N E W - H A V E N - A D V O C A T E
MusicNotes
New Haven's local music scene.
By Kathleen Cei
Published 09/12/02

Pipe Dream "We're hoping to play on a half-pipe," wishes Intrepid Nation's Joe Benedetto, talking about the "Skate and mosh" themed Funkin-Core Skate Fest at Woodbury Ski Area on the 14th. A mix of hardcore, heavy, melodic, ska, funk and punk bands start at noon (not necessarily in that order; check www.woodburyskiarea.com for details), including Intrepid Nation, Sugarfist, Elements of Motion, Nomad, Flood, No Face Value, FLU, God the Band, No Face Value, and Faulter. Of his Nation, Benedetto says "every song is dynamic, a lot of time changes ... a lot of off-beats ... very syncopated. We've got this tune 'Moatdigging' that goes from 5/4 to 4/4 to 3/4 on the drums" and a "really spooky" one called "Driven," that "switches from 4/4 to 5/8 to 4/4." As for Sugarfist, Johnny Labieniec describes his Hartford-based 6-piece as "spastic disco groove-core."

N E W - H A V E N - A D V O C A T E
MusicNotes
New Haven's local music scene.
By Kathleen Cei
Published 09/05/02

"We sound heavy" says Joe Benedetto describing his band Intrepid Nation, playing The Star Cafe in Milford on Sept. 6 with Nomad (from the Hartford area) and New York's Camp Tangle. "I would say our tune 'Digging' is the direction we will be heading for the future." "Digging" and other weighty tracks from IN's album Disbelife, like "Moatdigger," "Fear," and "Remnants," can be dug on the band's Web site. A click on the "merch" page shows nicely designed long-sleeve T-shirts and heavy baseball hats for sale. The links page describes openers Nomad as a"hard hitting funky band! These guys are sonically lush and dynamic," and, as Benedetto adds, "on the really heavy side." There's also a guy in Nomad named "Hugh Betcha."