With the likes of one of the most influential mastering engineers in modern music—Howie Weinberg, it’s no wonder that The Gravediggers’s EP, simply named, “Part 1”—is making waves with their blend of modern Americana, beach grunge and country sound. In an era of auto-tune and adulated stars who seek social media dominance, the Gravediggers come off as the opposite, just three local guys in flip flops, who love the authenticity of music back when all you needed was skills on a guitar, drums, vocal pipes, songwriting skills, and the passion to write from the heart. And since their official EP launch party at The Rockaway Beach Surf Club this past May, Part 2 is already on the pike. And folks, this Rockaway Times reporter and confessed music lover of all genres—encourages you to plug in.
The Gravediggers is a trio from Rockaway Beach: Andrew Oakley on drums, Kyle McNeill on bass and vocals, and Patrick Carroll on guitar and vocals. “Part 1” was recorded and mixed by Jason Hiller in Los Angeles, Calif., and mastered by Howie Weinberg. And these three gentlemen, though not natives of Rockaway, have made the peninsula their forever home with their respective growing families.
For example, 10 years ago, Patrick Carroll a.k.a. “Patsy Does” moved to Rockaway and made Rockaway his home with wife, Laura Nesci-Carroll. Then later, the Carrolls became parents of two boys. Patrick Carroll is originally from Massachusetts, but like many folks after Hurricane Sandy, decided to dive into Rockaway, and make it his forever home. And the music lover indeed dived, as he made a name for himself in the local music scene at the since-closed Rockaway Beach Brewery with the likes of Rockaway native, Kyle Wade, and Floridian transplant, Joe Popp.
“The Brewery was the place where folks not just performed, but music lovers could enjoy all genres of music. It’s nice to see places like The Rose Den on Beach 116th offering a similar vibe,” Carroll shared.
Carroll, The Gravediggers’ guitar and vocalist, also hosts and plays his popular FamJam night every Thursday at Rockaway Beach Surf Club,
When asked why the name, “Gravediggers,” Carroll laughed. “Well, our name was actually inspired by the iconic Grave Digger monster truck. Very Americana,” he said.
Even more endearingly, with McNeill on vocals and bass, and Carroll on vocals and guitar—the two men also share their joy as fathers with two children of similar ages: four years old and 14 months old, but despite their day jobs and family responsibilities—they bonded around their passion for music and all-things surf in the ocean with Oakley, who is owner of The Surf Lot, located on Beach 96th Street. Plus, their unified passion for all-things Rockaway, and their music as a band of ocean brothers are reflected in their songwriting and acoustic drifts.
For example, in EP “Part 1,” the song, “Everything Already Is (Changing),” the lyrics pull at the heart, because as the ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, famously noted: “The only constant in life is change.” And the Gravediggers’ song reflects how these three men have personally experienced life’s changes—whilst embracing the new. As the song kicks off with: “Why I always catch my mind wandering. Blow like the breezes blow by… But I want it to stay… But it’s always the same. When everything already is changing everything. Everything always will. Everything already is changing. Everything always will.”
Caroll said, “Life is always forever changing. That’s what makes us humans and forever adapting.”
He shared that The Gravediggers’ EP was recorded in the U.S. Virgin Islands on the island of St. John, a place he frequented as a youth with his family. The band even has oftentimes performed their music at Carroll’s favorite dive bar on the island. Then with McNeill’s California roots and music industry connections, the EP was produced and mastered in The Golden State.
He said, “We just naturally came together. Our passion for music and chemistry as a trio made us brothers. And with this EP ‘Part 1’ and ‘Part 2,’ we hope all music lovers of all genres will listen and share.”
EP: “Part 1” is a blend of beach living—east and west coast with Caribbean vibes. And it shows.
Another song, “Statue By The Sea,” goes: “Paper and pen, paper and pen. My fate was written when I read it back then… All those dreams would sail if they were real. Like a fabled plane… Anyways, I’ll wait for you, baby. Right here like a statue by the sea… This is how my life was meant to be…”
This song resonates because foremost, does anyone still use just paper and pen? These songwriters obviously do, and that’s what makes their combined passion for music and staying off the influencer stage even sweeter.
For fans of indie rock, surf rock, and all vibes oceanic, check out the blissed-out psychedelia of The Gravediggers’ EP: “Part 1.” In musical hues, listen to how band members, Oakley, McNeil and Carroll effectively continue where Bob Dylan started—pioneering music genres like folk-rock, country-rock and even surf-rock, while fusing deep poetic lyrics with traditional Americana.
To listen or purchase The Gravediggers—Part 1 EP, visit: https://the-gravediggers.bandcamp.com/album/part-one.You can listen for free and/or purchase each song for just $1.50 or the entire EP of five songs for $9. And for upcoming shows, follow the band on Instagram: the_gravediggers
Photos by Mike Bengino.
