Forming from the remnants of her self titled Niki Barr Band several years ago, The Last Year began as many groups do; with a side collaboration between it's members. "Scott (bassist Scott Ensign) and I were in the Niki Barr Band together. So this band began because we started writing some stuff on the side with these pop, synth type sounds. Things just kind of evolved from there and we added our drummer BJ Kerwin and guitarist Scott Griffith who we've worked with in the past."
Describing the group's music as "'90's alternative/grunge rock mixed with '80's Depeche Mode type stuff," The Last Year has a character all its own. "We are heavy but we need space," she explained. "We have such a wide range of influences that it's tough to really pin us down to one sound."
The upcoming tour with Neon Hitch is new to the band but is far less dangerous than others. Previously as members of the Niki Barr Band, they played for our troops an a tour of Afghanistan and the Middle East. "Yeah, it was scary," she said. "We did eight different tours that took us to the Middle East and Europe. We went to places that we never thought we'd ever see; it was cool and very interesting yet uneasy at times. I was on a plane on Saudi Air and I think my hair was blue at the time; receiving strange looks from men on the flight, due to their beliefs and culture was not the easiest. Then when we got there and it is a war zone but we were treated like Generals so it wasn't bad. We felt pretty safe but one night there was some shelling and we were sent to a bunker. We were in there with Tom Arnold who was doing the comedy portion of the shows and let me tell you; he's crazy but in a good way. I mean we were huddled together with all this stuff going on and he was so funny. The scariest part though was after when we were taken by a Blackhawk helicopter to a remote location in Afghanistan for the show. I get motion sickness to begin with and we are up in this helicopter and we felt like sitting ducks. We were above all of these villages and we could look down and see where and how these people live; scary thing was that any of them could've had a rocket launcher and shot us down. There were soldiers on the Blackhawk with guns but still, you never know."
Neon Hitch is a different story however, as Barr says that it will be a learning experience for both acts as they are not familiar with one another. "This kind of fell into our laps. This was brought to us by our new agent. We are only familiar with the stuff from pop radio but it sounds very interesting and we are really looking forward to seeing and touring with her."
Their self-titled EP has spawned the single "Sugar" which has received airplay from FM and XM channels all across the country and can be found on the band's youtube channel as well but they are not stopping there says Barr. "We start recording our full length CD this week and we are hoping for a January release. We are very excited, a lot of great stuff happening for us right now."
Barr says that the band is "Stoked" to be playing the Hebe Music Lounge at Big Shots and making their first ever appearance here in the Garden State. "Oh yeah! We are going to play lots of new music, there will be high energy with lighting as dynamic as we can get it. It is important to us that we put on a punchy rock show!"
You can check out The Last Year at www.thelastyear.net and Hebe Music Lounge at www.hebemusic.com .
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 & Barrister
28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Paul Plumeri Band
Sun. 9 p.m. Kenny Cunningham
Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night
All shows 21+
Amalfi's Restaurant
146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1599
Sat. 8 p.m. Kim Yarson Band
Amarones Windsor Inn
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Scott Gager & Debbie
Fri. 8 p.m. Larry D
Sat. 8 p.m. Tony Malandro
Tues. 7:30 p.m. Texas Hold'em
Wed. 7 p.m. FREE Salsa Lessons
Big Shots Bar and Grill/Hebe Music Lounge
835 E Rte. 130 South, Burlington
(609) 267-1200
Fri. 7 p.m. Jack and Our Now, Stonebaby, Danielle and Jennifer
Sat. 7 p.m. "Sinners and Saints Ball" feat. The Last Year, Laletta, Siravo, The Division
Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic. feat. David Bronson
Blend Bar & Bistro
911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Sat. 9 p.m. ZQ Acoustic-Mike & Steve
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Duane Eubanks Trumpet Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chambers Walk Cafe
2667 Main St. Lawrenceville
(609) 896-5995
Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton
The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
Thurs. 6 p.m. Nailed Shut, Obturated, Nuclear Age, (TBA). All ages, $10
Fri. 4 p.m. "Halloween Havoc" Beyond Dishonor, Guns Out at Sundown, Proletariat, Extractus, Premonitions, (TBA). All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. Divination, Sicada, Orcus, Sentience, Half-Ton of Humanity, Morbid Visions, Eye of Anubis. All ages, $10
Sun. 4 p.m. Low Life, Strength Approach, Menace, Nebraska Bricks, Guttersnipe, (TBA). All ages, $10
Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100
Sun. 4 p.m.Billy O'neal
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen
Wed. 9 p.m. Trivia Night
Fran's Pub
116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215)862-5539
Sat. 8 p.m. Sixty Sense
Sun. 3 p.m. Mr. Lucky
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam hosted by Jimmy Pritchard
All shows 21+
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. (8 p.m.) E in AZ (10 p.m.) Beat the Clock College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Bigg Romeo
Sat. 9 p.m. "Zombie Prom" feat. E in AZ
Sun. (1 p.m.) John Eddie Halloween Show w/ E in AZ (7:30) JB Kline Band w/ E in AZ
Mon. (8 p.m.) E in AZ (10 p.m.) "Scary-oke in the Bar w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridget
Tues. 8 p.m. "Tuesday Original Music Series" feat. Nytrous w/ E in AZ
Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran and Friends
All shows 21+
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 10 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Sat. 10 p.m. Soul Custody
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 9 p.m. Strangled Darlings
Fri. 9 p.m. Redwood
Sat. (3 p.m.) The Trip Dogs (9 p.m.) Sugar Burns
Sun. (2 p.m.) "Miss Pumpkin's Drag Show Halloween Edition" Benefits Animal Alliance. (9 p.m.) Buggaboo
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Tues. 9 p.m. Redrover Halloween Dance Party and Costume Contest
Wed. 9 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern
2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing
1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Andrea Carlson
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Ernie White & Tom Reock
Sat. 9:30 p.m. No Way Out
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Bob E Luv
Fri. (4:30 p.m.) Happy Hour w/ DJ Coqui (9 p.m.) The Verdict
Sat. 9 p.m. TCNJ Homecoming w/ DJ Paul DeSisto. $5 (cover charge)
All Shows 21+
Sunsets at Cream Ridge
181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-2500
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Melanie and Sonny
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Tangled
Tavern On The Lake
101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. Pretty Baby
Sat. 9 p.m. Anything Goes
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr
Fri. 10 p.m. Rainbow Fresh
Sat. 10 p.m. DJ Fatha Ramzee
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr
The HOB Tavern
146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Wed. 9 p.m. Cold Rain and Snow
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Out of The Red
Sat. 9 p.m. (TBA)
All shows 21+
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check web site for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 5 p.m. Tommy Glover
Sat. 9 p.m. Some Assembly Required
Tues. 9 p.m. Jerry Monk
All shows 21+
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays Presents: "Science Team"
Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx
Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Only Living Boy. $5 (cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Levee Drivers. $5 (cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night
Tues. 9 p.m. Acoustic Grateful Dead feat. members of Splintered Sunlight
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
