Last night at The Rail in Rahway, NJ, the band from which The Paper Jets evolved – The Invisible Solid – reunited for an impromptu performance.  Led by Brian Erickson on vocals and guitar, the lineup was rounded out by former Paper Jets touring guitarist Jim McGee, founding ‘Solid member Drew Novelli on bass, and long-tenured ‘Solid Jeff Fiedler on drums.

From left to right: Drew Novelli, Jeff Fiedler, Brian E, Jim McGee || photo by Amanda Guthrie

They ran through a nine-song set, highlighted by a back half that included old songs such as “You’ll Come Around,” and “Take It All Back,” sitting comfortably alongside more recent Paper Jets material like “Set of Rules,” and “Friends of Friends.”

The performance came as a result of a last-minute cancellation.  “A band had cancelled so we tried to get the ‘Jets to fill the slot,” said Erickson, “…but I was the only one available; I started calling some friends and luckily Drew and Jeff were around.”

When asked if the reunion would continue, Erickson said, “It’s not a real, true reunion without Bill [Lambusta] or Frank [Lettieri], so no, tonight was just a fun one-off.”

Here’s the full set list:

1. Friends of Friends

2. You’re the One That I Want (Grease cover)

3. Really Good to Be Alone (feat. Jesse Elliot)

4. With a Little Help From My Friends (Beatles cover feat. Jesse Elliot)

5. Stay Back Here

6. Set of Rules

7. Take it All Back

8. You’ll Come Around

9. Blister In the Sun (feat. everyone in the room)

Said Novelli of the experience of performing with his old bandmates again, “I just did it so that I didn’t have to pay the cover charge.”

The Invisible Solid was formed in March 2005 by Brian Erickson (vocals) and Frank Lettieri (drums) with Bill Lambusta (guitar) and Drew Novelli (bass).  Novelli left at the end of 2005 and was replaced by Jeff Fiedler.  The band played its final show in January of 2007 and since then, all five members have only publicly reunited once; performing a brief set in May of 2013.