The Once Was

SOUNDS LIKE: Reached for Fleet Foxes. Landed on Bruce Springsteen.


FREE ASSOCIATION: New Jersey and indie rock on weirdest date ever.


FOR FANS OF: Denim.
- Philadelphia Weekly

Indie 4-Piece The Once Was has caught our eye. With a distinctive sound reminding us of a mixture of Arcade Fire and Radiohead,, The Once Was gives you a calming-rushing feeling, sound like a contradiction? Just have a listen to their songs "Comets" or "Whirlwind War" and you will know exactly what we mean. Their music is filled with tranquility but also gives you an intense feeling of euphoria, you feel like your listening to something worth while. Something that mixes you up inside, makes you feel every emotion, yes The Once Was is definitely worth taking a listen to. Recently the band released their debut full length album "Post War Parade", which you can happily download off of ITunes, or purchase from Repo Records, AKA Music, Tunes (Marlton, NJ) and Cd Baby. - Turn Up The Sound

Recording an album can be a daunting task for any band. The struggle to maintain an authentic sound on a small budget, often with little experience can drive artists to their breaking point. New Jersey locals, The Once Was, have handled the pressure with ease on their impressive debut, Post-War Parade.

Post-War Parade is a beautifully structured record, each song showcasing the band’s many strengths. The lyrics are reflective but forceful and the music itself is layered with engaging vocals and intricate arrangements. The Once Was combine classic and indie rock with bits of country and even a dash of latin influence, resulting in an album with depth, texture, and personality that would be a perfect match for any Quentin Tarantino film.

The Once Was formed in 2006 in Moorestown, New Jersey and while their sound has progressed naturally over the years, they agree that previous band experiences have helped shape their music. “The decision to stay away from certain styles most definitely resulted from bands we were involved with in the past,” they said, recognizing the need to create something new. Though a few of the band members have worked with each other before, they believe the success of this particular line up (Frank Cervantes,Troy Clark, Josh Dowiak, and Jason Luber), “pretty much all boils down to timing. We just melded together and have been full throttle ever since.”


With the profits made off local performances, the group was able to save up enough to head into the studio for Post-War Parade, recording and self-producing the album in eight months. The true force behind the record was the band’s own desire to add as much substance to their work as possible. “In terms of production, we wanted to do what we felt was necessary to bring each song out to its potential. We really wanted to make an album, not just a recording of us playing the tunes.” Incorporating mandolin, violin, harmonica, and keyboard into the standard rock lineup, they completed Post-War Parade and independently released the album on April 15th.

The Once Was is scheduled to perform at Sullivan Hall on Wednesday, May 6th, and promise to deliver an incredible show. “When you come to see us perform, you should expect to see us rock out,” they said. “We are fairly unpredictable live and we like to mix things up. The vocals are in your face and we’re not shy about singing out.”



Post-War Parade is available on CD Baby.com
- NY Rock Music Examiner