The Great Explainer
Famous Quote And A Lil' Luck
By: Christian Cipollini (Posted By: Bear Frazer)
Last updated July 22nd , 2010

New York and California may be the major music hubs, but The Garden State is still alive and kicking in the punk music scene. Jersey gave the music world groups like the Misfits and the Bouncing Souls, and continues offering up exciting twists on the genre. "New Jersey will always be a huge breeding ground for punk. It always has been, and I personally don't see the end in sight," says Greg Karlowitsch, founding member and drummer of The Great Explainer. "We are hoping that soon Jersey will be back to a state such as the 90's New Brunswick scene."
    
Coming from diverse musical influences, the members of The Great Explainer combined forces almost by a twist of fate really.  Karlowitsch says the band name was plucked from a Henry David Thoreau quote – 'Being is the great explainer' - and their unified effort to create music as a team birthed from a random friendship.  
    
"How the band started is actually all luck.  I decided to randomly hang out with Sean (vocals) for the first time in years back in June of '08, and he told me his band, The Roskoes, were breaking up," Karlowitsch explains. "I seized the opportunity and jammed with both Sean and Nick (bass) the following week.  We later brought in Matt (guitars) since I was planning on starting a project with him anyway. The rest is a blur, a very fun blur. We all come from slightly different backgrounds musically but we all share a similar core of influences.  Personally I grew up on metal and hardcore punk, which I definitely draw from."
     
The Great Explainer went on the record their first EP, The Way Things Swell, with none other than Pete Steinkopf of the Bouncing Souls producing. "It all started because I went to college about five minutes away from The Asbury Lanes, in Asbury Park, NJ," he recalls the story of landing the Bouncing Souls guitarist.  "I used to go to the bar there, spend all my money on Jim Beam, and try to get a show there.  They finally caved in, and we played with The Riot Before in early 2009.  One of the dudes who books there, Mike, saw us and he loved us.  He kept us coming back, and in January '10 got us on his birthday show with The Loved Ones headlining.  Pete and K8 were both there, and they told Mike that they wanted to work with us! I got a phone call at 4 AM from a very excited Mike (who is now our manager) telling us the good news.  We recorded the EP in March, and had such an amazing time with Pete."
    
Karlowitsch says the EP "has some agression behind it." But is quick to add,  "To me its kind of a "moving on" type vibe.  It represents starting fresh and leaving the bogus/bummer stuff behind.  It's heavy when it needs to be, while still staying melodic and catchy."
    
Rather than going the usual route of compact disc, The Great Explainer chose very old school and new school formats. "The EP is on a one-sided 10" record, and available digitally," he says. "When I listen to vinyl, I sit and listen, and that's it.  It's not just something to fill the silence while I'm doing other things.  I think kids are finally getting to a point where music and lyrics matter in their lives again, not what t-shirt their best friend owns."
    
Currently, the band is scheduled for a few tour dates, and fans will soon be able to get their hands on a debut album. Karlowitsch closes, "We are doing a short trek with our great friends Timeshares, and we are doing a two and a half week Midwest tour in August.  We are currently writing songs for our full length, and hope to record sometime in September or October."

[Tags] Rock, Punk

Recent Related Articles