Precious Bones

New Jersey’s own Precious Bones performing their song “Goodtimes” live at Willie McBrides in Hoboken, NJ on August 3, 2012. Precious Bones are an original alternative post-punk rock band. For more info check them out at: www.preciousbones.com (c) Copyright 2012 Precious Bones - Life In Hoboken Magazine

New Jersey’s own Precious Bones performing their song “Goodtimes” live at Willie McBrides in Hoboken, NJ on August 3, 2012. Precious Bones are an original alternative post-punk rock band. For more info check them out at: www.preciousbones.com (c) Copyright 2012 Precious Bones - Life In Hoboken Magazine

New Jersey locals, Precious Bones’ latest release, Fracture, is a bit rough around the edges vocally but comes well equipped with solid rockabilly instrumentals. “Watch Over Me” crawls in with a distant, unique news report at the forefront of the track that builds with anticipation. Harsh riffs, heavy bass and brash drums outshine Antoine Poncelet’s inconsistent vocals. Despite a less than amazing performance, Poncelet certainly puts heart into the lyrics and vocals for Fracture, including “Nothing” and “Goodtimes,” which were both written by bassist Guy Tetro. After the edgy first piece, “Nothing” pops in with a hint of summertime. Again, it seems that the percussion takes the forefront during the loud and exciting chorus, especially as Poncelet’s natural treble adds some weight onto the second number.

And the good times roll in with a surf rock feel and overlapping vocals and a sleek bass groove in the youthful chorus. Precious Bones sasses up the album with the energetic and top-notch “All She Wants,” as Poncelet gets into the zone and digs deep to produce his best performance on the disc. The badass jam hits the nail on the head as for incorporating the vocal stylings of what sounds like at least three other members of the sextet. After the sudden burst of energy, the serene “This Is It” has Fracture limping to the doctor. Certainly not the strongest cut on the short release, but shows that the six-piece are capable of showing a more vulnerable side.

As a whole, Fracture seemed a bit short to really show what the band is made of. With a little bit of fine-tuning, Precious Bones has some serious potential. - The Aquarian Weekly Newspaper

New Jersey locals, Precious Bones’ latest release, Fracture, is a bit rough around the edges vocally but comes well equipped with solid rockabilly instrumentals. “Watch Over Me” crawls in with a distant, unique news report at the forefront of the track that builds with anticipation. Harsh riffs, heavy bass and brash drums outshine Antoine Poncelet’s inconsistent vocals. Despite a less than amazing performance, Poncelet certainly puts heart into the lyrics and vocals for Fracture, including “Nothing” and “Goodtimes,” which were both written by bassist Guy Tetro. After the edgy first piece, “Nothing” pops in with a hint of summertime. Again, it seems that the percussion takes the forefront during the loud and exciting chorus, especially as Poncelet’s natural treble adds some weight onto the second number.

And the good times roll in with a surf rock feel and overlapping vocals and a sleek bass groove in the youthful chorus. Precious Bones sasses up the album with the energetic and top-notch “All She Wants,” as Poncelet gets into the zone and digs deep to produce his best performance on the disc. The badass jam hits the nail on the head as for incorporating the vocal stylings of what sounds like at least three other members of the sextet. After the sudden burst of energy, the serene “This Is It” has Fracture limping to the doctor. Certainly not the strongest cut on the short release, but shows that the six-piece are capable of showing a more vulnerable side.

As a whole, Fracture seemed a bit short to really show what the band is made of. With a little bit of fine-tuning, Precious Bones has some serious potential. - The Aquarian Weekly Newspaper

A township resident and lead singer for a North Jersey rock band remembers what he calls his "street corner troubadour life," performing in front of a wig shop on Newark Pompton Turnpike and playing at the corner of Main Street and Stevens Avenue.

Precious Bones, whose lead singer is from Little Falls, at their practice space in Rutherford. From left are band members Ray Tetro, Nat Pongpanich, Antoine Poncelet, Mike Mideaker, Guy Tetro and Alexandra Poncelet Del Sole.
Flooding he experienced in Little Falls informs his lyrics and he likes to write songs after taking a long walk along the Passaic River, said Antoine Poncelet, 32.

Now he is taking it to the next level with Precious Bones, which he joined in January. The band styles itself after 60s rockers such as The Kinks, Rolling Stones, and The Beatles as well as post-punk alternative bands like David Bowie, The Cure and U2.

"We're trying to bring back a classic sound," Poncelet said. "We're trying to be true to ourselves and true to rock and roll."

This Sept. 30, the band will bring that sound to the New York City New Music Festival in the East Village. They are among a select number of bands chosen to perform at the festival organized by the Songwriters Showcases of America.

"It was exciting to be picked," said Guy Tetro, 42, bassist for the band and Rutherford resident. "We got picked out of thousands."

Poncelet is looking forward to the show.

"We're most excited to be a New Jersey band there," he said. "I want to show those New York cats what rock and roll is."

Tetro said that the festival is the next step in the band's progression.

"I don't think we got picked by chance," he said. "I think this is going to lead us to getting signed."

Although not opposed to money and prestige, that is not the reason the band wants to get signed, Tetro said.

"We have messages we want to get out," he said. "We want to be rock stars not because we want the fame and fortune…but because people listen to you."

Their show at the New Music Festival is just one in a series that the band has performed at in the past few months.

"We've already taken Hoboken, taken Clifton and are about to take Jersey City," Poncelet said. "I see us as an elite strike force."

On Aug. 30, the band will play at the Lamp Post in Jersey City: "It's something we're really very surprised to have landed," he said. "But the people who booked us really liked our music."

And on Sept. 12, the band will open for the Benjamins in Teaneck. Tetro said that he is excited about that show because it's the first time they got their band name on tickets.

Precious Bones thrives on their original music.

One of the songs the band is most proud of is called "Nothing." It's crafted in the style of 80s new wave music and is about a failed relationship, Tetro said. But the song has a positive tilt.

Poncelet said that at the end, the hero of the song realizes that it's OK to be alone.

"It's not just the typical 'woe is me' song," he said.

Another one of their songs called "The End of the End," is about the poisoning of the earth, Tetro said.

"I always thought that it's great when you can take a song about misery and death and dance to it," he said. The band's drummer, Nat Pongpanich, 35, of Rutherford, found the band through an ad on Craigslist. He said he prefers to be heard and not seen.

"If it sounds good with the song, then I'm going to play it," Pongpanich said.

Lead guitarist Ray Tetro, 41, of Rutherford, gives the band a unique flavor by "bending" the sounds that come out of his guitar with a whammy pedal.

"I have a pitch bender," he said. "I'll make it sound like whales."

Guy Tetro compared the style to that of Pink Floyd or Radiohead.

"The root is classic rock, but we bring in so many other elements," he said.

Mike Mideaker, 43, of Fairview, singer and guitarist for the band, looks forward to their upcoming show at the New Music Festival.

"Being picked to be involved is an exciting opportunity to represent New Jersey in what is new and upcoming in the world of music," he said. To learn more about Precious Bones visit www.preciousbones.com or facebook.com/preciousbones.

Precious Bones upcoming shows: Aug. 30, 9 p.m. - The Lamp Post, 382 2nd Street, Jersey City; Sept. 12, 7 p.m. - Mexicali Live, opening for the Benjamins, 1409 Queen Anne Rd., Teaneck; Sept. 30, 8 p.m. - NYC New Music Festival at The Space, 9 Bleeker St., New York, N.Y; Oct. 27, 9 p.m. - Loop Lounge Halloween party, 373 Broadway, Passaic - PASSAIC VALLEY TODAY

A township resident and lead singer for a North Jersey rock band remembers what he calls his "street corner troubadour life," performing in front of a wig shop on Newark Pompton Turnpike and playing at the corner of Main Street and Stevens Avenue.

Precious Bones, whose lead singer is from Little Falls, at their practice space in Rutherford. From left are band members Ray Tetro, Nat Pongpanich, Antoine Poncelet, Mike Mideaker, Guy Tetro and Alexandra Poncelet Del Sole.
Flooding he experienced in Little Falls informs his lyrics and he likes to write songs after taking a long walk along the Passaic River, said Antoine Poncelet, 32.

Now he is taking it to the next level with Precious Bones, which he joined in January. The band styles itself after 60s rockers such as The Kinks, Rolling Stones, and The Beatles as well as post-punk alternative bands like David Bowie, The Cure and U2.

"We're trying to bring back a classic sound," Poncelet said. "We're trying to be true to ourselves and true to rock and roll."

This Sept. 30, the band will bring that sound to the New York City New Music Festival in the East Village. They are among a select number of bands chosen to perform at the festival organized by the Songwriters Showcases of America.

"It was exciting to be picked," said Guy Tetro, 42, bassist for the band and Rutherford resident. "We got picked out of thousands."

Poncelet is looking forward to the show.

"We're most excited to be a New Jersey band there," he said. "I want to show those New York cats what rock and roll is."

Tetro said that the festival is the next step in the band's progression.

"I don't think we got picked by chance," he said. "I think this is going to lead us to getting signed."

Although not opposed to money and prestige, that is not the reason the band wants to get signed, Tetro said.

"We have messages we want to get out," he said. "We want to be rock stars not because we want the fame and fortune…but because people listen to you."

Their show at the New Music Festival is just one in a series that the band has performed at in the past few months.

"We've already taken Hoboken, taken Clifton and are about to take Jersey City," Poncelet said. "I see us as an elite strike force."

On Aug. 30, the band will play at the Lamp Post in Jersey City: "It's something we're really very surprised to have landed," he said. "But the people who booked us really liked our music."

And on Sept. 12, the band will open for the Benjamins in Teaneck. Tetro said that he is excited about that show because it's the first time they got their band name on tickets.

Precious Bones thrives on their original music.

One of the songs the band is most proud of is called "Nothing." It's crafted in the style of 80s new wave music and is about a failed relationship, Tetro said. But the song has a positive tilt.

Poncelet said that at the end, the hero of the song realizes that it's OK to be alone.

"It's not just the typical 'woe is me' song," he said.

Another one of their songs called "The End of the End," is about the poisoning of the earth, Tetro said.

"I always thought that it's great when you can take a song about misery and death and dance to it," he said. The band's drummer, Nat Pongpanich, 35, of Rutherford, found the band through an ad on Craigslist. He said he prefers to be heard and not seen.

"If it sounds good with the song, then I'm going to play it," Pongpanich said.

Lead guitarist Ray Tetro, 41, of Rutherford, gives the band a unique flavor by "bending" the sounds that come out of his guitar with a whammy pedal.

"I have a pitch bender," he said. "I'll make it sound like whales."

Guy Tetro compared the style to that of Pink Floyd or Radiohead.

"The root is classic rock, but we bring in so many other elements," he said.

Mike Mideaker, 43, of Fairview, singer and guitarist for the band, looks forward to their upcoming show at the New Music Festival.

"Being picked to be involved is an exciting opportunity to represent New Jersey in what is new and upcoming in the world of music," he said. To learn more about Precious Bones visit www.preciousbones.com or facebook.com/preciousbones.

Precious Bones upcoming shows: Aug. 30, 9 p.m. - The Lamp Post, 382 2nd Street, Jersey City; Sept. 12, 7 p.m. - Mexicali Live, opening for the Benjamins, 1409 Queen Anne Rd., Teaneck; Sept. 30, 8 p.m. - NYC New Music Festival at The Space, 9 Bleeker St., New York, N.Y; Oct. 27, 9 p.m. - Loop Lounge Halloween party, 373 Broadway, Passaic - PASSAIC VALLEY TODAY

The post-punk alternative group Precious Bones are playing two East Coast dates this summer. After a few member changes, the band has regrouped and started their recording process. While playing shows in New Jersey and New York, they began writing and recording. See them at The Lamp Post in Jersey City on Aug. 30. After beating hundreds of bands, they were chosen to represent the Garden State. The New York City New Music Festival in September features bands from all over the States. - The Aquarian Weekly Newspaper

The post-punk alternative group Precious Bones are playing two East Coast dates this summer. After a few member changes, the band has regrouped and started their recording process. While playing shows in New Jersey and New York, they began writing and recording. See them at The Lamp Post in Jersey City on Aug. 30. After beating hundreds of bands, they were chosen to represent the Garden State. The New York City New Music Festival in September features bands from all over the States. - The Aquarian Weekly Newspaper

Dynamically evoking the groovy and thrilling psychedelic rock music of the 1960’s, this five song EP CD skillfully mixes a catchy’n’lively rousing and tuneful sound with an utterly engaging reverence for good old fashioned straight-up rock’n’roll music. The playing is crisp and proficient, the singing harmonious and captivating, the songwriting sharp and reflective. The snappy tempos and constant beats keep things fresh and enjoyable throughout. Spot-on good and tasty stuff. - Jersey Beat

Dynamically evoking the groovy and thrilling psychedelic rock music of the 1960’s, this five song EP CD skillfully mixes a catchy’n’lively rousing and tuneful sound with an utterly engaging reverence for good old fashioned straight-up rock’n’roll music. The playing is crisp and proficient, the singing harmonious and captivating, the songwriting sharp and reflective. The snappy tempos and constant beats keep things fresh and enjoyable throughout. Spot-on good and tasty stuff. - Jersey Beat

“Ooh, baby, baby, I was like, baby, baby, you’re so baby, ooh.”

As riveting and moving as those words are, they won’t be making their way into any of the songs penned by New Jersey City University graduate and bassist Guy Tetro for his newly formed band, Precious Bones. Since January, the sextet has been perfecting their sound, a blend of 60's British rock, 80's New Wave and good old rock ‘n roll.

Along with Jersey City singer and guitarist Antoine Poncelet (yes, from the Antoine Poncelet Band, which has made its way around the JC music scene), the 42-year-old Tetro writes about more important, grounded things in life than “getting drunk and going out to party.”

“We like to write powerful lyrics, but keep them simple and strong,” Poncelet says. “We want to be approachable by the audience, so we are not a complicated band, but our songs are interesting and cool and have great messages.”

“I think anyone who is a songwriter has a certain responsibility,” adds Tetro, who cites Bono of U2 as a musical role model. “He uses his status as a songwriter to help causes and motivate people to do things. Even on our level, we try to make sure songs are powerful and important – no fluff songs or fillers.”

They cover everything from relationships to the environment and even a true story about a kid battling cancer that Tetro decided to immortalize in the song “Good Times.” Tetro, who studied Journalism and Communications at NJCU, read about the teen in a news article.

“It was about this kid in high school who was dying of a cancer that was incurable. Instead of letting that get him down, he decided to live every day to the fullest. He did everything on his bucket list. His final thing was go to his own prom. He went to prom, then died the next day. But he didn’t regret anything. Even though he had been given his notice, he decided that instead of letting it beat him, he’d beat it,” says Tetro.

“There are people like him out there… we want to make a difference. We want people to listen to our songs and get motivated to do something,” he adds.

Tetro is a man on a mission. The North Bergen native and his brother Ray, who plays guitar for the band, were surrounded by music throughout their youth thanks to their father, who was a guitarist for The Shangri-Las. (The Tetros aren’t the band’s only siblings – back-up vocalist Alexandra Poncelet Del Sole is Poncelet’s sister; she recently joined guitarist Mike Mideaker and drummer Nat Pongpanich to complete the Precious Bones lineup.)

“We grew up listening to 60's surf music, 60's rock ‘n roll, Led Zeppelin and classic rock. We’re also influenced by a lot of New Wave from the 80's like The Cure, The Smiths and New Order,” says Tetro, who says the band’s collective playlist is a hodgepodge of rock greats across multiple sub-genres. “They give us lots of new influences. Like our singer Antoine, his biggest influences are David Bowie and Iggy Pop – those kind of influences change our sound, too.”

“We are trying to create something that is new but has strong influences from the music we loved when we grew up,” says Ray Tetro. “I like to experiment with no limits with what I am doing on guitar… With effects and styles that are a mix of different influences, I get to create something totally new.”

Guy Tetro says the band has a little bit for everyone, even audiences who enjoy the pop and mainstream music that he says often becomes diluted by overproduction, manufactured songs and auto-tune, which he calls “almost a way of cheating.”

“You could not be able to sing one single note – it doesn’t matter if you can sing or not, because auto-tune makes you hit the notes,” he scoffs. “The state of music today is pretty sad. There aren’t a lot of new bands coming out that are original and have their own unique sound… there’s an overflow of really stale, generic songs that have very little feeling and all sound pretty much the same.”

Precious Bones, on the other hand, represents what he calls a “resurgence of rock ‘n roll,” a new interest in old bands like Van Halen and Aerosmith who lived for getting their hands dirty, writing songs and thinking out of the musical box. Tetro says he and his band are not alone.

“There are musicians who are out there writing songs, out in the trenches. They play original material and get the shaft,” he laments. “Very few are elevated up to the level that you see in the mainstream [music industry], and it’s upsetting because they’re the ones who are really doing it – they’re really writing songs, they’re really talented, they’re really practicing several hours a day. They deserve the spotlight but they’re not getting it.”

Precious Bones is now fighting for their moment in the spotlight. Their next gig is an acoustic set at Mexicali Live in Teaneck tonight, Sept. 12, followed by a performance at the New York City New Music Festival on the 29th at Otto’s Shrunken Head. The band’s self-titled debut album is scheduled for rel - The Jersey City Independent

“Ooh, baby, baby, I was like, baby, baby, you’re so baby, ooh.”

As riveting and moving as those words are, they won’t be making their way into any of the songs penned by New Jersey City University graduate and bassist Guy Tetro for his newly formed band, Precious Bones. Since January, the sextet has been perfecting their sound, a blend of 60's British rock, 80's New Wave and good old rock ‘n roll.

Along with Jersey City singer and guitarist Antoine Poncelet (yes, from the Antoine Poncelet Band, which has made its way around the JC music scene), the 42-year-old Tetro writes about more important, grounded things in life than “getting drunk and going out to party.”

“We like to write powerful lyrics, but keep them simple and strong,” Poncelet says. “We want to be approachable by the audience, so we are not a complicated band, but our songs are interesting and cool and have great messages.”

“I think anyone who is a songwriter has a certain responsibility,” adds Tetro, who cites Bono of U2 as a musical role model. “He uses his status as a songwriter to help causes and motivate people to do things. Even on our level, we try to make sure songs are powerful and important – no fluff songs or fillers.”

They cover everything from relationships to the environment and even a true story about a kid battling cancer that Tetro decided to immortalize in the song “Good Times.” Tetro, who studied Journalism and Communications at NJCU, read about the teen in a news article.

“It was about this kid in high school who was dying of a cancer that was incurable. Instead of letting that get him down, he decided to live every day to the fullest. He did everything on his bucket list. His final thing was go to his own prom. He went to prom, then died the next day. But he didn’t regret anything. Even though he had been given his notice, he decided that instead of letting it beat him, he’d beat it,” says Tetro.

“There are people like him out there… we want to make a difference. We want people to listen to our songs and get motivated to do something,” he adds.

Tetro is a man on a mission. The North Bergen native and his brother Ray, who plays guitar for the band, were surrounded by music throughout their youth thanks to their father, who was a guitarist for The Shangri-Las. (The Tetros aren’t the band’s only siblings – back-up vocalist Alexandra Poncelet Del Sole is Poncelet’s sister; she recently joined guitarist Mike Mideaker and drummer Nat Pongpanich to complete the Precious Bones lineup.)

“We grew up listening to 60's surf music, 60's rock ‘n roll, Led Zeppelin and classic rock. We’re also influenced by a lot of New Wave from the 80's like The Cure, The Smiths and New Order,” says Tetro, who says the band’s collective playlist is a hodgepodge of rock greats across multiple sub-genres. “They give us lots of new influences. Like our singer Antoine, his biggest influences are David Bowie and Iggy Pop – those kind of influences change our sound, too.”

“We are trying to create something that is new but has strong influences from the music we loved when we grew up,” says Ray Tetro. “I like to experiment with no limits with what I am doing on guitar… With effects and styles that are a mix of different influences, I get to create something totally new.”

Guy Tetro says the band has a little bit for everyone, even audiences who enjoy the pop and mainstream music that he says often becomes diluted by overproduction, manufactured songs and auto-tune, which he calls “almost a way of cheating.”

“You could not be able to sing one single note – it doesn’t matter if you can sing or not, because auto-tune makes you hit the notes,” he scoffs. “The state of music today is pretty sad. There aren’t a lot of new bands coming out that are original and have their own unique sound… there’s an overflow of really stale, generic songs that have very little feeling and all sound pretty much the same.”

Precious Bones, on the other hand, represents what he calls a “resurgence of rock ‘n roll,” a new interest in old bands like Van Halen and Aerosmith who lived for getting their hands dirty, writing songs and thinking out of the musical box. Tetro says he and his band are not alone.

“There are musicians who are out there writing songs, out in the trenches. They play original material and get the shaft,” he laments. “Very few are elevated up to the level that you see in the mainstream [music industry], and it’s upsetting because they’re the ones who are really doing it – they’re really writing songs, they’re really talented, they’re really practicing several hours a day. They deserve the spotlight but they’re not getting it.”

Precious Bones is now fighting for their moment in the spotlight. Their next gig is an acoustic set at Mexicali Live in Teaneck tonight, Sept. 12, followed by a performance at the New York City New Music Festival on the 29th at Otto’s Shrunken Head. The band’s self-titled debut album is scheduled for rel - The Jersey City Independent