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| Red Letter Day Independent Reviewer: Derek Ron Surdam - Guitars, Vocals Dave Rhinehardt - Guitar, Backing Vocals Chris Martin - Drums, Backing Vocals Jason Caterina - Bass, Backing Vocals Checking in from the Empire State is Red Letter Day. Now before I go on I have to let all you veterens of the emo scene know this is not a Get Up Kids cover band (the Kids have a song called Red Letter Day). Emo band they are, coverband they are not! Hooky and passionate are the two operative words here. To me the first track "Cookie Dough" sums up the experience. Ron's voice is raspy yet melodic. Light heartedly he lets you know his feelings on issues close to him. The best way to describe the musical aspects is to say that they jam. Nothing complex, it is like a fluffy pillow. it is comforting music. Cookie Dough just kind of glides you through the intro track! I really enjoyed "Cheese". Ron breaks in speaking about home. From there a Face to Fact like riffage greets you, but Ron sings with a voice all his own. The rest of the band speeds it up and the whole band lets go during the chorus section. Backing vocals create a vibe very similar to Face to Face, yet different. by the end of the track you will be singing along. Guaranteed! Attention fans of Social D, you will dig "Letting Go". Musically you hear the influence, but Ron sings with a voice full of heart. This track is really allowed to breathe, the rest of the band has several breakdowns where they rock shit out while Ron takes a back seat. Be sure to check out Caterina's rumbling bass licks, and the grooving guitar sections. Emo bands are tough, cause a lot of times bands get caught up trying to be emo, and not being a band with their own identity! Red Letter Day has no problem showing their punk roots, while releasing their emotion. That makes them a unique emo band! Derek's Scale of 1 to 10: 7.5, I'd love to see this record done in a studio with novel time. Suggested tracks: "Cookie Dough" and "Cheese". you'd swear that these guys are a bunch of fat bastards with all these references to food! I'm hungry; go hunt these guys down for a copy of their disc! |
| Review from MegaKungFu.com |
| Review of a show at SARATOGA WINNERS. DECEMBER 30th 1992 Review by: Albany bands .com .............After the first three bands I was thinking "there's no way this show could get any better"...well.... it did when Red Letter Day hit the stage with their modern punk and rock sound. Ron (singer,lead guitar) has a very good, strong rock voice with some hints of punk. Dave (guitar) Jay (bass) and Chris (drums) backed and complimented his voice very nicely. These guys are tight! They play great original music that you can sing along to and have some good ol' fun. Chris (in my opinion) is probably one of the most dynamic drummers in the area. If you are a drummer you have to see him play sometime. If you love those modern radio ready punk and rock ballads. Definately check these guys out. |