EDITORS CHOICE
PJ FARLEY returns with second solo effort , a new album with “ RA ” TOURS with “ FOZZY ” and ERIC martin . PJ FARLEY is workin ’ man !
In 1989 bassist PJ Farley joins the with up-and-coming New Jersey sensation , Trixter and immediately inks a deal with MCA / Mechanic Records . Soon after the bands debut release , they become the darlings of MTV and is direct support on tours with Kiss and The Scorpions With the introduction of grunge in the 90 ’ s , the band was dropped by the label . After forming new projects with his Trixter bandmate Steve Brown , PJ joins the LA based band Ra . They immediately score a hit with “ Do You Call My Name ” Since then PJ has released two successful solo records , 2017 ’ s “ Boutique Sound Frames ” and 2020 ’ s “ Accent the Change .” I sit down and talk to fellow Jersey bassist about the Jersey club days , and one of the hardest working men in the business .
Photo Credit : PJ Farley Social Media
Was creating “ Accent the Change ” different from your first solo record ?
PJ : I did this record all over the place . I worked with Sahaja , from RA on like four of the songs . The Los Angeles guys we ’ re involved a bunch . I did a song in Nashville and some songs in Michigan and also in the Detroit area . I did two up at Steve Brown ’ s house here in Jersey . So yeah , I kind of wanted to get out and just work with different people . It was very similar to the last process where I was recording songs as I wrote them . I wasn ’ t tracking down a record . It wasn ’ t on a schedule or anything . When I write them , I gotta get ‘ em out of my head and record them before I can really fully commit to writing anything else . My hard drive is full I have to clean it up . When I started recording the songs , I got halfway to an album so I figured why not do a whole record . I was over the hump and halfway done with record at that point . So I guess I just kept going .
Did you find that there were any changes happening with the record , sonically ?
PJ : At the end of the day , I know exactly what I want . I know exactly how it should sound . So I knew anybody I was going to work with was going to just be able to get that sound for me , and get across what I was hearing . Everyone I worked with , I ’ ve worked with before , in some way , shape or form . So I knew that they would know where I was coming from the start . I wasn ’ t really looking so much to change the sound . I did want to think outside the box a little bit more and get some input musically . Bounce things off of other people as opposed to having to just do everything myself . I wrote all the songs and everything , pretty much knew how the parts should be , and laid everything out . I could explain to them how I ’ m hearing the song and they would add interpretations . ( Continued on next page )
Dead Label
Continued
We Rise To Fall
Another hot band from North Carolina, that is just smashing it
with their new track “Dammit” and will be in this year’s Caro-
lina Uprising Festival is We Rise To Fall. Since entering into the
fray on Raven’s Reveal, their loyal fan base has voted to keep
them literally at the upper echelon of the pack. Once you hear
this track you will understand why. It’s melodic, seriously heavy
with complete mosh pit happiness. You can hear every single in-
strument that does not overshadow the other and the lead singer
is on point. As a part of the Carolina Metal Scene, this band
has defiantly made a mark for themselves with their music and
fans. Big things are on the horizon for these gents, just listen to
Raven’s Reveal and you will understand why.
Almost Gone
Why a new EP as opposed to full length?
CLAIRE: It’s not a standard EP. Since our last album, we’ve
released a few singles with music videos. And so before we release
the next album, we wanted to give those songs a home. We put them
with Deadweight, and another other track to follow. They’re all
going to come out together. It’s more like merged collectible.
I don’t think people really listen to CDs anymore, but it’s just a home
to put those tracks because the next album is very much under-
way. Very, very much underway. So yeah, it’s just a place to pop the
singles. Cool.
How much does it mean to a band to
put out vinyl?
CLAIRE: That’s a really interesting question. And when you’re ac-
tually discussing, possibly doing these tracks on vinyl, and then we
decided to hold off until we do the album because an album is more
I think for vinyl collectors. Then an album will be preferential and
because we haven’t done it before, our first vinyl should probably be
an album. I think it’s huge for bands at the moment. I mean, some
vinyls are quite pricey and different limited edition things. And it’s
a whole other master, so you can show off more I think of the ac-
tual recording and stuff like that. Which is where I’m sure engineers
Page 70
really enjoy the fact that they use a certain mic might be
more obvious, you know, like, room mics and stuff like that.
So I think vinyl is huge. And I think it’s like, like kind of
what you said, like people are finding a way to make music
a commodity again. And vinyl is a way that really suits the
fans as well because it gives them something that’s part
of a collection for them. People take a lot of pride in their
collection. So yeah, I definitely want to incorporate it into
what we’re doing. It’s just it’s quite expensive. It’s quite
expensive to rent. You’ve got to know them. Fans you have
like, there might only be three Dead Label fans. We’re not
sure. We have to be careful.
Whats your dream kit to play?
CLAIRE: Oh, Amen. I never get asked questions like this.
My kit that I’ve yet to play that I want extremely badly to
play is a Tama Star. You know, like the Japanese made
Star. I have sat beside one, I have looked at them, but I
haven’t played one yet, not properly. My old kit that I have
was my dream kit and the Tama Star is next. Cymbal wise,
this is an absolute no-brainer for me, Zildjan. You’ve got
the Mega Bell ride. The Hi-Hats and China. You’ve got
all those tasty little splashes now on the Oriental China.
I have friends that have had Sabian 30 years and
not crack them and for my styles. Zildjan is the one.
Claire appears courtesy of Overdrive.
Banding together in early 2019, Almost Gone consists of
guitarist Rodrigo Santillan, bassist Zachary Rhodes,
Drummer
Connor
Fowler,
and
guitarist/singer
Nick Gober-Keller. The quartet from downtown Richmond
is known for their energetic stage performances and work
hard/party hard image. The bands songs have been de-
scribed as sounding like a cross between Stone Temple Pilots,
The Offspring, Rise Against, and Blink 182, combining catchy
choruses with hooking guitar riffs.
Sever The Day
If you have listened to Raven’s Reveal or the Launch Pad live,
there is a good chance that you have heard “Binge. When you
do hear the song, you would not believe it is literally a solo art-
ist. Dax Roberts does have help however from Evan McKeever
of Nine Shrines who co-writes. A Veteran literally, Dax started
singing at 12 and has been in a part of several bands until he
struck out on his own. The song is literally about the struggle with
alcohol and fighting your way out of it. It is heavy with a message.
As Dax told Tryston and I during an interview, “Sever The Day
is my way of showing people who didn’t believe in me, that I did
this and look what I have accomplished.” Listen to the story with
a message and you will become a fan as we have at 99WNRR.
Page 71