We are all aware that NYC Music Review has been on hiatus mode for just a little while because of some conflicting priority changes lately. I thought it would be appropriate if I come back to earth with something that has been a thorn to my side lately, something I’ve been itching to write about. This “thorn on my side” is also known as New York City band NearForever, don’t worry it’s not as bad as it may sound, I don’t have any animosity towards this band, actually the thorn is the separation of NF back in fall of 2007; separation as in there is no official word that the four year old band has dismembered, it’s just that every member of NF are working on their own individual projects. Randall McFadden (Vocalist) is basically traveling all over the U.S. perusing his acting career, Mike Vignola (Guitarist) which is the last original member of NF joined Connecticut based band The Second, Eric Velasco (Bassist) is now perusing the family life, and last but not least Phillip Lherisson is now drumming for Brooklyn based band Astronaut Down. Taking a glance at NearForever’s Myspace page I couldn’t it help notice the headline reading: "the well is drying... but we will return..." leaving me to assume the meaning behind those wisely chosen words may mean that they are taking a really long break and eventually getting back together, or maybe it can mean that NF is coming back but only this time with new members. I don’t necessary know what that quote means exactly but whatever the case maybe, from what I see NF is not officially done and I hope I’m not wrong. There is reason to believe that NF is not officially done because their Myspace page is not dead in terms of updates and changes, I find that every month or so something changes to the site, top friends, old songs being put up, photos, and even blogs; there was actually a blog posted on January 30th of 2008 pertaining to proceeds from (Snocap) will be donated to various charity organizations.
There are many things that I miss about NearForever’s sound, like in the E.P. that was released back in 2005 (Few and Far Between) there were songs such as “Explosions” and “Intervention” with more of an early non-experimental sound with the great “Vignola scream” as we use to call it, it’s pretty self explanatory just take a listen to the background screams in the record. Also back then there were two guitarists. I love the E.P. put out in 2006 (On Borrowed Time) which had more of an experimental kind of vibe, out of the two records, the one thing that has never changed is with NF is Randall’s spoken words during songs which is pretty unique if you ask me. Bottom line, it would be nice for it to be like old times, I would hate to see a band like this to go to waste. Then maybe the thorn in my side will finally be taken out.
"I asked for an education, they handed me a gun"-Start Over
Be sure to go out, have fun, be drunk, buy albums and check out your local music scene-Jason Franquiz
