The Secret Origin of ________...

If you've attended CN2R's most recent show at The Webster Underground in Hartford, or received Scott's most recent CN2R communique, you might have heard or noticed the stage was a little more sparse than it had in past shows. This is because I've decided to leave CN2R to pursue musical goals divergent from the rest of the band. I've had about 5 great years with these guys, and wouldn't change a thing if I could. However times change, people change, and musical ideas change. When my mind started heading in one way, and the rest of the guys, another, my feet started to want to follow my mind, and, well, that was a sign to me that it was time to get my musical wanderlust on, and let the guys in CN2R get theirs. We still all get along great (although I regretted missing the Webster show, due to miscommunications, and simple bad timing), and I look forward to sharing the stage with them when my new band gets off the ground.

On the subject of this new band (at the moment, we are nameless, so I'll just call us "______"), I have to say, I'm psyched. I've been speaking with a friend, Shannon (an outstanding vocalist, if I do say so myself) for about a year and a half about putting a group together, and we just decided to shift it into gear recently, and started looking into talented musicians to fill out the lineup. Random (rather drunken) discussions on my part helped to land the services of Rich Hernandez of Running With Karma on bass and keys, and Shannon brought in former Tripstead member Tim Sweeney on guitar to get a solid 4-piece together.

Since our first session, we've been getting a feel for each other's styles with a cover or two, and are kicking around ideas for some original material. What'll it sound like? I wish we could say, but I'm not sure we'll know until we have a few songs written, although I'm pretty confident that with Shannon's soaring voice, Tim and I's penchant for heavy-yet-intricate grooves, and Rich's ability to write some of the most colorful melodies I've heard in a while (don't believe me? Check out Running With Karma's site, and find out for yourself!), ______ will have a sound that you'd be hard pressed to find duplicated elsewhere.

Right now, details on ______ can be found here. Once we decide upon a name, and I register a site, I'll put up a link to it with more info on ______, including member bios, upcoming show dates, and maybe even an MP3 or two. If you're just *dying* to know more, you can e-mail me at the.nothing@charter.net

Until then, take care,

-J(ay)