Photo is Special to the Examiner
Sonny Han, owner of Espresso Joe’s in Keyport, has noticed an increase in young roots rock/folk-rock bands emerging out of New Jersey's Monmouth and Ocean counties.
“Its not so much a new sound; but, it’s a sound coming back," Han said, in an interview.
“It's something similar to The Greatful Dead and My Morning Jacket," he said. "I would say they’re kind of like a hard blues-rock sound – an excellent beat – but very diverse with the instruments.”
It seems to be something that’s attracting more and more fans each time these bands are playing out, he added.
The Amboys, a western-inspired rock band based out of Asbury Park, is one of the bands Han was describing. In fact, he mentions this new-found music interest in a blog written on his coffee shop's Myspace.com Web page.
“It was cool that he noticed this was happening,” said Chris Smith, guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Amboys. “We’re being lumped into the same genre as The Riverwinds, Calm and Repose, and The Mad Feather Group.
“I think we’re all kind of influenced by the same music,” Smith said.
The Amboys is Smith, of Loch Arbour; along with Connor Effenberger, drums, vocals, of Toms River; Manny Castanon; bass, vocals, of Asbury Park: and Kyle Waugh, guitar, mandolin, of Brick.
The Amboys are preparing to release a debut album titled "Everything Between the Moon and the Sun” by early winter. The album features 10 tracks, including “The Right Track,” “This Very Thin Line,” “Vicky,” and “Too Far.”
The band teamed up with Ian Larkin, music producer at The Dude Ranch, an independent recording studio in Asbury Park, during the summer. Larkin has helped produce music for many Jersey Shore artists including The Parlor Mob, Sikamor Rooney, and Scott Liss and the Sixty-Six.
There was a hold up in the recording studio, Smith said. “We were looking for horns; I heard them in my head when we were first working through the jams. But, I couldn’t find a horn player.
“We checked Craig’s list – where I found the whole band – and everyone that I found kind of back out,” he said.
Finally one Wednesday night Smith had stumbled across "Lady Luck" while hanging out at The Saint. “I’m sitting there and I’m complaining how I can’t find a horn player – I’m so pissed off – and everyone I find is like blah…” he said.
Drew Wajnert, promoter of PhanPhest Entertainment, had spoken with Smith at The Saint and recommended that he go ask Robert Butkowski, a local performer, for some help.
Smith didn’t realize Butkowski, a lap steel guitarist, could also play trumpet and trombone. After all, Smith and Butkowski both perform in a side project together called Frank Bressi’s Sextet.
“Right there I went on stage and was like, “Rob, can you play horns on the album?”' Smith said. “It was done that Sunday."
"Everything Between the Moon and the Sun” is currently being mastered at Asbury Media. The album features special guest appearances by: Robert Butkowski, trumpet, trombone; Jeff Plate, keys; Kristen Wright, background vocals; and Colin DiMeo, slide guitar.
The Amboys perform at 8 p.m. on Oct. 17 at The Lamp Post, 382 2nd Street, Jersey City; at 6 p.m. on Oct. 25 at Asbury Lanes, 209 4th Ave., Asbury Park; and at 8 p.m. on Nov. 12 at The Saint, 601 Main Street, Asbury Park. Visit The Amboys for more information on upcoming events.
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