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Arts & Entertainment

Punk Rockers Lost in Society Sets Sail

Asbury Park punk rockers perform hometown record release show Friday

 

Asbury Park’s Lost in Society have moved from pop-punk to a darker, more pure punk sound on its sophomore album, “Let it Sail,” which was released on June 5 on Altercation Records.

“I wanted to write a dark, kind of grungy punk album and get away from that pop-punk feel but still have the catchy vibes,” said singer-guitarist Zach Moyle. “We wanted to have the bass stand out a lot more and the guitars got heavier.”

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Lost in Society have achieved their goal. “Let it Sail” standout tracks such as first single “Scared” and “My Door” demonstrate that the band’s new music is more intense, but no less memorable, than its 2010 debut, “Eastern Empire.”

The band, which also includes bassist Nick Ruroede and drummer Hector Bonora, will play a record release show at the Asbury Lanes on Friday. Lost in Society returns to the area as part of the Vans Warped Tour on Friday, July 13, at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.

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The band also has a show scheduled for Friday, July 20, at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch and at the Asbury Lanes for The Upstart Festival on Aug. 12.

“The cool thing about this album is that somebody who doesn’t really listen to punk can get into it and somebody who really loves punk can like it a lot,” Moyle said.

The band’s evolution is natural, said Moyle, 21. He was between the ages of 15 and 18 when he wrote the songs for “Eastern Empire.”

“When you get into your late teens, early twenties, different stuff starts happening in your life,” he said. “You grow up a little bit and get different views on the world.”

Moyle said he’s “overly ecstatic” about the band’s first outing on the Warped Tour. “I went in high school every year,” he said. “It was a big event, going with all your friends We’re playing 13 shows in 14 days. It’s going to be rigorous and really tiring but it’s going to be woth it.”

Moyle is also excited about Asbury Park’s growing and diverse music scene, which includes punk, reggae and surf rock bands.

“There’s a lot of great bands around here and the one thing that sets this area apart compared to other music scenes it that everybody helps each other out,” he said. “I really like saying, ‘We’re from Asbury Park.’ ”

He also noted that small venues are popping up, replacing those that had been shuttered over the past decade. Lost in Society chose to play its record release party at its favorite venue, the Asbury Lanes.

“The stage is smack in the middle of the lanes,” Moyle said. “There’s six to seven lanes on each side of the stage that you can bowl on while the bands are playing. And all the people there are really nice and all about helping the bands out.”

Moyle formed Lost in Society as an eighth-grader at Ocean Township Intermediate School with Ruroede and drummer Hardu Virks-Lee. Bonora joined the band after Virks-Lee left for college.

One of Lost in Society’s first performances was at a statewide talent show at the PNC Bank Center in 2004. “We played an instrumental, original song,” Moyle said. “It was pretty nerve-wracking.”

Earlier this year the band released a split CD with American Pinup. The album was produced by Pete Steinkopf of Middlesex County punk rockers the Bouncing Souls, one of Moyle’s major influences.

Following the Warped Tour, Lost in Society hopes to land a support slot for a bigger band. If that doesn’t happen, Moyle said Lost in Society’s plans include playing the college circuit in the fall and the South By Southwest music showcase in Austin, Texas, in the spring.

Moyle said he’s steadfast in pursuing his dream of becoming a full-time musician. He said the frustrations that accompany life in an upstart band can also be motivating.

“You go from city to city and you can play in front of three people who don’t care or play in front of a really great crowd,” Moyle said. “It’s so hit or miss but I think that’s what keeps us going.

“It’s like, ‘next time we come back we’re going to make this happen and there’s going to be more people there.’”

IF YOU GO: Lost in Society, 8 p.m. Friday, June 22, Asbury Lanes, 209 Fourth Ave., Asbury Park. Tickets are $5. Call 732-776-6160 or visit www.asburylanes.com.  The band returns to Asbury Lanes for “The Upstart Fest 2012,” 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12.

ALSO PERFORMING:

On the Vans Warped Tour, Friday, July 13, PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel. Festival starts at noon. Tickets are $36.50. Call 732- 203-2500 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

7 p.m. Friday, July 20, Brighton Bar, 121 Brighton Ave., Long Branch. Tickets are $15. Call 732-229-9676 or visit  www.brightonbar.com.

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