A Clever Con

Standing out in a crowded music scene today is a daunting task, especially if you are a rock band from the east coast that everyone has trouble describing. A Clever Con (ACC), though, is a group that is having fun making interesting music and just hoping that everything will fall neatly into place. The band’s debut, The Robot EP (2009), was the culmination of a few formative years as a group, honing their songwriting skills while also trying to discover an identity. Since the release of The Robot EP (three of its six tracks landed in full rotation on AOL Radio), ACC has toured regionally, and landed spots on the Warped Tour in both 2009 and 2010. They are spending most of 2011 in the studio working on their debut full-length album, and plans for its release will be announced soon. ACC formed in the summer of 2006 between longtime friends Michael Dietz and Ryan Marsa. They recruited drummer TJ “Smash” Horner in April 2008, who found the band on a Craigslist ad. ACC’s first show together was in August 2008 at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia, after which they began to play regionally in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. In 2011, the final piece of the ACC puzzle was added with bassist Tommie Riccio, who, coincidentally, was also discovered through an ad on Craigslist. ACC’s lineup embodies a wide range of influences that contribute to their sound—but perhaps the few that best represent the band's collective inspirations would be: Incubus, RX Bandits, GlassJAw, Dispatch, Chiodos, State Radio, Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns 'N Roses. Indeed, A Clever Con’s diverse taste in music and playing styles is also something that should and does separate them from the proverbial pack. As a mix of four eclectic musicians with different backgrounds, they have incorporated elements of rock, reggae, metal, pop rock, alternative, progressive and punk into their sound. And while the band has worked hard to refine their sound—to experiment with their sound and push the limits of their own creativity, ACC’s new direction is inherently unique yet fun and accessible. Donning their trademark black shirts and lime green ties, ACC continues to tour regionally and refine their sound, expanding their fan base along the way. Their live performance is incredibly energetic and fun, and the band plays music because they love to play music, something that shows more with each performance. "A Clever Con aren’t a band to play it safe. They push and push the boundaries of their compositions and playing, and so far, nothing has pushed back to reveal that they’re anywhere near their limits." - The Ripple Effect