The Foes of Fern

Fern from The Burns has an awesome project called The Foes of Fern. Back in the Fall they released a great track and accompanying music video titled “Bike Song.” It’s a bright, poppy tune and the video is totally fun. Making great use of the Asbury Park beach and boardwalk as well as a great cast of characters (look for Jersey Rock vet Michael Squillace on the sax!), the video for “Bike Song” doesn’t just tell a story; it takes the viewer for a ride. It was directed and edited by Andrea Morgan.

“Bike Song” is from Fern’s upcoming album. You can score the single now on Apple Music! - WRAT 95.9FM

If you’ve been hanging around the music scene in Asbury Park over the past few years, chances are you’ve come across multi-faceted musician Matt Fernicola. If you’ve really been hip to that jive, then you would know him simply as Fern.

Although a frequent player in other projects, the artist’s own The Foes of Fern are ready to unveil a hefty amount of new material with “The Bike Song” leading the way. Impose Magazine is happy to host the exclusive premiere of its video today.

In the delightful clip, Fern makes the most of a series of unfortunate events with a soulful, horn-laden tune that immediately welcomes you into his charming sonic world. It’s a great visual and aural companion for anybody out there who just can’t seem to catch a break.

“‘The Bike Song’ is one of my oldest songs that I still play. It was one of those songs that just happened, with no real pre-writing. I was hanging out with my old Airacuda bandmates and we were jamming in our apartment in Boston back in like 2012. I started to improvise some lyrics and found myself singing about my bike being stolen (which had happened that morning) and a past relationship that had just ended for me. The result was a pretty passive-aggressive song about both an ex-girlfriend and a stolen bicycle.

The arrangement had much more thought put into it then the actual song. I spent countless hours at Telegraph Hill Records working out all the parts with my producer Joe Pomarico and sax / clarinet player Michael Squillace. The three of us put our heads together to come up with the orchestration and then we hired a bunch of players to come in and perform on the song. The whole process took about 8 months.” - Impose Magazine

What ever happened to Vern? I always loved those commercials, they made me smile. Hey Verrrrrrrn…I guess I am dating myself. Matt Fernicola, aka Ferrrrrn, has been hard at work on a special Foes of Fern video release entitled April Came with the Rain. Matt always makes me smile, constant energy and upbeat attitude. He is also is a very busy man so between gigging with The Burns, helping to arrange shows at The Chubby Pickle and the Ink Well, and all of his other projects, this has been a two year grind for him to get out to us. And it is true, April has come with the rain.

Like a fine wine good things do take time. Matt is a fun loving, care free and joyous individual and those traits are shining through in this release. This video is just a precursor to more music being released from Fern in the very near future. The final push is on and he has created an Indiegogo campaign to speed up the process. This is the most extensive and detailed creative process page I have come across and just reading through it, you can feel the excitement in the making. Credit to Joe Pomarico at Telegraph Records for mixing and producing the track and to Gabe Cohen for creating the video.

While we think about the flowers that May will be bringing, for now, let us enjoy April Came with the Rain. - Speak Into My Good Eye

Asbury Park scenesters The Foes of Fern are debuting “Bike Song”, their latest feel-good with charming visuals to taste. Orchestral tones meet indie sensibility as the band bring years of instrumental prowess and clever lyricism to a fine point we can expect to make deep cuts. Watch below. - All Things Go

If there was true justice in the world, Airacuda’s farewell show in May of 2016 would go down as one of the most legendary performances in the history of Asbury Park music. Both massive in size (sporting a seven-member lineup that evening) and sound, the band closed up shop with an appropriately-epic Langosta Lounge sendoff. And while people may rightfully expect big things from from Airacuda’s handsome, charismatic frontman Matthew Menges, you wouldn’t be wrong in thinking the remaining members might find themselves backing up others, or getting assimilated into the rogue group of musicians that seem to play on everyone’s albums. Then again, no one saw George Harrison coming, either.

Matt Fernicola, Airacuda’s bearded, bespectacled former guitarist has finally stepped up to the mic. And the sound that comes out – blithe and carefree – is exactly what we need right now. Fern’s songs get you nostalgic for places you’ve never been. And his new single and video “Sun Day” deals hard in sentimentality. The video concept itself is simple: A bunch of friends (or Foes, maybe?) hanging out on a boat just taking it all in. But simplicity works in the band’s favor as it juxtaposes against a song that feels epic in scope. Fern himself radiates sincerity throughout, singing “I wanna do it all / Before the sun decides to fall.” He’s lived it so far, spending the past two years shepherding young songwriter Avery Mandeville’s burgeoning career, and moonlighting with The Burns and the Lords of Lichtenstein. But with “Sun Day,” it seems that Fern is finally ready for his close up. George Harrison once said “All things must pass.” Fern seems well-aware. But he also knows there’s so much more that he can make happen before they do. And “Sun Day” proves a magnificent first step into the light. - You Don't Know Jersey