Spring Jam Gives Back to the Music Community

The Paper Jets were interviewed and also performed at Spring Jam this year. Photo Courtesy / Jillian Deiley The Paper Jets were interviewed and also performed at Spring Jam this year. Photo Courtesy / Jillian Deiley
The Paper Jets were interviewed and also performed at Spring Jam this year. Photo Courtesy / Jillian Deiley
The Paper Jets were interviewed and also performed at Spring Jam this year.
Photo Courtesy / Jillian Deiley

Jillian Deiley
Staff Writer

On Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to midnight 90.3 WESS, East Stroudsburg University’s radio station, held their fourth annual Spring Jam.

Spring Jam is an event dedicated to local and underground artists as a way to give back to the music community for supporting WESS, as well as college radios in general.

The event featured live performances and interviews from over 20 bands and artists located in the Stroudsburg area, such as the rock group Remnants which is comprised of ESU students, to artists and bands from all over the country like indie/folk artist Daniel Amedee from New Orleans.

All other artists and bands that were scheduled for Spring Jam include Black Tie Stereo, Water Street, JayOmega, Syer, Blind Choice, Good News, King Dead, Jesse Elliot, The Set Up, Broke Royals, Austin Halls, Liv Wilinski, Panama Redd, Cal Kehoe, The Gladiators of 2037, Disposable, The Paper Jets, The Artist Anthony, Ree Hunnit, Working Class Hussys, The FoxFires, John Van Vynck and Jonathan Emile.

Interviews, performances and events that stuck out include the three piece band Disposable, which played at 7:30 p.m.

The New Jersey ska-infused island-rock band, comprised of Chen De Lao, (ukulele, guitar and vocals), Jay De Lao (percussion), and Mo/Jay (bass master general), were first timers at WESS’s Spring Jam and they absolutely killed their performance.

Disposable featured a multitude of styles, as well as instruments, like the electric ukulele. Although the WESS performance studio is small, they were still able to thrash and do jump kicks while playing.

At the end of their performance they had every WESS member on their feet.

Just before The Set Up, an all-female indie group comprised of Josefine, Hannah and Charlie began to play, the fire alarms were mistakenly set off.

Although this interrupted the broadcast, it definitely added to the excitement of the event, giving everyone a five minute break outside in the beautiful weather.

The fire alarms also solidified the statement that, “Spring Jam was LIT!”

The Set Up then re-entered the studio and delivered an excellent performance, showcasing their harmonies.

Other exciting performances include the four-year Spring Jam veterans, The Paper Jets (at 8 p.m.) and The FoxFires (at 10 p.m.).

The Paper Jets consisting of Brian E. (lead vocals and guitar), Mike Virok (lead guitar) and Frank Lettieri (drums and vocals) were interviewed by WESS DJs Connor Scovil and Jordan McCoonse.

The Paper Jets performed acoustically between questions.

The FoxFires, a New Jersey four-piece, comprised of Christian Diana (vocals and guitar), Adam Alexander Kahn (bass), Christian Coredero (guitar and keyboards) and Brandon Vallejo (drums), played two excellent tracks from their newest album, “Seasons.”

They also performed an unrecorded track from their upcoming 2016 album, which is scheduled for release this summer.

All together the event was a great experience for WESS members and the artists and bands who attended.

Listeners who missed the live radio broadcast of Spring Jam on Saturday April 2, can listen to internet podcasts of the event by going to Radiofreeamerica.com and searching WESS.

Email Jillian at:
jdeiley@live.esu.edu