5 Bands (I Think) You Should Listen to RIGHT NOW
It was around 2 in the morning.
My phone vibrates.
It startles me.
I sit up and pretend like I didn’t just pass out mid-Tetris 99 game.
I unlock my phone as I brush the chip crumbs from my beard and shirt.
Is it going to be a spam e-mail?
Or a drunk friend blowing up the group chat with cat memes?
Hopefully, it’s memes.
It was neither.
Instead, there was a message waiting for me.
“Are you ready for your next assignment?”.
Oh shit. Next assignment? Am I a secret agent?
Am I living a double life? Am I the Bourne Identity?
Er. Nevermind. It’s Mad Indie Media.
Good.
I didn’t want to get out of my pajamas anyways.
But what is the assignment?
Who do I have the pleasure of reviewing?
“5 Bands You Need to Hear Right Now”
Damn.
ONLY 5?
So many bands to cover…so little time.
SO. Here is (in no particular order)
5 Bands (I Think) You Should Listen to RIGHT NOW
Guesstimate
First up are the funkiest of funky, Guesstimate. Guesstimate is a prog/fusion band based out of New Brunswick, NJ. The band formed in mid-2021 and has put out two releases since. Their first release, “Testing…First Jams”, was released in October of 2021. They followed this with their first full-length album, “Fortune Hunters”, which was released on January 8th of this year. Both releases contain some SERIOUS jams that can vary from super jazzy/sophisticated ambiance to some of the tightest yet FUNKIEST riffs one could dream up.
The band consists of Taylor Garcia on flute & other various horns, Andrew Friedman on drums, Chris Ruzicka on guitar, and the infamous Bobby Shock on bass, Taurus Pedals, and vocals. For those who may not be familiar, Bobby Shock is a local bass legend who has left his mark on the scene with Crust and his many solo albums. Bobby’s bass tone is a prog musician’s wet dream. Once you know Bobby’s bass tone you will NEVER forget it or unhear it. It is the lowest of low ends.
Much like Crust and Bobby’s solo work, Guesstimate brings a lot to the table. If Fortune Hunters is a preview of what is to come from these brilliant minds then I think we better buckle our seatbelts because it is about to get serious in this atmosphere.
FFO: King Crimson, Weather Report, Yes, Miles Davis
Nikki Nailbomb
I first met Nikki Nailbomb at a World Inferno Friendship Society show in Trenton, NJ around 2018. At the time, Nikki was fronting a band called Molly Rhythym. I don’t think I can begin to describe Molly Rhythym’s set. All I can say was that they were tighter than tight and extra funky, yet, they had that “middle finger in your face as they chug a beer” punk attitude. They were a force to be reckoned with.
Needless to say, when I heard Nikki was releasing solo music I was thrilled. I was so curious to see what they came up with. Which direction would they go? What vibe are they going for? What ground will they cover? Well…Nikki is doing it all, apparently! If you go to Nikki Nailbomb’s Bandcamp right now you will come across 3 different releases with 3 completely different vibes.
Spoiler Alert: Perfectly Natural is an intense acoustic album with some heavy lyrics, Tyrannical is a straight-up punk album(with some tasty accordion and fiddle, might I add), and Bastardization is an epic 13-minute death metal song. As if that is not enough, Nikki is now releasing experimental ambient music under the title Uranium Party.
So, if you are a fan of variety then I think it is safe to say Nikki Nailbomb is right for you! Be sure to check out both of their Bandcamp pages and give them a solid listen. You will NOT be disappointed.
FFO: World Inferno Friendship Society, Dethklok, Aphex Twin, Jay Munly
Thom Ratz
Thom Ratz is an up and coming artist from the M&M capital of the world: Hackettstown, NJ. Never heard of it? How about Shades of Death Road? There we go. ANYWAY. When I first met Thom he was a fellow musician from the local scene and another Hackettstonian like myself. Thom never gave up on music but he did decide to embrace his poetic side and has published many poems and books. Thom has always had a way with words and I always felt a certain flow with his poetry. His poems have a very natural pace to them. This is perfect considering that now Thom is taking on indie hip-hop.
Since 2020, Thom has released a handful of singles across numerous streaming sites and, so far, every one of them has been a banger. His vocals vary from well-sung verses with some soul to rough, aggressive flow that hooks in all the right places. Much like his vocals melodies, his rhymes can also go from sweet like a fresh-baked pie to stepping on a wasps nest. “Y’all praying to God, but I’m the reverend”. Oh yeah. I can feel the burn on that one.
Thom plans on releasing his first EP, Mistakes Made People Who Thought They Were Never Wrong, which will be released this May. Until then, check out some of his singles, and be sure to check out his poetry!
FFO: Outkast, Blink 182, Rahzel
The Adventuring Party
As the glory rolls on, we come across The Adventuring Party (formerly Brian Rothenbeck & the Adventuring Party). Brian Rothenbeck is one of my favorite local songwriters. I’ve been following him since his acoustic days and have always been a big fan of his writing. In a scene full of “songwriters” (and I use the term loosely), Brian is one of the only ones who doesn’t come off like some pretentious, IPA drinking, sad boy. Brian is genuine as a person, as a performer, and as a songwriter. And might I add, he is quite handsome.
With that being said, The Adventuring Party has taken everything that is wonderful about Brian and his songs and multiplied it. They match Brian’s energy & charm in every way possible and are one of the tightest bands I have seen live. They are a group of some of the finest musicians the area has to offer.
If you head over to their Bandcamp you will see seven different releases. Four of them are Brian Rothenbeck releases and the other three are The Adventuring Party. All of them are great in their own way. Their most recent release, DLC, came out in July of 2021 and while it is available on streaming services, it is ALSO available on VINYL(two colored variants. Go get ‘em while you can).
FFO: Chuck Ragan, Elvis Costello, Frank Turner, Dungeons & Dragons
iNFiNiEN
For the final band of this list, we have iNFiNiEN. I’m trying to find the words to describe the sonic joy my ears are experiencing while listening to this band. There is just so much going on and so much to take in. Where should I begin?
I discovered iNFiNiEN because I am a fan of their guitarist, Matt Hollenberg. My first exposure to Matt was his band Cleric(who have been one of my favorite bands since 2008). The best way I can describe Cleric is everything that is great about math/prog, death metal, and dark/noisey/ambient soundscapes, and turned it into one big project. While Cleric is still active, Matt has been working with the infamous John Zorn on numerous projects(including one of my faves, the Salem 1692 album).
Needless to say, when I saw Matt posting about iNFiNiEN I knew I had to check it out. I have never heard a project with Matt that I have disliked and iNFiNiEN is no different. iNFiNiEN finds a way to blend beautiful vocals with intense drum patterns, funky bass, maddening keys, and exotic guitar riffs(you can definitely hear Zorn’s scale influence on the guitar of their newest single).
iNFiNiEN have a total of five releases on their Bandcamp page. The oldest release being How to Accept from 2006 up to their most recent release, Beyond the Veil, which was released February 4, 2022. Beyond the Veil is by far the heaviest thing iNFiNiEN has released and it makes me wonder what is next for the group. If their next EP or album is as intense as this single then I think we are in for some serious sonic punishment….and I can’t wait.
FFO: Prog Metal, Math Metal, John Zorn, Serious Riffs
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About The Author
Vater
Vater is an active member in the northern New Jersey Music Scene guiding the sludgy goodness in doom duo Dejagravy & providing the low end on bass in NJ avant-pop band WIll Wood & the Tape Worms. Vater is a fan of horror movies and comic books and when not playing music enjoys watching movies at the Mahoning Drive-In Movie Theater.
