New Jersey punk-rock group Jersey Calling have released their fourth album, Parasocial Security. We asked Josh of the band the BIG questions . . .
The band was founded in 2002 by Randy, Josh, and Sean, and put out two albums before calling it quits in 2005. They got back together in 2020 during the pandemic, with Victoria on vocals and a new drummer.
They released their third album Punk Rock Retirement in 2020) and re-released their first two albums as a double called Daddy Re-Issues in 2021) on all streaming services. Parasocial Security marks their comeback.
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Speaking about Parasocial Security, Jersey Calling say, "Our most ambitious album to date, Parasocial Security explores themes of isolation and loss, while simultaneously finding solace in the personal relationships we've found in each other and our friends and family."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I'm a full-time Spanish teacher, I just started skateboarding last year (and I love it), and Victoria (from the band) and I just got married in March of 2023. Last year was a great year for me personally, and for the band, since we got to open both days of the Adjacent Festival in Atlantic City, NJ with headliners Blink-182 and Paramore.
How would you describe your music?
I usually describe it to people as 90s punk, because I think our songwriting and style is closer to bands from that era than some of the newest evolutions of punk rock (not that any of the newer styles are bad).
Who are your musical inspirations?
Bad Religion, Green Day, NOFX, Against Me!, Paramore, Rancid, Frank Turner.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My first real concert (that I went to without my parents) was Reel Big Fish back in 1996 or so. My friends and I had an amazing time and it was the first time I fell in love with live music.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Green Day - Nimrod. I was late to the Green Day party, since I didn't get into Dookie when it first came out. In fact, I was a bit of a late bloomer in music in general, but once I got into the punk genre, it transformed my life.
What's your favourite song right now?
This is a hard question . . . don't really have a favourite song, so much as whatever my flavour of the week is . . . right now, I've been listening to some more progressive ska music, like No Such Noise and Rx Bandits.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"All I know is that I don't know nothing" - Operation Ivy. I think it's a cool spin on the Socrates quote "To know, is to know that you know nothing." I think it's a great perspective on life, because even if you're an expert in your field, there is always something more to learn about the world. Even if you know everything about one topic (which is dubious at best), there is such a variety of other topics about which you can be totally ignorant. It really lends a sense of community to humanity, because at one point or another, we need to rely on each other’s knowledge.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I think that would be absolute torture, haha, but if I had to choose, it would probably be The Decline by NOFX. It's as close to a perfect punk song as I've ever heard, and it's 18 minutes long, so at least it wouldn't repeat as often as the standard three -minute alternatives - gotta be practical in the case of forced eternal repetition.
Where can people find your music/more information?
We're on all the streaming services - Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, and you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @jerseycalling.
Alan Corr
