The hardest rockin’ female-dominated punk/rock quartet in north Jersey, SixToEight MathematicS makes its mark with a collection of ballsy and powerful punk rock songs and an attitude that there isn’t anything women can’t do.
Life can provide some great song writing material and these gals - and guy - aren’t shy about letting it all explode resulting into a fiery collection of high-energy rock and roll. Bold, devoted and determined, SixToEight MathematicS defines the rock formula.
Check out this review in Jersey Beat fanzine.
By Phil Rainone
Lovingly known to their fans as S.T.E.M.S. (Hey, try saying, “Six To Eight Mathematics” three times fast - now you know why they like to call them S.T.E.M.S! Oh crap, you can say it! Well, hopefully the band will do an interview soon, and we’ll get to the bottom of this “Six To Eight Mathematics” thing, along with the story of their new album.
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Before Six To Eight Mathematics blasts off into punkoramaland, and just to see if you’re paying attention, they open the album with a sort of who-done-it sound effects. First you’ll hear of a pair of high heels walking across a wooden floor, then a bottle being smashed (presumably it‘s a whiskey bottle), and a woman’s high-pitched scream - “High Heels, Whiskey (I hope the bottle was empty before they broke it)& Mayhem” - get it?! Also, Miss Heather did the cartoonish cover art, depicting the title of the album, along with an old-school amp, that has a nice retro feel to it.
So, after two paragraphs of silly stuff (hey, that’s just the way I roll), you’re probably wonderin’ how the music is? Well, let me put his way. If Lenny Lounge (promoter, DJ, and all-around-cool-guy) was still putting on his monstrously, cool-as-fuck Barrage From The Garage Shows, S.T.E.M.S. would be the unequivocal house band, hands down!!
All the songs on the album are full of color. Vividly collaborative, songs like “Love Song?” or “You Won’t Love Me” ditch the erotic pleading you’d find from bands that write for the sake of popularity in favor of romantic directness without the frills. In other words, honest love songs without the self-interest, and all the punk rage you can handle.
There are no wasted moments on this 8-song disc, just to the point stories like “I Wanna Know, or “Participate,” that are fueled by punk’s basic rage ‘n’ roll! This is prime Six To Eight Mathematics!
I got turned on to S.T.E.M.S. at one of Lazlo’s Blowupradio.com shows at Buddies Tavern in Sayreville a few months ago. They bashed out a thirty minute set that was head-turning! Hey, I even put down my thin-crust pizza to check out the band! Their live show was a white-hot salvo with human tornado energy. They were also road-testing some of their new tunes along with tried and true originals, and a cover or two for good measure.
With band members Ali McDowell on lead guitar/ vocals, Alana Quartuccio on lead vocals/guitar, Mike Random on drums/vocals, and Marybeth Kochmar on bass/screams, they play with classic rock (the good stuff), aspirations accented by razor-sharp, guitars-in-overdrive mode. The rhythm section adds the decisive time signatures that propels the songs cadence with deadly accuracy.
Any way you add it up, Six To Eight Mathematics’ new album High Heels, Whiskey & Mayhem is a brick wall of solid punk rock ’n’ roll howl from start to finish!! Listening to them live, and then their studio album, this is a band that doesn‘t play out of just self-interest, they play out of the purest of need, like it‘s in their DNA.
Check out what they are saying about this album in the United Kingdom (http://www.leicesterbangs.co.uk/apr09-19.html)
Leicester Bangs Zine
By Rob. F.
Six To Eight Mathematics - High Heels, Whiskey & Mayhem (Independent)
A North Jersey quartet, fronted by Alana Quartuccio on lead vocals and guitar, with Ali McDowell on lead guitar and backing vocals, MaryBeth Kochmar on bass and Mike Random drums. Together they crank out post-77 punk, with no shortage of hooks, but make no mistake, this isn’t the watered-down pop-punk so inexplicably popular with the kids of recent years. Quartuccio’s scintillating yelp, and the band’s beefy sound keep the resulting blast unapologetically rock. Two guitarists definitely help, but full credit to a rhythm section who keep things unfussy and rock solid. The album’s eight tracks don’t overstay their welcome and provide a smattering of heady peaks. The Husker Du harmonies on “You Won’t Love Me” - the best track here - and the choppy, ska-like, but not ska guitars, and call and response chorus of “Participate”. Thoughout, McDowell plays dynamic and crisp solos which are never overlong and always entertaining. Overall, a winning record by a band you’d happily spend a Saturday night with.
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