having just celebrated our anniversary, we’re excited to give back in the form of a FREE WEDDING (or other large party of equal value)
Our goal is to provide the services listed to the right so our clients can have an elegant affair at inspiring prices. (and in the case of this giveaway, the most inspiring price… FREE!)”

For your chance to win, click here!

GOOD LUCK!

Currently in the process of recording his follow-up to last year’s debut album “Love And Apologies,” local musician Matt Wilson was kind enough to give Dock Street the exclusive download of a brand new song that might not even be found on his upcoming album.

The song, “My Initiation,” is a quirky stroll through subdued acoustic guitars and fast-paced wordplay.

But don’t take MY word for it; Download and give a listen for yourselves.

Matt Wilson- “My Initiation” Mp3

In the world of Staten Island Folk music, perhaps no act is more stimulatingly original than Blurple.

A match-up of fok singer/songwriter Phoebe Blue (Blue) and electronic-folk artist/production whiz Tom Bones (Purple), Blurple have been a very eccentric part of the local music scene for almost two years now.

With live shows filled with songs about ribbiting frogs, instructions for preparing grilled cheese, being “a bit of a fag” sometimes (in a good way), and dying Albinos, all segued with short “intermissions” involving partial reworkings of popular songs (i.e. “Wild Thing” becomes “Blurple Thang”), it’s hard to not get curiously sucked-in to their world.

The good news for fans only able to catch their occasional live shows is that Blurple have just released their debut album and all the trappings that made their live shows so engaging are here in spades.

Most songs on the self-titled album contain catchy folk ballads laced with undertones of synth to give the songs an extra kick of sheen.

The duo will be celebrating the release of their CD this Saturday night with a release party at Tom’s house (info here).

With enough catchy melodies and eclectic lyrical wordplay to go around, you’re sure to find something to love inside this album of folk ballads and avant-garde musical interludes.

Listen to Blurple at: Myspace.com/blurplesi

Hot off a year that saw them gain mainstream radio exposure on WRXP as well as the release of a slick, New-Wave flavored EP, the ladies of Plastiq Passion are chugging along into ‘10 with a brand new CD, “To Be A Blade Of Grass In Cracked Cement,” due out March 6th.

The first single off the release, “Tragic (Just Like Me),” retains that New-Wave feel found on earlier songs like “I Can’t Wait” and “Better Run.”

But what “Tragic” adds to the mix is a Violent Femmes meet early-2000’s Pop-Punk vibe.

Flowing synth-waves anchor the backing track as a levity between a more subtle New-Wave ambiance mixes with big, rocking hooks for satisfying results.

You can listen to “Tragic” along with older Plastiq Passion songs on their Myspace.

Their new album will be out March 6th, that same day they will be having a release party at Bowery Electric in NYC (show starts at 7pm).