I didn't Watch the Oscars

Sitting here pondering the possibilities for a topic on New Jersey Local bands having to do with the Oscars, a difficult task at hand but not impossible. Improvising with what I did happen to find, I think turned out pretty well although he is not from New Jersey He is still in a band so I’m hoping that counts. Glen Hansard, indie rock singer gives acting a shot. Oscar winners of best song “Falling Slowly” written for the movie one were ecstatic to have found out that they won. Making a little over 9 million dollars in the box office this 2007 released musical has skyrocketed. The movie One about a street musician playing for change meets a immigrant from the Czech Republic (Marketa Irglova), the two bond over their passion for music and fall in love. The two both have very extravagant pasts, Hansard having just gotten out of a very bad relationship and Irglova being a young mother leaving her husband in her home country.

Hansard plays and sings for his band “The Frames”, he started at only the age of 13 walking the streets of Dublin to the streets of Hollywood. The public first recognized him in his first Alan Parker film The Commitments. Having regretted his last film he moved on to a television program called “Other Voices” enabling him to showcase his Irish musical talent. In April of 2006 he released a solo album entitled “The Swell Season” going over all in all satisfactory.

Little Victories

A few big accomplishments can lead to a “Little Victory”. Playing mostly instrumental psychedelic progressive rock, or what the band likes to call 'melodic noise', pulls together with an astonishing varied sound. For having an accumulation of some not so popular influences like Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Phish, Mogwai, and many others “Little Victories” has a very different tone to their music.

The “Little Victories” are an “organic creation” of chords and riffs. Playing mostly bars, the band would love to start playing more shows for all age groups, allowing the younger crowd to experience the different kind of music they have to offer. Their progressive sound rhythmic beats and melody they make produce quiet the vibrant sound. Their song “Cooking the waste” (their only song with lyrics so far) puts together a light fun sound with somewhat of a wholesome effect, “is inspired by anxiety and the dreams/nightmares that come with it.” Said band member of The Little Victories

The current Little Victory line up includes Reid and Domenick since 2003, Nardo, 2005 and Christian took over the drum chair in 2006. They are currently taking some time off and putting the finishing touches on their new debut LP. This band is a glowing example of a way to take some time, relax and enjoy the “little victories” life has to offer.

Turtle Soup

“A dark rich soup made with turtle meat and herbs, garnished with lemon slices and grated hard-boiled egg, and liberally laced with dry sherry.”

Close; but not quiet the kind of Turtle Soup I’m talking about. This kind of turtle soup is made with an original mix of rock, funk, jazz and dance music… also called “Jamband” music. This has been a great year for the band; they started with opening for Blues Traveler, won 2 Asbury Music Awards, and started to get some great reception in the Jamband festival circuit.

They have a free 2-set show at Paul’s Tavern in Belmar on February 23rd. With influences like Miles Davis and Zappa, the band has a very cultured tone.

“When my physical, mental and emotional planes are all completely aligned and I’m playing exactly what is in my head. It’s happened to me a few times and it’s an out-of-body experience. It’s like the music version of hitting a grand slam... you’re not going to get one every time at bat, but when it does, it beats any drug in the world.” Said Turtle Soup band member.


With an interesting and original sound this “Turtle Soup” is doing an outstanding job with getting out there and being heard. Stretching shows from Pennsylvania to Delaware they are really getting around. The current Turtle lineup has been together for a little over a year. They are from Central, Southern and Northern New Jersey and planning to go even further.

Bound By Sin: Updates!

Bound By Sin has an up coming show at The Saint in Asbury Park on Sun. February 24th at 1:00 there is a cover charge of $10. This is an all ages matinee The Black Water Syndicate, Tainted Purity, Breathe Unbroken, Vindication, of course Bound By Sin and many more!

Anchors For Arms

The current line up of Anchors for Arms have been performing together for about 5 years now, but have been playing individually for much longer than that. Members include Ryan Lawless, vocals; Bass, Kenny Donovan; Chris Sanders, guitar and vocals; and Matt Valenzuela Drums.

With practice only a few times a week, this band is really headed for success. Under the influences of “Thrice”, “A Wilhelm Scream”, and “Boyz”, “II Men” this local Jersey rock band is an illuminating example of what the music industry is all about. For the most part, life is their key to music; from their inspirations to their aspirations, life gives them the fuel to fire their music. Anchors for Arms write their songs in somewhat of a collective manner they all have input to each song and must agree on the songs they write.

Playing in front of a crowd and watching as they listen intensively to the songs that they write, their lyrics, it’s the best part of music for them. 2007 was a great year for the band starting off with a two-month tour reaching across the entire United States accompanied by another US tour, three mid-west tours and three east coast tours. They have spent the last two-months writing new material for their upcoming tour. They have many upcoming shows one of which is on Mar. 8 at 8:00 P.M. at the Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Their new CD “Listen. React” will be released Feb. 13, 2008 in Japan. Starting off in Little Randolph, New Jersey’s; Anchors for Arms is out there doing what they love.

Bleed The Arsonist

Lining up for the second round of battle of the bands at Waretown Firehall is local band Bleed the Arsonist. This band plays metal plain and simple, no “sub-genre” needed. Unlike most bands today they don’t fret over little things such as the sub-genres commonly ending in the most infamous “core”. Although they respect the matter, they choose to completely avoid the subject in its entirety. Band members’ influences range dramatically; while some site the influences of Megadeath, others prefer “rap metal” such as Korn, the Deaftines or even the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. At first the band thought that their differences might take a misleading toll on their ability to write songs and agree on music but it turns out that such an assortment was the best way to inject originality.
All age shows are a must. With four out of the five members of this band being under 18, there really isn't any other choice in the shows they play, not that it bothers them one bit. Even with their hectic schedules between school, wrestling, and tae kwon do they still manage to practice around four times a week.
Band members really pull their lyric influences from the heart. In one case, “”To Preach is to Rape," is a song written against religious figures in the church known for sex scandals, most of what I write is made for kids who are having problems with abuse, depression, and angst. I want to give back what I got out of the music I listened to.” said vocalist Matt Johnson

This band is proud of their community and the hard work that is constantly put into their music and everyday lives. They are the idealistic band, fallowing their interests and sticking to their gut instincts. They are role models for kids and have outstanding morals not only for their band but also in every day life.

“I want the kids who are pushed around, overlooked, and unhappy to stand up and realize their full potential. New Jersey is definitely a hardcore state, and there are some great bands doing an excellent job out there fulfilling this title. But that kind of music doesn't reach out to these guys, and I think the sounds AND lyrics of Bleed The Arsonist really will. I'm disgusted with how monstrous the kid who brings a gun to school and starts lighting up the place is made out to look. Yes, this guy has problems, and no, what they did is not justified. But why aren't any fingers being pointed at the instigators? Why are the prom queens and quarterbacks still idolized? I could go on for hours, but the bottom line is, this band is meant to be an aegis for those who aren't happy in their lives right now. Maybe it won't happen this week, this month, or even this year, but pretty soon this goal is going to be reached,” said Johnson

When it comes to music this band really does share a brain. There is no real soul writer to the songs they play, they write together and they write well. They all know where one another is going with a song as soon as a riff is played or a bass line gets dropped. They always have to laugh even before the song has finished because they all know how it will turn out.

They use music as a tool of relief. They let out the frustrations of the every day frantic teen lifestyle into each and every one of their songs. They love the intensity of each performance. They consider the blending of culture and sound vital to all music and are constantly keeping that in mind. Bleed the Arsonist is from Tuckerton, New Jersey and proud of it.

Bound By Sin

Bound By Sin this undecided genre of metal band has been playing together for as long as two years. Bound By Sin with its unique experimental sound have many interesting songs such as “Bound By Sin” and “The Cause of Decay”. When talking to band member drummer Llowel also known as “Maggot” he stated that all the lyrics are inspired by the pain that flows through us (the band members) their lyrics differ in every song, such as one song being about the end of the world, when another song is about eating baby.

Playing at mostly all age’s shows the band has preformed at the ever so infamous Stone Pony and the Saint in Asbury Park. The band members are from all over the garden state, the vocalist and one guitarist is from Waretown, the keyboard and the drums are from Tuckerton the basest is from Bayville and the other guitarist is near the Hamilton.

“Well my personal favorite part of playing is being able 2 interact and talk 2 the fans, o yeah and when people sing along, that gets me every time and I cant help but smile.” Said drummer Maggot

The band has a show coming up on February 24th at the Saint in Asbury Park, and a second show on March 1st at 2:oo P.M. at Station 36 in Waretown, New Jersey.
Their influences range from children of bodom, Lamb of God, and kill switch to engage, and meshugah, each person in the band brings out their musical influences from different aspects of their everyday life. If you want to find out more about the band they have a myspace and emails are listed on it.

hey...well my name is chrissy and I'm here to inform you about local bands in and around Wall Township, N.J.!