New Jersey Stage Issue 48 | Page 59

for you.” The choppy intro of “Hero’s Trial” sets the stage for a tale of a cafe where hot bever- ages and heartbreak are served up in equal measure. “Coffee… Cigarettes / Sadness… and re- gret. Served up with a smile, I have to leave here for a while.” Some songs like “Kill A Clown (No, Not Really)” straddle mul- tiple musical genres within the same tune. It begins with a blast of hard rock guitars and then adds ‘60s background vocals for the chorus. The song has flavors of rock, doo wop, sixties pop, and a touch of rockabilly with lyrics that are painfully funny. “I am a peaceful man, I do the best I can; But when the pain starts rainin’ down, I find me a circus and I kill a clown.”  A fondness for songs about heartbreak is something both Daly and DiNizio also have in common. Both often mask de- pression with upbeat music and humor. One such song is “Slack” - the band’s latest release, which is included on a new compilation Listen to “Hero’s Trial” by Mike Daly & The Planets NJ STAGE - ISSUE 48 INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 59