JADE
Bedminster, New Jersey, United States | SELF
Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
North Jersey Notes: Jade
—by Tim Louie, September 4, 2009
Last month, my new band Mean Venus opened for Joe Lynn Turner’s Over The Rainbow down at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. The act that went on right before us was a band called Jade. What raised my curiosity about them was their draw. It was pretty impressive for a band of young bucks, so I had to watch their performance. They were pretty good! Guitarist Nick Kashmanian, who reminded me of a young Slash, really proved that he could shred with the big boys. I logged onto Jade’s MySpace page, myspace.com/jadetheband, to give their song “Threads Of Fate” a listen. It had a lot of promise and the guitar work was excellent. The only thing that I wasn’t crazy about was singer Tyler Abelson’s voice, which I felt was the weakest thing about the song, although, Tyler’s voice didn’t sound all that bad live!
Jade was formed in early 2005 when 15-year-olds, Tyler Abelson (lead vocals/bass), Nick Kashmanian (guitar), Mike Kitlas (guitar), and Robbie Blank (drums) decided that they wanted to put a rock ‘n’ roll band together. In the summer of 2005, they began to write their first full-length CD, which they self-produced and completed in early 2006. Jade never released the CD due to their ever-maturing sound (they eventually outgrew the sound of their CD) so, instead of releasing the it, the band decided to concentrate more on their live performance and growing their fan base.
As Jade continued to play shows, their experience matured instrumentally, lyrically, and in their songwriting. Their live show seemed pretty energetic and the crowd seemed to love them. Especially when they performed crowd favorites like “Mental Suicide” and “Threads Of Fate,” which will be featured on the band’s upcoming debut CD, Threads Of Fate. Find out where Jade is playing next by logging onto jadetheband.com or myspace.com/jadetheband. - The Aquarian
Discography
JADE - 2010 Release TBA
Photos
Bio
It is rare for the original lineup of a young band to hold as much raw talent as JADE of Bedminster, New Jersey. The Northern Jersey quintet possesses the virtuosity and vision capable of altering the course of progressive metal and hard rock. These unassuming young men look to make serious moves over the next year as they continue to leave audiences in awe (and with melted faces).
High school friends, Tyler Ableson (Vocals/Bass), Nick Kashmanian (Guitar/Vocals), Robbie Blank (Drums), and Mike Kitlas (Guitar) formed JADE in late 2004. The young band of high school freshmen started as many do: in a garage playing classic rock standards. The original music followed and by 2006 the band had a full set of material and were drawing at local YMCAs and local halls. The band worked tirelessly to expand their fan-base and market their brand of rock.
The bands graduation from Bernards High School markedly accelerated the bands progress. Just weeks after receiving diplomas, the band received a distinction of a different sort having won a slot on the Vans Warped Tour after competing for the spot in Starland Ballrooms War for Warped Tour. The band also played a number of dates at the legendary Stone Pony, including an engagement opening for Joey Lynn Turner in Over the Rainbow. In the summer of 2009 the band progressed to the national finals in the Gorilla Production Battle of the Bands. 2009 also saw the addition of Joey Percario on Guitar and Alex Kashmanian on bass guitar, relieving Ableson and securing a full-fledged front man for the group.
JADEs music aptly described as guitar-driven, contains all the hallmarks of the progressive metal genre; triumphant guitar harmonies, righteous soloing, complex and intricate rhythmic patterns, and massive talent. The countless hours the band has spent honing their craft is clearly evident in their intricate and satisfying arrangements. Paired with pop sensibility, the bands newest material looks to be their most successful to date.
The coming months look to be promising for the young band as they hit the studio in early 2010, expand to new markets and plan to release their debut extended play. Keep an eye on this group in the coming year if you want to say you were there when JADE got their start.
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