Tara Elliott and The Red Velvets

(posted December 13, 2010)

"No. 9, Tara Elliott & The Red Velvets is the embodiment of “Power.” This band makes amplifiers weep, it topples stacks, it shakes the human body to its very core and leaves you screaming for more. This act was only able to capture a fraction of the supremacy it exhibits live on this record, but that’s still good enough to beat out most groups…except maybe The Dead Weather, but that’s fine company to be in."
"I find it fitting that Status Green and [Tara Elliott and] The Red Velvets ended up back to back on this list with Christmas looming, and both records’ Top 10 spots were well earned."

- Speak Into My Good Eye, author Chris Rotolo

(November 20, 2009)
On Friday, November 20th, Georgies Bar (812 5th Avenue) in Asbury Park took on the feel of an early 80’s scene from Max’s Kansas City as Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets hit the stage. While Jayne County or Johnny Thunders were nowhere to be found, Tara brought back the age of colored vinyl through her vibrant outfit alone. I waited in anticipation to see how Tara’s powerful bluesy voice was going to handle the garage / punk sound of the Red Velvets and I wasn’t disappointed. Tara displayed an amazing amount of control to stay true to the material, as she picked and chose those moments to let loose. As a matter of fact, Tara’s transition to the punk DIY ideology parallels Genya Ravan’s transition from Ten Wheel Drive to Ravan’s “Urban Desire” material.

Performing three sets that contained covers mixed in with their originals, the Red Velvets consist of Tara (lead vocals and guitar), Jeff Phillips (bass guitar and electric guitar) and Werner Wilding (drums). Referring to Phillips’ instrument as “Lead Bass,” Tara passes him the electric guitar during a portion of their set, so she can concentrate strictly on her vocals. This was also the first time that I ever heard a woman cover Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” Tara’s respect for Iggy Pop and the Stooges was represented through her performances of “Sick Of You” and “I Wanna Be Your Dog.” Velvet Underground and Led Zeppelin are also listed among Tara’s influences.
Born in Staten Island, Tara Elliott currently calls Long Branch home. Responsible for writing all of their material, Tara’s originals, such as “You Just Wanna Be Me” and “Get Over Yourself,” played well alongside punk god Iggy Pop’s material. Speaking with Tara Elliott, she explained that she is most proud of her closing number, “Take The Time.” Referring to the song as her “most mysterious,” “Take The Time” is based on a dream where she shared an intense love with an actor who played James Bond. Her love interest was one of many people frozen on a beach. This emotional song deals with her attempt to express her love to a non-responsive subject.
Tara pointed out from the stage how she considers Jeff Phillips to be a hero by referring to his titanium prosthetic legs. Tara states, “he sends out a positive message because someone in his position could easily be in a wheelchair.” Hailing from Kenilworth, Phillips owns Dome Studios, which offers rehearsal space. Describing Phillips’ influences as “very eclectic,” Tara refers to him as an “alternative guy who listens to David Bowie, The Pixies and PJ Harvey.” Werner Wilding is originally from Austria. Possessing a punk / rockabilly look, I was surprised to find out that Wilding’s idol is Sting. This powerful rhythm section compliments Tara’s stage presence very well.
Fresh off a Stone Pony show with Nicole Atkins, River City Extension and Atlantic, Atlantic, Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets will be performing every last Saturday of the month at Otto’s Shrunken Head in the East Village (New York City) beginning January 30th. Referred to as “the bastard child of Janis Joplin and the Stooges” by Thomaxe of New York Waste, Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets were nominated for two Asbury Music Awards this year (Top Indie Rock Band and Top Female Vocalist). To find out more about Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets, log on to www.myspace.com/taraelliottblues or www.facebook.com/redvelvets. Always willing to stay in touch with her fans and friends, you can contact Tara directly at taraelliottblues@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Sharing a bill with Daniel Rey at the Thrash Bar in Brooklyn was a highlight for the band. Rey’s history with The Ramones and the Red Velvets’ current punk sensibilities brought the punk and underground scene full circle. So, get those safety pins out of your cabinets and Manic Panic out of your dresser drawers and have some fun again at the next Red Velvets show. - The Jersey Shore Rag- Donnie G.

(August 10, 2009)
It was Iggy Pop who changed everything.

When Long Branch's Tara Elliott first began making her way in the local music scene years back, it was as a blues-based singer/songwriter. Then, the influence of the iconic Stooges frontman took hold.

"I was originally writing blues-influenced music, and then I became very influenced by Iggy Pop, and then I saw the fusion of blues and punk, it just felt so right to me and it was a totally new direction from what I was used to, because I had been doing blues for years," Elliot explained during a recent interview with Metromix Jersey Shore.

These days, Elliott can be found wowing audiences as part of the power trio Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets, a down-and-dirty combo whose raw sound and red-hot energy recall the days when trash rockers like the New York Dolls and their musical offspring prowled the streets of New York City.

Asbury Park crowds will be able to experience Elliott and the Red Velvets first-hand this weekend when they take the stage at Georgie's Bar on Fifth Avenue on Friday (Aug. 14).

Speaking over drinks while hanging back in the Watermark lounge on the Asbury Park boardwalk, Elliott explained her segue into hard-edged rock. "I know that blues is a very real music and it'll always be a part of what I do, but it just ended up becoming more of a style and I don't want to get lost in that; it became stale," she said.

"I think that blues is still absolutely amazing, as I said before I'll always have it in my life, but I needed something different, I needed like a rebirth and I think that I just had to open up my doors to new musicians, at least to me. Like Iggy Pop, for instance; I grew up on a diet of like the Beatles and early-60s music, so he wasn't really introduced to me until later on, which I think is really funny, and it was just a whole makeover.

"I needed something real, I needed to really sing about more real things than what was going on. Before it felt like I was just writing poetry, and that's fabulous and great, but I wanted to write about things that would help me survive and get through my day."

Holding down the beat for Elliott and the Red Velvets is Werner Wilding, a university-educated musician and Austrian native whose path to rock ‘n' roll clubs included spending two and a half years playing for passengers on cruise ships.

"I liked the fact that I played a lot and (for) lots of people and saw nice beaches," Wilding recalled. "Then, after a while it became too much and I actually ended up being in London for one and a half years, and then I traveled around a little in Europe, Spain and Switzerland and Germany, back to Austria to visit my folks, and then I was in Munich and realized I had to go back to the States. Something told me I won't find my musical life or my voice or myself actually if I stayed (in Europe), it just didn't feel right, and I ended up in New York."

After playing with various New York musicians, Wilding was connected with Elliott through the social networking site Craigslist.

"I was worried that I wouldn't find my project to stick to in New York, but on the phone I had that feeling immediately, that (Elliott)'s serious about getting something done," he said. "That's something I noticed. I wasn't really sure what vision it was going to be or how I fit in there, but I realized that she's not bullshitting, pardon my French."

The current lineup of the Red Velvets was completed with the addition of bassist Jeff Phillips.

"We were actually rehearsing at (Phillips') studio, Dome Studios in Kenilworth, and he just kept saying to me when he heard my previous band play, ‘I really like your music, I really like it,' and I was like, ‘Hmm, how much does he like it?'" Elliott recalled.

"The last band I was with, it didn't work out with them and I was actually auditioning Werner a couple of times and we're like, ‘We have no bass player,' so I just asked him, I said, ‘Listen, you said you love it, so just hop in,'" Elliott said. "And at first he was a little hesitant, because he's in other projects and everything, but then he knew from that first rehearsal, so did Werner, that everything just fit."

For Elliott and Wilding, one of the key components of the band's sound is the fact that its three members each come from such wildly divergent backgrounds.

"We all come from different places and we all have different lives and different obstacles that we've had in our lives, but I feel like it really comes out in the music; it's very emotional," said Elliott.

"There are areas in our musical abilities that are different because of our backgrounds, because of our influences, and in order to blend that whole thing we have to kind of listen to each other more, you know? That's how I see it," Wilding said. "If there's a band where all the band members kind of listen to the same or similar stuff all the time, they might get overly possessive of a certain view of that style of playing, but if you have to shut that out and just focus on the song itself, then you can only listen to the other people and do the best you can."

Distancing themselves from plenty of the other bands out there making the rounds these days, the Red Velvets deliver a unique interpretation of the classic power trio sound.

"I'm playing rhythm guitar, I do not play lead. My bass player plays lead bass and we have a drummer. And at times, for very few songs but on a song when I feel like I really want to give it my complete all and I need to use my full body and I don't want to play guitar, we skip the bass completely and I put my bass player on the guitar, which actually is his first instrument. He basically plays the bass like a guitar, and we just give it that go, because we want to keep it pure," Elliott explained.

"The thing is ... it's a minimalist approach to get the point across but not have it just flooded with too many sounds and too much processing and too much bullshit to cover up the real message. I don't need a lead guitar player, I know that I don't. Everyone else can have that and that's great and that's great for their projects but for mine, I don't want that. I want the message to get out; I want it to be a minimalist approach."

And while the band has been well-received in New York City, and even earned the position of house band at Otto's Shrunken Head on East 14th Street, in reference to the local music scene Elliott concedes that "it's a little harder to break into the area with the kind of music that we have."

Elliott, who cited the Saint owner Scott Stamper as a supporter of her craft, said "This is not easy listening, so it's all about who you know and making friends and you have to do the things that some bands are lazy to do. You have to talk to people, you've got to get out there, you've got to make friends with other bands and get in the scene and find out what's happening."

For his part, however, Wilding is hesitant to group bands into genres or scenes and seems, much like the Red Velvets' music itself, to operate on raw feeling and gut instinct.

"Well, we play with a lot of bands and most of the time, it's interesting. ... But, I know that our lives are so different, individually different, I never put labels on bands, even though you can sometime describe them with styles or influences," he explained. "I try not to use labels ... (because) it's their music.

"Some people have different reasons to make music, they really want to express themselves, other people just want to approach a certain audience, a certain market, a certain niche. I just go with the feeling. If I listen to music, do I like it? Do I feel good when I listen to it? And I really don't care who plays it or what you call it, it's all music to me." - Alex Biese, Asbury Park Press Metromix

(February 15, 2010)
OK, let's get right down to it: if you like your rock ‘n' roll to be raw, honest and a little on the trashy side, then there's no reason you shouldn't be at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park on Saturday (Feb. 20) when the club gets rocked by Steve Conte and the Crazy Truth and Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets.

A Matawan native and the lead guitarist for proto-punk icons New York Dolls since 2004, Conte and his down-and-dirty New York City-based power trio the Crazy Truth came up aces with the release of their self-titled debut album last year.

"There is very little genuine rock and roll out there at the moment but Steve Conte has hit the nail on the head with this one," remarked U2 and Rolling Stones producer Steve Lillywhite, while New York City-based singer/songwriter Willie Nile called it a "great rock album" and described it as "T-Rex meets the early Stones."

When asked recently about why he thought the response to the record has been so positive, Conte had this to say: "I think it's just no bullshit rock 'n' roll; it's just real music played by real people -- hey, what a concept."

Conte, who also served as the producer on the Crazy Truth album, said he decided to take the sound in a raw direction after hearing the final mixes of the New York Dolls' 2004 reunion album, "One Day it Will Please Us to Remember Even This," which was produced by Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon).

"When I heard the mixes of that album I thought, ‘It's great, but it sounds too slick for a Dolls record,'" Conte recalled. "I love Jack Douglas and his production and I thought it was great production, I just thought Dolls fans would probably have wanted to hear it be more raw, which it was; the basic tracks were really recorded live and then everything that kind of happened after, strings were put on it and percussion and it was kind of smoothed-out afterwards.

"My goal was to make a record that was just the raw tracks, because those raw tracks on the Dolls album had so much energy to them and they kind of got buried a little bit. So, using some of the same techniques as Jack Douglas used to record the Dolls -- it definitely is the same techniques like micing my amps, which were a lot of part of the sound of "One Day it Will Please Us" -- we recorded (the Crazy Truth) that way and we left it that way. So, my goal was to make it as raw as possible and more raw than the Dolls reunion album."

Discussing what direction he gave his comrades in the Crazy Truth -- bassist Lee Kostrinsky and drummer Phil Stewart -- Conte said, "I gave the guys a couple of records to listen to and I said, ‘Try to think of this vibe.' And I gave them some of my favorite stuff, like Morphine, Tom Waits, stuff that has sort of more of a lounge, noir kind of groove to it, like a sleazy, smoky kind of vibe, just trying to get something really simple and stripped-down."

Tara Elliott said that after she picked up a coy of the Crazy Truth's CD at one of the band's shows last year, she had it in rotation in her CD player for weeks. "I like it," Elliott said. "I think it has balls, I think it has some similar elements to what I'm trying to do, it has the garage element, it has the punk and blues."

Chatting recently while sipping back French martinis one afternoon at Asbury Park's Langosta Lounge, Elliott discussed the appeal of her own raw power trio, which can be seen frequently both rocking clubs at the Shore, such as the Stone Pony and Georgie's in Asbury Park, and entertaining the masses at New York City destinations like Otto's Shrunken Head in Manhattan and Shrine in Harlem.

"I think it's just an honesty," said Elliott, a Long Branch native. "I mean, there's so much, I just feel a similarity to why the Ramones started what they did, why they started their journey as well; they were tired of what they were hearing on the radio and I think that's what the audience is hearing, too. ... People need to hear something genuine, something not over-produced and something not so old that they haven't heard over and over and over and over again.

"I mean, I write from real-life experiences and I'm sure people have experienced those things too; I'm talking about self-worth. ...I just think that we put out a lot of different messages, and at the same time I just want to have fun. And like we've spoken about before in my last interview, it's just (the three band members) all have different personalities so it kind of just brings everybody together and I think it's just good to have some strong female bitchy presence happening here."

Asked for his thoughts on Elliott's work with the Red Velvets, Conte said, "it's definitely my aesthetic: bluesy, soulful singing with a raw band. So, just based on that, I like her already. I haven't studied the songs, I couldn't name a song yet, but I will be able to after this gig (at the Wonder Bar)."

Elliott and the Red Velvets are currently at work on a four-track EP engineered by Monster Magnet and Riotgot drummer Bob Pantella at his studio in Sayreville, and Elliott said she is looking to release the EP as a seven-inch on (of course) red vinyl.

Conte is currently working on a solo acoustic album and he said work on that project is going "very slowly. It seems like the way I work is I get a burst of energy and I start something and then like life starts happening and I put it on the shelf for a little while and that's kind of good because then I come back to it with a fresh perspective."

Describing the sound of the album, which was recorded in hotel rooms in Europe and the U.S. while he was on tour with the Dolls, Conte said, "it's hard to explain and I don't really want to over-explain it, but it's going to be very organic-sounding melodic acoustic stuff, and actually there's a rocker in there too, so who knows? By the time it comes around to being like a completed album I could throw half of the songs out and have new ones in there, so I won't say anything; it's a work in progress."

Steve Conte and the Crazy Truth, with Brian Delaney of the New York Dolls sitting in on drums, will also be performing on Feb. 26 at Maxwell's in Hoboken as part of the release party for Main Man Records' Queen tribute compliation "Horse Feathers and Animal Crackers." Delaney will also be playing with the band at its Wonder Bar show on Feb. 20.

- Asbury Park Press, Alex Biese

(February 11, 2010)
Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets—Attitude With A Hot Crush On You
Ok, first of all I have to say that this is one of a small handful of bands I’ve dealt with that took the time to put together a press kit this detailed and helpful. I mean it had everything. It was organized and informative, included a CD in its own sealed pouch, high-gloss photo, genuine press clippings, typed lyrics and all the pertinent information of an FBI document without the funny jokes, guffaws or goofball super hero references about each member. This is the absolute industry standard that bands need to look at and apply immediately to their own branding because writers love this kind of stuff. It allows us to concentrate on the music and not have to go track down facts and hearsay from a dozen sites (it’s exhausting). But that’s the stuff this band is made of. From top to bottom Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets leave nothing to chance in their presentation to their fans.

Tara Elliott is often described in print as the “bastard child of Janis Joplin and The Stooges,” and while she can match Pearl note for guttural note while going head to head with the late Ronnie Ashton, I rate her much closer to Johnette Napolitano and James Andrew Mankey with her full-toned vocals and her snarling guitar style. Elliott sends chills when she hits those full bore mids and junkyard lows like no other mother. Her ability to hold the attention of hipsters, rockers and blues maniacs means mastery over the common social denominator button and most importantly, possible attention from the ever jaded music industry looking for something that’s not phony bullshit.

Elliott handles the guitar as well as any male counterpart in the game. Utilizing a cool 1969 Framus Caravelle (Damn! I want one), Tara pumps simple, intelligent phrasing, and toned “money shots” all over The RV’s self-titled EP with gusto. Along with bassist Jeff Phillips and drum kingpin Werner Wilding, the Red Velvets crush the rumour that being a blues-based band or a punker means being unschooled on your instrument. It doesn’t and they don’t. Elliott may downplay the background of her schloarship to Berklee College Of Music, but I dont.

Compositionally speaking, the band’s straight-ahead method couldn’t work better. They understand how to play hot potato with a dynamic bridge or choruses that center you under the bead before Elliott’s lead guitar picks you off like a 10 pin at the Asbury Lanes. And that’s the beautiful cause and effect point of what they do.

Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets five-song self-titled disc was a focused representation of what they’re all about and I took some time to tour the sounds. “Just Wanna Be Me” jumps right into your face with a good old fashioned “2,3,4” Ramones count off and dirty razored guitar all taken from behind ala Philips and Wilding. The lyrical content brings forth images of broken whiskey bottles, backstabbing bitches (could it be the Asbury version of Amadeus and the Antonio Salieri connection?) galore.

Dirty double entendres like in “Ride,” where Elliott confesses her addiction for down home-driven fun with her full throttle screams as she sings, “Baby you got yours / honey I have mine / baby, let’s go for a ride.” Social D guitars grind it out underneath hypnotic back beats and lead bass—yep, you heard right—lead bass lines rule. The Chris Isaak vibe of “Take The Time” turns the action on its head, melding pitch perfect vocals with shimmering tube fueled six strings, bass and drum anchorage before kicking into this power ballad territory. I’ve said it many times before, the ballad is not easy to pull off but The Red Velvets do a damn fine job of keeping me from wandering into the kitchen for a hot pocket while the tune plays out.

Standout work from a passionate band that embraces their punk and blues roots with enthusiasm while adding smart new ideas along the road to Sodom and Gomorrah. I can’t wait to see what they do in with a full-length platter. Tara Elliott And The Red Velvets will be appearing live at The Wonder Bar in marvelous downtown Asbury Park on Feb. 20 where she’ll be opening for The New York Dolls’ Steve Conti. This is a show not to miss! For further info go to myspace.com/taraelliottblues or hit up thewonderbar.com.
- The Aquarian Weekly/East Coast Rocker

By Cathleen Leitch (April 8, 2010)

Daybreak, a weekly radio show on 107.7 The Bronc had its first musical guest on April 2. Tara Elliott and The Red Velvets, a New York area band, came in for an interview and played two live sets.

Kristen Pesce, an elementary education and journalism major, and Jessica Maiuro, an English major, host the radio show every Friday. The music played ranges from pop-rock to alternative and hits whatever the hosts want in between.

So why have The Red Velvets on when its sound has been described as punk/garage? Maiuro had the opportunity to see the band at a bar in New York not long ago.

“I loved how real they were,” she said.

She added that she liked the “dominant female rocker” presence of the lead singer.

After “friending” Tara Elliott on Facebook, Maiuro mentioned her radio show. Elliott was happy to do a live show.

“It just sort of came together after that,” Pesce said.

Tara Elliott and The Red Velvets has made its name known in the New York/New Jersey area, appearing on the Vinny Vella television show and playing gigs throughout both states. The name was chosen for its textile feel and the band even released its EP on red velvet material.

The trio is made up of guitar-playing lead singer Tara Elliot, bass-strumming back up vocalist Jeff Phillips and singing drummer Werner Wilding.

Maiuro fell in love with the band the first time she went to a show but was really moved by one song, “Take The Time.” This song is one of the band’s softer hits about telling those you love how you feel.

The band released a self-titled live EP last year and a new album is in the works. The group is currently writing and working on a song that will be a “love letter to the human race,” as Elliott put it.

Maiuro mentioned that seeing the band was like seeing a show, which is exactly what the band wants.

“You have to put on a show today,” Elliott said.

This philosophy has helped the band stand out. Its live shows are full of theatrics: Burlesque dancers perform during an interlude and the lead singer often wears red velvet outfits she has designed.

After the interview, the trio played a three-song set. Aggressive beats and loud vocals set the tone of the band’s style. The music was heavy on the drums, strong intros and long exits.

Elliott’s vocals were a contradiction: aggressive but soothing. Big, emotional belts of sound filled the studio and were backed by almost too loud instruments. It was clear the members had been playing their instruments for years.

With its “really powerful vocals,” as stated by Pesce, and strong, fast-paced music, Tara Elliott and The Red Velvets should be around for a while.

The group is the house band at Otto’s Shrunken Head in New York City every Saturday night, throughout the New Jersey and New York areas. It will be doing a show on April 16 with Jersey Shore Rolling Girls and Inked Up Angels at The Saint in Asbury Park.

For tour dates or to listen to the band’s music, go to: www.myspace.com/taraelliottblues or find them on Facebook.

- The Rider News (Rider University)

Aug. 27, 2010: Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets EP release party at Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park
Down-and-dirty Shore rocker Tara Elliott and her killer power trio, the Red Velvets, will be celebrating in Asbury Park on Friday, Aug. 27, at their Red-Hot Burlesque EP Release Party, an evening which will feature independent musicians, burlesque dancers and red velvet desserts at the Asbury Lanes on Fourth Avenue in Asbury Park.
In an interview with Metromix Jersey Shore earlier this year, Tara Elliott discussed the appeal of the Red Velvets' music. "I think it's just an honesty," said Elliott, a Long Branch native. "I mean, there's so much, I just feel a similarity to why the Ramones started what they did, why they started their journey as well; they were tired of what they were hearing on the radio and I think that's what the audience is hearing, too. ... People need to hear something genuine, something not over-produced and something not so old that they haven't heard over and over and over and over again."
Joining Elliott at the Lanes will be Black Vinyl Radio, Hamell on Trial and Spanking Charlene.
- Alex Biese


- Asbury Park Press Metromix- Alex Biese

(ASBURY PARK, NJ - February 24, 2009) - Since I had seen Hammel on Trial several times before, I knew tonight was going to be an interesting show, but I wasn't expecting Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets to be so good. It's a shame that the crowd had thinned out a bit before Tara's band closed out the night, because they missed a truly awesome performance.

Rick Barry started off the night with a set that blended his popular "hits" with several new tunes. The set included "All Your Mistakes Have Names," "Graphic Narrative," "Perfect Portrait of a Coward," "Atlantis," and "Stupid American Song."

As Rick stood on stage, dressed in a fine suit and tie, I wondered why it always seems as though he dresses like a million bucks when he's an opening act yet dresses like shit as the headliner.

There was an unfortunate - yet hilarious - moment when the microphone began shocking Rick. Each time he got buzzed in the face, he began smiling. Many of us were wondering what was going on and looked around to see if anyone was making faces at Rick or something. Finally, after he finished the song, he explained the situation.

"I'm being shocked by the mike here," said Rick Barry. "I think people are confused because they may be seeing me smile for the first time during a show." The mike was then adjusted and Rick went on with his traditionally smile free show!

Hammel on Trial is one man who plays a mean punk guitar, writes hilarious lyrics, and likes to tell crude jokes while on stage. It's a performance unlike anybody else you will ever see. It's also a combination that doesn't sound like it should work, but does.

"When I got here this morning, I told Scott the place was too bare," said Hammel. "It was just these plain walls. So we spent the morning putting up stickers everywhere. So now you can see at least a dozen stickers of made up band names on the walls."

Telling a song about drugs he mentioned doing crack then said, "Oh come on, it's crack cocaine. You've all done it -- Asbury Park was founded on crack!"

His set contained songs about sex, drugs, money, remotes that wouldn't work, Brilliant rants such as a hilarious one about television and stories about how President Obama got his wife to agree to do anal sex.

If you've ever seen Hammel live then you know about his famous "Pussy" song. Towards the end of the night he said, "We're getting to the end of the show and I know you're thinking he didn't do any pussy eating songs. We came here for some pussy eating songs. Did he have one? Well yes I do... Everybody loves this song except gay guys.

"I love when people walk in at this point. They're out walking and see this revitalized neighborhood. Maybe they see The Saint and say 'let's see what this place is like' -- maybe they think it's a Christian place. They walk in and were all screaming pussy!"

Songs included "When Yer Young," "Inquiring Minds," "Global Tattoo," "A Little Concerned," "Halfway," "Ain't That Love," "Magic", "John Lennon," and "Mom's Hot."

Your mom's hot
Your a little shorty, but your moms hot for forty.
She's got a slamming body, she must have done Pilates


Simply hilarious lines, fucked up rhymes, and full-blown rocking solo on stage with a mixture of 50s sound and punk rock. There were shades of Duane Eddy twang guitar along with some of the loudest and fastest acoustic guitar you'll ever hear. He's definitely one of a kind, which is good because I don't think the world is big enough for two Hammels.

Tara Elliott and the Velvets closed out the night. With a booming voice and a solid rocking/punk band behind her she kicked ass! She was one part Meat Loaf, one part Romeo Void, one part Janis Joplin, and one part Iggy Pop. She's definitely someone to keep an eye on. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a future Asbury Music Award nomination for top female vocalist for her and that tremendously powerful voice. She's from Jersey, but has been concentrating on gigs in New York City for the past few years. She said she's trying to build a following around Asbury Park now.

For some reason, I kept wanting to hear her sing "Time Warp". Maybe it was her theatrical voice. I'd love to see them tackle a Romeo Void tune like "A Woman In Trouble" or "Never Say Never." The band did throw out a few interesting covers among their originals. Covers from The Stooges to The Searchers were part of the set.

This was a good example of what makes Tuesday nights so special. Tonight was a grab bag of genres that all seemed to work together and, like most Tuesdays, there's always a surprise at the end. Tonight, that surprise was Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets. I look forward to their return to the area. They rock!


- New Jersey Stage by Gary Wein

Read all press clips at my myspace page. Click on Pictures, Album "Press Clips" at myspace.com/taraelliottblues - The Rag by Donnie. G.

Thursday June 18, 2009, 2:07 PM-The fourth annual Wave Gathering, showcasing new and emerging bands and singer-songwriters, takes place Friday through Sunday at 20 locations around Asbury Park. More than 175 acts will be featured.
The festival will also offer workshops and panel discussions. And in a new twist this year, some of the acts will play at a free street festival on Cookman Avenue, on Saturday.
Tickets, good for admission to all shows, are $25 per day or $40 for all three. To order tickets, or see the complete schedule, visit WaveGathering.com. Tickets for single shows can also be purchased.
The following are some of the festival's highlights:
America's Cup Coffee Company,
663 Cookman Ave.
Friday: 7:45 p.m., Jerzy Jung; 8:45 p.m., Chris Ayer; 9:45 p.m., Shane Cooley; 10:30 p.m., Mash McLain
Saturday: 7 p.m., Evan Toth; 7:45 p.m., Deena and the Laughing Boys; 8:30 p.m., George Wirth; 9:15 p.m., Patrick Fitzsimmons; 10:15 p.m., Well Baby
Asbury Lanes,
209 Fourth Ave.
Friday: 9 p.m., Mondo Topless; 10 p.m., The Brimstones; 11 p.m., The Friggs; midnight, Stupidity
Sunday: 6:15 p.m., A Diary of Need; 7:15 p.m., Geena and Dragster; 8:15 p.m., Tara Elliott and the Red Velvets; 9:15 p.m., Barry and the Penetrators; 10:15 p.m., The Obvious
Mattison Park,
649 Mattison Ave.
Friday: 9 p.m., Jillian Rhys; 10 p.m., Jazz Pollution; 11 p.m., McRad featuring Chuck Treece; midnight, Underground Logic; 1 a.m., Dub Proof
Saturday: 10 p.m., The Fave; 11 p.m., Like Trains and Taxies; midnight, Mieka Pauley; 1 a.m., Arlan Feiles
Sunday: 8 p.m., Bamm Hollow; 9 p.m., Keith Kenny; 10 p.m., Eryn Shewell; 11 p.m., Project 222
Old Man Rafferty's,
541 Cookman Ave.
Friday: 9:30 p.m., Dave Pittenger; 10:15 p.m., Howard Jennings; 11 p.m., Joe Whyte; 11:45 p.m., James Dunigan
Saturday: 10:30 p.m., The Alice Project; 11:15 p.m., Stringbean and the Stalkers; midnight, Keith Monacchio
Parthenon Lounge at Synaxis,
662 Cookman Ave.
Friday: 8 p.m., Domenick Carino; 9 p.m., Laura Warshauer; 10 p.m., Madi Diaz; 11 p.m., Jeff Cafone
Saturday: 7:15 p.m., Joshua Van Ness; 8 p.m., Amanda Duncan; 9 p.m., Mike Errico; 10 p.m., Ari Hest; 11 p.m., Alex Brummel and Janel Elizabeth; midnight, Rick Barry
The Saint,
601 Main St.
Friday: 9 p.m., The Milwaukees; 10 p.m., Chris Batten and the Woods; 11 p.m., April Smith and the Great Picture Show; midnight, Carlon; 1 a.m., Highlines
Saturday: 7:15 p.m., Lumatic; 8 p.m., Joanna Burns; 9 p.m., the Bloodsugars;
10 p.m., Anthony Fiumano and the Medicine Chest; 11 p.m., Maybe Pete; midnight, the Honors; 1 a.m., the Lights Out
Sunday: 3 p.m., Rock Wilk; 4 p.m., the Amboys; 5 p.m., the Afterbangs; 6 p.m., Joe Harvard Band; 7 p.m., My State of Attraction; 8 p.m., The Queen Killing Kings; 9 p.m., Tunnels to Holland; 10 p.m., Rick Barry; 11 p.m., Jerzy Jung; midnight, Last Perfect Thing
Street Festival,
Cookman Avenue
Saturday: Noon, Christine Martucci; 12:45 p.m., Matt O'Ree; 1:30 p.m., Outside the Box; 2:15 p.m., The Reveling, featuring Jay Weinberg; 3 p.m., Val Emmich; 4 p.m., Red Wanting Blue; 5 p.m., Status Green
Tim McLoone's Supper Club,
Boardwalk at Ocean Avenue
Friday: 8 p.m., John Tropea Band, featuring Tom "Bones" Malone and Will Lee
Sunday: 5 p.m., Rob Dye Band; 6 p.m., "Songwriters By the Sea" featuring Roger Gardella, Pat "Soulcat" Toner, Bob Polding, Lisa Bouchelle, John Esposito, Joe D'Urso, Joe Rapolla, Joe Rapolla Jr., Jon Caspi.
- Jay Lustig of The Star Ledger!!

Asbury Park's annual music festival returns with new artists and old favorites.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT

The Wave Gathering Music Festival presented by Metromix Jerseyshore will take place June 19- 21, 2009 in Asbury Park, NJ. Coinciding with the rebirth of Asbury Park, the music of the region's great new artists are showcased throughout the entire weekend.

Last year's Wave Gathering Emerging Music Festival was the largest organized event ever held on the Jersey Shore, showcasing the talents of more than 180 artists at 23 music venues throughout the city and featured informative music panels and artist interviews highlighting the ever changing music industry.

The event continues to grow along with Asbury Park, and this year will add new venues as performance sites. Last year's event was a huge step forward for the rebirth of the town and the music community at large. The event continues to build upon each year's past performers and alumni like Ingrid Michaelson, Nicole Atkins and the Sea, Mieka Pauley, Laura Warshauer, Charlotte Sometimes, Val Emmich, Miss TK & The Revenge, Earl Greyhound, DESOL, Ari Hest, Parlor Mob, April Smith, and Jenny Owen Youngs, all who have continued to build their careers and gone on to major success after playing at Wave Gathering.

This year features many returning buzz artists already mentioned and noteworthy national label acts such as Madi Diaz (Nashville), Krista (NYC), The Queen Killing Kings (New Haven, CT), Dirty Sweet (San Diego), Red Wanting Blue (Columbus, OH), Chris Ayer (NYC), The Honors (Boston), Patrick Fitzsimmons (VT), Emma Sophina (Austrailian survivor of US Airways Flight 1549), Carlon (NYC), Panic Years (PA), The Bloodsugars (NYC), Future Future (Sparta, NJ) as well as our area's very own Val Emmich (who appeared this past year on Ugly Betty), Status Green, Jillian Rhys. Jerzy Jung, Scott Liss & the Sixty-Six, Christine Martucci, Matt O'Ree, Tunnels To Holland and young new comers Outside the Box and Quincy Mumford.

All of the festival artists can be heard on "Wave Radio" each night on The Penguin (http://www.ThePenguinRocks.com) from 9pm to midnight (EST). The online radio station, along with its sister site NewJerseyStage.com, will be home to the best sources of Wave Gathering Festival information including everything from schedules to information on the bands, venues, and local area.

As an added attraction, Wave Gathering will host a FREE outdoor street festival on Saturday, June 20th, 12-6 pm, in Downtown Asbury Park on Cookman Avenue to compliment the weekend showcases. The street festival will be a huge food and music festival which will showcase many excellent restaurants as well as entertain thousands with the sound of live music echoing down the streets.

Ice cold Miller Lite will be served all through the day and food and drinks can be purchased from participating restaurants, festival style, from tented areas throughout downtown Asbury. It will also be family friendly with entertainment for kids as well.

The Wave Gathering has built its reputation on its emerging artist showcases. If you're a music lover, this is the place to discover and explore new music first, before anyone else. Many venues in Asbury Park will host the most up and coming bands from the Tri-State area as well as around the country. Three day passes give you access to all indoor venues all weekend. Tickets for individual shows can also be purchased at each venue separately. For more information please visit www.wavegathering.com.

Three-day wristbands for $40 will grant full access to over twenty venues and $25 one-day wristbands are available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Without a wristband, separate venues will have their own admissions with many free venues also having live music. Saturday on Cookman Avenue will be free to the public.

The following artists are confirmed as of May 29, 2009...More artists to be confirmed shortly. For links to all artists songs and websites go to wavegathering.com and click on "bands" tab.

A Diary of Need, Adam Swink, Alan Cohen Experience, Alex Brumel and Janel Elizabeth, All The Tired Horses, Amanda Duncan, Anthony "Princeton" D'Amato, Anthony D'Amato, Anthony Fiumano, April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Ari Hest, Arlan Feiles, Aster Pheonyx, Astronaut Jones, Avi Wisnia, Bamm Hollow, Barry and the Penetrators, Beth Arentsen, Bob Denson, Bobby Strange, Bret Mosley, Brian Bisbee, Cara Salimando, Carlon, Chemtrail, Chris Ayer, Chris Batten and the Woods, Chris Smith, Christine Martucci Band, Clair Reilly Roe, Colie Brice, ConKrete Cowboys, Cook, Dave Pittenger, Deena and The Laughing Boys, Dirty Sweet, Divine Sign, Emma Sophina, Eryn Shewell Band, Evan Toth, Frank Bressi, Friends of Bill Wilson, Future Future, Gedeon McKinney, Geena (Dragster), Genevieve, George Wirth, Glen Burtnik, Grand Alto, Green Underground, Greg Wilkens, Highlines, Holtz, Howard Jennings, James Dalton, James Dunigan, Jared Costa, Jaymie Gerard, jazzpollution, Jeannie O'Neill & Thomas Martin, Jennings, Jerzy Jung, Jessy Tomsko, Jillian Rhys, Jo Wymer and the Itty Bitty Band, Joanna Burns, Joe D'Urso, Joe Harvard Band, Joe Rapolla, Joe Whyte, Joshua Van Ness, Justin Trawick, Kagero, Keith Kenny, Keith Monacchio, Krista, Kylie Edmond, Last Perfect Thing, Laura Warshauer, Like Trains and Taxis, Lisa Bianco, Lisa Bodnar, Lost In Society, Luke Brindley, Madi Diaz, Maia Davies, Marc Muller Trio, Martin Swinger, Matt O'Ree, Maybe Pete, McRad (featuring Chuck Treece), Michael Scotto, Mieka Pauley, Mike Black, Mike Errico, Mike Falzone, Mike Montrey, Mondo Topless, Moosejaw Muldoon, My State of Attraction, Nicola, No Wine For Kittens, Outside the Box, PTA, Panic Years, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Peasant, Planet Polina, Project 222, Quincy Mumford, Rebekah Jordan, Red Wanting Blue, Rick Barry, Rob Dye, Rock Wilk WORD, Roland Eckstein, Sam Sims, Scott Liss & the Sixty-Six, Sean Cox, Second Dan, Shane Cooley, Stacie Rose, Status Green, Stringbean and the Stalkers, Stupidity,
Tara Elliott and The Red Velvets, Tatiana Moroz, The Afterbangs, The Agreements, The Alice Project, The Amboys, The Aviation Orange, The Bloodsugars, The Brimstones, The Callen Sisters, The Danger Nuts, The Fave, The Friggs, The Grip Weeds, The Honors, The Lights Out, The Milwaukees, The Obvious, The Queen Killing Kings, The Soul Project, The Sunday Blues, The Wag, Todd Alsup, Tommy Fuller, Tunnels To Holland, Under New Ownership, Underground Logic, Val Emmich, WellbabyWave Gathering 2009 Announces Artists

Website: http://www.NewJerseyStage.com - New Jersey Stage- Gary Wein