MISTER NEUTRON
MISTER NEUTRON
MISTER NEUTRON: Neutron In The News
YEAR-ROUND SURFING: If you were to collect classic sounds of the Shore, your list would not be complete without a healthy dose of surf rock -- the twangy, reverb-heavy style popular in the early 1960s.
Today that style can be heard in the music of Mister Neutron, a trio composed of Damian and Tony Fanelli, brothers originally from Jersey City (now living in Cranford) and Drew Paradine, their longtime friend and drummer, originally from Bayonne (now in Chatham).
When the band's debut album, MISTER NEUTRON LOVES YOU, appeared in 2004, it sent ripples through a fan base that Damian calls the East Coast "surf subculture" -- dedicated crowds at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park and The Crossroads in Garwood.
The band's 2006 release, RED TRIANGLE, caught a wave of popularity around the country. After a California tour, they return to the studio to finish recording their third album for Deep Eddy Records, slated for release next spring.
Watch for the band at Asbury Lanes this summer. Their live performances, Damian says, "are crazy. A lot of the things on the CD don't even represent how insane the live shows are."
Visit misterneutron.com for updated information on live shows.
STAMFORD — In an explosion catalyzed by "Miserlou," the signature song in the 1994 classic "Pulp Fiction," surf music fought its way back into the public consciousness — and city enthusiast Bob D'Aprile is now working to make sure the often overlooked genre is here to stay.
D'Aprile helped coordinate Stamford's first Surf Nite, a three-band set consisting of 9th Wave, Mister Neutron and The Sea Devils, all North East Surf Music Alliance [NESMA] members, at Jimmy's Seaside on March 30.
The night, D'Aprile said, will help re-charge the area with hard-to-come-by original tunes.
"I'd like to see [Stamford] provide more live and original music," D'Aprile said. "Covers, there are some that, yes, they are entertaining, but you've heard it all before. Independent and original music is something that's hard to find in Fairfield County, and when you do, they're in isolated [clubs]."
With the help of NESMA, a 73-band organization comprised mostly of groups playing original music, D'Aprile hopes to build a local appetite for original surf music.
Surf music's supporters, like Mister Nuetron guitarist Damian Fanelli, think the tunes' uniqueness will make the nights successful.
"I feel that there is nothing as pure or as cool as surf music," he said. "It's an art form that doesn't get enough attention."
Fanelli's 23-year-old band has been exclusively devoted to surf tunes for the past two years, and he said the lack of lyrics heightens the tunes' intensity.
"If you like guitars, why do you have to have vocals? People singing 'I love you' 90 times; it's so much more exciting to have the guitars do the talking," said Fanelli, whose New Jersey-based band has performed everywhere from Manhattan to California.
Mike Rosado, 9th Wave guitarist and NESMA creator and director, said surf music lends itself well to party atmospheres as well as laid-back listening.
"That's the great thing about instrumental; it's not going to dictate how you feel," he said. "We play on and with your emotions ... it all depends on your mood and how you react to it."
This Cranford, N.J.-based trio fronted by brothers Damian and Tony Fanelli plays an interesting rootsy style that blends straight-ahead garage rock with roots and surf elements, with Damian's nimble and tasteful guitar playing deserving extra praise. They also wrap the whole package with a hefty dose of oddball and irreverent humor as evidenced in songs like "Atomic Supermen" and "Go, Stinky Monkey!" The record sprawls across 19 songs, which might be a bit too much for an initial dosage, but there are several songs here that are worthy of attention.
Who are they? The most powerful three-piece surf/instrumental band on the East Coast, or so they claim (we assume that they are referring to the east coast of the USA and not that they're huge in Dundee or Cromer). RED TRIANGLE is their second CD for the Austin-based Deep Eddy label and features seven sparkling originals and covers of Dick Dale's "The Wedge" and the Eddie Angel-penned "The Casbah." What's good? "Comanchero" is a sublime spaghetti western thing, featuring acoustic rhythm guitars and some fabulous trumpet. If you've visited HangNine much, you'll know we are suckers for trumpet. "Attack Of The Sea People" is mental -- and only in a good way. Some thunderous playing from the Fanelli brothers (OK, I'm only guessing they're brothers, but I reckon there's a fair chance I'm correct) -- Damian on guitar and Tony on bass -- and from drummer Drew Paradine. What's bad? "Comanchero" hints at the possibility of a somewhat broader musical pallette than the rest of the album, which, for the most part, actually delivers. HangNine Rating: AB (Absolutely Brilliant)
MISTER NEUTRON LOVES YOU is Mister Neutron's debut on Austin, Texas-based Deep Eddy Records, which fell in love with the eclectic trio after working together on the GARAGE JUSTICE VOL. 1: NEW YORK CITY VS. AUSTIN comp. It's easy to see why. Mister Neutron refuses to be pigeonholed and likes to mix things up. A quirky but well-rooted combo of mod ("A Mod Proposal"), power pop ("Special Boy"), surf-rock ("Danger: Diabolik"), rockabilly ("Pretty Green Thing"), They Might Be Giants-like nerd rock ("Atomic Supermen") and shades of Stevie Ray Vaughan-inspired Austin blues-rock ("Soledad O'Brien"), Mister Neutron will appeal to music fans with varied taste, an open mind and a silly sense of humor.
Five of the 19 tracks on this first release from Mister Neutron (MISTER NEUTRON LOVES YOU) are instros, one blues, one country and three surf. They are a fun band with a sense of humor and excellent musicianship and writing. "Danger: Diabolik": Harsh double-picked guitar driven by a surf beat play a slightly spy surf instro with power and energy and a great melody. The splashy nature of the song, the powerful delivery and the excellent melody create a great vehicle for the curl. "Naughty Bits" has the edgy twang of Chiyo and the Crescents' "Pink Dominoes," but is a blues instro. Spunky and fun, with punchy percussion and flashy guitar. Gaminiam and his Orientals' catchy "Come With Me To The Casbah" gets a tuff surf treatment with edge and a basic rock 'n' roll gruffness. Often called "The Casbah" or "Casbah," this is a fun little riff rocker that Los Straitjackets do so nicely. Softly rising from a bass run into twang chords, "10'll Gretsch You 20" sports surf whammy and ringing chords, and a friendly melody with just a touch of worry. A very fine yet simple piece that's a pleasure to listen to. On the modern side, but very cool. "Whirligig" is a splendid country instro with rich tone and a sorta Buck Owens and his Buckaroos vs. Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys sound. Catchy, bouncy, fun and very enjoyable!
MISTER NEUTRON LOVES YOU is the debut recording by Mister Neutron. It was released in 2004. Mister Neutron are Damian Fanelli: Guitar/vocals, Tony Fanelli: Bass, and Drew Paradine: Drums. This album is a mixture of power-pop, surf and blues. I?ve been a fan of this type of high-energy power-pop for as long as I know. I thought I'd heard the funkiest when I heard They Might Be Giants and The Insomniacs. Boy, was I ever wrong! Mister Neutron's proving to have more than enough staying power and creativity to remain in my ntertainment center CD. This 56-minute cd has been four years in the making and it shows.
Without a doubt, they have earned my respect and admiration, not to mention fans, in a big way. Excluding the highly original "Love Theme From Mister Neutron," the album starts off coming right at you with "A Mod Proposal." Drew never misses a beat, no pun intended, and Damian's stylish '60s sounding guitars are truly magnificent. There are several tunes here that could be anyone's favorite. Mine happen to be the opening two tracks, of course, the funky "Soledad O'Brien," the sweet yet modestly intense "Mrs. Neil Armstrong" and the incredibly funny "Atomic Supermen." The others hold their own as well. Anyway, I'm sure you get the point. Of course, if there's a soul out there who's not acquainted with this three-piece dynamo, I hope that this will serve as a solid testimonial. You need Mister Neutron in your collection.
This nine-song EP (RED TRIANGLE) is a powerful tribute to classic surf, old, new and Neutron, as well as a showcase of the power-surf style Mister Neutron fans are familiar with. My personal pick is "Submariner." The drums of Drew Paradine just blew me away. Every second drips with reverb and salt air. The drums and bass line provide powerful surges of sound that compliment the high, sweet double-picking of Mister Damian Fanelli so well. I have listened to this CD no less that 20-plus times and still love this tune the most. I have heard Mister Neutron play every tune on RED TRIANGLE live and found the mix of exotica/trad, as in "Super Constellation" coming right after the hot-rod-surf sound of "Danger Diabolik," as enjoyable as the mix of tunes during their live shows. The CD closes with an original written by bassist Tony Fanelli, "Neutron Stomp." It opens with Drew leading the way on the skins, followed by deep reverberating strings of Damian and Tony. "Neutron Stomp" will have you swaying and grinding with your dance partner as the beat builds up to climatic ending that takes your breath away. RED TRIANGLE leaves you wanting more, which is what all good performers want their audiences to feel. Be prepared to yell "encore!" after the CD ends. Mister Neutron has definitely created a place in the surf music genre all their own, and I am grateful they have allowed us to share it with them through their latest CD, RED TRIANGLE.
Mister Neutron, 10 p.m. Saturday, March 3, Otto’s Shrunken Head, 538 E. 14th St., New York. Free. Unsteady Freddie’s Surf-Rock Shindig with 9th Wave, The Atomic Mosquitos and The Rip Chords. (212) 228-2240, www.ottosshrunkenhead.com
Fans of recent honorary Oscar-winner Ennio Morricone, the composer of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and other spaghetti-western themes, will enjoy the guitar-slinging, trumpet-textured “Comanchero,” the opening track of Cranford- and Chatham-based surf-rock band Mister Neutron’s all-instro EP, “Red Triangle.” The nine-song disc, the group’s second for Austin-based Deep Eddy Records, includes covers of Dick Dale’s “The Wedge” and Los Straitjackets’ “Munsters”-like “Casbah.”
Other tasty originals include the tongue-in-cheek closer “Neutron Stomp” and a surf-minded revamping of the James Bond-inspired “Danger Diabolik.” The latter appeared on the trio’s mostly lyrical 2004 Deep Eddy debut, “Mister Neutron Loves You,” paving the way for the band’s departure from mod-influenced garage-rock.
The March of the Neutrons, the trio’s March tour, kicks off tonight with one of Unsteady Freddie’s Surf Rock Shindigs at Otto’s Shrunken Head, a tiki bar that’s a rocking oasis in the Chelsea section of New York.
March also includes five performances March 22 to 25 in California, including a live radio broadcast that can be heard 7 to 9 p.m. March 22 on www.kcrlive.com.
The following weekend, the trio will trek to Jimmy’s Seaside in Stamford, Conn., to play with fellow NESMA acts 9th Wave and The Sea Devils. It’s no surprise that Mister Neutron is the NESMA Spotlight Band of the month at www.nesmasurf.org.
Mister Neutron will return to Otto’s May 5 for another Surf-Rock Shindig with Mr. Action & The Boss Guitars from New York, The Nematoads from Texas and The Reverb Syndicate from Maryland. Also coming up is the Clarkston Surf Fest on June 30 in Clarkston, Ga.
The shows will feature songs from Mister Neutron’s third Deep Eddy disc, now in production.
The trio’s 1960s-covers side project, The Blue Meanies, also is busy with The Fest for Beatles Fans March 17 at the Crowne Plaza in Secaucus. The Meanies also will play the Beatle bashes Abbey Road on the River May 24 to 28 in Louisville, Ky., and Abbey Road on the Mountain June 2 in Scranton, Pa.
All of the work will bring the three Neutrons — guitarist Damian Fanelli, his bass-playing brother, Tony, and drummer Drew Paradine — to six states in the next four months. Info: www.misterneutron.com, www.myspace.com/misterneutron, www.bluemeanies.net
Masterminded by guitarist/vocalist Damian Fanelli with brother Tony on bass and drummer Drew Paradine working up a fine froth behind him, Mister Neutron draw on a wide variety of influences, including (but certainly not limited to) Weezer, Fountains of Wayne, The Spent Poets, They Might Be Giants … Horton Heat, The Jam, Link Wray, The Who, The Beatles, The Bongos, ELO, The Kinks and World Party. Genre hopping from twisted-lyric gems about celebrity stalking on “Soledad O’Brien,” to lasting love via Egyptian mummification, a lovesick nerd’s “Robot Arm,” bathing a Stinky Monkey, a race of “Atomic Supermen” who turn on their maker, special rules for a “Special Boy” and the “Waterworks” sure to come when she gets the news – the group also hang 12 on the surf-tastic “10’ll Gretsch You 20.” Good stuff.
FOUR STARS FOR "SUPER CONSTELLATION" (from review of BIG WAVE RIDERS): Spunky and rhythmic, with a real sense of you car with the top down on a highway through a cactus valley, and warm textures. Mister Neutron give lots of energy to this rocker, with reverb added and a very cool beat. With ample changes, "Super Constellation" bears repeated enjoyment.
After their amazing debut album, MISTER NEUTRON LOVES YOU, Mister Neutron are returning with another classic, RED TRIANGLE. This time, they have added additional artists on different tracks to flesh out their sound. Nine tracks and 25 minutes deep, RED TRIANGLE is a workout for listener and artists alike. The moods range from caffeinated and frenetic to thoughtful and subdued, with each member of the trio holding the spotlight for a moment and none outshining the other. One of the picks is "Comanchero." A lively opener as Damian treads lightly across his strings mirrored by spicy horns and suspenseful bass. The percussion keeps the beat gingerly. This is a nice way to open a CD, keeping the audience tuned in for each note. Mister Neutron take on the world and release impressions that can be interpreted any way you like. The only slight downer is that the album feels a little shorter compared to their debut, at just under half an hour. Apart from that, the CD comes with many pleasant surprises and calls for repeated listening. Both accessible, containing loads of rhythmic grooves, and challenging the listener with deep material that requires sorting, RED TRIANGLE comes highly recommended.
FOUR STARS FOR "SUBMARINER" (from review of TEXAS INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS VOLUME 1): This is a fast, romping number with cool glissandos and flying Spanish surf guitars. More moody than melodic, "Submariner" races across a cactus plain, or perhaps under the sea, as suggested by the title. Big energy.