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One of the GREATEST THINGS about Philadelphia’s LOUDEST BAND is that they sound like NO ONE ELSE you have ever heard. Most bands that you SEE LIVE, will be told they sound like THE STROKES, ARCTIC MONKEYS, LED ZEPPELIN ETC.  In this writer’s DOCUMENTED 50,000 MINUTES OF MUSIC LISTENED TO IN 2025, I found that no other band sounds like them.

This allows for the band to COMPLETELY SURPRISE AUDIENCES AND VENUES with shows full of UNBRIDLED AND SHEAR PASSION FOR PLAYING. One such surprise to me, was the use of “OTHERSIDE” a shoe gazey experimental FAN FAVORITE that hasn’t been played live since 2024. The band kicked off their show with it before HOODWINKING the audience by using it as an INSTRUMENTAL JAM. PROFESSIONALS like the FOO FIGHTERS OR THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS do that. Not bands playing for tips and drinks. This move immediately locked in the fans. It showed that FREELANCE SWEATPANTS are looking to prove that they AREN’T JUST HERE TO PLAY, they want to conquer! They want to be a HOUSEHOLD NAME like those aforementioned bigger artists. The only way to do that, CONTINUOUSLY SURPRISE THE FANS WITH THEIR LIVE SHOWS!

The fans packed in the small but AWESOME DIVE BAR, WITH A DECORE THAT WOULD MAKE ALICE COOPER FEEL AT HOME on a cold winters night. The only thing KEEPING THEM WARM, was the high voltage, HIGH ENERGY FREELANCE SWEATPANTS MASTERCLASS OF A PERFORMANCE TAKING PLACE IN FRONT OF THEM.

The band labeled the gig as a warm up to a PROMINENT NEW YEARS EVE ROCKTACULAR. However, judging from the energy emerging from the CONSHY QUARTET this may have well been THE HEADLINING SET! The band over the course of the last YEAR OF THE SWEATPANTS, has honed in their show stopping tour de force set. 

KICKING THINGS OFF was a transition from the grooves of “OTHERSIDE” to the raunchy and punchy “HOLD ON” which might as well have been called HOLD YOUR ATTENTION, as no one left the bands sight from that point on. 

What better song to follow a HIGH OCTANE WOMBO COMBO of tracks than “SPOOKY”. This bouncy, vibey cautionary YARN WAS A PERFECT TOUCH ADDED the bar adorned with SKULLS, GHOSTS, and when meshed together, SKHOSTS. The bar owner, JAY, absolutely ruled HELPED MAKE EVERY BAND FEEL WELCOME IN HIS YEAR ROUND DIVE THAT IS A TRIBUTE TO ALL THINGS COOL, CREEPY AND PUNK ROCK!

If the audience was feeling the chill, it wasn’t from the weather outside. It may have been FRIGHTFUL, BUT HEARING THIS BAND PLAY A ONE TWO THEIR NEWEST STREAMING RELEASES  “COUCH” WAS DELIGHTFUL. 

NEW MATERIAL. THE OLD STANDARD managed to WHISK OLDER PUNK BANDS IN THE CROWD  back at their YOUTH RATATOUILLE STYLE. The songs fast paced energy reminded them of THE STOOGES AND THE RAMONES IN THEIR HEYDAY. The blistering track featured DOM again on vocals and fingers playing so fast, he may as well HAVE WHIPPED UP THAT SNOW STORM that night. 

Now that the audience was comfortable, familiar with the players assembled before them, it was time to have some fun! WITH KEITH RICHARDS having announced he is RETIRED FROM TOURING, the only blues based rock guitarist to pick up his slack is AJ DECECCO. 

Like RICHARDS, AJ plays with feeling, feeling heard on the LOU REED inspired “STROKES”. His playing was so electric, the lightning in his fingers could bring have dual hand-idly revived the VELVET UNDERGROUND FRONT MAN  FRANKENSTIENS MONSTER STYLE. Equally impressive was his solo on “HIT THE ROAD” which kept audiences from doing so and staying locked on the action in front of them.

The action wasn’t restricted to the band either. SEAN, ever the show man at his manic AL PACINO like unhinged stage delivery invited the crowd to participate in the sing along “GOTTA GET OUT”. He delivered several other audience participation monologues that make normal sentences feel like they’re their own band member.

The crowd pleasing “GOTTA GET OUT”  made the 20+ person bar feel like LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD. If they can make that kind of earth shaking, booty quaking, love making noise with 20 people they truly are Philly’s loudest band.

To be Philly’s loudest rock and rollers you got to have a sound that moves the needle. These guys are developing A SOUND THAT AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, is  like NO ONE ELSE I HAVE EVER HEARD. 

The three  YULE LOG BURNERS WARMED A COLD WINTERS NIGHT. They epitomize the bands current sound and future direction of where they are going. FUN, OPTIMISTIC AND LAID BACK SENSE OF SKEEZ defined the song “FLOOR”, which featured SEAN AND DOM doing their patented UP AND DOWN DANCE while JUSTIN, threw in his MOST CATCHY AND ADDICTIVE DRUM BEAT. 

“UPSIDE DOWN” kept the FREELANCE TRAIN A ROLLING with its chugging RHYTHMS and   MGUITAR CHORDS RIPPING SO FAST, YOU WOULD THINK that the train would come OFF THE TRACK. HOWEVER, the final number, the TOE TAPPING FAVORITE, “MASTER OF— I mean “ NO NAME” as SEAN gleefully called it, keeps everything grounded.

The song is often HERALDED AS THEIR BEST. For good reason, it sounds like a RADIO HIT! Replacing the bands traditional encore of “HIGH ON A PLANE” the song gets people talking about an exciting future for their SOUND. 

The band RUNG OUT “NO NAME’S” final notes winning over newcomers and giving veteran fans a REASON TO KEEP COMING BACK. It may be the same show each time, BUT THE TRICK IS, THEY PLAY EVERY SHOW AS IF IT IS THEIR FIRST AND LAST. Providing showmanship, WELL REHEARSED PERFORMANCES AND A SONIC DOPAMINE RUSH THAT TRULY LETS IT BE KNOWN THAT FREELANCE SWEATPANTS IS PHILLY’s LOUDEST BAND!

This is not the LAST SHOW OF THE YEAR, it is merely THE OPENING ACT FOR A HEADLINING SLOT FOR ORTLEIBS NEW YEARS EVE ROCKTACULAR!

Special thanks: LAZER SHARKS SONG WRITING MEISTRO, JOE SIRIANNI, FREELANCES NUMBER ONE FAN, JULIE WALLER, THE BANDS BANKROLLER, ALAN DECECCO, BAR OWNER JAY, & CENTURY!

It’s officially ROCKTOBER in FREELANCE SWEATPANTS world! The band that has brought the house down ONCE AGAIN at ORTLEIBS has now brought something SPOOKY TO YOUR HOUSE! The brand new single titled “SPOOKY” is a party anthem dedicated to all OUR BAD HABITS! Like the OFFSPRING song, this new FREELANCE TRACK will BLOW YOU AWAY with its earthquake shaking DRUM BEATS from JUSTIN, dynamic JANGLY GUITARS from DOM AND AJ and lyrical prowess from SEAN!  

As seen live this past weekend at the AMAZING ORTLEIBS show, the new song “ Spooky”  is where all band members are introduced. “Spooky’s” lyrics deal with what the effects of PARTYING HAVE ON A HARD WORKING ROCK AND ROLL BAND. 

Sean’s not the only one getting to talk ABOUT these vices on this new record. The ENTIRE BAND, and supplier of good vibes MATT SICKLE, aka EL SENIOR PICKLE, make appearances during the LAST CALL sequence. If you listen closely, you can hear THIS BLOGGER in the background towards the end of the bit.

The band said of the newly released single: 

Sean “ If beer were a song I’d drink it”

AJ no expression, just deadpan stares at the writer. That means he likes it! I think 

Justin- BELCHES TWICE. 10/10

Dom – “Pershwipipty” – Dome Spier, Master of Production gives it a thumbs up!

Seriously Dom, the mixes keep turning out incredible! This may be the best one yet!

The new single is out now on all platforms. 

NOW ONTO THE SHOW REVIEW

On a packed Friday Night, the Hot Dog Bar brought close to 40 people to see Freelance Sweatpants. This translated to GOOD VIBES, AN AMAZING SHOW and GREAT MERCH SALES As for this manager he personally sold over $100 in band merchandise, which resulted in a ROCKING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL INVOLVED!

I’d talk about FREELANCE SWEATPANTS, but what more needs to be said? THE BAND HAS HONED their craft to PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS! This band manages to find a way to make EVERYONE involved in their show! The band had the crowd eating from the palm of their hand. And I’m not just talking PICKLE HOT DOGS. 

JUSTIN added drum fills to impress a LADY, but also managed to impress the and band in the process. His playing had gotten so MUCH BETTER after 3 years and the band benefits FROM IT GREATLY by becoming tighter and more in sync as a result. 

This musical tightness was evident when AJ actually cracked a smile while playing. THE USUALLY RESERVED guitar GREAT cracked a smile so infectious PHILLY SPORTS teams felt it and began WINNING AGAIN as they even felt HIS IVY VENERE BEGIN TO THAW. 

SEAN had also improved his vocal and frontman abilities, with the CROWD HANGING ON AND CHEERING TO HIS EVERY WORD! During the crowd favorite “Gotta Get Out” , SEAN got the loudest call and response that bands like U2 and Metallica wish they had received WHEN THEY WERE PLAYING CLUBS like these during their EARLY DAYS! 

DOM again proved to be a GOD of the SHRED. Ripping solos throughout the night, making the audience his disciples by worshiping his every SOLO AS IF IT WERE SCRIPTURE TO BE STUDIED UNDER THE CHURCH OF ORTLEIBS BACKROOM.

The band capped the night off by having Ortleibs grant them the KEYS TO THE KINGDOM. They were given the lucrative and sought after honor of playing one last song. “WHATEVER” returned like Brandon Graham to the Birds, the song is an integral part of their setlist. The cover song sorely missed and it brought the house down during easily what was the best time I have HEARD AND SEEN the BAND PLAY LIVE.

If you thought that this night at ORTLEIBS COULD BE TOPPED, I know, you don’t what the venue has planned for them! This is only just the beginning and the BAND WILL HAVE MANY MORE AMAZING SHOWS TO COME this YEAR AND BEYOND!

Special thanks to ORTLEIBS, JXKE, YDA, Danial, JD, ThE GOO GOO DOLLS & music!

The second night at Ortleibs, was rocking HOT DOG FILLED TIME!

The band was reunited with longtime friends EXCELERATE and LAZER SHARK. Each band brought their own UNIQUE STYLE and SOMETHING TO PROVE TO THE TABLE.

LAZER SHARK, consisting of GUITARIST PAT MCCABE, a dead ringer for actor SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT. Bass player KEVIN LONGHITANO, son of PIZZA BARONS who own the LONGHITANO’S restaurant. Drummer PHIL DiRENZO, who is the only MUSICIAN THAT WENT TO SCHOOL FOR MUSIC SO HE CAN KICK ARSE IN TWO ROCK BANDS IN ONE NIGHT. The band is rounded out by the man who makes these SHARKS SWIM, JOE SIRIANNI( no relation to the Eagles legend). He held the fort on guitar and vocal duties. 

The band were hot on their HEALS, literally, even doing SHARK DANCE mid song at one point, on their DEBUT ALBUM “ Worth the While”.  The band played through several hits such as “40 Days and Nites”, “Carousel on Fire” and my personal favorite “ Hangziety”. The band closed the set with album BARN BURNER “ My Bad Love” that proved one thing, sharks can’t stop swimming or they’ll drown. After 10 years and one album out, they’re not drowning anytime soon, it’s only fins up from here!

The bands continued to ACCELERATE their live craft when ANDY, BRENDAN O’NEILL and LAZER SHARKS KEVIN LONGHITANO AND PHIL DIRENZO took the stage. Pushing early 90’s and THE CURE VIBES, ANDY stepped into the role of EXCELERATE the way Vincent Furneir slips into that of ALICE COOPER. Through flawless ease, with the only comparison for the two being that they bother know how to shock their audience.  During a solo, EXCELERATE and Brendan jump into the crowd and rocked out with the the audience.

 EXCELERATE and his band powered through hits such as “Delores”, named for the first car he totaled and “Australia”among others. Excelerate even played some of his influences, including a cover of “ In Between Days” by THE CURE. The Cure’s influence echoed throughout his sound. It  can be felt most prominently in the radio ready hit song “ Push Nirvana”. The song got everyone including Uncle Gary dancing. More on his return later. 

The two amazing openers are always great to be around and we HOPE TO PLAY MORE, as real MUSICAL MAGIC HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DO!

Now is the moment you have all been waiting for, the triumphant return of FREELANCE SWEATPANTS to ORTLEIBS! The band kicked things off hot with “HOLD ON” the ACDC inspired rocker got the crowd on their feet and they NEVER SAT BSCK

DOWN DURING THE 40+ MINUTE SET. The band played with PASSION. Guitar acrobatics from AJ and DOM SHINED THROUGH on “Couch”, “New Material” with FACE MELTING LICKS traded between the two. SEAN was in full command of the ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS before him. One that drew even RANDOM people from the street to their show. He noticed when people sang on his PATENTED “Gotta Get Out” chant, the Random’s PICKED UP ON IT QUICKLY! 

The band had another trick ho their short sleeves, BRAND NEW SHORT SLEEVE T SHRIST THAT IS! The band pulled in a HEFTY PROFIT from the show. New Freelance T-SHIRTS made their debut and sold as quickly as an ORTLEIBS HOT DOG.  The band was feeding off THE ENERGY of the PREVIOUS TWO ACTS. Absorbing it like HEAT is absorbed in SWEATPANTS. the band played arguably their best show that night. FROM JUSTIN pounding his drums to SEAN POUNDING A BEER MID SET, it was put the O in “OH MY GOD, THEY HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL GOING FOR THEM”. The setlist ended with the traditional “HIGH ON A PLANE” . What wasn’t traditional was the love secondary BAND MASCOT UNCLE GARY would GET FROM THE CROWD.

Absent during THE LAST SHOW, UNCLE GARY the man behind the BURP HEARD ROUND THE WORLD WON OVER HEARTS AND MINDS OF FANS EVERYWHERE. WHO is this mysterious burper? Why does he only get referred to as UNCLE GARY? Does he have a job or just materialize when the band plays? These questions were not answered. KEEPING THE MYSTERY ALIVE. During a riotous “Whatever”, SEAN shouted out the man called UNCLE GARY. UNCLE GARY even got prompted by fans to take his shirt off in the name of ROCK AND ROLL! 

The band played so well that they were OFFERED A FEW SPOTS BACK AT ORTLEIBS!  The band and UNCLE GARY are soon on the fast track to become Philadelphia ROCK ICONS! When will their next show be? Will UNCLE GARY let the fame go to his head? I KNOW, YOU DON’T, the answer to all of life’s important questions!

Special shoutout: LAZER SHARK, EXCELERATE, ORTLEIBS, Tshirts, HOT DOGS, UNCLE GARY?

it’s only fitting that after 2 years of playing DIVE BARS and BACKYARD PARTIES that the bands THIRD CHAPTER KICKS OFF IN THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE. That’s what every venue, FAN INTERACTION, PARTY HOST and BAND WE’VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF PLAYING WITH HAS SHOWN US! It is because of this LOVE that the band is able to keep GOING AND GROWING, with our efforts of GRINDING PRACTICES and NETWORKING allowed us to play our first PHILLY GIG, ORTLEIBS!

The HOT DOG BAR WITH THE WET BEER welcomed US, ROBBY ROOSTER AND QUIET TIME TO THEIR ESTABLISHMENT! Despite QUIET TIMES NAME, the night was anything BUT! ALL BANDS SOUNDED THE BEST I’VE HEARD THEM. Aside from warm dogs, ORTLEIBS IS KNOWN FOR ITS SUPERIOR SOUND MIXING AND let me tell you, IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT! You could HEAR SEAN’’S hair flap with EVERY HEADBANG! THE SUPERIOR AUDIO MIX EVEN CAPTURED THE DRIPS OF JUSTINS’ SWEAT CLOMPING DOWN ON HIS KIT WITH EACH MASTODON LIKE STOMP OF A BEAT. The crackling you hear isn’t static. ITS THE ICE IN AJ’s veins as he nails each solo PLAYED WITH COOL, CALM PRECISION.

Also, AJ’s back! After two shows, the boy RETURNED AND ALL WAS BALANCED IN THE FREELANCE SWEATPANTS UNIVERSE AGAIN. The band playing through “ NEW MATERIAL” “HOLD ON” “MASTER OF DISGUISE” and more never sounded so good when all 4 BOYS WERE MAKING NOISE TOGETHER AGAIN.

The band sounded tighter than ever on “COUCH”. Oh yeah, that night also brought about a MONUMENTAL OCCASION, our third single “COUCH”slow burn JAM WITH VOCALS FROM DOM, that gets GROOVY, making the LISTENER want to do ANYTHING BUT FALL ASLEEP ON THE COUCH. Tight drumming from the human metronome that is JUSTIN keeps the band in line while SEAN delivers STADIUM ROCK ROCK READY backing vocals with DOM. AJ and Dom help bring RIFFS SO FUNKY that Parliaments GEORGE CLINTON should call them up FOR A JAM. The track is a continuation of their PUNK ROOTS and won’t be the last RELEASED BY THE BOYS WITH NOISE. COUCH IS OUT NOW on all Streaming services! WARNING, TRACK MAY CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOUNGING AND ROCKING, EXCESSIVE ROCKALOUNGING? A combination of ROCKING AND LOUNGING? This may be a new genre the band INVENTED.

There are so many things I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE ! I know, YOU DON’T, WHAT COMES NEXT. All I can say is that the band is again playing ORTLEIBS on SEPTEMBER 6th with LAZER SHARK. So many cool shows and things coming within the THIRD CHAPTER of the BOYS WITH NOISE CAREER!

Have you ever heard of THE SPELL OF THE SWEATPANTS? It’s this thing that happens WHEN AUDIENCES COME TO SEE THE SWEATS and start SWAYING TO THE MUSIC. I’m sure you have observed this unique phenomenon, IT OCCURS AT EVERY SHOW WE PLAY. Two weeks ago, (LATE, I KNOW, BUT WORTH THE READ) the band had an IMPOSSIBLE TASK AHEAD OF THEM. Play two shows in TWO SEPARATE STATES, WITH TWO UNIQUE SETS for TWO UNIQUE AUDIENCES. Take that TOOL. The band did TAKE IT ON THE ROAD. The first stop, our old WATERING HOLE, THE FIRE, where they BROUGHT THE FIRE TO IT’S KNEES.

The only downside to these gigs was the lack of AJ on guitar. He was out due to WORK (ISN’T THAT WHY PUNK ROCK EXISTS, TO RALLY AGAINST THE “MAN”?). We missed our GOOD TIME BOY, OUR ROTTEN SOLDIER. Next time, AJ, NEXT TIME. You will rock with us again.

Even WITHOUT THE MAN WHO COULD ROCK WEARING SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT, the band was HOT IN THE SHADE. Kicking things off with the FIRE, the little venue was our first (of MANY) Philadelphia area venues we are playing this year. Using our pull from our previous TWO DAWSON STREET PUB SHOWS, The Fire reached out to us, offering a FRIDAY SLOT MANY WON’T SOON FORGET.

The band brought the HEAT, BRINGING OUT CERTIFIED BANGER “HOLD ON”. The bands song put the audience under THE SPELL OF THE SWEATPANTS. The opening act ROBBY ROOSTER, who brought the house down before us (more on them later) were VIBING WITH US. Their fans were SWAYING TO THE GROOVES OF “COUCH”, “UPSIDE DOWN”, “STROKES” and RAISING THEIR FISTS TO “NEW MATERIAL”. During MATERIAL, DOM delivered a guitar solo that blew A HOLE IN THE SKY. Check it out, it’s on INSTAGRAM, IT TRULY IS EPIC. “HIGH ON A PLANE” closed out the set, with members of ROBBY ROOSTER rocking out in front row.

The spell was WORKING IT’S MAGIC IN THE FIRE. So much so, that the band got AN OFFER THEY CAN’T SIMPLY REFUSE even BEFORE THEY WEN’T ONSTAGE. There is something special about what THESE FOUR GUYS ARE DOING. The spell is captivating minds on SOCIAL MEDIA, WINNING OVER PUBLIC FIGURES (INCLUDING THOSE IN TOURING BANDS), and taking US HIGHER THAN EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.

Due to the private nature of LIPPIEFEST, I will keep things UNDER WRAPS. Though I will say the festival defied expectations and we can’t WAIT TO RETURN. The set for LIPPIEFEST REMAINED MOSTLY THE SAME. The SPELL of the SWEATPANTS worked once again. ALL OF THE BANDS said that we were THE BEST THERE EVER WAS ON THAT STAGE. A three-piece band brought the SWAGGER AND CHARISMA of a four-piece group. Yes, that line doesn’t make sense, SUE ME. “SPOOKY” and its complicated drum FILLS FROM JUSTIN was added to the set as well as AN EPIC BEER CHUG FROM SEAN. “WHATEVER” was on the printed setlist, but not played for the FIRST TIME SINCE THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BAND.

During BOTH SHOWS, “Blitzkrieg Bop” brought punks of all ages together to close out both nights. If “WHATEVER” ever gets retired, the band may have a new CLOSER on their hands.

Special shout out to all the bands we played with that weekend. SUNNY DAY, ROBBY ROOSTER, AGONY OF AVARICE, LIPPIE, THE LOVETAPS. It was an honor meeting and PLAYING WITH YOU ALL. AS FOR ROBBY ROOSTER, see you all at ORTLIEBS on AUGUST 20^TH one of many PHILLY GIGS TO COME!

It was the notes NOT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD. The SEAN DIRECTED VIDEO, THE VIDEO that changed the lives of FREELANCE SWEATPANTS forever. The video garnered over 100,000, views, 16.7k likes and STILL CLIMBING. To put that in perspective, that viewing audience is the same as A SOLD-OUT SHOW at BEAVER STADIUM AND LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD COMBINED. You may be thinking, WELL DEAR WRITER, that is just ONLINE NOISE. How does that translate to REAL LIFE?

It did in ways, YOU COULDN’T POSSIBLY PREDICT! During OUR SHOW, which I WILL GET TO, the MONTH OF THE SWEATPANTS HEATED UP. It was the bands BEST AND LONGEST SHOW to date, FREELANCE WAS AT THE MOST LOOSE, YET IN CONTROL THEY HAVE BEEN in a long time. The SOLD-OUT SHOW at DAWSON STREET PUB with COMET LOVEJOY, (a band as cool as ICE) (the cubes that COOL WATER), was a masterclass in HOW TO MARKET YOUR BAND!

I can say I can take credit for the AFFAIR, BUT THAT WOULD BE SOME SLEEZY BAND MANAGER TACTICS. SEAN, JUSTIN, AJ, AND DOM deserve the CREDIT FOR THE BANDS BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN TheROOT NOTE video got loud in ways PEOPLE CAN’T NORMALLY HEAR ROOT NOTES. The little video that could; engaged with AN AUDIENCE that is growing STEADFAST AND STRONG. To put in perspective, 30 SOME of you came for US on FRIDAY, THE OTHER 20 were from TIK TOK.

Those fifty packed like sardines in a can to the sweaty, cramped, and loud home we call DAWSON STREET PUB. Freelance are practically VETERANS of the scene. They played there so many times that THE BAR TENDER PAID TO SEE US. The bands set, a whopping HOUR AND THIRTY PLUS MINUTES, proved that after nearly 15 SHOWS, FREELANCE KNOW HOW TO THRILL THEIR AUDIENCE!

The show itself WAS MORE OF THE SAME. BEER, BAND, AND BRO HUMOR CONNECTED WITH A CROWD WHO HAD VENTURED FROM THE VARIOUS CORNERS OF CYBERSPACE TO SEE THEM.

The band SENSED THIS GROWING SHIFT IN THEIR AUDIENCE TOO. They reveled in every moment onstage. The band had one singular mission that night, promote THREE NEW LIVE SONGS!

Up first, “HOLD ON”, it’s powerful ACDC-ESQUE hook brought real LIVE WIRE energy from likes of SEAN, JUSTIN, DOM, AND AJ, making for an effective show OPENER.

Speaking of AJ;

KEEPING HIS JOHN ENTWISTLE sense of cool about him, AJ kept in the back, rocking his trademark SUNGLASSES. The tall man just OOZED CHARISMA. “OTHERSIDE” “KNOCKING,” and “HOLD ON” showed just what a VERSATILE RHYTHMIC AND LEAD THREAT WE HAVE. He even took duties performing backing vocals during the night for the FIRST TIME EVER. I never imagined what he’d sound like, I just never thought it would be the equivalent of HEARING THE BEATLES FOR THE FIRST TIME.

DOM ROCKED AWAY ILLNESS. He may have been functioning offstage at 50%. ONSTAGE, he kept rocking up to 112%. Not 110, that is for squares, not 113, that is an unlucky number, but a FAST, FRANTIC, PROLIFIC 112.  THAT PERCENTAGE KEPT CLIMBING WITH EACH BLISTERING solo on SONGS like “DAY IN/ DAY OUT”, “NEW MATERIAL” and “HIGH ON A PLANE”. The newly minted protopunk rocker, YES, WE NOW DABLE IN PROTOPUNK, “MASTER OF DISGUISE” caused the man BLEED FOR HIS CRAFT.

The day after the show he discovered blood on HIS GUITAR.  He had to take the guitar to the ER. Once there it was discovered the blood wasn’t the guitars, BUT HIS OWN!  HE SHRED SO POWERFULLY, HE BLED FOR ROCK AND ROLL!

ON TO SEAN, THE BASS PLAYING NEXT GEN SPIKE LEE WAS IN TOP FORM FRIDAY. He had full command over his audience. HIS VOCALS SPOT ON.  During the CROWD PLEASING SING A LONG “GOTTA GET OUT” I noted his voice has settled somewhere between JOEY RAMONE AND AXL ROSE, WHEN HE HITS HIS LOW REGISTER (A COMPARISON I know SEAN WILL LOVE). SEAN IS THE RINGMASTER TO THIS ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS THAT FOLLOWS US SHOW TO SHOW. CRACKING WISE with the audience during “SPOOKY”, HYPING THEM UP ON “COUCH”, he truly has upped his GAME EVERY SHOW AND IT IS THERE ON DISPLAY FOR US ALL TO SEE.

If there ever were A SECOND MANAGER TO FREELANCE SWEATPANTS, it would be JUSTIN. He has the groove, SWAGGER AND DRIVE of many a STICKMAN BEFORE HIM. Always ENGAGING THE CROWD with a warm smile that says, “COME SHARE AN EGG SALAD SANDWICH WITH ME AFTER THE SHOW.”  His drive onstage is incomparable, for someone who claimed he never practices, you wouldn’t be able to tell, ESPECIALLY ON THE BREAKDOWN OF “KNOCKING”, THE rhythmic SHAKEUPS IN NEW BOP “HORSE GIRL” and the MARATHON LIKE SPRINT (YES, I KNOW) of “NEW MATERIAL”.  HE HELPS HOLD DOWN THE MUSICAL FORT THAT IS FREELANCE SWEATPANTS.

It was a big night for these four men in A LOT OF WAYS. The band had on their plate, a MULTIGENERATIONAL ENDLESS BUFFETT OF FULL-ON PUNK ROCK FEAST TO SERVE. THE FANS HAD come with appetites whetted and boy, did they EAT UP EVERY TASTY LICK that FREELANCE FED THEM! The specials on FRIDAY NIGHTS MENU included WEEZER’S “SAY IT AIN’T SO”, LIT’S “MY OWN WORST ENEMY”, JIMMY EAT WORLD’S “THE MIDDLE” and MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION, Liam Lynch’s “WHATEVER”.

The main dish was over, the final course eaten, the 13-song ENTREE devoured, now for des–

A note from the editor:

Sorry, didn’t mean for that to happen, the writer of that cliched and hackneyed food-based diatribe had just been terminated mid sentence. Just kidding, just checking to see if you’re still with me.

 Now, back to the ROCK SHOW review.

The bands fans had just endured a lengthy run of hits and ah hem, new material. How can they keep this multi generation of punks together? By playing A head bashing, fist pumping, crowd pleasing sing along of course. The new punks had reached into THE THRONGS OF THE PAST to BOP. This bop, is affectionately known by fans as “THE BLITZKRIEG BOP”. It is a song written by four guys who all share the fictional last name RAMONE. Why? The Ramones felt that punk gave themselves a COMMUNITY. FREELANCE SWEATPANTS offers that same feeling of COMMUNITY THROUGH MUSIC. New fans, old fans, Tik Tok users, collectively called THE SWEATS, ENDED THE NIGHT WITH EVERYONE BOPPING ALONG IN PURE PUNK SOLIDARITY.

Special shout out to COMET LOVEJOY. For their first ever show, they brought out a mix of ODD TIME SIGNATURES and ZACH BRYAN like songs. I have a feeling it won’t be the last time we see them. That, and they gave me a hat that said day ones on it. I assume there will be a day 2 in their future.

I know, you don’t where they end up playing next, as we say, BE THERE OR BE SQUARE.

SPECIAL THANKS, RUSSELL, DAWSON STREET PUB, COMET LOVEJOY, JOE FROM LAZER SHARK! Till next time.

July is officially crowned THE MONTH OF THE SWEATPANTS! Why? I KNOW, YOU DON’T.  The band is hard at work crafting beautiful, INTENSE SONIC CYCLES, that will become KNOWN AS SONGS! Not one, not two, BUT THREE BRAND NEW SONGS! These songs not only SLOT WELL INTO THEIR SET but EVOLVE THEIR SOUND INTO BRAND NEW DIRECTIONS! Still keeping their punk rock ETHOS, the songs “HOLD ON”, “HORSE GIRL” and “MASTER OF DISGUISE” bring the band FULLY INTO PHASE 2.

WHAT DOES PHASE 2 LOOK LIKE FOR A BAND WHO HAD A SUCCESSFUL PHASE 1? Like any good sequel, the songs, especially “HORSE GIRL” get introspective with LYRICS WRITTEN BY DOM. DOMS’ LYRICS PEEL BACK THE LAYERS OF THE MUSICAL ONION that is FREELANCE SWEATPANTS. While “HOLD ON” features more ACDC inspired riffage, and one of AJS’ BEST SOLOS. It truly was a pleasure seeing AJ BRING THAT SOLO TO LIFE. It will be one to watch as he plays it from behind those DARKENED SHADES. SEAN’S vocals help bring the song to life and will be a fun one to watch him DEBUT LIVE.

“MASTER OF DISGUISE” is the one this writer is most excited for; THE SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE sounding track has already gotten the JOHN BORKOWSKI seal of approval. IF JOHNNY LIKES IT, YOU WILL TOO! The song is ripe for potential to become a LEAD SINGLE. The track features the SICKEST SOLO TO DATE by DOM and JUSTIN’S BEST DRUMMING. I truly am excited to see this one on upcoming setlists. THE BAND IS TOO. With talks of it even REPLACING SOME ICONIC SETLIST CLOSERS. The simple fact that the song will take another songs place, and none would be THE WISER, means that the song will be a “MASTER OF DISGUISE”.

SPEAKING OF LEAD SINGLES, a new single, a live staple in our shows is set to make its STREAMING debut. The MONTH OF THE SWEATPANTS continues with our SECOND SINGLE “COUCH” set to stream later this MONTH. The only hold up, FINDING A WEEKEND THAT ISN’T A WASH OUT to shoot ITS ICONIC ALBUM ART. Yes, I believe strongly that the ALBUM ART WILL BE ICONIC BEFORE I SEE IT.

What else could I see coming in a month already full of COOL THINGS? In case YOU HAVEN’T SEEN, the band is big on INSTAGRAM NOW. With the ICONIC “WHITE LIGHTER” video blowing up, the band will have more of a presence on there then EVER BEFORE! THE BAND EVEN crafts whole meetings around how BEST TO ENTERTAIN YOU while NOT PLAYING LIVE!

SPEAKING OF PLAYING LIVE, it wouldn’t be a new month without NEW GIGS! Starting JULY 18^TH, FREELANCE SWEATPANTS kick things off at DAWSON STREET PUB.  The band will be HEADLINING, PLAYING FROM 10 to as CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT AS POSSIBLE. Our soon to be new friends in ROCK, COMET LOVEJOY will be extending the love with an opening set going from 8-1O.

LATER, the band is expected to PLAY VINELAND NEW JERSEY. Our first ever HOUSE PARTY INVITE. Remember that article I wrote about the METALHEADS?  Our friends in DETAINED offered us a slot playing at THEIR HOUSE. There will be enough surprises in store for that gig to make this HOUSE PARTY LOOK LIKE HOUSE PARTY 2.

The month of the SWEATPANTS IS HERE! It will be fun, FUNNY, AND LOUD. Louder then the CYMBAL CRASH ON THE B-52’S SONG “ROAM” The noise these BOYS WILL MAKE will send ripple effects throughout the music world catapulting us to NEW HIGHS.

So come on down and JOIN US at DAWSON STREET PUB ON JULY 18^TH with COMET LOVEJOY! JOIN US AGAIN ON JULY 26^TH for DETAINED’S HOUSE PARTY.

This truly will be the MONTH OF THE SWEATPANTS!

UPCOMING SHOWS

FRIDAY, JULY 18^TH– DAWSON STREET PUB

SATURDAY, JULY 26^TH HOUSE PARTY SHOW

THE BAND GETS A HIGH SCORE AT GAME TIME SPORTS BAR

Say what you will about the metal community, the dark clothes, the piercings, the double blast beats, they’re intimidating. THAT WAS THE THOUGHT going into SATURDAY’S SHOW. The drive to JERSEY was intimidating, WILL PEOPLE SHOW UP AT ALL to a show that as one put it, NOT THEIR SCENE ?Intimidating! THOSE FEARS WERE QUELLED the second we meet FRANK of I SWEAR 2 GOTH. He couldn’t have been nicer, and the other members of his band and all OTHERS ON THE BILL were WARM AND INVITING.  That said, the band HAD A MISSION, BE LOUDER THAN THE BANDS AFTER YOU! LOUDER, NO, BECAUSE SOUND ISSUES PLAGUED THE SHOW, BUT THAT IS EXPECTED AS WE ARE THE OPENER.  In terms of performance, this was ONE OF THEIR BEST!

The band truly proved they COULD PLAY ANYWHERE AND WITH ANYONE. They may not HAVE BEEN THE LOUDEST, but they PLAYED WITH THE INTENSITY OF A BAND WHO WANTED TO BE ON THAT BILL!

PRIOR TO THE SHOW, questions were raised. What would it be like to be the only band on a bill without a HI HAT and a DOUBLE KICK PEDAL? What would it like to be the only band that didn’t TUNE TO DROP D? Turns out these questions were simply that, and the answers provided came in the FORM OF THEIR BEST SHOW TO DATE!

Kicking things off with the always reliable OPENER “DAY IN/DAY OUT” you could see from the metal crowd; they weren’t FULLY WON OVER. Once DOM launched into his solo, he lit up the CROWD LIKE FIREWORKS ON THE FOURTH OF JULY! The crowd pleasing never stopped when “HIT THE ROAD” debut. Looking at the audience, they were doing something I have never seen before, THEY WERE GROOVING AND SWAYING TO THE MUSIC. Not just one song, but throughout the ALL GAS NO BREAKS HARD ROCK FILLED SET.

“COUCH” may have lost the metal crowd for a minute( THEY WEREN’T YET READY FOR THE SONG, though when they look back at this show in several years when it’s a NUMBER 1 HIT, they wish they HADN’T SLEPT ON IT!) FREELANCE even got heckled a bit! FEAR NOT, FOR a quick BARB TRADE from SEAN with an audience member brought them back into their orbit. IF THERE IS EVER A DOUBT ABOUT YOUR PLACE ON A BILL ON STAGE, JOKE YOUR WAY OUT. It warms them up to you, and they get to see that PEOPLE IN BANDS ARE JUST THAT, PEOPLE. A theme that would resonate throughout the night.

The extended jam on “STROKES” brought them back in, and made me realize, maybe, just maybe SEAN was on to something when he said “THEY MGHT JUST BE GOOD”. Who needs a double kick when you have JUSTINS HAMMER HANDS laying down the jams during that song. He even got compliments afterwards from one of the drummers. Wondering how he made all that sound with ONE KICK PEDAL.

“GOTTA GET OUT” proved to be AJS’ showcase. Proving to the crowd that the quiet, reserved BLUESMAN has some METAL CRED. Metal after all has its roots in the blues, CREAM being an early example with AJ letting loose his inner CLAPTON on a TOUR DE FORCE SOLO.

UNFORTUNATELY, or fortunately, if you know ANYTHING about GLENN DANZIG the human being, IT PROBABLY WAS FOR THE BEST “Mother” was cut from the setlist. MORE ROOM FOR THE BAND TO PLAY. Play they did! They don’t need to be associated WITH THAT RIFF RAFF.

SEAN took to the stage announcing the next song, “NEW MATERIAL” a STREAMING HIT WITH 54 STREAMS OVER THE JERSEY STATE LINE, is next. He joked that it was released on every metalheads favorite website ,“NAPSTER”. The only thing pirated that night was any potential for booing or rejection from the crowd. BY THAT POINT THEY WERE LOCKED IN! Fully engaged with the band and SEAN EVEN GOT TO JUMP UP ON THE STAGE BLOCK to show his rock star status.

Despite being high up on the block, you never want to come down. THE SET WINDED DOWN with “HIGH ON A PLANE”.  A four-alarm fire, all hands-on deck BRING THE HOUSE DOWN SHOWCASE. The band played like they could belong on any bill, after playing with ALTERNATIVE ARTISTS, ACOUSTIC PERFORMERS, AND NOW METALHEADS, THEY TRULY EARNED THE NAME FREELANCE SWEATPANTS!

The main part of the show ended in an ICONIC STAGE DIVE FROM THE BLOCK FROM DOM. The crowd was fully into it! Once the final notes of the jam, with SLIGHTLY ALTERED LYRICS BY DOM ended, it was over. “YEAH WHATEVER”. THE band played their iconic cover, which a lot of people in the audience GOT WAS A COVER. NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE IT. Maybe we do have a future opening for more metal bands?

I KNOW YOU DON’T, WHICH GENRE FREELANCE SWEATPANTS PLAY FOR NEXT.

SPECIAL THANKS GAME TIME SPORTS BAR, I SWEAR 2 GOTH, WITH SCARS LIKE ARMOR, AND DETAINED! LET’S RUN IT BACK SOMETIME!

SETLIST

DAY IN/ DAY OUT

HIT THE ROAD

COUCH!

STROKES!

GOTTA GET OUT

NEW MATERIAL

HIGH ON A PLANE

WHATEVER!

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW! Know what? KNOW what hard hitting life lessons went into creating A NEW FREELANCE SWEATPANTS SINGLE.

The single featuring DOM SPIER (LEAD GUITAR/ VOCALS), SEAN SACCHETTI (BASS/ VOCALS), AJ DECECCO (RYTHYM GUITAR) and JUSTIN NEWMAN (DRUMS) hits hard right off the bat with a riff that would make even ANGUS and MALCOM YOUNG BOW TO THEM. The production, COURTESY OF DOM SPIER is crisp and clean. IT ALLOWS FOR EVERY BAND MEMBER TO HAVE BREATHING ROOM AND A LITTLE WALKING AROUND MONEY TO STRUT THEIR STUFF.

 The drums provided by JUSTIN NEWMAN are PULSE POUNDING, THUNDEROUS beats, laying down the foundation, allowing for the creation of the musical HOUSE THAT IS THIS SONG.

AJ DECECCO’S guitar riff sounds like hammers pounding in some RUSTY NAILS into THIS MUSICAL. ABODE.  BASS AND BACKING VOCALS BY SEAN SACCHETTI HOLD THE FORT DOWN. DOM’S SOLO is lean and mean, WITH FINGERS RUNNING AS IF THE DEVIL HIMSELF IS CHASING HIM.

This song is so good. So good in fact it was LEAKED TWO DAYS EARLY TO APPLE MUSIC. Accidental or intentional? Maybe we were fans of THIS IS SPINAL TAP wanted our own SPINAL TAP MOMENT, SO WE MANUFACTURED ONE. Or perhaps we were leaning into an ironic PR STUNT. The songs lyrics are “MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR GONNA DO BEFORE YOU DO IT” after all. Maybe this writer leaked it, to GENERATE HYPE AROUND THE SINGLE.  Or maybe, the early release was the friends and fans this band MADE ALONG THE WAY.

No matter how the track got out, we are FREELANCE SWEATPANTS, not SOME LAME CORPORATE GREEN TEA SIPPING BAND CALLED BEACH JEANS (band name by JOHN BORKOWSKI™). This band does not conform to traditional release dates!

The band had the following to say about the single:

“THIS SINGLE CUTS DEEP, LIKE BRAD WELDING A SAMURAI SWORD WHILE WEARING A COWBOY HAT DEEP”- SEAN SACCHETTI

“BAZONKA”- DOME SPIER.

AJ DIDN’T say anything, HE JUST NODDED SYLY AND SMILED. THE BAND HAS NEW MUSIC. ALL IS COMING UP FREELANCE SWEATPANTS IN THE WORLD.

JUSTIN NEWMAN COULDN’T COMMENT AS HE WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE ER. OVERDOSING ON LISTENING TO THE SINGLE A WHOPPING 270 TIMES IN A CALENDAR DAY.

“THE SONG IS THE FOOD”-BRAD, probably.

THIS NEW SINGLE IS AN EPIC LEAD IN FOR ALL THE KILLER NEW SONGS RECORDED AND MORE TO COME!

HOW CAN YOU CATCH THIS NEW MASTERPIECE LIVE? The band will be playing it live this SATURDAY at 8 IN WESTVILLE, NEW JERSEY with I SWEAR 2 GOTH, DETAINED AND SCARS LIKE ARMOR.

FREELANCE SWEATPANTS: NEW MATERIAL out on streamers NOW! (TECHNICALLY RELEASED WEDNESDAY)

CAN I TURN OFF CAPS LOCK? I know, you don’t if I EVER WILL.

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW! Know what? The SUMMER OF THE SWEATPANTS IS UPON US! That’s right folks, new songs, NEW VENUES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, “NEW MATERIAL”. Cover artist extraordinaire RYAN NEWMAN recently shared the final piece of the MUSICAL RELEASE PUZZLE, “NEW MATERIALS” COVER ART! It’s a WORK OF ART so good THOMAS CROWNE WOULD WANT TO STEAL IT FOR HIMSELF.

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, know what? THAT WHEN THE NEW SINGLE DROPS, we need a new VENUE. Taking the stage this MAY 31^ST, THE BAND is CURRENTLY set to play in NEW JERSEY yet again with METAL BANDS, DETAINED, SCARS LIKE ARMOUR and RETURN 2 GOTH. It will be a night of BULLETS FLYING, PEOPLE DYING MADNESS SURROUNDING, ALL HELL BREAKIN’ LOOSE. Can this writer legally use that METALLICA lyric in his blog? I HAVE NO REMORSE and NO REGRETS ABOUT PUTTING IT IN.

FOR THOSE CASUAL FANS, it should be a UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. WE THANK ALL BANDS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY! After that the band takes JUNE OFF (MAYBE???) to refresh, recharge, and RE-STRATEGIZE. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, know what? COME JULY 18^TH, the band returns to DAWSON STREET PUB. The opening act is UNKNOWN but if the LAST SHOW is any indication, it’s GOING TO BE A GREAT AND CROWDED TIME PLAYING ON OUR HOME TURF.

NEXT UP, NEW SONGS! Yes, the band is hard at work on brand new tracks such as the SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE influenced “MASTER OF DISGUISE”. A personal favorite and could be the NEXT BIG HIT FOR THIS BAND LIVE.  The influences continued to show in a NEW TAKE on an ACDC inspired song currently titled “ACDC SONG”. The band took us back to the 70’s with a DOORS/ LED ZEPPELIN INSPIRED TRACK “HOLD ON”.

As cool and collected as these songs were, both rehearsal nights were not without their FUN MOMENTS. INFLUENCE JOHN BORKOWSKI arrived with other influence, BEER, in hand. The band also participated in INSTAGRAM PHOTOS. SOME OF WHICH INVOLVED HOLDING A SAMURAI SWORD. Why, because FREELANCE’S MUSIC CUTS DEEP.

SPEAKING OF PAYING HOMAGE, the band is hard at work on a COVER SONG BY A FAMOUS NEW JERSEY RESIDENT. NO, NOT BRUCE, NOT BON JOVI, I KNOW, YOU DON’T, WHICH ONE.

See you all for a HEAVY AS HECK GOOD TIME AT GAMETIME SPORTS BAR IN WESTVILLE, NEW JERSEY, SATURDAY May 31^st with DETAINED, RETURN 2 GOTH, AND SCARS LIKE ARMOR.

ALSO, belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOME SPIER( his name SPELLED LEGALLY AND CORRECTLY) WE HOPE that WHITE LIGHTER will bring THE SPIRITS OF ROCK AND ROLL ANCESTORS WITH US TO OUR SHOWS AND BRING INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES OUT OF YOU THIS SUMMER!

AND ONCE AGAIN, “NEW MATERIAL” shall RELEASE NEXT WEEK! DATE TBD!