Signing a new band is always fun, and announcing it is always exciting. But in this case, we’re literally jumping out of our skin.

*The 65’s* are a group of musicians that we’ve been listening to individually for _years_, and we’ve been watching them develop as a band since we relaunched the label in early 2010. Springing out of the ashes of the defunct alt-country band the Dark Brothers, singer/guitarist Joe Vocaturo and drummer John Steele (also ex-Electric Frankenstein) teamed with guitarist Dan Smith (ex-Shirk Circus and acoustic performer) and bassist Cindi Merklee (ex-Balloon Squad and longtime singer/songwriter) and immediately began writing and recording. Occasionally, Joe would feed us some demos just to whet our appetite, and we’d find ourselves listening over and over. And driving really, really fast.

How do I describe this band?

Well, first, they’re *loud*. Usually. But sometimes, they’re quiet.

And their songs are hard-driving pop songs. But with gritty, gruff vocals. Except when Dan or Cindi are singing, in which case the vocals are gentle and melodic. And the rhythm section is powerful and propulsive, driving the song forward like a bullet train. Except when they’re not playing at all, in which case they’re a quiet coffee house band.

Fuck it; there’s no way to describe this band. But man, when you hear them, their songs will ring in your head for _days_.

Stay tuned. _Strike Hard!_, their debut CD, will be out this winter. And before then, you’ll be able to hear their single “Walk On Selfishly” if you search a bit, because some impatient indie label guy might just leak it because he can’t wait for you to hear it.

*CAMELFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL AUG. 12-13 TO BENEFIT ROOTS & WINGS*
*_Dromedary Records Will Bring 12 Bands Together at Maxwell’s in Hoboken in Support of Former Foster Youth*_

GREAT MEADOWS, N.J., July 25, 2011 – Members of the New Jersey and regional music scene are coming together to support young adults who have aged out of the child welfare system in the Garden State, announced Dromedary Records, a Great Meadows-based independent record label. The effort will launch with “Camelfest”:http://www.camelfest.com 2011, a two-day music festival to be held Friday and Saturday, August 12 and 13, at “Maxwell’s”:http://www.maxwellsnj.com, the legendary club in Hoboken, N.J.

Proceeds from Camelfest will benefit “Roots & Wings”:http://www.rootsandwingsnj.org, a nonprofit organization based in Mountain Lakes, N.J. Founded in 1999, Roots & Wings provides safe housing, educational support and practical life skills to youth who have “aged-out” of the child welfare system; for many, services are discontinued at age 18. Roots & Wings assists this high-risk population of disadvantaged young adults, helping them replace dependency with self-sufficiency.

Twelve bands will perform during three shows at Camelfest. On Friday night, beginning at 8 p.m., *Richard Barone*, *Robbers on High Street*, *The Mommyheads* and *Readymade Breakup* will take the stage. Saturday afternoon, Camelfest will kick off at 3 p.m. with *Charlotte Sometimes*, *Wild Carnation*, *Speed the Plough* and *Yung Wu*. And, on Saturday night, again beginning at 8 p.m., the lineup features *The 65s*, *The Library is On Fire*, *Varsity Drag* and *Stuyvesant*. Admission is $10 per person for each show, with tickets available online at http://maxwellsnj.com and at the door. Maxwell’s is located at 1039 Washington Street in Hoboken.

“We’re thrilled to have assembled such a great lineup of bands for this worthy cause,” said Dromedary Records owner Al Crisafulli. “New Jersey has a rich history of indie rock music, and young people have always been a huge part of keeping it going. It’s great to be working with bands that are so willing to donate their time and talent to give something back, and to be bringing them together at one of the state’s best music venues.”

“Because Roots & Wings is funded almost entirely by private donations and special events, support from individuals and organizations that work hard to put on events like this one are critical to our sustainability,” explained Kim Spangenberg, executive director of Roots & Wings.

“Often becoming suddenly homeless with no plan for the future, youth who phase out of foster care can find themselves alone with no one to depend on, leaving them at disturbingly high risk for dependence on welfare and unemployment, homelessness, unplanned pregnancy and incarceration,” she added. “Roots & Wings provides these young people the support they need to become successful, contributing members of society. Without the generosity of groups like Dromedary Records and its bands, Roots & Wings could not exist.”

For more information, visit the Dromedary Records website at www.dromedary-records.com or the Camelfest website at www.camelfest.com.

###

It is our pleasure to present for you the latest single from Shirk Circus, “Desperate Time.” This single comes from the forthcoming CD This Band Will Destroy Your Life, which is due out this fall on Dromedary. It will also be available on Small But Mighty II, the FREE sampler we’ll be releasing on Thursday, August 11.

Sadly, Shirk Circus will not be performing at Camelfest this weekend, because singer/guitarist Josh Silverman passed away this past February. However, by all accounts, Josh was a loving father, husband and teacher, and surely the idea of helping kids in need would have been near and dear to him. That’s why it’s a no brainer that we’ll be donating a portion of the proceeds from This Band Will Destroy Your Life to Roots & Wings.

Please sit back and listen to “Desperate Time,” which, after more than a decade in storage, is finally seeing the light of day.

Shirk Circus • “Desperate Time” by dromedary

Check out the video for the new Mommyheads’ single, “Another Crowded House!”

This song will appear on the band’s first all-new CD in a decade, *Delicate Friction*, due out in North America on Dromedary Records this fall.

The single will also appear on *Small But Mighty II*, a FREE digital sampler that we’ll be releasing at the end of this week (and CD-Rs will be available at our “camelfest”:http://www.camelfest.com shows while supplies last).

Here’s the audio alone:

The Mommyheads • “Another Crowded House” by dromedary

Check out the new Speed the Plough single, “Sea of Tranquility!”

This track is featured on the band’s forthcoming CD *Shine*, and will also appear on *Small But Mighty II*, a free sampler that we’ll be releasing this week as part of our Roots & Wings benefit.

Each song on *Small But Mighty II* is featured on a full-length Dromedary CD to be released between now and January of 2012. A portion of the proceeds from each will be donated to Roots & Wings of NJ, just like the proceeds from our Camelfest benefit.

You’ll be able to buy the CDs in the “Roots & Wings” series individually, or all in one great package, delivered to you in advance of the official release date of each.

We’ll be previewing a new track from *Small But Mighty II* each day this week! Keep checking back!

Speed the Plough • “Sea of Tranquility” by dromedary

We’re thrilled to announce the impending release of The Mommyheads’ first all-new full-length CD in more than a decade: *Delicate Friction*.

Recorded in 2010 for release in Scandinavia, the pop masterpiece continues the Mommyheads’ tradition of articulate, witty pop songs with an eclectic range of musical influences, from 1970s prog to modern indie rock, power pop, funk, boogie and punk.

The CD is one of six CDs that Dromedary will be releasing in the next six months, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the *Roots & Wings Foundation of New Jersey*. We’ll update you soon with more info about the Roots & Wings project.

Look for *Delicate Friction* this October, with a single before the end of summer!