ArtistInfo

Darkside NYC

Band, US
Rock

Darkside NYC is an American hardcore band with extreme metal and punk influences. Formed in 1991 as simply "Darkside" by Alan Blake, formerly of Sheer Terror, the band released 3 demos and a 7" in the early 90's before disbanding in 1996. The band officially became "Darkside NYC" in 1992, although most flyers and advertisements took several years to finally acknowledge the name change. A 7" entitled "Suffer In Silence" released in late 1993 included 4 tracks from a 6-song 1992 demo of the same name. A CD entitled "Ambitions Make Way For Dread" released in 1998 included 2 tracks from a 3-song 1994 demo of the same name, along with several previously unreleased studio tracks from a 1993 session. The band played about 80 shows, mostly around the New York City area, focusing almost entirely in lower Manhattan (CBGB, Wetlands, Bond St. Café). Darkside NYC - on a few occasions - played in Brooklyn (L'Amour), New Jersey (Studio One), Connecticut and Long Island, but those appearances were uncommon. The band made occasional forays north into upstate New York (Newburgh, Troy), Massachusetts (The Rathskeller), and south into the Baltimore / DC area. Darkside NYC's best out-of-state crowd responses were mostly in Pennsylvania (Unisound, Sea-Sea's, etc.). Darkside NYC frequently shared bills with New York hardcore bands such as WarZone, Breakdown, Madball, and metallic hardcore bands such as Merauder, All Out War, Confusion, Next Step Up and Starkweather. In 1994, the band had the distinction of being the only band to perform at both the "Superbowl of Hardcore" and the "New York Deathfest" shows, convincingly showcasing an ability to appeal to two completely different music scenes. The earliest incarnation of the band featured Blake on guitar, along with Baron "Thorn" Misuraca (bass, vocals) and Jason Martin (drums), both also former Sheer Terror members. The band's core and best known lineup consisted of Blake, with Rich O'Brien (vocals) and Joe Branciforte (drums). The bass slot was, at times, a revolving door, but Jeff Morlos, Scott Helland, Joe Heller and Baron appeared on recordings. In 1995, Blake retired from playing music and Matt Melnick (Disassociate) filled in on guitar for a few shows, but internal disagreements ensured his involvement as short-lived. The band reunited for one show in early 2003 at CBGB for the "Tribute to Frank Collins" show, in which fifteen bands played in honor of the former Confusion guitarist who died in a motorcycle crash the previous year. The line-up was Rich, Joe, Matt and Joe V on bass. Many fans proclaimed this as one of the best Darkside NYC performances they had ever seen, with some people flying from as far away as Europe to witness it. The band reformed in late 2006, and played a handful of shows in 2007 and 2008 and spent the next four years working on a double-album of material. In 2011, the band played in Brooklyn and Manhattan as a three-piece with Rich drumming and signing to mixed reviews. While the band technically pulled off the material, the lack of the usual "crazy front-man energy" was missing. In 2013, the band, with a new rhythm section, performed at two death metal shows in Brooklyn and one show in Miami, Florida; their first shows with Rich as front-man in five years. "Optimism Is Self-Deception: Vols. 1 & 2" is the title of the completed latest album, although a release date has not yet been set. Reviews have been positive from everyone who has had an opportunity to hear the mastered tracks. Mike Bromberg (formerly of the Bullsh!t Monthly fanzine) called it "attacking… enjoyable and hard-hitting" and went on to say it made him want to "eat a slice of (good) NY pizza and hop on a subway track." Another double-album worth of material has also been recorded to be titled "Optimism Is Self-Deception: Vols. 3 & 4".

Members

	Alan Blake g
	Jason Martin dr
	Scott Helland acg, b US
	Rich O'Brien
	Joe Branciforte dr US
	Jeff Morlos