New Jersey's The Amboys have an alternative country sound that can lead anyone to move their feet and dance around. Their Led Into The Woods EP has sexual undertones mixed in with hooky guitar and bass grooves, moving key arrangements and mind-blowing horns. It doesn't hurt that C.M. Smith's heavy country-styled voice is versatile and can both pass for warm and romantic as well as cold and chilling.
View Full Article
Last September, The Amboys headed off into the woods. To be precise, they holed up at the Smith Cabin, located on Rickard's Lake in Dingman Ferry, Pa.
That's a long way from the Jersey Shore, but the rustic surroundings suited The Amboys. According to the country-rock-influenced band, they shot some guns, drank some whiskey, and hunted bear with their bare hands (!).
View Full Article
The quartet blends indie, folk with a hint of country to produce a sound that can be relaxing, energetic and inspiring.
View Full Article
The Amboys' have a knack for making music that is touchable, digestible, and addictive. Comprised of C.M. Smith- Singer/lead guitar, Kyle Waugh- rhythm guitar, Manny Castanon- bass, Connor Effenberger- drums, the guys have a sort of self deprecating humor, which is absolutely perfect for their easy, laid-back playing style.
View Full Article
One of the standout tracks on "Everything Between the Moon & the Sun" is "Too Far (On a Broken Heart)'' -- a tune that seems to gain gravitas with every listen. The song rides an infectiously tight hook while showcasing Smith's chops for belting out a heart-wrenching croon with wounded urgency that fans of the Stones will find plenty familiar.
View Full Article
For the sake of argument Nashville, Tennessee is now located in Asbury Park, just follow me here. In this alternate universe, Tiger Army plays guitar infused country-rock with Langhorn Slim on lead vocals. All this fiction in the fantasyland I've created for you leans on this: The band I'm describing is very real, and while not made up of members of the acts I mentioned, their sound is no less authentic. The Amboys are that band!
View Full Article
I spent much of the festival with my friend Lazlo of Blowupradio.com - while, we have different tastes in music, I think there were a few bands we both enjoyed seeing. I know he really liked catching The Amboys, one I think is one of the best bands in the area.
View Full Article
Not power pop, but power roots-rock if you want to categorize this one. Like a favorite dive on a Saturday night, this album will leave you bleary-eyed and wanting to come back for more.
View Full Article
The Amboys have been one of my favorite New Jersey-based bands ever since they first started kicking around the Asbury Park area a year ago. Their debut record, "Everything Between The Moon & The Sun" provides brilliant country-infused garage rock and roll that reminds me of Johnny Cash waking up on the wrong side of the bed after an all night binge, taking some speed, and heading out to the local punk rock bar to jam with whoever was on stage. It's got a true kick ass spirit to it.
View Full Article
...both groups can play covers by established greats next to their own original tunes and not display a jarring dip in songwriting quality. Need proof? Listen to The Amboys' Neil Young cover "Heart of Gold." It'll make you want to check out the show, which presents a good excuse for Island fans to head out for the night, to a venue where The Headlocks will also hopefully play for some new faces.
View Full Article
The Amboys, a western-inspired rock band based out of Asbury Park, is one of the bands Han was describing. In fact, he mentions this new-found music interest in a blog written on his coffee shop's Myspace.com Web page.
"It was cool that he noticed this was happening," said Chris Smith, guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Amboys. "We're being lumped into the same genre as The Riverwinds, Calm and Repose, and The Mad Feather Group."
View Full Article
© The Amboys, 2011 • Contact Us • 
