Jet Lag Gemini
Interview with Drummer Daniel Harris
In the mid-2000s, the music scene in Bergen County, New Jersey was a breeding ground for scrappy, heartfelt punk and emo bands playing in the dozens of VFW halls and local dives. Among the many future legends, Jet Lag Gemini stood out, a quartet of teenagers whose infectious energy, catchy hooks, and bold classic rock influences set them apart. Formed in Mahwah in 2004, the band—drummer Daniel Harris, bassist Matt Gheorghiu, guitarist Vlad Holiday, and singer Misha Zilman—carved a unique niche in a scene dominated by pop-punk and screamo. Thanks to Chris Poulsen from Tokyo Rose, I got to chat with Dan Harris and hear their story straight from the source. Theirs is a story of ambition, camaraderie, and a sound that still RIPS in 2025.
Origins in a Jersey Condo Complex
Jet Lag Gemini began in the hallways of a Mahwah high school and a nearby condominium development. Daniel Harris, then a 14-year-old saxophone player in the school band, met Romanian immigrants Vlad (now Holiday) and Matt Gheorghiu, who carried acoustic guitars through the halls and boldly declared their passion for punk and classic rock. “I saw this guy walking down the hallway with an acoustic guitar on his back,” Dan recalled of meeting Vlad in fifth grade. By high school, the trio linked up in their neighborhood, jamming in Dan’s mom’s basement after she gifted him a drum set for Christmas. Their sound took shape when they recruited Misha, a slightly older singer from the same town, through mutual friends.
The band’s early days were fueled by a mix of influences: Blink-182 and Green Day for their pop-punk energy, alongside Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles for a raw, rock ‘n’ roll sound. Vlad’s Hendrix-inspired guitar riffs became a defining feature, setting Jet Lag Gemini apart from their peers. “Jet Lag wouldn’t have been what it was without Vlad,” Dan emphasized. “Man, he’s one of the greatest I’ve ever played with.”
These sounds are apparent from the opening seconds of their first EP, 2006’s Business. The first track “Don’t Leave Me Hanging” doesn’t waste a second before launching into crunchy power chords, pinch harmonics, and ultra-catchy vocal hooks. This sounds like Iron Maiden meets The Wonder Years. “We really wanted to write these catchy, you know, poppy songs,” Dan said, “but we really wanted that rock and roll edge to it. And that's why you got what you got with the Business EP."
From VFW Halls to Warped Tour
Jet Lag Gemini played their first show in 2004, a milestone that launched them into Bergen County’s vibrant DIY scene. “Their name came up constantly because they were one of those bands everyone was buzzing about,” said writer (and fellow Bergen County scene enjoyer) Jessie King, who also lamented not getting to see them perform live.
By 2005, they were writing the songs that would become their debut Business EP (2006), recorded in Madison, New Jersey, with producers Ryan Sellick and Dan Scarzella. The EP’s six tracks, including fan favorite “Geared for Action,” accomplished what the band set out to do and blended catchy pop-punk melodies with a hard rock streak a mile wide. The organic, free-flowing creation process captured the band’s teenage spirit, unburdened by pressure or expectations. “We were just in a room jamming and these things started to come together,” Dan said, explaining how there would be occasional moments where the band would stop to think about production choices.
Business ended up being a thrilling blend of emo and pop punk with an obvious nod to rock and roll atypical of a time when listeners were leery of anything resembling Classic Rock. The six tracks are full of crunchy, almost grungy guitar riffs and wild, shredding solos that work as well as they do because of how confident the band was in the sound. Alongside the heavy instrumentation, singalong hooks keep the energy high and songs memorable. Each track hits hard, delivering a mix of emotion, catchy melodies, and pure swagger.
Their big break came that year when Dave Miller, formerly of Senses Fail, discovered and managed them. Miller’s connections led to a record deal with Doghouse Records, though not without some convincing. “The label had to come to my mom’s house,” Daniel laughed, recalling how his mother, initially skeptical, signed off on the deal for her 16-year-old son. From there, Jet Lag Gemini hit the road, playing Warped Tour, headlining small tours with rising acts like Four Year Strong, and supporting heavyweights like The All-American Rejects. “We saw most of the country and went to Canada,” Daniel says. “The sky felt like the limit.”
By 2008, the band released their full-length album Fire the Cannons, a polished continuation of their signature sound. “When I first heard their album Fire the Cannons, I was blown away,” said King. “I remember blasting it in my car on late-night drives—songs like “Fit to Be Tied” and “Bittersweet” hit that perfect sweet spot between catchy and emotional without ever feeling overproduced.”
Fire the Cannons saw the raw energy of their debut directed into a more mature sound. The radio-friendly songs might suggest a softer approach, but ultimately reflects a mature evolution in songwriting, seamlessly incorporating pop elements into their emo and rock roots as evident in the heavy/swing breakdown in “Every Minute.” Singles “Run This City” and “Fit to Be Tied” showcase the band’s knack for crafting infectious hooks and choruses that stay with you. The album really shines on tracks like “The Bad Apples” or “Bittersweet” where Vlad has room to shred on his guitar. These heavier moments are well juxtaposed against the pop-punk songwriting of the rest of the album, giving the record a push-and-pull feeling that makes it worth re-listening. Pure punk just wouldn’t have the same heavy payoff.
A Missed Opportunity and Burnout
The group’s momentum peaked with a near-miss opportunity that could have changed everything. In 2009, Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus tweeted about Jet Lag Gemini (since deleted but there’s mention of it in the Alternative Press Archive), sparking a meeting at a Blink show in New Jersey. Hoppus offered to produce their next record, a dream for the young band. “We were stoked,” Daniel recalls. However, the label couldn’t fund the project, leading the band to break their contract in hopes of finding a new deal.
What followed was a grueling two-year “limbo” of relentless practice—sometimes seven days a week—without a clear path forward. Burnout and creative differences crept in. “We wrote some really sick songs,” Daniel says, “but we were just sitting there like, ‘What are we doing?’” By 2011, Jet Lag Gemini called it quits. Vlad formed Electric Sun, Misha pursued solo work under Violites, Matt entered the tech industry, and Daniel moved to San Diego, grappling with his identity outside the band. “Who am I if I’m not playing drums in this band?” he wondered.
A Legacy of Dreams and Nostalgia
Despite their disbandment, Jet Lag Gemini’s music endures, particularly the Business EP, unique blend of pop-punk and classic rock. The band’s Bergen County roots tied them to a tight-knit scene, with friendships and shared practice spaces alongside bands like My American Heart, Going Home, and A Day at the Fair. “They had this gritty, fired-up energy that really resonated with me as a teen,” Jessie said. “It made you feel something—like you were part of something bigger. I definitely still go back to their music.”
Daniel, now playing with indie-dance-punk outfit Not Yer Baby and Emo Night Karaoke, sees Jet Lag Gemini’s legacy as an inspiration. “We were teenagers when we did that,” he says. “It shows you can follow your dreams, be creative, and not worry about what others want to hear.” Emo Night Karaoke, where Daniel performs classics like Fall Out Boy’s “Grand Theft Autumn” and Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life,” connects him with fans reliving the 2000s. “It’s a big nostalgia factor,” he says, noting how fans, now adults, flock to sing their favorite songs with a live band.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
In 2025, the early 2000s scene is experiencing a revival, with bands like Tokyo Rose, Just Surrender, Houston Calls, and The Junior Varsity (among others) reuniting and vinyl reissues like Bedlight for Blue Eyes gaining popularity. Currently no plans exist for a Jet Lag Gemini reunion or reissue, “a lot of us have moved on,” Dan said. He thinks the band might embrace it if demand were strong, though. Vlad continues to thrive musically, while Daniel stays connected to Jet Lag’s original scene through Emo Night Karaoke, touring from London to the U.S. West Coast. He’s also rediscovered older influences like Soundgarden and Mudhoney, alongside modern acts like Turnstile, whose hardcore energy resonates with him.
Jet Lag Gemini’s story is a testament to the power of teenage dreams and the enduring pull of a local scene. Their albums captured a moment that was about more than just music, as Jessie put it. “It made you feel something—like you were part of something bigger… like a whole community. You could go to a random show on a Friday night and leave with five new friends and three new favorite bands.” This sense of community and youth fueled Jet Lag Gemini’s music, infusing their work with an energy that resonates throughout their short but poignant discography. Their music captured a fleeting moment in musical history, preserving the raw energy and heart of local shows which now evokes youthful, bittersweet nostalgia of the scene for those of us who were there, forever linking its intimate connections to the enduring impact they left behind.
“If Jet Lag has any legacy,” Dan said, “it’s that you might never get a chance to do it again, so go out there and do what you want to do.” For fans still blasting Business or spotting the faded band stickers plastered around Bergen County, Jet Lag Gemini remains a firm anchor to that time.
Catch Daniel Harris live playing with Emo Night Karaoke or Not Yer Baby. Shout out to Jessie King for contributing to the research and direction of this piece!
Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly referred to Ryan Sellick as Brian Cellich, and we have since learned Vlad changed his last name to Holiday.