THE SCANDALS—Bayonne, NJ
How do bands like these, fall through the cracks? I found another gem in North Jersey and they call themselves The Scandals. I was scouring the Internet for a band to feature this week and these guys showed up with their raw punk rock sound that you can only hear in Jersey. Bayonne, New Jersey, to be exact! I gave a listen to a few songs on their SoundCloud page like the songs “Lucky 7’s,” “Allnighters” and “Hungry,” and I have to admit these guys had some pretty catchy songs. I couldn’t get “Lucky 7’s” out of my head for hours.
According to their bio, The Scandals formed back in 2004 and really got things going by releasing a number of demos and EPs. The band’s first full-length CD, The Sound of Your Stereo, was released in 2010 by way of Skeleton Crew Records, but is currently out of print and is in the process of being repressed. The Scandals recorded their next EP, Trenchknife, with Pete Steinkopf from The Bouncing Souls in 2012. Later in the year, they also released a split EP with New Mexico’s Stabbed In Back called Riot on the Dancefloor: The Story of Randy Now and City Gardens. In 2013, The Scandals were chosen to be a part of the Red Bull Sound Select program, which is a continuing partnership between the band and members of the Red Bull Music team. Since forming, the boys have played numerous music festivals like SXSW in Austin in 2013, Myfest in Berlin in 2014, CMJ in New York City in 2012, Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas in 2011, Skate and Surf Fest in 2014 and Bamboozle in 2008 and 2009. From March to May of 2014, The Scandals embarked on their first European tour via City Rat Booking and Gunner Records supporting their CD, Time Machines, a European-only full-length. The Scandals are comprised of singer and guitarist Jared Hart, guitarist Anthony Iarossi, bassist Sean Carney, and drummer Paulie Yaremko.
In 2015, The Scandals released another split EP with fellow Jersey punk rockers, Jaguar Shark. To sum everything up, The Scandals are a touring band with a van. When the band is not on the road, singer Jared Hart is out with an acoustic guitar screaming his way through bars, living rooms, venues, parking lots and record stores because that’s where this music lives…on the road. For more info on The Scandals, visit TheScandalsNJ.com.
NORTH JERSEY NOTES UPDATES:
My brothers from Brand Of Julez are looking for a second guitar player again. Guitarist Marc Muniz left the band after the band’s horrible van accident while on tour with the band Wayland. Trust me when I say this accident was horrible. Drummer Zakk Dubois showed me the photos. These kids were very lucky to get out with a few scratches. Anyway, Nick Kashmanian from Lethal Affection is filling the void for the time being. Catch the Brand Of Julez boys live with my band Rahway, when we open for Buckcherry at the Starland Ballroom in Slayerville, NJ on Thanksgiving Eve (11/23). For more info on Brand Of Julez, visit Facebook.com/BrandofJulez.
My bros from Killcode have been really busy traveling lately, opening shows for rock legends like Ace Frehley, Twisted Sister, and Lita Ford all over the country from South Dakota, all the way down to Mexico. These guys are now not only playing full houses in NYC, but they’re doing it all over. Catch Killcode live locally soon! For more info on Killcode, visit Killcode.net.
And finally, my brothers from CausticAudio have a new EP about to drop if it hasn’t already! It’s called Tales from the Moldy Bunker featuring the songs “Grab,” “Slip In The Rain” and “Open Eyes,” and it might be the band’s best stuff to date! Very proud of my old Smoke Star brother, Scotty O’Ferrall, for always putting out great music! Bassist Rich Tanis left the band back in August and the boys are still looking for his replacement. For more info on CausticAudio, visit CausticAudio.com.
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:
11/17—4Karma “EP Release Show”/Bad William/Lunatic Fringe—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/18—Barren—Roxy and Duke’s Roadhouse, Dunellen, NJ
11/18—Skold featuring Tim Skold of Marilyn Manson and KMFDM/Panzie*–Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/18—Empire Fallen/Legion/Circuitry/Mikell’sPlot—Al Cibelli’s Restaurant and Bar, Perth Amboy, NJ
11/18—Steve Bello/King’s X—The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
11/18—Negative Sky—Mojo 13, Wilmington, DE
11/19—Incognito Theory/Ryder/Endall—QXT’s, Newark, NJ
11/19—Wet/Demo Taped/Aerial East—Webster Hall, NYC
11/19—Enuff Z Nuff/TRNZPRNT/Steve Bello/Love in Vein/Scotty Dunbar/Matt Mendillo Comedian/Sister All Star Band—Ding Batz, Clifton, NJ
11/20—Old James/Anaka/Metalfier/Diamond Head—The Marlin Room at Webster Hall, NYC
11/20—Randy Garcia/Michelle Gorman/Nicholas Colavito/Monument of a Memory/Soul Sworn/Reapers Solace/The Company Kept/Strive— Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/23—Buckcherry/Rahway/Brand of Julez—Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
11/25—Joe Lynn Turner/Rahway/Fragile Sky—Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
11/26—Full Scale Riot/Homicidal/Me With Creeps/Ego Destroys/Robots and Monsters/Silence Equals Death—The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ
11/26—Baelfire “EP Release Party”—The Brighton Bar, Long Branch, NJ
11/26—Tempt/Joe Lynn Turner—Highline Ballroom, NYC
11/29—Battlecross/Allegaeon/Necromancing the Stone—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
11/30—Left Behind/Skincarver/Attack Attack!/The Emtila Strain/A Wake in Providence/Abhorrence/Monument of a Memory/Jynx/P-Slur/Habits—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/3—Ted Poley’s Annual Holiday Bash with ROCK KANDY/Ted Poley/American Angel—Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
12/10—Jersey Campfires Production Presents Rahway/Proud Parents/Surrender The Night/Collective Man/The Chills—The Boneyard, Atlantic City, NJ
