Our good friend Steve Bailey, scenester, zinester, and Cultural Exchange Advocate, attended the Footstone and Friends, Romans, Countrymen reunion show at Maxwell’s back on February 6, and was kind enough to write an awesome review of the night.

It was great to see Steve – it had probably been fifteen or sixteen years since we’d spent any time with him, and although we _were_ worried that we wouldn’t recognize him, he hasn’t changed a *bit* and we picked up right where we left off.

The night was spectacular, the club was filled, and rather than review the show ourselves, we’ll let Steve’s review do the talking:

“February 6, 2009. Maxwell’s, Hoboken.

Seeing these people, hearing this music after all of these years thrilled me more than even I had expected. Oh sure, we’ve aged a little and we’ve seen our share of knocks. Some have kids. Some are still searching for life’s answers. The one thing that has not changed is our connection to something special. The music we made nearly two decades ago meant something.

Now, as bands like Green Day and Guns N’ Roses are touted as “highly influential”, I find myself longing for a time when bands of talented musicians created cutting edge sounds underground. Apart from the corporate machine, we struggled to be heard. In the end, that music was more original and far better than anything the American Idol generation tells us is original or good today.

Along with the music was the friendship. While some relationships over the years did not last, most did. The hugs and kisses flew as I walked into the back room at Maxwell’s (1039 Washington St, Hoboken). Al Crisafulli of Dromedary Records—the catalyst behind this night—was shocked that we recognized each other. Hobbling on his recently broken legged, we hugged. His wife Sandy gave me a big hug and kiss. Immediately, the reminiscing began.

Stories flowed from years gone by. More importantly for me, there was this feeling of hope. So many of our comrades were regrouping to toil in the arts once again. Who says the future of rock ‘n’ roll belongs to the young? Fuck that! These days, so many newbies have been brainwashed to believe that the status quo is now the benchmark for greatness. I say we seasoned old farts are the future!

As the shock over how much time had past and Al and Sandy’s oldest child being fourteen (they had no children the last time we hung out), it was time for the thing we came for. The music. I made my way to the stage.

First up; time to ride your pony into a dark, greasy garage because southern rock was about to collide with pop/punk. I never heard The Dark Brothers until tonight. Before they played, Ralph (singer for Footstone) and several others told me that I could not miss them. They were right.

Next came a sorta revolving-door reunion of Friends, Romans, Countrymen whose history spans from 1990-2005. Players changed to help relive various points in the band’s history. Including their ‘hair’ era, helped by the inclusion of ludicrous wigs. Self-described as burly pop-core, they rocked thru an emotional set in front of an enthusiastic crowd. A crowd that included fans and family, young and old.

No offense to the other incredible bands, but closing the night was the reunion I was waiting for. Footstone was a beacon for me back in those early days. A band whose passionate, rhythmic, loud precision defined their multifaceted songs.

Standing in front of that stage and watching something I had not seen in over ten years, a lump formed in my throat. Partly from the memories and partly from the hope, but mostly from the fact that Footstone always affected me this way. This was, in fact, their first show in ten years. With but a handful of rehearsals and a nervous energy that was palpable, they simply rocked.

Fans of Footstone and Friends, Romans, Countrymen have been lucky thanks to the formation of Stuyvesant. A hybrid of the two bands bringing the best of each to a new forefront. I honored that hybrid this night by wearing my Stuyvesant t-shirt. I called it my in-between shirt.

What now? Onward and upward. Will there be more shows like this one? I’d like to think so, but it almost doesn’t matter. The seal has been broken on a longing for quality. Friends have already started to get pumped about whatever may be next. With Dromedary Records back in the game, several more bands of that era will be resurrected—even if only in recordings—to bring real music back.

Al has promised great things on the horizon for new releases as well. Much of that promise can be heard on the compilation ‘Make the Load Lighter: Indie Rock for Haiti’, proceeds of which will go to benefit Haitian relief.

Stay tuned for more.”

Steve’s blog can be found at http://www.stephenbailey.com/ – check it out!

Back in 1993, we released the _Busy Work E.P._ – a wonderful slab of vinyl goodness from cuppa joe. The record contained three tremendous tracks: the classic “bottlerocket,” fan favorite “french toast,” and the beautiful “surface area.”

Pressed on cherry-red vinyl and numbered from 1-500 with artwork individually hand-colored (in crayon) by the band, the first pressing sold out within a few months. A second pressing (on black vinyl) sold nearly as quickly.

Within a few months, the band and Dromedary were hard at work on what would be the band and label’s masterpiece up until that point – the incredible CD _Nurture_. And once _Nurture_ was released, the _Busy Work EP_ became a collector’s item for cuppa joe fans, becoming tougher and tougher to find.

Eventually the band self-released some more music, put out a few 7″s and comp tracks on other labels, and began producing the revered indie zine _Science Geek_. As Dromedary faded and eventually went on hiatus, the _Busy Work EP_ disappeared from circulation.

Now, Dromedary is preparing to release an all-digital copy of the _Busy Work EP_ – and, in anticipation of the re-issue of an exciting new all-digital _Nurture_ CD this coming March, the _Busy Work EP_ will be made available for *free*, on this website, for your listening and downloading pleasure!

Keep coming back for it – we’ll be making it available for you within the next few weeks!

February 2, 2010, _New Jersey_ Just before the holidays, we uploaded the big news that the defunct, but revered Jersey-based indie label Dromedary Records would re-launch, thus reopening the front door for a bevy of records (and artists) that may have slipped further into the void of obscurity.

Dromedary, having taken a break for the better part of a decade due to the demands of life and the difficulties of a changing industry, is, through its resurgence, living proof that every setback is a set up for a comeback, so it’s more than apropos that the label’s first brand new release reaches out to make a struggle easier on others.

To that end, on Wednesday, February 3, Dromedary will release a compilation entitled _Make The Load Lighter: Indie Rock For Haiti_. The 16-track compilation will feature a healthy handful of great indie rock bands, some of which occupied spots on the Dromedary roster, but many of which come from label’s great stable of friends and colleagues. The turnaround of artists rising to the call was staggering. Within 72 hours, label proprietor Al Crisafulli had the entire comp fully slated!

All proceeds from _Make The Load Lighter_, which will be a digital-only release priced at $9.99 on the company’s website, will go to benefit the victims of the Haitian earthquake through an all-volunteer organization called *Vwa Ayiti* (Voice Of Haiti), who have been doing environmentally friendly, self-sustaining community development projects in Haiti since 2005.

Crisafulli says, “The title is taken from a Haitian expression “Many hands make the load lighter.” I think, given the circumstances, that’s exactly what we’re trying to do here.”

_Make The Load Lighter: Indie Rock For Haiti_ can be purchased beginning February 4 by visiting www.dromedary-records.com.

The compilation will also be made available on iTunes, Rhapsody and through other online retail outlets.

Here is the track listing:

1. Footstone: “For The Boss”
2. Boss Jim Gettys: “With A Smile”
3. Cuppa Joe: “Taniqua”
4. Moviola: “Calling On The Line”
5. Three Blind Wolves: “Sex Is For Losers”
6. Paula Carino: “The Great Depression”
7. Wallendas: “Adrianne”
8. The Neutron Drivers: “All Around The Sun”
9. The Dark Brothers: “Knee Deep In Sin”
10. There Will Be Fireworks: “Foreign Thoughts”
11. Gena Rowlands Band: “Fuckups Of The World Unite”
12. The Mommyheads: “Spiders”
13. Farewell Singapore: “Blue”
14. Jenifer Convertible: “St. Pete”
15. lions.chase.tigers: “To Their Blood”
16. Stuyvesant: “Salieri”

For more information, please contact Perry Serpa at Good Cop Public Relations. Phone: 718 846-0518 or email: perry@goodcoppr.com.

Some current figures from CNN.com, as of January 26:

The latest estimate of the death toll is between 150,000 and 200,000. In terms we can understand, that’s enough to fill Yankee Stadium three or four times.

There are 194,000 people injured. Three or four more Yankee Stadiums, filled with injured people.

Three million people – one-third of Haiti’s total population – have been affected by the quake. 1.5 million have been left homeless – that’s enough to fill the new Dallas Cowboys football stadium 15 times.

According to the CIA World Factbook, 38% of Haiti’s population are under age 14. There are 300,000 children younger than 2 years old who need nutritional support. 90% of the schools in Port au Prince – a city of approximately 3 million – have been destroyed.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. 80% of the country lives under the poverty line. This is a country with no military.

On February 3, your $9.99 will get you the sixteen tracks on our compilation _Make the Load Lighter: Indie Rock for Haiti_. Every penny received by Dromedary will be donated directly to Haitian earthquake relief.

Thank you for your support!

We’re proud to announce the track listing for _Make the Load Lighter: Indie Rock for Haiti_.

The compilation will be released on WEDNESDAY, February 3 on the Dromedary website, and shortly thereafter at all finer online music retailers. All proceeds will be donated to Vwa Ayiti (Voice of Haiti).

The track listing is as follows:

1. Footstone: “For the Boss”
2. Boss Jim Gettys: “With a Smile”
3. Cuppa Joe: “Taniqua”
4. Moviola: “Calling on the Line”
5. Three Blind Wolves: “Sex is for Losers”
6. Paula Carino: “The Great Depression”
7. Wallendas: “Adrianne”
8. The Neutron Drivers: “All Around the Sun”
9. The Dark Brothers: “Knee Deep in Sin”
10. There Will Be Fireworks: “Foreign Thoughts”
11. Gena Rowlands Band: “Fuckups of the World Unite”
12. The Mommyheads: “Spiders”
13. Farewell Singapore: “Blue”
14. Jenifer Convertible: “St. Pete”
15. lions.chase.tigers: “To Their Blood”
16. Stuyvesant: “Salieri”

These sixteen awesome songs will be yours for just $9.99 if you purchase them from the Dromedary website beginning February 3!

Just one week left until the release of Footstone’s _Lippy_ CD, and a little more than a week until their reunion show at Maxwell’s!

As a special treat, here’s another video of Footstone performing at a private party back in September, their first show together in a decade.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to come back on February 2 for your copy of the Northeast indie classic _Lippy_!