By: Shane Bagot, Follow South Jersey Community Journalist
CARNEYS POINT, N.J. – South Jersey musicians who need all-inclusive services need to look no further than South Jersey Music in Carneys Point.
Owned by Jason Milley and partnered with his brother Mark, who runs a setup out of Jason’s garage, they provide repairs and rentals of all types of instruments, from orchestral to ukuleles and mandolins. Jason’s forte is guitar repairs, while Mark’s is the amps.
From the beginning, Jason Milley was always in and around music. Growing up in bands and pursuing it for the future. Things didn’t go so well, and he ended up having to leave that life for the corporate world, as he puts it. He was making good money and had full benefits, but something was still itching at the back of his head. He eventually approached the crossroads, where he had to decide whether to continue with this path or turn to his passion, music. He decided to take that leap and quit his warehouse job for music.
He joined a new cover band with his old guitar player from his previous band and got a new job at a music store, Music Go Around. He would meet his new boss, Don Sipiel, who would change a lot for going forward.
“Probably the best boss I’ve ever had, really nice man,” Jason Milley said. “He taught me a lot, and put a lot of faith into me. I was running that store within two years. I was a sponge, I was learning everything I possibly could.”
Unfortunately, the store was going out of business, but Jason Milley couldn’t see it go just yet. That is when he and the drum instructor at the store managed to put some money together to buy it from him. Officially starting South Jersey Music in 2003.
The business went through its ups and downs throughout the years, providing lessons for musicians, going from new to used instruments and gear, and moving from location to location. This led him to opening his venue, Volume Cafe which was a highlight for Jason Milley that unfortunately could not keep going.
“I just couldn’t keep going,” he said. “I loved it. It was a musician’s playground. I mean it was built for musicians by musicians. Everybody came and played there. That was great for a small little place.”
The stress levels and money issues started to weigh on Jason Milley’s mind. The pandemic was the nail in the coffin for the store. It forced him to sell the shop. This opened a new opportunity for him to move his work into his garage where he could work as much as he wanted, take whatever jobs he was interested in while still having that relationship with his customers.
With repair shops like SJ Music becoming a dying breed, it is great for him when young musicians find it. He can be a resource for them in a time when it is hard to find an amp and guitar repair or rental shop.
Lately, for Jason and Mark, the once stressful business has mellowed out. They take it one day at a time, not dealing with high-pressure situations like having to make rent for the month. Jason does not want to overdo it again prioritizing his health over everything now.
He still performs music, aiming for more gigs to play with his three-piece band, Buckets of Hot. He said that he is content and happy with the place of his business.
“Me and my brother have been doing it for so long now that we’re happy just being here,” Jason Milley said. “We got a steady workflow and it’s been good for us. It fits our ages and mentality perfectly.”
South Jersey Music is located at 617 Hawks Bridge Rd. in Carneys Point. Check out their website here, and to look out for upcoming shows for the band, click here.
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