The Modbeats have today released their new single titled ‘The Passers-Bye’. A solid retro feel with a modern tinge, ‘The Passers-Bye’ takes the mundane and melancholy of everyday life and gives it a soundtrack. The piano adds to the musical tension via Bryan Haring of The Gaslight Anthem, perfectly complimenting the instrumentation and adding to that ‘Doors-like’ feel.
This is one of those songs that stays in your head long after that first listen. Whether that’s a good thing or not, it’s up to the day you’re having. But, to say that ‘The Passers-Bye’ is anything but a memorable song would be an injustice to music. It has an almost ‘part of a musical’ type feel. A concept from a concept.
The Modbeats are quickly coming under the radar of a lot of people, and that’s a good thing. They are one of those bands that deserve the anntention.
Check out our other features with The Modbeats HERE.
About ‘The Passers-Bye’
Co-written with J. Vincent Vassallo and featuring The Gaslight Anthem’s Bryan Haring on piano, “The Passers-Bye” explores the everyday movements of people from all walks of life. The Modbeats pose a thought-provoking question: “What is going on in the minds of regular people just moving about their business? Perhaps there is nothing there, but maybe there is. For some, there is bliss in not questioning anything or perhaps wanting more or thinking deeper about life…just being a passerby…” Described by the band as a collection of “musings and observations of daily life in the modern world,” the track took shape at Lake House Studio in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
As the lyrics and soundscape fell into place, it became clear they had something special. Engineered by Nick Semanchik and featuring Santo Rizzollo on drums (before Fizz joined the permanent lineup), the song came to life with a rich, moody intensity. Drawing inspiration from legendary English rock bands like The Kinks and Oasis, the song’s chord progressions contribute to its rich, layered sound, seamlessly blending vintage influences with a modern perspective.
With a bridge inspired by The Doors, “The Passers-Bye” carries an overarching darkness, particularly in its introspective midsection. Lines like, “The passersby don’t blink their eyes / When on the way to the nine to five… The passersby never wonder why…” challenge listeners to break free from autopilot and consider the why behind their daily routines.
About The Modbeats
Hailing from New Jersey, The Modbeats are a four-piece band reviving the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll with influences spanning surf, jangle-pop, blues, rockabilly, and psychedelic rock. Formed in 2023, they quickly gained recognition with their debut single “Ballad of a Starving Artist,” which was featured on WXPN’s Power Pop Extravaganza.
A New-Jersey based, four-piece band, The Modbeats first got together in 2023, when Scott Matison (bass), Fizz (drums), Joe Mandia (guitar), and Philip Dunn (vocals, guitar) decided to begin recording original music. With foundations in rock and roll and mod stylings, and influences of surf, jangle-pop, power-pop, folk, psychedelic, blues, rockabilly, alt-country, and soul, The Modbeats beautifully captures the essence of revival rock, adding their unique twist.
The quartet has quickly carved a path in the music scene, making waves with “Ballad of a Starving Artist,” their June 2024 debut single that was featured on WXPN Radio’s Power Pop Extravaganza. Their most recently released original singles, “Fairweather Friends,” and “The Setting Sons,” earned numerous accolades in outlets such as The Philadelphia Inquirer, Rock at Night, Powerpopaholic, and Digital Tour Bus. The Modbeats has also made the cut onto Music Connection’s Hot 100 Live Unsigned Artists and Bands of 2024 list.
LINKS:
https://www.themodbeats.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7wlZPDXxASph9IAgnrqvRC
https://www.facebook.com/themodbeatsband
https://www.instagram.com/themodbeats/
https://www.youtube.com/@TheModbeatsBand
