KING FALCON

If anyone ever understood the power that music possesses, it was probably Bob Marley. His quote about how when the music hits you feel no pain is perhaps the best expression of music’s impact that any string of words could convey. It’s so great, in fact, that I would argue critics like myself spend our entire lives trying to find new ways to say that succinct thought about the music we love.

I don’t know about you, but my back is sore from carrying the weight of the world. The coronavirus, or COVID-19, has provided a lot of time to think, and my brain has used that time to worry about a million things outside of my control. I worry about work, and money, and whether or not people will listen to experts instead of talking heads promoting party politics. I worry about friends that are alone and struggling with addiction, mental health, or a combination of the two. I’m worried about a lot of things all of the time, and to be honest, it’s getting to me.



Thankfully, music still exists. A great song can shake those worries from our shoulders and provide a taste of escapism that, albeit brief, reminds us of the beauty in the world.

In the early days of quarantine, my soundtrack to life indoors was largely comprised of familiar releases that provided a sense of comfort. As time has carried on, however, I find myself increasingly on the hunt for something, anything, to make me feel alive. Music has the power to ignite our souls, which is precisely what King Falcon accomplishes on their exquisite new single, “Shake! Shake! Shake!”



A pure and simple rock song built with thunderous drums and a catchy riff you’ll be thinking about for days, “Shake! Shake! Shake” brings to mind the free-wheeling rock of the early 2000s when groups such as Jet and The Vines were ascending through the indie hierarchy. It’s the kind of song that feels simultaneously off the cuff and meticulously crafted to deliver as much fun and excitement as possible in the shortest amount of time. To try and give a damn about the world outside your view while it plays is a feat no person can accomplish, and that is what makes it the perfect song for this moment in time.

Human beings have a hard time accepting limitations. In certain spectacular cases, our desire to prove the universe wrong leads to world-changing revolutions, but those instances are few and far between. Far more common is the act of driving yourself insane by pondering questions and problems that have no solutions, or at least, nothing you can do to influence their outcome. COVID-19 is an example of the latter, and that is why you need King Falcon’s latest single in your life. The band is single-handedly providing the freedom and escapism our minds and bodies desperately need. They are a reminder that, even in the darkest timeline, you can continue to dance and embrace the miracle of life.



“Shake! Shake! Shake!” is the breath of fresh air we need right now. It’s a reminder of human resilience, and how we will overcome this setback as we have countless challenges throughout time. The human spirit is unbreakable, but in times of crisis, we often forget that fact as we fall victim to fears of the unknown. King Falcon is here to deliver a hard reset of your perspective. The time to cower is over. Dance your cares away. Dance until your feet bleed and you cannot catch your breath. Dance until you remember that you’re alive, which is a powerful thing, and don’t let any disease or chaos beyond your control make you lost sight of that. - James Shotwell

The infectious track – with an instantly funky, sticky chorus was composed by King Falcon’s Michael Rubin and James Terranova, along with music producers HEAVY (Lovely the Band, Dirty Heads, Saint Motel) at NRG studios in North Hollywood, CA. The video for the song was directed by Dale “Rage” Resteghini of Raging Nation Films.

Rubin explains how the song came together: “James and I flew out to Los Angeles to work on “Shake! Shake! Shake!”. We had never been to LA, and only had 3 days to write and record the entire song. We didn’t have any prewritten ideas, we just kind of went with the flow of the moment and hoped for the best. The night before tracking, we found out that the studio didn’t have a snare drum or cymbals, or even an engineer available at the time. Luckily our hotel was right next to an instrument rental facility… But unluckily that facility was closed due to a parade on Hollywood Blvd! With a bunch of scrambling and many anxious phone calls, we scrounged up a drum set and James decided to engineer the song himself”.

He continues “The song is literally about a seduction that happens in a bar, but the song actually has a double meaning which, unfortunately, I cannot reveal due to privacy concerns. - Leah Brungardt

Some of the hottest new music is sometimes right under your nose, or in this case one state over. What was surprising was the connections we share with some of the local musicians who have created the Long Island, New York music scene. What surprised me next was the track, SHAKE! SHAKE! SHAKE! that has the entire staff still singing it to themselves in the cubicles of Total Order Magazine and 99WNRR. Then again catchy hooks are a mainstay for the great new band from Queens. Michael Rubin (Guitar and Vocals) James Terranova (Drums) are ready to shake things up! This is King Falcon!


Photo Credit: King Falcon Facebook
How did you get King Falcon started?
MICHAEL: I have been in different bands with James, the drummer, for about 10 years now. We just wanted to do something different than those other bands, more in the alt rock genre and King Falcon is our outlet. It’s the way we create music. My guitar has a certain sound and James has a certain style of drumming and that organically creates with sound. We’ve been listening to bands like the Black Keys and King Impala. I think it’s music we can make really well.
What do you think the scene will be like when we come out of the pandemic, considering the concert going crowds on the East coast weren’t that robust to begin with?
MICHAEL: Not an easy question. I mean if you put 5 guys in a van and have them tour across the country, that’s going to be the best
way to transfer any disease from one state to the next, that’s for sure. So until there is a vaccine, that seems pretty irresponsible. You’re not go- ing to see the bigger acts play as well, Because they can afford not to. For the smaller bands it’s very dif cult because this is how you stay alive in the industry. You’re getting paid $200 a night and that’s rent, gas and food for a band of 5 or 6 people. Artistically, since bands can’t tour, I think this time would be better served to write and create more content. It’s not down time by any stretch. Maybe we give up a tour but maybe we get another album out of it.
I don’t know, more Instagram content? LOL. I meant that is what a concert does. It’s a distraction from everyday life.
What is the plan going forward for King Falcon in light of the pandemic?
MICHAEL: We already have an EP recorded and we’ll be putting those out. It’s crazy! There has never been this much time since I have seen James. It’s been months. We are trying to populate social
media as much as we can until James and I can get back together and lm another video to release another track. We’re going to see how long this goes. We might have to release another single if we can’t get back together for a video. It’s really touch and go, and we have no other choice.
We used to have rock and roll heroes that we all looked up to. Do we still need them in this day and age?
MICHAEL: I think it’s because the music business has changed and people know more of what they are doing. Years ago the rockstars could be rockstars and not handle so much on the business end. There is a lot more professionalism from rockstars now. The rock and roll stars of old symbolize everything teenagers grew up lovin: anti- establishment, sticking it to the man, sex, drugs and rock and roll and going crazy. Now you can’t get away with those things anymore. There are no more guitar heroes. You might be able to
say Jack White but he is kinda niche. You used to be able to take over the whole world by being a guitar player,
It just doesn’t exist anymore.
Is it because of videos and 12 year olds learning how to play their instrument really well?
MICHAEL:I think that it’s the people who are most famous that re ect the over attitude of the industry. If you look at music in the 70’s, everybody was doing drugs. The ones that were the coolest doing drugs were the rockstars. If you take a look at the 90’s, it was a dark time for the industry. think the ones who treat it like a business now are the ones who are the most successful.
Is the distance between being a garage band in the 70’s and 80’s to becoming rockstars closer than it is right now, even with the ability of social media and technology?
MICHAEL: Yes, I agree. Take Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, you never saw what his life was like day to day, you just saw Jimmy Page. You can really follow all of these people’s lives everyday so there are no mystical surprises. The whole experience is different.
What was the inspiration that made you want to pick up a guitar and do this for a living?
MICHAEL: Growing up, my tastes were differ-
ent than anyone else. At 10 years old, I was listening to Led Zeppelin and Steely Dan. I know
every note to every song from Pink Floyd, even
the album Umma Gumma. I was that kinda kid.
That manifested itself in Guitar Hero® for a bit.
My mother got me a guitar for my birthday that year because she wanted me to play the real thing. It de ned me as an individual at a young age.

“The rock and roll stars of old symbolize everything teenagers grew up loving: anti-establishment, sticking it to the man, sex, drugs and rock and roll and going crazy. Now you can’t get away with those things anymore.” -

Bay Ragni sits down and talks with Michael Rubin, the Lead Singer & Guitarist of King Falcon, and we find out about how this NYC rocker is dealing with Coronavirus & being Quarantined, How and why this 2 piece band, is just a 2 piece, plus their first single & video "Shake, Shake, Shake, and tons more!!! - The Rock n Ragni Show

Eclectic and genre defying, King Falcon are an NYC based duo including vocalist/guitarist Michael Rubin and drummer James Terranova, that are becoming a rock and roll force on the rise. The band is constantly pushing themselves to explore innovative sounds by blending musical styles, and with the release of their danceable new single “Shake, Shake, Shake”, the band plan to make their presence known.

King Falcon sat down with All Punked Up to talk about their new single, being stuck in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and much more. Read the interview below!

Q. How did King Falcon form?

A.King Falcon formed on November 30th, 2019. That’s when we picked the name and decided to do it. We recorded ‘Shake, Shake, Shake,’ in the end of December.

Q. Take us through that recording, what made you both decide to release that song?

A.The way we did Shake Shake Shake is different from the rest of our music. For the first song our manager set us up with a bunch of producers out in Los Angeles. We flew out there with no idea what we were going to make. So we flew out there for three days to kind of wing it and see what happens.

We spent our first day getting a feel for the city and on the other two days we were in the studio recording the song. At the end of the third day came out with Shake shake shake. It was a really last minute go-with-the-flow, wing-it type process.



Q. It seemed like it was pretty easy to record. did you have any other experience in music before King Falcon?

A. James and I are in another band called the Inoculated Canaries, I know a little bit of a mouthful. We’ve done that for more than ten years. We have a bunch of music and it’s a totally different concept.

Q. How is King Falcon different from your other band?

A. If you listen to any music from our other band, we always struggled to make music that sounds like other bands. Every time people listen to it, they can’t pinpoint a certain sound. With King Falcon, we wanted to take that same original stuff you’ve never heard before, but we wanted to channel that in alterative rock. King Falcon is focused on being Alt rock. We want to sound like Tame Impala and a Black Keys type of vibe.

Q. Switching gears here real quick, obviously we’re in the middle of a pandemic. How has COVID-19 affected your band?

A. First of all, we were supposed to have our first release party show for Shake shake shake on April 1stat a club in downtown manhatten and pretty much it got cancelled because we can’t have 200 people in a basement during a pandemic. It’s a recipe for disaster. So, our first show for King Falcon got cancelled. We had five or six shows after that which are cancelled too.

Q. Has it altered your approach to releasing music?

A. I think we had a different schedule planned for releasing music. James and I had a whole E.P recorded and we’re going to start working on videos to release every month or so. I think we sort of hand to hit a reset button, but we’re focused now on the things that we can control because we can’t control how long this [the pandemic] will go, we can’t control the fact we can’t play live shows, but we can control digital content.

Q. What do you plan to do with digital content?

A. It’s just a touch and go thing. If this goes on for too long we might have to release music with no videos. We’re trying to do as much stuff as we can to interact with people.

Q. Is there any date we can expect new content or music from you?

A. If it was up to me, we would release music tomorrow. Our manager and PR guy are in charge of that. But we hope to release new music during the summer. It all depends on what happens during the Corona Virus.

Q. Coming to a close on the interview, what do you want to come out of this band? Short-term or long-term?

A. My mom has been someone who’s always helped me. My mom walways told me that if I ever made it I’d have to buy her a Porsche. I want to be able to make enough money with music one day to get my mom a Porsche.

Make sure you go stream their debut single, ‘Shake, Shake, Shake’, and check out their social media handles as well! - John Aubert

The NYC based alternative rock duo King Falcon recently released their energetic new single – “Shake, Shake, Shake“. They are ready to keep the rock and roll train moving along. But like many people, they have been hit by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Coronavirus has slightly altered the bands plan to release songs and tour. Actually, it’s affected the band on a personal level. Singer and guitar player, Michael Rubin tells Sound Vapors that drummer James Terranova had been stricken with the virus as we were discussing the plans to release another single. Rubin says, “It’s a little tricky now because of the Coronavirus. Originally, we were going to release another single that we were going to make a music video for. But James actually had the Coronavirus so James and I haven’t seen each other.. You want to hear something crazy? James got the Coronavirus and he lost his sense of smell. He can’t smell anymore.”



I’ve read that people have lost their sense of taste but this was the first time I had heard of someone losing their sense of smell. I asked Michael if it was a permanent condition. He responded, “It’s been two and half weeks and he still can’t smell. So we don’t know yet. But everyday he’s got to log it and he’s got a couple of things he has to smell. He’s got vanilla extract, cologne and really fragrant stuff. So everyday he has to track if he can smell anything.”

He continued explaining what the band was planning to do in light of these setbacks in regards to the music and a new single. Michael says,”We have one recorded and we want to release it as soon as possible. But we want to make sure the right stuff comes out with it so we’re going to try and make a video and hopefully release all five songs.”



I wondered if the band was going to wait to release all five songs until some of the quarantine restrictions were lifted so they can give it a proper release and tour. He tells me, “I’m not sure if the whole thing will wait for it, for all five songs, but I definitely think two or three of them will. I think James and I will try to put something together. Like a visual to go along with the songs.”

King Falcon - Shake! Shake! Shake!

Judging by the sound of Shake, Shake, Shake, I can tell you that I’m pretty excited to hear what else these two have come up with.

Rubin breaks down the timeline of forming, writing and going into the studio, “So November we picked the name of the band. We no idea what it’s going to sound like apart that it’s going to be alt-rock. We don’t know what it’s going to look like. We don’t know who the members are going to be, aside from me and James. Everything is kind of up in the air.”



He continues, “In December we decide to book a plane ticket to go work with a producer group called Heavy – Stuart and Jason – they’re out in L.A. So we book a ticket to go out there for three days. James is the guy that really likes to plan stuff in advance. I am not. :laughs: So he kept trying to get together to write stuff and I was like, don’t worry about it, we’ll get to it, we’ll get to it.”

“It’s the night before we’re supposed to go to L.A. and James and I haven’t written a word or a lick or a key or anything. So we hop on the plane and we go there. We spent a whole day messing around in L.A. Doing what we do. The next day we’re like, crap we only have two days here to write and record the whole song. So we wound up writing the whole song that second day. That night we were getting all of our things together for the studio the next day. Last minute at like 11’o clock we realized there was no drum kit and no engineer at the studio. So we scoured the entirety of downtown L.A. and you might think, “sure go rent something”, right? This was a Sunday night and there was a parade. There was a huge parade down Hollywood Blvd and they shut down like half of L.A. and if you were on one side you pretty much couldn’t get to the other side.”



Michael finishes up this fascinating story, “So we happened to be on the side that had no rental places on it. So we couldn’t do that and everything was closed. We had to be at the studio in like nine hours. James and I called every person that knew any person that could possible know anyone in L.A. and we managed to piece together a drum set. Then we had to figure out what to do about an engineer. James is kind of an engineer, that’s kind of his thing that he does. So he “googled” all the gear that they had at the studio and figured out how to use it. The next day we showed up, James engineered it and played a drum kit that we put together from people around L.A. and we tracked the whole song and then went home.”

I’ve previously written that sometimes you can catch lighting in a bottle or find some magic in times of stress or discomfort. Whatever it was, it clearly worked for these two. The result is catchy, cleverly put together song in “Shake, Shake, Shake”. Check out the song on Spotify

I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears open for new music from King Falcon as it gets released. Go give these guys a listen. Maybe you will feel the same as me. - Tommy Marz

Fast-rising New York duo King Falcon stop by Inside Music to discuss the challenges of promoting new music in the age of COVID-19.
The music business will never be like it was before March 2020. The spread of COVID-19 not only brought touring to a halt, but it also forced the industry to rethink its promotional efforts completely. Artists at every level of the music business found themselves challenged to make people care about their creativity without being able to meet and engage with them in person. When this era ends, the lessons gained from this time will continue to inform future promotional decisions. There is no going back, and it’s not worth it to try.

King Falcon is not an arena headlining band. The duo barely had a chance to make their name known before coronavirus brought the entertainment industry to a halt. Like many other indie artists, the group has to choose between pushing ahead in any way possible or doing their best to wait until the current pandemic ends. They believe constant progress is the key to establishing their name among the modern rock great, and they are working hard to find exciting ways to engage oversaturated social media users until live music returns.

Luckily, the music King Falcon produces is great. The band’s songs provide a much needed moment of escapism from our trying times. It’s the kind of wild, unpredictable rock that shakes your soul and moves your feet.


On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell chats with fast-rising group King Falcon about the challenge of promoting new music in the age of COVID. King Falcon shares the difficulties they’ve been experiencing as a new group trying to be heard, but also the positives of needing to think outside the box when it comes to marketing. You can stream the group’s latest single, “Shake! Shake! Shake!,” wherever you find music. - James Shotwell

Mike Rubin Talks About Their Deadline Oriented Writing and (Almost) Reveals the FULL STORY Behind “Shake! Shake! Shake!”

There is no doubt that this may be the best time to release new music in the last fifteen years. Most areas have a literal captive audience looking for something to lift their spirits while in the various world wide lock-downs. King Falcon delivers with their self-proclaimed danceable single “Shake! Shake! Shake!”

Mike Rubin explained how quickly they worked on this new music. “King Falcon didn’t even exist until like the end of November. By that point we just had a name. Two weeks later we were on a flight to LA to work with a couple of producers. In those three days we went from not even knowing what King Falcon should really sound like to having a completely finished and recorded song. That’s where “Shake!” came from. When you do something that quickly, it kind of forces you to go with your gut. You don’t over think things quite as much. Like when you sit down and write something and give yourself two weeks to write it, you overthink every single word your write, but if you give yourself six hours you tend to just get things done.”

So do they work well under pressure? “(Laughs) I don’t know if we work well under pressure. We get a good result, but the process can be a bit stressful at times.”

If it’s stressful how does he de-stress? “That’s been especially tough in these trying times. Really my only two activities during this times are number one: Just going for drives up and down the highway just listening to music. I usually go about midnight to one in the morning when there is no one on the road and it’s not too hot out. I (also) watch a lot of reality TV. TLC is one of my favorite channels. I watch a lot of Cold Case Files, and prison system vs justice system shows.”



King Falcon #3

What about touring plans? We know that it really is up in the air, but what is the wish list? “We are looking more toward January because James and I can’t even be in the same room. He actually had the Corona Virus. He has lost his sense of smell as a result. So, he and I haven’t seen each other, but we have started virtual kind of shows. So, we are working on a show we can put together so people can get an idea of what it’s like to see us live. If this continues ( Covid-19) and lasts until January or February, it’s going to be a little touch and go on touring. Even then, it will be tough because people don’t like to go out in the snow. It really effects smaller bands more than bigger bands. If your Jack White, if you’re The Rolling Stones, you can just say this summer, I’m going to take a year off and it’s OK if you don’t make the money you would have, but if you’re a small band and you play a local show, that two hundred bucks that you get pays your rent. You gotta do five six of those a week just to stay alive.”

So when live music comes back how will the crowds be? “I think you’ll see a mix, but based on the crowds at the opening of the beaches, I think you will see plenty of people out there flocking to see a show. There are definitely people who are emotionally traumatized by this who will afraid to go out – but there are just as many people who are just anxious to be out of the house and socializing in pubic again. I can’t wait to get out of here. I’ve been in my house for seventy six days”.

They became a Two Piece that developed from their other band The Inoculated Canaries – a band that plays a more retro sound. “It just kind of happened that way. We created King Falcon to try some more modern sounds. Eventually, the other two guys said they really didn’t have time for this and that’s OK, we still have the Canaries. ” In fact, both bands were supposed to play SXSW. “So we had to figure out, how to do backing tracks and get all that together and by the time we did that, it was April 1st.” He admits it’s a bit awkward on stage being the focal point of everything. “Yes, but you just have to put it behind you and focus on what is happening. When it’s just you up there, you’re in the middle of a song and it’s extremely loud and you’ve got the lights in your face and you really can’ t see anything beyond that, you get into this autopilot mode where all of these songs you’ve rehearsed for so long, you flip this switch. You do this 45 minute show and it’s almost like what the hell just happened. It’s like I wasn’t even there. The only time I made mistakes is when I had realization moments when I notice ‘Oh my God, I’m playing to a bunch of people.”

King Falcon - Shake! Shake! Shake! single 2400x2400

As far as the real story behind “Shake! Shake! Shake!”, this was the most I could get. “Boy I really would love to (tell you the whole story) but I don’t really want to get anybody in trouble. All I’m going to say is there are many different things that are legal in LA that are not legal in New York. I’m sure you can figure out what those are. I’m not going to confirm or deny. We had a night where we engaged in some of those things that are legal in LA, It was me, James and a couple other people, and the people we were with, let’s just say couldn’t hang in there. So, a short night turned into a very long night.” We will leave the rest to the imagination. “The next release, which does not have a date yet – will be some different sounds and we’ll see how far we can take that.” Look for “When the Party Is Over” sometime in late summer. “You’ll hear the continuing evolution of the band.”

In the meantime, if you want to let your imagination run wild, check out their single “Shake! Shake! Shake!” on all platforms. -

Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

We’re doing really well – Thanks for speaking with us!

Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Shake! Shake! Shake!”?

James and I wrote and recorded the entire song in 3 days. We flew out to LA and really just kind of gave ourselves a deadline and went with the wind. Working that way, I think it gave us the motivation to focus and really commit to stuff. Sometimes you overthink songwriting, when you force yourself to do it quickly you tend to just follow your gut more. That’s how it was for us anyway.

Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?

There are a lot of things that are kosher in LA that don’t really fly over here in New York. You can let your mind wander with that one, but I’ll just say that Los Angeles is one of my favorite cities in the world and “Shake! Shake! Shake!” never would have happened anywhere else. - RJ Frometa

Michael Rubin and James Terranova are half of the rock band The Inoculated Canneries. They’re also all of new rock act King Falcon. The band recently made their debut with their single “Shake! Shake! Shake!” and they’ve been generating some decent buzz around that single since it came out. Alternative Addiction recently talked with Michael Rubin about King Falcon and his complex relationship with Terranova.

“I’m 21 and I’ve been in the Inoculated Canneries since I was 13,” said Rubin when talking about his shift towards King Falcon even though The Inoculated Canaries remain active. “That’s when I started the band. The members have changed somewhat, but James and I have been in that band for seven years – the entirety of it. I always say that James is my best friend and my arch-nemesis. I absolutely hate him, but I couldn’t image doing any kind of creative project without him because we work so well together. The Canaries were about being a throwback rock band. I think a while into it we realized that if we wanted to do more stuff with mainstream music, we had to do something different. The music was too strange to do anything with the mainstream. We love it and we want to keep doing it, but we want to something more mainstream too.”

Rubin and Terranova didn’t know what kind of mainstream music they wanted to make; they just knew they wanted to make something more modern than what they’d been making. That’s when they flew out to L.A. to work and they made “Shake! Shake! Shake!”

When you’re listening through “Shake! Shake! Shake!” it definitely has some classic influences but there’s a modern sound to it too. There’s no denying that there’s a lot of magic in the chemistry that Rubin and Terranova have. That’s what makes their love/hate relationship so interesting.

“We’re just fundamentally different people. James loves to have everything planned out. He’s a studio engineer and he like to change frequencies tiny amounts and deal with nerd gear and plug wires in. He looks like an old telephone operator plugging things in the studio. James is that kind of guy. I’m very much a wing it, let’s figure it out as we go kind of guy. Those two personalities don’t interact with each other in a super great way all the time, but I think we find a happy medium where we can get things done. It takes the best of both of us that’s why we work well together but it’s also why we butt heads.” added Rubin.

However they work together, there’s something to it. King Falcon’s shows have been postponed like everybody else’s but when they get back to it, they’ll have something to build on. -aa -

Hey Guys!! What’s been your reaction to the fans excitement for this new project?

Mike: It’s been fantastic. Our video for “Shake! Shake! Shake!” started trending on Vevo’s “New Rock” chart and it kinda blew my mind. I’m just glad people really seem to dig the track!

James: I’m just really glad to see people excited with something we’ve put so much effort into.

How excited were you guys to get “Shake, Shake, Shake” out into the world?

Mike: Unbelievably excited! We’ve been working on this for a couple of months now and to finally see it out there in the world feels a bit surreal. It’s also the very first thing that we’ve ever released as King Falcon, so it all feels a lot more real now.

James: So stoked. Each song is like a baby, it needs to be cared for and nurtured, seeing it go out into the real world is a small part terrifying – but a large part exciting!

What other release plans do you guys have for 2020?

Mike: Well, obviously this whole COVID-19 thing changed some of our plans. We actually have an entire E.P. recorded, but filming music videos is going to be a little bit difficult until we’re all allowed to go back outside again. We’ve got a whole bunch of content, but cant promise any solid release dates at the moment because the entire world is in the middle of taking a short hiatus.

What do you hope your supporters will think of the new music, as opposed to what you released from your previous band, The Inoculated Canaries?

Mike: Although both bands have birds in the name (Yes, that was on purpose), the music is totally different. I think the King Falcon sound is very modern whereas the Canaries’ sound was supposed to be much more vintage. The way that we approach writing for both bands is very different. Most Canaries’ songs started off as solo pieces for acoustic guitar and vocals. With Falcon, we focus on the actual production from the very beginning. If you like the Canaries stuff, don’t worry there will be more of it. And if you like the King Falcon stuff, don’t worry there will be plenty more of that as well. All we know how to do is make music, and we plan on making plenty of it.

James: The goal of King Falcon is to break down songwriting into its most basic form; a dope groove, melody and harmony, and slick lyrical content. The Canaries are a different beast. From day one it’s always been about doing things the hardest way possible. That’s how it was done back in the day and that’s the vibe we’re trying to keep alive.

What type of music are you leaning towards for your music career going forward?

Mike: I mean, at the heart of everything we do is Rock and Roll. You won’t see us put out any hip hop or club music anytime soon. It just wouldn’t be genuine.

James: If it has real guitar and drums, I’m interested. It’s that simple.

How do you want your relationship to be like with your supporters?

Mike: Oof… tough question. Maybe a good morning text when I wake up and then a good night one before bed?

James: I’m not really a drinker, but you could definitely take me out for a nice steak or something.

What’s something your fans don’t know about you?

Mike: I’m actually a huge nerd. I don’t go out much – I don’t like clubs. Frankly, I’m the kind of guy to spend hours on the internet watching people build engines for cars and things like that. I’m a big car guy, although I’ve talked about that in interviews before.

James: I also moonlight as a recording engineer, and (I swear I’m not tooting my own horn here) I own a pretty dope recording studio in Brooklyn. I’ve worked with a number of A-list artists in the past few years like Alicia Keys, Justin Bieber, and Zayn Malik.

What do you want your fans to know if they ever see you in public?

Mike: I don’t bite, come say Hi! Although, I will inevitably run out of interesting things to say unless I’m talking about guitars or something like that. Don’t take it personally, I was never a natural conversationalist.

James: I might seem like I don’t wanna be bothered at first but I promise you it’s just the crippling anxiety and depression talking, if you take that all away I’m almost a real person!

What do you want your message to be towards your fans? What do you want your fans to take away from your music and shows?

Mike: I think I just want people to have a good time! King Falcon isn’t supposed to be a band with a higher purpose and we’re not a band with an agenda. We just wanna make music that makes people dance, makes people feel something, and makes people enjoy the 3 or so minutes they spend listening to the song.

James: The world is a scary and crazy place. If we can make even one person smile and nod their head for at least a second then I think we’ve got our point across.

What’s one word you would use to describe what your fans have allowed you to accomplish?

Mike: Purpose. If nobody listens to the music, what’s the point of making it? It would be narcissistic for me to sit here and listen to my own songs all day…

James: Enlightenment. Given the times we’re in, knowing that our passion is something other people believe in too is truly awesome.

Is there anyone in the music business you are dying to meet?

Mike: Kevin Parker from Tame Impala. I absolutely LOVE Tame Impala. Also Dave Grohl, because he’s Dave freakin’ Grohl!

James: I’d love to talk gear with Butch Vig and production with Brian Wilson.

Why do you think social media is so important for artists like yourself?

Mike: Everybody is on social media. If you’re not constantly paying attention to your socials, people won’t constantly pay attention to you.

James: Like a wise man once said, “If you didn’t post about your keto diet, are you even on one?”

What would you say is your biggest dream/goal right now?

Mike: Realistic or unrealistic? A realistic one would be to get the “Shake! Shake! Shake! music video over 500k views. An unrealistic one would be to wake up tomorrow morning as Paul McCartney.

James: I’d like to wake up as Paul McCartney, 5 minutes before Mike does, just to annoy him.

Any last things you want to tell your supporters?

Mike: Y’all are really the best, Thank You for your support!

James: Greedo only shot first in the re-release, and that doesn’t count! - Ainsley Hutto

KING FALCON is a genre defying duo from Queens, Ny. These Alt. Rockers consist of Michael Rubin-lead guitar, vocals and James Terranova on drums and are hitting the airwaves hard with newest single SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE. A track that will lift your spirits and get your feet a tapping! Just think Black Keys meet Cage The Elephant with a touch of Tame Impala. But KING FALCON oozes with impeccable tones of their own, from funk styles and laid back swagger these guys are a blessing for your ears and souls. I got the chance to chat with Michael more about the band and new single. Check it out below!


Q: Tell us how your band got together and what genre do you feel you fit best in?

A: James and I actually started another band called 'The Inoculated Canaries”. The Canaries have been around for almost a decade now, and I think James and I wanted a new identity to make music with. We’re still making Canaries music, but now we're also making King Falcon music. And the two bands are completely different, The Canaries are really a vintage sounding rock band and King Falcon is definitely modern, Alternative rock.
- Stephanie Stevens

http://sofa-king-cool-magazine.com/interview-with-king-falcon/
link to interview -

Laura:
What genre of music do you consider King Falcon to be?
Mike:
Alternative rock.
Laura:
What's the ultimate direction for your band?
Mike:
Right before this whole Coronavirus pandemic came we were scheduled to start touring. While that obviously hasn’t happened, I think James and I definitely need to hit the road as soon as possible. Playing live shows is what we do and it feels very strange not to be able to play them right now.
I think ultimately we just want to spend the rest of our lives playing rock and roll. We hope somewhere along the way we gain enough of a following to make that dream a reality.
Laura:
How would you describe your music making process?
Mike:
James and I have complementary skill: I’ve always been more interested in arrangement and melody and James has always loved to play with all of the knobs and buttons in the studio. When you average those different approaches out I think you start to have an idea of what King Falcon sounds like.
Laura:
Why call the band, “King Falcon?”
Mike:
Falcons are cool; A falcon with a crown is even cooler. Thus, King Falcon!
Plus, doesn’t it just sound alt rock?
Laura:
What should fans expect to experience at a show?
Mike:
Studio days and show days are our two favorite parts of being musicians. I think fans will get to see a different side of the band live than just by listening to the tracks. It’s a much more immersive experience when you’re there and in person. That’s why these virtual shows on Zoom and platforms like that just aren’t the same. We feed off the crowd’s energy during our live shows.
Laura:
Typical question here. Who has influenced you the most via music?
Mike:
Growing up I religiously listened to Classic rock. My entire playlist was Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Steely Dan. The whole reason I started playing guitar was to emulate guys like David Gilmour and Jimmy Page.
I actually only started listening to alternative rock when I started college. A friend of mine turned me on to Tame Impala and I was absolutely hooked! To me, bands like The Black Keys and Tame Impala kind of carry the rock and roll torch now. There was definitely a hole in the rock scene after the 90s came and went and it didn’t get filled again until the late 2000s.
Laura:
How can fans and future fans locate, listen to and buy your music?
Connect and Share with King Falcon:
Official website: https://kingfalconband.com/
Smart URL: http://smarturl.it/KingFalconShake
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kingfalconband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingfalconband/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingFalconBand/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kingfalconband
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPIZOp-BXpo
Laura:
What's coming up next for King Falcon?
Mike:
Right now, we’re putting together another music video for our next single release. We wanted to make something that addresses a lot of the anger and frustration that people are feeling with the government right now. The song is called “When the Party is Over.” Make sure you keep an eye out for it later this summer! - Laura Williams

KING FALCON is a genre defying duo from Queens, Ny. These Alt. Rockers consist of Michael Rubin-lead guitar, vocals and James Terranova on drums and are hitting the airwaves hard with newest single SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE. A track that will lift your spirits and get your feet a tapping! Just think Black Keys meet Cage The Elephant with a touch of Tame Impala. But KING FALCON oozes with impeccable tones of their own, from funk styles and laid back swagger these guys are a blessing for your ears and souls. I got the chance to chat with Michael more about the band and new single. Check it out below!





Q: Tell us how your band got together and what genre do you feel you fit best in?

A: James and I actually started another band called ‘The Inoculated Canaries”. The Canaries have been around for almost a decade now, and I think James and I wanted a new identity to make music with. We’re still making Canaries music, but now we’re also making King Falcon music. And the two bands are completely different, The Canaries are really a vintage sounding rock band and King Falcon is definitely modern, Alternative rock.
- Matt Mart

King Falcon just released their new single "Shake, Shake, Shake," and Michael Rubin shares a little bit about the track. Here is the story:

"James and I flew out to Los Angeles to work on "Shake! Shake! Shake!". We had never been to LA, and only had 3 days to write and record the entire song. We didn't have any prewritten ideas, we just kind of went with the flow of the moment and hoped for the best.

"The night before tracking, we found out that the studio didn't have a snare drum or cymbals, or even an engineer for that matter. Luckily our hotel was right next to an instrument rental facility.

"But unluckily that facility was closed due to a parade on Hollywood Blvd! With a bunch of scrambling and many anxious phone calls, we scrounged up a drum set and James decided to engineer the song himself.

"The song is literally about a seduction that happens in a bar, but the song actually has a double meaning which, unfortunately, I cannot reveal due to privacy concerns. ;o) All I can really say is that it was kind of a crazy night on Cahuenga Blvd

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen and watch for yourself below - Keavin Wiggins

Eclectic and genre defying, King Falcon are an NYC based duo that are becoming a rock and roll force on the rise. The band is constantly pushing themselves to explore innovative sounds by blending musical styles, and they have released the video of their danceable new single "Shake, Shake, Shake" ahead of their April 3rd release as a fun and upbeat way to beat the Corona Virus blues.

The infectious track - with an instantly funky, sticky chorus (think Black Keys meets Cage The Elephant, with a touch of Tame Impala thrown in for good measure) was composed by King Falcon's Michael Rubin and James Terranova, along with music producers HEAVY (Lovely the Band, Dirty Heads, Saint Motel) at NRG studios in North Hollywood, CA. The video for the song was directed by Dale "Rage" Resteghini of Raging Nation Films.
Rubin explains how the song came together: "James and I flew out to Los Angeles to work on "Shake! Shake! Shake!". We had never been to LA, and only had 3 days to write and record the entire song. We didn't have any prewritten ideas, we just kind of went with the flow of the moment and hoped for the best. The night before tracking, we found out that the studio didn't have a snare drum or cymbals, or even an engineer available at the time. Luckily our hotel was right next to an instrument rental facility... But unluckily that facility was closed due to a parade on Hollywood Blvd! With a bunch of scrambling and many anxious phone calls, we scrounged up a drum set and James decided to engineer the song himself".

He continues "The song is literally about a seduction that happens in a bar, but the song actually has a double meaning which, unfortunately, I cannot reveal due to privacy concerns. ? All I can really say is that it was kind of a crazy night on Cahuenga Blvd..."

The members of King Falcon are Queens, New York natives (Rubin from Whitestone, Terranova from Howard Beach) who originally met 7 years ago when Rubin's band (The Inoculated Canaries - aka TIC) drummer quit the band. "James was the only guy who showed up to the audition, so we hired him" says Rubin, with a wry smile. "We've been frenemies ever since and have developed a chemistry that works". The two have stuck together through various incarnations and two EP's worth of material by TIC, and are now branching out as a duo with King Falcon.

The two have toured constantly in TIC throughout the northeast for the last few years. They have opened for The Mowgli's, Coin, and Living Colour among others, as well as lots of club shows and a showcase at the SXSW conference in Austin and the 2020 NAMM convention in Anaheim, CA. The band is currently working on a summer tour to support "Shake, Shake, Shake" and other songs from an EP to be released later this year. The band plans to stay on the road for the next 18 months, making sure that the King Falcon brand of rock will rise. -

Published 3 months ago on April 5, 2020By Natalie DaRe
New York alt-rockers King Falcon have released their new single “Shake! Shake! Shake!”

KF’s Michael Rubin explains how the song came together: “James [Terranova] and I flew out to Los Angeles to work on “Shake! Shake! Shake!”. We had never been to LA, and only had 3 days to write and record the entire song. We didn’t have any prewritten ideas, we just kind of went with the flow of the moment and hoped for the best. The night before tracking, we found out that the studio didn’t have a snare drum or cymbals, or even an engineer available at the time. Luckily our hotel was right next to an instrument rental facility… But unluckily that facility was closed due to a parade on Hollywood Blvd! With a bunch of scrambling and many anxious phone calls, we scrounged up a drum set and James decided to engineer the song himself”.

He continued, “The song is literally about a seduction that happens in a bar, but the song actually has a double meaning which, unfortunately, I cannot reveal due to privacy concerns. All I can really say is that it was kind of a crazy night on Cahuenga Blvd…” - Natalie DaRe

King Falcon “Shake! Shake! Shake!”
King Falcon is a New York-based band with a song “Shake! Shake! Shake!” that offers some lighthearted fun in a time when that seems increasingly hard to come by. The inspiration for the song was “shenanigans in Los Angeles” said bandmate Michael Rubin in an interview with ED Magazine. As the song’s title would suggest, this track is about moving “Shake shake shake/Shake like a tambourine”. Sometimes a song comes along that doesn’t have any hidden meanings and harkens back to the original inspiration for music: communal auditory stimulation that can result in dance—or in this case—shaking. -

From the moment that its signature white-hot lick purrs away from the silence, there’s a sense of bluesy rock swagger in King Falcon’s “Shake! Shake! Shake” that is almost certain to make anyone listening want to synchronize their hips with the rhythm of the instrumentation. King Falcon turn up the volume for this guitar-driven single, and while it’s easily one of the more muscular rock songs I’ve had the pleasure of spinning this month, I wouldn’t cite this as the primary reason why it caught my attention. “Shake! Shake! Shake!” has a carnal aggressiveness to its stylization, and though its amplified heat is definitely one of the sexier features it boasts, its greatest gem is its compositional integrity – which is becoming increasingly scarce in contemporary rock.

URL: https://kingfalconband.com/

Initially delivered in a stomping groove, the percussion that accompanies the melodic components in this song evolves into a relaxed swing by the time we reach the chorus, further serving as a catalyst for catharsis from beneath the smothering layer of guitar-vocal harmonies in the mix. I definitely think King Falcon are going out of their way to emphasize their rhythmic prowess here, and as much as I enjoy the fretwork up top, the backend of the track is what ultimately shapes the tone of the music more than anything else does. As its title would imply, “Shake! Shake! Shake!” is seemingly determined to make us move, and more often than not, it accomplishes precisely what its creators had in mind when crafting every one of these beats in the studio.



The music video for “Shake! Shake! Shake!” is simple, playful and moderately lusty – perhaps a perfect amalgamative reflection of what this band appears to be all about. The melodies and the grooves that frame them are the main focus, and though there’s an argument to be made that it’s a little more on the conservative side in comparison to some of the other rock videos making a splash in 2020, it doesn’t feel lacking in any specific department at all. In general, I think it was smart of King Falcon to keep this early offering on the simplistic side, if for no other reason than to properly exhibit the bones of their songcraft without any unnecessary fluff or filler getting between the artists and their audience.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Shake-King-Falcon/dp/B084X3SR56

King Falcon’s “Shake! Shake! Shake!” has a familiar framework but a genuinely original sway to its rhythm that is almost certain to get a reaction out of rock fans this summer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this sentiment became the consensus among critics at all. There’s something to be said about stripped-down musicality that manages to deliver as many thrills and chills as any of the dramatically overproduced content coming off of the FM side of the dial would, and here, King Falcon make it abundantly clear how big an impact they want to make with their style of play. They’ve got my attention for sure, and if given the opportunity, I think their new single and music video will help win yours as well.

Mark Druery - Mark Druery

You won’t hear any synthesizers, nor artificially-born melodies or grooves in any part of King Falcon’s “Shake! Shake! Shake!.” There are no bloated basslines, and even though it’s an up-tempo number (albeit a strutting one), there isn’t a lurid efficiency to the beats that suggests they were selected out of a pre-recorded lineup. King Falcon, like most of us, have heard and seen enough of the dribble to know what not to do in their debut single and its music video this July; they’ve got the moves to shut down the competition with nothing more than a mere electric melody and some rhythmic pulsations that inspire earthquakes if played past the ‘6’ mark on the volume knob. They’re all brawn in the studio, and aside from the sharp lyrical wit that ties together the loose ends in “Shake! Shake! Shake!,” they could seemingly care less about the conventions of pop/rock in a post-millennium world. No matter what your age or personal taste in music, you’ve got to admire this pair’s moxie or, at the very least, their desire to preserve what little integrity the rock n’ roll genre has been left with in the year 2020.

The grooves here are undeniably as danceable as we could have asked for them to be, and while I would definitely call them one of the more important elements in the structuring of the chorus, I don’t believe they’re the main draw in “Shake! Shake! Shake!.” If anything is the sonic centerpiece in this track, it’s the throbbing guitar melody, which fuses together with the vocal in the most thrilling of moments to create a harmony left untreated in the final mix.


This edginess in the dual-attack from the vocal and guitar parts was apparently an intentional creation, but even if it wasn’t, King Falcon certainly benefit from the layer of angst that it contributes to the pot. The video is wonderfully barebones and devoid of the props that usually annoy critics like myself when checking out new content in rock and hip-hop; it makes me want to see this band live, which is more than I can say about a lot of the other videos I’ve had the chance to review in the past few months.

Despite the limited offerings from rock these days, this new single and video from King Falcon is a good choice for anybody who misses the best parts of the genre’s glory days. King Falcon show off a lot of big guns in this track, but I do think there’s a sense of melodicism in their sound that isn’t being exploited to its full potential just yet. They’ve got all the time in the world to continue cultivating the style they’ve introduced all of us to in “Shake! Shake! Shake!,” and if I were them, I wouldn’t hurry back into the recording studio. Great music takes a little extra attention from its creators, and for what this band is already working with, they shouldn’t rush anything about their artistry at all.

Mindy McCall - Mindy McCall

If you follow rock music in any capacity, then you already know that the last five years or so haven’t been the greatest era in the history of the storied genre. That said, NYC-based rockers King Falcon aren’t letting the current culture stop them from banging out some of the slickest riffage around in their new single “Shake! Shake! Shake!,” an aptly-titled tribute to grooving. Whether you’re a hardcore rock fan or simply a casual observer of the big beats this style of music is known for, “Shake! Shake! Shake!” is a song and video you should really be examining right now.

URL: https://kingfalconband.com/

There’s a heavy garage rock influence over the drum style in this track that immediately made me think of another famous duo in The White Stripes, but this isn’t to say that anything here feels recycled or unoriginal. On the contrary, the spirit of unrelenting rock charisma that many say died when The White Stripes broke up so many years ago appears to be alive and well in “Shake! Shake! Shake!,” hitting us at full force between the melodic eruptions being distributed from behind the microphone. It’s a tip of the cap to the past yet the depth of the songwriting feels very here-and-now.


The video for “Shake! Shake! Shake!” is pretty cut and dry, even with all of the minimalism trends making it into the headlines lately, but King Falcon didn’t need to fill these shots with any more grandiosity than they already did. In order for the music to remain the primary object of our affections, anything more than the eye-candy dancers and Joe Cool-style performance from the band needed to be kept on the sidelines (something I wish this group’s rivals would try doing sometime). These guys are musicians through and through, and their rookie video asserts where their priorities are – and hopefully where they’ll stand in the future as well.


Though I really like the studio version of “Shake! Shake! Shake!,” I can’t help but wonder whether or not this song was written specifically with the stage in mind. To some degree, all rock songs are composed with the idea of the band exchanging emotions with a crowded concert hall full of people, but this track seems particularly geared towards live performances in which its stomp could be properly received. Their upcoming releases will tell us more about their potential, but this is definitely enough to get me more than a little excited.

King Falcon still have a ways to go before they can claim the same place in the hierarchy of great rock dynasties that some of their influences currently do, but with “Shake! Shake! Shake!” as their first official release, the future of their music is looking very bright indeed. Rock has been accused of being dead so many times in the last three decades that it’s almost surprising critics are even making the remark anymore, and in this single, King Falcon make it all the more difficult to believe in such nonsense with their riff-centric righteousness.

Garth Thomas - Garth Thomas

Unsuspectingly potent and capable of destroying just about anything that gets in its way, the beat in the new single “Shake! Shake! Shake!” from New Yorkers King Falcon get us into the groove of the music before we know what’s happening in the air around us. Swiftly and surely, this power-duo plies us with a ton of bluesy guitar thunder and percussive gusts that could knock you off of your feet even at moderate volumes, drawing us into the spell with the kind of talented thrust that you don’t hear on the radio quite as much as you used to. King Falcon are a two-man wrecking crew in this song, and for this being their first official release together, it’s quite the tone-setter to say the least.

EPK: https://www.sonicbids.com/band/king-falcon/

Beyond the beat, the melodic elements in “Shake! Shake! Shake!” definitely feel just as heavy as any drum part we hear. The vocal is adhesively attached to the guitar, and not because of high-tech sound board manipulation, either. When King Falcon get the ball rolling in this single, it’s hard to tell where the chest-beating energy is starting and where it’s fading into the background, almost entirely because of how in-sync their play is. It’s clear that they’ve spent a lot of time rehearsing and getting as tight as a couple of musicians can be before recording their first single together, and if they haven’t, then their chemistry together in this song is simply that memorable.



The mix here seems to have been designed to create whirlpool effect as we get closer to the finish line, with the drums collapsing onto the melodic components right as it feel as though we’re about to reach an incredible fever pitch. It’s anti-cathartic to some extent, but I wouldn’t say that it leaves me feeling unsatisfied when the last note disappears into the silence. Where a lot of other bands would have probably brought us full-circle, King Falcon want us to remain on the edge of our seats long after the music has stopped playing – partly to encourage repeat listens, I would imagine. Theirs is an untried formula without debate, and if given a little more time to properly develop, I don’t see why it wouldn’t produce quite lucrative results in the future.

GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/music/preview/T6bbhnxumm5yszgwdtbsnhuuqre?play=1&u=0

Debuts are never easy, no matter whether we’re talking albums, EPs or singles, but in “Shake! Shake! Shake!,” King Falcon are exhibiting their professionalism and teasing an upcoming campaign that should really be something to see. “Shake! Shake! Shake!” doesn’t try to be a demonstration of virtuosity, nor does it attempt to fill a role left behind by some other rock song released in the past few years, if not decades ago. This is a single that doesn’t think too much about what it’s supposed to sound or look like, and whether consumed in its natural or music video forms, it’s something that I think most rockers are going to find rather evocative. I hope to hear more like it soon, and I’m sure other indie enthusiasts will agree.

John McCall - JOHN MCCALL

Rock’s greatest legends have typically found their fame working with the simplest of foundations – Delta blues, amplified guitars, heavy riffing, and a whole lot of percussive punishment. King Falcon seem to be interested in joining the club with the release of their debut single “Shake! Shake! Shake!” this season, and if you give it even the most cursory of listens, I think you’re going to see what I mean. “Shake! Shake! Shake!” is a track that strips all of the embellishments away from rock n’ roll, leaving nothing but the bones of a genre at their most unrefined and melodically mighty.

As you would probably assume of a song performed in this style, the guitar is the star of the show here, but it doesn’t occupy so much space in the mix that we aren’t able to appreciate the other elements that give it a worthy backdrop. The percussion and vocal are tailored around the fretwork as to flank us with as much of an assault as possible without getting too noisy about it, and because of the tuneful approach our lead singer takes, we never get too far away from a relatively pop-stylized harmony at the center of the song.

I really love the electricity that the enormity of the drums in this track contributes to the overall feel of the music, and even though some critics might disagree with me on this one, I don’t see any part of the percussive component here as being all that indulgent. “Shake! Shake! Shake!” is actually very black and white when you get right down to it, and if you compare it side by side with some of the synth-driven rock coming from other artists in the American underground this season, there’s no arguing which of the two has more of a red-blooded rhythm.



The vocals have a processed finish in the master mix, and while it’s a bit more abrasive than what I would usually go for in this kind of a single, I actually dig the contrast that it yields within the harmony. King Falcon seem like musicians who have a strong aversion to sounding like everyone else in their scene, and though they share some cerebral qualities with this east coast indie rock brethren, what makes their sound sexy in “Shake! Shake! Shake!” is more about substance than it is any sort of pop cosmetics (which isn’t to say the video isn’t alluring in its own right).

You don’t have to be a big rock buff to get into what King Falcon are doing in “Shake! Shake! Shake!,” but for those of us who have been waiting for something special to come through in this genre for a while, it’s definitely arriving at the right moment this July. Singles, especially for a band that is just getting started together, are the ultimate vehicle for making a statement, and here, King Falcon tells us that they’re planning on being in this business for a long time to come.

Jodi Marxbury - JODI MARXBURY

How would you classify your music?

Alternative Rock definitely. We’ve been compared to bands like The Black Keys and Cage The Elephant.

Who are some of your top 5 musical influences?

I actually grew up listening to classic rock almost exclusively. So my top 5 list would look something like

Pink Floyd

Led Zeppelin

Tame Impala

The Foo Fighters

Radiohead



What do you want fans to take from your music?

I think that everybody takes something different from a song, but mostly I’d hope that fans hear how much of ourselves we put into the recordings. James and I spend a lot of time making every little detail as perfect as we can get it. I’m really proud of ‘Shake! Shake! Shake!’ and I can’t wait for you guys to hear the rest of the unreleased material.

How’s the music scene in Queens, NY?

I’d say most, if not all of the musicians who live in Queens try to spend most of their time playing in Manhattan. Manhattan is really where it’s at. The music scene in Manhattan is massive. You can find pretty much any type of music on any night of the week. Well, before COVID-19 at least….

When did you know you were destined for music?

I got an electric guitar as a gift for my tenth birthday. I’ve been playing every single day since then. I think I really came to terms with being a musician around age 15. That’s when I knew there was no turning back. It definitely would’ve been easier to get a normal job but it wouldn’t be nearly half as much fun.

What is the best concert you have been to? What do you like most about playing live?



The best concert I have ever been to was a Reel Big Fish show at the Playstation theatre in Times Square. James and I had just finished a 27-hour session in the studio and instead of going to sleep we went to this concert. The energy of that crowd was intense.

I think the best part about playing live are the little unscripted moments. Moments where the song deviates from the recording a little. Moments in between songs that you can have with the audience. If you wanted to hear the record you’d listen to it at home. A live show is supposed to be unique every single time.



Can you tell us about the origins of “Shake! Shake! Shake!”?



James and I booked a three day trip to LA to record something. Being the kind of guy who likes to plan things in advance, James asked me if I had written a song on the day we got plane tickets. I assured him that I had. I had not. Upon our arrival in LA, we had only 3 days to write and record an entire song. Fortunately we figured it out, and that song ended up being Shake! Shake! Shake!.

How have you evolved as an artist over the last year?

Well considering the fact that King Falcon didn’t exist until November of 2019, we certainly changed a lot in that regard! Kidding aside, I think this whole COVID situation has forced everyone in our industry to adapt and evolve. I mean, we can’t really play any shows. Playing shows is the main thing that we’re supposed to do as a band. So we’ve had to do what we can to get ourselves out there even with the huge limitations that we all have right now. That’s been the hardest thing, music is the easy part.

If you could meet, play a gig, co-write a song, have dinner, have a drink with any band or artist (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

I would love to have a song produced by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala. I think he is phenomenally talented.

What’s next for you – do you know when you will have your next release ready to go?

Filming music videos has been tough in light of the pandemic, but we hope to release our next single and a video in the next few months. So make sure you keep an eye out for that on our social media channels. - MICHAEL STOVER

A Molotov cocktail of melodies awaits all who take a peek at King Falcon’s new music video for “Shake! Shake! Shake!” this July, and believe it or not, none of them are sourced from the software other artists are using to make rock, pop, hip-hop and even jazz in 2020. It’s obvious in “Shake! Shake! Shake!” that King Falcon don’t care about those kind of fluffy elements at all – they’re intent on reviving true garage rock grit here, and they aren’t willing to slow their roll simply because some mainstream conglomerates would prefer it that way. In this song, we’ve got guitar, drums and vocals colliding into each other at a staggered, deliberate pace. The melodic ribbonry is coarse, while the ferocity of the backend – represented here by the percussion alone – is even stronger than the vocal is in a couple of spots. There is no time to explain the details to us or weave together a web of poeticisms behind the mic; these men are on a mission, and it involves us engaging in their musicality without having to sort through the same excesses we would with another act’s output.

MORE ON KING FALCON: https://kingfalconband.com/

The guitars here have a surreally bluesy feel, but I wouldn’t call “Shake! Shake! Shake!” a flat-out blues-rocker. The beat in this song invites a lot of tension into the lyrical delivery, but our vocalist doesn’t waste the opportunity to utilize this to his advantage. Instead of trying to straddle the rhythm with his words alone, the very execution he’s employing for the verses contributes to the collective groove of the instrumentation.


I’ve been saying that efficiency is the name of the game this year for the past couple of months, and with the advent of a band like King Falcon, it’s hard to argue against my theory. They’re checking off all of the simplistic songcraft boxes without drifting over to the overly-hyped minimalist camp, and if you ask me, that’s an awfully hard task to take on (especially for a duo as young and newly-minted as this one is). There’s more live potential in a track like this than there is something more elaborate and synthy, and even if gigs aren’t being booked this summer, a release of this caliber still builds up credibility.


If this debut is indicative of who King Falcon want to be as a rock band, they’re going to be seeing a lot of success over the next few years almost purely because of their originality and interest in keeping aesthetics on the simpler side of the spectrum. “Shake! Shake! Shake!” has a compositional discipline that has been absent from rock for the last half-decade at least, and while this is what solidifies its status as an indie effort, it’s also what launches King Falcon into the conversation of mainstream crossover capabilities.

The time to save rock from itself is now, and with acts like this pair coming out of the woodwork in droves this summer, I feel good about the genre’s imminent future for sure.

Emily Knudsen - EMILY KNUDSEN

King Falcon are fresh out of the studio with their debut single “Shake! Shake! Shake!” and its companion music video, but if you didn’t know their backstory, you’d probably think this song came off of their third or fourth album. The pair’s sound is uncomplicated and very intense from top to bottom, but melodicism is always at the center of even their most vicious of attacks in “Shake! Shake! Shake!.” The riff serves as the cornerstone of the moody melody here, a searing lead vocal peppering it with just enough spice to form a slick harmony. The percussion is unstoppably precise in rhythm but messy in tonality, creating the sort of primal rock emotion that I haven’t heard a lot of in some time now. King Falcon are a perfect match for both each other and a rock audience that has been missing a new generation of heroes for too long.

MORE ON KING FALCON: https://kingfalconband.com/

For their being a duo, this act has so much physicality to their sound that it’s hard to believe they aren’t using some sort of magnification tools behind the board. When the drums crash into the melody, they’re fiery and crushing, while the vocal is left unguarded by the surrounding string play. Even when the lyrics are palatable and making sense to us, they feel as though they’ve been designed to play into the rhythm of the music instead of conveying a specific narrative to us through linguistics. It’s raw power, and unlike their indulgent predecessors, King Falcon aren’t having to rely on a lot of bells and whistles to sound this way.

The chemistry between these two players feels unforced in every way, and in the music video for “Shake! Shake! Shake!,” we get a good look at how much of a flow they can get into when the energy is right. The song features a stupendous interplay between the three instrumental elements here, and though the video isn’t taken from an actual live performance, it has the feel of an authentic look into their artistry more than it does the stereotypical music video. You can’t fake a strong artistic connection, and while these guys have only been at this for a minute now, they’re already showing more prowess together than some of their lauded mainstream peers.



I hadn’t heard of King Falcon before getting a copy of “Shake! Shake! Shake!” from an industry colleague this month, but I can see why fans of true blue rock n’ roll would be getting curious about their sound. We can’t judge the depth of their songwriting techniques with a track as simplistic as this one is, but I think there’s more than enough here to assume that they care more about tonality and sonic muscularity than they do fitting in with the elite crowds in pop/rock today. That’s exactly the kind of attitude that we need for of in this genre right now, and with any luck, King Falcon’s style and approach might influence some of their less than impressive contemporaries in the future.

Samuel Pratt - SAMUEL PRATT

King Falcon - the new rock duo from New York featuring the spectacular Michael Rubin on lead guitar and vocals and James Terranova on drums - still haven’t caught on as much as they should. Still, it’s a matter of if and not when the duo will score a hit and start to really take off in the online community for alternative rock.

“Shake! Shake! Shake!” Is the band’s lone song that they’ve released so far. It’s a nice introduction to a talented duo. Rubin’s vocals and guitar work are both exceptional and the drum work from Terranova is solid too. The vocal on the song features a cool reverb effect. The cymbals aren’t as crisp as they could have been but everything else hits well. That’s not the only slip on the production side; there’s too much twang to the guitar. That gives the music a southern vibe in the intro and in the chorus, and it doesn’t really work as well as it could have. The guitars need to be overdriven or they need to be tuned a bit lower - the song is good song, but it falls short of really making a big impact because of that lone element. The hooks are amazing, the guitar work is exceptional, and the melody is catchy as hell. The production on the guitar side just needs to be updated.

Even though it’s not a perfect song, “Shake! Shake! Shake!” Is still a damn good one. Rubin and Terranova are both exceptional musicians and Rubin is a hell of a songwriter, but this song is just the beginning of bigger and better things. If this song gets redone with that simple modification, it could be a hit. If it doesn’t, it will live on as a cool introduction to a band that will have moved on to bigger things. -

ESP GUITARS PRESENTS GUITAR WORKSHOP SERIES

FEATURING THEIR NEW ENDORSEE & SCHOOL OF ROCK INSTRUCTOR

MICHAEL RUBIN

OF ROCK BANDS KING FALCON & THE INOCULATED CANARIES

ESP Guitars, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high quality electric and bass guitars today announced their new workshop series, featuring endorsee Michael Rubin, a School of Rock owner and instructor and the lead guitarist of NYC-based rock bands King Falcon and The Inoculated Canaries. Showcasing Rubin’s extensive guitar knowledge and teaching skills, the instructional video series will launch on October 23rd with a new lesson premiering on the first and third Friday of the month.

“I am absolutely ecstatic and proud to be joining the legendary brand ESP. Sponsorship is what every musician strives for, but to be invited on to the ESP roster is an honor,” comments Rubin on being the newest member of the ESP Guitars family (which boasts a number of notable artists including Metallica’s James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones, Tom Arya of Slayer, Madonna’s guitarist Monte Pittman, Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, Brian “Head” Welch of Korn and Frank Bello of Anthrax.

Matt Masciandaro, President & CEO comments: “ESP works with many of rock’s leading guitarists, and Michael’s amazing technique, stylistic range, tone, and phrasing make him a welcome addition to our team.”

Tony Rauser- Director of Artist Relations, adds: "We are happy to welcome Michael Rubin of King Falcon to the ESP artist family! Michael's unique and melodic playing style is showcased perfectly in his first ESP video lesson series.”

Michael Rubin’s passion for music began when he received a guitar for Christmas from his grandfather and by the age of 10, Michael was attending classes at School of Rock. The school had such a profound impact on Michael that he eventually became a co-owner of three of the New York area schools and a teacher/director for them.

At age 13, Rubin formed his band The Inoculated Canaries, a rock quartet where he is the lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter. In late 2019, Rubin formed a second band, King Falcon with drummer and fellow The Inoculated Canaries band member, James Terranova. The duo released their debut single “Shake, Shake, Shake” on April 3, 2020 with music producers HEAVY (Lovely the Band, Dirty Heads, Saint Motel, P.O.D.)

Creating and performing music with his bands is Michael’s greatest love, but teaching is something that Michael will never give up. With this new Guitar Workshop Series, Michael is very excited to be able to broaden out to a greater student audience.

“The team at ESP and I wanted to release a tutorial series for guitarists of all skill levels. Different positions, techniques and exercises selected to help you expand your knowledge of the fretboard. We focus on the practical applications of the techniques rather than just theory. Some of the topics I will cover in the initial workshops include: right and left hand technique, combining scale shapes and positions, phrasing and relative keys. There will also be plenty of analyzing and demonstrations of sections of popular songs. The goal is to have our ESP friends take these tips and tricks and translate them into their own styles,” says Michael.

To check out each new lesson the first and third Friday of each month, go to: ESP GUITAR WORKSHOP SERIES.

About ESP GUITARS:

Founded in 1975, the ESP Guitar Company is a leading global manufacturer of quality musical instruments. ESP brands include ESP Custom Shop, ESP Original Series, ESP/LTD Signature Series, ESP USA, ESP E-II, and LTD. Musicians who play ESP comprise some of the most well-known and influential artists in rock music history, including James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett (Metallica), George Lynch (Dokken/Lynch Mob), Ron Wood (The Rolling Stones), Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Stephen Carpenter (Deftones), Richard Z (Rammstein), Gary Holt (Slayer/Exodus), and many others. For more information call 800-423-8388 or visit www.espguitars.com.

About KING FALCON:

King Falcon are an NYC based duo that emerged onto the music scene earlier this year with their debut single, "Shake, Shake, Shake". The infectious track - with an instantly funky, sticky chorus (think Black Keys meets Cage The Elephant, with a touch of Tame Impala thrown in for good measure.) was composed by King Falcon's Michael Rubin and James Terranova, along with music producers HEAVY (Lovely the Band, Dirty Heads, Saint Motel, P.O.D) and recorded at NRG studios in North Hollywood, CA. The video for the song was directed by Dale “Rage” Resteghini of Raging Nation Films. The band is scheduled to release new material early 2021.

About THE INOCULATED CANARIES:

The Inoculated Canaries is a NYC based rock band who have released two EP’s and opened for The Mowglis, COIN and have played ‘Cult of Personality’ live with Will Calhoun and Doug Wimbish of Living Colour. The band’s new single and video “Hypocrite” is a politically charged song, describing the “lying eyes” of politicians who are unambiguously responsive to what is going on in the world right now. “Hypocrite” was produced by Matt Squire (producer of Panic! at the Disco, The Used, Taking Back Sunday, Demi Lovato and more) and mastered by Howie Weinberg (15X Grammy Award-Winning mastering engineer with 32 Grammy nominations and over 200 Gold and Platinum records.) -

ESP Guitars Presents Guitar Workshop Series Ft. Michael Rubin
by The Press Desk 3 weeks ago
ESP Guitars Presents Guitar Workshop Series Ft. Michael Rubin-image001-3-.jpg

ESP Guitars Presents Guitar Workshop Series Ft. Their New Endorsee & School Of Rock Instructor Michael Rubin Of Bands King Falcon & The Inoculated Canaries

ESP Guitars, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high quality electric and bass guitars today announced their new workshop series, featuring endorsee Michael Rubin, a School of Rock owner and instructor and the lead guitarist of NYC-based rock bands King Falcon and The Inoculated Canaries. Showcasing Rubin’s extensive guitar knowledge and teaching skills, the instructional video series will launch on October 23rd with a new lesson premiering on the first and third Friday of the month.

“I am absolutely ecstatic and proud to be joining the legendary brand ESP. Sponsorship is what every musician strives for, but to be invited on to the ESP roster is an honor,” comments Rubin on being the newest member of the ESP Guitars family (which boasts a number of notable artists including Metallica’s James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones, Tom Arya of Slayer, Madonna’s guitarist Monte Pittman, Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, Brian “Head” Welch of Korn and Frank Bello of Anthrax.

Matt Masciandaro, President & CEO comments: “ESP works with many of rock’s leading guitarists, and Michael’s amazing technique, stylistic range, tone, and phrasing make him a welcome addition to our team.”

Tony Rauser- Director of Artist Relations, adds: "We are happy to welcome Michael Rubin of King Falcon to the ESP artist family! Michael's unique and melodic playing style is showcased perfectly in his first ESP video lesson series.”

Michael Rubin’s passion for music began when he received a guitar for Christmas from his grandfather and by the age of 10, Michael was attending classes at School of Rock. The school had such a profound impact on Michael that he eventually became a co-owner of three of the New York area schools and a teacher/director for them.

At age 13, Rubin formed his band The Inoculated Canaries, a rock quartet where he is the lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter. In late 2019, Rubin formed a second band, King Falcon with drummer and fellow The Inoculated Canaries band member, James Terranova. The duo released their debut single “Shake, Shake, Shake” on April 3, 2020 with music producers HEAVY (Lovely the Band, Dirty Heads, Saint Motel, P.O.D.)

Creating and performing music with his bands is Michael’s greatest love, but teaching is something that Michael will never give up. With this new Guitar Workshop Series, Michael is very excited to be able to broaden out to a greater student audience.

“The team at ESP and I wanted to release a tutorial series for guitarists of all skill levels. Different positions, techniques and exercises selected to help you expand your knowledge of the fretboard. We focus on the practical applications of the techniques rather than just theory. Some of the topics I will cover in the initial workshops include: right and left hand technique, combining scale shapes and positions, phrasing and relative keys. There will also be plenty of analyzing and demonstrations of sections of popular songs. The goal is to have our ESP friends take these tips and tricks and translate them into their own styles,” says Michael.

To check out each new lesson the first and third Friday of each month, go to: ESP GUITAR WORKSHOP SERIES.

Share Quote - GEAR SLUTZ by The Press Desk

ESP Guitars has announced their new workshop series, featuring endorsee Michael Rubin, a School of Rock owner and instructor and the lead guitarist of NYC-based rock bands King Falcon and The Inoculated Canaries.

Showcasing Rubin’s extensive guitar knowledge and teaching skills, the instructional video series launches today, with a new lesson premiering on the first and third Friday of the month.

“I am absolutely ecstatic and proud to be joining the legendary brand ESP. Sponsorship is what every musician strives for, but to be invited on to the ESP roster is an honor,” comments Rubin on being the newest member of the ESP Guitars family.

Matt Masciandaro, president & CEO comments: “ESP works with many of rock’s leading guitarists, and Michael’s amazing technique, stylistic range, tone, and phrasing make him a welcome addition to our team.” Tony Rauser, director of Artist Relations, adds: “We are happy to welcome Michael Rubin of King Falcon to the ESP artist family! Michael’s unique and melodic playing style is showcased perfectly in his first ESP video lesson series.”

Creating and performing music with his bands is Rubin’s greatest love, but teaching is something that he will never give up. With this new Guitar Workshop Series, Rubin is very excited to be able to broaden out to a greater student audience.

“The team at ESP and I wanted to release a tutorial series for guitarists of all skill levels,” Rubin adds. “Different positions, techniques and exercises selected to help you expand your knowledge of the fretboard. We focus on the practical applications of the techniques rather than just theory. Some of the topics I will cover in the initial workshops include: right and left hand technique, combining scale shapes and positions, phrasing and relative keys. There will also be plenty of analyzing and demonstrations of sections of popular songs. The goal is to have our ESP friends take these tips and tricks and translate them into their own styles.”

Check out the first video in the series here. - MMRMagazine