Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe LaMonica and Tommy Flynn.
Rival Island is a four-piece surf band founded in 2016 by Joe LaMonica and Tommy Flynn. They have been writing and performing under different names for a year before they settled on the name Rival Island.
They recently released a six-song piece of music entitled “Heroes and Villains.” They have also shared the stage with national acts White Reaper, Post Animal, Barenaked Ladies, and the Menzingers. They are slated to open the 2018 Harpoon Octoberfest on September 29th.
Has it been a smooth road?
No road in music is ever smooth, however, the good always outweighs the bad. We love writing and performing and that will always make any hardship worth it. When you are trying to make your music heard there is a lot of patience and persistence that goes into it. For us, the journey is exciting. Loading and breaking down your gear to play for any crowd is a struggle and there are all of the financial struggles to be a part of this type of artistic expression but it will forever be worth it.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Rival Island story. Tell us more about the band.
We are a surf rock band that write simple pop songs. We love classic music such as Beach Boys and The Smiths. We take a number of influences both musically and visually and translate into music that is easy on the ears. What sets us apart is a deep love and a real respect for where we came from. We are normal dudes singing and writing from the heart about personal experiences.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The industry has gone from being big and bloated to small and specialized. This is great for the listeners because bands can make great songs sound great easily and make them easily available. It is forcing musicians to care more and be better.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rivalislandmusic.com
- Email: rivalislandmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: @rivalisland
- Facebook: facbook.com/rivalisland
- Twitter: @rivalisland
Image Credit:
Chelsea Simonzi- @_chelsea_elizabeth, Aviv Marotz- @avivmarotz
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