Every scene across the country holds a special place in the hearts of those who lived or witnessed it, but none compare to the talent sprouting up at each of the turnpike gates up and down the Garden State from 94-02. New Jersey kids will always have a chip on their shoulders. It’s inevitable, growing up adjacent to the number 1 (New York) and 4 (Philadelphia) major markets in the country. Forever on the outside looking in, forever being looked down on. This constant sense of inferiority and alienation, along with some super talented men and women created fantastically fertile fields for the pop-punk and ska scenes to grow and thrive in the late 90s – early 00s. It was a beautiful fucking time to be alive.
That scene witnessed the birth, rise and explosion of bands like Bigwig, The Ergs!, The Gaslight Anthem, Lifetime, Midtown, My Chemical Romance, Saves the Day and Thursday among countless others and for those of us lucky enough to experience it, that scene in New Jersey was our world.
One of the frequent venues for Garden State punks to catch a show was The Derby Firehouse in the south Jersey town of Bordentown. A quarter century later, Derby Punks, one of many young booking collectives at that quaint firehouse hall is about to transcend time and state lines thanks to the recently announced 25th Class Reunion show on 7 June at Broken Goblet Brewery in Bensalem, PA. (Tickets). The first wave of announced performers includes Catch 22, Humble Beginnings, Boxcar, Simple Mischief, Yermomlluvus, Go Real Slow, Shower With Goats and Take Today. Derby Punks promise more surprises still to come.
Check out so many of the best NJ bands you haven’t heard about here.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
