12 Days of Bands You Have to Know starts with Centerlink!

So here we are again, that time of year where you not only get in the holiday spirit, shopping mode but also a time to appreciate new music! This year we are starting our 12 Days a bit early so you can make sure to pick up the music in time to give or enjoy.

Today we start one of our 12 Day Features…. 12 Days of Bands You Have to Know. Day 1 starts right now with the heavy rock trio Centerlink from Boston. We wrote about them earlier this year and you can read that post here.

To relive that moment when I first listened to Centerlink….. “I went to watch it and was BLOWN AWAY. Seriously just BLOWN AWAY. I thought I had found the lost recording of Metallica of 1985! I went back to check the message so I could see the band name only to see David’s response to them about how the singer had some Hettfield in him! Oh ya, we were on the same wavelength! It was like true old school Metallica but wrapped in a great new package.”

Since that first time, Centerlink has become one of the most often played bands in our house. Centerlink is Parky on guitars and vocals, Billy K on bass and Jon on drums. They have such great energy and adrenaline that you can’t help but be drawn to them. Check out their song, Distant Voices here:

We had the chance to get caught up with Centerlink and are pleased to bring you an interview with them here:

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Music Junkie Press: How did Centerlink get started?

In 2006 with the passing of Jon’s mom, Jon and I hooked up and started to record some music together. Jon thought it would be a great idea to bring Billy on board. So we asked him to come up and Jam. He brought several songs to the table and we started recording and writing new music.

Music Junkie Press: You guys have amazing music, every time someone listens, they only have positive feedback from David Draiman, Eddie Trunk etc. How has things been going for you guys?

They’ve been going great!!!!! Don Jamieson from That Metal show is a fan of our music, and we’ve been pushing our music to anyone that will listen and we seem to be getting the same feed back from everyone. They love it!!!!! Dj’s automatically ask us to send them our mp3’s for their radio shows and regular metalheads seem to like the oldschool metal vibe we are trying to bring back.

Music Junkie Press: What are you guys currently working on or any upcoming shows you can tell us about?

As of right now, Centerlink has one last show on Dec 6th at the South shore Music Hall in Quincy Massachusetts and after that we will be heading into hibernation for the winter to write and record our next upcoming album. So far we have about 5 songs already written and we will be looking to record 10-12 songs for the next upcoming album.

Music Junkie Press: Distant Voices is a bad ass song, can you tell me a little more about that song?

Jon had started writing the lyrics for this song when his friend Chris had passed away, and after the passing of his mom I took the lyrics and finished them and actually recorded them to a demo of different music. One night at band practice I was upstairs eating dinner and Billy and Jon had started jamming and there was a riff that caught my attention. When I came down to the jam room I started jamming it with them and then we came up with the arrangement for the song added a riff here and there, grabbed the lyrics and boom… In 30 min we had completed the song.

Music Junkie Press: If you could take a song from any other genre and turn it into a Centerlink style, what would it be?

Well we already jam some cover tunes and metalized them. We play paperback writer by the Beatles (Centerlink style), We play fortunate son by Creedance, Ear ache my eye by Cheech and Chong, L.A. woman by the Doors and Breed by Nirvana. There are other cover tunes we like to play but they are already metal tunes so they sound similar, like Metallica and Judas Priest tunes.

Music Junkie Press: What are your plans for 2014?

Record a new album and spread our music as far out as we can, one fan at a time…….

Music Junkie Press: How about some Holiday questions, What is the oddest gift you have ever received?

Speaking on behalf of the band, we can’t say that we have really received any odd or crazy gifts for the holidays. Our families are pretty normal.

Jon however likes to give the gag gift… Like say a sweater that is 2 sizes too small… but he makes it up after the laughs are over.

Music Junkie Press: What is your favorite food item from the Holidays?

Parky’s favorite food item of the holidays is Hood Eggnog.. I can drink that shit by the gallon!!!!!

Jon likes any kinds of deserts and the more the better.

Billy likes it all….the holidays are the best time for all the fixings!!!!

Music Junkie Press: Do you have a favorite holiday tradition that you still carry out to date?

I personally enjoy Christmas eve with my family. We all open 1 gift each.

Billy enjoys, Halloween and the parties that go with it.

Jon’s favorite tradition is the gag gift. Every year he has to get someone different.

Music Junkie Press: Lastly, is there anything you would like to share with our audience?

Be ready for 2014, Centerlink will have a new album of music to share and hopefully we will see you out there!!!!!!

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I am really excited to see what is in store for Centerlink in 2014. They really have become one of our most favorite bands. Everytime I play them for someone new, they are ecstatic at the discovery and are ready to rock! So for the first day of Bands You Have to Know, make sure to head over and buy the “All It Takes” album. You will be in love with them!!