As much as you think it might be an easy task, it’s not always that simple to showcase new, up-and-coming artists. Usually when it comes to these sorts of things, if you aren’t familiar with the band’s name, what’s going to make you click our story versus the 667 Best TikTok Fails of 2020? Yeah, not always that simple.
However, putting all doubts aside, we’re going to keep highlighting promising young bands we believe in. Bands that stand out against the tiring monotony of our music scene. You know, bands like New Jersey noisemakers America Part Two.
Combining a multitude of influences from everything classic rock to early 2010′s emo, this talented East Coast trio is like nothing you’ve ever heard. As we’ve has previously declared, the band’s distinctive style is like if Title Fight wrote a Creedence Clearwater Revival record. Seriously, with songs like their recently released “Glaciers,” you won’t know if you’re dropping acid at Woodstock or recovering from a heat stroke at Warped Tour. Either way, America Part Two is a band that will make feel something like never before.
In order to get to know a little more about the emerging environmentally friendly act, we reached out to members Alex Fabio (vox/guitar), Fred Rainville (vox/bass), and Sam Weingarten (drums) to hear all the band’s personal style and inspiration. To check out our chat and discover your newest obsession, be sure to look below. Afterward, make sure to pre-order America Part Two’s new album Price of a Nation out March 12th via Revival Recordings.
Where did you grow up? And was there a music scene where you grew up?
Alex: We grew up in New Jersey - a lil bit of beach, a lil bit of city, and a whole lotta music. Like most places in the country, the music is directly correlated to its geography. The scenes in south, central (which exists), and north Jersey are all their own organisms. And the beauty is, [they’re] all pretty supportive of each other. That’s the key.
Sam: There were local shows just about every week at Manville Elks Lodge, Freehold VFW, Spotswood VFW, Marlboro Rec Center, or small bars that would let kids play on a Sunday afternoon like The Saint and a ton of iconic bigger shows at Starland Ballroom.
Fred: When we were growing up, so many touring bands came through, it became clockwork that the small local bands opening those shows would start touring eventually.
What were you and your bandmates doing before your band formed? Jobs? School?
Fred: We started forming bands by middle school. Alex and I started touring in high school. We’ve worked every service industry job you could imagine to help us save for tour and feel like we had a little cash when we came home.
Alex: I was a dishwasher, delivery driver, bar back, waiter, show booker and whatever else I could do. Brookdale CC was my edumacation.
Sam: I went to school out in Philly at Drexel and played in a different band at the time. All of our old bands played the same house show in Philly before AP2. Workin random retail or food jobs.
Who or what influenced you to start playing music?
Sam: My parents started me on violin from a super young age. Wasn’t exactly into it but def thankful for what it taught me to use later down the road. Started finding bands from friends or my parents and kept following the rabbit hole down…
Fred: My family had all types of music going. Rock n roll, funk, 90s alt, 2000s pop. I picked up a bass after learning piano around age 8. My cousins had picked up drums and guitar. I looked up to my uncle who is an accomplished bassist. So I became the only kid I knew who played bass. My first band was called The Brethren.
Alex: My cousin blasted me with Slipknot & Slayer when I was staying with him in Greece. I was 8 years old and it shook me to my absolute core. On the flip side, watching bands like All Time Low carve their own path from the ground up showed me that this is something that could actually be done!
If you could collaborate with any artist of your choice who would it be?
Fred: Poison Ivy or Ozzy
Sam: Reggie Watts
Alex: Hayley Williams, Travis Barker or Rick Rubin. I would spontaneously combust.
What’s the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Alex: So many. Maybe A Day To Remember at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ. Opened a pit to “2nd Sucks” with a dude on crutches… never saw them again. Or the drag show I saw in Philly Valentines Day 2020. My car got towed but it was totally worth it.
Fred: Title Fight or Green Day
Sam: Power Trip in Texas, Lorna Shore, or some random jazz homie out in public shredding it.
Are there any recent releases or performances that have inspired you?
Alex: Everything Just Friends has been doing the past couple years has been sick. Charlene Joan has been dropping straight smashes.
Fred: The Bluechips - concert series performance and new album
Sam: Tricot. Random finds deep in the depths of Spotify or Bandcamp.
If you could have one of your songs be on a TV show or movie of your choice what would it be?
Fred: SNL and Destroy
Sam: What if that’s already in the works ??
Alex: …
Three bands or artists that would be your dream to tour with?
Sam: A realistic one would be: Turnstile, Microwave, and Just Friends. But unrealistically: The Beatles, Kendrick Lamar, and Jesus Piece
Alex: Title Fight, Rage Against The Machine, Tyler The Creator
Fred: Black Sabbath, The Stooges and The Cramps
What would you like to be remembered for? Musically or not.
Fred: Integrity
Sam: The riff, spreadin’ awareness, and changing the world
Alex: Making a positive impact
Best piece of advice anyone has given you?
Fred: Practice
Alex: “The crowd’s only gonna go as hard as you go”
Sam: A tree has its whole blueprint in a tiny seed and buy the dip.
What have you learned since being in the music industry?
Fred: Most people aren’t here for the music.
Sam: We’re all in it together but you still cannot rely on anybody. Gotta create and stay on your own grind because you’re in the right place at the right time if you’re really in this for real.
Alex: There is no getting around any single step. The process is it in itself.
The best thing currently on the internet is?
Sam: Reddit, Robinhood, watching giant influences have actual conversations through podcasts, and the weird ability to be in anyone’s pocket at any time.
Alex: The fact that we have the entire recorded history of mankind on this here device.
Fred: The Cramps Live at Napa State Mental Hospital
