Artwork by Paul Guzzo

1. Undercurrent
2. Safe Place
3. Changes
4. No Tomorrow
5. Black and Blue
6. I Know

“Across State Lines” is the debut record by Dead Fish Handshake, a rock band based out of the Northeast United States. Released on March 5th, 2011, the six song collection ranges from the guitar driven riff rock of “Undercurrent” to the ballad-esque melodies of “Changes” and “I Know”. The release is available through online digital retailers as well as physical CD via www.deadfishhandshake.com and on tour-dates.

This introduction to the DFH sound, produced by guitarist Rob Ferreira, boasts guest performances by a handful of talented musicians from the NJ area in an effort to feature one of the more promising local scenes on the East Coast.

“…great riffs and near perfect arrangements with hooks that you won’t be able to get out of your heads” – The Aquarian.

Buy on iTunes

UNDERCURRENT

Disappear in the tides that pull you under
Can’t out-swim all the waves of which you’re covered
Now the air is gone, you’re having trouble breathing
And for all that’s left the sharks will start to feed again

With my hand above your head

Black water rises in silence
And loneliness let’s you drown again
And when your waves become violent,
It’s emptiness that fills you in the end
Like stones will sink to the bottom
It’s so far down
So just wave goodbye

Blacking out, there was no resuscitation
Feared your life with such avid trepidation
And you wonder why no one is at your rescue
If they cared it was only ’cause they hate to lose

With my hand above your head

Just let the current come down and bring you far away
As you watch the river, flows on and leads you to your grave
Look around and find that there’s no one left for you to fear
And my voice will be the last sound I swear you ever hear

Credits:
Written by: Matthew Paul, Rob Ferreira, Darren Furman

Appears on: Across State Lines (2011)

First played live: October 15, 2010

Performers:
Matthew Paul: Vocals, Rob Ferreira: Guitars, Vocals, Darren Furman: Bass, Matt Biehl: Drums

SAFE PLACE

Step back take a look
What you see is an open book of all you’d like to know
But all you get is what I show
Saw my face looked in my eyes; tell me now what did you see?
Some lost soul who lost his way and all he hoped to be

Tear down all you know and realize I cant let go
Help me start to see that all this is a waste of me
Can’t fall back into those arms, they never held me anyway
Say goodbye ’cause I’ll be fine
Just let me slip away

Save me. Wash my soul again under the rain
Lost out every time to this old familiar shame
And all I asked for was a place to crawl and hide
But all you gave me was a safe place, a safe place to die

Help me fill the holes, open wounds can never close
So what’s left to say?
Closed it off and pushed away
Saw this from a mile away, I kept coming back for more
Served my time and lost my mind when I should’ve closed the door

I tried to be what you wanted
but it never was what you wanted

Credits:
Written by: Matthew Paul, Rob Ferreira

Appears on: Across State Lines (2011)

First played live: May 2, 2009

Performers:
Matthew Paul: Vocals, Rob Ferreira: Guitars, Vocals, Darren Furman: Bass, Justin Smith: Drums

CHANGES

I remember days when you were next to me.
There was nothing I couldn’t do.
‘cause you were there for me when the world had turned away and now it’s hard here without you.

And now I’m lost and my world is changing
I just cant go on this way
Time goes by and I’m still here waiting
and I don’t forget those days

And nothing’s right today and feelings start to change.
I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
Through all the damage here I always felt the same and this meant everything to me

And now I’m lost and my world is changing
I just wish you’d find your way
And now I know its my heart that’s breaking and I don’t forget those days

I was never enough.

Through all these changes, life rearranges.
It leaves me here today
Through all these changes, life rearranges.
It leaves me here to say, I miss you

Credits:
Written by: Matthew Paul, Rob Ferreira

Appears on: Across State Lines (2011)

First played live: May 2, 2009

Performers:
Matthew Paul: Vocals, Rob Ferreira: Guitars, Ant Salcedo: Bass, Justin Smith: Drums

NO TOMORROW

Got caught up in this fire to see how fast it spreads
When everyone’s a liar, it messes with your head
It’s so hard to determine if anything is real
I guess now that I’m learning to trust in how I feel

And all I’m told here is there might be no tomorrow
So why should I just go on and not give up today?
If I’m just losing focus then ill drown away the sorrow
So raise your glass and watch me while I just drift away

In all this verbal wreckage, I’m hanging by a thread
The underlying message has pushed me to the edge
It’s so hard to determine if anything is real
I guess now that I’m learning to trust in how I feel

And all your shadows can follow me down
A sea of nothing where we all can drown
I don’t care about it cause nothings gonna change
And I could live without it ’cause I don’t need the pain

And all I’m told here is there might be no tomorrow
So why should I just go on and not give up today?

Credits:
Written by: Matthew Paul, Rob Ferreira

Appears on: Across State Lines (2011)

First played live: May 2, 2009

Performers:
Matthew Paul: Vocals, Rob Ferreira: Guitars, Vocals, John Ferreira: Guitar (solo), Ant Salcedo: Bass, Justin Smith: Drums

BLACK AND BLUE

Erase it all and turn around; come to find that you’re not far down
But I couldn’t tell what it’s like from above, when you’re turning to me like I’m some kind of drug

Act innocent when I’m never there
A heart made of stone was my cross to bear
So selfish when I’m lost in my regret
And my body breaks when I make amends, make amends

Color in the lines around me
Help me to define the line
Black and blue, you all surround me
Each and every time

Misery was a friend to me
Alone in the dark
I could never believe that I couldn’t save what was gone anyway
And the dying inside is finally ending today

Act innocent when I’m never there
A heart made of stone was my cross to bear
So selfish when I’m lost in my regret
And this scene plays inside your head

Credits:
Written by: Matthew Paul, Rob Ferreira, Paul Guzzo, Dave Ciauro

Appears on: Across State Lines (2011)

First played live: May 2, 2009

Performers:
Matthew Paul: Vocals, Rob Ferreira: Guitars, Paul Guzzo: Bass, Dave Ciauro: Drums,
Charlie Park: drum programming, Dave Marcus: Vocals

I KNOW

I’m not bitter but I am angry; I’ve been through all of this before
I’ve spent so much time here chasing; dreams are outlined on this floor
I’m inspired by fallen angels; I already can see them there
All these reason and I have many have just made me so aware

And I know what its like to be you
And I know, I know

In this world I wish I was happy
it’s a grey cloud on my head
All these burdens I’ve had to carry
Some things I wish I never did
Sort them quickly and fall to pieces
Now i cant tell what’s wrong or right
And if these are tears, then would you save them
And just pass me into this light

And I know what its like to be you
And I know, I know

Please just stay with me; I need something to believe
All I wanted was somewhere I can breathe
Your heart’s alive and so am I now
Found along the way
I never got a chance to thank you for all you’ve done for me

And I know; I know
Yeah, it’s all that I know
What it feels to be like you
I know what it means to be like you

Credits:
Written by: Matthew Paul, Rob Ferreira

Appears on: Across State Lines (2011)

First played live: May 2, 2009

Performers:
Matthew Paul: Vocals, Rob Ferreira: Guitars, Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Darren Furman: Bass, Charlie Park: strings


Released: March 05, 2011