If you’re in search of new music beyond the questionable crumbs tossed out by commercial radio, you’ll race to the Jersey shore this weekend for the Seaside Music Festival (Seaside Heights, May 19-21, 2011).  Arrive at 8 PM at the Aztec Bar on May 20th, and Mike Ferraro & the Young Republicans will greet you.  Singer-songwriter-guitarist Ferraro, drummer Ralph Capasso, and bassist Jonathan Andrew won’t be currying your vote for the GOP. But, the trio will offer up selections from their independent albums, including their latest, full length, release, What’s Yours is Mine.

From that CD, Dangle is not a current incarnation of Elvis Costello’s chilling-lilting Let ’em Dangle, but I do like guest trombonist Kevin Orsini’s deep brass.  It puts me in mind of the horns on Soul Survivor’s time-honored Expressway to Your Heart.  Overdue is an odd but catchy union of Nirvana-meets-Talking Heads.  To Greet You with a Smile marries grinding metal with melody, while The Way It Feels pulls a 180 with a soft, acoustic feel.

Solo and with former band members, the high, whiskey-piped Mike Ferraro has toured New York, New Jersey, and parts of Europe, including serving as an opening act for Nora Jones’ glam-rock departure, El Madmo.

If you like independent music, here’s your chance to support it.  Get to the Aztec bar on May 20th and check out Mike & The Young Republicans. 

Meet Mike & the Young Republicans!