Parsippany Man's Rock and Roll Dream Is No Fantasy

New Jersey is home to some of rock music's biggest acts. From The Boss to Bon Jovi and a host of bands at all stages of development, the Garden State seems to drive people's rock and roll dreams. That is certainly the case for a Parsippany resident is working hard to make his musical hopes reality. 

Matt Simon, 24, is co-founder and lead vocalist of the hard-rock band Downcast Theory. The group is pushing its self-titled second CD release, which hit the streets in April. Simon also has his hands full as a manager for Architekt Music, a cutting-edge studio, music school and all-ages live-music venue in Butler. 

"It all keeps me busy," he said, "but working at Architekt Music gives me skills that help with the band, and me being a musician in a band makes me a better manager because I can communicate with musicians."
Simon, a native of Monroe in Middlesex County, moved to Parsippany in March 2010. 

"I like being in north New Jersey. I live right on Route 46, which is nice because it's near everything, even though that makes things a little chaotic. But it's nice to be in this area, I like it a lot."

He said he's been an amateur vocalist as far back as he can remember.

"I'm the kid who has recordings of me singing when I was 2 years old," Simon said. "My aunt is a singer. She's involved with barbershop music, so she was always trying to get me to sing when I was a little kid. So I've been doing it a long time. I just had to figure out how I wanted to do it."

Simon kept singing and in time figured out that he wanted to rock.

"Once I got into high school, I started moving away from pop," he said. "And things really took a turn when I went to Seton Hall University."

It was during Simon's college years that Downcast Theory came into being. Two of his soon-to-be bandmates, lead guitarist Jake Raynor and drummer Matt Raunick, were friends he'd known from his high school choral-music classes.

"I'm the oldest of the three," Simon said. "I graduated in 2005. During my sophomore year in college, Jake and I started to mess around a little bit with acoustic stuff. We weren't, like, playing out or anything, but we'd get together and cover other band's songs. One day, Jake showed me an original song and then I showed him one, and it was like, 'Hey, maybe we should start writing songs.'"

Simon recalled that Raynor was playing in a band that for all intents and purposes was inactive, making the guitarist willing to start a new project with his old friend. Their pal Matt Raunick played bass for the old band, but he said he really wanted to play the drums.

"Drums really is his first deal, it turns out, so he joined us," Simon said. "And Ryan Sauerman is Jake's cousin. He joined about a year ago; we had another bassist before then. The rest is history, as they say."

In the years since, Downcast Theory honed its craft playing high-energy shows throughout New Jersey at popular venues including the legendary Stone Pony and the Jersey Shore's Bar Anticipation. The quartet has broken into the New York market as well, playing Brooklyn's Knitting Factory and opening for Taking Back Sunday and Circa Survive at Adelphi University's Spring Concert.

"We try to perform as much as possible. We're not doing much show-wise right now, because some of the guys are still in school, but we'll get back to it," Simon said.

Simon and his bandmates naturally are taking the recorded-music route as well. Damaged Calm, Downcast Theory's first CD, was released in 2008.

"We didn't follow up that first CD for 2 1/2 years," Simon said. "We had a lot of time to work on the second one. Some of the songs on the album, particularly the second track, "In Need," were more than 2 years old by the time the disc came out."

He added that the actual recording process started the weekend of Halloween a year ago at the then newly opened Architekt Music, and mixing wasn't finished until the end of the following January.

"It was a long process that took many hours in the studio, which is the way to do it," he said. "We wanted enough time to make sure we got what we wanted, and we absolutely did."

What the band got was its eponymous second CD, a collection of 13 often relentlessly bombastic yet musically satisfying songs. Out in front is Simon's fine voice, which can move from a smooth croon to a shriek in an instant. When he mentioned his influences--singers like Alter Bridge wailer Myles Kennedy and Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust--it makes sense, given that Kennedy and LJ are heavy-rock singers who also boast gorgeous, melodic voices and an ability to let 'er rip and howl when it's called for.

Ultimately, Simon said Downcast Theory is aiming for success in the music industry. With their hard work, dedication, musicianship and rousing rock, the members just might make it big.

You can find more information on the band at its website. To check out or purchase Downcast Theory's music, visit iTunes.