A NEW SONG and The Legend of Nightbeast by Chris Fafalios…
Nightbeast’s You’re Welcome available this TUESDAY on iTunes!
THE LEGEND OF NIGHTBEAST
I have known Nick “Nightbeast” Testa for many years. He spent many seasons packed tight with in a van with us on Punchline tours, just helping out and being the most likable guy you could imagine. Little did we know (at first) that not only could he bring us joy through his friendliness and trademark laugh, but also through his fun (and at the same time heartfelt) music.
The first Nightbeast song I ever heard was “Run Away”, and I was SHOCKED to learn what this guy who sat 1 foot away from me in the van really wanted to do to my face. I was also taken aback when I learned that his Dad was scared of birds! Needless to say, the song became an instant classic among our friends. Very soon after that, we were also exposed to “Love Panda Style”, which even today sticks out in my mind as one of the nicest love songs ever written. I’m sure that THIS DUDE would agree…
This soft and cuddly guy went on as a guitar tech on many huge tours in the years after his long run with us, and went on to release Inside Jokes for Outside Folks, which was actually produced by my bandmate Steve Soboslai. The album was fantastic, and featured many guest vocals by cool people (Max Bemis, Jon Belan, JT Woodruff, and Soboslai himself). I think I learned every lyric to the album after owning it for only a few days.
Nightbeast does have funny songs. Maybe for some people, it would be hard to put a guy with “funny” songs on the same level as artists/bands with “not funny” songs. Not for me though. See, I think ALL music is “funny” to a certain degree. I think hardcore bands that take themselves real seriously while doing dances and screaming into a microphone are “funny”. I think dudes with beards who play sentimental folk songs at coffee shops are “funny”. I think dudes that play in pop punk bands and sweat like a side of beef while playing a bass *cough cough* are “funny”. I think taking yourself too seriously is NEVER a good thing. And Nightbeast doesn’t do that. He knows who he is, and what he’s good at. He is good at writing catchy-as-heck electronic songs that will make you smile while you sing along. And if this isn’t “serious” enough for you to like or take seriously, maybe you need to reevaluate your music taste, or go back and watch The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night and see if those guys took it real seriously.
Nightbeast will be releasing his new album You’re Welcome this Tuesday on Modern Short Stories, and I couldn’t be prouder to have the honor of releasing it on our label. It’s a great album, with a few songs that I don’t have a doubt in my mind could be absolute HITS if everyone hears them. So check the album out, and if you like it, spread the word. Life should be fun, and You’re Welcome is a reminder of that.
