Heading to Austin for SXSW? Here are ten bands
from New Jersey that we highly recommend:
THE FRONT BOTTOMS
Making their first foray to Austin, the Front Bottoms
are singer/guitarist Brian Sella and drummer Matt Uychich.
They're certainly no strangers if you're a regular Jersey
Beat reader, but if you haven't seen them before, prepare
to be dazzled by Sella's deliciously flippant, post-emo
lyrics, nimble singalong melodies, and Uychich's powerhouse
drumming. Wednesday 7:45 pm Lamberts. Also see
flyer below.
SCREAMING FEMALES
New Brunswick's Screaming Females blew away audiences at
a Brooklyn Vegan showcase at last year's SXSW, but this
year they'll be riding the extra buzz of their forthcoming
album Ugly, recorded with the legendary Steve Albini
at his Chicago studio. Wednesday, 11 pm Studio
By HGTV
BRICK + MORTAR
Brandon Asraf (bass guitar, vocals) and John Tacon
(drums, electronic samples, vocals) comprise this powerful
duo from Toms River, who use reggae and dub beats to create
a memorable post-punk rumble. Wednesday, 11
pm Clive Bar
CYMBALS EAT GUITARS
No less an authority than frontman Joseph D'Agostino's mom
proudly proclaims this quartet as a New Jersey band, given
that D'Agostino and drummer Matt Miller began honing their
unique fusion of soaring melodies, sonic dissonance, and
ferocious dynamics in Manahawkin. Now touring behind their
sophomore release Lenses Alien, Cymbals Eat Guitars
will be performing no less than seven times at SXSW and,
no doubt, blowing away audiences at each and every appearance.
Thursday, 12:10 am Red Eyed Fly
DELICATE STEVE
Guitarist Steve Marion was discovered by David Byrne and
quickly signed to his Luaka Bop label for Delicate Steve's
debut instrumental album, Wondervisions. The band
is about to release its second album; you can download the
new track "Afria Talks To You" at delicatesteve.com.
Saturday 9 pm Mohawk
THE EARLY NOVEMBER
Hammonton, NJ's Early November were signed to Drive-Thru
Records barely out of high school and rode the early-00's
emo wave to huge popularity and sales. Frontman Ace Enders
released several well-received solo albums under the name
I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business before the Early
November reformed last year. Expect hordes of twentysomething
reliving their 'tween years and singing along at their SXSW
appearances. Friday midnight Palm Door
RIVER CITY EXTENSION
Asbury Park's hard-touring folk/rock collective mixes strings,
horns, and percussion into a roiling mixture of folk. Americana,
and rock 'n' roll. When they performed at last year's SXSW,
the audience would not let them leave the stage and the
band wound up playing acoustically on the back patio for
hours after their official showcase ended. The band is about
to release its second album, Don't Let The Sun Go Down
On Your Anger. Wednesday 10:45 pm Lamberts
THE STATIC JACKS
The Newark Star Ledger's Tris McCall wrote "Westfield’s
Static Jacks walk the line between two styles that are usually
incompatible: the sharp, angular British post-punk of bands
like Franz Ferdinand and Maxïmo Park and the exuberant,
romantic Turnpike pop-rock of Steel Train and the Harlem
Shakes." They're young, they're angry, they're loud,
and they'll make you forget all about the Strokes. Wednesday
8:25 pm Sony@Red 7
THE CHRIS GETHARD SHOW
Jersey-bred and UCB trained comic Chris Gethard will be
bringing his local access TV show cast to SXSW, including
his zippy studio band The LLC (featuring the Unlovables'
Hallie Bullitt and onetime Jersey Beat scribe Joe Evans
III.) Gethard famously got P Diddy to make an appearance
when he was still doing this mock talk show at UCB, no telling
what he'll pull off at SXSW. Wednesday, 10:10
pm Esther Falls
THE AMBOYS
Asbury Park's The Amboys have been at the forefront of New
Jersey's surging indie-folk movement for the last several
years, following their muse from traditional country and
folk stylings to bluegrass to danceable rock 'n' roll. They're
touring with River City Extension and while they don't have
an official SXSW showcase, they will be performing at several
parties, so keep an eye out for them.
JerseyBeat.com
is an independently published music fanzine
covering punk, alternative, ska, techno and garage
music, focusing on New Jersey and the Tri-State
area. For the past 25 years, the Jersey Beat music
fanzine has been the authority on the latest upcoming
bands and a resource for all those interested in
rock and roll.
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