All acts start somewhere and develop into something bigger. Through a long and hard working journey, musical artists gain a fanbase and it can take anywhere from a couple months to years in the local scene before a band goes anywhere big. The following are local bands that have unique sounds and travel close enough to home, in the hopes that you will come experience and enjoy their passion.
LIVIN’ LIKE A LOCAL
BY KAICIE BOEGLIN
Music is an art platform where artists can express themselves with not only words but also with rhythms and melodies. All these famous artists that we hear of, whether a solo act or a band, had to start somewhere. All acts start somewhere and develop into something bigger. Through a long and hard working journey, musical artists gain a fanbase and it can take anywhere from a couple months to years in the local scene before a band goes anywhere big. The following are local bands that have unique sounds and travel close enough to home, in the hopes that you will come experience and enjoy their passion.
This Curse (Metalcore band from Bergen County, New Jersey)
This Curse is a five-piece band formally known as The Blessing Of This Curse. Due to bands with similar names the band dropped the first three words of their name back in January of 2017. The band is Ethan Kennedy for vocals, Joey Galletta for vocals and guitar, Jake Fletcher on drums, Branton Shpilevsky playing the keys and Blake Van Curren on bass. This Curse is still in the local scene but now has a growing fanbase that is advancing at a steady rate. The band has released three EP’s, (I’ve Seen Hell; 2011, Separate Yourself; 2014 & Emergence; 2016) They plan to release their first full-length EP under the new name this late fall or early winter. Based out of Jersey the band travels to Pennsylvania to record and all around the East Coast playing countless shows. Their songs have varied dynamics and rhythmic vocals mixed in with screams. Even through the screams, one can hear just about perfect articulation. The instrumentation is clear and all instruments are able to be heard in every song. With the use of keys and drums every single song has a hard driving beat. Some songs have a thick texture and others have a thin texture but no song sounds the same. They are no strangers to pushing the barriers and boundaries of heavy music. Even though this band is local they have toured and shared the stage with bands such as Motionless In White, Attila, Chelsea Grin, Dance Gavin Dance and Veil of Maya. When asked what makes the band stand out most; Lead vocalist Ethan Kennedy Stated “The fact that we try to incorporate the influences we have no matter what genre, and we put a spin on our music from those influences without ripping them off or copying them.”
Aside from recording, the band is exploiting their most recent single Quicksand. Now streaming on Spotify with closed to half a million streams, and being their new music video on YouTube; make sure you check out Quicksand by This Curse
With a following of over 7,000 fans this band could take the East Coast’s metal scene by storm.
Instagram: @thiscurseband Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z6tXMXvugI
In Loving Memory (Pop-Metal and everything in between from Queens, New York)
Originally a one-man show founded by Naveed Stone, In Loving Memory is now a 4 piece rock band based out of New York City, New York. The band does not have one certain genre, for the fact that their sound is edgy but also mystifying and their lyrics are insightful, yet tell a story. Naveed Stone is the lead singer of the band and he is accompanied by drummer Thomas Diognardi, with the additions of Vito Racanelli and Jon Conway on guitar. Naveed was found by his fellow band mates through videos on YouTube, that was the original foundation that started the life for ILM. In Loving Memory is known for their own songs but also for their covers; Some of them being Starboy originally by The Weekend, Closer by The Chainsmokers and Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You. The group started off with an infectious debut single by the name, “All Systems Go” in November of 2014 and they released their first EP “Stand My Ground”, in August of 2015. Developing the name susboys for themselves, these susboys have played sold out shows at some of NYC’s most iconic venues. Most recently being the Gramercy Theater in August of 2017. Their brand new EP “Introspective” is not your average cup of tea and that is what creates imagination and fascination. Bands that influence ILM are, Issues, Panic at the Disco, Periphery, All Time Low and Avenged Sevenfold. These four men hold so much passion for their music and twist fantasy with reality. This is meant in the sense that the lyrics are not only descriptive and elaborate but they also tell a story. This combined with their edgy sound and their exquisite backtracking creates positive energy. Uplifting words insinuate happiness, telling a story keeps up interest, edgy beats create a want to dance, and the euphoric undertones keep the positive flow. Recently the band has just put a new music video for their song Forthright, they have played day shows in the city for free and they have been spreading their influence through the best platform they know how, their music!
Instagram: @inlovingmemoryny
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxGuBBVdtm8
Beyond The Void (Rock/Alternative/Metal Paramus, New Jersey)
This band is so new that they only have one EP with only 4 songs. Beyond The Void is a side project of Dylan Newhouse, the drummer for Monument of a Memory. Monument is already a decently well known band, not the most famous, but out of the local stages. Dylan is the vocalist for Beyond the Void. Joey Rosenberg and Jeremy Newhouse play the guitars, while James Collins rocks out on bass and Sam Glassett bangs hard on the drums. This band has put so much thought into their sound; Formed in 2014 they set forth with the goal of bringing a new style to heavy music by intertwining a modern alternative metal feel. Within the last three years, the group has undergone many lineup switches and is now a part of Diamond Records. Lead singer Dylan Newhouse has a set of vocals that is declared as melodic and puts listeners in a trance. Even people with song A.D.D, that happen to change any song 20 seconds in, will stop and listen to Beyond The Void’s entire 4 song stream. The mood of the songs are motivational and cause the mind to think and question. Some fans have familiarized BTV’s sound with other bands such as, HIM, Nirvana, Pop Evil and Bring Me The Horizon. Being such a new band they have not toured much out of the Jersey/New York area, but they are expanding and exploring as many venues as possible. Beyond The Void’s EP The Ecstasy of Agony is out now and you can check them out on Spotify and YouTube.
Instagram: @beyondthevoidnj
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb51I5e3nmM
Support your local artists especially in the form of music. Local musicians deserve recognition not only for their art but also for their balance in life. Famous bands and solo acts can live off their job, but local musicians need to live for themselves while also working to pursue their dream. Some of these determined souls also balance not only music and a job but school demands as well. These people live for their music it is their passion. Take the initiative to look into the local scene for your favorite music genre and discover something new. You will be surprised with what you find. What happens in the local scene can determine the course for a band’s future. Help make dreams come true, it is as simple as listening to one song. #supportlocalmusic
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