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This article appeared in Timothy Music Publication Volume 1 No. 3 May 1981
Rock Clone Issue By Allen E. Stone
They were, chronologically, Agnes the flood, and Haji the band. Both contained the elements of surprise, and were high water marks in the Great Northeast. Neither will ever return.
Haji emerged from the musical remains of the Playboys, Sothic Cycle, and American Standard All-Weather Band. Their roots were stepped in progressive, adventurous rock, off the beaten track of the norm. There were traces of experimentation in those early days, an indication of what was yet to come.
Haji derived it’s name from the eastern Indian word roughly meaning a “musical pilgrimage.” It was an excellent choice as this band utilized a heavy borrowing fro the mystical bands of the psychedelic era. Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, King Crimson, Genesis and other proponents of British keyboard-oriented rock were all reflected in the cover material of Haji.
Round 1975 the group began to experiment with a theatrical approach to their live stage set. Much of the Haji repertoire was non-danceable, and there was a feeling that the show music was not getting the desired audience reaction. Quite by accident, lead singer Ed Fest borrowed a genesis-type costume from Jimmy O’Houra, of Tainey’s Theatrical Supply, Scranton, and the rest became part of local rock history, as a new costumed Haji went into action.
But that chapter has suddenly ended. Haji is no more. Now, in a rapid progression events charter member Dave Jackson Has been replaced, and the band has made an interesting name change. Even more important, the boys are now being tutored by ace New York Producer Rod O’Brian, who feels that the groups ten year pilgrimage has finally reached a point of valid musical consideration, with original material as the key.
The credentials of Producer Rod O’Brian, 32, are indeed impressive. Having had a ten year association with New York City’s Record Plant, O’Brian has engineered all of the Aerosmith recordings. He has also engineered such luminaries as David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Peter Gabriel.
O’Brian has co-produced with Heartbreaker Tom Petty, a vinyl effort by rock alumnus Del (Runaway) Shannon, and has co-produced The Joe Perry Project.
TIME WARP The current Line Up of The Newz will come as no surprise to ex-Haji fans. They include, Doug Levan, 28, lead guitar; John Halko, 28, Keyboards; Larry Bachman, 30, Bass; Ed Fest, 29, lead vocals, and newly acquired drummer, Donny DeBias, 24.
The Newz appear to be approaching their
musical careers with a renewed dedication and a sense of urgency. Time,
they feel, may be running out for them, and their overall enthusiasm and
business-like attitude may indicate that it isn’t “business as usual” for
the group. For one thing, the band is dedicating an entire set of their
stage action to original compositions. Tunes such as
“There is definitely a different feel,” he said. “The Band has been stuck in a time warp for a long time, and times have changed. There’s a tighter unity to the band now.”
Haji was really super big, back in 1973-74, when all that Moody blues-Pink Floyd enigma was really happening, but now it’s the 80’s and you gotta move along somehow…”
“Dreaming Success’ is a step. Even the title depicts what we’re doing. You’re into this bar scene, and maybe in the beginning success isn’t really viewing you as a contender, and all of a sudden it starts turning your way, and you’re going for it, trying for it. That’s the whole thing behind ‘Dreaming Success,’ the lyrics, the song … We’re actually putting out the single to stir things up.”
“We’ve only been playing the originals out, as a composite set, for about two weeks, and they’ve been getting the biggest response of the night. This is really encouraging. This makes me think we’re on the right track, we must be doing something right. People come up to us and say, ‘hey we really like the change, really like the sound, it’s more rock and roll’ … People are going to be coming to see The Newz to hear our originals.”
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Some
might call it fate, or perhaps predestination, but the incredible events
that transpired in the dawn of 1972 were both sudden and unpremeditated.
Quickly
they began to make news. Haji traveled all over the east coast landing
gigs in 21 states and Canada. They flourished on the Tri-State circuit,
where a Haji concert was automatically equated to event status. Lavish
costumes, lighting, laser light show, flash pods, and dry ice effects made
them unique on the bar circuit. They were the wizards of rock. The
regional show band.
“Rock And Roll Stew,” “No No No,” “don’t Change My Life,” “ Love Child,”
and their new single, “Dreaming Success,” are being primed to net maximum
audience response. Larry Bachman, Chief songwriter of the band, reflected
upon the shape of things to come: