The Amboys, contrary to the auditory sensibilities beating in your head, hail from New Jersey, that swinging rockabilly (not-so-much) state that produced such luminaries as Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. They'll probably like the Bruce reference, Bon Jovi, well...

At any rate, the Amboys, not ones to rest on their laurels, after the release of their enthusiastically received debut EP, Everything From the Moon to the Sun, set out to dismantle our preconceived notions of indie rock infusion yet again with their sophomore effort, "Led Me Into the Woods."

I'm pretty hot on this band for a number of reasons. One, they have the passion and fortitude to push through any obstacle, (including band member changes), two, they make you want to get up and dance, or drink, or any combination of the two thereof, and lastly, and most importantly, they got talent. Real, honest-to-goodness, smack-you-in-the-face, hope-to-see-them-spread-out-all-over-Madison-Square-Garden talent. Or, at the very least headlining Woodstock 42.

On the heels of the Amboy's release we checked in with the boys for a recap of this year, and their new work. (The Amboys are: C.M. Smith- Singer/lead guitar- Daniel Effenberger- guitar- Manny Castanon- bass, Connor Effenberger- drums.)

antiMusic: Talk about the making of this EP. What did you do differently?

CM: I wanted to shape this EP into a concept. A lot of the tunes we were going to record for it were songs that we had kicked around for awhile. But I felt I could draw a line through all of them to one central idea. I tried to get away from that typical song writing about love loss and to something deeper, sillier and more callous. Maybe get at the deeper more primal/a-hole version of myself and show it to the world. The overall concept was moving on with life. From getting metaphorically lost and scared in the woods to self assured one night stands to giving up and changing plans, the EP ties all that to nature.

Manny: I think the biggest difference on this EP was that, save for some overdubs, we did the whole thing live in the living room of Chris' cabin. The first time around we did went the traditional studio route of tracking all of the parts and comping them into one crisp, clean final product. And while I'm proud of how it turned out, I felt like we failed to capture a lot of the raw energy you get from our live show. So we decided we try and take a more organic approach and what we got was sort of our "In/Casino/Out"

antiMusic: Can you tell us a recording story?

CM: During the week at the cabin I got really drunk and called my exgirlfriend. Cliche and hackneyed response, but completely and totally true.

Connor: We had brought one of Manny's friends Dario with us up the cabin. He was always around to lend a solid one liner or ridiculous observation. During most the recording process, he would somehow manage to sleep on a couch in the middle of tracking. So we'd be in a room, playing live with the amps turned to 11, you know... making a record. Meanwhile Dario would be completely unconscious somewhere in lala land.

Manny: Yeah, as much as we loved the snore tracks he put down that week, it just didn't fit with what we were going for. Maybe when we do the 20th anniversary George Lucas edition we'll bring back the snore pads.

Dan: We were recording at CM's family cabin up in the deep woods of northeast PA. We wake up after the first night and take a gander outside and there's about 25 dudes armed to the teeth with rifles, booze, and plenty of ammunition. Turns out his uncle Steve who lives across the lake was holding his annual skeet shooting competition. Next thing we know we're firing guns alongside longtime NRA enthusiasts teaching us the best way to shoot a rifle while chugging beer.

antiMusic: What are the prevailing themes?

CM: Wolves, liquor, infidelity, friends of friends, trees, more liquor, and the best part of all... not love. There is not one love song on this album. Yet, there is not a hate song either. So its all in the middle.

Manny: Loneliness, hedonism, that stale tobacco taste that sits on your tongue in the morning after you've gone through your pack.

antiMusic: Talk about your favorite track. Can you give us the background behind it?

CM: A track that I can talk about the most is "In the Woods" Its hard to pick a favorite. "In the Woods" was written between our last album and this EP. It was designed to tie together the two albums. I wrote "Once in my life I was head over heals" concerning the love interest in the last album. I "felt like a kid in the city for the first time" which relates to last albums song "Kid in the City" Also "sometimes I wish I took a different road, different track, counted all my blessings before I made my way back" refers to the last albums tracks "The Right Track" and "These Roads" I had made my way back to the former love interest and months into it I realized my mistake. Also, the song is really about a time I once got lost in the Blue Mountains of central PA. I was scared, but not alone. I used how I felt walking through those woods while recording the vocal tracks.

Manny: I've gotta give it to "Ashley", it's just an odd dark little song. Its probably the most fully realized piece we've done. The song just takes you somewhere when you hear it. I'm probably not making the most of my English degree trying to describe this song.

antiMusic: In what ways have you matured as a band since your debut release? As individuals?

Connor: After four years of gigging, recording, giggining, recording, we've all realized who we are among the cauldron of original rock bands. We know who we are rather than who we want to be or what we should have been. We haven't "made it" yet in the conventional image of record deals and free dinners, but we've met some really cool people, played even cooler shows and still keep thriving to outdo ourselves with each time we come together. Me, myself as an individual, I come to accept that the music business is like pizza. If the pizza isn't the best, I've still got some pizza that I'm munching on! Whatever happens with the band, I'm still playing drums with my friends and what could be any better than that?

Manny: We're all a little older now, and we've somehow avoided a lot of the pitfalls I've seen other burgeoning bands drop into. We're still changing.
Dan:

antiMusic: How is that reflected in your music?

Connor: Well, I'd like to consider ourselves as a community that lends its mind to what the song needs. Through the years our communication with each other has opened up a lot. Writing songs is a group effort with a lot of ideas coming from all sides. Making music in a band should be like having a conversation. There has to be more than one person involved and there's gotta be a subject. If your subject can be led to some sort of conclusion, then you're in business; you've got a song.

antiMusic: What have you learned from your initial release?

Connor: Put music out faster and more often.

antiMusic: What are you hoping your fans will feel after listening to this EP?

CM: I hope it inspires them to do something. Anything. Even the tiniest thing. Be it make an overdue phone call, write something of their own, or even change something in their life they always wanted to.

Connor: I hope they can get behind the fact that we've taken a new approach to the concept that we had originally sought to accomplish. The country western thing was cool, but now, it's all up in the air.

Manny: I think if this record has the ability to evoke any kind of emotion, good or bad, we've done our job.

Dan: We chose to stay away from the traditional studio setting on this album for a couple reasons. For one, we got to get away and lose ourselves for a bit. But also, recording together live in a big open cabin is a great way to capture a feeling. I hope people can get a sense of that feeling and what we bring to our live act.

antiMusic: What chances did you take with this effort?

CM: Not writing about love. Well worth it.

Connor: I don't think there was too much of a risk. There's no one's life on the line here. We're not under any sort of label or management, so we all answer to ourselves. I guess the worst thing that could have happened was that my Dad would stop coming to our shows.

Dan: I almost got fired from my job.

antiMusic: What track keeps you up at night and why?

CM: I'd say "Worrisome" keeps me up at night. It reminds me of a road not taken. A choice that I would only later come to regret.

Connor: I'm just looking forward to the next EP and finishing the tracking for it. "In The Woods" is another cat in the bag.

antiMusic: What track are you most proud of?

Connor: Ashley. As far as rhythm, dynamics, vocals, and the harmonies are what get me jazzed up about it. It was one of the first songs we made that flipped the switch from alt. country to some dark rhythmic space folk.

Dan: Ashley. I think this song really pulls the most out of every member of the band. I enjoy being creeped out a little after hearing a song. I'm glad I could creep myself out this time.

antiMusic: What's next?

Connor: Japan?

Manny: Japan.

CM: Japanese girls.

Dan: Better Sushi

antiMusic: In case you were all wondering, as I was, I got Manny to set the record straight on a few leftover questions.

antiMusic: Why did Dan almost get fired from his job and how did he swing keeping it?

Manny: I think a lot of it had to do with him trying to move his work schedule around and get days off once he became a permanent fixture in the band. We can chalk up him keeping his job to charm.

antiMusic: Staying away from country inspired tunes forever?

Manny: I don't think we're going too far away from the country/folk vibe. But we're trying new things to keep ourselves interested.

antiMusic: What's up with Japanese girls?

Manny: I can't speak for the other guys but I'd much rather get weird in Japan and boogie to some Marvin.