meet me in montauk

Bio:

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.

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 Brandon Revilla is a powerhouse behind the kit, rock-ribbed and steady – but when he fills, he does so with great personality. Guitarist Gerry Rosenthal 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, Elliott Smith and My Morning Jacket 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 in New Brunswick, The Saint in Asbury Park, Maxwell's and The Whiskey Bar in Hoboken, The Continental, Kenny's Castaways, The Mean Fiddler and The Pussycat Lounge in Manhattan and The Trash Bar in Brooklyn (with upcoming shows at both The Trash Bar and Spike Hill). Be sure to catch them when you can – this story is still unfolding, and it just gets more exciting from here. ..

The reviews are coming in!

MEET ME IN MONTAUK - “You Don’t Understand”
Although New Brunswick’s best known for basement hardcore shows, keep in mind that it’s still very much a college town, with more than its share of what we used to call “college-rock” bands. Case in point: Meet Me In Montauk, guided by the ying/yang of youthful singer/songwriter Andrew Goulburn and longtime scene veteran Pete Horvath (of Mod-revivalists Anderson Council) on bass. (Horvath is no longer an active member of the band, but his musicianship, vocals, and songwriting clearly play a big role in this EP.) Billy Perez on guitar and Bob Hackimer on drums complete the recording ensemble. Throw the Gripweeds’ Kurt Weil into the mix on Hammond organ (he also recorded the project at his House of Vibes studio) and you’ve got a pretty unstoppable lineup with a potent (and diverse) confluence of influences. Like the late, great Bionic Rhoda (who ruled the Brunfuss indie scene a decade ago,) MMIM has its jammy moments, producing a sort of thinking-man’s frat-rock on nimble radio-ready pop tunes like “New Brunswick,” “Girls Got You Down,” and “Summertime” (songs that any John Mayer fan would certainly embrace.) The band cranks up the tempo for some high-spirited R.E.M.-flavored guitar jangle on “121231231,” but the piece de resistance comes on the final track, “Seventy-five Days.” With Reil cranking the Hammond organ behind an irresistible pop melody, Goulbourn sings sweetly of sun-swept California girls as the band revisits the Paisley Underground psychedelic-pop scene of the Eighties. There’s nothing not to like here and plenty for funs of both modern rock and 60’s pop to get behind.
– Jim Testa jerseybeat.com

Honorable Mention
A few weeks back I compiled my top 50 albums of 2008, and then counted them down for you all on Lazlo’s Den. Between the time I announced my top 50 list on December 20th, and December 31st, I received two more albums worthy of mention, because they came out in 2008 and would have made the countdown had I received them prior to announcing my top 50 albums. They are: Meet Me In Montauk - “you don’t understand” and Julie - “an act of communication" Both of these albums are full of incredible indie-pop that I highly recommend.
- Lazlo of blowupradio.com

Member Since:

January 12, 2005

Members:

Andrew, Mitch, Gerry and Brandon

Buy our new ep, "you don't understand"
Track List:
1. new brunswick
2. girl's got you down
3. summertime blues
4. that you don't understand
5. 121231231
6. seventy-five days
.. .. .. .. ..

Influences:

The Shins, Elliott Smith, The Beatles, The Smashing Pumpkins, Cake, The Strokes, Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Folds Five, Jimmy Eat World, of Montreal, Tripping Daisy, John Fruschiante, Radiohead, Nirvana, The Kings of Leon and Shade

Sounds Like:

meet me in montauk mostly

Record Label:

none