When you’re stuck in quarantine, you’re bound to watch your favorite movies a few times because it gives you some sense of comfort. For me, that’s Goodfellas, no matter where I catch it whether it be on a local cable channel or video platform – I always have to see it because luckily wherever I go, I’m Karen Hill and I always have to answer to “Where’s the money, Karen?!” It’s the little things in life, I guess especially when you find a band that has a similar background.
So, as far back as we can remember we always wanted to be gangsters….or rockers..or maybe both?! The Grease Guns started when Shaun Columbus formerly of the NJ based band Blackout Stereo decided to embark on his own project. Writing the bands first few tracks Shaun contacted Alex Storzillo also former member of Black Out Stereo, and long time friend Russ Montelbano to show the songs he had written and the Grease Guns were formed.
Shaun and Russ are the driving force behind the band, the two have been friends for a long time, meeting first over their love of classic cars. Russ is a custom car and builder by trade and Shaun had purchased a 1959 Chevy that was in need of much repair to be roadworthy; he contacted Russ who took the car in and got it roadworthy but the two started to realize they had more in common than just old cars and the rest was history.
The two share a mutual love of many types of roots rock and roll and blues music from Howling Wolf, Big Joe Turner to bands like Bouncing Souls, Misfits, and The Ramones. Russ and Shaun write and compose all the music as a team and because it’s a genre-bending band, they describe their sound as ‘punk n’ roll’. The band’s style origin is quite interesting as Russ’ upbringing with a father who had ties to organized crime in the Northern New Jersey area. His dad and friends were always dressed sharp, they were into late 50’s and early 60’s Cadillacs so when it came time to find a direction for the band to take visually they took note of bands they love such as The Hives and The Interrupters – they mean business.
So, after two years of writing they entered the studio with Mikhail Marinas and Brendan Smith, who they consider to be just as much of a part of the band as the rest of them. Tracking at Brady Street Recordings and Back Room Studios that went on for several months with Mikhail at the helm; Mikhail understands their artistic and creative motives which makes it easier for them to solidify their ideas and breathe life into songs.
As the video for begins, “So Long,” looks like the beginning of a Scorsese movie crossed with Tarantino vibes with a punk roll feel – can’t get any better than that. Mixed with well-dressed men, classy cars, and sick guitar riffs – it’s easy to say that The Grease Guns are a new favorite. Blending punk and classic rock, “So Long,” is cleverly catchy and the visuals help cement the band’s chemistry which is highly important. From the Goodfellas inspired kitchen walk scene to the band hanging out with friends, the video beautifully catches the band’s chemistry and friendship unfolding as well as some mischievous adventures unraveling. The video is actually part of a series that they’re going to be doing where the music videos tell a story, one will pick up where the last one left off. So Long is not only an introduction to the band but to their music as and at the end of the video the band is about to get themselves involved in some stuff they were not at all expecting
The Grease Guns’ single, “So Long,” was released on May 15th which has an interesting fact behind it – is that it was written after the entire record had been tracked, mixed and was in the mastering process. With the help of Shaun, the song was recorded and finalized along with a video inspired by the classic Goodfellas movie. The video for the song was shot By Matt Brewster and Christoph Manuel both of Brooklyn based band Sun and Flesh who are now considered family who are super talented and were given creative freedom because of their fantastic work.
