The Fave includes three family members from the now defunct eugene, including: Jaime Rose Della Fave (lead vocals), her brother Dominick (guitar), and their cousin Ed Smith on bass guitar.
With the addition of new drummer Fran Azzarto, owner of the Goldhawk and former member of the band Skanatra, the group combines to create an excellent mix of original rock music.
At a recent show at Maxwell's, The Fave passed out copies of a live CD and announced plans for a new album, which will be released next year.
Becoming The Fave
As a veteran musician, Fran's influence on the band has inspired new discoveries.
Yet Dominick said this doesn't mean the band is moving in a new direction.
"It's not that we're going in a different direction," Dominick said. "We're going further in the right direction. Now we're heading in the direction we want to go."
Eugene fans need not worry; The Fave does not intend to cast away all relation to eugene; they just want to free themselves from expectations. As eugene, the band raised awareness in Hoboken for original music. Together since 2000, eugene ignited a passion for a different sound. They organized the outdoor show "Hoboken Rocks" in 2005, which included other local bands with a unique rock sound.
"We were just ready for a new step and didn't want to be stigmatized as having to stick with the same themes that eugene had," Dominick said. "And Fran did come along and change things. But the band was already changing anyway. We had a different approach and we've been finding our sound and our flavor."
A new direction
"One place where things have changed is in our songwriting," said Jaime. "It used to be more individual and now it's more collaborative. There are four different egos coming into it."
It might be challenging to have four separate conceits collaborating together, but The Fave's members say that is what makes the music so good.
"In the past, we would play a show, write songs, play a show, write songs - with no time in between," Dominick said. "There was no time to rearrange. Now we can look at a song, study it, and think about what we want to change."
The band views this evolution of style as a more positive way of writing, and their confidence and cohesiveness shows up in their songs. Horizons have been expanding, and not due to their own publicity moves.
"Our free live CD was played on FMU and Rutgers' radio station with no promotion from us," said Jaime. "That was pretty cool."
A recent show at Maxwell's
At a recent show at Maxwell's, the band got a warm welcome from the crowd, after a colossal man with a cowboy hat atop his head announced, "Next up, The Fave!"
Playing together for the first time at a big show, The Fave undeniably left their mark.
Not easily categorized as any single music genre, their sound is polished and energizing.
Reminiscent of what Gwen Stefani brought to No Doubt in the nineties; Jaime rocks hard and sings sultrily all in the same song.
Dominick's guitar riffs are powerful and electrifying, and his harmonizing with sister Jamie on vocals appears effortless. And fans love him too. During the set they repeatedly screamed, "We love you Dom!"
Ed's solid rhythms, fantastic vocals, and easy smile lend a stable presence.
Fran adds a new balance to the band. With drumsticks flying, he pumps out intense, catchy beats.
The music was so tight and the energy so catching that when the set ended, people looked astonished. Cries of "One more song!" broke out and people whispered, "They're just going on a break, right?"
Have you declared yet?
If their live show at Maxwell's is any indication, The Fave can expect a lot more promotion from new fans and old.
"Radio and pop culture have too much to say," Dominick said. "We want people to decide on good music for themselves."
The Fave is currently recording their first full-length record at the Azzarto brothers' recording space, Think Tank, in Hoboken. The album will feature 12 original songs.
Dominick said The Fave is intent on staying true to themselves and to their music, without being overly concerned about getting a record label or forcing their music on people.
Their "Declaration of Independents," which was available for signing at Maxwell's, confirms their dedication to staying devoted to music that is the opposite of the manufactured, mass-marketed kind that is so popular on today's radio stations, and supporting other bands that share the same credo.
Fans can expect the new CD out next year. For updates or current show listings, visit: www.myspace.com/thefavehoboken.
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