Favorite Local Band

Out of my hometown of Morristown, NJ came the band called Trophy Scars in 2002, a 6-man cross-genre group with a sound unlike any other. Despite my typical distaste for bands with screaming lead singers, Trophy Scars was one of the few bands that were able to convince me their music was worth listening to. With their multiple EP’s and full-length albums, they are not an atypical example of a local NJ band. Their music, however, is anything but typical. Lead singer Jerry Jones has such a unique voice, the history behind which is very surprising. As a child, Jones was in countless singing competitions and had a lovely voice, until he was diagnosed with a tetanus-related disease called lockjaw. Unable to open his mouth for months, Jerry’s voice was forever altered, and became the indescribable sound we hear today. Although this would seem to have a negative impact on Trophy Scars’ music, it does the opposite. It only serves to increase the clarity of the messages and pain the band tries to convey. Never a band with such alternate and odd styles has captivated me to such a degree, and hats off to Trophy Scars for doing so.

A remarkable story of a dream crushed and then revived is when Trophy Scars’ scheduled tour in the UK was suddenly cancelled. After purchasing tickets and accommodations which basically emptied their bank accounts, Trophy Scars was shocked to learn of this, and announced an indefinite hiatus due to financial reasons. A hiatus is always bad news for bands that have not made it big and are still widely unknown, because without the time, money and effort required, the hiatus will always result in a death sentence for the band. But from the rubble emerged The Bad Luck Foundation, dedicated solely to reviving Trophy Scars and bringing them back to the music scene. In only a few months, it was clear from fan donations and Trophy Scars merchandise sales, that the band was not down and out. They would return and with pride. Planning to release a full length album entitled “Bad Luck” in the fall of 2008, and still performing in many locations on the east coast, Trophy Scars is back in business. A fascinating story of resilience, the return of Trophy Scars is such an inspirational story to tell young, faltering bands to keep up their efforts. This story only adds to my appreciation for Trophy Scars, along with their inescapable heavy guitars and heavier lyrics.

Links:

A Trophy Scars interview: http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=238820
Trophy Scars Website: http://www.myspace.com/trophyscars

What is your favorite local band and why? Responses are welcome.

The List (May 2008)

10 great songs to listen to this month

1. "Michael Collins Autograph" by The Samuel Jackson Five.

2. "Man and Wife, The Latter (Damaged Goods)" by Desaparecidos.

3. "Daydreamin" by Lupe Fiasco.

4. "Response To Griot" by Defiance, Ohio.

5. "The Worst Part" by Mansions.

6. "Whiskey" by Rosa.

7. "Love You Dead" by Paper Rival.

8. "Missionary" by Bombs and Beating Hearts.

9. "Springfield, or Bobby Got a Shadfly Caught in His Eye" by Sufjan Stevens.

10. "Let's Not Shit Ourselves (To Loved and To Be Loved)" by Bright Eyes.

Genres and Local Shows

I have recently become quite interested in the folk-punk genre, which is most typically represented by southern and mid-western bands. Not a very broad genre yet, folk-punk isn't very easy to find locally in NJ, but with the recent acclaim for a few bands of this type of music such as Against Me! (out of Gainesville, Florida) and Violent Femmes (from Milwaukee, Wisconsin), recognition of the genre has started to become more widespread. Despite hearing a lot of approval for these bands and a few others, including Mischief Brew and Dropkick Murphy’s, I have become more attached to the more unkempt and scruffy bands of the genre, many of which remain unsigned and unheard of.

The one band that brought me into the genre to begin with is called Defiance, Ohio. Every song of theirs distinguishes itself as an individual entity, and no two are very similar. The spontaneity of their songs off the three albums they have produced along with one EP that they split with Ghost Mice, another relatively unpopular folk-punk band, has kept my attention focused on their music for months on end. With a cello, violin, and double-bass combined with acoustic and electric guitars and drums, the possibilities for unique melody are endless. The dual-vocalists, one male and one female also add to the variety of each song, but what really makes the music hit home for me is the powerful and relatable lyrics. I can associate with each of their songs in a different way, and unlike many of the most popular bands of the folk-punk genre, they have not become too obsessed with political anarchy to forget why they are really making music, to have fun and inspire. Their constant touring and live shows prove this, as their enthused shouts move from basement to basement all over the mid-west and more recently all over the country. Defiance, Ohio is a band that passionately makes music about what really matters to them, which I find to be quite rare. A few songs of theirs I would especially recommend are “Bikes & Bridges” and “Response to Griot”, both off of Share What Ya Got, an album released in 2004, and “Anxious and Worrying”, off of their most recent album, The Fear, The Fear, The Fear.

My love for Defiance, Ohio sparked my interest to research other folk-punk bands, and I found a few more whose music I thoroughly enjoyed. One of these bands is Rosa, a quartet from Houston, Texas that writes songs about long drives and love stories. The band has a self-titled album, and like Defiance, Ohio, writes inspired songs that make you think. With a banjo in the mix of instruments, Rosa definitely has the folk element to their sound, and although I enjoy several of their songs, I recommend “Bike Rides and High Fives” and “Whiskey”.

One more band I have discovered of the folk-punk genre is the better-known This Bike is a Pipe Bomb. A band out of Pensacola, Florida, their head-bobbing anthems have reached the ears of many across the US, and they have performed on multiple US tours. Recommended songs are “This is What I Want” and “The Black Panther Song”.

Now, a few links for you...

Defiance, Ohio’s site: http://defianceohio.terrorware.com/
Rosa’s site: http://www.myspace.com/rosapunks
This Bike is a Pipe Bomb’s site: http://www.myspace.com/tbiapb
Plan-It-X Records site (A major folk-punk record label): http://www.plan-it-x.com/

What is your favorite genre of music, and do bands of this genre typically play shows in your area? Responses are welcome.