Meet The Music: Latewaves

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band?

A: That’s a tough one! I’m pretty sure all 4 of us would have different answers. But I’ll go for mine (Mike): Weezer’s Blue Album, The Hold Steady “Boys and Girls in America,” and The Menzingers “On the Impossible Past.”

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together?

A: I’d say “If it’s Over,” off Partied Out. It had a bunch of different variations, but that was one of the first memorable choruses I remember working off of.

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album?

A: I’ll go with our latest Single “Acting Out.” It’s about questioning your actions about whether or not you’re behaving in a certain way to get attention, and then in turn having anxiety about what people think of you. You know, really simple song subject, right up there with “Pour Some Sugar on Me”

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park?

A: The vibe of the locals here is great. Yeah we complain about parking but we know what we signed up for when we decided to live here. We’re a big team, we want a dog park? We get together and sign a petition for one. We don’t want private beaches on the northside? We storm town hall meetings. Love it.

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: Sorry, but you should know there’s not a simple answer to that. If I’m doing a Burrito or Bowl I’m going Bulgogi. If I’m going taco I’m workin with shrimp or fish. However, I’ve yet to meet an item at MOGO I didn’t like and I think I’ve tried the menu by now.

Meet The Music: The Extensions

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band?

A: Since we're a four-piece, we picked one for each of us; we couldn't decide on three: Brian: Spoon - A Series of Sneaks — Pete: The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow — Lisa: Incubus - Science — Kevin: King Gizzard - Flying Microbial Banana

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together?

A: I came to the band with six songs mostly written. Those will comprise our first EP which comes out on September 20th at Asbury Lanes (hint hint, haha!). But the first song we all put together from the ground up is called "Typical Americans." It's not on the forthcoming EP, but it'll be on the follow up and we almost always end our sets with it.

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album?

A: "Envy Smile" is about the false sense of enchantment that a moment can provide. Those moments don't always end up how you think or how you're promised they'll end up, and that's okay. We live. And we move. "Envy Smile" is a reminder of that movement, for better or worse.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park?

A: Brian: The support that Asbury Park's wonderful community of people provides is unlike anything I've seen anywhere else. I've been fortunate enough to make a lot of great friends out this way. And that's not ever lost on me; I appreciate that every day.

Pete: Asbury Park is such an inspiring place because there are so many good things happening! But there's a scrappy independence to it all, as well.

Lisa: I love Asbury's music scene and I go to the beach often!

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: Brian: Tofu

Pete: Pork

Lisa: Shrimp

Kevin: Fish

Meet The Music: Black Suburbia Music Group

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band?

A: Each of our artists has very different musical influences because they all explore different genres of music. Drew the Recluse is influenced by Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Bruce Springsteen’s The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle, and Björk’s Homogenic while Miles Nxbxdy is influenced by Danny Brown’s Atrocity Exhibition, Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures, and Sufjan Stevens’ Seven Swans. Three albums that influence Momo Da Gawd are XXX by Danny Brown, Amerikkkan Koruption by Capital Steez, and The Suns Tirade by Isaiah Rashad.

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together?

A: We haven’t all worked on a song together yet, but that should be in the works soon! (Though Drew the Recluse and Miles Nxbxdy (while Miles was in the rap trio, Trulogy), did a song together in 2014 called “Wendy.”)

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album?

A: We don’t have a group album out (yet!), but Miles Nxbxdy had our group’s most recent release. His song “Young Sambo” is about being a slave through clothing and materialistic means. It touches on feels of being a slave to culture in general and highlights his desire to break away from that. Momo Da Gawd also released his single “Baby Girl” recently, which is an introduction to his foray into a more modern sound.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park?

A: Our favorite thing about Asbury Park is it’s rich history. Every building, every landmark, tells a story, and you can learn so much just by speaking to residents and business owners alike. There’s also so much life, room for growth, and desire for change within the community which is so important, especially to the music community.

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: Momo loves the Kimchi Rice with the Chicken Taco and Drew loves the Boki Cheesesteak!

Meet The Music: Pamela Flores

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band?

A: It’s hard to pinpoint three albums for all of my band mates because we have such diverse tastes in music but I will say that Alabama Shakes album Boys & Girls was a huge inspiration for me to get myself back to writing music. And as a band we all agree that Spice World kicked some major ass as well. Maybe doesn’t inspire our music but it sure as hell spices up our lives.

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together?

A: The first song that Dan Steve and I really worked on together I think was Sugar & Spice. Even though I come to them with songs written they always add their own personal touches to them and we start working on what we like or don’t like. It’s pretty cool seeing the process.

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album?

A: Grace which will be the first single coming out was initially about a relationship I was in.. however throughout the years I feel the message has evolved and it’s no longer about some stupid boy but really about the imperfections of humanity and how we all have fallen from Grace.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park?

A: What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park? The ridiculous amount of support for original music. It’s honestly surreal and I’m pretty damn grateful to be a part of it.

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: Well as a vegetarian it’s always awesome to have the option to still get yourself a taco after a few tequilas in. So cheers to providing us herbivores with delicious snacks past 2AM.. and before of course depending on what time ya start.

Meet The Music: Blaise

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band?

A: What’s funny is my music like my visuals are truly inspired by all things around it and music of all genres, so picking exact albums is impossible! What I can say is Velvet Noir was heavily inspired by artists like Björk Nine Inch Nails, Solange, and absolutely every single pop star that has every graced a stage.

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together?

A: I was blessed with the opportunity to work with Joe Parella to create the music of this album. I had been carrying around about 7 songs for a few years and was looking for someone who could artistically help bring them to life and Joe was that person. The first song we wrote together for the album was actually my next single and video, Catch me if you can. Although synths are the sonic standout on the album, we actually wrote every single song on an acoustic guitar first. Then we took what we had and built from their, and then brought in Erik Romero to add his magic touch. It truly was one of the greatest artistic collaborations of my life, and my life and art has forever evolved in ways I only dreamed.

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album?

A: One of the most important songs on the album is a song called Kevlar. In it I am listing the qualities good and bad about myself to show the duality of personality, and that there is freedom in being anything you want without restriction. What I want for people to get from the song is that this is the same for themselves. They need not box themselves at all; everyone can truly be absolutely anything and everything they want. Create yourself. Commit to your dreams.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park?

A: My favorite thing about Asbury Park is the diversity of life and art. There are so many beautiful people, from all backgrounds and experiences, living and creating by the ocean. Everyday you can walk down any street and find inspiration, from the surroundings and especially the people living their day to day.

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: I am a HUGE FAN of the classic chicken taco!

Meet The Music: Alexander Simone & Whodat?

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band?

A: Robert Glaspers Black - “Radio” / The Roots - “How I Got Over” / Tye Tribbets - “Life “

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together?

A: “We Working”

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album?

A: A song called find my way. I was tryna find my way back to and old rare love while settling for new love.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park?

A: The Blueprint store located on Main Street , good vibe and that’s where I get my mercy made

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: The shrimp !!!

Meet The Music: Waiting On Mongo

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band?

A: Three albums that influenced us as a band are tower of powers self titled album “Tower of Power”, “Fly” by Lettuce, and most recently “Life In the City” by Turkuaz.

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together?

A: The first song we ever wrote as a band a song called “promongo” off of our debut EP titled “Just A Taste”

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album?

A: There is a song that we just got finished recording called “Shark Attack”, that is basically about us as a band, being aggressive and always on the prowl to get to where we want to be.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park?

A: Our favorite thing about Asbury Park, is the passion for music and community. Across all genres in town there is just a true passion for local live music.

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: Favorite MOGO taco has gotta be the pork taco!

Meet The Music: Jackson Pines

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band?

A: Impossible to pick just 3, but overall to our material, probably "Blood on the Tracks" by Dylan. The Felice Brothers self titled. And Mississippi John Hurt "Today!"

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together?

A: "Hello, Hello" by Thomas Wesley Stern

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album?

A: "Thinking About It" is about being on the edge of making a very big decision.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park?

A: The community of artists that help the larger Asbury community back.

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: Probably Shrimp

Meet The Music: Dark City Strings

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band? 

A: Greensky Bluegrass - Handguns, The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together? 

A: Whiskey Cowboy (Fast, True, & Free)

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album? 

A: Hold Your Ground (Stars Above & Depths Below) - this is a song about conquering your inner demons and staying true to yourself. It's partly inspired by Stephen King's novel, The Gunslinger

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park? 

A: Our favorite thing about Asbury Park is that there are people who are actively driving the music scene forward - musicians, promoters, fans, artists, photographers - and use the music as a vehicle to bring the community together. Asbury Live! supports the Asbury Music Foundation. It's a perfect example of live music bringing people together for the community and spreading positivity, which is what Asbury is all about.

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: We have to go with the Korean Doughnut!

Meet The Music: Sonic Blume

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band? 

A: Meat Is Murder by The Smiths; Is This It by The Strokes; Power, Corruption, & Lies by New Order

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together? 

A: The first song we wrote together was the first song off our debut (self-titled) EP, it’s called “Do Anything.”

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album? 

A: We recently came out with our first single off our next album, called “Aubrey.” We binge-watched a couple movies that Aubrey Plaza was in (Ingrid Goes West, Mystery Team, Scott Pilgrim vs The World), and fell in love with the characters she's played in these films. We're all huge fans of her.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park? 

A: The music scene is Asbury Park right now is really inspiring. There’s also so many things to do in Asbury that it’s impossible to be bored when you’re there.

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: The Chicken Taco!!

Meet The Music: The Vaughns

Q. What three albums are most inspiring to your band? 

A: Nevermind - Nirvana; Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I just Sit - Courtney Barnett; My Love is Cool - Wolf Alice or (every Beatles album)

Q. What was the first song that you wrote together? 

A: Hide Yourself Away off our first EP

Q. Can you explain the meaning behind one of the songs on your latest album? 

A: 50% [of the album] was inspired by a college class discussion. It looks at how millennials approach marriage in the face of the America’s 50% divorce rate, and how the rate does not stop us from pursuing relationships or yearning for love.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Asbury Park? 

A: The inclusive community!

Q. What is your favorite MOGO taco?

A: Pork or Shrimp (We are torn!)