Complex sentence: The band began playing basement shows in New Brunswick and the surrounding New Jersey and New York areas, playing their first official show on December 31,1998 in Rickly's basement alongside Midtown, Saves the Day and Poison the Well.
Split into simpler sentences: The band began playing basement shows in New Brunswick and surrounding New Jersey and New York areas. They played their first official show on December 31,1998 in Rickly's basement alongside Midtown, Saves the Day and Poison the Well.