“Halfway” is the first track that listeners will get the chance to hear
on this self-titled release, and they will immediately be buffeted with
an interesting bit of country rock that is not happy with staying
within the boundaries of that genre. There are nods, both subtle and
obvious, to alternative rock and pop, making this introduction into
something that will ensure that listeners will stick around for a good
portion of this release. “Bridgette” flips the script, taking on a more
straightforward rock approach. The vocals are what listeners will focus
in on here, with Pill Hill Radio taking on both the Spin Doctors and
Oasis here. Read more...
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| God knows I've tried liking Bryan Adams and Huey Lewis but have failed
miserably. The reason? Too slick, too formulaic, too much a case of
swallowing so much of what had come before and adding too little. But
these guys, probably due to the injection of many intense punk days
influencing them, are fresh, real, and vital. Interestingly, front man
John Rafferty is an ex-NYPD cop and the bassist and drummer are
firefighters, retired and active respectively. Influenced by Dylan and
similar of-the-day antecedents, the entire sound is indeed of an older
time, cleaving closely to the streets and fields, the commons, not
penthouse suites and gala charity balls. Read more...
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Pill Hill Radio rocks out with pop-heavy hooks and a rootsy-type
sound. The group’s self-titled album is full of hearty goodness while
adding a catchy punch to their step. The band is made up of: John
Rafferty on acoustic guitar, vocals & harmonicas, Mike Giugliano on
drums, Tommy Casatelli on bass and Eric Stolze on electric guitars.
It’s worth noting that Rafferty is the sole writer of all nine songs on
the record. Read more...
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| Cops and firemen in 'Battle of the Bravest'
MUSIC - Mon, 16
After an injury in the line of duty ended John Rafferty's NYPD
career eight years ago, the 31-year-old traded his six-shooter for a
six-string. He began writing songs and showcasing his guitar and achy
tenor at local pubs. But it wasn't until the Bay Ridge, Brooklyn,
native teamed with a couple of firefighting friends from the
neighborhood - drummer Mike Giugliano, a firefighter from Engine 255 in
Flatbush, and bassist Tommy Casatelli, retired from downtown Brooklyn's
Engine 226 - that officer Rafferty found his new beat. Read More...
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The newest undiscovered music star may be among us proudly serving
New York City. Now, New York's bravest will be able to display their
musical heroics in the first installment of Battle of the Bravest, a new concert series that showcases the most talented unsigned bands in uniform.
The winning band will earn the once in a lifetime chance to be the opening act for a an A-List recording artist later this year. We'll have five of the bands perform on the show this morning.
You can catch round one of the Battle of the Bravest this Monday, March 2 at the Blender Theater at 8pm. All the proceeds will benefit the New York Firefighters Burn Center.
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| From the opening notes of Pill Hill Radio I was convinced I had been transplanted by time and place. wildysworld.blogspot.com published online August 3rd, 2008
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Brooklyn’s Pill Hill Radio, previously known as Gutenflower, formed in
2005. After a name change and a couple of years playing in Brooklyn and
Manhattan clubs, they return as Pill Hill Radio Their self-titled debut
came out in January 2008, and combines pop hooks with early punk energy
to drive memorable melodies into your brain to stay.
From the opening notes of Pill Hill Radio
I was convinced I had been transplanted by time and place. I was
suddenly back in my sophomore year in college and listening to Blue
Rodeo for the first time. From a songwriting perspective Pill Hill
Radio could have gone to the same songwriting school as Jim Cuddy &
the gang. The set opens with Halfway, which has one of the
catchier choruses I've heard in some time, lyrically (I'm a heart break
/ I'm a head case / I'm a long way from a song I wrote). Pill Hill
radio then backs into Bridgette. Read More...
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| Pill Hill Radio: As the Venues Get Bigger, They Keep Giving Back in the Community They Call Home by Brooklyn Eagle (), published online 04-17-2008 |
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By Courtney Sessa
Brooklyn Eagle
Five years ago, singer/songwriter John Rafferty (retired NYPD) and
instrumentalist Mike Giugliano (FDNY) were introduced by a mutual
friend who knew they shared something in common. “I was playing gigs
with a piano player, John Comer, who happened to know Mike,” Rafferty
explained. Together they formed a band called Gutenflower.
One night, while Rafferty was performing solo at The Kettle Black, he
was approached by co-owner Tommy Casatelli. “You look like you’re
having a lot of fun up here,” Rafferty recalls Casatelli saying.
Rafferty of course agreed and with that Casatelli began learning the
bass. Months later he approached Rafferty with hopes of joining him and
Giugliano. “I recognized a definite talent in Tommy,” Rafferty said. “I
could just see it in his hands.”
Out of this, Pill Hill Radio was born.
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BROOKLYN EAGLE
Citizen Kane: Bay Ridge Beat
by Tom Kane (tk@brooklyneagle.net), published online 02-21-2008
By Tom Kane
Kettle Black is looking good … with their new sign and new bathrooms, Kettle Black was host to the new CD release party for Pill Hill Radio (that’s John Rafferty, Tom Casatelli and Mike Giugliano) on Sunday, Feb. 17. Playing to a full house with High Tide doing the opening set, they rocked the joint as usual. They played all their new stuff, including my favorite (at the moment) Campfire Song, which reminds me of the old Lemonheads: great riffs, memorable hooks and real honest-to-goodness rock and roll.
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| Brooklyn Eagle |
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THE FIRST ANNUAL RIDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL TO BENEFIT BURN CENTER
The Brooklyn Eagle
Tom Casatelli is a retired firefighter also a co-owner of the popular Kettle Black Bar and Restaurant on 3rd Ave in Bay Ridge. Add that to being the bass player in a Rock 'n' Roll band called Pill Hill Radio and you've got one pretty busy guy. But he is not too busy, to organize a Christmas Benefit Concert benefiting the NYC Firefighters Burn Center, it's called The Ridge Music Festival.
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| Home Reporter |
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MUSIC FESTIVAL TO AID BURN VICTIMS
The Home Reporter
"There is a renaissance of live music in Bay Ridge" quoted Pill Hill Radio Bassist Tommy Casatelli who is also co-owner of The Kettle Black and co-ordinating this years Christmas Benefit titled The Ridge Music Festival. All proceeds will benefit the NYC Firefighters Burn Center. We are proud that bands like Pill Hill Radio and individuals like Tommy are ready to give back to their neighborhoods and fellow firefighters.
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