I came across a really cool band out of Freehold, NJ. They’re not the traditional band that I normally write about since I’m a big rock head, but I really enjoyed their sound because they reminded me of the old alt-folk-rock 10,000 Maniacs with Natalie Merchant. I’m not sure why, but most of the female-fronted bands of this genre always remind me of Natalie Merchant, but this band more than any other in the past. The name of the band is Fun While You Wait. The band recently released their first full-length CD, Continuity, a few weeks ago, featuring the songs “Peace of Mind,” “Yellow Jacket,” “Target,” and “Mountain Song,” and these songs were fantastic!
Fun While You Wait is a female-fronted folk pop band out of Freehold. According to their bio, they formed in October 2014 with a style that blends elements of folk, pop, and even a dash of reggae using instruments that are less than traditional for rock music. Lead singer Devon Moore also plays the ukulele and not the guitar, which gives these songs quite a different dynamic. Joining Moore in Fun While You Wait is bassist Kevin Newcomb and drummer Keith Leming. On some songs, Fun While You Wait will use trumpet player Bruce Krywinski Jr. The band would release their self-titled debut EP in April 2015.
April must be a big month for Fun While You Wait because on April 19, the band released their first full-length, Continuity, which they are currently on stage promoting in lounges in the region. They recently finished a jaunt in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and here in Asbury Park, NJ. I thoroughly enjoyed the music of Fun While You Wait. Singer Devon Moore’s vocals are so soothing to listen to. These songs are different enough to catch someone’s attention. I’d love to see these kids do something big, but it will be “fun while we wait” and see.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
It’s official! Mike LePond, of Symphony X fame, has joined Incognito Theory as their new bass player, which is a huge move for Dave Incognito and crew. LePond is a name on the metal scene on a larger level than the local music scene. Like when I played with Ray West from Spread Eagle, but enough about me. LePond’s relationship with Incognito Theory started with his guest performance on the band’s single “Desire,” which is starting to get spins on many stations around the world. For more on Incognito Theory, visit facebook.com/IncognitoTheory.
Next Saturday night (5/14) Rob Middleton from Division 1.1 and WSOU will be bringing VengeanceFest 2 back to Roxy ‘N’ Dukes in Dunellen, NJ. Last year’s show was such a huge success that Rob wanted to bring it back this year. Performing with Division 1.1 will be Xion Lux, Nuse, Baelfire, Midnite Hellion, my band Rahway, and my bros from Ashes Of Your Enemy. For more info and tickets to this show, visit RoxyAndDukes.com.
And finally, my brothers from Atom Strange have called it quits after 10 years on the music scene. Singer Rickeroo Dunn, guitarist Alex Rude and company accomplished some pretty great things together musically—opening for some of the best bands, playing at the best New York City venues, and releasing some great music to music fans around the Tri-State Area. I chatted with Rick the other day on Facebook and he told me that he’s already on the hunt looking for a new band to front. I wanted to take a minute to wish the band formerly known as Atom Stranger nothing but great things moving forward.
That’s all for now! If your band is from North Jersey, and you want some exposure, send your press kits to Arts Weekly, c/o Tim Louie P.O. Box 1140, Little Falls, NJ 07424, or you can email me at tim@theaquarian.com, where you can also let me know where you’re performing next!
Just remember….We’re all in the same boat, so every little bit of exposure counts!
Tim Louie is the Author of S**t Happens.
NJN Concert Calendar:
5/4—An Honest Year/Best Kept Secret/Take A Breath/This Is All Now/Beneath The Spin Light/We Are Forever—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
5/5—Burn It To The Ground/Sheevaa—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
5/6—Robots and Monsters—My Place Pizza, Poughkeepsie, NY
5/6—Borgo Pass—The Backstage Pass, Ronkonkoma, NY
5/7—Dark Sky Choir—The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NY
5/7—That of a Lion—Blackburn Hall, Watchung, NJ
5/7—The Undead /The Unkown/Vengents/Silent Scream Slayer Tribute/Whiskey Time Machine/Distorted Youth/Half-Witted Dogs/Lorie De Winter/Sabbath in Black/Slaughtered Grace/Unkempt Herald/Devil In Belfry/Crash NYC/Jersey Panic—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
5/10—Brand of Julez/Sons of Texas—Webster Hall, NYC
5/11—Zero Distance/Voidless/Benchmark/Midnight Fade—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
5/12—Kiefer Sutherland/Austin Plaine—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
5/13—Mikell’s Plot/Brain Freeze/The Accelerators—Kenilworth VFW, Kenilworth, NJ
5/13—Reese Van Riper/Comb The Desert/Jean Pool/PT Grim—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
5/14—Rahway/Baelfire/Division 1.1/Ixion Lux/Nuse/Midnite Hellion/Ashes of Your Enemy—Roxy and Dukes, Dunellen, NJ
5/18—Five Myles/Mike Daly and The Planets/Fifth Street/Marci Geller—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
5/20—Seas of Wake CD Release Party/The Blessing of this Curse/That of a Lion/Comb the Desert/EchoLab—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
5/20—Sebastian Bach/Ripped/Atomic Beauty/Scottish Widows/Santa Cruz—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
5/21—Robots and Monsters—The Fire, Philadelphia, PA
5/21—Starland Battle of the Bands: Concrete God/Another Distraction/The Ones You Forgot/Xenophile/Fun While You Wait/Daniel James and The Loveless/John The Gun/Birds In The Boneyard/Hazeli/My Lonely Heart/Stillwells/Painted Young/To The Skyline—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
5/22—Ill Nino/Bobaflex/Shattered Sun/Voodoo Terror Tribe/Me With Creeps/ANAKA/Aurin/Maggotmouth/Ronin/Throat—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
5/25—Killcode/Eve to Adam/Awaken the Shadow—Marlin Room at Webster Hall, NYC
5/25—Jersey Campfires Production Presents Triple Scoop/Lunatic Fringe/Stereo Jo/Words Never Spoken—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
5/27—That of a Lion/Buried Under Ruined Nations—Valley View Pub, West Milford, NJ
5/28—Dead Superstar/Scott Stapp—Revolution Bar and Music Hall, Amityville, NY
6/4—Hatebreed/Negative Sky/Devildriver/Devil you know/Ashes of Your Enemy/Scars of Envy—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
6/10—Without Reason—Butch Kowal’s Tavern, Rahway, NJ
6/10—The Grand Omega/White-Washed Walls/Midnight Fade/Bandita/Monitor—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
6/11—Bubba Grouch/The Gripes—Stanhope House, Stanhope, NJ
6/11—Sworn Enemy/Robots And Monsters/Fuck It…I Quit/Paralysis—Backroom Studios, Rockaway, NJ
