Aviso'hara

Originally called Aviso until another group’s trademark forced an extension, Aviso'hara cultivates an air of deliberate mystery. An apostrophe inserted midway through the name adds further confusion, while the word itself blends Spanish and Japanese roots to suggest something akin to “notice the horizon.” The quartet has produced similarly cryptic music ever since its formation in New Brunswick, NJ, when singer/guitarist Ralph Nicastro and guitarist Walter Greene disbanded their prior South Jersey outfit, Tow, and joined forces with bassist Dave Urbano, previously of the prog-rock New Brunswick group Mr. Thumb. After enduring repeated setbacks in securing a drummer, the band settled on Benny Rodriguez, late of Five Star Honor. Their sound merges noisy, punky power with chaotic sheets of noise, resulting in a style that seldom prizes precision; live shows and recordings alike reveal a unit operating most effectively when teetering on the brink of losing control. Following a pair of 7" releases in 1996 and 1997, Aviso'hara offered a fuller portrait of its work via the 1999 debut full-length Goodnight, Sweetheart on Vital Cog Records. The follow-up, Made from Scratch, surfaced late the next year.