Long Island has been a portal for booming music talent for decades. Some of the most well-known bands in the industry started in basements and garages right here on Long Island. Bands such as Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Glassjaw, Envy on the Coast, Patent Pending and many more have become a spitting image of successful music coming from Nassau and Suffolk county. Now is truly the time for local bands to shine once again. Here are 9 bands that you need to pay attention to!

Disclaimer: These bands are in no specific order.

1. Shorebreak

East Islip, NY

Pop Punk/Emo

@ShorebreakNY

Photo: Sarah Waxberg Photography / Facebook.com/SarahWaxbergPhotography

These five boys started their band because of their mutual love for pop-punk music. Mike, Nick, Scarola and Tom went to the same high school and then met Joe through the music scene a little later on. They first started their practices in Nick’s garage or Scarola’s basement. In 2013, these talented boys released their first EP, “Displacement.” My personal favorite song off this EP (which everyone and their mother knows is my favorite) is “Decency.” Almost exactly two years later, they released their second EP, “Misdirection.” I highly suggest seeing them perform very soon; their stage presence is really captivating and keeps your attention, plus their music is extremely catchy if you’re a pop punk lover. They’re also extremely dapper looking guys and great pals, who doesn’t love that combination?! See Shorebreak on August 5^th at East Islip Lanes at 7PM, $12.

For fans/listeners of: The Story So Far, State Champs and Stickup-Kid.

2. Makeshift

Massapequa, NY

Pop Punk/Punk

@Makeshift_LI

Photo: Aud Lew Photography / Facebook.com/audlewphotography

Makeshift started when Andrew and Austin were in high school playing covers together. A few months later, all of the boys began writing songs together. Andrew, Dan, Austin and Matt all went to high school together in Massapequa. Makeshift released a ten-track album in September 2014 called, “Better Off.” In 2015, they had the amazing opportunity to play the Vans Warped Tour at Jones Beach! I’ve heard from a super special source that these boys just finished making a new record and you should all keep your eyes open for that within the next few months! Makeshift has some older influences such as Rancid, Bad Religion but also newer pop punk bands like State Champs and The Story So Far. Seriously, these guys are super genuine and hard working. Go to their next show on August 5^th at East Islip Lanes at 7 p.m. for $12and show them the support they deserve!

For fans/listeners of: The Story So Far, Like Pacific and Seaway.

3. Table Talk

Plainview, NY

Rock

@TableTalkLI

Photo: Table Talk LI Facebook / Facebook.com/tabletalkli

Table Talk has quite the long history but it’s definitely an interesting one. Jon, Rob and Sal were all in a band for about five/six years together known as, “Last Great Hero.” After years of their band, they decided they wanted to branch out with their music and make their sound different. The biggest influence in the past and present for these guys is Balance and Composure, so they decided to get a third guitarist for their new sound. Their friend Ryan was the first person who came to mind when thinking of a guitarist to bring into the mix. Their old band used to play shows with his old band, “For What It’s Worth” very often. When Ryan made the decision to join, the existing members had already begun writing songs. They did this really cool thing and rented a house in the middle of nowhere in Pennsylvania for one weekend to write some songs. When I spoke to Jon, he said he doesn’t think that any of the songs from writing that weekend were ever shown to the public but it was a good experience because it was the first time hanging out with Ryan really and getting to know him! Unfortunately, after the first two songs were written their old guitarist Chris left due to creative differences, officially making the band a four piece. The boys have let me know there are no hard feelings with Chris at all! After all the writing processes they went through and recreating they did, Table Talk was born. Check out their debut EP, “Table Talk” available now! Their next show is August 5^th at East Islip Lanes at 7 p.m. for $12. If you can’t attend that show you can see them in Hempstead on August 11^th at Our Lady Of Perpetual Hope.

For fans/listeners of: Death Cab For Cutie, Say Anything, Balance and Composure and Young the Giant.

4. Jukai

Long Island, NY

Hardcore/Metalcore

@JukaiHardcore

Photo: Jukai Facebook / Facebook.com/jukaihc

Jukai is a band with heavy music influences that started out in 2012. Zach played Bass, Steve played drums, Kyle Beshaw and Kyle Fee played guitar while Matt Reed did vocals. Steve, Zach and Kyle B. have been friends since middle school and later on, they met Matt and Kyle Fee through the music scene and going to shows. The five guys decided they wanted to create a heavy hardcore band and decided to record a demo in 2012 then later created an EP in 2014. Matt ended up quitting the band later on in 2014, so Zach took over the role of vocals and Ian from “Bottom Out” began playing bass for the band. In April 2016, Jukai put out their second EP through Mass Movement and Reconsider Records. They’ve told me they look forward to writing more music, playing more shows and traveling. They’re currently on a tour with “Blistered,” a band from Florida. When I spoke to Zach he said, “We’re really excited. We’re really grateful for the opportunities we’ve been given and to be part of a great music scene on Long Island with so many great bands such as Incendiary, King Nine, Regulate, Sanction, Separated, Hangman along with Forced Out and many others.” Their influences range from bands such as Ringworm, All Out War and Indecision. See Jukai at Amityville Music Hall on August 3^rd at 6:30 p.m. for $12!

For fans/listeners of: Anyone who enjoys heavy music.

5. Nice Shot Kid

Stony Brook, NY

Pop Punk

@NiceShotKidNY

Photo: Nice Shot, Kid Facebook / Facebook.com/niceshotkid

Nice Shot, Kid is a pop punk band that started out east on the island in Stony Brook. The band started with all of the guys meeting at Stony Brook. Matt and John had been playing acoustic music together for about a year before they met other band members AJ and Tom. They all started practicing together without a direction and as they began to practice more often, they found their sound. I’ve been told they’re working on some new music for our ears to enjoy and they’re hoping to release an EP in the later months of this summer or the early fall! Their most recent EP, “Personal Space” is available to download for free!

For fans/listeners of: Four Year Strong, Carousel Kings and New Found Glory.

6. Here's To You

Long Island, NY

Indie/Rock/Pop

@HeresToYouBand

Photo: Nicole Mago / @nicolemago

Here’s To You has been around in the music scene for quite a while. I actually used to see them play shows at the Crazy Donkey (which, unfortunately, no longer exists) when I was about fifteen years old. Greg, Stephan and Charlie met each other in high school and then years later added Mike to the band when they met him at Five Towns College. The band started as a side project when Stephan and Greg were in another band. They then realized what they really wanted to do and decided to create, Here’s To You. These boys have really gotten so far. I personally have watched them grow for years and have never been so proud. They recently played a show at Webster Hall and a few months before that they played four shows on a tour they called, “Road To The Southwest Tour.” They played shows in Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. When I spoke to Greg, he told me that he wants people reading this to know that the band is really excited about the songs they’ve been writing for their second release, they’re a lot more mature than the previous songs but still “straight up bangers.” Greg thinks that these songs will push them into a whole new territory and a genuine message that they’ve been hoping to put across. I really recommend checking out some of their covers on YouTube if you’ve never heard them before. These guys are crazy talented and I’m happy to have watched them grow as a band over the past few years.

For fans/listeners of: Fall Out Boy, Young the Giant, The 1975 and Walk The Moon.

7. From States Away

Long Island/Connecticut

Pop Punk

@FromStatesAway_

Photo: Jordyn Beschel / @JordynBeschel

These dudes are mostly from Connecticut but Chris is from Long Island (thank goodness because I really wanted to be able to feature them in this article)! Sal, Scott and Bennett were in a band before they started From States Away and they had split for a few different reasons after they all ended college. Let's fast forward now to a few years later, Sal and Bennett began to start playing some songs again purely for fun. They wrote a couple of songs and went through a few lineup changes before adding Bennett’s long-time friend Brendan and Sal’s friend Chris. The coolest part about these boys is really their varied tastes in music. Their taste in music ranges from The Wonder Years, Real Friends and Bayside to Young Thug and Kanye West! They want you to know if you hear their EP to know that it’s okay to be different, “Whether it may be your strengths or flaws to make sure you love them because that’s the only thing that truly matters.” Thanks Chris for the inspirational words, much appreciated. They’re playing a show in CT at the end of August and doing a couple of weekend tours shortly after that so keep your eyes on their Facebook to check for those shows! *A side note that has nothing to do with their music but Chris was on MTV’s Greatest Party Story Ever, so if you need a laugh please go watch his story. I laughed so hard for so long.

For fans/listeners of: Real Friends, Knuckle Puck and Taking Back Sunday.

8. Casanova

Long Island

Shoegaze/Emo

@CasanovaTheBand

Photo: Marissa Cacioppo/@Hello_Marissa

Casanova started fourteen years ago but it’s not the same Casanova that we all know (and love) today. It all started on Zach’s tenth birthday when he received a Green Day album and he was “ecstatic.” He had never heard something so loud but charming before and decided he wanted a band he would be able to call his own. Let's fast forward through all kinds of failed high school projects to 2010 when he met his best friend, Jordan. Jordan and Zach understood each other’s vibe and decided to start making music together. A few years later they began to felt discouraged and put the idea of having a band on the back burner for a while. Through friends of friends, Zach had heard about Nikki and decided to message her on Facebook with something along the lines of, “Hey, want to start a band?” and Nikki said yes. Nikki and Zach met for the first day at Warped Tour in 2013 where they exchanged numbers. Around the same time of meeting Nikki, he met Sal who he worked with and he happened to play the drums. Zach now realized he had all the necessary components for a band. August 19^th, 2014, in the middle of a concert all four of the members we currently know as the band Casanova finally met. July 25^th, 2015, almost a year later they played their first show as a band together and as Zach likes to say, the rest is, “casa-history.” They’ve definitely grown so much as a band and it awesome to watch them continue to get better and better. Their next show is August 11^th with Table Talk and Broken Beak! They’re also releasing an EP at the end of the summer that they’ve been working really hard on so keep your eyes out for that!

For fans/listeners of: Turnover, Pity Sex and My Bloody Valentine.

9. From Hollow Veins

Long Island

Metal/Post-Hardcore

@From_Hollow_Veins

Photo: From Hollow Veins Facebook / facebook.com/fromhollowveins

Rob, Roberto, Luke, Nick and Ben all met each other either through school or from different bands. They started From Hollow Veins originally with a different name and a few different members. Eventually, they evolved into the current lineup of the five of them that they are today. Their influences vary but Rob says the influences range from, Stray From the Path to Balance and Composure and The Word Alive influences even some of their older music. They want people reading this to know how much energy and passion they truly put into what they do. I can tell you from watching these guys that they really do love what they do and they put everything they have into it. They hope their love for their music is visible to anyone watching them perform or anyone listening to their music. Go see these guys perform at The Village Pub on August 12!

For fans/listeners of: Anyone who enjoys heavy music and wants to see a good live performance.

I hope to see everyone at a show one day soon! Please support your local music scene, no matter where you're from. Buy a CD, share their music on Facebook or Twitter and attend a show. Local shows are usually pretty inexpensive and you can make tons of new friends with similar interests as yours! Without the fans the music scene doesn't grow. When a band says, "we wouldn't be able to do this without you!" they're not lying. You are important to the music scene!! Some of my favorite memories have been seeing my friends play their music at Amityville Music Hall. I promise you if you go to a show, you'll enjoy it, so just trust me and go! I'd like to give a big thank you to all these awesome bands for taking the time to tell me a little bit more about their music and letting me feature them in this article!