Corner Store Espionage

Corner Store Espionage Bio:

With the haunting familiarity of groups we all know and love (System of a Down, Pat Benatar, Evanescence, The Cars, and many others) Corner Store Espionage remains distinctly different.
From two lead female vocalists to songs that boldly change genres, Corner Store Espionage takes the rules and bends them to their breaking point.

In the fall of 2004, Joe Charles wanted to start a new band that not only moved people but also changed the boundaries of today's music. He called up an old friend and drummer, Dave Freeman, who lived in Florida at the time. Joe asked him if he would move back to New Jersey to start a new band. After hearing the elevator pitch Dave was in.

In the beginning, Joe and Dave could never find two female singers at the same time who fit the dynamic they were seeking. The vocal parts were written for two women and they went through several vocalists before finding Antonella Bilello. Not only could Antonella sing, but she had the drive and was interested in the overall vision. With another piece of the puzzle in place, they still needed another singer, another guitarist, and a bassist.

One night at a local pub, Joe and Dave ran into Milton Georges, an old high school acquaintance who played the guitar. Joe approached Milton with one simple, straight forward request: "If you want to be a rock star, call us tomorrow." He called the next day. After that first jam session, Milton was hooked on what CSE was trying to do and instantly became a dedicated part of the band.

Jaclyn Stewart soon came into the picture after Antonella heard her singing at a local karaoke bar. Antonella knew instantly that she had found their other singer and, after the rest of the band heard Jackie, they were convinced as well.

Although the ambition was there and the songs were written, the band still didn't have a name. After trying numerous methods to name the band Corner Store Espionage became the final decision. The band was almost complete.

For months though, CSE auditioned bassist after bassist trying to find the perfect fit. They put ads on websites, newspapers, and fliers searching for the right person to fill that void. They finally got lucky when they got a response from a website ad from Paul Smikovecus. Besides liking the music, he had the experience and drive to move forward.

Since their conception, CSE has established a hearty local following in the South Jersey area playing local bars and rock clubs such as The Grand Fromage, Ducktown Tavern, and 10West. They have also entered several battles of the bands and advanced to the final rounds including Jersey Show's Battle of the Bands, which allowed them to compete at The Starland Ballroom, an infamous New Jersey venue. These accomplishments were all achieved without a key member of any band- a bass player. Now that CSE is a complete unit thanks to bassist Paul Smikovecus, they look forward to playing and competing at a much higher degree of excellence. Since Paul's arrival, they have already moved on to the semi-finals Emergenza competition and have had guaranteed success at booking venues outside of South Jersy.

But besides all that, "we just wanna rock."