New Jersey old school band BreakTime are upping the ante with a new double A-side, Motor City Mama b/w Be Mine. No bonus points for guessing their main influences. Their song on a cool Detroit woman will get them plays on oldies radio stations looking for something fresh - reffing motor sounds included in the coda. The Mersey Beat-inspired love song doesn't really gel, as they skirt around the rhythm searching for a safe spot to land, which is a shame, because the vocals deserve a better backing.
June 24, 2023
January 05, 2023
BreakTime: Great Times
Getting out of the cover band circuit is hard, but New Jersey old school rock 'n' roll band BreakTime have written a couple of originals that could be sneaked into their sets at weddings and such, and been mistaken for long lost tunes from the late '50s/early '60s. Great Times is an album that is obviously recorded on a shoestring budget and the lead vocals could use a bit more oomph, but the melodies are catchy as Hell. The joy of hearing themselves play their own material for a change is almost palpable. The main theme is boy meets girl never gets old, as well as the anxiety whether it will last.
If anything the release of Great Times will give them the confidence to pursue a career that does not require them to play Superstition, Baby I Love Your Way, Sugaree, Wonderful Tonight and Rock N’ Roll All Nite for the umpteenth time to an audience that is likely to be more interested in the open bar or trying to get laid. Just placate them with the instrumental Jam Sauce as an opener of the show and smuggle in two or three more, with the rocking Catch A Ride, 425 as the penultimate song of the last set.

