“Main Street Nights” by Love, Rose Is A Catchy Tribute To Friends, Loved Ones, & New Jersey

By: Nick Manduley

Point Pleasant-based singer-songwriter Marissa Cifelli independently released her debut solo EP Main Street Nights on September 30th, 2018 under the stage name Love, Rose. Cifelli is known around the South and Central New Jersey music scenes, and has provided vocals in local acts such as punk band Tomorrow Sun (since rebranded as Someday You’ll Know Us) and metal band Ventress.

Despite Cifelli’s background in fronting heavy bands, Main Street Nights shows a softer, more chill side to her musical range. The ukulele-driven EP was produced by CJ Rarela, formerly of the pop punk quintet Cardinals. Rarela provides background instrumentation on the release.

Main Street Nights kicks off with the the catchy track “Don’t Shoot the Messenger.” The track opens with Cifelli plucking some notes on her ukulele before strumming along into the first verse. “Don’t Shoot” is an uplifting track about persevering through one’s own insecurities and anxieties in order to achieve a goal. The release continues with “Not So Far Apart,” a track about staying passionate in a long distance relationship, and missing one’s significant other.

“‘Not So Far Apart’ is about the relationship I have with my current boyfriend, and how I was physically absent for half the relationship,” says Cifelli. “[My parents] made me live with them when they would move back and forth between Florida and New Jersey because my Dad hates winter…. [and because] my boyfriend Jon is a patient soul, I knew we were close even though we were miles and miles away from each other.” Cifelli would skype, text and call her boyfriend regularly to keep in touch. “Not So Far Apart” channels the longing one feels when separated from a loved one, which is something everyone is likely to feel at some point in their lives. Rarela’s emotive keyboard playing ties well with Cifelli’s gentle ukulele strumming throughout the song.

The EP closes with “On My Way,” an emotional ballad-like track that is perfectly fitting of Cifelli’s powerful singing voice. The track serves as an ode to the state of New Jersey and all the friends Cifelli has made in the Garden State. Despite the tropical vibes of Florida, Cifelli finds it difficult to be away from her friends and community in New Jersey.

“My heart is in NJ, and you can take the girl out of Jersey but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl!” said Cifelli. Fans who opt to pick up the deluxe edition of Main Street Nights will be able to check out Cifelli’s cover of “Astronaut,” featuring guest vocals from ex-Cardinals frontwoman Emily Ronna. Cifelli performs her original music every other Tuesday at the Saige Coffee House in Jackson. She will also be performing as Love, Rose on June 23rd at a Pride Showcase at the Rev Lounge in Tom’s River with KK Reaper and the Carnies of Chaos, Anaconda Plan, and many other LGBTQ+ acts. Fans can expect a new track on an upcoming compilation album with Ventress and many other bands.

Mallory Knox Drop New Single “White Lies,” Announces UK Fall Tour

Cambridge alt-rockers Mallory Knox debuted their brand new single “White Lies” on May 15th as they played an intimate headlining show at The Borderline in London. The boys played a set of songs spanning their entire discography, as well as graced the audience with a debut performance of “White Lies.” The band had spent the first few months of 2019 playing the same intimate venues they cut their teeth on early in their career.

“This tour will take us back to a lot of places we haven’t visited in years, and in some cases to places we’ve never played before,” says bassist and vocalist Sam Douglas, excited to breathe life into their new songs.

“White Lies” is the first single from their upcoming self-titled LP, due out August 16th, and packs quite a punch. The song opens with a vicious riff that is all rock-and-roll, and features a very excitable chorus that one might dare say is reminiscent of 80’s rock acts such as Bon Jovi.

Despite the departure of frontman Mikey Chapman in early 2018, the band was eager to move forward as a four piece with Douglas taking on lead vocals. Not long afterwards the band released their first single without Chapman, entitled “Black Holes.” When fans’ ears were graced with the soaring lead guitars, in-your-face vocals, and infectious riffs, it was clear that the band would not only survive but thrive.

The rock quartet’s new tour will kick off September 15th in Cardiff at the Clwb Ifor Bach, and conclude on October 13th at Esquires in Bedford. Tickets are now available through the band’s website. Fans can pre-order the new self-titled album, which is due out August 16th via A Wolf At Your Door, and get downloads of the new singles “White Lies” and “Black Holes.”