AGENCY AQUARIAN REVIEW!

3-31-06 AQUARIAN A&E Weekly Review AGENCY

by Ken Shane

"There's something brewing again in Asbury Park. Bands like AGENCY and Days Awake are drawing big crowds to revitalized clubs like The Wonder Bar and The Stone Pony, and Asbury Park-based AERIA Records is have success signing local artists and putting out strong product. The city and the music scene are getting back on their feet.

Anthemic guitar-driven energy is what you get from AGENCY on their debut album. Think U2 fronted by Jim Kerr of Simple Minds if you need a guidepost, but the band has their own sound, and it's not one heard in these parts very often. AGENCY may be a local band, but this is not local music. Songs like "Dissolve" and "Observation" are world class, and deserve a wide audience.

Don't look now, but the storied history of NJ rock may be starting a new chapter. It should be an interesting summer in Asbury Park."

In a word: Shimmering
Grade: A-

ST. CHRISTOPHER on the JERSEYTODD SHOW!

Check it out:

Jersey Todd Show

What's a "real" band?

What makes an authentic group? I believe the collision
between cooperation and conflict where the players collectively
accentuate the positives and manifest a unique musical DNA.

Its a lucky thing to be in a real ensemble. You can take the best
musicians in the world, but it doesn't necessarily comprise a good
band..

That's why I put up with Phantom's Opera for 10 years.. It was its own
thing and I recognized the value of that authenticity..

Be your own thing kids :)

Colie/AERIA

Advice to Aspiring Artists

I recently sent out this rant to the artists on AERIA. I think it might be useful to any indie musician whether DIY or on a small label..
--- ------ ----------
Listen guys, I can appreciate the frustration of having a record out and feeling stuck, chomping at the bit etc.

All I can say to assure you is that we'll do the best we can..

FYI, will be doing a modest AD in CMJ soon.. Details TBA..

In the mean time there are things you can do. They are tedious and time consuming, but they do work..

Please:

* Stay on top of myspace. not just adding friends but interacting with those who show interest - ROCK STARS DON'T JUST PERFORM ONSTAGE, keep blogging - not stupid nonsense, but personal expression that reveal personalities that folks can identify with..

* THANK PODCASTERS PROFUSELY - leave nice voice mails, join their myspace sites, leave comments, join their frapper lists, etc.

* Put live shows on Etree, so geographically challenged fans can hear the show! THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT and gives fans a dynamic connection

* PLAY OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE - ANY opportunity to win a new fan is worth considering.. NEW TARGETS - New Brunswick, Hoboken, Washington DC, etc. YOU CAN'T Play NYC too much.. EVEN the SHIT GIGS are RESUME BUILDERS (keep a gig history)

* LEVERAGE your fan base, give the (YOUR BAND NAME HERE) ARMY a "to do" list, target one radio station or media outlet at a time (preferably one that can positively impact a live show in a particular region ex. Boston newspaper for a Boston Gig, etc.)

* DRESS TO THRILL & Visit your local record stores that carry your album and just say thanks to the kid at the counter - that kid will be converted and start evangelizing you.. You have listening stations in JACK's, VINTAGE VINYL (local retail), and your own freaking bin at TOWER RECORDS in NYC...

* BE YOUR OWN STREET TEAM - BE (YOUR ARTIST NAME HERE)... Go to the MALL, CRASH WEDDINGS, POLITICAL EVENTS, COUNTY FAIRS, BE OUTRAGEOUS and walk tall like your Johnny Cash..

* HAVE INITIATIVE - visit web sites, contact the media, upload mp3s on free music sites, post in relevant message boards, chats, and guest books - get your fans to do it too... Start fake fans sites on geocities, add customer reviews on EVERY we site that sells your products, beg your fans to do it, have your Mom do it, have your Grand Mom do it..

Guess what? There's tons of bands doing this shit everyday, most aren't nearly as good as you at all, but like anything else in American consumerism its a numbers game. Improve your odds by doing as much as you can. The reality is that AERIA is a little indie label with very modest resources, despite that I think we've pulled off some miraculous stuff, but the reality is that we're all in a sweat equity situation.. We have three artists to serve and more releases coming down the pike. We'll do all we can, but you guys really all have to dig deeper if you really want it.. Besides, people respond the most enthusiastically to the artists themselves..

Think a big budget would make a difference? Not really.. The major labels are scrambling right now.. They don't even know what to throw their money on. The music business is enduring a RADICAL STATE of TRANSFORMATION RIGHT NOW. A gazillion dollar AD in SPIN doesn't necessarily mean shit anymore. We are a FRACTURED SOCIETY with a BLITZ of media infotainment fighting for our attention 24/7.

Grassroots, targeted, niche micromarketing is the FUTURE of this business and hopefully many industries. At its best marketing makes a connection between a product or service to an entity with a need or desire for that particular thing. Before the new media revolution, ignorance and fear was easier to galvanize into consumer action since only the guys with the dinero could access the media.. Now its a more level playing field with more players scrambling for smaller slices of the pie.

Anyway.. enough ranting, the end result is there is never enough to do to promote indie new music.. Do what you can and do it well...

God Bless Us Everyone,

Colie

AGENCY Release Party at the Wonder Bar

What a WONDER full evening :)

Thanks to the families & friends, crowd, the Wonder Bar staff, Gary Wein, Staus Green, Greg Wilkens, Ben Bleefield, Keith Monaccio, Rick Barry, Mark Prescott, Eric Bennet, Rob Shuman, John Knoll, Tom Ruff.. Everyone who donated their precious time and talent to ensure the evening's success.

Last night gave me incredible pleasure. I remember playing the Wonder Bar (the Atlantis) in the Fall of 2000. I jammed with many great musicians that night - Jasper Sara who was there last night, some 15 year old hot shot guitarist named Brian Amsterdam, this cute girl named Sarah Tomek who played drums like John Bonham... Then they went and joined some band called Days Awake :)

Sara and I had also spent the previous year playing with this other kid named Brian.. Brian Saint. We spent a year wood shedding in this club called the Moon Rock. In fact if you looked out the patio window while you were playing you'd see Tillie in the background. Actually if you had too much too drink it could kind of freak you out. Back then we had an old VW Bus we drove around in that Brian named King - because we were always roamin' Kingsley. I guess we still are :)

Brian's songs and lyrics were always straight from the heart and the AGENCY debut is no exception. Rarely to songs, singing and sound come perfectly together... They have here. Its a great honor and privilege to introduce AGENCY to a bigger world..

The magnetism and majesty displayed by Saint, Savio, Thompson, and Scotto last night was off the chart.. I repeat: OFF THE FUCKING CHART... Description is futile and defies the parameters of existing vocabulary... Catch a show.

Colie/AERIA