People in the Garden State still call it the Hub: the middle, the crossroads, the gathering-place of influences, the purest Jersey you can get. Yes, New Brunswick is heating up again – the mainstream acceptance of some of its best-known bands is testament to the enduring relevance of this small-but-spirited city. Meet Me In Montauk is the latest representative of the Hub City sound, and, like many of their peers, they’re beginning to make waves beyond the borders of their home state.
...They’ve been likened to The Shins and Death Cab, and with each show the band plays, they do more to merit those comparisons.
MMIM is a young band, but one with deep roots in the Central Jersey scene. (For instance, Peter Horvath of the well-respected Anderson Council has been an adjunct member of the band and has played on the Meet Me In Montauk recordings; he’s not in the current lineup of the group, but he remains a passionate supporter). To make their sophomore EP, they’ve turned to a local legend: Grip Weeds frontman and multi-instrumentalist Kurt Reil. At his aptly-named House Of Vibes recording complex, Reil has for many years brought out the best in area musicians – and his Sixties-pop sensibility proves a perfect match for Meet Me In Montauk’s crisply-written and passionately-rendered indie rock songs.
You Don’t Understand does everything a House Of Vibes recording can be expected to do – and then some. The guitars jangle and joust, the melodies soar, the harmonies sparkle, and the insistent, energetic rhythm section drives it all home with conviction and understated power. Meet Me In Montauk’s music is irresistibly catchy; they’ve baited these hooks well. Lead singer Andrew Goulburn possesses one of the most engaging voices in Jersey pop: he’s conversational, approachable, and wholly identifiable. On songs like the sugar-spun “Seventy Five Days” and the kinetic “121231231”, his sweet and slightly dreamy singing provides listeners with a personable and deeply likeable guide. The musicians put the song first, of course, but they’re not afraid to strut their stuff: Drummer Bob Hackimer is a powerhouse behind the kit, rock-ribbed and steady – but when he fills, he does so with great personality. Guitarist Billy Perez and new bassist Mitch Rosenthal are every bit as enthusiastic and infectious; every Meet Me In Montauk performance feels like a celebration of the group’s superb songwriting.
They’ve been likened to The Shins and Death Cab (and, for that matter, the Grip Weeds), and with each show the band plays, they do more to merit those comparisons. They’ve already played many of Jersey’s notable indie-rock stages, and their forays into New York City have been just as successful. Meet Me In Montauk has appeared at the Court Tavern, the Saint, The Harvest Moon in New Brunswick, and the incomparable Maxwell’s in Hoboken; later this month, they’ll be making a return visit to the storied stage. Be sure to catch them there – this story is still unfolding, and it just gets more exciting from here.
Check them out online at www.MySpace.com/MMIM