Tourmaline
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Tourmaline

Verona, New Jersey, United States | SELF

Verona, New Jersey, United States | SELF
Band Rock Alternative

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"North Jersey Notes"

I was recently reached on Facebook by the manager of a Verona, NJ band called Tourmaline asking me to check the band out. Last time that I checked, Verona is in North Jersey, so why not give Tourmaline a listen? Upon logging onto their website, tourmalinemusic.com, I was able to listen to the very catchy “Save Me”, the mellow “Lions”, and my favorite track “Fat Pig”, which are featured on the bands recently released EP, Save Me. Tourmaline singer Matt Rauch sounds amazing on these tracks and the songs are very well-written. I especially like the bass groove at the beginning of “Fat Pig”. These guys are a rock band! There’s no other way to describe them.

Tourmaline formed in June of 2004. A year after their formation, the band released their first CD, Strange Distress Calls that sold over five thousand copies and received much acclaim from critics in the punk community. In March of 2008, the band released their second CD, The Swindle, which was produced by Grammy Award winning producer Joe McGrath, who’s known for his work with Green Day, Bryan Adams, and Morrissey. Tourmaline is made up of singer/guitarist Matt Rauch, bassist Zach Inkley, synthesizer/piano player Corey Zaloom, lead guitarist Ryan Baredes, and drummer Rob Pratola.

Tourmaline recently released their latest EP, Save Me, which can be downloaded on the band’s myspace page, myspace.com/tourmaline or the band’s website, tourmalinemusic.com. If you want to find out where Tourmaline is playing next, just click the ‘shows’ button on their website. From the sound of their music, their live show should be pretty interesting! - The Aquarian


"10 Acts Who Will Save 2010 from Chillwave"

Forget Minneapolis… there’s something in the water of New Jersey, and it’s less toxic than you think. Tourmaline also hail from the wrongly-maligned state, and it’s almost as if they’ve managed to ignore the laptop era altogether. Shameless guitar solo posturing and arena vocals applied to airtight songwriting might not have made them the coolest band during the dance-punk era, but after years of opening for everyone from Ted Leo to Richard Lloyd, their homage to the nuclear family of rock and roll is at home in 2010. - Flavorpill


"Verona Rockers Back on the Music Scene"

On a damp Saturday night, Verona-based rockers Tourmaline practiced material from their upcoming album in drummer Rob Pratola's West Orange basement. The room, adorned with year-round Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling and rock music magazine tear sheets on the walls, is not soundproof, as the music can heard from a block away.

After a year-long hiatus due to Lead Singer Matt Rauch's vocal chords surgery and the band's need for time to regroup mentally and physically, Tourmaline is back on the North Jersey music scene with a few new faces.

The band frequently plays at The Meat Locker, in Montclair, Maxwell's Bar & Restaurant, in Hoboken, and recently performed at The Court Tavern in New Brunswick. On Nov. 6, the band will perform at the Lutheran Church in Montclair, located at 163 Park St.

The five member band, which consists of Rauch on vocals, Corey Zaloom on keyboards, Zach Inkley on bass, as well as new members Ryan Baredes on guitar, and Pratola on drums, formed in 2004 when Rauch sought a musical outlet to allow for verbal expression and a chance to be, in his words, "completely honest and raw."

Tourmaline's sound is a mesh of different genres. "I think we're a really interesting blend of a lot of classic rock without sounding like a throwback band or a roots rock band," said Rauch. "We're a rock band with a lot of the ethics of punk rock, but at the root of it all, it starts at rock 'n' roll."

Rauch says he is inspired by classic artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, as well as alternative rock musicians including Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam). "I think it's that ethos of making the music you want to make without pandering to trends and fads," said Rauch. "If we wanted to be popular right now, we'd have tape loops."

The other members of the band are inspired by bands known for putting on great live shows – My Morning Jacket, The Hold Steady and Pearl Jam.

Within a few months of the band's formation, Tourmaline recorded their first album, Strange Distress Calls, in 2005, under the No Milk recording label. In 2008, the band's self-released second album, The Swindle, was recorded with Grammy Award winning Producer Joe McGrath in Rauch's studio over the course of several months.

A third album is in the works, but there is no official release date yet. Three songs from the upcoming record are available for free on the band's website, tourmalinemusic.com. The band says they plan to self-release their next album as well, and are interested in creating partnerships rather than traditional label arrangements in the future.

While the band normally plays original songs, Zaloom said when a show is going badly, or if Tourmaline is playing to an almost empty house in the middle of nowhere at 1 a.m., the band plays a cover of "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath.

Zaloom says she hopes the band will make an impact. "I want people to say, 'Wow, this band's show changed my life," said Zaloom. "I hope people brag that they saw us play to 25 people at the Meat Locker in Montclair sometime in 2009 on a Tuesday."

Rauch said down the road he would like Tourmaline to have a musical career like Pearl Jam. "They've maintained the respect and loyalty of their fans for so long," he said. "I read an article calling them the world's most popular cult act. I like how that sounds." - AOL/Patch


"'The Swindle' Review"

'The Swindle' was given a rating of 95% by Absolutepunk.net - Absolutepunk.net


"'The Swindle' Review"

4 out of 5 Stars on All Music Guide - All Music Guide


"'The Swindle' Review"

"The only real swindle Tourmaline could pull over any avid music fan is having them miss out on a record that just might be 2008's most creative, most varied and most cohesive piece of art." - Absolutepunk.net


"Show Review"

“Anytime the Rauch brothers and co. hit the stage, it’s worth the price of admission.” - Alex Young, ConsequenceofSound.net


"General Statement"

“How is it possible that Tourmaline is not signed to a major record label?” - DJ Rosstar, Idobi Radio


Discography

Strange Distress Calls (Universal) - 2005
Tour EP - 2006
The Swindle - 2008
Save Me EP - 2010
The Wreckage - 2011

Photos

Bio

When faced with heartbreak, sometimes all we can do is cling to the hope for a better tomorrow. That hope is the crux of Tourmaline’s new album.

With musical roots spanning four decades, the New Jersey quintet harnesses the vibrant guitar and keyboard banter of Hunky Dory-era Bowie, entwined with the cathartic songwriting of My Morning Jacket and The Arcade Fire.

In the fall of 2009, just before Tourmaline was to write and record a new album, singer Matt Rauch’s father tragically passed away. While he dealt with the grief from his father’s passing, the band considered putting their studio plans on hold.

“We talked about it at length,” explains Rauch, “and decided that the best way to deal with all of these emotions was to channel them into a new Tourmaline record.” Courageous and poignant, the new songs grapple with heartache and the process of rebuilding and growing as a person from life’s experiences.

Tourmaline turned to Grammy-winning, multi-platinum producer Joe McGrath (Green Day, Morrissey, Ryan Adams) to help polish the new music. A full album will release in 2011, but in the meantime, the band is giving away the Save Me EP, a free three-song sampler to help spread their message of hope.

“It’s the end of an era now,
Keep holding on for better days,
If we take it slow, we’ll survive”
Tourmaline – “Lions” (from the Save Me EP)

Tourmaline’s last record, 2008’s The Swindle (also produced by McGrath) was described by one critic as “a Vietnam War-era album for the new millennium.” Touching on socially conscious issues such as pollution, the media, and the political situation of the time, it invited listeners to take a long, hard look at the status quo and what he or she could do to make a better world. In a sense, this new record is the other side of the coin, imploring listeners to look deep within themselves for strength in the face of adversity.

“We poured every ounce of heart and soul into these songs and I couldn’t be prouder,” says Rauch. “Let’s face it—these are tough times to live in, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything life throws at you. I hope that when people listen to Tourmaline, they reflect and realize they’re not alone.”