~ Asbury Park Vibes' Band of the Week ~

November 19, 2020

HOMETOWN

New Egypt, NJ

YEAR FORMED

2019

BAND MEMBERS

TJ Haefner (vocals and rhythm guitar)

Dee DiMeola (lead guitar and vocals)

Liam McNicholas (bass)

Photo Credit: Kris Khunachak

YOUR MUSICAL PAST AND PRESENT IN ONE RUN-ON SENTENCE.

TJ and Dee formed the band after the fall out of their previous band (My Lonely Heart) and wanted to continue making music together, the two began writing new songs which were recorded throughout the summer of 2019, and shortly after added Liam as our bassist to the official lineup, we recently released our debut EP "Resolution" as a trio on all major streaming platforms and held a virtual EP release show on YouTube to celebrate.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO SOMEONE WHO HASN’T YET HEARD YOUR MUSIC?

Paramore meets Foo Fighters, Incubus, and Green Day.

HOW DID THE STARS ALIGN TO BRING YOU ALL TOGETHER?

TJ and Dee have been playing music together since they were in high school, we needed an additional person to play guitar or bass with us for a Halloween show in 2019. So, Liam contacted us, learned the set, and we played a great show together. Ever since then we have been playing music together.

IF BANDS WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE A SLOGAN … WHAT WOULD YOUR BAND SLOGAN BE?

Rock and roll tunes for outrageous goons.

A PROJECT YOU’RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT YOU’RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

We are currently writing new music for our next release.

HOW DOES THE BAND FLESH OUT A SONG FROM START (IDEA IN YOUR HEAD) TO FINISH (RECORDING)?

Usually, one of us will have a skeleton of a song idea structured out that they will bring to the rest of the band. From there, we take that idea, expand on it, and try out different things until we are all satisfied with how it sounds in the end.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE BEST SONG YOU EVER RELEASED, AND WHY?

Our song "Silence" because it has a lot of energy, riffs, and an anthemic chorus.

PICK ONE WORD THAT BEST DESCRIBES WHAT YOUR REHEARSALS ARE LIKE.

Energetic

ANY MUSIC VIDEOS PLANNED OR IN PRODUCTION?

We are planning music videos for our songs "Orion" and "The Man in the Yellow Sweater".

LET’S GEEK OUT FOR A SECOND … TELL US WHAT YOUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PIECE OF MUSICAL EQUIPMENT IS RIGHT NOW.

Liam's favorite piece of gear right now is the Green Russian Big Muff pedal. TJ's favorite is his new Epiphone Explorer. Dee's is the Strymon Blue Sky reverb pedal.

WHICH ARTIST, BAND, OR LIFE EXPERIENCE INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A MUSICIAN?

TJ- Rush

Dee- Paramore and Foo Fighters

Liam- Led Zeppelin

AN ALBUM THAT’S HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOU.

TJ- Animals by Pink Floyd

Liam- The Wall by Pink Floyd

Dee- Nevermind by Nirvana

VOCALIST YOU ADMIRE THE MOST?

We all admire Hayley Williams.

GUITAR SOLO THAT ALWAYS GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS?

TJ- Time by Pink Floyd

Liam- Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd

Dee- Killer Queen by Queen

MOST BAD-ASS BASSIST?

We couldn't narrow it down to one, but it's between Geddy Lee and Les Claypool.

DRUMMER WITH KILLER CHOPS?

John Bonham

ROLLING STONES OR THE BEATLES?

The Beatles

DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-SHOW RITUALS?

We have a pre-show chant that we always do to hype ourselves up before playing a show.

FUNNIEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED WHILE YOU WERE ON STAGE.

TJ ripped his pants mid-set once, it was hilarious.

IF POSSIBLE, DESCRIBE WHAT PERFORMING LIVE FEELS LIKE FOR YOU.

We all feel like we are in the zone when playing live, it also makes us feel really excited and alive.

IF YOU WERE SECOND ON A THREE-BAND BILL, WHICH BAND WOULD YOU LOVE TO BE SUPPORTING AND WHICH BAND WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO OPEN FOR YOU?

  We would love to support Foo Fighters and have Feeny open for us (check them out if you have not already :) ).

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR FANS GET FROM YOUR MUSIC? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE THEM TO KNOW?

We want our fans to be able to connect to our music in any way, as long as they enjoy it and it makes them feel something.

MOST DON’T ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BELIEVE THAT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT ... CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN. CLOSE YOUR EYES AND VISUALIZE WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR ULTIMATE SUCCESS. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

The ultimate success to us would be to have a dedicated fan base that allows us to actively tour and be able to play music that we enjoy for a living.

WHAT ARE YOU DETERMINED TO SEE HAPPEN FOR YOUR BAND IN THE NEXT YEAR?

Growth in our fan base and an active live show schedule, provided that live music can make a safe comeback soon.

UPCOMING SHOWS, EVENTS, FESTIVALS YOU’RE PLAYING?

N/A due to the pandemic.

WHAT CONCERT DID YOU ATTEND THAT YOU’LL NEVER, EVER FORGET?

TJ- Roger Waters

Liam- GWAR

Dee- Paramore (Writing the Future Tour specifically, she has seen them many times)

BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN.

Keep working hard and don't give up.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUED MATERIAL POSSESSION?

Liam- his 2014 Mexican sunburst Stratocaster

Dee- her Gibson Les Paul double cut

TJ- his 60th-anniversary Telecaster

WHICH OF YOUR BANDMATES: IS ALWAYS LATE? EATS THE HEALTHIEST? IS THE PRANKSTER? IS THE TASK MASTER TO GET THINGS DONE? HAS A USELESS TALENT? IS QUIRKIEST ... IN WHAT WAY?

Always late- Dee

Eats the healthiest- we all eat equally terribly

Prankster- all of us

Task Master- Dee

Useless Talent- Liam says he has a history degree and that it is his useless talent

Quirkiest- TJ because he always comes up with the most ridiculous sayings that never fails to make everyone laugh.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT PLAYING MUSIC, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE TO DO?

Play Smash Bros and Mario Kart, eat, have bonfires, watch TV, TJ likes RC stuff.

IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT YOUR “GO-TO” PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW, WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS WE’D SEE?

Dee- Phoebe Bridgers, Paramore, Incubus, Foo Fighters, Rage Against the Machine, Minor Threat, IDLES, and Father John Misty.

Liam- Beartooth, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, and Paramore.

TJ- Circa Survive, Pierce The Veil, Homesafe, Incubus, Foo Fighters, Basement.

BEST BAND NAME YOU EVER HEARD.

Mouse Rat (if you know, you know)

VINYL RECORDS, CASSETTES, CD’s, OR DOWNLOADS?

Vinyl Records

WHAT SONG IS AMAZING, YET NOT VERY POPULAR?

Turn It Off by Paramore, a very underrated song by them.

AN ALBUM YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF LISTENING TO.

TJ- Animals by Pink Floyd

Liam- Meddle by Pink Floyd

Dee- Brand New Eyes by Paramore

WHAT SONG ARE YOU CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH?

Dee- I Know the End by Phoebe Bridgers

Liam- Cherub Rock by Smashing Pumpkins

TJ- A Cheap Bouquet by Pierce The Veil

WHAT SONG HELPED YOU WHEN YOU WERE HEARTBROKEN?

Liam- Blonde Hair Black Lungs by Sorority Noise

TJ- The Hardest Part is Forgetting Those You Swore You'd Never Forget by Being As An Ocean

Dee- Something by Julien Baker

WHAT ALBUM OR ARTIST DID YOUR PARENTS INTRODUCE YOU TO THAT YOU LOVE?

Liam- Master of Puppets by Metallica

TJ- Graceland by Paul Simon

Dee- A Night at the Opera by Queen

WHAT’S YOUR BENCHMARK FOR A GREAT MUSICIAN?

They pay attention to details, care a greatly about the music they write, and they put on a solid live performance.

Asbury Park Vibes is a media publication dedicated to shining a light on the live music scene, as well as promoting the artists we love! We strive to provide show reviews, photographs, and artist stories that bring fans and musicians closer together.

Our coverage focuses keenly on the artists and venues in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York; however, you'll also catch us featuring musicians and shows all across the U.S!!! There's nothing better than the ENERGY and VIBES we all feel from live music! We're sure we'll see you at a show somewhere very soon!