The Band
SIDE HUSTLE ® an Indie-Funk Rock group formed and based in Jacksonville, FL, released their much anticipated second EP: LIBERATION in late 2021. "Liberation", which is the follow up to their 2018 release of "Common Ground" has already received raving reviews:
"[T]he playing of this quartet is just so clean, so clear, truly making for optimal listening. You can hear every note of Laplume’s guitar, feel every note of Thomas’ fat, fat bass. Begley’s keyboards, primarily organ, are front and center on every song, and Plotz is clearly directing traffic from behind his drum kit."
- Musicfest News
The four-piece band brings together various backgrounds from funk, electronic, blues and rock to capture, elevate, and move audiences. The band was recently one of the headliners at MONSTER MASH FESTIVAL and appeared at the ORANGE BLOSSOM REVUE in the Fall of 2021.
On July 26th, 2022 Side Hustle will be releasing a short documentary entitled "The Making of Liberation". The band captures the harsh reality of producing an album as a DIY band right as the COVID lockdowns take effect. The documentary will be aired live on the band's podcast "Bottom of the Bill" and released shortly after for viewing on YouTube.
Originally from the cultural landscape of South Florida, singer/songwriter/guitarist, Anton Laplume relocated to Jacksonville, FL. Laplume emerged from the blues scene as the lead guitar player and band director for international blues band, The Rockin’ Jake Band. Laplume toured with the band throughout 2014 and 2015, across the U.S. and Canada. Known for his strong guitar skills, he enjoyed being a go-to for many local artists before creating Side Hustle.
Sean Thomas (vocals/bass) is a key component in the new sound emerging from the band. Thomas was a key member in one of Jacksonville’s premier funk/jam bands Herd of Watts, routinely playing festivals around Florida, as well as up and down the east coast.
Billy Begley (keys/synth) brings bold, new, and creative ideas to the band's catalog. His classical piano upbringing combined with an affinity for synths and pop music adds a tasteful and refreshing dash of jamtronica to the band's more tradition approach to song-writing. As a founding member of Lucky Costello, a jamtronica band that toured the southeast for years, Begley has taken Side Hustle into new sonic territories creating a truly unique listening and live performance experience!
Aaron Plotz (drums) anchors the band with his high-energy presence and talents grounded in classical percussion training. Plotz has collaborated with heavy weights such as Tony Steve, Richard Kirkland, Charlotte Mabrey and Danny Gottleib. Aaron has found much success in the Jacksonville arena as the go-to drummer, sharing the stage with numerous national acts and occupying festival slots with some of the best Jacksonville has to offer.
The band’s composition is an entertaining fusion of singer/songwriter arrangements with improvisational elements of jazz, transitional grooves of funk, melodic awareness of pop, and the raw emotion of blues rock.