Press Reviews

Local CDs
NightBeat, Newsday
The Artist: Cousin Fungus
The Disc: "Thoughts of a Moth"
Performance: A
Songwriting: A
Sound Quality: A

Given Cousin Fungus' past as a Phish cover band one might expect "Thoughts of a Moth" to be a rehash of Burlington's best. But aside from the obvious. Phish-like joy Cousin Fungus takes in just playing together, the bands debut CD sounds more like a tribute to 70's bands such as Traffic, The Doobie Brothers, Allmans and Jimmy Buffet.

If you can get past the earnest earthiness of the lyrics (sometimes, also Phish and Grateful Dead style, the band turns to outside writers, including one names Gummy) and all their references to field mice, Ulysses and simple pleasures, song such as, The "Beggar at the Manor" and "Mad E. Mac is loose" quickly become hummable anthems that stick in the head.
Matching the strong melodies is Cousin Fungus' protean gift for ensemble playing. Though the throwback vibe is strong, Cousin Fungus makes a strong argument for the return of the jam band. They've updated the collective trip for the next generation of, dare we say it, fungusheads. --- by Isaac Guzman

It's Cousin Fungus On Top of LI's Heap
NightBeat, Newsday
There was a Fungus among us at Friday's Long Island Music Festival finals. And it won.

Cousin Fungus, a feel good foursome from Port Washington, came to the South Beach Water Club in Island Park for the sixth annual festival's finale not expecting to place against the eight other semifinalists. By by 2:15 a.m. the 13 judges-including record store and studio managers and a representative from Elektra Records- picked their winner, musch to Fungus singer-keyboardist Dennis Belline's amazement.

LI Sounds/Cousin Fungus/THOUGHTS OF A MOTH
Long Island Voice
So you want ultra-tight, complex jamming? Two words, one group: Cousin Fungus, heir apparent to LI's improvisational throne since the Tricksters have hit the road. Many of you knew the Port Washington quartet back when they were Stash, playing ballsy versions of Phish tunes. Gigging weekly at Huntingon's New York Ave, this all-original incarnate has honed a stylish, jazzy backbeat(thanks to quad-stringer Tom and the galloping percussion of Chris, two-thirds of the Stanziale brothers)loaded with heady grooves and cosmic rhythms. Fueled by Dennis Belline's superb keyboard antics and heated vocals, Fungus leads its listeners down an eclectic path of drunken blue-watered-beach-vibes ("Mad E. Mac is Loose"), bouncing genesis-tales ("Low Tide High") and Henry Stanziale's guitar-comping on the Belline-penned instrumental "Drift." These psychedelic monsters are rampaging across the Isle, so catch them before they head west for some major-label blood. --- by Ian D'Giff

LI Music Scene/Cousin Fungus/The Wrong Way Inn, Amityville
The L.I.E.
The Wrong Way Inn is quickly becoming one of the hot new places to see live music on the South Shore of Long Island. Cousin Fungus, winner of the Long Island Music Fest, brought their show into the Amityville club and like two great tastes that taste great together-it seemed that Dennis, Thomas, Christian and Henry could do no wrong on the night to be sure.

Cousin Fungus is three brothers and Dennis Belline Jr. Classically trained on piano and voice he adds a poignant and elegant element to the quartet. Thomas Stanziale on bass, is the eldest of the 3 brothers. He favors the 5 string bass and is the second voice in the three part harmonies. The middle brother Christian on drums and percussion along with Thomas complete the rhythm section. The youngest of the brothers Henry is considered the most "free spirited" of the four players and is the third harmony voice and in fact completes Cousin Fungus with his guitar work that is at time as fiery and unbridled as Hendrix and at others is as rudimentary as any great blues man.

Their music is a melting pot of Reggae, Disco, Country, Blues, Jazz, Rock Folk, and Electric theater. Although it would be easy to simpley dismiss them as Phish wanna-be's or Dead Head devotees that just wouldn't be fair to their unique and infectiuous sound. The nights entertainment was sprinkled with new songs, old songs, and some interesting covers. Judging by the audience's reaction Cousin Fungus is worth all the praise the critics and reviews have been giving them since and prior to the contest.