This band is no joke!
Sure, their name may evoke a grin or a chuckle when you hear it for the first time. And yes, you may wonder how a group that has it’s members steeped in such diverse musical upbringings would even make sense. But once you take a listen to how these five Monmouth County musicians have combined their talents into one singular force, you will understand all the excitement swirling around the band called Not Leaving Sober.
Not Leaving Sober was founded by Nico “Neeks” Araco and James “Jimmy” Long, two local musicians who have been performing together for nearly a decade on various projects. The band is fronted by Neeks and Jimmy as they share the lead vocal duties very capably. The lineup is rounded out with members Ronnie Fischer on lead guitar, Bryan Choromanski on bass guitar and TJ Horner behind the drums. They are all home grown Jersey boys and have been raised in the Bayshore area with the members hailing from Matawan & Hazlet, and currently calling Highlands it’s home base. Not Leaving Sober has put down major roots in the local Monmouth County bar scene. Their fan base is large and is growing with each performance. Recently they have brought their energetic show to the stages at Bar A in Belmar, Dowling’s Irish Pub in Union Beach, McDonagh’s Pub in Keyport, Harborside Grill in Atlantic Highlands, Nic’s Hometown Tavern in Keansburg and Proving Ground in Highlands. Keep an eye out for the band’s announcements of future shows at these and other local hot spots.
Although the band has only been performing with it’s current lineup for just over a year, their exceptional individual musicianship and ability to gel as a cohesive musical unit has made them a band to keep an eye on! The rhythm section consisting of bass guitarist Choromanski coupled with Horner on the drums, provide a solid foundation on which the three other members can layer their intertwined guitar parts. Having three guitar players perform together in a live show always runs the risk of having a muddled or overbearing sound, but Fischer, Long and Araco have proven that their styles compliment each other and lead to a cohesive wall of sound. The final, and perhaps most impressive aspect of Not Leaving Sober are the vocals. The harmonies performed in the band’s live shows are both accurate and interestingly arranged. Neeks and Jimmy have been singing together for years and it shows.
The band feels that their original music has a Southern Rock and Country music sound, however they are careful not to get pigeon holed into any one musical genre. The musical influences of Not Leaving Sober’s members are quite diverse. They have their individual musical roots in the stylings of blues, jazz, rap, hip-hop, country and of course good ‘ol American rock and roll music. Having this musical diversity, allows the band to add a certain groove that provides it’s music a unique spin on the traditional country or southern rock style. Take for example, the band’s latest original track titled “Blow A Kiss To Jersey“. In the bridge section of the song, Meeks and Jimmy break into a more melodic vibe which takes the song in a totally different direction before winding back to a country style chorus. It is an interesting mix that shows the unique songwriting style of the band.
High energy live performances
When you go to a Not Leaving Sober show you can expect a party! The live shows combine a mix of cover songs and original music belted out by the band. The enthusiastic crowds at the Not Leaving Sober shows spend the night dancing, drinking and singing along, much to the delight of the band members. “We really are addicted to the adrenaline rush,” explains Jimmy. “The bigger the crowd, the bigger we play!” Neeks agrees and compares the adrenaline rush that he feels onstage to the type of rush someone may feel when skydiving from a plane. He laughs and proclaims “Singing is my skydiving. I would never go skydiving cause I’m terrified of it, so I get my rush from performing”
On any given night, Not Leaving Sober will perform an array of popular cover tunes such as “All Summer Long”, “Friends In Low Places”, “I’m Gonna Miss Her”, “My Worst Enemy” and will often throw in “Lose Yourself” by Eminem just for good measure, a definite crowd pleaser.
The band also peppers in it’s original songs throughout the set. The crowd reaction to the original music is as enthusiastically received as the cover material. The fans sing along with the catchy and fun lyrics of “Beer Run” and will even break into a spontaneous line dance as the band performs it’s original track titled “So Darling”.
Other original compositions like “Beer Run”, “Sunflower” and “Chasing Tequila” demonstrate the varied songwriting capabilities of the band. “Beer Run” is a fun and catchy drinking-anthem whereas the mid tempo song “Chasing Tequila” highlights the band’s ability to create an introspective and lyrically thoughtful piece of music.
What’s on the horizon?
Not Leaving Sober is excited for an upcoming show where they will be performing at Jenks Club in Point Pleasant as the opening act for national Country Music recording artist Jon Langston. The concert will take place on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. The opportunity to perform at the same event with a musician of Langston’s caliber is a bucket list event for the members of the band. They are hopeful that their friends and loyal followers will show up in support of the band which will certainly elevate their performance even further. Neeks says that the band feels that they are ready and are thankful for the opportunity, adding that he believes “it’s their biggest break so far”.
However, The amazing summer ride doesn’t end there for this band. On Sunday, August 15, 2021 Not Leaving Sober will be performing in the finals of a battle of the bands event held at Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City. The band is just one among a handful of talented acts that will be awarded a chance to perform at the Barefoot Country Music Fest being held in Wildwood NJ on August 19th – 22nd. If they should be privileged enough to be chosen to play at the festival they will be performing at this year’s event with legendary acts such as Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Zac Brown Band, Lee Brice and Lynyrd Skynyrd, just to name a few.
Excited For The Future!
The band members are excitedly looking forward to their future exploits. Neeks and Jimmy state that they are interested in increasing their following and being able to share their music with as many people as possible. “Ultimately,” says Neeks “the goal is to perform on bigger stages and to bigger crowds.”
Not Leaving Sober realizes that they have much hard work ahead of them if they are to achieve their goals, but they have all the necessary ingredients and the drive to make it happen.
Anyone looking to enjoy a fun night out with one of New Jersey’s hottest musical acts should check out Not Leaving Sober at one of their upcoming live shows. You can find all the information, including social media links, on their website at www.notleavingsober.com. Also, the band’s original music can be found on Spotify and Apple Music and we encourage everyone who hasn’t already done so, to give it a listen. If you’re anything like us, you’ll be humming those catchy hooks for days!
Photo Credits: Instagram @dmac_photoz
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