Cinema Star
Cinema Star is two brothers, left to their own devices to continue a dream.
Cinema Star: Bio/Info
In the Beginning...
Cinema Star has existed in the NJ music scene since 1999. The band's vision has always been that the music itself was the most important: without good songs, a band is nothing. Early Cinema Star consisted of Ken Heim (Guitar, Vocals), Keith Shapiro (Bass), and John Crocco (Drums).
The band started out playing many bars and clubs in the New Brunswick college and shore areas of New Jersey. After the recording of their first demo, "Gallery" in 1999, Kenny's twin brother Randy (guitar, vocals) joined the band. This added more prominent harmonies, fatter guitar sound, and more song writing resources to the band. In 2000 Cinema Star recorded and self produced their second demo entitled "Widescreen E.P." One of the songs on the disc, "Clone", won a runner-up award in the 2001 John Lennon Song Writing Contest, a contest judged by many famous songwriters, performers and industry insiders. Due to a wide range of influences- (everything from Teenage Fanclub and Buffalo Tom, to New Order and Depeche Mode) Cinema Star's sound has always been rooted to catchy indie rock with an uncommon serious tone. The band's music has been branded by one reviewer as "thinking man's pop". Within this Cinema Star has always maintained a dark, artistic quality to their overall sound and image.
In 2003 the band self produced its first full-length album entitled Stay Gold.
The CD received airplay on 105.5 WDHA's "Homegrown Spotlight" and glowing reviews in some NJ music publications.
The band has shared the stage with Remy Zero and South from the UK and played countless NJ and NY venues.
Start over again
2005 - Present: In recent years the band has gone through a bit or a re-birth.
After recording new songs on their own, Kenny and Randy decided to go it alone on the stage as well. Live shows are now performed as a duo, with drums and bass (played/programmed/recorded by the brothers themselves), backing them on a sampler. This leads to a very different live sound and an overall unique experience for the audience. The band believes this is some of their best material to date and recent live shows have been a blast.
Cinema Star continues to play live and write/record new songs, consistently in search of a smart indie label.
Some places we've been
CBGB's - NYC
BROADWAY CENTRAL CAFE - South Amboy, NJ
HAMILTON ST CAFE - NJ
CONTINENTIAL - NYC
CLASH BAR - NJ
CRASH MANSION - NYC
CROSSROADS - Garwood, NJ
THE CUP - Linden, NJ
DON HILL'S - NYC
MAXWELL'S - Hoboken, NJ
THE STONE PONY - Asbury Park. NJ
THE SAINT - Asbury Park, NJ
THE BRIGHTON BAR - NJ
THE THUNDERDOME - Baltimore, MD
THE LOOP LOUNGE - Passaic, NJ
THE COURT TAVERN - New Brunswick, NJ
BLAGGARD'S PUB - NYC
ACME UNDERGROUND - NYC
THE LIGHTHOUSE - Dewey Beach, DE
NEON's - Cincinatti, OH
Recordings
2005 - "Demo Arigato" 3 song Demo
2003 - "Stay Gold" 10 song Album
2000 - "Widescreen EP"
1999 - "Gallery" 3 song Demo (Out of Print)
GEAR
KENNY:
Guitars:
Gibson SG Special
Eastwood Stormbird
Agile 2000
Amps:
Vox AD30vt-xl
Crate VFX-5112
RANDY:
Guitars:
Gibson Firebird Studio
Agile 2500 Goldtop
LTD Viper
Amps:
Crate Palomino Class A Tube