| Billy Club Sandwich | |
|---|---|
Billy Club Sandwich in France 2004. From Left to Right: Glen Lorieo, Martin Gonzalez, Gary Muttley, Malone Ranalli |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Bronx/Westchester County, New York |
| Genres | New York Hardcore |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Inner Strength Records |
| Website | www.billyclubsandwich.com |
Billy Club Sandwich is a New York hardcore band originally from the Bronx and Lower Westchester County, New York. The members of the band currently live in the Bronx, Harlem, Westchester County and New Jersey.
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Billy Club Sandwich began with Glen Lorieo and Malone Ranalli, friends since their days at Mamaroneck High School. In 1991, after original drummer James "Psy" Kocsis went insane (he's doing fine now), Malone and Glen started working with various people in Glen's basement. The two of them formed the core of what would become Billy Club Sandwich while also dabbling with other bands (including Setback and Eye 2 Eye). Rod Monteagudo, another high school friend, had jammed with the duo and then moved away, and with his return back to NY he became a permanent member and the band became a serious project. After a chance meeting between Malone and longtime friend and Goatamentise singer Martin Gonzalez at Orchard Beach in the Bronx, the band had found a singer. Glen, Tony & Rod wanted someone who could sing in English and Spanish, and Martin wanted to do something different from his death metal band Goatamentise. Billy Club Sandwich was born.
In the spring of 1996 Billy Club Sandwich recorded and released their first demo which contained four songs in the classic heavy Billy Club Sandwich style. The release of this demo coincided with their first show at The Wetlands on May 19 with Madball, 25 Ta Life, Indecision, Powerhouse, and the first Agnostic Front 2 song reunion. It didn't take long before Billy Club Sandwich was known for their live shows and stage antics, gaining a solid reputation for delivering powerful New York style hardcore that tackled strong subjects yet maintained a fun live atmosphere.
Show after show turned into the “Hold The Bologna” 7-inch EP on Nawpost Records and a split 7-inch with Everybody Gets Hurt on Back ta Basics Records. Both became hot sellers, with first pressings disappearing quickly. Songs like “Slow With Your Hands” and “Narco Cabron” turned into crowd favorites. Things were picking up when Rod parted ways with the band for personal reasons. Malone switched over to guitar and Matt Stevens, another high school friend of Glen & Malone, stepped in on bass. Once again, things picked up. 1999 became shows, more shows, and a new cassette copy of the band live on WNYU’s legendary Crucial Chaos radio show. Over 1000 of those tapes disappeared in all directions all across the globe. A year later, the Crucial Chaos live performance became a limited edition CD, once again making its rounds across the globe.
In 1999 the band entered the studio with producers Noah Evans and A.J. Novello (of Leeway) and recorded tracks for a new EP. The recording sessions for the "Superheroes At Leisure" EP found Matt Stevens and the rest of the band struggling with differences, both musical and personal. Shortly before the release of the EP in the spring of 2001, Matt and BCS amicably parted ways. The band recruited longtime friend Gary Muttley to take over bass duties. An old friend of the band who knew Martin from the Bronx scene, Gary had played with other bands including Distance, District 9 and Five Minute Major, often on the same bills as Billy Club Sandwich. In addition he was already familiar with the band's material as he had filled in for Matt at an October 2000 show at Castle Heights in Queens. Inner Strength Records released the "Superheroes" EP in June 2001 to rave reviews, and the new lineup entered the busiest time in the history of the band, as they played more regularly around the Northeast US. The disc's closer "Slow With Your Hands" features guest vocals by Kenny Finnegan from Eye 2 Eye and Phil Vibes from Irate who is also featured on the bonus cover of Brujeria's "Raza Odiada (Pito Wilson)".
The new lineup brought more songwriting input to the band, and soon afterwards the band prepared to record a new full length CD. "Chin Music" was a significant departure from the previous efforts. While still hard-hitting and raw, the new songs were slightly more technical and experimental. The hip-hop style interludes, the blast beats of "Bronx Zoo", and the cover of Billy Joel's "Pressure" helped the album stand out from the typical hardcore fare. Guest vocalists include Phil Vibes from Irate on "Narco Cabron" and Keith "The Golden Boy" Peterson from Go Fuck Yourself/Losers Sometimes Win on "Justice Unknown". Upon its release in 2004, "Chin Music" was an immediate success, with a record release show in support of ex-Cro-Mag Harley Flanagan's band at CBGBs.
The band expanded their fan base worldwide in 2004 with the New York Invasion tour of Puerto Rico with Sworn Enemy, Everybody Gets Hurt and Irate, as well as a headlining tour of Europe. 2005 found the band covering more mileage, pounding the east coast from Maine to Florida, supporting bands like Killing Time, Underdog, Bulldoze, E-Town Concrete and the one-time-only reunion of Bronx legends Fahrenheit 451. The band also participated in the resurrected Super Bowl of Hardcore in Brooklyn NY in March 2005, and is featured on the DVD of the event.
2007 found BCS playing the Superbowl of Hardcore again! The first band to play it twice since its return to NYC!!
In October 2008, BCS released a new CD titled "The Usual Suspects". The disc includes new recordings, a Sheer Terror cover and a few videos. Guest vocalists include Mike Herpes from Mickeys Crew, Phil Vibes from Irate/The Judas Syndrome, and Kristanika. The voice of Mr. Tom Murphy can be heard opening up the disc via a drunken answering machine message that begins the song "Bodega". Released on Dead City Records in the US and Rucktion Records in the UK. Multiple reviews have said that there is more of a Thrash feel on this disc but it is still Billy Club Style to be sure. This time recording was started at Night Owl Studios in NYC with Paul Snook and Glen Lorieo recording the basic tracks. Then the vocals were recorded at Glen's house and the mix was done by Glen back at Night Owl. Universally agreed to be the band's best recording both production and songwriting-wise!
Immediately after releasing the new CD, BCS headed out to Europe in October 2008 for their second tour of the continent and England. Another successful run, the tour ended in London with BCS headlining the two day Running Riot Fest at the Underworld in Camden.
A month after returning home from that tour BCS opened up for the legendary Suicidal Tendencies at a sold out Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ in December 2008.