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The Parlor Mob

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Location: NJ

Website: http://www.myspace.com/theparlormob

Bio: The Parlor Mob is a rock and roll band.

The band consists of guitarists Paul Ritchie and David Rosen, drummer Sam Bey, bassist Nicholas Villapiano, and ... (more) vocalist Mark Melicia. Formed in 2004 in Red Bank, New Jersey, the group performed with great frequency around home and in nearby New York City. They self released an album shortly after, recorded at home in Red Bank. The music coupled with frantic live shows led to Roadrunner signing the band in the summer of 2007.

Their Roadrunner Records debut, And You Were A Crow, hits stores May 6, 2008. It is composed of 12 songs, ranging from the machine like aggression of “My Favorite Heart To Break” to the loose, acoustic driven “Can’t Keep No Good Boy Down”; from the anthemic “Hard Times” to “Angry Young Girl”, with it’s haunting vocals and ghostly guitars. “Tide of Tears” is dark and heavy, carrying the listener through nearly nine minutes. The band touches all extremes and everywhere in between, while maintaining their unique identity. One standout track, “When I Was An Orphan,” seems to cover that ground from start to finish, in a cinematic style.

The Parlor Mob recorded And You Were a Crow with producer Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Kings of Leon, Modest Mouse) in the fall of 2007. Relocating to Asheville, North Carolina, they brought the songs to life at Echo Mountain Recording studio. Jacquire lived with the band for the entire 5 weeks of recording, becoming essentially a 6th band member. He became very emotionally invested in the project. His careful ear and impeccable taste helped hone the band in to make the record they all wanted to make. Their respect and gratitude towards Jacquire is immediately apparent upon speaking to the band.

While writing, the band pays close attention to detail. Each element functions as a piece of a larger theme. The record as a whole reflects this, and smaller nuances come more into focus with each listen, contributing to the experience.

Onstage, The Parlor Mob have developed beyond any comparison. They perform the songs on their record without binding to convention, and without regard to perfection or even to the constraints of generic sound. Highs shriek, lows rumble, and no matter the size of the venue, rooms rattle. People stop what they’re doing and watch. It is truly a sight to be seen.

In the end, The Parlor Mob consider themselves to be very simply a rock and roll band. They eschew convention and boundaries in favor of pushing the envelope. They can play acoustic or come out swinging. They enjoy the freedom of making rock music, and take full advantage of the inherent rights it gives the artist to do anything that they want. They look towards the future.
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