Civic Mimic is Jeff Hersch’s (Glazer, ex-Decoration) contribution to the emerging solo quarantine project genre. Stuck at home with limited resources, Hersch has made the most of the one microphone he owns, splitting time between his garage and basement. His latest release and fourth in the last year, “Deep Clean,” continues to highlight the frenetic energy and pop punk stylings of the last decade which Hersch may or may not be known for. The three-song EP, part of Dromedary’s lathe-cut picture disc series, touches on loss of friends, loss of direction, and loss of brain cells, but emerges with a renewed sense of optimism and reawakening after a yearlong stint in semi-isolation.

Discography

“Deep Clean” single

Cuppa Joe was formed in 1991 at Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) by Doug Larkin, Bob “Diz” Diszler and Steve Spatucci. The band’s initial “Demonstrations” cassette attracted the attention of the newly-formed Dromedary Records, who asked the band to contribute the song “Meanings” to their …Nothing Smells Quite Like Elizabeth compilation.

Discography

“Nurture” CD

V/A – “Make the Load Lighter: Indie Rock for Haiti”

“Tunnel Trees” CD

Footstone was a 90s dynamo, led by singer/guitarist Ralph Malanga, and a passion for beer-swilling, supercharged power pop. Fueled by the thunderous bass antics of Mark Abney and the driving drums of Dave Noel, Footstone’s percussive, twin-guitar attack (Malanga along with guitarist Eric Greenberg) is a combination of raw energy and melodic hooks rarely seen in today’s indie rock.

Discography

“Wobbles from Side to Side” single

“Lippy” CD

V/A – “Make the Load Lighter: Indie Rock for Haiti” compilation

FRIENDS, ROMANS, COUNTRYMEN were a Jersey City based rock band that formed in 1990 when founding members Sean Adams and Dan Murphy met at St. Peter’s Prep. After various members rotated in and out over the course of 10 years, Brian Musikoff joined ranks on bass in 1995, thus completing the band’s longest lasting line-up. FRC was most active until 2001, at which time families and careers largely took away from band time. During their heyday FRC played with greats such as Pavement, Sunny Day Real Estate, Dead Milkmen, Doughboys, Garden Variety, Shirk Circus, and American Standard.

Dromedary reissued their last CD, I Am Spartacus, in 2010.

Discography

“I Am Spartacus” CD

Long-time participants of the famed New Brunswick basement scene, Glazer emerged in early 2014. After solidifying their line-up in 2016, Glazer began developing new material, and recorded a four-song EP titled Repeat Sequence, self-releasing it on tape. Since then, the band has continued to develop their disjointed, frenzied composition style, paired with their pensive lyrical content. 2017 saw the release of On a Prairie, Live in the Dirt, their first full length, on Screaming Females’ Mike Abbate’s (and partner’s) imprint State Champion Records, followed by a split 7″ with Spowder, on the same label.

Kayla Greet of Razorcake says: “Dare I say there’s a little Dino Jr. and Sonic Youth mixing in with layered My Bloody Valentine guitar effects. For how all over the place this record is, once you make it to the end you can fully see the through line they built into these songs. It’s really a neat and tightly packed gift, but assembled with heavy, psychedelic, and out of control elements.”

Discography

“Bait” b/w “Couch Cooking” single

After playing in numerous indie rock and punk bands together dating back to 2009 with varying degrees of artistic success, guitarist Joey Degroot and bassist Kyle Wilkerson formed Joy Cleaner in 2015. The duo viewed the band almost as a challenge to themselves to take a more mature, accessible and deliberate approach to songwriting. Recruiting Cary Billemeyer on drums, Joy Cleaner began performing live in early 2016 and were immediately praised for their full embrace of pop songwriting while still retaining a scrappy alternative edge, with many favorably comparing their sound to such bands as Teenage Fanclub, Guided By Voices or The Lemonheads.

Discography

“Easter Tuesday” single