http://www.silive.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2009/03/rock_of_all_ages_on_staten_isl.html


March 2 the Beat of Life, JCC Rockfest concerts to rock Staten Island
by Ben Johnson/Staten Island AWE
Thursday March 26, 2009, 12:00 PM


Staten Island AWE Photo/Michael McWeeney
The Corrao Q is among the bands performing at March 2 the Beat of Life and the JCC Rockfest.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Slogging it out on bar "stages" in the local scene is certainly fighting the good fight -- its unglamorous honor cannot be denied. But when a musician gets the chance, every once in a while, to feel the resounding boom of a giant PA system blaring through a large theater or gymnasium, it's too much to pass up.

And so it will be this weekend, as Staten Island's all-ages and heavy rock scenes get a rare chance to shine March 27 and 28 at the St. George Theatre and the Avis/South Shore Jewish Community Center, respectively.

First up, The Corrao Q and The Secret Wall -- who won their slot at a St. Peter's Boy's High School band battle a few weeks ago -- get to share the St. George stage with more seasoned performers: Rapper (and AWE cover boy) Mark D, A.J. Pero's Circle of Thorns, metal god impersonators Maiden NY (covering Iron Maiden, of course) and Ozzy tribute band No More Tears. It's a benefit concert for the March of Dimes, but it's also a mixed bill of talented local performers in a huge venue that doesn't see a ton of edgy rap and rock 'n' roll. Represent.

The next night, JCC Rockfest, a benefit concert for the Avis/South Shore JCC now in its 21st year, has in the past been the biggest local event for all-ages bands on S.I. This year's bill features well known local and semi-local groups, including pop-punk band Avon Junkies, melodic-emo quartet Send Up A Signal, ska rockers Not From Concentrate, alt-rockers Cobalt Sky and Misconception, The Band Aids and, again, funk rockers The Corrao Q.

MARCH 2 THE BEAT OF LIFE: Circle of Thorns, Maiden NY, Mark D, No More Tears, The Secret Wall, The Corrao Q. When: 7 p.m. March 27. Where: St. George Theatre, 36 Hyatt St., St. George. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. More information: 718-442-2900, StGeorgeTheatre.com.

JCC ROCKFEST: Avon Junkies, Send Up A Signal, Not From Concentrate, Cobalt Sky, Misconception, The Corrao Q, The Band Aids. When: 7 p.m. March 28. Where: Avis/South Shore Jewish Community Center, 1297 Arthur Kill Rd., Greenridge. Tickets: $15 at the door. More information: 718-475-5231.

By request, here are lyrics to some TCQ songs (Talk to You, All There Is, Trust in Robots, and Jukebox).  Please enjoy!

I get up from bed about nine AM ohh
Shake out my legs, I say to myself
Let this be the best damn day yeah
Gonna use my feet, put on a scene
Gonna put my headphones on
See me dance down my street listenin to MP3s
Singin

All there is, is all the time we got
All there is, is how we use it up
All there is

Life is full of decisions but I'm still wishin upon a star
I'm tired of the business and the pushin to play my cards
So let me say, I'm gonna build myself into the better man
And, out of my way, I'm gonna do all that I can

All there is, is all the time we got
All there is, is how we use it up
All there is, is all the time we got
All there is, is how we use it up

All there is, is how we use it up

Trust in Robots

We were fooled from the start
When we learned that we could build a heart
out of steel, out of steel

By the next century
Trees will turn into machines
out of steel, out of steel

I'm puttin my trust in robots

Jukebox (of Dreams)

Lullaby your worried mind
A white noise hums in your head

Count the stars above your bed
A hundred birds flyin round your head

Sleep tight
dim down the light
drop a dime
in the jukebox of dreams

Play a tune to drown the day
Let it loop all night
Tape wraps your brain

Sleep tight
dim down the light
drop a dime
in the jukebox of dreams
the jukebox of dreams

Words by Joe Endozo, Copyrighted 2008

It was our fourth time playing our favorite Benefit show at the Oasis Christian Center.  It was our first time playing there and our first full set with Brandon Keeks on the drums. Thanks to the those who came and supported us and the show's cause. 

Here was the set list:
All There Is
Talk To You
Like a Whisper
Trust in Robots
Jukebox
Maze You Made

Next week...New York City debut with Sister Helen.




"Music's like jello...you gotta keep it cool or else it'll melt!" -JE

For TCQ fans, family, and especially ourselves, it was tragic to learn of the resignation of original drummer, Simon Peterford. The quartet had only been playing together for about two years. It was an eventful experience that we were happy to share with many people. Simon's last show with TCQ was Sept. 7, 2008 at the Richmond County Fair.

Despite the inconvenient setback, the band is preparing to take on one more year of new music and we hope to see you in the middle of the experience. 

Also, good luck to Simon...we still love him.

-Joe, Sam, and Steve

....

Prior to doing a benefit concert no matter how small or big it is being organised, it is best for the performer to do their research. 

The events are real and beyond the concepts we conform to in the media.

Raising awareness is the simplest form of aid because its like planting a seed which has the potential to grow on its own.  But in American society, the spirit is generally restricted causing laziness because people need the incentive.  Unfortunatley the cost of life isn't one that is strong enough.

Simply, visit www.savedarfur.org


Reflect on your own life and be thankful...for every day.

The Corrao Q

by Ben Johnson

Thursday March 27, 2008, 10:22 AM

S.I.’s ’Greatest Band’ prepares to get loud & play late at the JCC Rockfest’s 20th birthday bash

When The Corrao Q won Staten Island’s Greatest Band Contest in 2007, the quartet of teenagers didn’t blow the $1000 prize money from SOR Studios on something irresponsible. As you can clearly see in a YouTube video clip, they chose wisely.

"This is an ancient Chinese gong from the Ukraine," boasts drummer Simon Peterford, 17, of New Brighton. "To the untrained ear, it might sound, you know, trashy, but if you know what you’re doing, like me..."

Peterford hits the gong, and a cheap, tinny sound emits. The drummer smiles in mock listener’s ecstasy, silently mouthing the word "yeah." It’s a joke, of course. So far The Corrao Q has saved their prize money, making only small purchases here and there.

"We’ve bought mostly (guitar) cables, I think," says singer Joe Endozo, 16, of Willowbrook. "We put the money in a photo album, you can see it on our MySpace."

While they probably won’t walk away from this year’s Rockfest at the Jewish Community Center with a wad of cash, The Corrao Q will hopefully have some actual pictures to put in their photo album -- the annual all-ages bash usually draws hundreds of young rock fans.

Local bands are encouraged to send in CDs and come to the JCC to test out material ahead of time to gain a spot on the bill, and this being the concert’s 20th anniversary, there were lots of bands vying for the featured slots. In the end, hard rock acts Dead Men Dreaming and End of Eternity, older band Melmac, young rockers The Counter Frames, popular punk/ska band Avon Junkies and mystery power-poppers First Time Out made the final cut with The Corrao Q.

"We liked their audition a lot," says Rachel Isenberg, 17, of New Springville, president of the JCC Youth Board, which organizes the event. "The Corrao Q was probably the youngest, and they had a lot of talent. They’re a really good band."

The band has to be doing something right; winning the SOR Studios’ contest and scoring a spot at JCC Rockfest is an impressive feat for any local group. A recent performance at The Cup in Stapleton proved the skills of the players as well.

Peterford and Sam Schiff, the band’s mop-headed bassist, drove out funk-opated rhythms while guitarist Steve DiLillo made his guitar wail through a Wah-wah pedal. Endozo, who sings and seems to do a lot of the songwriting, presented a good voice and stage presence, while all members seemed relaxed and amiable. The songs moved between blues and classic rock-like riffs with jam-band breakdowns, but at the end of the set, The Corrao Q offered up a surprise, seamlessly transitioning one of their tunes into a cover of "Feel Good Inc.," by hip alterna-pop band Gorillaz.

"We’re all influenced by different stuff," says Schiff, 15, of West Brighton, mentioning Sly and the Family Stone -- a band whose heyday ended nearly two decades before he was born.

"Radiohead and Cake, too," Endozo chimes in.

The band’s major influence, though, seems to be a local one. Julius C, the rock and funk group with ties to Staten Island, headlined The Corrao Q’s first gig, and the older band’s performance made a lasting impression.

"They’re just phenomenal in their talent and showmanship," says DiLillo. "They taught us about really doing a performance instead of just playing."

Be it on stage or on YouTube and MySpace (myspace.com/thecorraoq), this appears to be a young quartet thatt’s just getting started -- and hitting plenty of the right notes.

Contact AWE music writer Ben Johnson at bjohnson@siadvance.com.

Rock from A(von) to (Corrao)Q
The 20th Annual JCC Rockfest, 7:25 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the AVIS, South Shore Jewish Community Center, 1297 Arthur Kill Rd., Greenridge. Tix: $13 in advance, $15 at the door. Info: 718-475-5231 or gwechlser@sijcc.com.

FEATURED BANDS

Avon Junkies, MySpace.com/avonjunkies -- This crew had their first gig at Rockfest almost ten years ago, and they’re still going strong, with a brand new record ("The Merchant’s Tale"), a love for punk, ska, and shredding.

Melmac, MySpace.com/melmac34 -- A pop-punk-ska band that has collegiate former members of the JCC Youth Board pumped for this year, Melmac is a legend from the Rockfest annals returning to leave it all on stage

Dead Men Dreaming, MySpace.com/deadmendreaming --Arguably Staten Island’s most popular all-ages act, DMD will have just returned from testing their nu-metal on another long tour, with a stop at this year’s South By Southwest festival.

The Counter Frames, MySpace.com/thecounterframes -- Savvy enough to upload covers of everyone from The Strokes to The Beatles onto their MySpace, these young guns have been a staple in the local all-ages scene.

End of Eternity, MySpace.com/endofaneternity -- With long instrumental jams and thrashing riffs that would make Metallica and Megadeath headbang in approval, these guys will likely give DMD a little competition in the heavy and loud departments this year.

First Time Out, MySpace.com/firsttimeoutband -- They don’t even have a picture up on their page, but the muted guitars and catchy hooks suggests they may be able to inspire even the awkward kids to dance.

The Corrao Q, MySpace.com/thecorraoq -- This young band’s songs mix blues and classic-rock riffs with jam-band breakdowns.

Cherry
Vanilla
Cinnamon
New-Car
Strawberry
Lemon
Baby Powder
Dark Ice
Pina Colada
Citrus
Jasmine
or Pine?


VOTE! NOW! NO QUESTIONS! VOTE!

We recommend this online blog: www.lefsetz.com

His daily entries offer critical analysis on various topics on the music industry and his insights on music in general.  

We value a lot of his opinions and it gives me an idea of what direction the industry is heading and an awareness of certain habits and trends of the general public of which the music is reacting to. 

So basically we get some inspiration from this blog to develop as artists and we thought it would be interesting to share this because in ways, he holds up a mirror to society...a self-examination on how and why music is, as through history, changing. 

www.lefsetz.com