“The Hardrock Haven Band of the Month is a band we firmly believe needs to be heard. Each month, one Hardrock Haven staff member has their opportunity to pick a band they feel is going to break soon; a band that is deserved of nationwide attention; and lastly, a band that just kicks ass.” … Derric Miller.

Hardrock Haven is proud to bring you our seventh installment for our new section — Band of the Month — and this time around we journey to North America and meet up with Connecticut's Secret Smile.

As the 1980s became little more than a colossal hangover and faded into the 1990s, the Seattle grunge scene began its attack on the radios and concert halls of the world. Without warning, it seemed that the days of soaring harmonic filled tracks would never return. Slowly but surely, the melodic rock scene is starting to once again resurface. While we have had to watch our music take a few detours to find its way back onto “melodic rock lane,” artists like this choice for Band of the Month make it good to hear rock back on the straight and narrow.

When choosing a selection for “B.O.T.M,” it is a group the staff member feels, “will break soon, deserving of nationwide attention, and lastly just kicks ass.” Several bands came to mind and all deserving of such attention. Derdian, Kill The Alarm, 4Order and Last Autumn’s Dream were close contenders. To pick one single band to showcase is not easy. Furthermore, this month’s choice would have to have an ability to connect with their audience and when it came right down to it does this band remember that there is an army of us who still aren’t willing to call melodic rock a genre of the past. And by God, here is a band that lets us know that our melodic rock is alive and well – from Connecticut, Secret Smile. A listen to their latest release, Hurry Up And Wait, brings back to mind the energy of 1980s rockers White Lion, Danger Danger and Dokken. Huge guitar and keyboard hooks and riffs, sweeping vocals, solid bass guitar work and pounding drums make for a CD chock full of infectious, well crafted tracks.

Vocalist TJ Gabriele has a natural voice, unstrained and with him comes a vocal presence that never becomes overbearing. He draws energy from his bandmates, which in turn gives each track a powerful, melodic twist. Guitarist Kenny Barberio has taken those styles which he has drawn from his influences Eddie Van Halen, Mike Schenker and Ace Frehley and along with fellow guitarist Scott Wilson do they make for a strong twin guitar team. Particularly pleasing about this guitar duo is they do play well together, each complimenting the other, and each allowing the other the spotlight. Bobby Ventresca (with his signature Secret Smile watch cap) and bassist Todd Wilson both give a perfect backdrop of hot bass licks and pounding drums.

Perhaps known only to a loyal fan base this quintet takes their music quite seriously. When asked about a follow up to the extraordinary Hurry Up And Wait CD, a recent email from guitarist Kenny Barberios stated, “….Since we want to get this one right, we are REALLY taking our time with it….” Taking this amount of time may not make sense to some, but this commitment to quality sends a mountain sized message to their fans. Each of their releases, 1994’s Anatomy, 2003’s The Road Less Traveled, and their superb 2005, Hurry Up And Wait, is just kick ass melodic rock at its best. Tracks, “Runaway,” “With All My Heart,” “Feels Like Forever,” and the phenomenal hard rocking, albeit heartbreaking track, “Tears In The Sky,” from the aforementioned Hurry Up And Wait, are absolute standouts. (When hearing Bobby Ventresca pounding out the rhythm to “Tears In The Sky,” try listening to this track and NOT reach for the volume knob …) From this same CD comes Secret Smile’s excellent cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way.” Secret Smile continues to improve with each stellar release, each sounding better than the one before.

A look at the early life of Secret Smile reveals one filled with rejection from studios and labels alike. Starting as a covers band in 1986 but quickly growing tired of this, founding members, Kenny Barberio and TJ Gabriele in 1989 made the decision to write original material, and in 1994 their debut CD was released. A short time later they were introduced to Jeff Cannata of Arc Angel and producer Richard Oliver who had worked with the Rolling Stones, Orleans, Ace Frehley and a partnership was formed. Finally in 2003 Secret Smile was signed by Metal Mayhem Records. Fast forward to present day and Secret Smile is filling clubs and venues throughout the east coast consistently delivering one high energy show after another, many times appearing with Danger Danger, Kix, Starship, Sweet, Foreigner, White Lion and a host of others.

With a lineup securely in place, Secret Smile’s TJ Gabriele (vocals) Ken Barberio (lead guitars, keyboards,) Scott Wilson (guitars) Todd Wilson (bass) and the big man Bob Ventresca on drums, grunge and changing musical styles be damned, Secret Smile carries on the tradition of melodic rock as if it was still the1980s. And thank God for that, for we have no intention of letting it go anytime soon …

"The band and I are extremely honored to have been chosen by Hardrockhaven.net as the "Band of the Month for September,” said Kenny Barbiero. “We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication that goes into maintaining the site, and are very happy to be a part of it. Special thanks to Franco Wissa for being such a huge fan!”

http://www.secretsmile.net/