DMV Music

Dave Vaccaro’s new Trio who play some real sweet melodic rock on this CD. I remember him from the V Project a few moons ago. 

Cooking cover of ‘Jailhouse Rock’ on here that has a different spin on the musical arrangement and works beautifully with other lovely originals like ‘All I Want’; ‘Let Your Lovin’ Come Down’ that is rather Stonesy on the rhythm riff; the slipper stomping ‘Piece Of The Pie’ and throbbing gutsy closer ‘Til I’m Done’. 

Cracking debut – get your asses on a support tour in the UK!

9 out of 10
Review by Glenn Milligan for metalliville.co.uk


 

Neon Alley is forging ahead on the FMQB AC Chart, moving to 49 from last weeks 53. We are in good company! We need to thank a lot of people who have been there for us and helped us stay in momentum the past couple years while making the CD and in support of the band.

Thank you to Jerome Promotions, both Kate and Laura, our Engineer/co-producer Brian Charles, of Zippah Studios, Adam Ayan of Gateway Mastering, Vladimir Minuty, Director of our 2 Music Videos for That's How It Is and Only Want To Be With You and all the supportive cast and crew who did a bang up job! Thank you to our family (especially our wonderfully supportive wives) and friends and fans, who give us constant energy to keep groov'n ahead. 

Music Videos: That's How It Is

BAND: NEON ALLEY 
CD: NEON ALLEY 
Released on October 28, 2016 (DMV Music) 

Review: 
Well kiddos, in the true fashion of what I do best, I bring you yet another NEW and virtually unknown band to salivate for. There are droves of new bands and new music keeping the legacy alive older bands have created (and have been well acclaimed for already) and I for one will continue to appreciate and throw accolades at these new bands for not only paying homage to, but for keeping that rock n’ roll flame alive and burning brightly. 

That said and without further ado, I am proud to introduce to you Neon Alley. NOT “just another band out of Boston”, but a very tight and talented, power trio from Boston, Massachusetts, laying down some most excellent, in your grill, guitar driven classic rock n’ roll and delivering the goods in spades. The band, led by guitarist extraordinaire and tasty vocalist David Vaccaro, is supported proficiently by the bottom end backbone of bassist Mike McDonald and human metronome drummer Scott Marion. They have brought for our listening pleasure eight songs of solid classic fueled rock n’ roll. Any of the seven original songs and one cover could and should be on your local radio station right alongside bands like Bachman Turner Overdrive, Mountain, Dire Straights, Huey Lewis & Th News, Boston, Bad Company and even The Outfield. The Neon Alley songs are on par, if not superior to the hits from these aforementioned bands and like the hits from these bands, the sound blasting forth from Neon Alley is timeless and modern without losing the classic sensibilities that makes their tunes — well classic. 

“All I Want” is a standout track and is my personal favorite, that hearkens back to Allied Forces era Triumph, with an infectious lead riff, massive chorus and a solo that tastefully shreds over a rhythm section that is fill filled and doesn’t overshadow what a great song this is. “That’s How It Is” has a Dire Straights “Money For Nothing” vibe, while the band’s cover of the Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller penned classic “Jailhouse Rock” is kicked in the rear and presented all rocked out and is unrecognizable as the Elvis Presley hit from 1957. Next is a Hooters meets Badfinger number entitled “I Only Want To Be With You” complete with mandolins and a whistled break. “Let Your Lovin’ Come Down” is a tastefully mashed up ELO meets The Cars meets Toto rocker that you can’t help but sing along with and repeat a couple hundred times. “Piece Of The Pie” is another rocker with big guitars, drums and huge chorus that will have everyone windmilling and singing along. “Got To Rock”, as the title implies is an arena rocker paying homage to everyone’s favorite musical rock n’ roll preference and is laid down in the vibe of classic Budokan era Cheap Trick in a tag team death match paired up with George Thorogood. Rounding out this long play is “‘Til I’m Done” — another rock number with Vaccaro‘s soon to be signature vocals and guitar swagger all over it and that rounds out a very solid freshman release. 

If, like me music makes you happy, than the guitar driven, hook laden, modern classic rock sounds that Neon Alley are  proficient at and should be well known for will put a joker-esque grin on your skull and fill a nice slot in your musical collection. Here is to hearing more from Neon Alley and wishing this talented trio much praise and success in the future. 

Track List: 
01. That’s How It Is 
02. All I Want 
03. Jailhouse Rock 
04. I Only Want To Be With You 
05. Let Your Lovin Come Down 
06. Piece Of The Pie 
07. Got To Rock 
08. ‘Til I’m Done 

Band Members: 
David Vaccaro – guitar, vocals, keyboards 
Mike McDonald – bass, vocals 
Scott Marion – drums, vocals 

Production: 
Produced by David Vaccaro 
Co-produced by Brian Charles 

Band Websites: NeonAlleyBand.com and DMVmusic.com
Label Website DMVmusic.com
Facebook Facebook.com/neonalley

Reviewed by Terry Martinson for Sleaze Roxx, December 2016

Having in the past worked with respected vocalists such as Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group) and James Christian (House Of Lords), guitarist David Vaccaro steps up to the mic (and plays keyboards) with his new power trio, Neon Alley, rounded out by bassist Mike McDonald and drummer Scott Marion. This self titled effort is their debut and a whole lot of fun it is too. The band themselves describe their approach as modern classic rock, and they're not too far from the mark, although I'd suggest upbeat, good time blues rock covers it equally well. 

Unlike so many albums, Neon Alley hits the ground running, the thunderous riff and driving drums of "That's How It Is" providing the album's best sing along chorus as McDonald and Marion grind the groove for all its worth – it's a stunner! "All I Want" adds a more commercial edge, the AOR side of Sammy Hagar (although with less keyboards) a strong comparison, before a reworking of the Elvis standard "Jailhouse Rock" takes the bones of the much loved track, blueses it up considerably and then spins it around with a gleeful glint in its eye. In truth, it's simple stuff, but boy is it effective, the uptempo rock infused with some scintillating guitar solos and a bottom end that keeps everything powering along nicely. 

If there's a worry then it might just be that Neon Alley have possibly shot their bolt too early. The danger of their lights suddenly fizzling out however is allayed as the clever electric/acoustic "I Only Want To Be With You" and its accordion refrain changes tack completely. It's a wonderful shift back down through the gears, adding a classy Beatles like shimmer in its melody and mood. A blues shuffle easily catches the ear on the memorable "Let Your Lovin' Come Down", while "Piece Of The Pie" brings a 70s like push and shove to proceedings, a rumble of Status Quo meets Creedence Clearwater Revival the outcome. The neat one-two of "Got To Rock" and "'Til I'm Done" bringing an album that's short enough to immediately leave you wanting more, to an end. 

Neon Alley are as far from cutting edge as it's possible to be, an unkind ear possibly suggesting that on occasion things can almost become a little obvious. However I have to admit that from the very first time this CD hit my player I've been singing along, playing air guitar and hammering out the grooves to every song. Ground breaking they may not be, but Neon Alley are something much more exciting than that… they're damn good fun!
-(Steve Reid, Sea Of Tranquility.org)

Boston trio light their fire to color the night and rock it away. 

To know how to gracefully digress from your own template is an art, and this Massachusetts band mastered it nicely. But then, David Vaccaro has spent enough time in Tinseltown, where the singing guitarist worked with a few famous pairs of pipes, to want to strip the glamor and back down to where he once belonged. Such a natural approach may explain the sense of freedom oozing out of his new group’s riffs-to-the-fore take on “Jailhouse Rock” or the perky demand of “Piece Of The Pie” which reveals the trio’s appetite for a catchy chorus, yet there’s more strings to their glow than a simple hard ‘n’ heavy punch. 

Although simplicity is set within opener “That’s How It Is” – a buzzing slab of bluesy swagger – and mandolins drive “I Only Want To Be With You” home, the rock ‘n’ roll licks in the heart “‘Til I’m Done” and “All I Want” spice up the pieces’ AOR slant. And if the slider-kissed glam of “Let Your Lovin’ Come Down” can’t shine bright enough for nocturnal creatures to crawl out and have a stomping party, propelled by Mike McDonald’s bass and Scott Marion’s drums, the frenetic “Got To Rock” can. It’s a flickering light, though, the album’s being brief and to the point, and that’s exactly what is needed for an urban kind of excitement.
-(Let It Rock Website)

"A REALLY FUN ROCK POP ALBUM.  This is a drive in the car with your radio blaring album. Songs with great melodies, good lyrics & good vocals. There are great hooks that catch you from the very first song. It doesn’t stop there either. It continues with the rest of the album. The slowest song on the album, which, is not slow, would be track 5, “Let Your Love Come Down”. the album finishes off on an up note, just like the opening track. Bands that you may compare them to would be BON JOVI, ALICE COOPER (Early), BEATLES, or maybe even ZZ TOP. Neon Alley is a great, fun album & highly recommended. 5 out of 5 Music Guru stars on the Music Guru charts."
-(musicgururadio)


"...David carries a talent for carrying a tune, and there are plenty of those reverberating in hummable hard rock fashion. Highlights are carved out in the form of “That’s How It Is”, a catchy rock anthem and the dreamy echoes of “I Only Want to Be With You”. The cover of “Jailhouse Rock” is another favorite; a refreshing reworking of the classic..."
-(Daniel Pavlica, www.therocktologist.com)
 

"This album chock full of guitar-driven modern classic rockers kicks off in fine style with the thunderous 'That's How It Is', and backs it up with the more melodic 'All I Want', before that aforementioned cover, a rather unexpectedly ballsy 'Jailhouse Rock'. Wow, what a brilliant rendition these boys bring to the fore here, which they follow up with the drum-led 'I Only Want To Be With You'. 
-(Anne Carlini, CD Reviews, Anncarlini.com) 
 

" Neon Alley, It is loud, it is brash, it is exactly what Classic Rock should be." 
- (Simon Barrett's, Blog Talk Radio) 
 

"NEON ALLEY: A solid dose of arena rock in search of an arena, this power trio delivers the kind of classic headbang that will speak for the generation throughout the generations. For teens that go to music festivals where it’s about rocking out instead of seeing and being seen, it’s like the 80s and 90s never left. Hot stuff that raging hormones will totally understand." 
- (midwestrecord.com)