The DT's - "You With Me" (MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Friday, August 20, 2021

The DT’s are a power pop group hailing from central New Jersey. Having released their first single, “You With Me” in June, the group is now back to share their music video for the catchy single. Since the release, The DT’s played their first full band show at House of Independents in Asbury Park, NJ, and have been hard at work at new content for their fans. I recently spoke with Dave and Tom about their past year, playing shows again and their new music video. Thank you Dave and Tom!

The DT’s live at House of Independents

How was your first full band show at House of Independents? 

Tom: Our first show was really special and was really a magical night! It meant the world to be on that stage especially after such a long time and just battling a lot of adversity over the past 18 months. Both of us hadn't played in a full band setting live for quite some time and to debut at one of our favorite venues was a great experience. It almost felt like a Twilight Zone episode, like was this actually happening? It went really well and our buddies Lou Panico (Natalie Farrell Band, Levy & The Oaks, Solo) & Frank Lettieri (The Paper Jets, Dust Of Days) really did such an excellent job. They are true professionals! 

Dave: It was such an exciting experience. We were very happy when Bobby Mahoney reached out to us, and asked us if we wanted to play. It had been so long since we played in a full band setting, and it felt so good to be back out there on stage. Our talented friends Frank Lettieri (The Paper Jets, Dust Of Days) and Lou Panico (Natalie Farrell Band, Levy & The Oaks, Solo) helped us out that night, and they were extremely professional. We only practiced the four of us collectively one time, but I think that made the show more fun and lively! We were able to hang out with some friends that we have not seen since the start of the pandemic, have fun with the crowd, and play some new originals at an awesome venue. 

What can fans expect at a DT’s concert now that shows are coming back around?

Tom: In this new project, we really like to keep it fun, loose, engaging and entertaining with the audience. We work very hard at our craft but we also really like to keep the audience involved in a variety of settings. I also enjoy having freedom in this project where we are an acoustic duo some nights, other times full band electric, all while mixing in different instruments we play. At the end of the day, we just want to make sure the crowd is having fun and that we are spreading some joy. I think we all could use some after the past year.

Dave: Anyone that comes to one of our shows can expect a good time! We are always trying to have fun at our shows by throwing in some covers, getting the crowd involved, and telling some jokes on stage. We just like to have fun while providing a high energy rock and roll experience!

This video accompanies your latest single “You With Me.” What does this song mean to you as a group?

Tom: This was a really special song for Dave and I as it was one that came really quickly and naturally for us. Our emotions and feelings really lined up at the time and the song both structurally and lyrically came together in one night. We really didn't try and over think many parts and allowed ourselves to explore while keeping the song refined into a pop format. It was really neat sharing parts from our own songs and mashing them together melodically. 

Dave: To me the song means a lot. Lyrically, it references some personal/emotional setbacks we have experienced in the past few years. It was the first song that Tom and I wrote collaboratively from scratch. We started with a drum idea, and then layered on top of that. We both brought different elements to the song that we were able to blend cohesively, which gave it a unique sound. I am extremely proud of us for making this track because we also produced everything in Tom’s basement. We were then lucky enough to have our friend Frank Lettieri record drums and Joe Pomarico (Telegraph Hill Records) Mix/Master the final track.

Who did you work with for this music video?

Tom: We worked with Tom Garrigan, an old friend who is a photographer/videographer from our hometown. Tom is nationally known for his photography work shooting abandoned settings, and he really did an excellent job getting the footage for this shoot. He really had a lot of our visions behind the song come to life in a really simplistic way. All the editing work was done by Frank Lettieri who also plays drums for us live! 

Dave: We worked with our good friend Tom Garrigan. Tom Garrigan is a very talented photographer who has gained a following on Instagram under the handle “moldy_lungs” taking photographs of abandoned places. You have to check his page out!  So it was interesting to work with him because he is normally a photographer, not a videographer. So he himself was a little reluctant of how the final product would be, but we all think it came out great. Frank Lettieri then took all of the videos that we got with Tom G and made it a cohesive piece. Working with these talented two individuals was extremely easy, and we could not have been happier with how it came out.

What’s next for the DT’s?

Tom: We are truly having a blast doing this, and the past 3 months have been a huge reaffirment for us. We have many more singles lined up and some really awesome shows on the docket. Recording has also really turned into a passion for us, so more writing and experimentation in the fall will be happening for sure. It's been such a great year connecting with new artists, old friends and just letting our passions in this project flow. It's been such a great vehicle for expression for us and I'm so grateful for my friendship with Dave. 

Dave: Not stopping! The only things that are next for us include more music, more shows, more merch and more content. I am also so grateful for my friendship with Tom, and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far!

Interview with Artist Haley Simone

By Nicolas Palermo | Posted Saturday, May 1, 2021

Capturing movement in visual art is not an easy task. The Impressionists did it in their own way with loose brush strokes and an emphasis on soft colors over detail. How does one effectively portray an object in motion to fit their individual style?

Haley Simone is an illustrator from New Jersey who confronts that question and answers it by effortlessly creating snapshots of musicians on stage as they play live in front of her. Her keen eye for movement is reflected in these on-the-fly illustrations. The line work is free and the colors are inviting. I first saw Haley's work the day after I played a show with my own band. She captured the energy of the gig in a handful of portraits of myself and the other musicians on stage that day. She even got my sideburns on point! The caricatures evoked as much emotion as a photograph from that day would have. Haley Simone draws images of what she sees and our own viewpoints of waking life are enriched by them.

Hi, Haley! Where are you based out of? Do you feel that the area you’re in has an influence on your artwork?

Hey Nic! I’m based out of central New Jersey, not too far from Asbury Park. Living here has definitely introduced me to so many different music scenes — New Brunswick, Asbury, New York, Philly. I spent four years in Brooklyn previously, and had completely fallen in love with it. My work was heavily influenced by living in the city and not much else. So when I had to move back home after school, I was really torn. It was the music scene in New Jersey that really helped me find my place here again. My work followed, and all of a sudden I was documenting everything I could about another place and group of people I loved.

I wanted to talk about your live show drawings — I tend to get frustrated when drawing moving things (people, animals etc.) Your illustrations always effortlessly capture the motion and fluidity of a band performing. What’s the process when making these pieces?

Trying to draw something that’s moving is so difficult! Usually by the time you’ve finished drawing a face or a hand the figure is in a completely different position. So I try not to think about it.

The first thing that I do is allow myself to warm up. When you’re drawing a set, you’re lucky if it lasts longer than a half hour, so you want to get a few quick drawings out of the way before it starts. After that, I think the best thing you can do is allow yourself to be in the moment. You’re not trying to capture one pose exactly - you’re capturing the feeling of that moment in time. If the song is angry, let your lines be angry. If the song is soft, let your lines be soft. I only draw in materials I can’t erase — this forces me to make quick decisions. Don’t worry about getting the details right, that will become easier through practice. The most important thing is to allow yourself to record the event as you experience it.

My go-to is the Tombow dual-tip brush pen, which I cannot recommend enough! I take my sketches after a show and scan them into Procreate and edit them, possibly adding some shapes or color. I try to pick
colors that match the feeling of the band.

What was your introduction to the NJ music scene? Do you play music yourself?

A few good friends from high school got together and started a band several years back, and on breaks from school I would hang out at practices and travel to shows with them. I actually got into live music drawing specifically because I couldn’t play an instrument, but still wanted to jam with them. By bringing a sketchbook to shows, I get to quietly create alongside so many artists I admire. It’s wild to me that I didn’t think to do this sooner because almost all of the illustrations I’ve ever made has an album or two that I blasted continuously while making it. I am trying to learn the guitar, though. It's really hard.

The playfulness in your artwork reminds me of an aesthetic of cartoons and comics from our childhood (Cartoon Network, Scott Pilgrim etc.) It brings me back to a time when I’d hangout at bookstores and read comics without ever actually buying them (I was just a kid!) Who are your biggest artistic influences?

Oh boy, there are so many. Here is a painfully brief list.

Comics: Reading Mike Mignola’s “Hellboy” made me want to draw comics. His pacing and storytelling are incredible, and what has always amazed me about his work is his ability to make the space between each panel a moment in itself. I was introduced to the work of Ron Wimberly and Charles Burns in college, and their usage of the medium blew my mind. Newspaper comics have always been a source of comfort for me too —
I’ve been reading Gary Larson’s “The Far Side” and Patrick McDonnell’s “Mutts” since I was a kid.

Illustration: Phil Hale and Greg Manchess are two of my favorite painters when I’m looking for guidance on brushstrokes and lighting. Maurice Noble created many of the backgrounds for Looney Tunes, and
his usage of shapes and color schemes are such an influence on me when I’m making stuff.

Animation: Thurop Van Orman’s “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack” was that incredible realization that animation didn’t have to be one thing — it had hand-drawn animation, stop motion, cut-paper. Everything. Watching that show along with Laika films like ParaNorman made me want to learn how to create stop motion. Patrick McHale’s “Over the Garden Wall” inspired me to learn storyboarding
and digital painting. I still remember the first time I experienced Redline, directed by Takeshi Koike. That movie just made me want to draw better.

Recently, I’ve been admiring the work of Dedouze, who has completely revolutionized the use of Grease Pencil in Blender. I also just finished watching the anime adaptation of Koyoharu Gotouge’s “Demon Slayer” — the art style and usage of 3D animation was amazing. I love drawing to Screaming Females, Murder by Death, and MF DOOM.

Are you working on any projects right now that you’re excited about?

For the first time ever, a lot of my projects are actually under wraps right now — but I am looking to take on some new commissions in the next few months!

As for personal work, I am working on a series of illustrations for fun about a bunch of little demons who hijack and steal a car from a used car dealership. I can’t wait to share them.

Where can we follow you and find your artwork?

Thanks so much for having me!

My music-based website is www.haleydrawsmusic.com. You can follow my work on Instagram @haleydrawsmusic!

Interview with Bobby Mahoney (Quarantine Edition)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Bobby Mahoney and The Seventh Son have been working tirelessly since first emerging from New Brunswick, NJ back in 2012. In the past few years alone, the group has toured the East Coast and Midwest, released a handful of EP’s and singles and even opened up for Bon Jovi at the Prudential Center. Most recently, the group released an acoustic version of their track “Called It Quits”, recorded in New York just before the shutdown started last year. 

When the pandemic first hit a little over a year ago, any lover of music knew it was going to be a little while before they were out seeing live music in any “normal” capacity. While some bands headed to the studio and others dissolved, Bobby took this time to help bring people together during this isolation. His livestreams have helped create an online music community that both inspires and connects musicians and listeners all around the world. I absolutely love what he has been doing with this somewhat new livestream medium and Bobby was kind enough to talk to me about what he's been up to the past year with The Seventh Son and the year of the livestream.

When and where was your last show before the venue lockdown?

B.M.: Our last full band show before the lockdown was at The Saint on February 20th with Latewaves, Lake Lilies, and Earth Telephone, but I also jammed with Matty Carlock at The Stone Pony on Feb. 22nd, played acoustic at Langosta Lounge with Joe Rapolla on March 7th, and then I was on a float with Williams Honor in the Asbury St. Patrick’s Day Parade on the 8th. The next week, the school I teach at went virtual and things hit the fan.

How has the pandemic affected the band (i.e. practices, songwriting, release dates)?

We have definitely rehearsed less than we would have, and we definitely have spent less time in the studio to say the least. We have been able to record 5 songs as a full band so far, but we have more work to do. We have put out a few new videos, a new live track, and new acoustic songs in the meantime, which we are all proud of.

How has the pandemic affected your songwriting, if at all?

I have a lot of songs that I was working on pre-pandemic that have new context to the world we find ourselves in currently. I still write down fragments of ideas and record bits of voice memos most days, and am constantly revising ideas, but I find myself letting them marinade more, living in various states of completion. As we have been in the process of getting vaxxed up, we have been starting to get back in the swing of rehearsals and studio sessions to complete the next batch of songs that I’ve let marinade enough. 

When did you first premiere your Bloody Marys and Coffee show? How did you come up with it?

I believe it was March 22nd, 2020. It started as me feeling unsure of how to help the situation, feeling restless, and wanting to give people a distraction. Part of the restlessness was feeling the need to ‘stay relevant’ and active, which I am sure a lot of our peers can relate to. 

“Called It Quits (Acoustic)” on Bandcamp now!

How many live streams have you done since the pandemic? Did you ever expect this medium to take off the way it has?

I honestly haven’t been counting or keeping track in any way (laughs sheepishly). I didn’t think we would be doing this for this long, or else I would have kept a better record. I would approximate there have been around 50 solo acoustic ‘Bloody Marys and Coffee”, two successful full band live streams, one less successful one early early on before we asked more friends for help, plus many more benefit video contributions and streams over the last year. It's like putting a bandaid on a headshot, but we are making the best of the medium. The best upside is that I get to check in with my friends all around the world once a week, and that's been a gift, and the coolness of it isn’t lost on me. I’m very grateful for all my friends, old and new, who have tuned into any of the streams this year. Some people haven’t missed one. I’m also grateful to have been able to still play with my band in any capacity over the last year, so I will take what I can get. The safety of our friends, and families who could have been directly or indirectly affected by us playing music in a less-than-safe setting has weighed heavy on me, and it continues to. 

Have you been finding yourself writing more or less the past year?

Less in the overall volume of songs, but I still have too many songs that I want to work on. I’m excited to put the band back to work as soon as possible. The gears haven’t stopped turning but they definitely were slowed for a while when it really wasn’t safe to even be in the same room for too long. Now as things are starting to look up a bit (knocks furiously on wood) we can start to rev the engine and get the gears moving faster.

Plans for future releases? Currently working on anything?

Yeah, there will be a new Seventh Son record in the not so distant future. Will it be an EP? Will it be an LP? Will it be a Double Record? Not sure. I really am still figuring that all out. Time and the process will present that information to me when I am ready for it.

You can keep up with all things Bobby Mahoney and The Seventh Son here!