Michael J. Media > Services

For Immediate Release

February 10, 2010

A CLEVER CON STANDS OUT IN A CROWD WITH THE ROBOT EP

New Jersey Rock Band Delivers Awesome Rock Dressed Up in Black Shirts and Green Ties

Monroe Township, NJ—Standing out in a crowded music scene today is a daunting task, especially if you are a rock band from New Jersey, one that everyone has trouble describing. A Clever Con (ACC), though, is a group that is having fun making some interesting music and just hoping that everything will fall neatly into place. The band’s debut,The Robot EP (released November 21, 2009) is the culmination of a few years of formulating themselves as a group, and honing their songwriting skills while at the same time trying to find their own identity.

Indeed, A Clever Con’s diverse taste in music and playing styles is also something that should and does separate them from the proverbial pack. With The Robot EP, they have incorporated elements of rock, reggae, metal, pop rock, progressive and punk into their sound, and the band showcases four eclectic musicians with different backgrounds. They also made a conscious effort to be different—to experiment with their sound and push the limits of their own creativity.

“There are so many bands out there that sound alike, and we have shared the stage with many of them,” says guitarist Ryan Marsa. “We want to be part of a new movement for diversity in the New Jersey music scene, and hopefully we bring something new to the table.”

Another thing A Clever Con does well is create songs that their fans can relate to lyrically, such as the opening track, “Work Related Stress,” a song inspired by the fact that both vocalist/guitarist Mike Dietz and guitarist/vocalist Ryan Marsa have both had their share of, well, unfavorable employment. “It’s important for people to be financially steady and comfortable, so we get trapped working at jobs that we absolutely loathe and make us miserable,” says Dietz. “Life is short; what’s the point of living if we are not happy?”

Dietz also drew inspiration from a prior relationship, in which his (then) girlfriend was addicted to heroin. That lit the fire for the tracks “Heroin(e),” “Little Miss Bombshell” and “Robots & Mannequins.” And seeing what his buddy went through also inspired Marsa. “All three of these songs relate to Mike’s struggle with his ex, his attempt to save her from her addiction and the drama that ensued. The plight of their relationship also had blowback to his friends and family – it affected my life as well.”

The remaining tracks are just as relatable while leaving room for independent interpretation—such as “60 Amp Disconnect,” about the differences in people, fitting in and succumbing to status quo. “Sometimes you end up falling into fads and trends because just you plain like them, and that’s okay - as long as you stay true to yourself – because we all know that making an effort to be nonconformist is, ironically, a fad in of itself.” And “Able Danger” is, simply, about the aftermath of 9/11.

ACC’s current lineup consists of Dietz, Marsa, Bobby Certo (Bass) and TJ “Smash” Horner (Drums). The members have such a wide range of influences that contribute to the formula that makes up their sound— but perhaps the few that best represent that sound would be Incubus, RX Bandits, Dispatch, GlassJaw, State Radio, Tool, Less Than Jake, Blink 182 and Green Day.

ACC formed in the summer of 2006, with the current lineup in place since April 2008. Their first show together was on in August 2008 at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia, after which ACC began to play regionally in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. Less than a year after forming, the band won the Starland Ballroom’s War for the Warped Tour in July 2009. Donned in their trademark black shirts and lime green ties, ACC performed and released 100 limited edition advances of The Robot EP. Over the last few years, they have shared the stage with the likes of Badfish, Scotty Don’t, Mest, and Rookie of the Year. ACC’s live performance is incredibly energetic and fun, and they play music because they love to play music, something that shows more with each performance.

“Everyone gets some kind of therapeutic connection with music,” says Marsa. “If we can do that, mission accomplished.”

For more information, please visit aclevercon.com