Interview with Kqhyt Kqhyt

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Monday, April 25, 2022

Kqhyt Kqhyt has to be one of my favorite bands to emerge from Asbury Park since I started writing for Jersey Indie. Whether you know how to pronounce their name or not, you have no doubt caught them playing their booze soaked rock and roll throughout Asbury Park. Since forming in 2019, their long anticipated first single “Carey Bronson” was released April 8th of this year. Accompanied by a great music video, their self-titled release came out April 22nd and is available to purchase here. I recently reached out to lead guitarist Alex Rosen and the band to talk about the beginnings of the band and their upcoming plans. Thanks again, Alex. <><>

When did you first start making music together? How was the band formed?

In early 2019. It is a bit of a long story, but the short of it is I had gotten Brian and Brendon down to jam. I went to Brendon's house and Bronson came down and asked when practice was. That was pretty much that.

What is your songwriting process like?

Brendon pretty much has a couple albums worth and growing of songs. So he brings some to practice and we just kind of work ‘em out.  Or he has older fully realized tunes and we all just work it to full band. I have contributed some songs and Brian has a few up his sleeve. It is a mostly collaborative effort. You hear this a lot with bands, but it is always cool to see how the idea you had for a song completely transforms when you bring it to other people and jam on it.

Favorite song you have written as a group so far? Why? 

Brendon wrote "Mullica" and I really dig how everyone kind of added their own little mark to it. Brendon had the song already done, but each member added themselves to it. Lyrically, it is great as well.  

Favorite venue to perform at? 

Not sure if we have a favorite of all time since we are pretty new. But places like The Saint, Asbury Park Yacht Club, and Bond St. have always been good to us.

You recorded an album last year. Who did you work with? How was that experience?

We worked with Pete Steinkopf at Little Eden. The experience went great, and I am really so happy with how the tunes sound and how everything came out. Pete knocked it out of the park!

The band name is super unique. How did you end up with it and what does the band name mean to you?

No comment at the moment.

Your first single “Carey Bronson” is accompanied by a great video. Who did you work with for the video and how was that experience?

I went to my bud Mike Brown (Phasor Video) who is a really interesting dude. Does a lot of touring with big musicians as well as has a bit of a cult following in the WWE or wrestling world. I asked him if he would do a music video for us. We just gave him free creative control and that was that. I sent him, I think, three songs, and he picked “Carey Bronson.” It is cool just letting someone have their own vision on something you did. Kind of shows you how a song can mean different things to different people.

Any upcoming plans for the group?

We have a full-length out on vinyl and digital on 4/22. It is self-titled and limited to 100.  In late April, we are going to record our new record with Mike Mobius at Moonlight Mile. We also have a live album recorded, actually the final show at the Brighton Bar, just been slow-moving with it. We have some shows in Buffalo later this year and May 15th at Red Tank brewery. I would like to get a brewery to do a beer for us, get a tattoo gun and maybe give Bronson another nickname. Just try and make up for some lost time.

We have a bunch of merch we are working on and if you would like to grab our record and future items please check out our Bandcamp: kqhytkqhyt.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @kqhytkqhyt

You can find our stuff on Spotify and all that stuff too.

Thanks again.

You can listen to and support Kqhyt Kqhyt here <><>

Interview with Bobby Mahoney (New EP, "We Go On")

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Friday, April 15, 2022

Bobby Mahoney and the Seventh Son are no strangers here on Jersey Indie, and we are always anticipating their next release. Their work ethic is unmatched and their appetite for songs with big choruses and hooks just seems to grow more and more with each new single. Bobby and his band had been hard at work for their newest release, “We Go On” (which premiered on 4/8), and we can now hear what they have been working on these past few years. To help celebrate this momentous release, they hosted a two-day Release Weekend at The Saint in Asbury Park with a handful of talent from up and down the East Coast. I caught up with Bobby to take a closer look at their latest singles “Moth to the Flame” and “Lay It On Me”, as well as what’s next for the band. Thanks, Bobby!

When did you start writing for your newest release, “We Go On”?

We started writing these songs in fragments in the later half of 2019. They have definitely been a slow-burn. There are other ideas that have been around longer, but I felt strongly about these as they came together, so they got to cut the line a bit. 

How did writing for this record differ from past Seventh Son records? How have you grown as a songwriter? 

This record was collaborative with all four of us, James McIntosh, Andrew Saul, Jon Chang-Soon, and I writing together. I would come up with skeletons/outlines/hooks in acoustic demo form, then I brought them to the others for us to flesh out as a group. The actual pre-production was done remotely, or in-person but masked and socially distanced due to the pandemic. James and I jammed through songs on his electric drum kit, Andrew and I made home pre-production Logic demos, and Jon and I discussed overall “vibe”, soundscape, structure, and arrangement at length ahead of recording as well. We didn’t know if it was going to be an EP, or the first half of a full length, but we felt the five songs we chose really stood on their own, and were a dense, impactful twenty minutes of music. 

“Moth to the Flame” is a rocker, the song also seems autobiographical. What remains to be your favorite thing about playing live shows?

”Moth to the Flame” is extremely autobiographical! It is about our need to create, despite all the factors that try to deter us from doing so. My favorite thing about playing live is when all the hours of practice and prep come together so I don’t have to think, I can feel. Which sounds silly, but I think there is a Keith Richards quote about something like that. When the four of us lock in, we can ride the energy, follow gut/instinct, and do what we know we can do. There are so many hours of things that are NOT playing the guitar that go into being a musician, so when we get to actually do what we signed up for for 20-60 minutes, and connect with people who care about what we do, it makes it all worth it. 

You’ve been playing shows for quite some time. How do you feel shows have changed if at all since the pandemic? 

I think it would have been a nice change to come back to shows with people being a bit more respectful of other audience members and the performers, but I don’t necessarily think that has happened. I think if anything, we are all now less likely to take it all for granted, at least I would really hope so. Before the pandemic, I caught myself taking live music for granted, and after losing it for over a year, I am extremely thankful for any chance I have to go see a performance or to perform myself. In a lot of ways, nothing has changed, yet everything has changed. We are still in weird times, but things are healing.

Who did you record “We Go On” with? Did you and the group do anything differently from previous recordings that you’re excited about?

We recorded “We Go On” with our good pal Joe Pomarico in his parents' basement in Holmdel, NJ. Aside from home demos and some pre-production phone meetings, we actually only rehearsed these songs a handful of times as a unit before we began tracking in Fall 2020. I wanted the songs to feel fresh, live, real, and given the circumstances, I wanted to capture the basic sound of people playing music in a room together. We tracked drums, bass, and rhythm guitars live over one weekend, and then spent a year overdubbing when we were able to get together, and doing Zoom editing/mixing/production meetings remotely! It was a weird way to make a record, but for this record — these songs, at this moment in time — it worked and I am very proud of what we were able to create.

The songs are “classic Seventh Son” — catchy with loud guitars and drums — but they have a new spin with this current line-up working together that led to some of the most exciting and unique songs we have ever recorded. We definitely wanted to push ourselves in every aspect to put out an EP that we felt represented what we do, and where we would like to go. 

What were you influenced by for your latest single “Lay It On Me”? How did that song come together?

I started taking notes for what became “Lay It On Me” while visiting Paris in August 2019. In the lobby of a hotel, they had old American Western movie posters on the wall, and I wrote some titles and taglines down. Many of our favorite songs were inspired from cinema, and many of the best songs are movies in themselves. Incident at Phantom Hill was too good not to note, and Fistful of Dollars is a classic. The irony of going all the way to France to be inspired by the American “West that never was” isn’t lost on me.

“Flower power and violence” is directly about the protests we saw in 2020 for the murder of George Floyd, the fights many Americans have had to wage on our own soil in order to secure their own rights/freedom in our history — painfully recent history — and present. Who the fuck is anyone to deny another human being the same rights they themselves desire and demand? “Will we find redemption?/Tune in next week.”

The song ultimately is about recognizing our own boundaries, and how much each of us can take on at once without being burnt out, burned, or burnt alive.

Musically, I wanted to focus on dynamics- starting very quiet and then gradually getting louder and louder, until it becomes one of the heavier moments on the EP. 

Thanks to everyone who has supported myself and this project over the years. We are excited to share with you all, and excited to see what the future holds! 

~

You can keep up with Bobby Mahoney and the Seventh Son here. 

Interview with Rory D'Lasnow (New Release, "Songs From An Empty Room")

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Friday, April 15, 2022

Hailing from Bergen County, NJ, Rory D’Lasnow has been penned a “golden voiced troubadour” (NJ.com), and his latest release “Songs From An Empty Room” further proves that notion. Having released music since 2011, Rory continues to dig deeper and tap into raw emotions that listeners can't help but feel connected to. Rory is also responsible for starting The Songwriter Showcase, which was a web series during the height of the pandemic in order to keep songwriters together and inspired through those trying times. Following the release of “Songs From An Empty Room”, Rory was kind enough to answer some questions about the record and his process upon the return of his run of shows in California. Thanks again, Rory!

When did you first start releasing your own music?

I put out my first EP in 2011 right after college. I’ve been singing, writing songs, and playing guitar upside down and backwards since I was five, but I took a while to really be consistent and intentional about it. While I had my first proper “show" at twelve at the local library, my journey has involved a lot of fits and starts due to anxiety, self-doubt, and loss but I’m here now and I feel like having taken such a circuitous path has given me some sort of perspective and ability to hopefully encourage others who face similar challenges.

Who were your biggest influences when first picking up guitar?

I was obsessed with The Beatles as a kid — I wanted to be John Lennon so badly haha. Now I’m more of a Paul guy — but their presence loomed large in my musical development. I also really loved Queen, The Everly Brothers, and Billy Joel though, of course, he wasn’t much of a guitarist! Basically, anything other than the era I was born into. That changed eventually, though. And now I’m a sworn emo kid forever. 

You run The Songwriters Showcase. How did you start that community? What inspires you most when meeting different songwriters?

I do! I initially started it as a way to just stay connected with and provide a small platform for my pals in the music scene during the COVID pandemic, but then it grew a bit to include over 250 artists across twelve countries which is something I’m super proud of and still super shocked by. I probably most enjoy hearing about different folks’ approaches to the craft. There are so many different ways to arrive at this common goal of writing a song that is evocative (and maybe a bit catchy, too).

You’re about to head to the West Coast for a few shows. Will this be your first time playing out there? Where has your favorite out-of-state show been?

Yes! I actually just got back from my first three shows in LA — it was! I lived in the SF area for a bit around 2014, but I only played an open mic or two as I was focused on pursuing “rational” things like a career at a startup in the Silicon Valley (what could be more irrational than ignoring your creative passions?). I was fortunate enough to link up with some fantastic like-minded musicians out in LA, though, for a few shows and I was ecstatic to have the chance to play at Hotel Cafe, which is an unreal space that some great musicians have come through.

The shows in LA definitely are up there, but one other spot I really enjoyed playing was Birmingham, AL with my buddies Anna Hope and John Armstrong Feller. I did a little southern run in January across eight cities and I’d never been anywhere in Alabama but everybody there was so warm and welcomed me with open arms. Knoxville, TN was a really cool one, too — shout out to Melissa Hale!

Favorite show you played in New Jersey?

Oh man — there have been so many great ones for so many different reasons, but I recently had the chance to open for my buddy Jarod Clemons down at Wonder Bar in Asbury Park in celebration of his father, Clarence Clemons, and it was a really special night in so many ways. Jarod and I unfortunately both know what it’s like to have lost our parents and the evening really was just a spectacular way to commemorate them and the impact they had on us. He was kind enough to invite me back up to do “My Hero” with him (RIP Taylor Hawkins — I still can’t believe it) in honor of our dads, and there were just a lot of emotions that came to the surface. It’s been a long, winding road to playing music more consistently for me, but moments like that make me so glad that I decided to pursue what I love with reckless abandon. And I’m so grateful for Jarod and all of the other folks who have had my back. That sense of community is something I failed to anticipate when I sat on my hands for the majority of my twenties.

Tell us about your latest EP “Songs From An Empty Room.” What does this record mean to you? What do you hope the listeners will feel from this release?

The record represents so much to me. Most of these songs predate me losing my best pal — my dad, who gave me my first guitar and really helped develop my love of music — but the songs have become increasingly personally relevant to me as many of them touch upon topics like loss, grieving, and depression. My greatest hope is that people can see themselves in the record and feel a sense of comfort upon listening to the songs. I’ve found that one of the greatest qualities of music is its ability to transcend all kinds of circumstances and obstacles to unite people. Being able to share my story and hear stories from others is an indescribable gift. This record is my heart in five songs, so it’s a joy to share.

~

You can keep up with all things Rory here and listen to “Songs From An Empty Room” here!

Interview with Lightheaded

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Friday, October 1, 2021

Lightheaded is a three-piece dreamy power pop trio based out of Long Branch, New Jersey. Since first forming in 2017, more recently the band has moved in together and started hosting all ages shows at their house. This has proved to help strengthen a scene that has been affected by the pandemic and also encourage creativity in a safe, inclusive space. Having seen Lightheaded live a few times over the summer, I recently reached out to the group to learn more about them and find out when we can expect some new music. Thanks again, gang! 

When did Lightheaded first form?

Lightheaded was first formed in 2017. The bands we had been playing in were coming to a natural conclusion. We met during what ended up being one of the last handful of shows for both of our bands... it made sense. We have a really similar music taste and vision for what our band should be. 

Who are the group's main influences ?

Lightheaded’s main influences are countless. We love The Pastels, mark that down first. Probably the reason we started the band. They set the template. The Feelies, New Jersey legends. Got to mention them. Stephen used to live in the same town as Stan! Dwight Twilley and Phil Seymour, we love all the sorta one-off power pop bands! Felt are very special to us. Belle and Sebastian. The Clientele’s first couple records... The Go-Betweens never missed... just cut us off now, we’ll take up the whole interview.

How would you describe your music? 

Lightheaded’s music sounds like people who care about music. Listen to us or watch us and you can tell. We take writing interesting arrangements with literary lyrics very seriously. All of our songs develop their own unique direction over time. Some might be based very much off of synth or a delayed guitar and sound almost shoegaze, but the next might be rooted in French pop and an acoustic guitar. Album #2’s got a tune inspired by Devo. It’s overwhelming how much we want to do and how many hats we want to try on. 

Photo by Emma Murphy

How has the pandemic affected the group's songwriting, if at all?

The pandemic affected our songwriting a bunch of different ways, but most obviously, we all moved in together lol. Anthony has a reel to reel and we spent months working on tape demos when we couldn’t be in public spaces. Not much really went anywhere spectacular, but it was important. That period allowed us time to incubate and think of where our ideas were headed. Those demos afforded us a platform to sketch those ideas into meaningful songs we’re proud of.  

Where has your inspiration been coming from lately?

Lately, our inspiration comes from our community. We have been throwing monthly gigs at our house and the artists that we have met have made the process comforting and satisfying. To play with new artists like Teen Idle, or 2nd Grade, a band building one of the best discographies in the game... It's proof that what’s happening right here in New Jersey is going to be stronger than it’s ever been. It’s fertile ground at the Jersey Shore. We want to be a part of the next new memorable NJ scene, like The Feelies were in Hoboken or Screaming Females in New Brunswick.  

Favorite show you’ve played?

Our favorite show we’ve played... was in front of Susan Sarandon. Twice. Our hearts could only beat so hard...

Who did you work with for your upcoming debut EP?

For our upcoming debut EP, we worked with Adam over at Retro Media Studios in Red Bank. Sometimes, it’s hard for us to be in a room with people, but Adam has been beyond accommodating and flexible to our studio anxiety. If we want to sound good, we need to be in a good head space. 

You can keep up with all things Lightheaded here!

Photo by Emma Murphy

Upcoming plans for the group?

Plans, plans, plans... we’re schemers. Always trying to have stuff cooking. #1 is the Season of the Lost EP. We couldn’t be more excited to show everyone the first batch. We are going to continue throwing monthly shows, throughout this year and next. 

But seriously, most importantly, we just want to get our songs out to the public in an official form. We’ve been a band for awhile now and have a ton of songs that we’re really happy with, so we figure to release the full-length sometime in 2022 and play an out-of state tour, too. We are also looking for someone who slaps the keyboard around, so if you know anyone... send ‘em our way.

Interview with Teen Idle

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Thursday, September 30, 2021

Teen Idle is the moniker under which Sara Abdelbarry writes, records and performs her own music. Since the release of her first EP in June of 2020, she has released a handful of singles, and even performed her first show this past August. When I saw Teen Idle, I was enthralled by the atmospheric guitar playing and mood she set with just her vocals and a guitar. Since her recordings include some more studio work, I recently asked Sara about her project, her recording and songwriting process. Thanks again, Sara! 

When did you first start writing your own music?

I’m pretty sure I wrote my first song when I was 15. At the time, I was taking lessons at Lakehouse Music Academy in Asbury and being introduced to and surrounded by so much music. Plus, most of my teachers were in touring bands of their own, so being in such a creative musical environment like that definitely sparked my interest in songwriting. I also owe a lot to the show American Idol, which I used to watch all the time with my family and cousins, for introducing to me a lot of classic ‘70s and ‘80s artists which piqued my interest in songwriting.

Who were your influences when you first started and how have they changed?

My biggest influence was and will always be Fleetwood Mac. All three songwriters in that band are impeccable, the production is intricate and smart, and the songs are super emotional in the best way. I know people who listen to my music might not hear Fleetwood Mac as an obvious influence, given my music sounds quite different from theirs, but I think each member of that band influenced my approach to writing music in a big way: Stevie’s lyricism, Lindsey’s production, and Christine’s melodies and affinity for jazz chords. Sometimes I’ll write something and feel later on that band was a subconscious influence, even if just for the groove and feel of a song. I find myself drawn to the dancy nature of many of their songs in my recent songwriting.

If we’re talking direct sonic influences for my releases as Teen Idle, that’s all over the place just like my music taste. For my first EP and most of the stuff I was writing at that time (2018-2019), there’s a heavy shoegaze and almost slowcore-ish influence. At the time I was really into bands like Beach House, Alvvays, and Slowdive, so the music bears a slight sonic resemblance. That kind of reverb-drenched, dreamy sound with shrouded vocals suited the subject matter I was writing about at the time, like heartbreak, so that just happened naturally. Now, though, I don’t really have an interest in that particular shoegaze sound anymore and want to focus more on lyricism and letting vocals shine. The new stuff definitely still has a ‘90s type influence and dreamy guitars, but I’d say recently I’ve been influenced by artists like Mitski, SASAMI, Japanese Breakfast, and Sharon Van Etten. 

How did last year's lockdown affect your songwriting if at all?

In the beginning, around March, I was super productive and even managed to curate this pandemic compilation with the intention of donating the money to COVID-relief efforts. I ended up getting artists from I think 10 countries on it, made some new international music friends, and contributed a song I wrote at that time, called “When Yr Gone”. That was probably my favorite stretch of the lockdown, if one had to choose. But towards November, I stopped writing songs entirely or even listening to new music really, which wasn’t intentional but just happened. I’m usually always writing and interacting with music, so it was a super weird and depressing time for me. 

Like a lot of us were, I was feeling very down about the fact that I couldn’t be out in the world anymore. I like to be out and about, I like to travel and explore, and I’m a pretty social person who loves to meet new people and go out, so I feel like that part of my life was stolen away, making it hard to feel inspired. My writing typically comes from real life experiences, encounters, or other people’s stories I hear, so in a way I didn’t feel I had anything to write about. I was also more focused on maintaining my mental health than songwriting at that point. It was difficult to get myself out of that place mentally because I felt like I was in a hole for so long. I’m so glad that stuff is all over, and that my mental health is back to being as good as it used to be now that normal life has basically resumed. I did end up writing one or two songs I’m very proud of last winter, so I do cherish those.

What is your songwriting and recording process like?

This will probably be a long-winded answer — usually I’ll start a song with guitar or piano. I’ll usually be noodling around on either instrument, or on rare occasions the bass too, sometimes with the intention of writing a song if I’m feeling a certain way, other times just fiddling around. Then I arrive at a progression I really like and make sure to record it on my voice memos. Once I have that basis, I’ll keep building on the progression. When I feel that I have something there, I’ll start singing random words over the instrument to figure out where I want the melody to go. I’ll work on the melody for each part of the song, sometimes starting with the bridge, sometimes starting with the verse. It also varies because sometimes I’ll have an idea for a bridge that I want to write with strings in it or something and then build the song from there. 

As for lyrics, a lot of the time I’ll keep some of the random words I was singing while figuring out the melody, or just use words that rhyme because they match syllabically. Then once I know exactly what I want the song to be about, I’ll chip away at the lyrics, usually writing them all at once or over a span of a few days. I usually will refine the lyrics until I feel like they get the message across exactly how I intended. 

For production, that doesn’t happen typically until I have a finished demo of a song on guitar or piano on Voice Memos. I have the structure of the song laid out in a demo, I’ll start building it in Logic from the ground up. I like to start with the bare bones: drums, demo vocals, and then guitar and bass. From that point, it happens rather serendipitously and without explanation. I address each part of the song — verse, chorus, bridge, very likely cinematic outro — separately, working to make each part flow into the other and match the emotions the song conveys. I play and record all the live instruments at home myself, except drums which I let a very talented friend do in a separate studio, and use analog sounds with a combo of virtual instruments, synths, and weird Logic presets and effects to get the sound I want. Songwriting is more calculated, whereas in production I feel like it’s more divine intervention, where I let myself go wherever the song takes me. Sometimes I come across sounds I never expected by making mistakes or putting effects in a chain that engineers would scoff at. Then I do a rough mix and send the songs off to a mixing engineer because they do that better. 

What does your project name mean to you?

Teen Idle is a name I had in my back pocket since freshman or sophomore year of high school, I think, after I saw a Marina and the Diamonds song with the same name. I never even listened to the song, but I remember thinking it was an amazing pairing of words, so I never forgot it. I always kind of knew I wanted that to be my band name if I had one in the future. But now that I think about it, I was kind of an idle teenager; not by design, but I didn’t go out of my way to get good grades in high school, never studied, and never really went out either because I was super shy at the time. So the name for me reflects how I was a late bloomer in life, basically blossoming in and after college and coming into my own then.

What is your favorite song you've written? Why?

This is hard to answer, so I won’t answer directly. I think out of the stuff I’ve released, I’m pretty proud of “Dreaming” because it was the first song I ever released. And it was written rather randomly after jazz practice in college one day, but I’m proud of the lyrics and how the song builds based on the same chord progression. I am also really proud of “In the Morning” because I think it’s the most different from the songs on the EP, and “Sometimes” for the build up to the outro at the end.

Plans for the future?

I’m hoping to keep playing gigs in the area and NYC, building my audience locally, and just continuing to release albums I’m proud of and show my growth in my craft.

I just also started producing for other artists, so I‘d like to keep doing that as well as write for more artists I believe in, maybe even producing full albums for artists. In the long term I’d definitely love to write the score for a movie soundtrack, or have a song be in a TV show or movie. I also have some future plans to start a record label.

You can keep up with all things Teen Idle here and listen on Spotify here ! 

The DT's - "You With Me" (MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Friday, August 20, 2021

The DT’s are a power pop group hailing from central New Jersey. Having released their first single, “You With Me” in June, the group is now back to share their music video for the catchy single. Since the release, The DT’s played their first full band show at House of Independents in Asbury Park, NJ, and have been hard at work at new content for their fans. I recently spoke with Dave and Tom about their past year, playing shows again and their new music video. Thank you Dave and Tom!

The DT’s live at House of Independents

How was your first full band show at House of Independents? 

Tom: Our first show was really special and was really a magical night! It meant the world to be on that stage especially after such a long time and just battling a lot of adversity over the past 18 months. Both of us hadn't played in a full band setting live for quite some time and to debut at one of our favorite venues was a great experience. It almost felt like a Twilight Zone episode, like was this actually happening? It went really well and our buddies Lou Panico (Natalie Farrell Band, Levy & The Oaks, Solo) & Frank Lettieri (The Paper Jets, Dust Of Days) really did such an excellent job. They are true professionals! 

Dave: It was such an exciting experience. We were very happy when Bobby Mahoney reached out to us, and asked us if we wanted to play. It had been so long since we played in a full band setting, and it felt so good to be back out there on stage. Our talented friends Frank Lettieri (The Paper Jets, Dust Of Days) and Lou Panico (Natalie Farrell Band, Levy & The Oaks, Solo) helped us out that night, and they were extremely professional. We only practiced the four of us collectively one time, but I think that made the show more fun and lively! We were able to hang out with some friends that we have not seen since the start of the pandemic, have fun with the crowd, and play some new originals at an awesome venue. 

What can fans expect at a DT’s concert now that shows are coming back around?

Tom: In this new project, we really like to keep it fun, loose, engaging and entertaining with the audience. We work very hard at our craft but we also really like to keep the audience involved in a variety of settings. I also enjoy having freedom in this project where we are an acoustic duo some nights, other times full band electric, all while mixing in different instruments we play. At the end of the day, we just want to make sure the crowd is having fun and that we are spreading some joy. I think we all could use some after the past year.

Dave: Anyone that comes to one of our shows can expect a good time! We are always trying to have fun at our shows by throwing in some covers, getting the crowd involved, and telling some jokes on stage. We just like to have fun while providing a high energy rock and roll experience!

This video accompanies your latest single “You With Me.” What does this song mean to you as a group?

Tom: This was a really special song for Dave and I as it was one that came really quickly and naturally for us. Our emotions and feelings really lined up at the time and the song both structurally and lyrically came together in one night. We really didn't try and over think many parts and allowed ourselves to explore while keeping the song refined into a pop format. It was really neat sharing parts from our own songs and mashing them together melodically. 

Dave: To me the song means a lot. Lyrically, it references some personal/emotional setbacks we have experienced in the past few years. It was the first song that Tom and I wrote collaboratively from scratch. We started with a drum idea, and then layered on top of that. We both brought different elements to the song that we were able to blend cohesively, which gave it a unique sound. I am extremely proud of us for making this track because we also produced everything in Tom’s basement. We were then lucky enough to have our friend Frank Lettieri record drums and Joe Pomarico (Telegraph Hill Records) Mix/Master the final track.

Who did you work with for this music video?

Tom: We worked with Tom Garrigan, an old friend who is a photographer/videographer from our hometown. Tom is nationally known for his photography work shooting abandoned settings, and he really did an excellent job getting the footage for this shoot. He really had a lot of our visions behind the song come to life in a really simplistic way. All the editing work was done by Frank Lettieri who also plays drums for us live! 

Dave: We worked with our good friend Tom Garrigan. Tom Garrigan is a very talented photographer who has gained a following on Instagram under the handle “moldy_lungs” taking photographs of abandoned places. You have to check his page out!  So it was interesting to work with him because he is normally a photographer, not a videographer. So he himself was a little reluctant of how the final product would be, but we all think it came out great. Frank Lettieri then took all of the videos that we got with Tom G and made it a cohesive piece. Working with these talented two individuals was extremely easy, and we could not have been happier with how it came out.

What’s next for the DT’s?

Tom: We are truly having a blast doing this, and the past 3 months have been a huge reaffirment for us. We have many more singles lined up and some really awesome shows on the docket. Recording has also really turned into a passion for us, so more writing and experimentation in the fall will be happening for sure. It's been such a great year connecting with new artists, old friends and just letting our passions in this project flow. It's been such a great vehicle for expression for us and I'm so grateful for my friendship with Dave. 

Dave: Not stopping! The only things that are next for us include more music, more shows, more merch and more content. I am also so grateful for my friendship with Tom, and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far!

Interview with Latewaves

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Latewaves are a rock and roll band from Asbury Park, combining sweet melodies reminiscent of 90’s favorites with thoughtful lyrics and a heavy rhythm section. Their latest singles have been accompanied by fantastic music videos to promote their full length release out on Know Hope Records June 4th, 2021. Latewaves have been hard at work this past year, despite the obstacles bands were confronted with due to the pandemic. They will also be one of the first bands to break in the new Basie Plaza venue in Red Bank, NJ on 6/26 (Sold ! Out !). I reached out to the group to see how the last year has treated them and to reminisce on tour stories. Thanks again, Howie! Long live Latewaves!

When was your last show before the lockdown/switch to the year of the livestream? Did you anticipate a year off?

I think it was in February at the Wonder Bar. Well you were there, haha. That was a cool split 7” release show and we raised money for Wag On Inn Rescue. I had actually just adopted a dog from them just a few weeks prior, so that’s definitely a cool memory pre-COVID/year of the livestream. We had a week-long tour booked for the end of last March. The “postponements'' started rolling in the first week of March. We totally understood why, wanted to play things safe, but didn’t think too much of it. Figured we’d be playing those dates just a few months later once everything got better. Obviously, like everyone else, we had no idea how long this would last.

How has the pandemic affected your songwriting and overall process as a band?

I wouldn't say too much has changed. We all live within walking distance of each other. Our practice space is a few miles away. We write at home alone, we write together in the space. We did spend a few months not playing together or really seeing much of each other at all, to stay safe. Once we started to practice and write again (with precautions) it just felt the same. Definitely made writing new things even more exciting after not getting to play together for so long.

Your new video for "Enough is Enough" is great. Who did you work with? How did you all come up with the concept?

Hey, thanks! That video was our first experience working with our now amazing friend Kris Khunachak. I think we might have caught wind of him from the AP2 crew. A total cold-call-fingers-crossed-hoping for the best situation reaching out to him to get this video done. We gave him the song, and then a couple weeks later met up to hash out a concept. Kris had the “cable” idea (watch the video to find out what the hell that means) and we just kept rolling with it. It was a super fun video to make, and we’ve got a couple more things that Kris filmed and directed coming out soon! He’s so damn talented and we would not be in the position we are now without his help. It’s crazy to think we actually filmed that back in January of 2020, thinking our record would be out later that summer.

Your new album Hell to Pay comes out June 4th. Who did you record this record with? How did it affect your writing process, if at all?

We recorded Hell to Pay at The Barber Shop Studios in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Brett Romnes engineered/mixed/produced and Vinnie Caruana was also a producer (both members of I Am The Avalanche, The Movielife). We went in there with a hell of a lot of songs. While we thought all of them were pretty much ready to go, they certainly helped us do a lot of re-working, trimmed some fat, and it really improved us as both writers and players. They are both masters of their craft and writing with them came so naturally. I’d like to think that you can hear that in the record. There’s some songs that we didn’t think would even make the cut that are now probably our favorites to play. I guess that’s a common thing band people say, but it’s the truth.

Do you have a favorite tour moment now that shows are coming back?

Wow, just reading “shows are coming back” gives ya chills nowadays. Personally, something I will never forget is the first night of our first tour. We were playing “The Shed” in Alabama. It was… a shed. We rolled up after driving straight from Jersey to said shed. A girl popped out of the house next door and said “You in latewaves? She’s closed. You’re playing in the kitchen. Come help me move the table.” So, yeah. We moved that table, and then played probably the best and most welcoming house show any of us have experienced. Shawna and I proceeded to get too drunk to blow up the air mattress so we slept in the van. We just never plugged the air mattress in. Mike woke up comfortably sleeping on a couch next to an open window. Then a bird landed on his chest and was just chillin’ inside. Perfect first night and first morning for our first tour.

Did you ever anticipate such a long break from shows? Have there been any positives with the time off?

I guess I kinda said it before, but no we never thought that it would go this long. I don’t think anybody did. Unless you’re literally an expert in pandemics (we are not). It definitely hit us hard, but we know we are very lucky. We’re coming out of this on the other side with our health and a record to put out. Just knowing the amount of friends and people overall in the music industry alone that don’t or won’t have work to go back to breaks our hearts. We’re in a good spot, and we hope that shows (safely) return and we can get the live music machine running again.

It’s hard to find the positives in all this time off, but we know that they are there. It gave us a chance to really put all of our efforts into making sure this record comes out in the way we intended. That’s tough to do from the road when you don’t have major label budgets and people. I mean, it took us a couple years just to make the record. It wasn’t because we wanted to stop and go home after a week. We had tours to go on, jobs to show up to in order to pay rent/go on tour, that whole thing. And we didn’t have to sleep on any strangers' beer soaked floors. But, I do miss that, too. Hopefully one day again soon!

You can keep up with all things Latewaves here and make sure you preorder the record HERE.

Interview with Bobby Mahoney (Quarantine Edition)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Bobby Mahoney and The Seventh Son have been working tirelessly since first emerging from New Brunswick, NJ back in 2012. In the past few years alone, the group has toured the East Coast and Midwest, released a handful of EP’s and singles and even opened up for Bon Jovi at the Prudential Center. Most recently, the group released an acoustic version of their track “Called It Quits”, recorded in New York just before the shutdown started last year. 

When the pandemic first hit a little over a year ago, any lover of music knew it was going to be a little while before they were out seeing live music in any “normal” capacity. While some bands headed to the studio and others dissolved, Bobby took this time to help bring people together during this isolation. His livestreams have helped create an online music community that both inspires and connects musicians and listeners all around the world. I absolutely love what he has been doing with this somewhat new livestream medium and Bobby was kind enough to talk to me about what he's been up to the past year with The Seventh Son and the year of the livestream.

When and where was your last show before the venue lockdown?

B.M.: Our last full band show before the lockdown was at The Saint on February 20th with Latewaves, Lake Lilies, and Earth Telephone, but I also jammed with Matty Carlock at The Stone Pony on Feb. 22nd, played acoustic at Langosta Lounge with Joe Rapolla on March 7th, and then I was on a float with Williams Honor in the Asbury St. Patrick’s Day Parade on the 8th. The next week, the school I teach at went virtual and things hit the fan.

How has the pandemic affected the band (i.e. practices, songwriting, release dates)?

We have definitely rehearsed less than we would have, and we definitely have spent less time in the studio to say the least. We have been able to record 5 songs as a full band so far, but we have more work to do. We have put out a few new videos, a new live track, and new acoustic songs in the meantime, which we are all proud of.

How has the pandemic affected your songwriting, if at all?

I have a lot of songs that I was working on pre-pandemic that have new context to the world we find ourselves in currently. I still write down fragments of ideas and record bits of voice memos most days, and am constantly revising ideas, but I find myself letting them marinade more, living in various states of completion. As we have been in the process of getting vaxxed up, we have been starting to get back in the swing of rehearsals and studio sessions to complete the next batch of songs that I’ve let marinade enough. 

When did you first premiere your Bloody Marys and Coffee show? How did you come up with it?

I believe it was March 22nd, 2020. It started as me feeling unsure of how to help the situation, feeling restless, and wanting to give people a distraction. Part of the restlessness was feeling the need to ‘stay relevant’ and active, which I am sure a lot of our peers can relate to. 

“Called It Quits (Acoustic)” on Bandcamp now!

How many live streams have you done since the pandemic? Did you ever expect this medium to take off the way it has?

I honestly haven’t been counting or keeping track in any way (laughs sheepishly). I didn’t think we would be doing this for this long, or else I would have kept a better record. I would approximate there have been around 50 solo acoustic ‘Bloody Marys and Coffee”, two successful full band live streams, one less successful one early early on before we asked more friends for help, plus many more benefit video contributions and streams over the last year. It's like putting a bandaid on a headshot, but we are making the best of the medium. The best upside is that I get to check in with my friends all around the world once a week, and that's been a gift, and the coolness of it isn’t lost on me. I’m very grateful for all my friends, old and new, who have tuned into any of the streams this year. Some people haven’t missed one. I’m also grateful to have been able to still play with my band in any capacity over the last year, so I will take what I can get. The safety of our friends, and families who could have been directly or indirectly affected by us playing music in a less-than-safe setting has weighed heavy on me, and it continues to. 

Have you been finding yourself writing more or less the past year?

Less in the overall volume of songs, but I still have too many songs that I want to work on. I’m excited to put the band back to work as soon as possible. The gears haven’t stopped turning but they definitely were slowed for a while when it really wasn’t safe to even be in the same room for too long. Now as things are starting to look up a bit (knocks furiously on wood) we can start to rev the engine and get the gears moving faster.

Plans for future releases? Currently working on anything?

Yeah, there will be a new Seventh Son record in the not so distant future. Will it be an EP? Will it be an LP? Will it be a Double Record? Not sure. I really am still figuring that all out. Time and the process will present that information to me when I am ready for it.

You can keep up with all things Bobby Mahoney and The Seventh Son here!

Interview with Via Ripa. New EP "While It Lasts"

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Via Ripa are a four piece rock outfit based out of Long Branch, New Jersey. Forming in summer of 2019, Via Ripa already has two EPs out; their latest “While It Lasts” was released 2/14/2021. Their blend of influences lead to a unique, energetic sound, with a familiar New Jersey attitude. Unfortunately due to the pandemic, after Via Ripa’s first three shows, venues were shut down and the group was forced back to their practice space. Luckily for us, the group has been hard at work and are showing no signs of stopping. I reached out to the band to see how they have been keeping busy in the wake of their latest release, as well as what is next for Via Ripa.

When did Via Ripa first form? 

Via Ripa: Mike and two of our friends (Sam Macpherson and Kyle Kieper<333) had started writing songs together and posting them on YouTube in like 2015/2016, and they called that Via Ripa, but only did that for about a year. Fast forward to the summer of 2019, and Matt, Mike and I (Sean) started jamming together and eventually got our drummer Nick in the mix. We got the okay from Sam and Kyle to use Via Ripa as our name in the beginning of 2020, but I guess you could say Via Ripa has been around for a little while. 

Who were your influences when starting the band, have those influences changed?

As far as influences go, all four of us come from varying backgrounds with varying interests in genres and artists.  Personally, mine (Nick) range from jazz artists like Louis Prima, Art Blakey and Benny Greb to bands and artists like Streetlight Manifesto, Jack Johnson, PUP, Vulfpeck and Led Zeppelin.  Sean was listening to a lot of Slaughter Beach Dog, Skeggs FIDLAR, bands like that, and Mike was on a big Jimmi Hendrix and The Smiths kick. Matt is more into blues and progressive, like Ariel Posen. That said, we feel that our sound is a result of all of these bands and evolves due to the wide variety of our own personal influences

When did you start writing for your latest release, "While It Lasts"?

Over the summer we sat down and kind of just wrote whatever popped in our head. I think in total we wrote 11 songs and ended up recording 10 of them in a two day span, with some over dubbing sessions in the following weeks. “Summer is Dead” was a reworked version of the song Mike wrote in 2015, but all of the writing for the “While It Lasts” was done in the summer.

How has the pandemic influenced how the band functions (i.e. practices, songwriting, recording)?

We had our first three shows in a two week span before COVID shut down live music, so it really sucked going from full steam ahead to doing nothing. We didn’t have practice for the first few months, but we slowly got back into playing and writing. I think the time away from practice for a little allowed us to write material in our own space and bring it to the band and then have it take a whole new shape and sound. The live music shutdown also changed the way we feel about releasing music. We could have put out a ten song album, or two five track EPs, but staggering our releases and creating anticipation for our next songs, that has really been the best way for us to present our music to people. 

Any bands you are looking forward to playing with once shows come back around? Venues in particular?

Sean — Loveseat Pete!!!!!!!!! And I would love to get back to The Saint and The Brighton [Bar], but House of Independents and any 4333 Collective show would be really cool, too. 

We would also love at some point to start branching out to NY, Philly, and Boston. Nick’s got a bunch of friends and bands out there from touring and school, which is pretty great.

How have you all been maintaining your sanity throughout the past year?

We haven’t. This band is full of neurotic basket cases who cannot be saved from themselves. 

Future plans/releases?

We have a direct-to-vinyl session with Leesta Vall on April 3, and we will be putting out another EP, 5 songs, in the near future.  We are also always writing and pumping out new songs, so at some point or another we will record those, too! But definitely give our new EP, “While It Lasts”, a listen.

Via Ripa is
Nick Marinelli — Drums
Michael Pinckney — Voc/ Guitar
Matt Smentkowski — Vox/ Guitar
Sean Cuddy — Bass 

Interview with Jonathan Francis. New EP "Borrowed Songs, Vol. 1"

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Jonathan Francis is a singer songwriter based out of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Having cut his teeth in the New Brunswick punk scene with his band, The Moms, their 2019 split led Jon to start working on music under his own name. Jonathan released his “Borrowed Songs, Vol. 1” EP on March 10th, a mix of covers as well as an original, stripped down version of his own track, “Borrowed Song.” This first release is just a fraction of what is to come from Jonathan Francis, having recorded a full band release as well last year with his trusty producer Pete Steinkopf. Jon was kind enough to let me in on the process of making the “Borrowed Songs” EP and the importance of working harder despite the current circumstances. 

When did you first start releasing music under your name?

JF: The first official release was on November 2nd, 2020.  It was my version of Woody Guthrie’s “Tear the Fascists Down” which is part of my new EP, “Borrowed Songs.” I kind of pushed this track ahead of other stuff I’ve been working on because of what was going on in the world.

What was the songwriting process like for your new release "Borrowed Songs"?

The title track, “Borrowed Song” is one that I’ve had forever. I put together this EP which includes 3 covers that resonate loudly these days.

Woody Guthrie, a big influence on the “Borrowed Songs” EP. Listen to “Tear the Fascists Down” on Spotify.

Who did you work with on this release? How did they influence your process?

This one was just myself and Pete Steinkopf (The Bouncing Souls). It was Pete’s idea to turn the whole thing up and ditch the acoustic for the 335, and I’m glad we did.

How has the pandemic affected your songwriting process, if at all?

I’ve been keeping with it and trying to constantly expand my approach, but at the same time feel like I’m just drifting without progress. I know that’s not true, but it’s definitely easy to feel like time is stalled. We don’t do anything the same these days, so the milestones I used to make in my mind with a track are not the same as they once were. Additionally, the lyrical content has been focused in a different direction, naturally, as nothing is the same as it was pre-pandemic.

You released a cover of Woody Guthrie's "Tear the Fascists Down" late last year. Did you plan on digging up older songs for this project, or was that a spontaneous decision due to the state of our country at that point?

It just kind of happened. The songs are all from different decades. I guess they were just resonating with me particularly heavily due to the state of things. The idea to make an EP out of the songs came later. Each of the covers was its own endeavor when I started putting them together.

How have you been maintaining your sanity as a musician over the past year?

Well, I’ve been TRYING to maintain my sanity, but it doesn’t always feel like it’s working. It’s been hard but the three W’s help.... Weed, Water, & Willie. No, but for real, getting outside (even though the Jersey winter is no fun) and playing music with the same intention that I’d have if tomorrow was a show. It was easy to get lost for a while, time seemed even more fleeting, but staying focused on what I love doing makes it feel like there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Now, if I could just remind myself that every morning haha.

Any bands/venues you are looking forward to playing with when shows come back?

Too many bands to name, but where we will play is the bigger question. Punks are resilient, like cockroaches. There will be places to play, but it is a bit anxiety-inducing to wonder where, knowing that so many places have already and will close. It’s pretty scary to say the least. But we’ll be okay.

Photo by Abby Clare.

Idle Wave - "Party Guy" Album Release. Interview with Guy Battaglia

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Wednesday, February 24, 2021

After their self-titled debut in 2018, Idle Wave are back with their latest release, aptly titled “Party Guy.” While the project remains spearheaded by singer-songwriter Guy Battaglia, he enlisted a new cast of fantastic musicians to help bring his ideas to fruition. This record includes the catchy melodies listeners will remember from their first release, adding a focus on Battaglia’s lyrics and vocals with the track's sometimes sparse instrumentation.  After a delay with the original release date due to the pandemic, “Party Guy” was officially released to the world February 19th, after much anticipation. I recently reached out to Guy to ask him about the creation of this new record and releasing music during a time where live shows are unfeasible.  

When did you first start writing for “Party Guy”? Are these all new songs?

“Party Guy” first began with the song “Home.”

In the Spring of 2019, I’d go for regular walks around my neighborhood, that of which were often accompanied by my own voice, humming along to the spontaneous melodies crafted in my mind. Sometimes these melodies would follow me all the way home, so I’d repeat them out loud and then store them as voice memos in my cell phone. Curating these melodies not only became as habitual as my daily walks, but a way to process my life experience during that time.

Having recently left a suffocating job, I was without a doubt relieved, yet perplexed by what was to come; the next chapter of my life dawned on me as an unsettling and haunting mystery. Through these revelations, I gathered my senses, sat myself down on my bed and pressed record on my phone. Beginning with a two-chord progression and an improvisation of lyrics, one of the spontaneous melodies came adrift. This voice memo would ironically be saved as “Home 44”, as it was one of the many drafts that my voice memo app would default the title name as my phone’s location.

After recording a raw acoustic version of “Home”, I sent the “Home 44” memo to Erik Kase Romero (The Front Bottoms, Stillhungry) and asked him to cut the track with me. Since we were overdue to work on a record together, Erik kindly accepted the project and I began gathering new material. Throughout the Summer, Erik and I reworked the two most Pop-Punk influenced tracks on the record (“Happy” and “Stay”) which were first demoed with Idle Wave’s former band members and respected friends — Joseph Enright, Matthew Herman, Kevin Houston, and Chris Russo. Even though these two songs were originally demoed elsewhere, they needed to be completely reconstructed with Erik to the styles of “Home” and the new Indie-Alternative genre that we were naturally gravitating towards. (You can hear the original demos of “Happy” and “Stay” when you download the deluxe version of “Party Guy,” only on Bandcamp).

By the Fall, most of “Diet”, “All Night”, “My End”, “Sex/Tape”, and “Space” were mapped out or tracked with Erik, and it only took a few more sessions into the Winter to finalize the album. In the several months that carried the recording process from Fall to Winter, we experimented with tape loops, shuffled between guest musicians, and even changed studio locations. Anyhow, as  “Happy” and “Stay” constitute as new songs, despite of their original format, “Sex/Tape” does not. “Sex/Tape” was borrowed from my former Alternative project “Flammable Animals” and was instrumentally reimagined to create a darker and deeper experience then it’s original counterpart, “American Counterpoint.”

For those who are interested, “My End” was the last song to be written for the album. Beginning as just another melody on the acoustic guitar, “My End” startled my own thoughts with feelings of nostalgia. I foresaw “the sounds of my childhood”, and reflected on the sounds of Indie-Rock bands from the 90’s. After listening to the final instrumentation back for the first time, I felt something indescribably large about the song; I knew I’d make it “track 7” on the album from that moment on.

Who did you work with when recording “Party Guy”? Have you worked with these people before? How did that affect the music?

This was my first time collaborating with Erik on my own music. For years I have sat in on sessions with him during college classes or when I was just hanging out at his studio and playing shows with him.

Erik and I were both determined to enter a realm of sounds I’ve never been a part of before. I was particularly inspired by Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” and how it was an acoustic driven record with distorted bass and raw drums that just took you away lyrically to a bizarre fantasy land. Although I went in not knowing what to expect, one thing was for certain; I wanted this to be a full-length record.

Featured musicians included either close friends of mine or other talented musicians that I had crossed paths with in the Asbury Park scene. Not only did Erik produce this record with me, but he helped craft bass lines, piano embellishments, and drum machines. I hired two incredibly talented drummers (one of which is a longtime friend of mine), and even did a vocal feature with my friend Brittany Byrne (singer of Skyeline). My long-term friend Samir Bunty Tawalare played drums on the latter half of the record while Chris Donofrio (formerly of Deal Casino), was commissioned during the early Summer sessions. 

How has the pandemic affected your songwriting process?

I’ve spoken to a number of songwriters I look up to who have been cursed with “writer’s block” this year. I am happy to say that has not happened to me (knock on wood). In fact, once we were given a go on proper public safety precautions, my friend Connor Hanson and I began meeting up to work on a follow up record over the summer.  

What has it been like setting up a virtual release show opposed to one in person? Any benefits/drawbacks you feel strongly about?

Honestly, nothing will ever beat a live show. In this Black Mirror era of civilization, live shows are where I meet the people that see the world eye to eye with me; the ones who don’t mind being alone on a Friday night and aren’t afraid to scream their heart out to their favorite songs.

I feel eternally grateful to all who have tuned in to our previous livestreams, and we are making a point to deliver this time; four 4K cameras, a new studio space, a full five-piece band, and some of the most exceptional musicians and engineers I have ever worked with.

Nobody is satisfied with the current state of things, but I’m beyond lucky and thankful for being able to get in a room with people and track 11 songs in one day for this supportive community to experience. I am not exaggerating when I say it blows away some of our previous streams.

Who will be joining you/playing with Idle Wave at the release shows?

For the upcoming ”Party Guy” release show, my extraordinary band will feature:

Connor Hanson (Cloud Hands)

Jon Chang-Soon (J C Soon)

Samir Tawalare (Talk to Plants)                                                            

Brittany Byrne (Skyeline)

Erik Kase Romero (Stillhungry, The Front Bottoms)

Personal favorite part of the record to you? 

I do love all eight of the songs, but “Diet” and “Space” are the ones I’m most excited for people to hear.

You can purchase “Party Guy” by Idle Wave here!

Grin & Bear - "Be Gentle" (Interview)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Thursday, February 13, 2020

Be Gentle is the latest record from Wall Township’s Grin & Bear. Forming in 2014, the group has undergone line up changes throughout the years, leading to this latest effort from Brian Perrino. This album, while under the name Grin & Bear, has become more of a collaborative/solo project for Perrino. The record is an absolute powerhouse and a favorite of mine to come out this year. Be Gentle is self reflective and positive, perfect timing for we could all use a little extra positivity today.  I reached out to Brian to pick his brain about the making of this record and he was kind enough to do an interview. Thank you again, Brian!

When did Grin and Bear first form?

Grin & Bear first formed in 2014 during a time when we (Brian, Chris, Will, and Gavin) were all in college spread out over a few different states. I had been working on some songs, and we all naturally started sending ideas back and forth, and it turned into our first release "Range Wars" which ended up being a massively group-oriented effort. We self-recorded and released it in 2015.

How has the band changed over the years?

Since starting the band, we never ended up living in the same place at the same time. We met up when we could and played when we could. We operated that way for a few years and released "Range Wars" and "Everything is Gravy." I had been writing so much and in an effort to get more music out there started recording some acoustic tracks, which turned into "Hair Shirt Pt 1" and shortly after that release, Gavin (bass) made a long-term move to Georgia and we made the decision to end the band.

One day in 2018, I got back into writing and ended up with a few songs that I really loved and wanted to hear full band, so I reached back out to the band to ask if I could transition Grin & Bear into more of a solo project/collaborative effort. That is when Be Gentle began.

When did you start writing for Be Gentle?

In September of 2018, I wrote the songs "India" and "Not Bad" and became 100% sure I wanted to write an album. Every song (with the exception of “First Reaction”) came after that . We went into the studio in July of 2019 and were writing up until the day we left for the studio.

What is your songwriting process like?

Every song started with an acoustic guitar. I would mess around until something caught my interest, and then I would immediately start trying to sing whatever words and melody came out (sometimes using a note in my phone, mostly just trying to see what happens on the spot. There's so much boppin’ around up there, sometimes a pleasing guitar part draws something potent out). If I liked it enough, I would record a demo and then walk around my neighborhood listening to it until I heard something new, and then I would run into my house and record the new part.

This was the most fun I have ever had writing music (I remind myself often that those experiences in themselves are all I need to "get" out of this album). I heard a lot more than just my demos, so I reached out to a lot of my friends to see who was interested and had time to contribute. Some came over and we wrote together, some wrote totally on their own, and one part I didn't even hear until the second to last day of recording. These contributions made the album what it is. They kept it light and fun. I called the album Be Gentle because gentleness made this album possible. I had to remind myself to be gentle a whole lot (and still do).

Who did you record the album with and what was that experience like?

We recorded Be Gentle in Bayonne with Adam Cichocki at Timber Studios. It was the absolute best! Adam's studio is furnished with 2 dogs, 2 bean bags, extremely kind engineers and hosts, and is in close proximity to vegan "chicken" wings that are absolutely fire. Adam is so good at the technical aspect of recording an album that he's able to put you in a creative, stress-free, and positive environment right off the bat. This is not a paid ad for Timber Studios. Be Gentle would not sound the way it does without Adam and I love him!!

Who played on this release?

Okay, here we go.
Your boy (Brian) played a little of everything.
Chris Calabrese (drums, a little vocals)
Gavin Fischer (bass, a lot of backup vocals)
Will Avon (bass, lead guitar)
Matt Baker (bass, keyboard, backup vocals)
Nigel Whitley (bass)
Zach Henry (guest vocals)
Connor Mcarthur (guest vocals)
Stephen Kelly (guest vocals)
Tim Mullooly (guest vocals)
Grace Fox (trumpet)
Adam Cichocki (random stuff here and there, sleigh bells, post track clapping)
Bowser (double bean)

Favorite track on Be Gentle?

I think my favorite track is "India." The bass line at the end (Gavin wrote it) is my favorite part on the album. I danced a lot writing it and lyrically dug into a personal hang-up (pride) that has kept me from enjoying some important aspects of my life.

Upcoming plans?

Working to be more kind and gentle with myself and everyone else. And writing more music with my friends/biggest influences/people I love.

Interview with Magic Ghrelin

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Wednesday, January 1, 2019

Magic Ghrelin is a four piece, punk/power pop group based out of Asbury Park, New Jersey. The group consists of Matt "Tank" Bergman (drums), Guy Pollioni, (guitar /vocals), Justin Lombardo (guitar/vocals) and Luke Henderiks (bass/vocals). Their debut EP Die a Rockstar is an energetic, punk masterpiece. This record is unapologetically honest yet incredibly catchy, tackling heavy subjects with soaring guitars. The tracks allow for every member to shine through in their unique playing and songwriting style, absolutely nobody sounds like them.  I reached out to Magic Ghrelin and they were sweet enough to answer some questions about the origins of the band!

When did Magic Ghrelin form? How did you come up with the band name?

Tank: Magic Ghrelin formed about a year ago and the word “Ghrelin” is the hunger hormone that communicates to your brain that you are hungry. Throw magic in front of that and boom, the hunger to make magic.

Who are your biggest influences as a band?

Luke: Personally I would say Big Star, Grandaddy, Nada Surf, Knapsack, The Get Up Kids and Teenage Fanclub! We aspire to be a power-pop band with heavy emo and shoegaze influence.

Overall message as a band?

Luke: Our overall message as a band is to respect and love what you do and to not be ashamed of who you are. We write songs about being unique and having issues with our mental health that we work on with the help of the people we love around us.

What is Magic Ghrelin’s song writing process like?

Luke: Guy usually comes up with a guitar part with Tank drumming with him at practice, then it gets presented to Justin and I. We usually end up deciding if it works based on how we play the song together. If we feel the magic when we create, we keep it; if we aren’t with it, we don’t. It’s a pretty simple process. We all come up with lyrics together and review them.

Favorite song on “Die a Rockstar”?

Justin: I like “Enemy” the most because I think it's really catchy and it's a true pump up banger that touches upon some honest feelings lyrically.

Smooch (Interview)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Sunday, October 13, 2019

Smooch is somewhat of a supergroup, hailing from Monmouth County.  The five-piece, “groovy beach rock” group consists of members from various local New Jersey bands.  Together they create a sound unlike any of their own individual bands, and that sound is quite refreshing.  Their first single, “Rudy” caught my attention, and the band was kind enough to answer some questions about their origin and “Rudy.”  Make sure you follow Smooch on Spotify to keep up with their releases!

How did Smooch form?  When?

We’ve all known each other for quite some time and have collaborated through different projects, but the first time “Smooch” came together was for a recording session in March of 2019. 

Who is in Smooch?  Who plays what?

Smooch consists of:

Jon Bass - Bass Guitar and vocals

Justin Murray - Guitar

James Eckert - Guitar and vocals

Owen Flanagan - Drums and percussion

Andy Jackle - Drums and percussion  

Tell us about your latest single, "Rudy."  Where did you record?

The song “Rudy” was recorded at Retromedia Recording Studio in Red Bank, NJ by Adam Vaccarelli (a totally rad dude).  Justin Murray wrote the premise of the song while still in high school.  It came to its final form after the other members added their parts just before the recording session. 

What is Smooch's songwriting process like?

When Smooch writes a song, it often starts with one band member bringing an idea to the table (chord progressions, lyrics, etc.) and then the band will get together and create parts for other instruments.  We then jam it out and try to get it as tight as possible. 

Plans for more music?  EP?  Album?

We’ve released 5 individual songs so far and are constantly writing more.  As of now, there are no concrete plans for an album or an EP.  We are just creating and going with the flow.

Future plans for Smooch?  Upcoming shows?

On November 1, 2019 you can catch Smooch at the Red Tank Brewing in Red Bank, NJ.  For more show dates and future events, you can follow us on Instagram with the tag @smoochthegroup!

Sammy Kay – “Civil/War” (Album Review)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Sunday, October 13, 2019

“If there is one thing this past year has taught me, it's the true meaning of the word ‘Unconditional.’” This was part of a eulogy Sammy Kay spoke to a crowded AP Brewery last May, in between new songs that would be on his next album, Civil/War.  Five months later, Civil/War has been released into the world, and I truly believe we are all better off for it.

Civil/War is an album unlike anything we have heard from Kay before.  While his previous records included influence from ska and roots rock, C/W is a much more stripped back record.  Calling upon local musicians and friends from Nashville, TN, Kay is accompanied by lap steel guitar, organ, piano and bone chilling harmonies (e.g. “Thoughts and Prayers"). This record was also recorded at Little Eden by the great Pete Steinkopf, another crucial member of the New Jersey music scene.  Additionally, this album was helped funded in part by fellow fans and friends throughout the world.

            Civil/War is a heavy album.  While album opener “Silver Dollar” invites you with its major chords and harmonica, the mood starts to change almost immediately after.  “Thoughts and Prayers” is a title alone that criticizes the way people handle heavy situations these days.  The album deals with depression, self-doubt, loss, just about any pain you can imagine.  Though the topics and stories may be heavy, the songs provide a deep sense of comfort.  The album ends with “Orange Swirl”, the perfect crescendo to cap off the album, leaving the listener to reflect on “fireflies and summer nights.”

            Do yourself a favor and listen to Civil/War as soon as possible, and tell your friends and family that you love them.  

Hopper Pond - “Cutting Ties” (Interview)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Sunday, October 13, 2019

Hopper Pond is a pop punk/emo group based out of Forked River, New Jersey. Earlier this year, the group released their debut EP, Cutting Ties. Since the release, Hopper Pond has been playing numerous shows throughout the state and beyond in support of the release. Cutting Ties is a high energy, ripper of a first release, and bassist/vocalist Steve Scholey was kind enough to answer some questions about the group and Cutting Ties. Thanks again, Steve!  

Where are you based out of? 

Hopper Pond is based out of Nicky's (vocals/guitar) house in Forked River NJ. We're all pretty much from close, surrounding towns. Chris's house is now our home venue, the calzone zone, so we're finally able to do stuff SUPER close to home, makes everything so easy, and I love bringing the scene to our small town to throw down!

How did you meet?

So Hopper Pond was formed in January of this year, actually. We started as a 3-piece, until we had the pleasure of adding Evan and Ry to the mix.  We've all been in previous bands with each other before. Ryan (lead guitar) has been in almost every band of mine since middle school, and I've known Nicky since I started taking bass lessons in 5th grade. Honestly we're all best friends and the dynamic between us really shows it, on and off stage. 

Who are your biggest influences?

Oof, we take influence from a pretty wide spectrum. Obviously, we all have a soft spot for the emo revival period. I feel like there was a point where I owned every piece of Modern Baseball merch available. Though, I do like to take a lot of influence from pop music. I just love it. T Swift? Amazing. We listen to everything we can. We just love finding new shit and showing each other, whether it be emo, rap, or hardcore.

How has your music evolved since you first formed Hopper Pond?

Well, the first song I wrote for us was “41-33.” Since then, I feel like we bounce around. We write a LOT of music in our free time. I feel like multiple days, I'll get a voice memo from Nick or Ryan with a new riff, or I'll send them a "banger one liner" or something. It's very obvious when I get on kicks of pop punk, or screamo. You can hear it in our music, like a timeline of what we've been listening to, who we've been taking influence from. From here, I don't know what we're gonna write. It's gonna be fun though.  

What was the process like writing and recording Cutting Ties?

Writing Cutting Ties was honestly the most fun I've ever had with my friends. Every time we wrote a new song, we'd come up with an idea for it and scream about it for an hour, texting each other after how this is "our new best song, holy shit this is our new best song." We collaborate really nicely, because we're so comfortable and real with each other. On the recording side, Jacob Fishman should get an award. He fucking killed it, from start to finish. I've never worked with someone with so much knowledge, and I can't wait to work with him again. He does hate Bayside tho, which I do have a problem with. 

Favorite song on Cutting Ties, and why? 

“You Wouldn't Love Me in the Summer” is my favorite track on that record. It's just so energetic and fun to play live, and the lyrics are some of my favorites that we have released. One of my favorite parts of the set, definitely. 

What can you expect at a Hopper Pond show?

A Hopper Pond show is definitely different. We may have a few things to say about Tom Brady, or stories from Nick's dishwashing job. We love to have fun and joke around on stage. I grew up a huge fan of Blink-182, and I always loved how you could have fun with them at shows. They acted like best friends, because they were. Our fans, to be honest, are fucking insane. They're what makes it fun. There's nothing like the feeling of someone screaming your lyrics back at you. Whether it's in a sweaty basement or a coffee shop, HP shows always pop off. 

We have a BIG winter tour planned and just a lot happening coming up. New merch, new music, lots of shows, a lot of fun. We love our scene more than anything, it's like a big ol' friend group. Every band is so supportive and helped us come so far in such a short time, we appreciate it more than we could ever explain.

Idle Wave - "Calm" (Interview)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Friday, September 6, 2019

Idle Wave is a project fronted by Guy Battaglia based out of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Since releasing their self-titled EP last December, Idle Wave is back with a music video for their third single, “Calm.” Guy was kind enough to give a behind the scenes look of what went into this raucous track. Thanks again, Guy!

When did Idle Wave form? When did you start releasing music?

Idle Wave is a continuation of a project I started with my friends in college in 2014. However, the first single “Alpern” under the new name was released in December 2018.

Who are your biggest influences?

Originally started out with bands like Green Day and Weezer, but recently [I] have been inspired by DIY bands breaking ground such as Prince Daddy and the Hyena, Mom Jeans, Just Friends, Oso Oso, Remo Drive, etc.

Who is in Idle Wave?

I (Guy) am the primary songwriter, and my friends play shows and record with me sometimes.

How has your music evolved since you first formed Idle Wave?

More honest and to the point.

What was the process like writing and recording "Calm" compared to previous releases?

“Calm” was originally a slow ballad and had a whole other section originally written to it that would have been the climax to the song. Joe Enright (drums) suggested we kick the BPM past 200 since we’ve never written a song that fast before. We cut that last section to try the song without and we were satisfied with the shortened version.

What does this track mean to you? How did you go about writing it?

This song was inspired by that feeling you get when you’re trying to enjoy something and your mind gets dark and all your stresses resurface. Every song on the EP is written around the idea of familiar feelings. This was a song where certain lyrics came to me at different times. Whether winter was fading to spring or I was watching an Avengers movie, these thoughts wouldn’t leave me alone.

The speed of this song along with my exhausted lyrics and vocals has been a great coping mechanism for me as of late. 

Kris Khunachak executed a wonderful visual for this song (which can be found on our YouTube channel). We shot the video back in March in his garage where we also shot our music video for “Smoke (Bad Dreams)”. Kris has been carrying the scene on his back, and I can speak for the both of us when we tell you we cannot wait for you to see the latest project we tackled. 

I am working on my first full length record and I am self financing it. There are T-shirt’s for sale on our website (idlewaveband.com) and our Self Titled EP is available on Spotify, Bandcamp, YouTube and Apple Music. We hope you enjoy and share with your friends. Hope to see y’all at the next show!

Molly Ringworm - "Good Ol Boys" (Interview)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted September 17, 2019

Good Ol Boys is the latest release from indie rockers Molly Ringworm. Based out of Atlantic County, NJ, this is their second EP since the release of Tape 1, back in September, 2017. Good Ol Boys is the culmination of a year's worth of work in the studio and writing for the group. Singer and guitarist, Sarah Holt, was kind enough to talk about the band’s history and what went into this phenomenal release. Thanks again, Sarah!

When did Molly Ringworm form? When did you start releasing music?

Molly Ringworm started as a solo project in high school in 2015. I put out my first two singles, "561" and "All The Time," in 2016. I would grab anyone that would play with me for a live show as a duo, a trio or solo. Niko has been there from the beginning, originally playing bass. This past year, the lineup finally solidified into a four piece.

How did you meet?

Guitarist Johnny Zappas and I are cousins. We have been playing in bands together for ten years now. We both went to a performing arts high school where we met and became friends with bassist Andrew Simpson and drummer Niko Berardo. We've been playing together in all different projects ever since!

Who are your biggest influences?

Liz Phair and Joni Mitchell are who made me pick up a guitar and start writing. Phair, Mitchell, Stephen Malkmus, Elliott Smith and Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz, Sad13) are who I look up to for lyric writing and guitar playing. The Beatles have also been important to me from a young age. They are masters in melody, harmony, songwriting structure and attitude.

How has your music evolved since you first formed Molly Ringworm?

I think the main way Ringworm’s music has evolved is its shift from a solo project to a group effort. I’m still writing all of the songs, but I also have the input and contributions of parts from my talented friends. All of our creative brains together make songs better than I ever thought they could be written alone in my room.

What was the process like writing and recording Good Ol Boys compared to previous releases?

With the singles and the previous EP, Tape 1, everything was recorded in a matter of days. Recording and mixing Good Ol Boys was spaced out over the course of this year. We recorded and re-recorded and had to find time here and there with our busy schedules. We also really took our time mixing, which with the passing of time we have learned more about since previous releases (thank you Andrew for leading that brigade).

Favorite song on Good Ol Boys and why?

The guys' favorite is "Timmy." There's this sort of dynamic explosion in the chorus that Niko described best as a release of tension. There's a lot of energy to it, especially when we are playing it live. My favorite is "No Matter What" because the subject matter is so important to me. The song is addressing misogyny in the music scene in forms of condescension, exclusion, harassment and complacency of peers and friends. It's a call for men who claim to be feminists to recognize misogyny when they see it, and to speak out when their female friends are silenced.

Upcoming shows:

Saturday, October 5 - 7:00pm

Molly Ringworm @ The Whitechapel Projects

15 2nd Ave.

Long Branch, NJ 07740

w/ Ornamental & Format War

Friday, October 18 - 7:00pm

Molly Ringworm @ The Clubhouse

Inside The Downtown Shops @ 53 Main

53 N Main St.

Toms River, NJ 08753

w/ Dolly Spartans & Heartsigh

Interview with Olivia Rohlfs

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Tuesday, August 27, 2019

For fans of - Death Cab For Cutie, Boygenius, Sharon Van Etten

Olivia Rohlfs is a singer-songwriter based out of Bergen County. Having recently obtained a music degree from Monmouth University, Olivia assembled a band and headed straight to the studio. Its efforts will be her debut release, sometime in 2020. In the meantime, you can listen to a live session of her latest track “June 8th” on her YouTube channel. Olivia was kind enough to answer a few questions about her new project. Thanks again!

What is your background in music?

I like to think that music runs in the family... My grandmother was a singer, and my grandfather was a professional pianist who ran with the likes of George Gershwin and Irving Berlin during his day. Unfortunately, they both passed while I was young, so I never really got to press them for stories of their glory days, but I definitely think that I’ve inherited whatever made them both gravitate towards music. I didn’t really appreciate music too much as a kid— I loathed playing the clarinet and oboe in the band because it was the farthest thing from cool. It wasn’t until late high school that I bought a guitar off eBay and started to teach myself just enough to cover my favorite songs. I’ve become somewhat of an instrument hoarder since I bought that first guitar, and typically alternate between guitar, piano, ukulele, and mandolin.  

Fast-forward to present day, and I actually have my Bachelor’s degree in the Business of Music from Monmouth University. I spent most of my time in college attending, playing, and hosting house shows with the talented friends I’ve made in Asbury Park’s flourishing music scene. I’ve interned for local labels like Sniffling Indie Kids in New Brunswick doing everything from digital marketing to website design and PR. I’ve played in bands with friends for Monmouth University’s record label, and hosted a weekly radio show on Monmouth’s radio station, WMCX 88.9. After graduation, I took an assistant job at Hearst Communications in NYC to get a handle on my student loans but still find myself spending every spare minute that I have spent consuming, playing, or writing music.

When did you first start writing your own music?

This is sort of an embarrassing question for me to answer because I feel like I’m such a late bloomer with my songwriting. I only started writing my own stuff in 2017. After years of simply covering my favorite musicians and attending their shows, I would always walk away thinking, “I could write like that” or “I could do that.” It’s only now that I’m actually getting around to it. “Time You Knew”, which will be on the record, was actually the first song that I ever finished. I’m pretty proud of it considering it’s my first. The only reason that I actually wrote it in the first place was because another musician had been writing songs about me and I felt inclined to return the favor—so thanks to that guy!  

Who are your influences? 

The list of artists that I love runs long. My first CD that I got as a kid was a Beach Boys Sounds of Summer album. Growing up, my parents played a lot of Bruce Springsteen, Beatles, and Tom Petty, so those classics remain some of my favorites. Some modern artists that I love are all over the place… Phoebe Bridgers, Maggie Rogers, Your Smith, Haim, Kacey Musgraves, Vulfpeck, Anderson .Paak, Bleachers, Margaret Glaspy, The 1975— I could go on, but I’ll spare you. 

How long have you been working on this upcoming release?

 These songs have existed since 2017, but we finally went into the studio for the first recording session this July. I wrangled a few of my friends to back me as my band, and we’ve finished almost half of the record already. “Time You Knew” and “June 8th” are the first two tracks that I’ve been holding onto for a while. With those two in the bag, we have a couple sessions left to round out the record with a few more songs. It doesn’t have a name or a release date yet, but I’m figuring it all out as I go. I’ll likely release a single while wrapping up the loose ends of the record. My fingers are crossed for a release in the late fall of 2019 or early 2020… 2020 has a nice ring to it.

What musicians did you work with?

The best part about being a music major in college is that your school pals quickly become some of your favorite musicians. I was lucky enough to have Owen Flanagan (drums & percussion), Justin Murray (lead guitar), and Jon Bass (bass) as my wrecking crew. Owen is a top lad, my former roommate, and one of the most sought-after drummers in NJ. If you’re out at a bar on a Saturday night where there’s live music, the odds are pretty good that Owen’s there on drums. I still remember playing “Time You Knew” for him and my other roommates in our living room the day that I wrote it because I was so excited. We joked that whenever I needed a drummer that I’d come after him, so he’s really been in it from the beginning. Justin & Jon are two peas in a pod that lived around the corner from Owen and I when we were in school. We always had a lot of fun together and I admired their musicianship when I watched them play in other bands. When it came down to picking musicians to work with, this crew seemed like the obvious choice. 

Where are you recording? What made you choose this place?

We are recording with Adam Vaccarelli of Retromedia Sound Studios in Red Bank, NJ. It seems like everyone and their mother has been going there to record, and I’ve liked everything that I’ve been hearing. Jon, Justin, and Owen had all recorded there multiple times over with their own projects, so I trusted their referral. I finally got to see what all the fuss was about, and Adam lived up to his reputation. He’s a cool dude who really knows what he’s doing, and has some awesome gear in the studio. He is so easy to work with and fosters a really fun vibe in his space. 

Self-releasing? What is that like?

Adam will be mixing and mastering the whole project, with me hanging over his shoulder adding touches here & there. My obsession with perfection can be crippling and it’s really hard for me to leave good enough alone. I think that’s why I’ve put off releasing anything up to this point—I’m afraid it won’t live up to my own expectations. I’m very happy with how it’s going so far, and hopefully the music will speak for itself once it’s out there in the world. I plan to self-release the record… I really couldn’t care less about the numbers that it does on Spotify or anything like that. I’m simply putting the music out there for the people that have come up to me after I finish playing a set to ask where they can find “that one song”. I’ve grown tired of telling them to look me up on YouTube because that’s the only place my original music exists as of right now. My family and friends have generously gushed over the songs that I’ve played for them, and I’m over the moon that I can finally share my music for real this time.

~

You can keep up with Olivia Rohlfs and new music on her YouTube channel.

Interview with Connor Bracken (Connor Bracken and the Mother Leeds Band)

By Deaglan Howlett | Posted Tuesday, August 13, 2019 

Connor Bracken and the Mother Leeds Band are the culmination of everything we love about the Asbury Park Sound. Connor Bracken fearlessly leads his Mother Leeds band with hip-shaking, rock and roll, reminiscent of Southside Johnny and early Springsteen. However, Connor and the boys have taken their own spin on the typical Asbury Bar Band sound, bringing in louder guitars and energy like no other. Connor was kind enough to answer some questions about his band, amidst the release of their latest music video “Read On You.” Thanks again, Connor!

When did the Mother Leeds band first form?

The formation of this band is a long, arduous story in which I will save you most of the pain. Long story short, awhile back we were LEEDS, and then we weren't. So if you consider that the start of the band I guess we just came to be serendipitously.

How has it changed through the years? I.e., style, influences, lineup

We're actually pretty similar to how we started out, just a lot tighter, a bit less dumb, and have gained a bit of wisdom that comes with being taken advantage of by the music "Industry."

This band has gone through a lot of line ups. Life happens. People realize that being on the road in a rock n' roll band isn't as great as they thought it would be. There's a lot of driving . A lot of thinking. Thinking sometimes leads to thinking of home and thinking of home sometimes leads to staying there. Needless to say, it took a while to find a crew that's about as crazy as me to want to stay out on that road, even when home was calling. For a good stretch, that line up had been Rich Seyffart, Mat Cobb, and Jesse Fogerty. Soon after we rebranded, the call of service came to Mat and he left to become a Marine. Now we got one of my closest friends in the world, Matt Sandelman, behind the bass. For now, we're pretty happy being crazy.  

Who are your biggest influences? 

I love a lot of music. Probably too much for my own good. Typically whenever I am not making it I am listening and learning from it. So it's hard to give you three or four bands. But lately, in my rotation, it's been Thin Lizzy, Van Morrison, Tom Waits, Rory Gallagher, and Sam Cooke. But that's just this week.

 What is your songwriting process like?

It can vary. I typically have to move the location where I am writing songs as the well tends to dry up after two or three songs. But my toolbox usually consists of a notebook (typically half destroyed from my travel/ doodles), an acoustic guitar (typically my father's old fender), and every little line I've written onto the back of a bar napkin, gas station receipt, or scrap paper. I get all of those elements together and I make myself available to what comes out. What's going to come out, I'm never sure of. 

What was it like filming the music video for "Read On You"?

That day was great. We had one of our good friends, Kris Khunachak, behind the lens on that one. My main thing is music but, if I could mess around with my friends in a diner all day, I would. It was a nice change of pace from our usual gig, plus we brought out even more amps than usual!  

Huge thanks to Frank’s Deli on Main Street for that.  

Favorite show you've played?

Favorite show ever? That always changes. The goal of every show is to make it the best you've ever done, because who knows if you'll make the next? So as of now, it's the last show we did at the Danny Clinch Gallery. That was really special . Or maybe the first show we did under the new name. It was at the Wonder Bar for Joey Henderson's "Wonderful Year" party. That night we were hungry to show what we've become over the past year. I remember talking with Dan Apy from The Mercury Brothers about it. Everyone in Asbury was there and it felt like a High School Reunion, except with people you actually want to see. 

Future plans?

We have tons in the works. I'm incredibly proud of what this band's been able to accomplish and that does nothing but fuel us to go even further. As of now, it's about time to announce our next record, Wonderful Year: Live at the Wonderbar, and to keep working the live show. That's where we do our real work and it's where things feel right. The music I write is meant to be played live. As of now no breaks ‘till we get where we want to be. Not sure where that is yet though.

 ~

Make sure you catch Connor Bracken and the Mother Leeds Band at their upcoming show! Also be sure to check out their latest single, “When The World Stops Turning”!

8/28 Asbury Park Live Summer Concert Series - 1st Avenue Green Space, Asbury Park, NJ