I admit I was initially turned onto singer/songwriter Jesse Malin because of his connection to my favorite band Green Day. His third solo album was released on singer Billie Joe Armstrong and his wife Adrienne Armstrong's label, Adeline Records. Billie Joe and fellow Green Day members, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt, have also collaborated with Jesse, forming a band called Depression Times. They only released one song called "Rodeo Queens," but I think many people are still hoping for other songs to surface.
D Generation, 1994
Jesse's music career started at the age of thirteen when he played in the hardcore band, Heart Attack. In the 90's, he performed in D Generation until deciding to reinvent himself. After several other projects, Jesse collaborated with friend Ryan Adams and completed his first solo album in just six days. In 2009, St. Mark's Social was formed and shortly after released Love It to Life on SideOneDummy Records.
Photo Credit: Jessica Levy
Tommy Stinson and Billie Joe Armstrong join Jesse Malin onstage at NYC's
City Winery on February 19, 2011.
I saw Jesse for the first time at the City Winery in NYC back in February. I wasn't too familiar with Jesse's music at the time, but yet he still managed to engage me into the show. His high energy and constant story-telling proved him to be an entertaining front man, rising above many. After performing The Fine Art of Self Destruction in its entirety, Billie Joe Armstrong and opener Tommy Stinson joined Jesse and the band onstage to perform a very exciting four-song encore.
Photo Credit: Jessica Levy
Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social at Bowery Electric
July 30, 2011
On Saturday, Jesse performed at his very own venue, Bowery Electric--an intimate, hip place in the East Village. After an introduction by WRXP deejay Rich Russo, Jesse started off the show with the ever-so-catchy "Burning the Bowery." The fan interaction was even more intense than at the City Winery show, as Jesse told more hilarious personal stories about his life and career. In the middle of the show he sat among the crowd, insisting everyone sits down with him while he continues story time. The set list also included fan favorites, "Prisoners of Paradise," "Disco Ghetto," "Hotel Columbia" and "Riding on the Subway."
It's quite difficult to make a name for yourself as a local artist, especially in New York City. This doesn't apply to Jesse Malin, who continues to sell out local venues and widen his fan base. He is truly an East Village musical hero.
Catch Jesse Malin & the St. Marks Social in concert with Juliana Hatfield at the City Winery in NYC on August 26, 2011.
Yesterday, the modern rock station 101.9 RXP announced it will be changing to an all-news format. The station was part of a cluster sold to another media company.
RXP's programming, which includes Matt Pinfield & Leslie Fram's Local Licks and Rich Russo's Anything Anything, is also well-known for supporting NYC's local music scene. Matt and Kim, Atomic Tom, Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social and The Dirty Pearls are just a few of the local bands on RXP's airwaves.
"You listened, you wrote emails, showed up at events, supported the sponsors and most of all you trusted the show, you trusted me and didn't turn the dial if I played a song you didn't like or talked too long," RXP deejay Rich Russo told listeners. "You embraced the unsigned bands, the low-fi and sometimes unpolished recordings, the scratchy vinyl or muddy cassettes that sometimes were played. I thank you for that."
RXP's format change came as a shock to many. When NYC's legendary rock station K-Rock changed formats in 2009, many of its former listeners turned to RXP as it then became the last remaining modern rock station in NYC.
Both Matt Pinfield and Rich Russo have stated they already received new offers. Pinfield will once again host the rebirth of MTV's 120 Minutes, which will air monthly on MTV2. Russo will be continuing Anything Anything and further details will be revealed soon.
It's unfortunate that not enough music listeners have the patience to support or even care about new music. RXP provided opportunities for many local artists in the area that weren't fortunate enough to have major record label promotion money. Rock stations also just can't seem to compete with the many redundant Top 40 stations. It will most likely only be a matter of time until another rock station in NYC surfaces, but I won't hold my breath.
