newjerseyrocks

When talking about the New Jersey, you can’t help but talk about artists like Franki Valli, Gary US Bonds, Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. As different as their individual fan base might have been, they all have one thing in common; they epitomized the feel of New Jersey through their music.

At its core, the New Jersey sound has always been a rough mix of doo-wop and rhythm and blues. As far back as “Walk Like A Man,” you could be in California and feel like you’re in Jersey when you hear the sound of that music. There is a certain grit and toughness that underlies the music which sums up the people of New Jersey. They have always been associated with the underdog; with people who have to fight to get respect.

No one brought this home more than Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. “Greetings From Asbury Park” started the brilliant career of this artist and he still shows no signs of slowing down after more than 30 years. This fact in and of itself sums up New Jersey as a whole; hard working, and relentlessly good people. This band also showcases the fact that this music has its roots in Italian accordion music. Three members of the E Street band are accomplished accordion musicians themselves, and they carry that style of music very well into their gritty brand of rock-roll.

The way this band mixes it all together, its hard to tell sometimes whether its the true Jersey sound itself or a very precise homage to that genre. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes are the same way. They take the influence of the original Jersey sound and make it into the New Jersey sound. They are not so much getting away from their influence as they are expounding on it.