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| The Cryptkeeper Five by Michelle Lawlor |
20 Years of Ebb and Flow
Trenton's The Cryptkeeper Five have been grinding it out since Johnny Ott (vocals / guitar), Jimmy Ray (guitar), and D.T. Graves (drums) got together in 1997. Eight albums later, they're set to release album number nine when The Stronghold comes out this Saturday.
Blending influences like The Ramones, Misfits, Bruce Springsteen, and 50s doo-wop, The Cryptkeeper Five have a sound that's rooted in their home state of New Jersey. The Stronghold features some deeply personal songs about things like clawing back from heartbreak and the relationships between fathers and sons. All of the band's stories are told in the gravely bellow (note: This was a typo. I meant "gravelly," but after discussing it with Cryptkeeper Five fan, Conor Meara of Roy Orbitron, we both agreed that it worked perfectly even if it's grammatically questionable.) of lead singer Johnny Ott and delivered in epic, fist-pumping, shout-along style.
I had the chance to pose a few questions to The Cryptkeeper Five about their years as part of the New Jersey music scene, the new record, and their plans for the immediate future.
The band celebrate the release of The Stronghold with a hometown show at Trenton's Millhill Basement on Saturday, August 26th. Joining them for the party are The Vansaders, Hot Blood, Molly Rhythm, and Bucky Harris. On September 1st, they do it again at The Tusk in Philly with The Vansaders, The Barren Marys, and The Up Up Ups.
The Cryptkeeper Five are from Trenton, and you've been going for 20 years. Have you seen the NJ / East Coast music scene evolve over that time? If so, how has it changed?
Johnny: Ohh geez. I wouldn't actually say it's evolved... It's a lot harder to get kids out to shows, than it was ten, fifteen, even twenty years ago. I BLAME THE INTERNET!!! There's no mystery. No anticipation, no build up to finally see a band live. It's all right there at the tips of your fingers. It's kinda sad... There's a missed connection.
How do you think you've evolved as a band?
Johnny: We're all better players now. I'm a better singer. We're more sincere.
Jimmy: Our songwriting and finding new sounds have matured over the past two decades.
Johnny: Hah... I think that's about it.
Not surprisingly, I guess, I hear a lot of New Jersey influences on the new record. Misfits, Springsteen, the sax. It always seems to me like there's some kind of special cachet that comes with being a Jersey rock band. Like it's always something that gets pointed out -- "New Jersey's The Cryptkeeper Five," "New Jersey's Screaming Females." Do you ever feel that way? Like being from here comes with some preconceived expectations? Or am I just showing some regional bias.
Johnny: New Jersey has a dirty charm. It's really hard to explain to people who don't live here. Not everyone can understand it. Bostonians understand it. There is a "Jersey Sound." I think The Cryptkeeper Five have it. People from Jersey are abrasive and often sarcastic... We've got grit. I think this comes out in our music.
The Stronghold will be your 9th full-length album. You describe it as "an unbending, unwavering, furious inability to admit defeat." What were some of the forces at work on you as you were writing the songs for this record?
Johnny: I think I'm a fairly angry person. I have a tendency to push bitterness inwards. I think this album is somewhat of a purge. Cleaning out the basement.
There are songs here about overcoming hardship or heartbreak, being there for others, and being full of a desire to "set the world on fire." These are pretty personal things, but do they translate to anything bigger in your mind, especially in our current political environment? Do you consider yourselves a political band at all?
Johnny: Nah. We're not a political band. It's really hard not be be angry in our current situation... but, our job is to make people forget about their problems.
I do show listings at the site every week; and, more often than not, The Cryptkeeper Five are right there. How important is being an active participant in the music scene to you as a band?
Johnny: It's pretty important to us. I think we're a great live band.
Over the course of 20 years, has it ever been difficult to stay so active in the local music scene?
Johnny: It can be. It's ebb and flow. We're popular and liked one day... Then not so much the next. That's why we've always traveled so much.
You've played with lots of bands over the years. Who are some of the bands you've been playing out with lately who've really impressed you?
Jimmy: There's so many and I know if I answer this I'm gonna forget a few afterwards and feel bad I didn't remember to shout them out. The local scene here is awesome. There's so many talented bands in our area.
Johnny: Hah... right now... The Vansaders and Hot Blood.
The Stronghold comes out on August 26th, and you're celebrating with a hometown release show at Millhill Basement in Trenton. What can people expect from a live, hometown Cryptkeeper Five show?
Jimmy: A great night of music! Not just us, but all the bands that night. I'm stoked that, with the new album out, we can expand our set list.
What comes after that? Any plans to tour for the record? Another 20 years?
Johnny: We plan on touring. We're working on setting things in place to go back to Europe. We wanna push the album as far as we can get it. Another 20 years would be cool!
Jimmy: Yes! More more more. I think I can go for another 20 years.
Thanks. And congrats on the new album.
Johnny: Thanks for the opportunity. We truly do appreciate it!
The Stronghold comes out digitally on August 26th. You can pre-order a limited-edition vinyl version from The Cryptkeeper Five over at their website.
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