When Coheed and Cambria appeared on MTV’s TRL in January 2006, Michelle Nolan (Straylight Run) performed the female vocals of “The Suffering” with the band. Breaking Pangaea took Coheed and Cambria out on their first few tours. Coheed and Cambria will not be taking Initials out this summer.
Initials will be performing their first show with this line-up on Saturday, January 9th, 2009 supporting Straylight Run’s John Nolan (original Taking Back Sunday) with Gabriel the Marine and Ocean is Theory at The Note in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
It’s all one colossal, constantly churning circle.
1. Nightmares for a week - Feelin’ Blue | myspace.com/nightmaresforaweek
2. Urban Fetch - The Shots | myspace.com/urbanfetch
3. Dan Blackburn - It Remains to be Seen | myspace.com/blackburned
4. Session 606 - The Great Act of Failure | myspace.com/session606
5. Moving Mountains - With One’s Heart In One’s Mouth | myspace.com/movingmountains
6. Rick Whispers - Case of the Mondays | myspace.com/rickwhispers
7. Animals Like Us - Machines | myspace.com/animalslikeus
8. My Only Escape - Mayor of Party (It’s Hard to Measure When You’re Drinking Straight from the Keg) | myspace.com/myonlyescapex
9. Weerd Science - Dear S.A.M. (UnRapped) | myspace.com/weerdscience
10. Thieves And Villains - Settle New York, Settle | myspace.com/thievesandvillains
11. The Ricochet - Runaway Getaway | myspace.com/thericochetny
12. PUGS - The Last Hope | myspace.com/pugs845
13. Walking Bombs - + Side For Eos | myspace.com/walkingbombs
14. Evazan - Flow | myspace.com/evazan
15. Weerd Science - I Wish I Went to College | myspace.com/weerdscience
16. White Out - Love For Haters | myspace.com/whiteoutlw
17. Spineless Thug - Phineas | myspace.com/codenamemorocco
18. Cosmonaut - Sleepless | myspace.com/cosmonautnyc
19. Mours - Christmas From Hell | myspace.com/theMours
This free digital sampler was compiled to give a glimpse into the diverse musicality that dwells in Hudson Valley, NY. New York is a vast state… there’s so much more to it than just the city. Here’s a bit that goes on from Westchester to Albany. Many many thanks to the musicians for taking part in this project and keeping the music alive!
The idea for this sampler was inspired by the combination of the 10 year anniversary of Error 404 - Not Found compilation and the release of the “So Much For Us” book. Both archive the underground rock scene of Kingston/Woodstock in the late 90’s leading me to believe that I’m not alone in or crazy for feeling such passion toward the music to emerge from this area.
Most of these songs are unmastered. Some are rough mixes. Some are personal/basement recordings. One is live.
Still attempting to recover from the phenomenal night before, I began to worry that the 3/4 original members of Slimy Penis Breath had flown from the west coast back to shitty Kingston for no reason. We got hit with our first real snow of the year, but it seems as if someone was looking out because about half hour prior to the slated start time of the Eppard Extravaganza- all precipitation ceased. I arrived at The Basement about 45 minutes to 9. I could hear a very familiar tune from the moment I stepped foot out of my car. It was a jam of “In America.” As I headed into the building, I realized the music was coming from The E-Males (Jimmy Eppard, Joey Eppard, Josh Eppard) and that this premium jam was merely a soundcheck! Hell, they hadn’t even taken off their winter gear yet.
Jimmy Eppard
The night really kicked off with an intimate performance from the eldest Eppard. It was just Jimmy, his guitar, and the microphone. It’s so incredible experiencing first hand just where the Eppard Brothers’ talents come from and hearing stories about them through the art of song. Jimmy’s set was so captivating as he decided, on the spot, which songs out of his 30 years of writing to share. If my memory serves me correctly, he started off with a song he’d written as a very young man about his tenure in Kingston High School. He even shared a song he’d written when he found out his wife was pregnant with his eldest son, Joey. That was wonderful, but my favorites were the one about… sheep… and his retort to “Paint By Number.”
Session 606
Next up was one of the newest additions to thefamily3, Ant Masington’s Session 606, featuring the debut of his drummer from Delaware, Bryan Mills. They had some technical difficulties as the equipment they used was borrowed, but it was eventually ironed out and the duo rocked the crowd with some of Ant Mas’ greatest songs.
Joey Eppard
Third up was the elder Eppard son, Joey. He was so in the zone, I could feel his emotion. I’ve been a tremendous fan of Joey, his acoustic guitar and voice since… well I think I saw him play at that same venue in 2005, under its previous management. Time and time again I rack my brain for words that can at least somewhat do justice to his aura… but nothing feels remotely close. Joey Eppard is a living legend.
E-Males
Their passion and humility still floors me. The set started off with the stupidly underlooked, “Endless Alibi.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard it sound so good! I certainly never heard Josh Eppard sound so damn good. He somehow manages to get better each and every performance. I took notice of this back when he was in Coheed and Cambria, witnessed it with the few shows he played with Counterfeit Disaster, and has been very much so evident in the Eppard Brothers shows. Maybe it’s because he just joined a new band (Initials), or because it was his birthday. Maybe it was the presence of his uncle John or the news of an impending Eppard… but I’m pretty sure it’s just because he’s a fucking killer drummer! That dude is without a doubt, my hero. He was in the dark for a while, but he’s coming back better-than-fucking ever. If Mours and Sick Kids are any implications of the impact Mr. Weerd Science will (continue to) have on the world of music… hold on to your fucking panties, cause they’re about to be blown-the-fuck off. He murdered that set, so much so, that they couldn’t bring John up for JEppardy, cause he had no more sticks! But that “In America…” Man, I’ve never heard that song the same way twice. I almost want a studio version to never emerge. The vocals were incredible! Then “Blood Lust Tusks…” Joey was so into it that he began to scream the lyrics! It brought me back to the intense vocals he did on Math’s InsertYourNameHere record. “Trail Of Tears” prevented me from going to the bathroom. Though I could hear just fine in the bathroom, I was so mesmerized. It’s one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. It’s criminal that musicians of that caliber perform around the corner (literally) from the home they’ve spent their lives in.
This performance was the entire reason the Eppard Extravaganza happened. The 15 year anniversary reunion of the punk band that influenced a lot of the scene today. Everyone knows John The Baker as a man who speaks his mind and does not conform. Hell, he was arrested in 1994 for cussing in a public performance in Woodstock (does that even make sense?). Fought it, and in turn jump started a private investigation that found several cops (including the arresting officer) guilty of sexually abusing little girls. So anyway, he and two members of the band moved out to California… They still rock their asses off and I guess the reunion performance was like stepping into a time machine. I was still in single digits when the band was around, but the fans from back then who showed up all said it was like nothing changed. It sure as hell was an experience! Josh even cried. And JTB pulled up Morgan Y. Evans to help him out with, “Jesus Was A Punk.” He actually passed the punk rock torch onto him. Sounds about right, since Morgan got himself and his band (Divest) kicked out of CBGBs years ago. I think that may have been the show that scared Josh off from playing with them, haha. Either way, John The Baker is a true fucking inspiration.
The Eppard Family Values Extravaganza was filled with nostalgia and history lessons. It fell into a time of great change within the members of thefamily3. I can’t freakin’ wait for the next one!!!!!!
Um… holy shit. That set was too fucking good for words! The Eppards are so in sync… I can’t wait for the weekend of December 3rd, 4th & 5th!!! Best “Paint By Number” I’ve ever heard. Stories of how they grew up around the corner from the venue brought me back to the first time I saw Joey solo, 4 1/2 years ago at that very spot - when it was the Forum.
I really wish someone could’ve recorded it. Could be the best Eppard Brothers performance - but I can’t let myself say that it was. Each one holds a special nostalgic place in my heart. Can’t be objective… however, I couldn’t peel myself away to take any video or photos. They sounded too damn good!
No Eppard Brothers show ceases to be magical! And The Ricochet and Cosmonaut were fuckin’ wicked too. I look forward to hearing and seeing more from them both.
free MP3 album: Slimy Penis Breath - Fist Fuck The Pope Neeshland
March 22, 2008 - Mariner’s Harbor in Kingston, NY - impromptu original 3 reunion (Joey Eppard, Josh Eppard, Chris “CJB” Bittner) plus Robert “Chicken” Burke, David “Wavis” Parker, Billy Riker, Dave Daw took turns sitting in throughout their two sets.
April 18, 2008 - Backstage Studio Productions in Kingston, NY - with DENT (Joe Stote & Gartdrumm) and Astronauts. Billy Riker, Daniel Grimsland, CJB, Dave Daw all sat in at some point or another. Even Joe Stote joined in on one song!
June 08, 2008 - The Basement in Kingston, NY - with Instant Asshole, Dent, Dead Unicorn. Despite a gruesome skateboarding accident, Uncle John still performed with his band, Instant Asshole. The Eppard Brothers were joined by Billy Riker, Daniel Grimsland, Dave Daw, CJB, and even their dad- Jimmy Eppard; at various points throughout the set.
August 29, 2008 - Mariner’s Harbor in Kingston, NY - Revolving guest musicians were Mic Todd, Billy Riker, CJB, Jimmy Eppard during both sets.
September 4, 2009 - Port of Call in Catskill, NY - The duo for two full sets!
September 11, 2009 - Port of Call in Catskill, NY - Anthony Masington joined the brothers impromptu during the second set, and even played some of his Session 606 material with Joey on drums!
October 01, 2009 - The Keltic House in Fishkill, NY - with Session 606. Dad performed with the brothers (forming the E-Males?).
October 03, 2009 - Keegan Ales in Kingston, NY - with a bunch of other bands celebrating the Hudson Valley brewery’s 6th anniversary. E-Males
November 14, 2009 - Backstage Studio Productions in Kingston, NY - with Elysium Theory. The bassist for the night was Daniel Grimsland.
November 20, 2009 - The Basement in Kingston, NY - with The Ricochet, Cosmonaut. Dad held down the bass.
Weerd Science + Joey Eppard, Wavis, Gartdrumm, Gangstroph The Baptist, DJ Dirty Ern, Daniel Grimsland, Ant Masington
"Dear S.A.M. I'm Dead too You" UnRapped
October 27th, 2009 3's releasing their sixth record- Revisions - on Metal Blade Records. Earlier this week they filmed the first video for it, "Rabid Animals" with tons of friends. It was so awesome watching the process via http://livestream.com/3live! That was the coolest thing ever and looked like "loads" of fun
all in all in the videos:
Josh Eppard (Weerd Science)
Wavis [David Parker]
Dirty Ern
Ant Masington (Session 606, Mours)
Gangstroph the Baptist Joey Eppard
Daniel Grimsland
Gartdrumm
Weerd Science - http://myspace.com/weerdscience Weerd Science is the heart and soul of Joshua Eric Eppard. Often mislabeled as, "nerd rap," Weerd Science is difficult to categorize. Josh crafts his own beats with Wavis (and sometimes CJB or Dirty Ern). The first album (Friends and Nervous Breakdowns) is a compilation of older tracks. The second album, Sick Kids, will be released this winter and features live instruments, many of which were performed by Josh himself, Wavis and CJB. Joey Eppard, stand up bassist Matt Goldpaugh (Matty The Knife), Clip Payne (P-Funk), Adam Wirnoff (Lenny Kravitz, Stoney Clove Lane, Mechanical Bull, Mercury Rev), Majestic, Anni Krueger, Gangstroph The Baptist are featured on SiKi.
3 - http://myspace.com/officialbandthree 3 was originally formed in 1992/3 as Joey Eppard on guitar, Chris (CJB) Bittner on bass and Josh Eppard on drums. Josh picked up the drums specifically for this band and stayed with them until about 1999. In 1997 they were signed to Universal Records, but then subsequently dropped due to the Universal/Polygram merger. Josh did some studio work and eventually joined Shabutie in 2001. Shabutie became Coheed and Cambria, where he remained until 2006. Josh now puts all his effort into his heart: Weerd Science. CJB remained with 3 until 2001 and became a producer at the infamous Applehead Studio in Woodstock, NY (Coheed and Cambria, Anadivine, Codeseven, The Sleeping, Straylight Run, John Mayer, Tony Levin, Bad Brains are among the endless albums with CJB's imprint). Joey Eppard is still with 3. Their music incorporates many genres and cannot be explained verbally. You've gotta hear it for yourself to understand.
Joey Eppard - http://myspace.com/joeyeppard Joey Eppard is a very diverse musician with a distinctive vocal and guitar sound. His style of playing has been referred to as a hybrid of flamenco and slap fingerpicking, but Joey's just Joey. His band is and always has been 3 and he involves himself in many other projects- including several with P-Funk members (Drugs, 420 Funk Mob, Cacophonic fm). He's soulful, funky, and metal.
Mours - http://myspace.com/themours Mours is Josh Eppard's developing rock band. It's core members are Josh, Dave "Wavis" Parker and Ant "Session 606" Masington. Together they are Mours. They have an album in the works, but currently have shared only two rough tracks.
October 1st, 2009 Session 606 opened for Eppard Brothers (Joey Eppard & Josh Eppard) + their dad Jimmy Eppard. The three Eppards form- E-Males. It was only the second performance of E-Males, ever! Their third was two days later at Keegan Ales' Sixth Anniversary show in Kingston, NY.
Anyhoot, Morbid Studios' VinUcci was kind enough to film the entire Oct 1st gig and has already posted Session 606's set! Without further adieu, I present to you: Anthony Masington... solo, acoustic. As beautiful and natural as his songs-
I fucking love this band. Thought I'd never get the opportunity to see them live since they broke up in 1997/2001. Half of the band ended up in Foo Fighters. So psyched they're doing this reunion tour and incredibly bummed the company I wanted for this isn't around.
Anyway, if you're not interested/not around NYC, and haven't heard them before, Please do. Sunny Day Real Estate is a band everyone should know of.
The Suffering” with the band. Breaking Pangaea took Coheed and Cambria out on their first few tours. Coheed and Cambria will not be taking Initials out this summer.
