STATEN ISLAND, NY-Outside a house in an otherwise deserted area, loud music can be heard coming from the basement. As I wait outside, a woman answers the door and asks what I’m here for. Confusion at first until I realize we got the right location.

If there was a band practice going on for Through The Year below, you just couldn’t tell by her manner. It was matter of fact, like a normal household. Only with a few extra members livening up the place where guitarist Kenny Klugewicz hosts this basement rock extravaganza. As we make our way down a dark, narrow staircase without killing ourself, frontman Peter King is calmly sitting at a computer as Klugewicz, lead guitarist Vinny Holden and bassist Nick Dos Santos go over how they want to play a song. Meanwhile, drummer Nick Cardona plays some random beats to keep from going insane.

Most intriguing when you walk into the small workspace is Klugewicz’ rock/comic tribute consisting of plenty of posters including favorite original punkers The Ramones along with every Joker mask from The Dark Knight. Plus some Batman figurines mixed in with four classic skateboards. Picture all that surrounding a drumset, two large amps along with a few minis plus a microphone and computer all on one side of the basement. Welcome to a Through The Year practice session complete with the usual back and forth banter you’d expect from a tight knit family.

Originally formed by King and Holden in September ’09, it took a while for the band to find the right pieces. Before they settled on Dos Santos in March along with Klugewicz and Cardona this summer, they went through three different bass players. During an intense session for a recent gig at Shakers featuring Sanitarius and Deception Theory, the group ran through “Lost But Not Forgotten,” ”Death By Riot Shield,” “Sleepless Sands,” ”Keep Your Heads Down,” “Fist Up,” and Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” before finally sitting down to talk with us.

“It’s ridiculously hard to keep a band going. It’s constant work,” King observed about the dedication it takes to stay together. “Behind what everybody sees, it’s like playing with your brothers and sisters.”

“We were a cover band and Vinny [Holden] came up with something one day while we were packing up and I really liked the sound of it and we kinda just started working. … Our first song was Lost But Never Forgotten.”

Both have played since last year before lineup changes. The best aspect is that it didn’t take long for Dos Santos, Cardona and Klugewicz to get acclimated, making for a smoother transition than expected.

“They picked up the songs pretty quickly where as in other bands, it usually takes longer cause you got to start all over,” King pointed out.

“Vinny writes most of it. He’ll get an idea off the guitar. He’ll get an idea and he runs with it and then he shoots it out to us. And then if we like it, we start running with it and we see where it can go,“ the Through The Year frontman said of the low key lead guitarist who does most of his talking on stage.

“Kinda,” on if he sees the ideas in his head Holden replied. “I basically just go with the flow and everything.”

The camaraderie over a productive summer that saw the group progress at local shows like The Cup here on Staten Island has finally allowed them to take the next step. They are recording an EP featuring four songs in Massachusetts.

“I honestly can’t wait. … We were supposed to do it over four months ago. And we finally reached the amount of money we needed to get it done,” an excited King noted of their debut targeted for November.

In the meantime, the Great Kills punkers will continue to find shows following The Cup finale at the end of August in Stapleton. A final performance for them and many other bands they got to know.

“Playing The Cup  was better because you booked your own show. You could go, ‘Let’s play a show.’ You didn’t have to worry about promoters screwing you out of money,” Klugewicz noted of the alternative rock band being its closing act. “It felt like a big responsibility. We had to finish this place good.“

“All the chemistry, it’s all an act. We don’t like any of each other,“ King said tongue in cheek to laughs. “But at The Cup, that’s why I liked it the most. Cause everyone’s helping each other. I was helping them. They were helping me. Cause we get done quicker. We all look out for each other.”

But as Dos Santos mentioned, it could eventually return thanks to someone who bought it. However, the time period remains sketchy, including whether they’ll keep the name. For mainstays King and Holden who frequented the place since last Halloween, it gave them and other bands a place to put themselves out there in front of family and friends. One thing not lost is the success Process Of Fusion has had, getting signed and releasing their first album.

“I’m always happy to see anyone that I’m friends with do well. But it definitely shows us that. For a while, I thought it would be extremely hard to get noticed on Staten Island. … When Process started heading in the right direction, it definitely gave a little bit more hope,” King observed.

“It’s like now, we definitely can’t say ‘Let’s not play Staten Island.’ We can go everywhere now. I would say I’m definitely looking forward to being where they are.”

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” added Holden.

“There is no try. You either do or you don’t,” Dos Santos quoted from Yoda in Star Wars to more jokes from Holden.

With an opportunity to reach more fans, Through The Year will be playing a New Jersey show next month in Hoboken.

“This girl’s throwing a house party. There’s going to be three or four bands there. And it’s going to be our first out of state show as we as our first acoustic show,” King stated. He also discussed how the group will be taking a break from covers, shifting the focus on fresh material.

“When we were doing all those covers- trying to learn all those covers, it takes a lot of time,” King explained. “So, it takes away from time you have to write originals. It takes us a while to do originals. Vinny comes up with the beats for the intros. Nick kinda overfloods it.”

“Flood the gates,” Dos Santos shouts to chuckles.

On what his favorite cover is which we lean towards as well, King assessed:

“The one we play the best is “Hey Jealousy. It’s kinda like our original. We play like so much. And I know Vinny played even before me and Kenny we’re in it. It’s kinda like their original. They play it so good and then I feel it.”

“I don’t have a favorite cover. I just like how we all come from different musical backgrounds and we just find what we have in common and put it down. That’s what I love,” added Klugewicz.

All things considered, the Fab Five remain very grounded about their fans and supporters.

“We have supporters and we have fans. Cause we don’t even know them and we go, ‘Who the heck are you?,‘” kidded Klugewicz.

“Hey. I knew him first. Country Donuts,” Cardona joked of our chance meeting at a donut shop on Amboy last month prior to Vinny’s Birthday Bash.

Summed up King of his drummer’s contribution:

“Congratulations. You got one person to come to a show.“

What makes them tick? Oh. Just the love and passion for music. Best of all, they get the chance to perform as they live the dream.

“The only reason why I write music is cause I can and I love music. … I want it but I need to make it. I only picture myself doing this in life. … Music is a drug. Music really is a drug. Once it’s in your system like it’s something you truly love like the five of us do, it’s something you can’t be without. Like the day after a show, our drummer’s itching to play the next show and the next one won’t be booked for even a month,” said King.

The youngest member Cardona, who’s only been playing a year put it in perspective:

“It’s all about the fans cause they spread the word. I’m going to try my best to hangout with my fans. As rich as I can be, I’m going to try to donate money. Have a decent life.“

 

THROUGH THE YEAR

Peter King: Lead vocals

Vinny Holden: Lead guitar, backup vocals

Kenny Klugewicz: guitar, backup vocals

Nick Dos Santos: bass, backup vocals

Nick Cardona: drums, percussion

BAND INSPIRATIONS

Nick Cardona: Blink 182. Foo Fighters. A Day To Remember. Any band on Staten Island, I give them props when I was playing with them. Definitely Rancid. Especially punk bands. Bullet For My Valentine. All that crap. Other than this, any music I listen to. Definitely Rancid.

Kenny Klugewicz: A lot of what he said, we have in common like Blink, Green Day or Rancid. My favorite band is The Ramones. It does consist of mostly punk but I do keep an open mind about music. I actually didn’t start listening to punk. When I started listening to rock ‘n roll, I was in the second grade. My first two bands were AC/DC and Metallica. That’s cause of watching Beavis and Butthead. That’s what introduced me to rock ‘n roll. … In middle school, I got into skateboarding which led me to punk rock music.

Vinny Holden: Definitely Protest The Hero, Blink 182, Megadeth. I like Maiden but not as one of my favorites. Bullet For My Valentine, Children Of Bodom, Angels and Airwaves.

Nick Dos Santos: My range is ginormous. Children of Bodom, Protest The Hero, The Faceless, The Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Bush, Nirvana, Megadeth, Metallica.

Peter King: Death Cab For Cutie is always a big one of mine. Blink 182, Green Day, A Day To Remember, Drive By Satelitte. Rise Against definitely.

FAVORITE CONCERTS

NC: I’ve been to one. Avenged Sevenfold concert. That was awesome. I had mad fun. The main concerts I want to be at is my own.

NDS: I would have to say Megadeth with Children Of Bodom. And Trivium at the Starland Ballroom. That was sweet.

VH: I’ve been to six. Dream Theater/Iron Maiden, Ratt, Angels and Airwaves, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Story Of The Year, Atreyu. My favorite was the Maiden and Dream Theater but I liked Dream Theater better when they played. I met David Mustaine from Megadeth (book signing). I was in the presence of a God.

PK: That’s an easy one. Senses Fail, Saves The Day and Hidden In Plain View in Brooklyn in 2004. It was freaking phenomenal.

KK: My first concert was Mest at The World and that was definitely one of my favorites cause it was the first one. September 20, 2002. And my first Warped Tour ’03 in Asbury Park. That is definitely one of my favorite concerts because I got to sing on stage with The Ataris. They were the first band that went on that I liked and for their last song, they played “San Dimas High School Football Rules.” The lead singer got on the mic and said, ‘We need people to come help us sing the song.’ So, you know. I tapped some random dude on the shoulder to help me crowd surf and I went over there, jumped up on the barricade and I got to sing. So, that was definitely it.

A Word To Describe Kenny’s Comic/Rock Shrine

NDS: Fantasmagorical.

VH: Random.

PK: Unique.

NC: Donna (sarcasm).

KK: It started when I was 14. I haven’t changed a thing since.

THEIR MESSAGE

PK: Each song, people can take away what they want. That’s one of the best things about music. Each song we have is completely different. There’s always different messages behind them. Personal messages but like everyone from listening to music takes away a different message. You and I could be listening to the same song and you could take it as something and I can take it a whole other way. … All four songs we have have different meanings and hit people in different ways.

VH: I got a message cause I love to do it. I don’t give a crap what people think cause I love to write and I like it. I mean, it’s great that other people do but it does it for me. … Everyone who plays an instrument, never ever stop because you’ll forget everything and you’re not gonna know what to do anymore. Do what you love. Never put it down.

NDS: Writing your own music with your bandmates is like taking Ecstasy.

KK: Our message is talk to us, interact. We don’t bite. And have fun. Don’t be our fan. Be our friend.

NC: I can’t agree more with Kenny.

 

Trades are part of sports. For many observers, it’s a different world compared to the one players live in. One in which they’re constantly on the move and don’t know if they’re coming or going.

Take former Staten Island Yankee Mitch Hilligoss, who in 2007 had an outstanding season with Single-A Charleston that featured a new South Atlantic record 38-game hit streak, All-Star MVP and honors while emerging in the Yankee organization. In fact, he was nearly packaged to the Twins in a deal that would’ve sent Johan Santana to the Bronx. Instead, the 25 year-old Windsor Illinois native the Yanks tabbed in 2006 sixth round slumped- struggling in Tampa to show the form that made the third baseman a hot commodity.

Eventually, Hilligoss fell out of favor in the organization and was finally traded this past winter to the Rangers for Triple-A outfielder Greg Golson. Thus far, the scenery change has sparked the former Purdue standout who finally moved up from A to Double-A. After hitting .293 with two homers, 19 RBI’s and a .352 on-base percentage in 45 games with Bakersfield of the California League, he was promoted to the Frisco Roughriders where the ex-Baby Bomber continued to display solid form before an injury sidelined him earlier this month.

At the time, Hilligoss hadn’t slowed down- hitting .304 (24-for-79) with five extra base hits (four doubles, triple), 10 RBI’s and 11 runs scored in 24 games, also posting a .391 OBP. On the mend, he took time out to discuss what it’s been like with his new organization along with life out West compared to home.

 

Hitting Back: What was your reaction to getting traded?

Mitch Hilligoss: My initial reaction was just total shock, but excitement. I was coming off the injury and really two down years. It was the farthest thing from my mind. When it sank in though, I started thinking about all of the guys I played with and really having to start over with meeting everyone from coaches, instructors, to teammates.

HB: Joining a new organization, how much did the change motivate you?

MH: A lot. I looked at it as a total positive. I assumed I would be able to come in and get a chance to prove myself for this season.

HB: You’ve had better success thus far. What do you attribute it to?

MH: Well, I’m getting consistent playing time unlike last year. But over the last two winters, I’ve made big adjustments to my swing in hopes that it will produce at higher levels.

HB: Talk about making the jump to Double-A. Any differences?

MH: It’s great. Unbelievable ballparks and there are actually fans again. Probably the biggest difference is top to bottom the pitching is better. There is better starting pitching, but definitely better bullpens. Guys run it up there at that level without a doubt.

HB: You recently had a setback. How close are you to returning?

MH: We really don’t know how serious it is. It’s one of those things that takes time and if something is needed to fix it, I’ll be ready for next year.

HB: How have your new teammates/managers helped in the transition?

MH: They have all been great. I have learned so much from all of them. This is a great organization, as are the Yankees. They both have so much talent and great staffs. I learned a lot by playing with some of the older guys in Spring training and during the season.

HB: You noted that there have been a lot of good road trips. What stands out?

MH: Well, the one that stands out is a twelve game road trip with three 4 game series, 8 hour drives in between and no off days. That was tough. I don’t care how experienced or how tough you are. That works on you. We played great, clinched the first half and started the second on a tear. So, you can’t complain about it.

HB: You played a little first last year. How did it go?

MH: First is harder than most people think, but it went well. It just makes me a better baseball player being able to play more positions with familiarity.

HB: Do you still keep in touch with former teammates?

MH: Of course. You know those guys are what make the minor leagues. I talk to a ton of guys. They are like family. We talk about good times and bad. I’m going to a couple of weddings this year and am excited to see everyone.

HB: When you see some of the success a few have had, does it serve as extra incentive?

MH: Sure. I mean you want to be at their level, no doubt. You always think you can play with anybody. And if you don’t, you are not a competitor. I’m happy for those guys, but it still drives a person.

HB: Talk about how different life is back home. More laid back?

MH: I’m from a really small town and I love it. It’s a great place to get away to in the off season. I enjoy the slow pace and no stoplights or traffic. That’s how I was raised and what I will probably always want to go back to. At the same time, I love some of the places I’ve had the advantage of playing at. The Charleston, SC and Frisco, TX. Both are beautiful and I could live there.

HB: When away from the ballpark, what do you do to clear your head?

MH: I love to hang with the guys, catch a good movie, and get my rest. It’s a grueling season and down time is important. The offseason is working on the farm, hanging out with friends and family, and deer hunting.

HB: How have the fans been?

MH: Fans are great. The last few places I’ve been have been to were tough because there is really not many. Like Bakersfield and Tampa. They are what get you going day in and day out. Even when you don’t feel your best, they give you energy.

HB: What’s in your Ipod?

MH: My Ipod is full of country. I’m big on Eric Church and have been for awhile. [Seth] Fortenberry actually introduced me to Texas country. So I’ve been listening to quite a bit of that. Bands like Randy Rogers and Eli Young.

HB: Favorite movies/quotes.

MH: I love history. So I like war movies. I’m a big fan of Varsity Blues too. As far as quotes, none really stick out. I have a couple mentioned on Facebook and I like what those mean.