By Danny Coleman
originally published: 10/15/2015
"Me? I was born in Manhattan but grew up in Jersey; I'm definitely out there and in your face," says the hard rocking Madame Mayhem as she prepares to release her new CD, "Now You Know," with an October 16 in store show at Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ. "I'm not rude but I am definitely out there and I have a power packed show."
"Eclectic" and "Extreme" are two adjectives used to describe this young, talented, driven force to reckon with as she embarks on her career in earnest. With industry lynchpins like Mr. Big's and The Winery Dogs Billy Sheehan, who produced and performed on the disc and Guns N' Roses Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal lending their talents; Mayhem (as she prefers to be called) is well on her way to leaving an indelible mark on the metal scene.
Having already graced the stages of some of the biggest rock rooms in the country; Mayhem is piling up credentials faster than most in her genre. The Roxy, The Viper Room, Bowery Ballroom, Knitting Factory, a residency at Manhattan's Cutting Room, coupled with a Grammy Nomination week performance at Nashville's famed Bluebird Cafe and a headlining gig at the annual VH1 "That Metal Show" Christmas party and one can see why she has amassed a fanbase of 156,000 which is growing by the day. "The Christmas party was great," she said excitedly. "That was at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ and being the headliner was really exciting; one night I'll never forget that's for sure."
Long before she was headlining large rooms, Mayhem was being influenced by her mom and her mom's stereo systems. "When I was a kid my mom and I would go places in her car or she'd always have music on at home as she cleaned the house; they weren't "Sesame Street" tapes," she said laughing as she recounted those "Formative years." "My mom listened to everything but I always preferred the rock music. I remember hearing Nirvana for the first time and I was hooked. I wanted to rock and then as I got older my tastes got heavier and it was all part of my musical development."
This "Development" has lead to her second album, the aforementioned, "Now You Know;" a disc that she is very excited and quite proud to release. "My first disc was actually distributed and this one is 14 tracks but the writing process was; well let's just say that I wrote way more material than is on the album. Getting down to the best wasn't easy because I like them all; I should right? I mean, they are my songs," she said with a laugh. "I'm really excited to release it and very proud of this one, I wanted this to be more of an experience when people listen to it; I'm telling stories that people can relate to. I'm always writing lyrics, Billy sheehan co-wrote and produced on this one, so there's not just one way these songs came about."
Along with the CD, she has created a new video for her song, "Monster." Mayhem reigns supreme as this production is full of metaphorical visuals to back the rocking soundtrack as she exudes edgy sensuality; backing up her powerful vocal. When asked if she plans on touring extensively and has any worries about recreating the energy of her video(s) on stage; she replied with confidence, "Oh I intend on it! I have a tour planned, it's upcoming but for now I am concentrating on just these several dates; starting with October 16 which will be, ironically, an acoustic show with me and a guitarist. I love acoustic shows because of their intimacy but I love electric the best because of the energy. I put this album together with elite musicians in studio, before I go out on tour I need to finish assembling my band. I can't go out on the road and have a band of less than incredible musicians; I'd be doing the record, myself and the fans no justice if I did so."
So it's with a confidence and a need to rock her fan base to its very core that she launches things at Vintage Vinyl, located at 51 Lafayette Road in Fords, NJ. The future beyond that is, in her view easily explained, "Well, the album comes out on October 16, than this mini tour to get myself out there a bit and then a full tour following that; my life, my whole life is getting on stage, performing is my number one love."
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS
Alchemist & Barrister28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 9 p.m. "Thursday Jazz" feat. Tim Bey Trio
Sun. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson
Wed. 8 p.m. Paul Plumeri Band
All shows 21+
Amalfi's Restaurant146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1599
Fri 8:30 p.m. The Dadz
Sat. 8:30 p.m. The Prophets
Amarones Windsor Inn29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Fri. 8 p.m. Larry D
Sat. 8 p.m. Shore Soundz
Blend Bar & Bistro911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
The Backstage at Championship Bar 931 Chambers St. Trenton
Thurs. 7 p.m. Years Till Now, The Mad Hatters, Local Demise, (TBA). All ages, $10
Fri. 7 p.m. It Starts With I, North By North, Weird Parents, Crosshead, (TBA). All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. The Power, Liam Lynch, (TBA). All ages, $10
Candlelight Lounge 24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Josh Lawrence Sax Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chickie's & Pete's183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Wed. 9 p.m. Trivia Night
City Streets510 Rte 130 South East Windsor
(609) 426-9400
Fri. 9 p.m. 80's Undercover
Dog & Bull Brew House810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Paul Donavan
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Cecil Middleton (9 p.m.) Sister Blue Trio
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. Jazz 180 (9 p.m.) New Pony
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Joe Robinson Brunch Jam (3 p.m.) Wizard Duo
Mon. 8 p.m. Mike Cono
Wed. 8 p.m. Jay Regan
Fran's Pub116 S. Main St. New Hope, PA.
(215)862-553
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows 21+
Havana New Hope105 S. Main Street. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. 10 p.m. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 8 p.m. Pat Travers / Flamin Harry Band. Doors at 6 p.m., $35
Sat. 8:30 p.m. The Loop
Sun. 1 p.m. Sip and Shop
Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran & Friends
Ivy Tavern 3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 10 p.m. Blind Lemmon Pie
Sat. 10 p.m. The Buicks
All shows 21+
John & Peter's 96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 9 p.m. Tracy Chamberlain ($5 cover charge)
Fri. 9 p.m. Bobby Baltera Express
Sat. (3 p.m.) The Real Fugitives (9 p.m) Paper Jets and Friends
Sun. (3 p.m.) Anthony Sacchetti (9 p.m.) Lines West
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Justin
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Sat. 10 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Millhill Basement300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Check website for upcoming events
Palermo's Of Hamilton310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Grey Matters
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Blues In Disguise
Pete's Steak House523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Deep Release
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Reock and Roll Acoustic Review
Randy Now's Man Cave134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Check website for upcoming events
RHO Waterfront50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. "College Night" w/ DJ Paul Desisto
Fri. (4 p.m.) Happy Hour Buffet. $10 (8:30 p.m.) Xclusive
Sat. 10 p.m. "Return of The Mixtape Legends" feat. DJs Ron G, Doo Wop, Juice. Hosted by Don Blaq. Ages 21+, $20 (advance), $25 (door), $35 VIP Meet and Greet
Tavern On The Lake101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Jazz Night
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The HOB Tavern146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
The Ivy Inn248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. Rainbow Fresh
Sat. 10 p.m. DJ Copacetic
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. (8:30 p.m.) Tune Trivia (10:30 p.m.) DJ Rockn Ron
The Sticky Wicket 2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Never Enough
Sat. 9 p.m. No Way Out
The Sun National Bank Center 81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check website for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog 1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Oliver McElhone
Sat. 9 p.m. Ian Patrick Gentiles
Wed. 9 p.m. Paul Wiese
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz702 Pine St. Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Thurs. 8 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Hek Cat
Trenton Social449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. Cinema Thursday Presents: (TBA)
Fri. 7 p.m. First Friday
Mon. 9 p.m. Monday Night Karaoke w/ Benny P
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic.
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Down North ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Satellite Hearts($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night (Sign ups 6:30 p.m.)
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock
All shows 21+
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
