The four band members, Greg Attonito, Pete Steinkopf, Bryan Kienlen, George Rebelo, were all members of bands in high schools in Basking Ridge. After they decided to move to New Brunswick to follow the growing underground music scene there. With a strong fan base formed from students from the nearby Rutgers University, The Bouncing Souls, who took their name from a Doc Marten’s advertisement, became a staple of the local scene, and also brought supporting bands to the forefront at their shows.
The band released their debut album titled “The Good, The Bad & The Argyle” in 1994 on their own independent label, Chunksaah Records. The album was a compilation of all their previous EP’s, and an album of wholly new material, “Manical Laughter” followed two years later. Half of the songs were written in a week, and their new wave punk sound gained them a tour slot with Youth Brigade, and a major label contract with Epitaph Records.
After a slight false start with their third eponymous album, Hopeless Romantic, their fourth album was a huge hit with fans and critics. The band was heralded for their experimental modern take on punk, paired with deep lyrical content.
The turn of the millennium saw some band line up changes and a new album, titled “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”. By this point the band had gained a large following around the world, as they became veterans in the punk scene. More recently they have toured with the likes of Black Flag, and had their music used for Hollywood movies such as “The Manchurian Candidate”. In 2004, the band released an anniversary DVD; “ Do You Remember? 15 Years of the Bouncing Soul”.
I have had the opportunity of seeing the Bouncing Souls many times in concert. I have seen them play the Stone Pony in New Jersey as well as The Social a couple times in Orlando. Every time I've seen the Bouncing Souls they keep a very casual atmosphere, however I can't vouch for larger venues as I have only attended bar shows. Their lead singer, Greg, will mosey back and forth on stage throwing in an awkwardly adorable dance move intermittently. The Bouncing Souls recently replaced their long time drummer Michael with George Rebelo from Hot Water Music. I had an opportunity to see George play with them recently and while the image of not having the same gang on stage is a little different, the sound and vibe of the group carries on without a noticeable change. The set lists have a great mix of their bigger "hits" such as "Ole!" and "Hopeless Romantic" but also some old classics like "These are the Quotes from our Favorite 80's Movies". Each performance that I have attended seemed so relaxed that it felt if I were inclined to yell out a request it would have been granted. The crowds at the shows are majority late twenty to early forties. There is still an active pit and crowd but not having the younger group around is quite enjoyable.
Ska and reggae get some folk treatment in an Aggrolites set, and it is just as of the wall as it sounds. I mean that in the best way possible. With such a distinct sound, The Aggrolites have quite clearly mastered their live set and plunder through their back catalogue, finding plenty of gems and delivering them with supreme gusto. Since backing reggae hero Derrick Morgan back in 2002, they have honed their live performance very well, creating feel good vibes in any venue they find themselves in. The band’s debut album title, “Dirty Reggae”, goes a long way to describing their sound, and having toured with the likes of Madness they understand how to take this sound and run with it in front of an audience always grinning from ear to ear. From big hit “Free Time” to earlier singles such as “Don’t Let Me Down”, the group blast their way through a well-oiled set, and it’s clear the band members are enjoying every minute of the performance. The enjoyment is infectious and the crowd feed off the band’s energy to create a feel-good atmosphere that will leave you wanting more. The Aggrolites. Dirty reggae guaranteed to put a smile on your face.