Native band set to perform at local venues this August
By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
EAST WINDSOR — Cotton picks City Streets Café for its first live area performance in approximately two years.
The Aug. 12 show at City Streets Café will preview Cotton’s new debut studio album “In the Basement.” The free show begins 9 p.m.
The next day, Aug. 13, Cotton will perform during Family Night at Etra Lake Park in East Windsor. The show begins at 7 p.m.
The rock-pop band is composed of four East Windsor natives and Hightstown High School graduates. The area natives are: founding member and lead vocalist Brandon Broderick, lead guitarist Leo Kalik, keyboard player Eitan Levine, and bass player John Aponte.
Drummer Andrew Saunders grew up in southern New Jersey and Florida.
Mr. Broderick, Mr. Levine and Mr. Saunders are also graduates of Rutgers University. Mr. Aponte attends Kean University in Union. Mr. Kalik is pursuing a degree in music at Mercer County Community College.
Cotton has played at several Tri-State venues, including the Alchemist & Barrister in Princeton.
”Truthful and heartfelt” are two words commonly used to describe the band’s songwriting.
”In the Basement” includes 11 original songs. Listeners may preorder “In the Basement” online. It will be released Sept. 15.
Mr. Broderick and Mr. Saunders wrote the songs featured in the album.
”Now and Then” is the title of band’s first single from “In the Basement.”
Part of the chorus goes, “I fall, I fall down, now and then.”
It translates into not everyone can live life perfectly, according to Mr. Broderick.
”Everyone ‘falls down’ from time to time,” he said.
Copies of the single will be given to audience members at the Aug. 12 show. Attendees must be 21 or older to enter City Streets Café.
The band has a rock-pop sound with “a focus on lyrics, songwriting and structure,” said Mr. Broderick, who also plays guitar, is the band’s manager.
Mr. Broderick founded the band with Chris Moran while both attended Hightstown High School. They graduated in 2007.
While Mr. Broderick has always been Cotton’s lead vocalist, Mr. Kalik and Mr. Levine provide background vocal harmonies.
The band also is successfully utilizing social media and branding. They have a band logo and sites on Facebook and Bandcamp, among others. Cotton is scheduled to perform at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City on Aug. 17.
For more information on the five-member band, visit www.cottonband.com. To watch Cotton on YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/the100cotton.
City Streets Cafe is located at 510 Route 130 in the Royal Plaza in East Windsor. Attendees must be 21 and older to enter the building and watch the August 12 show.