New Jersey Stage 2017: Issue 3 | Page 135

sive alternative rock. And while ev- eryone enjoyed Secret Mountain’s roast of their friends’ use of foot pedal-controlled backlighting, the effect does intensify Hodera’s stir- ring songs. I just wish a fantastic show like this didn’t have to stay hidden in New Brunswick’s underground. I long for the day when I can tell people exactly where to find this type of art and entertainment without the fear of it being shut down by a city that just hasn’t known any better. Not yet anyway … take a break from nonstop tour- ing to record this summer as a follow-up to the acclaimed 2015 LP, “United by Birdsongs.” The amazing thing is that even though those songs haven’t been released yet, their fans already know all the words. The joy of watching and listening to them sing along with Smith, then mosh about as the band kicked into high gear is why I love to write about the awesome- ness of the New Jersey music scene. I was so glad to catch up with Hodera’s exciting mix of folk- oriented stories and loud, aggres- NJ STAGE 2017 - Vol. 4 No. 3 Hodera INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 135