Local Band the Groove Heads to the Roar to the Shore

Since its inception last summer, youth rock-band the Groove has made a name for itself in the Atlantic County area. While comprising five 15- to 18-year-olds—including Galloway resident and Charter Tech High School student Brandon Ireland—the band has become a prominent force on the New Jersey bar circuit.   

This Sunday, Sept. 11, the group —made up of Ireland; lead guitar and vocals, Steven DeLucry; lead vocals and keyboards, Chris Samartino; rhythm guitar, Bob Kessler; bass, Gordon Kubaska; drums, vocals—will be featured in “Roar to the Shore,” an annual music festival in Wildwood, along with eight other cover bands.

While still in high school, Ireland has already had a long career in local music. After being featured on the show America’s Got Talent in 2006, Ireland joined a well-known local band, the Northbound Train, and has played in major venues including the Hard Rock Café and many Atlantic City casinos.

He started the Groove last summer, says his father, Lou Ireland, the manager of both the Groove and the Northbound Train. 

It’s young people that make the music industry, says Lou Ireland, and “there’s no limits to what [the Groove plays]; from Paul McCartney, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters…”

“We play a wide variety of music,” concurs Brandon. “We’ll go from playing Queen, to playing real heavy originals, like Dream Theater.”

This past summer, the Groove had a full schedule, performing four times a week on average, according to Brandon Ireland.

“Everybody [in the band] has gotten so much better [at playing],” said Brandon Ireland. But during the school year, we’ll probably “have weekends [booked.]”