The Cynz at Sidewalk

Cyndi Dawson & Henry Seiz

Born and raised in New Jersey, Cyndi Dawson sought a career in performance art in New York City. Over the next few years, she secured a few acting, dancing and bartending gigs, briefly played percussion in the short-lived Kamikaze Kitty & the Attack Kats, and read in poetry circles both in New York and New Jersey. Fellow Jersey native Henry Seiz, who had played guitar in Louie Louie & the Lost Hombres in the 1980s, heard Dawson's work and suggested she read spoken word or sing to his music. Together they formed the Cynz in 2011. The band presently consists of Dawson, Seiz, bassist Anne Husick (formerly of Band of Susans) and drummer Robert Stockl (formerly of the Mad Daddies). The Cynz released a second full album, Lil Devil, on July 12, 2017; It is available from the band in vinyl only.

Lil Devil had been available by mail order all summer, but the Cynz celebrated a record release concert tonight at Sidewalk so that fans could purchase the album in person. As usual when the band has performed at the venue, the set was high-octane and high-caliber, rock and roll in its rawest and purist form. The band has grown in polish, yet retained a garage-band vibrancy that was honest and fun. Dawson's melodies were pop-rooted, but she sang them with a gripping rock and roll spirit, then danced, shook and even crawled to Seiz's speedy riffs and leads, as the rhythm section powered the songs. From start to end, the Cynz's set was a rock and roll party.

The Cynz will be performing at Lovecraft Bar on October 19, Sidewalk on October 27 and the Parkside Lounge on November 17.