Charles Bissell of The Wrens, Palomar, The Big Bright, White Collar Crime, Emmanuel May Pazavekmi

The Wrens are an American indie rock band from New Jersey. The group consists of Charles Bissell (guitar/vocals), brothers Greg Whelan (guitar) and Kevin Whelan (bass/vocals), and Jerry MacDonald (drums). They have released three albums so far, although a combination of problems with their former record label and having to fit in writing and recording with the daily pressures of home life and full-time jobs means that only one album has been released since 1996. The band have gained a reputation for their intense live shows - following a gig at the University of London Union in London in March 2006, The Guardian declared that "on this form the Wrens are surely one of the best live bands in the world"


Palomar is a three-lady and one-man outfit that hails from Brooklyn, where it was one of the founding bands of the aughts New York sound along with the likes of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Walkmen, and The Strokes. Over the last decade, Palomar has released four albums while playing shows with indie rock staples such as Luna, Mates of State, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, The Helio Sequence, Spoon, and The Wrens. Pitchfork described Palomar’s last album as having a “delicate balance between adorability and raw power.”


The Big Bright is the new musical collaboration from Glenn Patscha and Fiona McBain of Americana stalwarts Ollabelle, and Liz Tormes, critically acclaimed, neo-noir singer/songwriter.
Formed around a shared guilty pleasure—vintage New Wave and ’80s Brit-pop (think Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, The Cure)—The Big Bright finds the beating heart in the melodies, lyrics and frailties hidden in the overblown, overly-familiar period arrangements of retro-pop favorites, translating them into smart, dreamy—and original—contemporary pop soundscapes.


White Collar Crime’s new record, “Wars Undeclared” possesses an eerie, uncommon beauty. It is a new form of punk rock haunted by organ and piano textures, forlorn love songs, and cocky up-tempo manifestos. “Wars Undeclared” brings an inspired collection of songs that urge you to leap from your seat and occupy reality. The vocalist, Sander Hicks, channels equal parts Jim Morrison and Jello Biafra, while the rhythm section of the the dexterous Nick Colt (Hootch, The Cabinetmakers) on keyboards, percussion inventor Dale W. Miller (Palomar, Atlantic/Pacific) on drums, and the wiley Jon Berger (Earshot, The Mercantillers) on bass moves between aggro, driving punk riffs to somber and melodic jazz passages. They don’t need long guitar solos….or even a guitar-player! They have something else.

Wait, Punk Rock, with No Guitar?

That’s right, Kids!

This is a band with a sharp, signature sound: catchy, smart, artful punk. It’s minimalist, high-voltage, emotional, hard-driving, and world-changing. It is hungry. It is stuff you will remember. White Collar Crime pokes you in the ribs, and then whispers secrets in your ear. They are dedicated to freeing you from the matrix. They write songs about martyrs to the cause, and other loves lost, 9/11 truth and the police state, the failure of Obama, and their own forsaken illusions about love that fluidly. With an an accumulated 19 years of common wisdom, White Collar Crime is now poised to break new ground and old molds with their unique roles as punk provocateurs.

White Collar Crime started in 1996 as a pit band for the musical play “Sealove, Manager” in Soho, NYC. Playwright/lead singer Sander Hicks is best known as the indie publisher from Soft Skull Press who republished “Fortunate Son.” With his band backing him up every step of the way, Hicks and team took on George W. Bush and Family, from 1999-2001. This was all documented in the award-winning film Horns and Halos, on HBO/Cinemax, and White Collar Crime provided much of the sound-track.

They have played throughout the US, on both coast, including the Warped Tour (DIY Fest stage), Punk Island, the Soft Skull Press/Chicago Book Expo party at Fireside Bowl, and nearly everywhere in New York City including the legendary CBGB’s. After a hiatus, White Collar Crime reformed with its original line-up in 2013. The band got to work playing several successful shows, including a coveted spot opening the NYC tour of the Alternative Records’ super-group Ultra Bide. White Collar Crime have just wrapped up third full-length album, Wars Undeclared. Engineered by Tom Beaujour (Nada Surf, Juliana Hatfield) at Nuthouse Studios, Hoboken, NJ. The band will be soon following the release with a national tour.


EMMANUEL MAY PAZAVEKMI is a 3-piece rock 'n' roll outfit w/ a lotta hutzpah, a dash of alternative, a smattering of pop, some country, and a whole buncha howl! Maybe you've seen 'em around Brooklyn...

Jason Cottle: guitar/vocals
Katy Stone: bass
Will Kastner: drums