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Who's Who on Lady B's List?

I Love New York... Bands

By LadyBs BandShellPublished 6 years ago 6 min read
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New York Bands to watch out for!

Hola hola my darlings! Lady B here again with a few other bands that I feel y’all would get a kick out of. This entry is to pay homage to groups that are local to the New York City area. As music lovers, it is always a pleasure getting to see and know bands that live within our own locations. When a person finds a new band that they like, it tends to be a bittersweet thing; at least from my experience. This is because while I may have found a band that has a sound and presence that I can completely get behind; most of the time, they are a band that is COMPLETELY “out of my jurisdiction.” Artists such as Karen Stever from Ontario, Canada, The Scars Heal In Time hailing from Texas, Infinity Spree from Ohio, POYNTE from Georgia; the list goes on. You all I bet have had this dilemma every now and then where a band you love is playing on a tour but it turns out they are playing NO WHERE NEAR YOU! It flat out sucks!

However, when you know you have a band or two right in your own backyard that you know will always put on a hell of a show every single time you’ve seen them… the suffering you feel from not being able to see those other bands you love just becomes less and less painful. And that is because you appreciate the fact that they are “yours” …and you can revel in the fact that somewhere far far away, someone else who has heard one of these bands is feeling that same heartache of “Why are they so far away?!” (sinister laugh). So… let us get started shall we? Let us see who has made this list of Lady B’s New York City Indie Rock Royalty!

1) The Challanged

Based in Brooklyn, The Challenged, made up of Rob, Colin and Mike, is a Pop Punk Power Trio that will melt your face off with their outrageous sound! I first saw these guys in Manhattan YEARS ago; back before the thought of being a mom was waaaaay far from my mind. They were one of the bands who were playing with another group called Baptized X Fire; where the front man was none other than Jesse Blaze Snider… son of rock legend Dee Snider of Twisted Sister. I initially was there to see Jesse because I have seen him perform before at LaGuardia Community College for an event a few months prior. Standing in the venue just waiting for Jesses' band to go on…I heard a kick ass bass line starting along with drums. I look up, and it is a band who introduces themselves as The Challenged. I was intrigued immediately and began to pay attention. By the end of their set, these guys had completely WOW-ed me. They sounded like a band who I imagined were the type of ensemble Hilly Crystal would have wanted to mount the stage at CBGB.

(Actually….ALL these bands I have listed for this entry would be bands Hilly would have wanted for his place…but I digress…)

Songs from The Challenged not only tend to have intense construction and execution, but they have great titles. I mean come on, tell me titles like "Pyromaniac's Recipe," "The Road to Self-Sufficiency," "Paradox in Perfect Pitch," "Hook Line and Sink Her," and "Parody of a Parody" would NOT grab your attention at a show?! If anything, alongside trying to come up with a name for a band and catchy titles for songs I believe is one of the most mind torturing processes a musician goes through. And with these guys, it is without any doubt that they can take that “challenge” on and come out victorious!

To know these chaps are still around after all these years is a real blessing. Keep up the kick ass work fellas! I look forward to seeing you soon!

2) Dry Clean Only

Winding the clock back to the year 2005 within the bowels of a garage, a plan was being hatched by three misfit youths to come together and dominate the world of punk rock music. By mixing their guitar, drum, and bass powers together, Joey Wunsch, Ronnie Bruno, and Connor McClelland became the trio known as Dry Clean Only! In their beginnings, the band started out playing block parties, house parties, and school dances. Over time as the band increased their talent and experiences to playing to crowds, let’s just say… shit got real! The band soon began to play at different venues throughout New York City as well as gaining opportunities of playing out of state shows.

Soon, notable venues including Webster Hall, The Knitting Factory, Santo's Party House, The Bitter End, Bowery Electric, Yonkers Skate Park, Mexicali Live in New Jersey, and The Space in Connecticut were having them grace their stages. In the year 2011, the band released a three track demo titled Ladies Love My Neckbeard. In 2013, a self titled EP titled Swamp Donkey was put out and then in 2015, the band released a ten track album titled Dumbfounded. Come 2016, the band released a single/video titled "Big Sad Clown". Along with constantly making new music, the band has also opened for national acts including Wheatus, Andrew W.K., and Hawthorne Heights.

One other side note to mention about this band, which in my own opinion is amazing in demonstrating how serious they take what they do as a thriving and ambitious band, these guys have done all that I have just mentioned above…AND ALL THREE HAVE NOT YET HIT THE AGE 30! Now I am in NO WAY saying that age matters when it comes to being a killer and serious band. However, you must admit that finding a band of individuals nowadays in their 20s who are this driven, who have done so much already yet STILL have that desire and passion to want to do and achieve more for themselves…is a total gem that has earned much respect.

I know they’ve earned not just my respect… but the respect of my own daughter as well. They were the first indie rock band that she has come to know and by far her favorite.

(And Ronnie [the drummer]; if you come across this entry…she STILL has the drumsticks you signed for her!)

3. Streepthroat

Ok… so you know how with the band Marilyn Manson each group member came up with their stage names by combining a Hollywood starlet and a notorious killer? Well, this band came up with their name by putting together Meryl Streep and Deep Throat. As they put it:

Streepthroat - n., v. (STRĒP-thrōt) - portmanteau -Meryl Streep / Deep Throatex. "To perform an exceptional act of fellatio; worthy of an Oscar award.

In the Autumn of 2015, front gal Lex put up an ad on Craigslist in hopes of finding a drummer. This was how she came across future band members Tom (drummer) formerly from Indiana, and further down the line Frankie (guitarist). Matt, their bassist from the backwoods of Maine, was found later through the wonder that is Facebook. The band got their name from their similar love for sexual innuendo, Meryl Streep and words that should really not be placed together.

Granted they are a pretty new band to the scene; being that their first show was only two years ago. But from what people have said, this band's presence and how they perform together just grows on their audience like a fungus.

Their music video for their song "Blood Robot" is very creative and the very definition of unique. Lex’s vocals are very strong and yet very sultry and sexy; at least from my standpoint as a music enthusiast. The band plays NYC regularly and I look forward very much to catching them live first chance I get.

There you have it my pretties! I don’t want to overload you all with a ton of names so I am going to make it a point to stick to three lucky bands/artists per list I do. This way you can have a proper dosage and still come back for more.

You can follow these bands at the following URLS here:

The Challenged

Dry Clean Only

Streepthroat

I hope you all enjoyed this entry!

And please, don’t forget to strap yourselves in my darlings…for there is STILL plenty more to come!

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About the Creator

LadyBs BandShell

Want to know about Independent bands that you should add to your library? Then you have come to the right place. Lady B; web radio host/digital artist, has the scoop on bands not just within the U.S., but The U.K., Australia & more!

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