Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Live for the Night" by The Antoine Poncelet Band

By Bob Makin

originally published: 11/01/2024

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Live for the Night,” the new single from North Jersey-based The Antoine Poncelet Band. PHOTO BY KENNY BIEBER

Just in time for Halloween, the goth-flavored The Antoine Poncelet Band have released “Live for the Night.”

The energetically ghoulish tune is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Live for the Night” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Nov. 1 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.

The band’s sixth single is a spooky anthem for all “creatures of the night.”

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Antoine explained, “‘Live For The Night’ was originally conceived as a vampiric ode to the rock clubs and nightlife of New York and New Jersey, like QXTs, Limelight, Mother, with a nod to the films ‘The Hunger’ and ‘Near Dark,’ but eventually turned into an allegory about family and independence in the modern age.”

Antoine originally wrote and recorded the song 10 years ago in his bedroom. New life was given to the vampiric tune with a fresh arrangement by his band: guitarist Peter Quilla, bassist-vocalist Mark McClemens and Meteor Police/Dream of When? drummer Justin Wright.

The single was recorded by Doug Lane of Jon Caspi & the First Gun and mixed by Cyborg Amok’s Greg Bullock, who also contributed keys and synths to the recording.

The digital b-side, an experimental-sounding dance remix, sounds even spookier, like ghosts on a dance floor that’s on a battlefield. The remix is by AllSmoke.

“Koby Miller is the guy behind AllSmoke,” Antoine said. “He used various samples of elements from the song and remade it into an entirely new creature!“

To capitalize on the drama, power, theatrically, and thrills of seeing The Antoine Poncelet Band live, director Brian Jude and his son Jacob shot and edited a video from performance footage of the band on stage at QXTs in Newark.

The club has been one of the few sanctuaries for lovers of the night for more than 30 years and always had been the dream stage to play for Antoine.

“Thankfully, the band has been able to grace the stage of QXTs several times over the past couple of years and wanted to pay tribute to them with this video,” Antoine said.

Brian previously had directed the band’s video for “Drowning Men,” which had its premiere showing at QXTs. His credits include They Might Be Giants and The Vigilante Cowboys, Peter’s other band. Jacob is an English major at Kean University in Union.

“Jacob really brought his passion for music, acting, and film to this project,” Antoine said, “and will be one of the main forces behind a concept video for the song that he and Brian will be working on over the winter to coordinate with next year’s release of ‘The Best of The Antoine Poncelet Band.’”

Check out The Antoine Poncelet Band live on Nov. 30, Debonair Hall, Teaneck, opening for Shadow Circus's tribute to “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and Jan. 25, Ghost Hawk Brewing Co., Clifton, with Paul Crane & Overend Watts and Mourning Coffee.

For more about The Antoine Poncelet Band, visit them at @theantoineponceletband on Facebook and Instagram.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].

About the author:

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.

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