Page 18 Thursday, January 8, 2009 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION Milan Relocates to Crossroads, Shows its Own Reggae Heritage By ERIC NIERSTEDT reggae rhythms. together on the same drum set, as the Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times He also showed an affinity for Jimi crowd roared its approval. GARWOOD — After their last per- Hendrix, as he played one solo with Strong showings like this are one formance at Garwood’s Crossroads, his teeth and another with the guitar of the reasons the band has experi- rock-reggae band Milan not only behind his back. This also came enced much success recently. They showed the club’s patrons another pro- through in the bluesy guitar breaks won the 2008 Jersey Shows Battle of nunciation of the famous Italian city during the song “PC Screen.” the Bands and were able to use the (their name is pronounced My-lin), But Mr. Lazistan was not the only prize money to finance their new al- but they also performed a hard-rock- force upon the stage. Bassist David bum, “The Sour Goat Confessions.” ing, groove-filled mix of Sublime-style Sloyan demonstrated his own resem- “It isn’t done yet, but we’ve been rock, mixed with splashes of Hendrix. blance to Angus Young of AC/DC. able to put out an E.P. (five-song The band took the stage in a chari- The young bassist constantly danced demo) of the album,” Mr. Lazistan table way, backing up opening act and threw his body around the stage said. “Our label is kind of pushing us Tam Garcia on his last song (Mr. Garcia while keeping the groove solid, remi- towards a single, and that’s taking up performed a solo acoustic set). After niscent of how Young famously per- a chunk of our focus right now. We’d Mr. Garcia left the stage, the band forms during his solos. The only dif- like to have a good single and an Video Games Live blasted into its first song, during which ference was Young only does this album we can put behind it.” NJPAC ~ Newark, N.J. While working on that task, Milan is also experiencing good fortune on Composer Tommy Tallarico and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra join forces the touring circuit. They were on the for Video Games Live. Pictured below is lineup with Badfish, the arguably best Mike Fogg of Newton, dressed as Anthony Sublime tribute band today, at the Carmine of “Gears of War.” Starland Ballroom on Saturday, and ~ Photos by Michael J. Pollack are part of an upcoming charity show with Scotch Plains native Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens. “Those are just amazing opportu- nities to have,” Mr. Lazistan said. “Sublime is one of our biggest influ- ences, so to be able to play with a band like Badfish, that has earned a rep for truly embracing their music, is incredible. And Pat DiNizio…that guy’s just amazing.” The band also mentioned talk of opening for ’90’s ska-punk band Reel Big Fish, but nothing is known as of yet. Talks are now handled by their NJ Symphony Orchestra, Tallarico new manager, Clifford ‘CJ’ Joseph, Eric Nierstedt for The Westfield Leader and The Times WHAT I GOT...Read about Milan’s performance at the Starland Ballroom in who is also president of the manage- Sayreville in an upcoming issue, as the local band pays homage to punk-reggae ment company “2 a.m. Entertain- Turn Event Into ‘Multiplayer’ Game legend Sublime. ment.” “I went to high school with these By MICHAEL J. POLLACK tion.” imaginations of those in attendance, lead singer/guitarist Milan Lazistan during his solos, while Mr. Sloyan guys, but even if I didn’t, I would be Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Mr. Tallarico, a cousin of Steven newer games used edgier, string-laden III sang a chorus that perfectly summed never stopped. working with them,” Mr. Joseph said. NEWARK – Last month, the New Tyler, displayed some serious chops, music that oscillated to become equal up his band – “roots-rock-reggae with During one memorable moment, “Ska-punk is a music [form] that could Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) doing battle with the young “Guitar parts dirge, operatic Hollywood that East Coast sound.” Mr. Sloyan and drummer Edwin be way bigger than it is now. It may be traded Mozart for Mario, Haydn for Hero,” who dropped to his knees in blockbuster and triumph. Mr. Lazistan proved apt at mixing Estevez, Jr. (who played with the underground, but underground drives Halo. Paying homage to video-game true rock-god fashion as the stage lit Nowhere were the contrasting mo- it up as he moved comfortably be- same incredible attention and disci- what people want to hear. And people music, Composer Jack Wall and Ex- up various neon colors. tifs of video-game music more evi- tween hard-rocking riffs and relaxed pline as Mr. Lazistan) began to play definitely want to hear Milan.” ecutive Producer Tommy Tallarico On a night in which interactivity dent than the transition from jubilant More on the band, including mer- brought “Video Games Live” to the was more than a slogan, another young – and blindfolded – Internet sensa- chandise, CDs, dates and ticket infor- halls of a sold-out New Jersey Per- concertgoer, upon being chosen, got tion Martin Leung’s buoyant rendi- mation can be found on myspace.com/ forming Arts Center (NJPAC), en- to leap, literally, on stage and play a tion of the theme to “Super Mario milannj and milannj.com. gaging both children and children at game that was popularized likely be- Brothers” to his later knockout per- CHRISTOFFERS heart. fore his birth. formance of the emotional “Final Les Malamut Presents Evolving heavily from the mono- The young man, through wireless Fantasy” theme, a layered symphony Established 1976 phonic monotony of Pac Man, video- sensors, was digitally inserted into the in itself. Husband-Wife Team game music has become as expres- 2D classic, “Space Invaders.” With the In all interviews prior to the show UNION – The Les Malamut Art sive aurally as the games themselves full backing of the NJSO orchestra, and at the beginning of the concert, Gallery will present an exhibit of fine are visually. and the complete encouragement of Mr. Tallarico made a claim for video- 860 Mountain Avenue art and photography by Avi and Mr. Tallarico and Mr. Wall designed his fellow gamers, the young man took game music’s “cultural significance.” Mountainside NJ 07092 Constantine Kiriakatis. The a show that depicts video-game music on the role of the laser cannon, shim- By evening’s end, he was not only Kenilworth husband-and-wife duo as ever-present and iconoclastic, not mying laterally left and right on stage preaching to the choir but to the or- 908-233-0500 has titled the show “His and Hers.” confined to a television set and speak- to blast the waves of aliens that amassed chestra and the full house that de- It will run from now through March ers; rather, this music is evocative and before his two minutes were up. lighted in the “multiplayer” spectacle. 13. A reception and opportunity to exotic, worthy of the grandest of set- Contemporary gamers chanted for meet the artists is planned for Satur- tings and the most bombastic of or- “Halo” and “Metal Gear Solid;” vin- day, January 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. The chestras, which the NJSO provided. tage (see: older) gamers delighted in exhibit and reception are free and What the golden age of radio was hearing the music of “Sonic” and the Art at SP Library open to the public. to the first half of the 20th century, Schola Cantorum On Hudson choir’s SCOTCH PLAINS — “Plainfield in Mrs. Kiriakatis, a Greek-born, digital media and video games are to emphatic cry of “Sega!” at the begin- ’08 through the Eyes of Watsart,” a free award-winning artist/teacher, has the 21st. ning of a visual display that was syn- touring art exhibit of mixed media/ given art lessons to adults and youth No, this was not your father’s sym- chronized to the lively sounds of the digital art prints depicting randomly at Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in phonic experience; that much was orchestra. selected Plainfield scenes, is on public Thank you to all who Westfield. evident from the outset. Whereas classic games employed display at The Scotch Plains Library, Once retired, Mr. Kiriakatis pur- Before the lights dimmed, kids gal- livelier, airy percussion-and-key- located at 1927 Bartle Avenue, through shopped locally and sued oil painting and photography. loped about the NJPAC lobby dressed heavy compositions, arousing the January 31 during regular library hours. He has exhibited and won awards at as Pac Man and Link. Everyone from supported your various shows in New Jersey, includ- grandparents to youngsters sampled ing the Union County Senior Art games in the rotunda; eyes were trans- Jersey Central Art Studios Show. fixed on the “Guitar Hero” tourna- independent retailers Both husband and wife are mem- ment, and fathers reminisced with bers of the Summit Art Group, children about childhoods spent in Presents Free Art Lectures Westfield Art Association, Watchung dusty arcade halls, a far cry from the CRANFORD – Jersey Central Art engage in the discussion and to voice 2 DAYS LEFT Arts and Somerset Art Association in grandiose experience that is “Video Studios (JCAS) will present three their observations and questions,” Bedminster. Games Live.” free art lectures at the Cranford Com- Ms.