Grasser is an indie-pop outfit based in Asbury Park, NJ. Born of cousins Biff Swenson & Nick Gianatiempo in 2016, the band expanded before the recording of their 2019 EP, Later, Registration, when they joined forces with solo artist & long-time friend Dana Yurcisin. Filtering out their early math & emo influences for a more pop-leaning sound, the newly minted trio incorporated elements from each of its member’s backgrounds: Biff’s love for hip-hop & verbose wordplay, Dana’s ear for production & texture, & Nick’s studio chops & guitar heroics. The group’s debut LP, Get Real, Quick!, is slated for a fall 2020 release, aiming to bring the feel-good beach vibes of the Jersey shore to the masses, no badge required.
Singer-songwriter and producer Dana Yurcisin has trouble settling. On sounds, styles, band names and even this bio. But after ten years behind the moniker Static Sex — self-recording & releasing 4 LPs, 3 EPs & numerous singles — he figures a fresh decade is a good time to stop fussing over a new one & simply settle into himself. His music, however — equal parts pop, film score & sound design — refuses to pick a lane. House rhythms awash in fiery fuzz guitars. Gospel samples over gritty dance-punk beats. Cinematic synths give way to sludgy metal riffage. However disparate the elements may seem, Dana’s vision brings them all together into a cohesive & singular whole. It’s the sound of a mind seldom at rest, but constantly in control. Can't settle on a genre or mood to listen to? Neither can he.
Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, effervescent indie poppers Sun Club put a colorful, punk-edged spin on sunshiny pop. Self-taught musicians Shane McCord, his brother Devin McCord, and their neighbor Mikey Powers started playing and writing songs together as teenagers, undergoing multiple band configurations and music styles. Honing their sound as multi-instrumentalist Kory Johnson was added to the lineup in 2010, with bass player Adam Shane joining in 2012, they graduated to bar gigs and larger support shows for bands including Alvvays and Fidlar. The quintet released an EP, Dad Claps at the Mom Prom, in 2014. It was followed by the spirited full-length, The Dongo Durango, which was recorded live in the studio with producer Steve Wright and released in October 2015 on ATO Records.
With a sound that’s pure homage to the lofty annals of rock & roll, New Jerseys' Prehistoric Forest have managed to remain versatile & fresh while recalling a bygone era when terms like "College Rock" & "Gate Fold Sleeve" were still a part of our musical vernacular. Initially the creative brainchild of vocalist Vince Mathews & guitarist Nick Gianatiempo, the duo found themselves enlisting the skills of Dustin James (bass), D.J. Hodgson (guitar), Mike "Skitch" Walsh (drums) and later Eric James Guy Friedman (keys/guitar/percussion) after a collection of their demos garnered a considerable amount of acclaim among the online community. A full time collaborative effort since Late 2012, the band has quickly generated a great buzz with their unique style and frenetic live performances; And with their debut L.P. (Crafted & recorded at the bands own ByrdHouse Studio) winning the praises of a number of critics, the adulation is burgeoning beyond the Garden State into outlets as far as London & Brazil! With their 2nd L.P. entitled "Pulling Teeth", the band expands on the formula that drew people in while offering more rugged and darker sounds.