~ 7 Tales From A Basement ~
(Music Reviews)


 

The Montclair Times

The Haunt
Wednesday, June 02, 2004

By MARY ANNE CHRISTIANO
 

When fans told… Sabrina, they kept hearing her songs over and over again in their head, she decided to add “The Haunt” to her musical act. Formerly known as Sabrina, the act is now called Sabrina and The Haunt.

In addition to the new name, there’s also a new CD, “Seven Tales From A Basement”; a new guitarist, Adam Falzer, and a new Web site coming soon.

Describing the music on the new CD, Sabrina said, “It’s so universal. All types of people like our music. People who are really into rock ’n’ roll, alternative, and Gothic. I’m just calling it ‘across the board alternative pop rock.’ I feel like we don’t fit in a specific genre. Maybe we can come up with a new genre.”

Sabrina is thrilled about all the exciting changes, especially her new guitarist. She first met Falzer, who is also a Montclair resident, at his mom’s house while doing an infomercial about vitamins being filmed there. Then Sabrina ran into him again when her car got stuck in the snow last winter. She said, “He was in the right place at the right time and helped me with my car. I invited him over to watch us rehearse. My band really liked him. It was almost like it was meant to be, like a force thing! He’s been able to do some recording on the CD, which is great.”

When Sabrina first started out, it was just her and guitarist Keith Pires. Then the other band members entered the picture: Jon Stone on bass; Jamie Jensen on drums and percussion; and now, Falzer on second guitar.

“Euphoria,” Sabrina’s first self-released CD, received amazing response from fans and the press. Sabrina said, “On the Internet, it’s exploded. We received e-mails from all over the world. We have a big following in the U.K., the Netherlands, the Orient, Canada and India. It’s really cool. I’m thrilled about it. Our music connects with so many people. Our fans are young kids, adults, writers and poets, all sorts of nationalities.”

Sabrina and The Haunt are playing primarily in the New York area. In regard to touring, Sabrina said, “If we have the means to go on tour, we’re there!”

When Sabrina isn’t rehearsing with The Haunt, she paints and works on her novel, a fiction book for teenagers. But most of her spare time is spent writing lyrics and music. She said, “I really appreciate all the guys in the band. They work really hard. I tell them all the time, but I want it in print. Everyone has jobs, but they basically put this first. We get along famously.”

Aside from her band, Sabrina is also grateful to her fans. She said, “Without everybody’s support we wouldn’t be at this level we are at now. Everybody helps elevate bands. I encourage other bands around here to keep going. It’s not always overnight and you tend to get frustrated. Just keep at it. It will happen. You just have to do it. For some people that’s all they know and that’s all they want.”

Sabrina and The Haunt will be performing at The Underground Music Festival at Edgemont Memorial Park, on Saturday, June 19, which runs from noon to 5 p.m. They will also be at Don Hill’s, New York City, on Wednesday, June 30, at 8:30 p.m. and an upcoming show for Rock The Vote at CBGBs - For more information, go to www.sabrinamusic.com.
 

The Villager

Rock ’n’ roll ’n’ registration on Bowery at CB’s

June 26, 2004

by Erica Stein
 

This Saturday, local alt-rock artists will kick out the jams on the Bowery out of a sense of civic duty.  Sleeping Giant Entertainment will present a five-band bill Spiraling, Sabrina & The Haunt, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Souls' Release, and Drowning Poet at CB’s 313 Gallery — CBGB owner Hilly Kristal’s second stage — to benefit Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit voter registration group.

Rock the Vote was founded in 1990, initially, says communications director Jay Strell, to combat the censorship of song lyrics. The group rose to prominence in 1992 when it began its association with MTV, acting as the video-music network’s voter registration partner for its “Choose or Lose” initiative.  The initiative aimed to expose its audience to the issues at stake in the presidential election.

Since then, Rock the Vote has expanded its programs to include bus tours and issues campaigns.  The group’s main goal is to involve the age 18-30 demographic in politics, mostly through voter registration. “Our goal this year is to register 1 million voters,” said Strell. “We’re well on our way with 320,000.  Kids really feel that the issues are important to them.  In the Iowa caucus, four times as many people 18-30 registered than in 2000.  We’ve had bus tours in ’92, ’96 and 2000, but this is our most ambitious one yet.”

While partial proceeds of the June 26 concert will benefit Rock the Vote and the organization will have voter registration tables set up in the Gallery, Saturday’s event is not technically a part of the official bus tour.  “Sleeping Giant really set everything up for this.  This is more of a local event.  So they’ll be in contact with our grassroots organization, the community street volunteers who are on the registration tables,” explained Strell.

Sleeping Giant C.E.O. and founder Ivan Rodriguez secured the location and picked the bands.  Sleeping Giant, based in New York City, was formed in April as a spin-off from Rodriguez’s company Forever Night —which focused on event promotions —for the purpose of managing local artists.  The concert will be S.G.E’s first event. Rodriguez wrote in an e-mail, “Forever Night Entertainment had a long-standing relationship with CB’s, so it seemed only natural for Sleeping Giant Entertainment to hold our kickoff event there,” he said.  “The idea to work with Rock The Vote came about because we were looking to join forces with an organization with many of the same ideas and beliefs of the local Rock The Vote came about because we were looking to join forces with an organization with many of the same ideas and beliefs of the local artists, so who better to team up with than Rock The Vote?”

Only one of the five groups, closer Drowning Poet, is represented by S.G.E. The others, Rodriguez says, he invited or approached him themselves:  “Souls’ Release & The Day The Earth Stood Still both had relationships with Forever Night Entertainment, so we invited them to perform for this show,” he said.  “Sabrina's manager  had approached us for this event because they had heard about what we were planning and wanted to be a part of it, and I had seen Spiraling perform during a showcase and thought they were great and approached them to headline our event.”

Rodriguez’s bill was constructed with the idea that a fan who came to see one band would want to stay and enjoy the other four. Headliner Spiraling and fellow Jersey artist Sabrina both describe themselves as having diverse sounds and drawing on broad influences.

Sabrina heard about the concert through her management.  “They had been talking to Ivan, and when we found out we jumped at it.  This is really important and we wanted to be there.”  Sabrina and her songwriting partner Keith Pires have performed many times at the Gallery and have just formed the backing band The Haunt.  “People say we sound like 3 Doors Down or The Pretenders or Led Zeppelin,” she said. “I don’t really know how to describe us.”

Fellow Jerseyans Spiraling, who have toured with both They Might Be Giants and the Violent Femmes, have a similar eclectic reputation.  “We’ve played with a lot of different bands, but we don’t sound anything like them.  We draw from a lot of different styles.  The key to this thing is the registration on site, getting people to come to the door,” said keyboardist and songwriter Tom Brislin.

“We’ve never done anything like this,” said Spiraling bassist Bob Hart. “But we’re all politically minded people, so anything we can do to get people involved is great. We’ve played CBGB’s quite a bit, but never the Gallery, so this should be interesting.”

Rodriguez said he expects a large turnout, since four of the performing bands are from the area and all have loyal local followings, having played in many city clubs and bars, such as Pianos on Ludlow St. “S.G.E., along with the bands who will be performing have really been working hard to promote this show,” he said.  “All of us who are involved with this show believe that Rock The Vote is a tremendously important organization and are passionate about the Rock The Vote message.  There will be a voter registration available at the event for unregistered voters, but our main goal is to help spread the word about the importance of making your voice heard and helping to raise money for a worthy cause.”  The donation to Rock the Vote will come from S.G.E’s profits from the show.

“Sleeping Giant Presents…” will be held on Sat., June 26, at CB’s 313 Gallery at 313 Bowery.
Cover charge is $10.
Souls’ Release opens at 8 p.m., The Day The Earth Stood Still at 9 p.m.,
Sabrina & The Haunt at 10 p.m., Spiraling at 11 p.m.
and Drowning Poet at midnight.

 Prime Artist Radio

"Just when I thought all the best vocalists were on this station, one more shoes up.  Sabrina has a feel for the story, "Star" is a song that speaks to the soul of a musician.  How many of us know this story either about a friend or fear it for ourselves.  Sabrina's voice moves through the poetic lyrics like water, telling the story with sincerity.  The one guitar and voice adds to the loneliness of the song.  Great song Sabrina and excellent voice!"

"Great Expression of real life fears.  Sabrina's voice is tender and warm and understanding.  Beautifully dramatic! I look forward to hearing more."

"..."Star"  This is a high-quality and very emotive performance.  Acoustic guitar and vocals only makes for a challenging environment - well met by Sabrina.  Excellent vocals!"

"..."Star" I absolutely loved this song... Sabrina's lyrics are moving and the arrangement is simple and so captivating... Thanks for sharing your talent with us."
 

Drew Crow Star
 (Artist/Producer)

Sabrina has the lush voice of a dark angel, powerful, emotional & divine on the ear. With lyrics rich in imagery, and music a delightful fusion of goth, rock & pop, she is a real gem in a musical sea of mediocrity.

Backed with several very talented musicians, her songs are beautifully arranged, mixed and produced. And despite the dark atmosphere, this is actually a very light album. It will appeal to goths and rock and pop fans alike.

If you're looking for stars of the future, look no further! Buy this album, and one day you may be able to say "I was into Sabrina's music before she was famous!!"... 
 

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

XXX

YOUR REVIEW

Have the CD? Gone to see a show?

Why not add your own review (click Here)