[DID NOT ATTEND: October 12, 2023] Wax Jaw / The Azures / Big Stink / Blue Daze August / Arckist
It’s crazy that I could have gone to Crossroads three nights in a row (two Tigers Jaw shows on the following two nights) when I feel like they never have bands I want to see.
I have seen Wax Jaw on YouTube a few times and I’m not sure how I found out about them. They are brand new (having just released their first EP) and yet they have a big following. Because they are great. I keep wanting to catch them but something comes up. Like the fact that I planned to be home tonight.
Besides how can I possibly go out for FIVE bands in a night. And if Wax Jaw are just putting out their first EP, are all of these bands just a year old? And will each set be 20 minutes?
Let’s find out
First is Arckist
WRAT’s Jersey artist of the week says
Arckist is a young band with a classic style. The members range in age from 17 to 20 and their musical tastes are well beyond that. Lead vocalist, Lily Slix is a Jersey Rock veteran, who began her musical career as a solo artist. Since the age of 12, she’s written, recorded, and released original music on a yearly basis and performed all over. She’s rocked legendary venues like the Stone Pony. On August 18 Arckist will release their Debut EP on all digital platforms. “Don’t Push Me Around” features five hard-hitting tracks aimed at reviving the hard rock of the past with the energy and perspective of today’s modern youth. It’s brimming with 1970s sensibilities and a dash of the ’90s. Expect heavy guitars, thunderous rhythm sections, and roaring vocals. August 18th all five songs will be available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and all digital platforms.
The EP is 23 minutes.
[UPDATE: This album is riff-rock, sounds fully realized and is very 70’s heavy rock sounding. With really dumb lyrics. Lily Slix has a voice much older than her age. I would have loved this were I in high school, but these days I don’t–not my thing anymore].
Blue Daze August has a full length out. It is 26 minutes. I can’t find any blurbs about them at all. They are from Toms River, NJ
[UPDATE: Fast pop punk, catchy and fun. This would be really fun to see live. What’s exciting about this band is that they are essentially a pop punk band, they throw in all kinds of unexpected moments, like a wholly unexpected saxophone on the new single and a fun jazzy breakdown on another song and “Manhattan” slows things down but retains a kind of snotty edge that I like.].
Big Stink is from Montclair. They have a few releases totaling about 25 minutes. Their bandcamp says
A crunchy three-piece hailing from the depths of a sticky Montclair basement. Emo Garage you say!? perhaps.
[UPDATE: Heavy distorted screaming accompanies heavy distorted thumping drums and bass. It’s got an early Mudhoney vibe. I quite like it and I’m sure t hey are wild live].
The Azures have the longest blurb on bandcamp. But they only have one song there. They have two songs on Spotify. And yet they are the highest on the bill. Huh. They are also from Toms River.
The Azures are a four-piece psychedelic blues band from Central Jersey, influenced heavily by the Delta era of original southern rock as well as all the wild shit that went down in the 70’s like The Doors and Jefferson Airplane. Please enjoy the music! Caio – The Azures
Given the blurbs, I feel like I would like them least of the four. But I’ll give them all a listen tomorrow.
[UPDATE: I listened to the record and I like their vibe, although I suspect I would like them more live than on record..]
Wax Jaw said they were going on 9:15-9:30 with the music starting at 8. I don’t quite understand how that would work. Is every band playing ten minutes? If they were going on later, I considered driving down just to see them, but I don’t think I can squeeze it in.
This show was moved from April 24 and is now postponed once again.
I Just Read About That... 