How a NJ record label, punk rock, emo, and hardcore music are coming together.
By:Christine Czochanski
Bob Spangler and Sean Ruck go through a fair amount of demo tapes monthly at Jerzy Records, their small record label initially based in Hackettstown, NJ. Jerzy Records originally only existed in the minds of Spangler and Ruck. They used the fictitious label to help their own band get shows, but in 1997 the duo made the label a reality. Their mission was to support the local scene by giving back to the community with low cost shows that would have a percent of the proceeds go to charity and also to help other bands help themselves.
One band that didn’t send a demo, but never the less got heard was Stillwelle, the punk rock band from Jefferson Township, NJ. Spangler and Ruck approached the band several months ago, at a time when according to Ruck, Stillwelle was on the "verge of breaking up". The label’s president and vice president hadn’t actually heard much of Stillwelle’s music, enough to know they were good, but Spangler was sold on the investment after meeting Doug Robinson, Kelly Addison, Justin Sherwood, and Bob Huber. "We thought they were amazing, amazing people too," Spangler explained.
"They seem to be in it for the right reasons, they’re totally in love with music and they were the ones who wanted to do the Make-A-Wish Foundation," Ruck said. "They’re pretty much the perfect band for the label," Spangler added.
About three years ago Addison, Robinson, and Huber were trying to get a band together. They asked Justin Sherwood to sing for their band. "I said okay, and we were The Day After." That was basically how it all started.
Over the three years, the band has seen two guitarists leave, changed names, written about 15 songs and played 75 shows. The current band consists of Doug Robinson guitar/vocals, Justin Sherwood guitar, Bob Huber bass, and Kelly Addison drums. Although classified as a punk band, Stillwelle has been able to come up with a unique blend of emo, punk, and hardcore. According to Stillwelle’s web site, their influences range "from Tool to Lagwagon to Jimmy Eat World to Hot Water Music." Sherwood, during the interview, added Poison the Well, Thursday, and Pennywise to the list of influences.
What Stillwelle has done happens nation wide to bands in every genre. In Stillwelle’s own hometown are two other bands trying to make it. Point of Aggression, Jonny After 4, and Stillwelle are based in Jefferson Township, NJ and are part of the North Jersey local scene.
Point of Aggression is the only hardcore band in their town. The band formed early 2000 and this past year broke out of the garage and into the local venues. Over the year, the band has faced many obstacles: no bass player, no place to practice, and no money to get good equipment. The band did have heart and perseverance. The band consists of Don Hahn vocals, Mike Belveduto guitar/vocals, Andrew Federhenn Guitar, Adam Belveduto drums, and Jack Adamsack Bass. Point of Aggression recently lost their long time friend and bassist, Anthony Wille, to another band called Folly. This development made Adamsack the fourth bass player P.O.A. has seen.
Everyone has their own musical backgrounds, the Belvedutos are punk at heart and Federhenn and Hahn have always been fans of hardcore. The diversity of the band gives them a unique personality.
The band overcame enough of its obstacles to play their first show in March of this year. One thing that has helped the band to get an audience is their web site, www.pointofaggression.net, maintained by Don Hahn. For both Point of Aggression and Stillwelle (www.stillwelle.cjb.net) the Internet has become a vital part for promotion and booking of the band.
According to Jerzy, hardcore music has started to invade where back in ’97 there was no hardcore in the local scene. With a wave of hardcore bands, Point of Aggression has entered a competitive scene. For now, it’s not about the money, although some members of the band would like to make a career out of it. Each of the members has their own idea of success; Adam Belveduto joked that success meant, "playing a sold out show with Poison." As soon as their new bass player learns their songs Point of Aggression plans to record for a demo.
Jonny After 4 is the other North Jersey band. Their style of music would be classified as emo, although singer Adam Moutafis doesn’t like the label. Jonny After 4 started three years ago, they’ve played shows at the Berkshire Valley Pub in Jefferson Twp. and Skaters World in Wayne NJ. The band consists of Adam Moutafis guitar/vocals, Michelle Dispenziere guitar, Ian Hackett bass, and Eric Harm drums. They most recently performed at Jefferson Day. What’s unique about Jonny After 4 is the musical experience gained by some members in school programs. Drummer, Eric Harm, is in jazz band and marching band at Jefferson Township High and guitarist Michelle Dispenziere is also in jazz band. Moutafis makes connections the traditional way without the help of a web site he does the band’s booking.
"I just go to shows and I make friends with the people that put them on, and the bands and stuff. If you are friends with the bands and stuff like that, you’ll probably get the show. It sounds like you are using them but it’s not really that, it’s more of an expansion of the community thing."
The Johnny After 4 isn’t looking to record yet, but Moutafis recorded a few acoustic songs on his own August 7.
These bands represent the kind of local scene North Jersey is seeing right now. It is a scene of punk, hardcore, and emo. Regular show-goers will tell you many of these bands put the same effort that any of today’s big name bands and are just as enjoyable. The local scene appeals because teens can go to a show at a near by American Legion Hall and watch kids they go to high school with, playing their hearts out. Almost every weekend teens can be seen stepping out of their parents cars and for the next couple of hours it doesn’t matter what town their from, the love of the music unites people. It’s about the music and having a fun time.
One negative that the scene is experiencing is the lack of venues due to vandalism. Drawing on bathroom stalls is the common offense. "That’s the kind of thing we’re up against," said Spangler. "But, I think for every kid that does that, there is a kid that’ll help clean up," Ruck added. Town sound ordinances are other factors that contribute to the shutting down of North Jersey venues. Jerzy Records experienced such problems with the laws of Hackettstown.
Small record labels like Jerzy are the shapers and supporters of the North Jersey scene. Jerzy Records provides a variety of services such as putting on shows, helping their bands succeed, putting out CD’s, and informing through their web site www.jerzyrecords.com. Right now, Sean Ruck is putting together a compilation CD featuring 27 bands that have played locally. At Jerzy’s shows, a safe environment is provided and they are always willing to talk to worried parents.
"It just takes people willing to open their eyes and see we’re giving your kid a place to go where there are no drugs, no alcohol, they are just watching music," Spangler summed up.
Money is not the issue; neither the labels nor the bands are living the high life of some modern rock and rap artists. For Jerzy, it’s more about the here and now, the label has been contributing to charities like Food Not Bombs Fifth Street Coalition for Battered Women in Eastern PA, and the Warren County Food Bank. At a recent show put on by Jerzy, 233 cans of food was raised. 20% of the proceeds from Jerzy Record shows go to these charities. Since it’s the money of the teens attending the shows the label is open to suggestions as to where the money goes. Typically, they’ve found a lot of people wanting to support the food bank or cancer and aids research.
It’s been months since Stillwelle and Jerzy Records got together. With the funding provided by the label, Stillwelle finished recording their first CD June 14. As of the second to last week of July, their CD was in the pressing plant in Pennsylvania and is expected to come out anytime now.
It took many hours of practicing, going to shows to make connections, maintaining a web site, and a lot of energy and commitment to reach this plateau. The rewards are worth it according to Sherwood, who enjoys meeting new people, the traveling, and getting to do what he loves to do; play music. Stillwelle started out a group of friends playing at Kelly Addison’s house and soon they will realease and sell their CD’s. Jerzy is proud and expects the band to get bigger with the release of the CD. Stillwelle will be playing August 16 at the Birch Hill Night Club in Old Bridge NJ. They are the perfect example of a local garage band that has found success in the North Jersey local scene.