Album Notes

The New Kings of Delaware - Bio
In the summer of 2002, when several musicians who had been playing as one since high school came together to rehearse for their small bout of summer shows, something new needed to happen. After jamming around for the past few years as a five-member band backing singer/songwriter Ed Chiurco, the decision was made to slim down the lineup and form a tight group.
As the summer began, guitar player George Milly and bass player Bhauraw Avhad were practicing with Chiurco in an unusual form: one afternoon Avhad had taken to the drum set in the small basement band room, while Milly took over Avhad's bass rig. Working on the new material in that setting caused a lot of excitement, as the two were able play their secondary instruments and add different textures to the music than they had been able to before. The overall sound was much more bouncy, less weighed down by the baggage of six players trying to compete for an edge. It had an edge. It was time to take it on the road. To the indie scenes of New York or Philly? No, to Delaware.

By some stroke of good luck, Ed Chiurco was able to book two back-to-back shows in Delaware in mid-July. It was decided that these shows would be a good practice for the band, and allow some live rehearsals before their big NYC gig at the Knitting Factory. Friday night's coffeehouse show was to have an Ed Chiurco solo set followed by an acoustic set of the three on guitars and bass. Then the big Saturday night gig in Dover where the drum set would come out and the rock would fly.

It was all a big joke - taking the band to Delaware - we would probably get discovered by a big record company. We should make tour t-shirts with two dates on the back - Delaware 2002! Among other preparations, Chiurco forgetting his guitar at home proved to be the start of an eventful weekend. Arriving at the fist show late, the band missed the dinner crowd at the coffeehouse and played to an empty room. Patrons wishing to drink alcohol reserved seating on the front patio where drinking was allowed, and in all the band ended up impressing a few stragglers and some employees who felt sorry Newark could not offer a bigger crowd.

The next day was the fun part and remains one of the reasons why we all love being a band. Until our show in Dover that night we had the whole day to experience life on the road. We drove to Rehoboth Beach to see the ocean, the whole time thinking about how much the show the night before failed, and that the coming show would probably do the same. After all, that was Newark, and this was going to be Dover, not exactly a step in the right direction. But the mood was brightened when an array of T-shirt shops in Rehoboth led us to allot some band funds for an actual tour T-shirt. We thought of a few phrases that could be pressed, but decided on the short and sweet "DELAWARE BLOWS" across the front. A few not-so-good impressions were made in Rehoboth that day.

Later on between songs at the show that night a local at the bar yelled across to us, asking where we were from. "We're from New Jersey." I shouted to him.

Then the reply: "What the hell are you doing in Dover? Dover blows!" In a flash George Milly ran out to the van and returned with said shirt adorned. Screams from all around the room ensued - "That shirt Rocks!", "I'll buy that shirt from you!" Others affirming their faith, shouting "Delaware Blows!" It was a triumphant moment indeed, and the rest of the set went off graciously as any set of music there ever was.