August 12, 2015
Music is as much a part of the Jersey Shore as sand and waves, highlighted by the fact that there's no shortage of songs written about the lure of the Garden State's coast.
Yet there's much more to the scene than those tunes, with tons of great musical acts hailing from or frequently touring the area. Just scraping the surface of a deep pool of talent, here are four Jersey Shore bands and artists to check out.
Rhythmic and punchy with hints of the 90s experimental rock groups like Jellyfish, Mad Feather Group sounds like they belong on Radio 104.5 and not Youtube. That doesn't mean you shouldn't check out their music videos, which are delightfully strange and quirky. The group hails from Jackson Township and hits up many small festivals and bars in and around Asbury Park.
Clever and uplifting, Mista Encore comes from Long Branch, and the dude can spit bars. His vocal style, interestingly enough, has a hint of Action Bronson in it, yet his lyrical style is more reminiscent of the thoughtful musings of Common. Plus, if you're looking to make beats of your own, Encore is here to help. He's got several useful tutorials on his Youtube page.
Sbaffoni makes the rounds at the various shore towns' bars and small venues, bringing her heartfelt folk renditions to each show. A talented songwriter in her own right as well as a masterful cover artist, she easily navigates the song catalogs of a wide range of artist, from Lou Reed to Pink.
