New Jersey is known as the home of countless world-renowned artists; Springsteen, The Jonas Brothers, Frankie Valli, Paul Simon, Jon Bon Jovi and Whitney Houston among many others. The state also has a profoundly vibrant independent music scene, and it’s this underground movement in the clubs, bars, and basements which provides many young and inspired artitsts doing their thing. The Gray Vines are up there with the best of them, and have recently released ther new single, ‘See Me’.
Comprising singer/guitarist Jake Hoffman, bassist/keyboardist Casey O’Connell, and drummer/vocalist Jordan Bowen, The Gray Vines are set to release their sophomore EP, ‘Obscene’, on February 9. Their debut self titled EP was released less than a year ago, and their style has even in that short time changed from alt-rock to a powerful punk-leaning sound, showcased on ‘See Me’.
The music video shows TGV jamming in a dreamy basement, with the intensity of the song in stark contrast. Videographer and editor Matt Cerisano used footage of real riots and freedom fighters from all over the world. The song has been explained by Hoffman as being about he wage gap creating inequality, but many of his lyrics also invoke dual meanings, allowing the song to apply to inequality of all kinds; a true protest song. The amorphous guitar playing and frenetic drumming creates a beautifully destructive environment for Hoffman’s throat-bleeding screams to pierce through the mix, solifidying ‘See Me’ as a haunting cry in an unforgettable song. It’s short and sweet at only 1 minute 49 seconds long, but it’s catchy and hooky enough to make you instantly want to hit the replay button.
Stream ‘See Me’ on Spotify and Bandcamp. You can find The Gray Vines online on Twitter, Facebook, and their official website.
