They're asking for votes

Hardyston — The Great Fraud is emerging as one of the most energetic blues/roots rock bands on the scene today. With soulful vocals and dynamic energy, The Great Fraud is at the top of their class in the New Jersey/New York area — and now they’re poised to take on the rest of the world. The band, started just over a year ago, consists of Sussex County’s own Tony Marchesani of Wantage on drums and Reese Karlan of Hardyston playing blues harmonica and slide guitar plus guitarist/singer/songwriter Joe Marrero of Fort Lee and bassist Taso Zaharaidis of Manhattan.

They recently were named the winner of the New York location competition of the Hard Rock Cafe’s “Hard Rock Rising” battle of the bands. Now The Great Fraud will represent the New York location in a battle against the winners of the other 86 Hard Rock Cafe locations battles.

The contest, which started with over 12,000 bands worldwide, is now down to an online voting process to determine the top 10 bands across the globe. These 10 bands will then be put in the hands of a panel of industry-recognized musicians serving as judges. They'll be graded on their originality, musicianship, marketability and vocals.

Harmonica player Reese Karlan had this to say of the judging process: “In this competition, the band is the whole package; they aren’t just looking for American Idol style vocals.”

The winners are then selected from among those 10 and have the honor of opening for Bruce Springsteen at the Hard Rock Calling Festival this July in London’s historic Hyde Park.

The Great Fraud, now working on their first full-length CD, generally play local venues such as The Stanhope House in Stanhope and Mexicali Live in Teaneck, so being able to play in Hyde Park, London, would be a dream come true for them. And, Karlan says, having Jersey guys open for Springsteen — another Jersey guy — would bring some real “local flavor” across the pond.

To get a free download of The Great Fraud’s single, “Do You Really Love Your Man?” and vote for the band in the competition, go to the band’s Facebook page and follow the link to the Hard Rock Cafe’s page, where the voting takes place. “Like” the page, click vote, and then download the song free of charge.

The voting period runs until April 24 and individuals are allowed to vote only once.

Hardyston’s own Karlan encourages his community to help out: “Please share it with everyone you know. It means a lot to the band and every vote counts. It seems like we’ve been the underdog all along, but our talent and musicianship has kept us in there.”

The band is also available for booking through their Web site at www.greatfraud.com.