I remember the first time I saw the band BlueScream. They were on a ‘local bands bill’ night. If you’re not familiar with the term, the local bands bill is usually a mixed bag of area talent. The band I came to see was particularly strong, professional and had a tendency to make bands previous to their set look unimpressive. And, of course, I didn’t know BlueScream from Adam.
It came as a shock then, as the opening band finished mimicking every rap-metal cliché in the book, when the BlueScream members started setting up their equipment. They certainly didn’t look like the group previous to them and that was a relief. They set up in a precise, workmanlike fashion, ready for business, all BS aside. During this time, a young woman was working her way through the audience, gladhanding the patrons and passing around the ubiquitous clipboard.
A note about the clipboard to the uninitiated: This handy piece of office supply is the lifeblood of the young rock band. It gets the information that links the group to potential new fans. Without it, contact disappears and so do eighty percent of start-up musicians. At this juncture, the woman was not getting much response from the rounds.
The band finally got in place, the house music was dimmed down and BlueScream was introduced. The woman ascended the stage, the cymbals rolled and a bassline started to vibrate the small and cramped stage. Then the singer let out a roar and the song began, but what was it like? Remember when you first heard Johnette Napolitano singing Concrete Blonde’s “God Is A Bullet”, or perhaps when the chugging guitar of Heart’s “Barracuda” first rattled through your brain?
Yeah, kind of like that, and the hair stood on end.
Formed in 1998 by bassist Amber Kelly and guitarist Tom Dooley, joined thereafter by singer/lyricist Tia Bocker and rounded out by 2nd guitarist, Mike Albertelli and drummer Jamie Garofalo. BlueScream has been working the clubs of New York and New Jersey while, concurrently, working on a full length release. They had a three song e.p. giveaway at the show I attended but again, previous to their performance, the free discs weren’t moving so fast. That changed after their set.
But what do they sound like? Think of hard-edged classic rock, no nonsense, no digital manipulation, just the way you thought it was once upon a time. Think of the aforementioned Concrete Blonde, or Heart when they ‘rocked’ or the late, great Baby Animals. That will give you an idea of their sound, but the best way to experience it is at one of their New York or New Jersey shows. Dates, photos and soundclips can all be found at their site, www.bluescreamrocks.com.
With the promise of that full-length recording coming soon, praise, local radio and awards, BlueScream might very well be the hard rock band you’ve waited a whole decade for, and it could not have come soon enough.
