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The Parlor Mob

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The Parlor Mob

The Parlor Mob is a rock band founded in New Jersey in 2004. The band consists of singer Mark Melicia, guitarists David Rosen and Paul Ritchie, drummer Sam Bey and bassist Anthony Chick.[1]

History

The band started out as What About Frank? in 2004 in Red Bank, New Jersey, playing with a more progressive rock based sound. During their career as What About Frank? they were twice recognized as Best Live Band at the Asbury Music Awards. They played many shows including the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, the Van's Warped Tour, The Great Bamboozle Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and South by Southwest[3]. Their debut self-titled release was the #1 top-selling album in local retail[4], and received airplay on both satellite and commercial radio[citation needed].

The Parlor Mob

In 2006 the band changed their name to The Parlor Mob so as to "...have a name that's less hokey and more representative of our music" said drummer Sam Bey in a New York Times interview. The name itself was derived from a notorious 19th century gang of the same name [5]. Their sound had progressed into a more blues based experimental rock n' roll style. At the same time, they signed a small record deal with Capitol Records. The band soon after traveled to Los Angeles in the summer of 2006 to record a 4-song EP with producer Howard Willing (Smashing Pumpkins, OK Go, Counting Crows)[3]. However, the merger between Capitol and Virgin records left The Parlor Mob stranded – after recording the EP, the band "came home and sat around for nine months," according to guitarist David Rosen[6]. Eventually, after watching most of their supporters lose their jobs, the band was dropped by Capitol. Without a label to release it, they decided to release the EP themselves, digitally, free of charge to anyone who wanted to download it. Name was suggested by Cody Marlor, Indie Rock Enthusiest.[citation needed]

And You Were A Crow

In the summer of 2007, The Parlor Mob signed with Roadrunner Records. On September 28, 2007 they began the process of recording their debut album at Asheville, NC's Echo Mountain studios. Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Kings of Leon, The Dwarves, Modest Mouse), who first contacted the band while they were recording their EP, contacted Roadrunner Records to express his interest in producing the album. The band was impressed that he sought them out (rather than their management reaching out to him)[7], as well as with his enthusiasm and involvement throughout the recording process[6]. The recording was completed on Halloween, 2007, and The Parlor Mob's debut album, And You Were a Crow, was released digitally on March 11, 2008 and in stores everywhere on May 6, 2008. The band and their album were featured on the iTunes store's section of best new rock artists in 2008. Their song "Cant Keep No Good Boy Down", was featured in the sixth season of Entourage.

2010 New Album

On August 15, 2010 the band released this statement via their websites, in regards to their new album:

"We got home from Europe last fall knowing that we had effectively finished touring behind And You Were A Crow and feeling ready to start work on the next album. After a little bit of downtime, we pretty much holed ourselves away from everything and began writing with the individual ideas we had from the road, putting things together and seeing where it would take us.

We spent the dead of winter locked away near our home in NJ, recording demos and trying new and different things with our ideas. At some point in this process, a schism developed and we ended up parting ways amicably with our bassist Nick Villapiano. There was nothing personal about it, and we are still the best of friends. Nick is now playing in a band called Atlantic, Atlantic, and we are all very close and we encourage you to check them out. They're a fantastic band. After continuing writing for a while with no bass player, we ended up with another one of our best friends joining the band. His name is Anthony Chick and we're excited to have him as a full time member.

We finally really settled in (with a new rehearsal space) this spring and felt able to charge full bore towards the finish line, and now at last it's in sight. We've been compiling ideas and songs and concepts since about halfway through the last touring cycle and we've been condensing and improving them into what they are now. Not to mention the things that we've been writing moment to moment that we've been fleshing out into living songs. At this point we're just about ready to get in the studio and make the record.

Our friend Matt Radosevich, who engineered the first record and with whom we've remained extremely close, is going to be producing this album. We've been working with him doing pre-production for a bit now, and starting tomorrow we'll be doing two more weeks of thorough pre-pro. When that's done, it will be time to make the record.

The process that brought us here with these songs was long, extremely intense and emotionally heavy, and we're fully aware it took a bit longer than expected, but the recording process we plan on making fast, spontaneous and equally as emotionally charged. We're currently more powerful than we've ever been, and feel more strongly about these songs than we ever have about anything in our career.

We cannot wait to bring you this record.

Love,

The Parlor Mob"[8]

This statement introduced new bassist Anthony Chick to the band, as well as announcing that Matt Radosevich would be producing the second album, which is currently in production.

Live Shows

The band are heralded for their live performances. A recent review from Toronto said, "the show was a face-melting, Fender-shredding rock out that went a long way in clearing up why some have dubbed this a 'must-see' live band;" also stating that "nobody who watches them perform live will fail to be entertained[9]."

The producer of their debut album, Jacquire King, has this to say: "They are very much a live rock 'n' roll band. That is where most bands of that nature do their time and survive - on the road, in rehearsals or playing shows. In my eyes they are an important band, and I do feel they can be the same for the public... I think they are an important link to what is the essence of rock 'n' roll and what is to become a modern expression of it."[10]

Reviews & Reception

The New York Times

"When you're not even halfway through your 20's, jump-starting a back-to-basics rock revolution seems a tall order. Judging by the rock ‘n' roll charisma radiated by the band members at their live shows - long hair tossing, instrument abusing, generally reckless affairs - [The Parlor Mob] are up to the task."[4]

BMI

"With dynamic live sets and slightly askew guitar-rock, it's no wonder the genre-breaking group from Red Bank, N.J., has earned the adulation of fans and critics alike. With experimental rock songs that add a fresh twist to the classic sounds of the 60s and 70s, the band that formed in early 2004 is set to lead a musical revolution that will capture audiences of all ages."[11]

The Aquarian Weekly

"Basically, now is the time to go see them and say later on, 'Yea, you know, I saw them back before they took over the world,' because that's the way things are heading."[7]

Influences

The band cite their influences as 'Beethoven to Bad Brains and everything in between'. In a recent interview with Bob Coburn on Rockline Radio, Melicia stated his major vocal influences as Bob Marley and Bob Dylan, guitarist Paul Ritchie cited David Gilmour and the Melvins, and guitarist David Rosen stated that Nirvana and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead were his largest inspirations. Despite being often compared in sound to Led Zeppelin, their first major influence was the MC5 among other garage rock bands, with Melicia stating it was the first band they collectively loved, as well as At The Drive In. Melicia has also stated his love for singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen.

Members

References

  1. ^ a b The Parlor Mob's Myspace Page
  2. ^ Eduardo Rivadavia. "The Parlor Mob > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
  3. ^ a b Caputa, Joelle. "The Parlor Mob". Audio Crush PR. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  4. ^ a b La Gorce, Tammy (November 3, 2006). "This Mob Wants to Stand Out From the Crowd". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  5. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/artists/ParlorMob
  6. ^ a b Kmech, John (July 3, 2008). "Parlor Mob's Success Secrets". SEE Magazine. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  7. ^ a b Halo, Martin (April 9, 2008). "Aquarian Weekly Online Feature Article with The Parlor Mob". Aquarian Weekly Online. Retrieved 2008-07-14. [dead link]
  8. ^ http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=16430&uid=5962064315&ref=mf
  9. ^ http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_35684.aspx
  10. ^ http://www.jambase.com/Articles/13823/The-Parlor-Mob-Rock%27s-Rawkus-Revival
  11. ^ N.J. Rockers The Parlor Mob Cause Scene in L.A.

Official sites


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