Podcast Takes Nostalgic Trip Through NJ Pop Punk Scene

Humble Beginnings circa 1999. Photo credit: Anthony Schorr

Mike Doyle is no stranger to the North Jersey Pop Punk scene. As a founding member of punk rock heroes, Lanemeyer, he was part of the vanguard of the late 90's/early 2000's bands to emerge under the banner of the “NJPP,” as the kids called it. By “kids,” I mean the, now adult, mid 30 year olds who grew up listening to and attending shows of the burgeoning NJ scene at the turn of the 21st century. The NJPP era was so revered and garners such fond memories that Facebook groups and an online music archive were created to celebrate it. It was in one of these posts, in the NJPP FaceBook group, a post that reflected on the nostalgia of those bygone days, that Doyle drew inspiration for his podcast, This Was The Scene.

"I’ve wanted to do a documentary about the NJ punk scene for years," Doyle said. "Last year I started a podcast about marketing with video in order to gain more attention for my animation company. I hated it after 20 episodes because it wasn’t authentic. However, it did help me learn the technical side of creating a podcast." Needing an outlet for his creative spirit, he pivoted to a new project. "December 2017 rolled around and I challenged myself to just do something for fun," says Doyle. "It was kind of a perfect storm of needing a life win and wanting to document this scene without having to raise $10k or $20k to do it." On a whim, Doyle posted a message in the NJPP Facebook group asking if anyone would be interested in a podcast about those halcyon days of yore. The enthusiastic replies to the affirmative were his impetus in moving forward. So he compiled a list of 10 people he wanted to talk to, reached out to them and then began recording interviews. "My vision was to make one season and see how I liked it," Doyle said, "But once I launched the first episode, I knew I was onto something special, because the reaction was crazy.

This Was The Scene dropped in March of this year and explored that era's beloved NJ pop punk scene specifically. Each episode centers on an interview with a guest who was an active part of the NJPP. The first season of the podcast features producers, musicians from the NJPP pantheon of bands, promoters and even fans. According to Doyle, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, “By episode 2 or 3, people were going out of their way to message me and thank me for doing this."

If you’re unfamiliar with the NJPP scene of the late 90’s/ early aughts – it was a special time, especially for those directly involved in it. Shows were often put together by the kids comprising the scene and locations were chosen based on cost, making firehouses and VFW halls preferred venues. The do it yourself spirit of the bands and their fans formed a passionate and tight knit community for all involved. “I just remember it being a pivotal time in my life,” says Doyle. “It was where I got to escape from high school and be with people who 'got me' and vice versa. It was as if everyone who went to shows created this magical world where we could listen to the music we loved and be around people who felt the same way. It didn’t matter if you were in a band, promoted the shows, did sound, recorded the bands, or just showed up to watch the bands. Everyone was on the same level and accepted each other the same way.” Heath Saraceno, former guitarist/singer of Midtown and Senses Fail fame, echoed those sentiments: “The scene changed my life. It promoted an accepting and exciting environment and gave me the confidence to come out of my shell. I felt like I belonged and was understood and I always had somewhere exciting to go on the weekends. I made some life-changing friends at these shows and sharing this time with them meant the world to me.” Saraceno is the guest of the third episode, where he discusses how Midtown formed, their incredible successes, along with hilarious tour stories, among many other topics.

The laid back and casual manner in which Doyle engages his guests lends a certain familiarity and coziness to the podcast. Unlike traditional interviewers that can often seem detached or awkward, many of Doyle’s guests are friends and peers, so the discussions veer into personal and even, on occasion, embarrassing memories. As the listener, you’re on the bar stool between Doyle and his guest, so you feel less like an interloper, intruding on a private conversation - you’re part of the conversation.

An interesting decision Doyle made early on was the spotlighting of NJPP fans on the podcast. "I felt that adding fans to the show was the perfect way to include people's perspective of the scene. Their viewpoint is just as valuable as a band's, producer's or promoter's. Without the fans, there would not have been a scene." Mike Pelak, the focus of episode 18, attended hundreds of NJPP shows as one such dedicated, young fan. Today, in addition to working for a major corporation, he also devotes much of his time to screen writing and directing films, having also dabbled in acting as well. This creative spirit and commitment to his passion may well have been spawned by his days as part of that vibrant community. Pelak agrees, "Looking back, the thing that made that scene so special to me is how it has influenced the rest of my life. It taught me a Do It Yourself ethic - that if you truly go for it, you can make things happen. That's evidenced by the way a bunch of kids were able to create an entire world."

With nearly 13,000 downloads since launching 8 months ago and the initial interview count growing from 10 to 26 – This Was The Scene is gaining in popularity and expanding its focus for guests. The second season, which dropped in October, has seen the podcast branch out to include non-Jersey, national acts that influenced the bands in the local NJ scene. Ian Grushka of Newfound Glory kicks off season 2, followed by Brendan Kelly of Slapstick/Lawrence Arms fame, Jeff Caudill of Gameface, Sergei Loobkoff of Samiam (and Knapsack) and many more. For fans, new and old, of pop punk - this podcast is a fond look back at an era that genuinely continues to inspire all who were a part of it.

This Was The Scene is available wherever you listen to your podcasts or can be accessed via the following links:
https://www.thiswasthescene.com

https://open.spotify.com/show/5oJOqkrB0Fvz4rI7r8bazD?si=EIMe1biURCyiG26sm-qm8A

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/this-was-the-scene-podcast/id1363105632?mt=2

https://www.facebook.com/thiswasthescene/

The NJPP archives created by Joe Pulito as well as the Facebook group can be found here: http://njpparchives.tumblr.com/ & https://www.facebook.com/groups/njppgroup/