Atlantic City Band with Roots in Moorestown Enjoy Accidental Success

It was never meant to be serious.

When Michael Faherty, Chris Franz and Brian Horan got a house two blocks from the beach in Atlantic City a couple years ago to “explore our music interests together,” it was a goof more than anything, said Moorestown native Faherty.

The three Stockton College math majors (now graduates) had varying degrees of music experience—guitarist Faherty and drummer Franz had played a little, Horan had been in a couple bands—but playing together was mostly just a pleasant diversion from their day jobs.

“We’ve never taken ourselves seriously,” Faherty said. “We take humble to a whole new level.”

Last summer, on a whim, Faherty and Franz entered themselves (and Horan) into a battle of the bands at Trinity Irish Pub in Atlantic City. They didn’t even have a name for the band. They weren’t even really a “band,” in the traditional sense of the word.

They came up with the name “Soundscape” on the spot, cribbing the name from one of the stations they listened to on Pandora Radio.

“We figured why not pretend to be a band and enter the competition,” Faherty said. “We wanted (the manager) to take us seriously, but he could clearly tell we were making it up.”

Up to that point they had only played at moderately busy bars and house parties. None of them sang, so sometimes they were strictly instrumental and other times they were joined by friends from the rap duo Kindred Spirits. But it was always very casual.

Then a funny thing happened: They won the battle of the bands.

Earlier this summer, they got a lead singer, Jess Lynn, and earlier this month were named the “Unsigned Artist of the Week” by Comedy Point radio.

Now they’re playing at music festivals and benefit concerts and on boats, in front of crowds of people who actually like their music. They’re still getting used to it.

“There’s definitely been some times where I had thoughts of, ‘What am I doing?’” Franz said. “We were playing on a boat one time and I was like, ‘How did I get here?’”

Asked about the future of Soundscape—An album? A record deal?—he answered, “We’re kind of just letting it go where it goes.”

Getting the band members to cop to a plan of action is as challenging as getting them to describe their style. It’s easier to explain their individual influences, Horan said. He’s into jazz and funk, Franz has a metal background, and Faherty's into psychedelic/alternative rock like The Flaming Lips and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“We’re coming from three completely different musical backgrounds and somehow it works,” Faherty said. “We think it works.”

So far the group hasn’t really ventured outside Atlantic City, but once the offseason hits they may be looking to perform in Philadelphia or in other areas of South Jersey.

“I would love to perform there,” Faherty said. “We have a lot of friends in that area.”

The band isn’t letting their newfound success go to their head though. They still play half-empty bars and house parties.

They had a performance recently where their only audience member was some old guy sitting at the bar who stayed for the entire show, Faherty said. Afterward, the man approached the guys and told them, “‘You’re amazing. You’re the only reason I stayed.’ That happens to us so many times, it’s kind of scary actually.”

Soundscape’s next performance is a benefit show at 8 p.m., Sept. 9, for the Emmanuel Cancer Fund at Boneyard Bar and Grill at 18 S. Virginia Ave. in Atlantic City. Tickets are $10.

Curious what Soundscape sounds like? Check out their Facebook page.