MetalTalk’s very own Shannon Wilk and her band Ultraviolet played to a sold-out crowd at The Jameson Pub in Watertown, Connecticut on 9 May 2024, opening for Plush. A new rock band with members from New Jersey and Connecticut, Ultraviolet, have been taking the area by storm.
Ultraviolet
The Jameson Pub, Watertown, Connecticut – 9 May 2024
Words And Photography: Jody Wilk
While playing a few covers in their set, Ultraviolet plays primarily original songs, which have a unique sound. The members were brought up liking different genres of rock and Heavy Metal. 
Bassist Shannon Wilk bring seven years of experience in the music industry playing guitar and bass, as well as experience with management and marketing to Ultraviolet. She has played at many iconic gigs including Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California with several bands, Dingbatz in New Jersey, as well as several jams on The Monsters of Rock Cruise. 
Drummer Cooper Hughes has been playing drums for many years and is looking to go to study music in Nashville when he graduates high school. Miranda Taylor has been singing for fun pretty much all her life until she was asked to join Ultraviolet and do it professionally. Finally, Ashley Silva has been involved in music, playing several instruments for most of her life before settling in on guitar a couple of years ago. All Ultraviolet band members range in age from 15-19 years old. 
As I arrived at the venue, there was a line to get in, as would be expected from any sold-out show. I got there early to get my spot up front to photograph as there is no pit, and the stage is low.
Ultraviolet took the stage at 8:00 pm sharp, and right from the start, the energy in the crowd was high. They kicked off the night with an original song entitled Slap In The Face, which has a unique hard rock sound with a hard-hitting vocal chorus that makes you want to sing along.
They kept things rocking by playing the Joan Jett version of Gary Glitter’s Do You Want to Touch Me. Miranda and Cooper have the crowd involved, clapping and singing to the middle of the song, “Yeah, Oh Yeah!”.
The venue was already packed, and the fans were cheering for this newfound rock band from New Jersey. Connecticut heard their new single, Rust, for the first time. Released on all streaming platforms on 17 May, Rust starts off slow, but when Miranda’s powerful vocals kick in the song really starts to rock. 
Next up was Show Me How To Live, a cover of the song by Audioslave. Cooper is a real showman and perfectionist behind the kit, and all through the set, Shannon has a huge stage presence with moves rivalling the best bassists around.
Ultraviolet ended their set with another original song. Pleadin’ might just be one of my favourite songs by Ultraviolet. However, it hasn’t been released yet, so the only way you can hear it is to go see them live.
Pleadin’ showcases Ashley’s unique sound on the guitar, with influences from the ’90s grunge era with maybe a little ’70s rock mixed in. 
Ultraviolet are working on recording a few more of their songs with producer Steve Zing of Danzig and hope to have them completed in the next few months.
You can catch them playing gigs throughout the Northeast this summer. If you were at the Jameson Pub gig and liked what you saw, they will be playing a headlining show there on 28 June 2024, with Cinema Stereo and Stone Nobles opening the night.
Rust is available below and can be streamed on all major platforms. You can catch more of Ultraviolet on Facebook.
