The Antoine Poncelet Band’s new single, “Beautiful Losers,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week. PHOTO BY KENNY BIEBER
New Jersey's own goth n' rollers The Antoine Poncelet Band have released their fourth digital single, "Beautiful Losers," a gothic prog-rock ode to the broken hearts of the world.
The Makin Waves Song of the Week will be celebrated with a release party on Feb. 3 at Tierney’s in Monclair with The Porchistas.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Beautiful Losers” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Feb. 2 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and MixCloud.
“Beautiful Losers” was written by Antoine in tribute to his favorite author and muse Oscar Wilde. Due to the literary air of the song during the global pandemic in 2021, the frontman reached out to his former high school English teacher, mentor, and friend Robert Valgenti to see if he would add any instrumentation to the demo of the track. Robert, a synth artist who also plays drums with Professor Bob & Co, an instrumental jazz and funk band, accepted the challenge and returned a volley of pounding drums to the mix, which was itself instrumental in securing Antoine Poncelet Band mates: Santos Menendez on keyboards and synths, Mark McClemens (Goon Saloon/Porch Rockers) on bass, Peter Quilla (Vigilante Cowboys) on guitar, and Eddy “Enzyme” Salek (The Misfits, Fahrenheit 451, U.S. Chaos) on drums.
Accompanying the new single is a synthwave remix by Robert, who recreated most of the track using modular synth with live drums and samples of the original recording.
Like its predecessors — “April,” “Strange Violence” and “The End of the End” — the single was recorded and produced by Doug Lane of Jon Caspi and the First Gun and mastered by Carson Kopp. The tune also features Peter on guitar, Mark on bass and backing vocals, and special guests Greg Bullock of Cyborg Amok on keys and Justin Wright of Meteor Police on drums.
In addition to Tierney’s on Feb. 3, The Antoine Poncelet Band will play March 2 at Red Tank Brewing, Red Bank, with Kojak Moment and The Azures; March 23, Pino's, Highland Park, with Eerie Idols and RP; April 28, QXT's, Newark, for a video and single release show for their next track, "Drowning Men,” with Black Light Bastards; July 5, Witches Fest, New York City, and July 20, Dingbatz, Clifton, with Black Rose Burning.
For more, visit https://theantoineponceletband.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
