Greater New Haven Community Events Calendar

Maple Mars

Arriving by time machine from the psychedelic era Maple Mars landed on the Los Angeles pop scene with a multi-colored bang! Fronted by ex-Double Naught Spies singer-songwriter Rick Hromadka, their psychedelic pop/rock debut album ​“Welcome To Maple Mars” (Permanent Press Recordings) was recorded in guitarist Steve Bern’s apartment. Industry mags such as Billboard, Album Network, Mojo, Hits Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and many online publications touted the album as one of the best indie pop-rock records of that year. As their journey progressed Maple Mars recorded two more albums borrowing stylings from bands like Pink Floyd, The Who, ELO, and the Beatles. Their fourth album ​“Galaxyland” released in March of this year is currently receiving massive college/internet radio play, as well as rave reviews (“A psychedelic masterpiece” — Twirl Radio) and may be their most acclaimed album yet.

Drummer Ron Pak (Double Naught Spies), producer/guitarist Steve Berns, and bassist Jeff Legore (Twenty Cent Crush) are the travelers who, along with singer-songwriter guitarist Rick Hromadka, have taken their influences to new territories as shown in their latest video ​“Starting Over (Again)” which was directed by Mark Helfrich (Dandy Warhols). Their video ​“Transcendental Guidance”, also from ​“Galaxyland” peaked at number #27 on Neil Young’s ​“Living With War” website. The band has toured both coasts of the US, and in Europe. Maple Mars’s music has been featured in several TV shows including ER, Third Watch, Felicity, and Friday Night Lights. The band has also appeared on a variety of pop compilations from countries as diverse as Sweden, Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada, which has brought the band an international following.

Landing in Los Angles from New Haven, CT, Rick Hromadka first found a day job at Saban Entertainment penning songs for a variety of film and TV teen shows like Breaker High, Sweet Valley High, and the Power Rangers; also getting a track on the Power Rangers movie Turbo. Hromadka formed the power-trio group The Visionaries and released ​“Every Other Saturday” on Wrecking Ball Records. The band morphed into Double Naught Spies and was a fixture in LA with their heavy 70’s rock influence and melodic vocal arrangements. Their 1999 release ​“The Shoephone Conspiracy” (Cherry Boy Records) with engineer/co-producer Richard Bosworth (Dramarama, Wondermints, The Knack) brought the band major notoriety; being added to a number of college radio play lists, and was re-released in Japan on Air Mail Recordings.

Rick’s music has been used in film and television. Rick Hromadka is also a successful feature film sound designer, and has won three Emmys for sound editorial.

Shellye Valauskas Experience

Based in the New Haven area, Shellye Valauskas & Dean Falcone write meticulously crafted power pop songs, with an emphasis on ​“power.” The songs hearken back to the finer moments of the 1970’s and 1980’s and are filled with sparkling melodies powered by sharp and often jangly electric guitars; think Big Star, The Raspberries and Aimee Mann. The latest release, History of Panic, is a collection of catchy choruses, swirly guitars and melodies that instantly draw you in and satisfy on every level.

In addition to Valauskas and Falcone, the current line up of the band includes Brian Stevens (The Cavedogs) on bass, Rich Dart (The Monkees) on drums and Bruce Crowder on keys and percussion.