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All Shall Fade battles it out in Sayreville
East Brunswick-based band sees success with original rock music
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer
A local rock band is finding that its name is hardly a barometer of its success.
All Shall Fade, made up of musicians from East Brunswick, Spotswood and North Brunswick, is far from fading in a hotly contested Battle of the Bands this summer. The band, which plays original music with hints of punk, heavy metal and pop, will compete in the finals Aug. 27 at the Starland Ballroom, Sayreville. The contest pits the modern rock band against three other groups, competing for a cash prize and free studio recording time, said East Brunswick’s Rob Brower, who assembled the band in late 2003.
Brower, 24, serves as All Shall Fade’s de facto manager, while his brother, Joe, is the keyboardist. Rounding out the lineup are singer Guy Coletti, drummer Milton Banerjee, guitarist Dan Page and bassist John Stevenson.
The band has survived a test that might make “American Idol” contestants weak in the knees. It has outlasted nearly 200 other bands to make it to the finals of the competition, an annual event sponsored by Jerseyshows.com. The early rounds of the Battle of the Bands were held last spring at The Saint, a popular original music club in Asbury Park, with the latest round held at the Starland in July.
There are two groupings for the contest — day shows and evening shows — and four bands are left in each. All Shade Fade is performing in the evening bracket with Barnida, There 4, and Lives or Levels.
Rob Brower formed All Shall Fade by bringing together friends who had separately told him they were interested in forming a band. Brower at first handled the lead singing chores but later stepped down for a behind-the-scenes role.
The band’s first show was in April 2004 at the Hamilton Street Cafe in Bound Brook, and the band went on to perform at South River’s Cruise Nights that spring and summer.
Page, the guitarist, said the band is influenced by groups such as Tool, My Chemical Romance and several 1990s alternative rock bands.
“It’s hard rock, but very melodic,” he said of All Shall Fade’s music.
Rob Brower described the group’s songs as “heavy with a poppy sound.”
Coletti usually writes the lyrics, Brower said, although Page has also contributed. All the band members help to come up with the music.
The band’s first original song was titled “Back to Life” and its most popular tune is “Burning From the Inside.”
And unlike many modern rock bands, All Shall Fade does allow some time for instrument solos, especially at the keyboard. This is a quality that sets the band apart from most, Page noted, as keyboards have typically not been a prominent feature in popular rock music since the 1980s.
Page said the band started out just “to have fun,” but things have gotten more serious as the music has evolved and due to its recent success. The band earlier this year played the Starland Ballroom twice, including a January tsunami benefit and an opening slot for Skid Row in April.
Page said the band is hoping to be signed to a record deal.
“Things have been getting intense, and we are building a fan base,” he said.
All the members are either in college or holding a day job, Brower said, but the band still rehearses twice a week in New Brunswick.
During the Aug. 27 contest, each band will perform a 30-minute set, which will be ranked by several judges in the audience, Brower said. The bands will be judged based on musical ability, the number of tickets they sold, reaction from the crowd and their performance as a whole.
Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 in advance; $12 day of show. The show also features last year’s two winners, Anon and Lunch Money Criminals, along with two national acts to be announced. - The Sentinel
All Shall Fade battles it out in Sayreville
East Brunswick-based band sees success with original rock music
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer
A local rock band is finding that its name is hardly a barometer of its success.
All Shall Fade, made up of musicians from East Brunswick, Spotswood and North Brunswick, is far from fading in a hotly contested Battle of the Bands this summer. The band, which plays original music with hints of punk, heavy metal and pop, will compete in the finals Aug. 27 at the Starland Ballroom, Sayreville. The contest pits the modern rock band against three other groups, competing for a cash prize and free studio recording time, said East Brunswick’s Rob Brower, who assembled the band in late 2003.
Brower, 24, serves as All Shall Fade’s de facto manager, while his brother, Joe, is the keyboardist. Rounding out the lineup are singer Guy Coletti, drummer Milton Banerjee, guitarist Dan Page and bassist John Stevenson.
The band has survived a test that might make “American Idol” contestants weak in the knees. It has outlasted nearly 200 other bands to make it to the finals of the competition, an annual event sponsored by Jerseyshows.com. The early rounds of the Battle of the Bands were held last spring at The Saint, a popular original music club in Asbury Park, with the latest round held at the Starland in July.
There are two groupings for the contest — day shows and evening shows — and four bands are left in each. All Shade Fade is performing in the evening bracket with Barnida, There 4, and Lives or Levels.
Rob Brower formed All Shall Fade by bringing together friends who had separately told him they were interested in forming a band. Brower at first handled the lead singing chores but later stepped down for a behind-the-scenes role.
The band’s first show was in April 2004 at the Hamilton Street Cafe in Bound Brook, and the band went on to perform at South River’s Cruise Nights that spring and summer.
Page, the guitarist, said the band is influenced by groups such as Tool, My Chemical Romance and several 1990s alternative rock bands.
“It’s hard rock, but very melodic,” he said of All Shall Fade’s music.
Rob Brower described the group’s songs as “heavy with a poppy sound.”
Coletti usually writes the lyrics, Brower said, although Page has also contributed. All the band members help to come up with the music.
The band’s first original song was titled “Back to Life” and its most popular tune is “Burning From the Inside.”
And unlike many modern rock bands, All Shall Fade does allow some time for instrument solos, especially at the keyboard. This is a quality that sets the band apart from most, Page noted, as keyboards have typically not been a prominent feature in popular rock music since the 1980s.
Page said the band started out just “to have fun,” but things have gotten more serious as the music has evolved and due to its recent success. The band earlier this year played the Starland Ballroom twice, including a January tsunami benefit and an opening slot for Skid Row in April.
Page said the band is hoping to be signed to a record deal.
“Things have been getting intense, and we are building a fan base,” he said.
All the members are either in college or holding a day job, Brower said, but the band still rehearses twice a week in New Brunswick.
During the Aug. 27 contest, each band will perform a 30-minute set, which will be ranked by several judges in the audience, Brower said. The bands will be judged based on musical ability, the number of tickets they sold, reaction from the crowd and their performance as a whole.
Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 in advance; $12 day of show. The show also features last year’s two winners, Anon and Lunch Money Criminals, along with two national acts to be announced. - The Sentinel
Discography
EP's:
Better Living Through Letting Go (Nov. 2006) (available on iTunes and Rhapsody)
The Sounds of Malice and Pride (Mar. 2006)
All Shall Fade (Aug. 2005)
Run. (Sept. 2004)
Hit (Mar. 2004)
LP's:
As This City Burns (Early 2008)
Singles:
Release (from the EP "The Sounds of Malice and Pride)
Featured on iTunes and Rhapsody
Featured on the Jerseyshows Get Heard Vol. 2 Sampler (May 2006)
Featured on local rock radio.
Photos
Bio
Sometimes walking away from the past can give you a bright perspective for the future. All Shall Fade definitely lives by that credo, knowing full well that it took a lot of sacrifice and walking away from previous bands to create the awesome blend of rock and roll they are creating today. Their new EP, "Better Living Through Letting Go", definitely proves that.
Maybe it was when they shared the stage with Powerman 5000, a band which inspired them. Or maybe it was when their EP sold out of its entire first pressing within the first 2 weeks. Perhaps it was when they performed at the finals of the 2005 Jerseyshows Battle of the Bands after only a year together. Whatever it is, the members of All Shall Fade have come to realize just what an impact they have had in the past few years.
It all started in December of 2003. Rob Brower (vocals), Joe Brower (keyboards), Guy Coletti (guitar), Milton Banerjee (drums), and Dan Page (guitar) convened in a room at the local-legend Big Noize Studios for a jam session. After 2 hours, All Shall Fade was born. Within the next few weeks, All Shall Fade wrote 3 songs and added a bass player, John Stevenson, to the mix. As a six-piece, All Shall Fade was starting to form into something brand new, away from tne nu-metal and emo trends populating the New Jersey local scene.
Rob decided to leave the band and continue on in a more behind-the-scenes role, allowing Guy to step off of the guitar and onto the lead mic. Enter Nick Goncalves, a formidable guitar player from Middlesex, NJ. With the lineup solidified, All Shall Fade began to play shows at small places such as the Hamilton Street Cafe in Bound Brook, NJ, as well as the annual South River Cruise Nite festival. In September 2004, All Shall Fade was given the chance to play with Drive-Thru Records alumni Rx Bandits in a great show at Livingston College.
Nick soon after departed from the band for personal reasons, and left All Shall Fade temporarily as a five piece band. It wasn't until the addition of Jimmy Clark (of local band Amber Blues), that All Shall Fade regained the strength of a six-piece band. After playing with another Drive-Thru band (I Am the Avalanche) and then making their debut at the hallowed Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ., Jimmy left the band, once again rendering All Shall Fade one member short.
Guy began to play guitar again, and All Shall Fade forged on with only five members. Perhaps this was for the best, because this was when All Shall Fade started to hit their prime. During the summer of 2005, All Shall Fade played with 80's rockers Skid Row, advanced to the finals of the Jerseyshows Battle of the Bands, and played their first show outside of New Jersey. 2005 was a huge year for All Shall Fade, all the way up until Joe's departure in September. After a huge "going-away" show at The Rail, All Shall Fade had to adjust to life as a four piece band.
The transition was difficult, and after much tinkering with their sound, decided not to pursue a new keyboard player. With the release of "The Sounds of Malice and Pride" in March 2006 in coordination with a show opening for the world famous Powerman 5000, All Shall Fade re-emerged to the New Jersey music scene.
Focusing more on the music than the dramatics, All Shall Fade once again was given some huge opportunities in 2006, including playing with bands like The SmashUp (Warcon Records), and personal favorites Dropping Daylight and Monty Are I. 2006 also saw the release of "Better Living Through Letting Go", the band's biggest release to date. After selling out the first printing of the CD, it has been made available to those who were unable to get a copy on iTunes.
Along with the news that they would get to open for Amity Lane (formerly known as TRUSTcompany) came a devastating blow. Another founding member, Milton, would be leaving. After a blowout of a farewell show, All Shall Fade pondered their future.
Unsure of what was to come, Dan, Guy, and John began playing around with a few different drummers. It was something special they found in longtime friend Paul Tullo, formerly of Patient Zer0. After just 2 weeks of playing together, the new All Shall Fade lineup made their debut appearance at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. The future is looking very bright for the 4-piece, and after lineup changes galore, everything is looking solid for the guys.
In 2008, All Shall Fade will release their first full-length album, entitled "As This City Burns", with the title track being released as the first single.
All Shall Fade is here to put an end to the cookie-cutter mediocrity of the New Jersey music scene, and to expose the world to a new breed of hard rock.
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