Jersey boys take their music around the world
After leaving their mark — quite literally — on South Jersey, two local musicians are making an impression on the global music stage.
Childhood friends Avir Mitra and Karl Sukhia, of Voorhees and Cherry Hill, respectively are the foundation of the four-piece musical group Bamboo Shoots.
The band, which has experienced whirlwind success since forming in 2004, released its debut album, “Armour,” last week.
Mitra and Sukhia, who have been making music together since their teenage days, moved to New York after college and met drummer Shiv Puri, of Parsippany, and disc jockey-percussionist Ankur Patel, of North Brunswick.
The bandmates, all of Indian descent, agree their music has a South Asian influence, but find it hard to label.
“We are probably the worst at describing our sound,” said Mitra, vocalist and guitarist. “We listen to everything from Indie rock to Michael Jackson to Hall and Oates. Everything inspires us.”
The turning point for Bamboo Shoots’ success came in 2007 when the band beat out 1,600 others in mtvU’s Best Music on Campus contest.
“We were really, honestly surprised,” said Sukhia, bassist and vocalist. “A friend of ours submitted us and for months, we forgot about it.”
Shortly after winning the title, Bamboo Shoots performed on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and signed with Epic Records.
Over the past two years, the band has performed with The Plain White T’s, Soulja Boy, All Time Low, The Donnas, Chamillionaire, The Early November and more.
Bamboo Shoots recently returned from a three-week stint in India, visiting Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Kolkata and Bangalore.
“A lot of people there consume American products and pay attention to Hollywood, but it’s rare to see Indian people coming back,” said Mitra. “They were just so proud of us.”
“When we were playing our set, they wanted us to play all night,” the singer continued. “They wanted us to play everything we knew and then to make up songs. They didn’t want us to stop. It was an amazing experience.”
While on tour, the band was featured in “Vogue India” and “Rolling Stone India,” and on CNN India, according to Alan Dodd, who works as part of the band’s management.
Though the trip demonstrated the breadth of their global appeal, the musicians still delight at the far-reaching scope of their music in the United States.
“People find a way to connect with us in a way they’re not used to connecting, whether we’re on tour in some dive bar in Alabama or in a death metal venue in South Carolina,” said Puri. “You see these hard metalheads turning into softies — dancing, smiling, having a great time.”
The members of Bamboo Shoots still appreciate their home base in the New Jersey and Philadelphia areas, too.
“Avir used to take lessons at The Music Place in Atco, and we still go there to get all of our guitars,” said Sukhia. “We used to play shows at VFWs and the Ashland Church [in Voorhees] — that was the scene when we were younger.”
The band splits its time between New York City and New Jersey.
“We still rehearse in Voorhees and you can always spot us at Wawa on Route 73,” said Mitra. “We love the Palace Diner [in Berlin], too. Our band was conceived there; in fact, there’s a Bamboo Shoots sticker up in the parking lot that’s been there for years — no one’s taken it down.”
“Armour” was released digitally Sept. 29 and can be purchased at the band’s site, www.bambooshoots.com.
While on tour in Chicago, Bamboo Shoots was introduced to producer Jerry Harrison of The Talking Heads and The Modern Lovers. He and the band “just clicked,” according to Puri, and the members moved to San Francisco to begin recording.
“Being on the West Coast was really refreshing,” said the drummer. “There were definitely challenges because everyone in one room has an opinion, but I think we came back with a solid record.”
The album’s title is open for fans to make their own interpretations, Mitra said. “To me, it is elements of two words,” he explained. “‘Armor’ as we’re going into battle in this music business with no prior experience, and the ‘amor’ as the love and passion that you can hear in our lyrics and music.”
On the band’s MySpace page, www.myspace.com/bambooshoots, fans can vote for the next Bamboo Shoots cover song, whether it’s Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Beyonce or Black Eyed Peas.
“We don’t cover songs that a normal band would cover,” said Sukhia. “It’s a fun thing to do, and it’s gotten really popular on YouTube.”
The band recently recorded Kanye West and Neo covers, available on its YouTube page, www.youtube.com/bambooshootsband.
The next opportunity to see Bamboo Shoots play is Oct. 22 at the CMJ Festival in New York City. For more information on the show, the band or its album, visit www.bambooshoots.com.
Childhood friends Avir Mitra and Karl Sukhia, of Voorhees and Cherry Hill, respectively are the foundation of the four-piece musical group Bamboo Shoots.
The band, which has experienced whirlwind success since forming in 2004, released its debut album, “Armour,” last week.
Mitra and Sukhia, who have been making music together since their teenage days, moved to New York after college and met drummer Shiv Puri, of Parsippany, and disc jockey-percussionist Ankur Patel, of North Brunswick.
The bandmates, all of Indian descent, agree their music has a South Asian influence, but find it hard to label.
“We are probably the worst at describing our sound,” said Mitra, vocalist and guitarist. “We listen to everything from Indie rock to Michael Jackson to Hall and Oates. Everything inspires us.”
The turning point for Bamboo Shoots’ success came in 2007 when the band beat out 1,600 others in mtvU’s Best Music on Campus contest.
“We were really, honestly surprised,” said Sukhia, bassist and vocalist. “A friend of ours submitted us and for months, we forgot about it.”
Shortly after winning the title, Bamboo Shoots performed on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and signed with Epic Records.
Over the past two years, the band has performed with The Plain White T’s, Soulja Boy, All Time Low, The Donnas, Chamillionaire, The Early November and more.
Bamboo Shoots recently returned from a three-week stint in India, visiting Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Kolkata and Bangalore.
“A lot of people there consume American products and pay attention to Hollywood, but it’s rare to see Indian people coming back,” said Mitra. “They were just so proud of us.”
“When we were playing our set, they wanted us to play all night,” the singer continued. “They wanted us to play everything we knew and then to make up songs. They didn’t want us to stop. It was an amazing experience.”
While on tour, the band was featured in “Vogue India” and “Rolling Stone India,” and on CNN India, according to Alan Dodd, who works as part of the band’s management.
Though the trip demonstrated the breadth of their global appeal, the musicians still delight at the far-reaching scope of their music in the United States.
“People find a way to connect with us in a way they’re not used to connecting, whether we’re on tour in some dive bar in Alabama or in a death metal venue in South Carolina,” said Puri. “You see these hard metalheads turning into softies — dancing, smiling, having a great time.”
The members of Bamboo Shoots still appreciate their home base in the New Jersey and Philadelphia areas, too.
“Avir used to take lessons at The Music Place in Atco, and we still go there to get all of our guitars,” said Sukhia. “We used to play shows at VFWs and the Ashland Church [in Voorhees] — that was the scene when we were younger.”
The band splits its time between New York City and New Jersey.
“We still rehearse in Voorhees and you can always spot us at Wawa on Route 73,” said Mitra. “We love the Palace Diner [in Berlin], too. Our band was conceived there; in fact, there’s a Bamboo Shoots sticker up in the parking lot that’s been there for years — no one’s taken it down.”
“Armour” was released digitally Sept. 29 and can be purchased at the band’s site, www.bambooshoots.com.
While on tour in Chicago, Bamboo Shoots was introduced to producer Jerry Harrison of The Talking Heads and The Modern Lovers. He and the band “just clicked,” according to Puri, and the members moved to San Francisco to begin recording.
“Being on the West Coast was really refreshing,” said the drummer. “There were definitely challenges because everyone in one room has an opinion, but I think we came back with a solid record.”
The album’s title is open for fans to make their own interpretations, Mitra said. “To me, it is elements of two words,” he explained. “‘Armor’ as we’re going into battle in this music business with no prior experience, and the ‘amor’ as the love and passion that you can hear in our lyrics and music.”
On the band’s MySpace page, www.myspace.com/bambooshoots, fans can vote for the next Bamboo Shoots cover song, whether it’s Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Beyonce or Black Eyed Peas.
“We don’t cover songs that a normal band would cover,” said Sukhia. “It’s a fun thing to do, and it’s gotten really popular on YouTube.”
The band recently recorded Kanye West and Neo covers, available on its YouTube page, www.youtube.com/bambooshootsband.
The next opportunity to see Bamboo Shoots play is Oct. 22 at the CMJ Festival in New York City. For more information on the show, the band or its album, visit www.bambooshoots.com.
