Meet Star33

Teehee...I hid my own sort of "Easter Egg" on this page with a cool sketch I've admired from one of Star33's suggested 2007 t-shirt designs. If you find the picture and click on it, my Easter Egg takes you to a music player I set up with a song the band sang about the break up of a relationship. No, no, no...it's not a depressing song...in fact, it's kind of fun - in the likes of Green Day, The Cure, and the Offspring. At least that's who their music reminds me of.

Star33 is a local punk rock/alternative rock band from Virginia that I've watched a few times. My sister, Veronica, introduced their music to me in 2006 and I thought they put on a helluva a great show every time I've watched them play. Dave Smith, the lead singer, just never seems to run out of energy onstage.


That's me and Dave Smith, Star33's lead singer/lead guitarist, in February 2008.

Here are some (older) videos of Star33 performing live. These were filmed by Veronica using her Sony Cybershot digital camera.

Ghost of a Girlfriend Past (live at the NorVA)

Concrete Ballerina (live at Ice)

It's Not Stalking If I Still Say I Love You (live at the NorVA)

As of this posting, Star33 is still working on a new CD. They have a couple of live shows scheduled here and there to keep fans happy while they wait for new music. For their latest show schedule, please visit the Official Star33 Myspace Page. The lead singer, Dave Smith, also performs with Martha Dumptruck, which plays more of the music you'll wanna hear in a western bar (or so I've been told...I haven't gotten to see Martha Dumptruck play live yet). Anyway, it's really all about having fun...and that's what playing music is all about.

Virginia Beach's Conflict of Interest

I've watched a good number of really talented local bands perform live in the Hampton Roads and Richmond, VA area but there is one I have not been able to see. And just my darn luck, they're not doing any shows anymore! The band is Conflict of Interest.


They even got to perform at a NorVa for a show that national recording artist, DevilDriver (whom I wrote about a couple of posts ago) played. (Unfortunately I didn't get to go to that show. It must've happened during one of those time warps I go through whenever I indulge in reading a really good book - lol!) Anyway, you can learn more about DevilDriver on the RoadRunner Records website.

And if you can, check out the Conflict of Interest song player I made. Just click on this picture below of "GrogDawg", COI's lead singer. He has an awesome singing voice!!! Trust me...you'll wonder why these guys aren't already national recording artists.

(Big sigh!) I'm just sitting here listening to my music player with songs I like from Conflict of Interest. In the back of my mind, I'm thinking it sure would be a nice relief if I could see them perform live once my miserable springtime allergies finally go away! (Achoo!!!)


Photo Courtesy of Conflict of Interest Virginia Fan Club

White Knuckle Battery

Gil's Bar and Grill in Virginia Beach was rocking on Friday night, April the 10th. There were four bands playing, including my favorite local boys - Vanquish. Other bands included a progressive metal band, Scarz Within and a southern rock band, Steelshot. The headlining act was a band called White Knuckle Battery whom I got to see for the first time...and they were awesome! No wonder they're a very talked about band in Virginia. Every member of the band carried along a very high spirit of energy, especially their lead vocalist, Joey Mauceri (that's a picture I took of him on the left).

So I don't plagiarize a biography anyone else has written about this rising band, you can visit White Knuckle Battery's myspace page to learn more about them:

White Knuckle Battery Official Myspace

There's also a very cool article about them published in the March/April 2009 issue of Tool & Die Magazine. Here's a link below:

Tool & Die Magazine - Interview with White Knuckle Battery


Photo collage courtesy of Berserkerradio


By the way, here's a picture of me with Ed Savoy, White Knuckle Battery's very talented guitarist. If you think Eddie Van Halen rules the strings, you should check out Ed Savoy - he can really make those strings scream! On the right of this picture is Anita Ibanez, Scarz Within's hot female lead singer.


Have a rockin' week ahead, everyone! Support local music!!!