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THE HIDDEN GEM OF ASBURY PARK
originally published: 2010-07-12 20:52:02
By Gary Wien
Of all the musical landmarks that once existed in Asbury Park, the most important of all is still standing; a tiny club that fostered the talents of Bruce Springsteen and the band mates that would comprise the original E Street Band. According to legend, Springsteen got his big break at The Stone Pony, but locals know that Bruce and his friends actually came of age playing at The Upstage Club- a short-lived venue on Cookman Avenue that may be as important to American music history as The Cavern...
THE XPONENTIAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010: FIVE SIX CANT MISS ACTS
originally published: 2010-07-13 14:07:32
By Gary Wien
(CAMDEN, NJ) -- One of the best music festivals of the summer takes place July 16-18 in Wiggins Park along the Camden Waterfront area. Known as the XPoNential Music Festival, it has been held annually in Camden by the Philadelphia radio station WXPN for several years now, ever since moving across the river from its original home. It may seem a bit odd for a Philadelphia radio station to hold a festival in New Jersey, but WXPN is far from just a Philadelphia station. In fact, you can easily he...
INSIDE THE 2009 PERRY AWARDS
originally published: 2009-09-28 20:54:17
By
The 36th Annual New Jersey Association of Community Theatre's "Perry" awards were celebrated in grand style at The Somerset Doubletree hotel on September 20, 2009. The big winner of the night was Lakewood's Strand Theater Ensemble earning 6 awards in total for the evening. The Strand Theater Ensemble won the coveted Outstanding Production of a Musical for their production of Little Women,The Musical. Little Women also earned wins for Outstanding Direction of a Musical : Gi...
TURNING A CURSE INTO A BLESSING
originally published: 2009-08-10 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Sometimes karma can play strange games with us. Nik Everett, a Delaware-based singer-songwriter was attending his cousin's funeral when he met Christina Eliopoulos, a filmmaker working on a documentary about Asbury Park. As it turns out, Nik's cousin who loved Asbury Park was one of the early supporters of the film The two struck up a conversation and the next thing you know, he's back in Asbury Park and playing a significant role in creating the soundtrack for Christina's fil...
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HE WAS MY MICKEY MANTLE
originally published: 2009-06-25 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
On Tuesday, June 23, 2009, Brian Leetch officially got word that he would be entering the Hockey Hall of Fame. For many New York Rangers fans like myself, Leetch was the greatest homegrown player we had ever seen on Broadway. My generation was too young to remember Eddie Giacomin or Rod Gilbert; we had suffered through an endless parade of stars who gave us some great memories but whose best days were behind them (Phil Esposito, Wayne Gretzky) and others who were on their last legs (Guy LaFleu...
THE DEBATE OVER THE WAVE GATHERING FESTIVAL
originally published: 2009-06-25 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
(ASBURY PARK, NJ - JUNE 19-21, 2009) - The fourth annual Wave Gathering music festival took place in Asbury Park during one of the wettest Junes in memory. The festival got off to a good start on Friday night thanks to a break in the weather, but had to battle the elements through most of the weekend. The rain definitely kept some people away, but couldn't stop another excellent festival from taking place. In many ways, this year's festival was better than any of the previous years.
MONEY CAN'T BUY YOU LOVE...
originally published: 2009-06-02 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The Wave Gathering Festival coming back to Asbury Park this June 19-21 is excellent news! This festival, which has brought hundreds of bands and singer-songwriters to Asbury Park, has improved every year and has added a few new wrinkles (including a free streetfair one day) that should help this year be great as well. A quick look at the bigger names sponsoring the festival is excellent news too. Or so I thought... A closer look at the sponsor websites show a disturbingly low amount of cov...
ANDY WARHOL CALLED... YOUR 15 MINUTES OF FAME ARE UP
originally published: 2009-04-08 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Recently a local writer wrote about how the web has taken away the thrill of discovering what was going to be played at a Bruce Springsteen show. I don't normally comment on other people's work, but I just found the idea behind this article so ridiculous that it deserved comment. First of all, this article is anything but timely. It might have had some merit if it was written in the late 90s, during the first mainstream explosion of the Internet;It probably would have had more meaning...
DEAR JOHN: YOU'RE THE PROBLEM
WHY LIVE NATION AND MADISON MARQUETTE NEED TO RUN JOHN D'ESPOSITO OUT OF TOWNTO PREVENT A BLOODBATH AMONG THE LOCAL MUSIC COMMUNITY
originally published: 2008-11-30 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
(ASBURY PARK, NOVEMBER 27, 2008) -- Recently, a minor war has begun raging among the local music community with regards to Live Nation taking over the booking at the largest venues in Asbury Park. While there is little dispute that Live Nation (along with Madison Marquette) have done many wonderful things in town, the musicians, music fans, and industry professionals have very good reasons to be upset at Live Nation; however, their real fight should not be against Live Nation or against Madison...
AMA'S GRADUATION POLICY: GOOD OR BAD?
originally published: 2008-10-21 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
(OCTOBER 21, 2008) -- It's to be expected that there will be grumblings each time the Asbury Music Awards are announced. Some very deserving artists are bound to get left out while some artists nominated leave you scratching your head. One topic that seems to have been on many people's minds is the idea of the "Beyond Asbury" category given to those who are deemed to have graduated from the nominations. In case you aren't familiar with it, the "Beyond Asbury" category is ...
THREE LOCAL SHOWS WORTH CHECKING OUT
originally published: 2008-10-20 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The local scene has got three very different regular shows worth checking out each month for the music fan. Rick Barry's "Works in Progress", Bobby Strange & Friends, and Twisted Covers. If you've never been to a "Works in Progress" you're missing out on one of the most unique shows I've ever seen. The idea is to have artists perform only brand new songs ? generally written just for the show ? in front of an audience for the first tim...
ASBURY MUSICIANS GET ORGANIZED
originally published: 2008-10-17 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
(OCTOBER 15, 2008) -- It isn't always easy to get people involved in causes, but the reason for a meeting held at the Hot Dog House on October 15th struck a chord with many local musicians. The gathering was the result of an email thread started by Dr. Geena regarding a noise complaint filed by a neighbor that led to several hours in court mediation. It was there that she realized she wasn't the only target and this was a problem that affects all of the local musicians. Over 15 m...
EVERY DAY'S A MIRACLE
originally published: 2007-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
It's been nine years since William Hart Strecker's Toyota Land Cruiser ran off the road and smashed into a tree. The accident left him in a coma for twenty days and when he awoke he discovered he had broken several bones, a collapsed lung and other internal injuries. It took him about six months before he could walk and talk again and even longer to be healthy once more. But instead of looking back in anger, Strecker looks back and remembers how the accident brought him back to music...
AMERICA'S FORGOTTEN CHILDREN
originally published: 2007-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Inspiration for Jeffrey Musillo's first book came after he and some friends were driving around East Orange at three in the morning looking for food after a night of partying. As he stared at the gloomy imagery all around him, his mind filled with questions about the city's poverty, its vulnerability, and how it had arrived at this state. Those questions ultimately led to "America's Forgotten Children, Vol 1: East Orange, NJ" which was published by AuthorHouse and released under the pen nam...
NEW JERSEY'S RENAISSANCE MAN
originally published: 2007-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
As someone who recently went to a college reunion, I must say I pity the people who have to run into Kenneth Del Vecchio when they return to campus. This guy has done more in his thirties than most people could ever dream of doing in their entire lives. He's been a best-selling author, a successful attorney known as the expert on criminal law, won dozens of bench-press competitions, attended parties with people like Steven Spielberg and Jon Voight, created the Hoboken International Film Fes...
ONE SONG AT A TIME...
originally published: 2007-10-31 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Eryn Shewell not only believes that music can change the world one song at a time, but she's making others believe as well. She's one of the hardest working musicians in New Jersey and has been attracting the attention of music fans and club owners across the state as well. Recently nominated for several Asbury Music Awards, we finally had a chance to talk to Eryn about her career, her belief in music, and her little girl who might follow in her footsteps if she doesn't become a dr...
JOE COLLEDGE IS OLD SCHOOL
originally published: 2007-10-31 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
It's kind of hard to believe but mainstream rock and rollers haven't been mainstream for quite some time - at least, not in New Jersey. The last few artists to break from the state are closer to eclectic than classic rock, something that represents the change on the radio dial as well. And in a state where cover bands still dominate the landscape, it's hard for artists like Joe Colledge to play the kind of rock and roll they grew up with, but that's not stopping him from trying....
CHERRY PICKING THE BEST FILMS
originally published: 2007-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
I'm sure there are still plenty of people who think that they have to go to New York City or Philadelphia for major arts events, but it's simply not true. In fact, that's the reason this Magazine was started in the first place. We know there are all of these cool things like the Filmmakers Symposium taking place throughout New Jersey and we want to point them out to you. The Filmmakers Symposium was created and is still run by Chuck Rose. He started the series back in 1991 and while ...
RUTGERS ALUMNUS RELEASES DEBUT NOVEL
originally published: 2007-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
When One Man Dies is the debut novel from David White, a New Jersey native who teaches 8th Grade English at the Christopher Columbus Middle School in Clifton New Jersey. The Rutgers University alumnus (class of 2001) with a M.A. in Teaching from Montclair State University has been steadily working his way up the ranks of the detective story world and appears ready to have his character Jackson Donne stand alongside such legendary literary figures as Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. ...
THE SEARCH FOR JOHN GISSING
originally published: 2007-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The Search for John Gissing. The new DVD by Mike Binder (Reign Over Me, The Upside of Anger) made the film festival rounds six years ago, but never wound up with a distribution deal even though the film featured a stellar cast including Alan Rickman, Janeane Garafalo, Juliet Stevenson, Frank Harper, and Mike Binder. This despite the fact that the film is extremely funny and is probably funnier than about 75% of the films released in the last decade. The Search for John Gissing is an ...
CANADIANS TO INVADE AREA
originally published: 2007-09-27 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Sound the alarms - the Canadians are coming! Cherry Suede, a cool rock and roll band based in Ottawa will be doing a pair of shows in the tri-state area and bringing a bus load of their biggest fans along for the ride. You can catch the group at Arlene's Grocery in New York City on November 1st and at The Saint in Asbury Park, New Jersey on November 2nd. The shows are part of a New York City mini-vacation for the popular Canadian band and their fans. They'll be spending a total o...
JERSEY GIRL IS THE REAL DEAL
originally published: 2007-09-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
You may know Marisa Petroro from her work on "Deal or No Deal", the popular television game show, but it might not be long before her film acting career trumps that show on her resume. In fact, her upcoming film Everybody Wants To Be Italian just might be the role to take this former beauty queen from Elizabeth, New Jersey to the top. Ironically, the film will be released around the same time that Marisa will be honored as "Italian-American Woman of the Year" by The Center for Italian and I...
INTERNATIONAL ANTI-FOLK SUPERSTAR
originally published: 2007-08-30 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
New York City has clearly gotten into the soul of Ben Godwin, a musician born and bred in London who moved across the pond a few years ago. Godwin's latest album, "Skin and Bone", is filled with tales inspired by the city. The record is currently being added to college stations across the country. You can see Godwin live on September 5th at the Goldhawk in Hoboken, NJ. "What actually brought me over to the states was my wife," explained Ben Godwin. "I guess I...
TRAVIS TOOKE RESURFACES AS INDIGO PLANET RECORDS RETURNS
originally published: 2007-08-30 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Imagine your band is just about to release their first album on a major record label. You're driving back home to Florida after a successful showcase at New York's legendary C.B.G.B. club when your van has a tire blow out on Inter-state 95 somewhere in Georgia. The next thing you know the van has overturned and you're looking at two of your best friends and your tour manager now dead. It may seem like the script for a movie of the week, but that's what happened to the mid-90s b...
WINNING OVER FANS ONE AT A TIME
originally published: 2007-08-30 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Sometimes it's refreshing when a band simply works their tail off week in and week out and you can see them trying to improve with each show and build their fanbase one person at a time. Lexington Down is that kind of band. They've been plugging away up and down the East Coast for several years now and will be celebrating the release of their first full-length CD, "Partial Possession Claim", at The Saint in Asbury Park, New Jersey on Saturday, September 15th. Keith Hann, ...
FOGLER HAS BALLS OF FURY
originally published: 2007-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Back in college, Dan Fogler was told that he was a character actor and character actors don't really start working until their mid thirties. Thankfully, for him, things got going a little sooner. Fogler won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 2005 for his portrayal of William Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The New York actor used that success to help him make the leap from stage to the silver screen. But even though he has several films headed ...
THE SMITHEREENS PERFORM MEET THE BEATLES; GLEN BURTNIK PERFORMS SGT. PEPPER
originally published: 2007-07-28 00:00:00
By Gary wien
Sometimes life can be funny. Back in 1978, Glen Burtnik had his first big break when he was cast in the West Coast production of Beatlemania. Since that time, music has taken him all over the world - through a promising solo career, stints in classic rock bands like Styx, gold records, hit singles - and back to New Jersey where he is once again playing Paul McCartney. Meanwhile, The Smithereens have gone through periods of hit singles, gold and platinum records and have had music bring t...
JIM MURPHY ENTERS THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME
originally published: 2007-07-28 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
On August 28th, Jim Murphy will receive an honor that no other New Jersey artist has ever received. After nearly 45 years of being involved with traditional country music, Murphy will become the the first inductee from New Jersey into "America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame." The ceremony will take place during the National Traditional Country Music Association's (NTCMA) annual old time music festival held in Missouri Valley, Iowa. The NTCMA has been inducting des...
THE DREAM IS FINALLY REALIZED FOR ANTON
originally published: 2007-07-11 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
It's not easy being a musician when your favorite music is not the type generally heard in the local clubs. For years, Anton Roolaart has dreamt of the type of record he wanted to make even though he knew his style of progressive rock might fall on deaf ears in New Jersey. Thankfully, he stayed with that dream and not only has created a wonderful record but one that attracted the attention of Umbrello Records, a new label in the UK started by Steve Nardelli, the frontman for The Syn.
ASTRONAUT JONES TOUCHES DOWN IN AFRICA
originally published: 2007-06-29 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Tony Costa is a singer-songwriter from New Jersey who performs under the name Astronaut Jones. He also teaches music for a living. This past June, he spent two days teaching kids who just might have been seeing a guitar for the first time. Costa was part of a group from Sylvia's Children (an organization run by his mother) who traveled to Uganda, Africa to teach children at the Mbiriizi Primary School. "None of the children had ever played guitar before," said Tony Cost...
BEN CARROLL: SOUL SINGING IS BACK IN STYLE
originally published: 2007-06-29 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Growing up in the shadows of music history, it was probably destiny that Ben Carroll would follow his parents' lead and become a musician. And it was only a matter of time before Carroll would utilize his father's talents on one of his records, which he does extensively on his upcoming release. His second album, which will be released in the next few months, was co-produced by his father, Jon Carroll, who also plays on every song. Jon Carroll and Ben's mother, Margot Chapman,...
RED MOLLY: AS AMERICANA AS THEY COME
originally published: 2007-06-29 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Just as with Pink Floyd, there really isn't a Molly in the band Red Molly. But there are three incredibly talented artists who discovered that together they have something truly special. Red Molly was formed innocently enough during one late night of campsite singing at the 2004 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. It was during those early songs that Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner, and Carolann Solebello came together as a band. "We'd all been buddies, listened to each other...
WILL THIS BE THE NEXT KING OF THE BLUES?
originally published: 2007-05-25 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Last year, Guitar Center's "King of the Blues" was Matt O'Ree who hailed from Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Garden State hopes to hold on to its crown for a second straight year thanks to Rob Baumiester, a 24-year-old guitarist from Deptford who will be competing in the finals after beating out thousands of guitarists from around the country. The finals will be held on June 16th at the Music Box @ Fonda Theater in Hollywood, California. The remaining guitarists will co...
PHANPHEST TAKES A LEAP OF FAITH
originally published: 2007-05-25 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Every music scene has them. They're the people who basically make the engine run; they're the talent scouts, the marketing gurus, and the music fans who love music so much that they make it their jobs. It's their passion that makes them successful and it's great to see them get bigger and bigger. Drew Wajnert and Phanphest Entertainment are the perfect example. Drew Wajnert moved to the Jersey Shore about a decade ago and banged around at various jobs. He started goin...
ANDREW HOLTZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY
originally published: 2007-05-08 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Andrew Holtz has been running all of his life. The former Christian Brothers Academy track star earned a scholarship at Fordham University. After graduation, he ran through a series of accounting jobs until he finally was at a top New York city firm. And once he got there, he decide to run one more time - back to his dream of being a musician. His debut CD, "Leaving New York", will be released this month with release parties at the Sidehatch Bar in Asbury Park on May 18th and the Bit...
DUBLIN ROCKERS STAND UNITED
originally published: 2007-05-02 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
What does a band from Ireland do when they suddenly find themselves a bit too big for Dublin? Move to New York, of course, where's there's probably enough Irish on the streets so they'd never get homesick. And that's exactly what the rock band Stand did several years ago. Currently based in Queens, the band recently returned from a brief tour of their homeland and will be playing at the Saint in Asbury Park on May 18th as part of the Wave Gathering festival. We had a chance to ...
THE CHILLING DETAILS OWN THE STAGE
originally published: 2007-05-02 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Photo by Steven Dundas, SJD Photography
The crowd at the Baronet Theatre in Asbury Park was there for another artist, but it was The Chilling Details who owned the stage from the minute they ripped through their first chords. Even though the show took place in January, it's a fair bet that their set will rank among the year's best. As I was watching these three musicians on stage, I realized this must be why brides dress up their bridesmaids in such ugly outfits. After all, why risk being upstaged when it's your party?<...
TAKE ME TO YOUR CIRCUS TENT
originally published: 2007-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
If you're a fan of Jefferson Airplane, Craig Fenton's book, "Take Me To Your Circus Tent" should be part of your collection. The book features interviews with over 30 musicians including members of the band, music industry professionals, and friends of the band; complete detailed information on over 120 Jefferson Airplane live concerts; a look at 60 unreleased songs; and over 93 rare photographs in a giant 543-page encyclopedia of everything Jefferson Airplane! "If you're a Beatles fan...
THE MAYHEM POETS PROVE ART IS SMART BUSINESS
originally published: 2007-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
True to their name, the Mayhem Poets are about to shake up the poetry world. The poetry group based out of Jersey City recently won the Ideawins.com Ultimate Challenge for the best small business idea in America sponsored by Microsoft. Their idea? A spoken word performance workshop and cafe that celebrates multiculturalism through education and workshops for people of all ages. And then at night the cafe transforms itself into a spoken word venue. Their prize? How about $100,0...
A LONG TIME COMIN'
originally published: 2007-03-25 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Janey Todd is proof that you should never give up on your dreams. The singer-songwriter, who is a veteran of Jersey Shore clubs and coffeehouses, recently released her long-awaited debut CD entitled "Rusty Water." The disc is a mesmerizing blend of hauntingly beautiful folk rock tunes that showcase Todd's witty and often acerbic lyrics. The end result is a piece of art reminiscent of the best work by Michelle Shocked in the late 1980s. The CD was recorded at Retromedia Soun...
SCARECROW COLLECTION: TAKIN' THE GROOVE NATIONWIDE
originally published: 2007-02-26 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Scarecrow Collection is the latest band from New Jersey to sign with a major label. The North Jersey based band will release their first CD ("Radio Frequency Disaster") on Harmonized Records in March and will celebrate with a CD release party at Mexicali Blues in Teaneck on Friday, April 20th. "Mexicali Blues has kind of been our home base," said guitarist Nick Setteducato. "When we started playing live we were playing North Jersey and New York and we were only doing ...
MIKE AND THE MAGIC PIPE
originally published: 2007-02-26 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
When a club owner handed Mike Silverman fifty bucks for his band's set, he knew he could do better. Rather than find another place to play he asked the club owner if he could come back the following week by himself and keep the entire $50. The owner agreed and That 1 Guy, Silverman's new stage name was born. Silverman, a classically trained bassist, was not content with being just another singer-songwriter - he wanted to fully replicate the sound of a band by himself. So he star...
THE ORCHESTRA IN HIS HEAD
originally published: 2007-02-26 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Classic rock and roll stations love to say that it doesn't have to be old to be classic. Walt Ribeiro's new CD is certainly proof of that. Ribeiro, born and raised in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, recently released his first CD ("I.I") of original classical music. The idea of new classical music might be confusing enough, but the story just keeps getting better. It turns out that Ribeiro is only 23 years old (hardly the age range you'd expect for a classical record) an...
ROBERTO DURAN'S STORY IS FINALLY TOLD
originally published: 2007-02-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Roberto Duran was born into poverty in the Panama Canal Zone and grew up on the streets. He learned to fight to survive and gained a reputation as someone willing to fight anyone. Ironically, to millions of boxing fans, this ultimate symbol of bravado - the man they called "Hands Of Stone" - will forever be remembered for words uttered during a fight he knew he would lose. "No mas... No Mas." The words haunt him to this very day, but according to a new book by Christian Giudice...
THE STARCHILD CONTINUES TO DREAM NEW DREAMS
originally published: 2007-02-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
He's known as The Starchild to millions of rock and roll fans around the world. With makeup covering up his face, Paul Stanley and his bandmates in KISS became one of the most popular rock bands on the planet, but before he was a rock star he was a budding young artist. Years later, he's now becoming known for his paintbrush as much as his axe. Paul Stanley has always been an artist. In fact, he was chosen and attended the prestigious Manhattan High School of Music and Art (the schoo...
CAUSEWAY FINDS A HOME
originally published: 2007-01-27 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Sometimes bands in New Jersey focus too much on the local scene. They wind up playing the same clubs week after week and seem almost obsessed with the idea of being a big fish in a small pond; so much so, that they forget that the world's largest pond is just under an hour away. Not only do bands in New Jersey have music scenes to play in areas like New Brunswick and Asbury Park and Hoboken, but New York City and Philadelphia are on that list as well. Sometimes it takes a band from somewh...
PATIENCE PAYS OFF FOR WOODFISH
originally published: 2006-11-29 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Woodfish had been knocking around the local scene for a bit when they realized that they were missing a crucial piece to the puzzle. They began auditioning people for lead singer but one after another just didn't seem right until a guy from Oklahoma emailed them and said he wanted to give it a shot. Two thousand miles later, the singer found himself involved with a new musical family and the band thought they had become complete, but the journey was just beginning. The band from Red ...
DIVINE SIGN KNOWS HOW TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL SCENE
originally published: 2006-10-25 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Every now and then a band comes along that becomes one of the favorites of the local scene; a band that other musicians want to hang out with, a band that forces people to change their schedule so they can catch their show; and one that attracts an audience full of everyone from music industry folks to original music fans. Divine Sign is one of those bands. For the past year or so, you could just see the audience growing and feel the energy of something special starting to build. Led by...
FIRST LOOK: POSTMARK TWAIN
originally published: 2006-10-25 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
When they were going to high school in Hamilton, Jim Gaven and Dave Sanchez never really talked to each other. Well, maybe once or twice, but they certainly weren't friends. So what are they doing together in the band Postmark Twain? Making extremely smart pop music that's what. Postmark Twain is a play on the legendary Mark Twain's name. Both of the guys are big fans of the author and Gaven even used to live on a Mark Twain Drive in Hamilton, but mainly the name stems from ...
THE WORLD'S GREATEST BEATLES ARTIST...
originally published: 2006-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Sometimes it really pays to ignore your teacher's advice. Just ask Shannon, who was told she'd never amount to anything unless she stopped drawing the Beatles. Years later, she is known as The World's Greatest Beatles Artist and has been commissioned to create over 100 pieces for an upcoming Beatles themed hotel opening in Liverpool in 2007. The owners of The Cavern Club in Liverpool searched around the world to find the artist to decorate their new "Hard Days Night Hotel". They first...
GRACE IN WONDERLAND
originally published: 2006-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Wonderland must truly exist because Grace Slick went through the rabbit hole as a child and never left. The former lead singer of Jefferson Airplane (and later Jefferson Starship and then just Starship), Slick traded in her microphone for a paintbrush in 1989 and hasn't looked back. Her paintings largely consist of images of her contemporaries from the 60s like Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Jerry Garcia. But Wonderland images play a major role as well. Grace Slick will follow her a...
REMEMBER WHEN M STOOD FOR MUSIC?
originally published: 2006-09-25 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
A long time ago, MTV used to play videos. A lot of them. They played videos 24 hours a day in fact. This won't shock anyone over 30, but to anyone younger than that I figured I'd let you in on the little secret because apparently, MTV doesn't want you to know. They recently celebrated their 25th anniversary without even the slightest bit of a party. And MTV really likes to party. So, I knew something was going on and I decided to go to the source to find out... The origina...
SONGWRITING IS IN HER BLOOD
originally published: 2006-08-28 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
You've probably heard Maia Sharp's music even if the name doesn't sound familiar. That's because in just a few years, the songwriter from Los Angeles has seen her songs released by artists like Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Art Gartfunkel, Edwin McCain, The Dixie Chicks, Paul Carrack, Cher, Mindy Smith and many more. And while she's been busy making a name for herself as a songwriter, her solo career has been taking off as well. Maia Sharp will be returning to the ...
THE NEW KING OF THE BLUES
originally published: 2006-08-28 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Throughout the last six months, Guitar Center went looking across the country for the next great blues player. When all was said and done and the smoke cleared, they found the next "King of the Blues" in Holmdel, New Jersey. That's not a surprise to us. In fact, we could have saved them a lot of time... The "king" is no less than Matt O'Ree, a great guitarist that has been lighting up the clubs in this area for some time now. After winning a total of five rounds...
...WATER... RELEASES NEW FREE CD
originally published: 2006-07-23 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
New Brunswick's music scene has seen its share of turnovers through the past decade with bands breaking up, clubs closing, and people moving away; one constant through the last five years though has been ...Water... - one of the Hub City's most popular acts. Mike Montrey from the band contacted us to spread the word about a new live CD the band will be releasing on their website as a free download. The CD is one full set (10 songs) which was recorded on June 22nd at The Crossroads...
ESCAPE WITH TEMPORARY GRACE
originally published: 2006-05-15 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
"We're all addicted to something," exclaimed Rob Eelman. "Music is one of the few substances you can't abuse. We want to provide people an escape from the mundane reality many are forced to accept... some Temporary Grace if you will." Escaping the mundane reality is definitely something music has done for Temporary Grace members Greg Forney and Chuck Epperly. The two met at a Wendy's restaurant in Arizona and watched their band Dislocated Styles become one of t...
THIS TIME STEVEN BAGGS IS GOING TO DO IT RIGHT
originally published: 2006-05-15 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
As the snow kept falling during the blizzard, which hit the tri-state area in February, Steven Baggs took to the stage at the Wonderbar in Asbury Park. An artist from New York City who was debuting his newly formed band, Baggs was playing in area for the first time and a little unsure of the reception he was going to get. He really shouldn't have been worried... Sometimes an artist's music hits you with the very first chord - pulling you in, instantly hooking you with the so...
JOE D'URSO BELIEVES IN THE CAUSE...
originally published: 2006-05-15 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Sometimes you find people in the entertainment business who like to support good causes because they're the hip thing to do and sometimes you find people who do it simply because they truly believe in the cause. Joe D'Urso is definitely of the latter. He's one of the good guys. Joe D'Urso and his band Stone Caravan has been building their audience on stages from the Jersey Shore to venues around the world for the past decade. The band recently released their 10th record,...
THE COLOR OF GREEN... STATUS GREEN
originally published: 2006-05-14 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The crowd was huddled next to each other staring at the giant curtain covering the stage waiting for the band to appear. Anticipation mounted as shadowy figures appeared from behind the screen. As if on cue, a video started and girls started screaming as if this was a Beatles show in 1964. It was definitely the craziest night I had ever seen at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park for a night of unsigned bands. Led by headliner, Status Green, the club drew nearly a thousand people who went home see...
NICOLE ATKINS WILL OWN NEPTUNE CITY
originally published: 2006-04-16 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Things are moving a bit quickly for Nicole Atkins these days and they're about to move even quicker. It's not often you find a photograph of yourself in the pages of Rolling Stone within a feature on the Top 10 Artists To Watch in 2006. And when that happens, the phone starts ringing... a lot. Of course, things were moving well for Nicole before the Rolling Stone piece as well. After a series of showcases in New York City, the Neptune native signed a deal with Columbia Records -...
SOME SOUL SEARCHING FOR SOULS' RELEASE
originally published: 2006-04-10 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
(APRIL 10, 2006) -- A few days ago I received an email that really came as a surprise. It was the announcement that Souls' Release would be breaking up after a series of final shows ending in June. About two years ago, I met the band through a NJ Independent Music Festival that was the brainchild of Lazlo from Blowupradio.com. The idea was to get like-minded bands and music people together in an effort to help create a thriving local music scene. After seeing Souls Release launch in...
THE ALARM CONTINUES TO ATTACK
originally published: 2006-03-20 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Twenty-five years after first performing as The Alarm, Mike Peters and his band are back with a new release called "Under Attack". They're climbing the UK charts once again with a sound that rocks as hard as the band's first records. We had a chance to talk to Mike Peters about everything from being part of the early days of punk rock to his battles with cancer and the band's brand new album. "It's a very contemporary sounding record," said Mike Peters. &...
STEVE CONTE OF THE DOLLS UNDERCOVER...
originally published: 2006-03-20 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
When the guitarist of the New York Dolls wants to break in a brand new band without much hype you would think that wouldn't be much trouble. Except, in this case, that band is making their debut on the first Upstage Nite @ the Saint on Wednesday, March 22nd. So, we're gonna break his cover a bit. Steve Conte, of the New York Dolls, is well known around these parts for his former work with his brother in several bands but he's also been on lots of other records and toured...
CONCERTS IN THE STUDIO
originally published: 2006-02-03 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
It all started about two years ago when Mark Costanzo read an article in the New York Times about house concerts. It not only peaked his interest, but he decided to call a group called The Kennedys and see if they'd be interested in playing a house concert in the photography studio behind Costanzo's house in Freehold, New Jersey. The group, who had done house concerts in the past, said sure. And from that phone call an idea for "Concerts In The Studio" was born. ...
FULL OUT FREAK OPENS FOR BON JOVI
originally published: 2006-01-15 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The members of the North Jersey band Full Out Freak were finishing off a very good year when bassist Eric Berk asked his bandmates the big question. ,"What are you guys doing on the 22nd? Wanna play with Bon Jovi at the arena?" As it turns out, Eric had heard about a contest XM Satellite Radio was running with Bon Jovi to find independent bands for the opening spots on Bon Jovi's tour. He actually entered Full Out Freak in the contest without telling anybody in the band. And they w...
JASON MATHER IS ON FIRE WITH THE RELEASE OF THE HOTTNESS
originally published: 2006-01-15 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Jason Mather seems to be on a quest to bring back the scorching guitar riffs that dominated FM radio in the seventies. He's releasing his second solo record, The Hottness, on January 17th and will be hitting the rock clubs throughout the tri-state area in support of it. The official CD release party is schedule for the 18th at Grape Street in Philadelphia. "Hottness is more like a fire - the fire within the whole soul that drives you to work forty hours a week and still come home and pr...
ALL IS CALM...
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
originally published: 2006-01-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Bono was right after all. Things really are quiet on New Year's Day - especially when you're sitting in a room that's freezing because it's missing a wall and there's no heat or electric service. It was an interesting end to 2005 for us here at the magazine. We got to see what it's like to live without heat or electricity for a week during the winter. Kind of felt like we were following Thoreau into the woods except we weren't out on a camping trip, we just ran into a little bad luck....
TEARING DOWN THE UPSTAGE CLUB
originally published: 2005-12-18 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
(ASBURY PARK, NJ December 18, 2005) It was a bittersweet day for the history of rock and roll music as musicians and music fans paid their last respect to the Upstage Club today. The short-lived, but greatly remembered place on top of the old Thom McCann building on Cookman is slated to be gutted for the arrival of a new condo building. The Upstage Club is famous for helping to launch the careers of such legendary Jersey Shore artists as Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Bill Chinn...
REMEMBERING JOHN LENNON
originally published: 2005-12-05 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
"I just shot John Lennon," said Mark Chapman when the doorman at the Dakota asked him if he knew what he had just done. And just like that the sixties had ended. With one bullet, the world lost its greatest dreamer - a man that still inspires great debate to the day. "I loved his music but wasn't thrilled with his commie loving politics," said one person while others praised him for his activism. For me, John Lennon meant hope. Hope that something as simple as ...
VINI LOPEZ & STEEL MILL BRING BACK LOST SPRINGSTEEN CLASSICS
originally published: 2005-12-04 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Back in the late sixties and early seventies, Bruce Springsteen wrote a lot of great songs that only exist today on poorly recorded bootlegs. For whatever reason, Bruce decided to abandon these tunes when he moved towards the creation of the E Street Band. Thankfully an original member of the E Street Band has decided not only to save the older material but to bring them back to life. Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, the original drummer for the E Street Band was in several bands with Bruce...
DEATH THREAT RADIO
originally published: 2005-12-04 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The news took most fans by surprise when they checked their email and learned that New Blood Revival was breaking up. NBR was one of the most popular bands in the Central Jersey area for several years. They had signed a deal with Atlantic Records and appeared to be poised for bigger and better things. Unfortunately, the record pretty much got shelved by the record company and as NBR played out their last few farewell shows, another chapter in New Jersey music history came to a close. En...
SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE ASBURY MUSIC AWARDS
originally published: 2005-11-10 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Another year's Asbury Music Awards have come and gone and we've heard another round of artists and fans complaining - sometimes with good reason, sometimes as sore losers. But the fact remains... things can be done to improve the awards and to give them a little more credibility. First off, credit goes to Scott Stamper and everyone involved in putting the AMAs together. It's a much bigger task than people give them credit for. No matter who is chosen as the nominees there ar...
TOO GOOD TO DIE
originally published: 2005-11-05 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Dramarama was one of those bands that never got the radio attention they deserved, but developed a true hard-core fan base that never died. Thanks to the support of those fans and VH-1's "Bands Reunited," the band is back and better than ever with the release of "Everybody Dies" - the first Dramarama record in over a decade. It's a testament to the song writing ability of John Easdale that Dramarama's latest disc contains several songs that many people are rank...
TOO HIP TO BE A ROCK STAR
originally published: 2005-11-05 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
He's played John Lennon in Beatlemania and Buddy Holly in "La Bamba", but Marshall Crenshaw has never seemed comfortable playing the part of a rock and roll star. His music has always been a little too hip for the masses, and playing a cult-hero seems just fine with him. Crenshaw will be performing as part of The Sanctuary Concerts in Chatham, New Jersey on November 12th and at Joe's Pub in New York City on November 27th. You never know what you're going to get at a C...
SO A PUNK, A HIPPIE AND AN IRISHMAN WALK INTO A BAR...
originally published: 2005-10-06 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Just think... if Patrick's Head didn't have so many problems holding on to drummers and bass players, the band would sound completely... normal. Thankfully, the three musicians from Philadelphia decided to forge ahead as a trio. The band will be celebrating their latest CD release at the World Cafe (upstairs) in Philadelphia on October 22nd. Patrick's Head has a unique sound - a mix of acoustic folk and alternative rock ala the Violent Femmes or Replacements. There's a blen...
CREATING AN ARTS CAPITAL - A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY
originally published: 2005-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The New Jersey arts community has an opportunity like never before. That's what I thought as I left the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel on September 28th. Earlier that evening the Arts Coalition of Asbury Park (ARTSCAP) held an Arts Summit, which was supposed to be for the announcement of the Asbury Park Cultural Arts Plan but wound up being about that and much more. In fact, what transpired that evening was not so much about Asbury Park as it was about the future of New Jersey arts. While t...
INSIDE THE PROMISED LAND
originally published: 2005-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Daniel Wolff says his friends thought he was crazy to write a book about Asbury Park. They didn't think the town was worthy of such treatment. Oh sure, maybe the locals might be interested in buying the book but nobody else would care. They saw it as a bad career move. Wolff saw something different. "4th of July, Asbury Park" is Daniel Wolff's attempt to tell both the story of Asbury Park and that of a much greater American story; a story that many towns across the country have face...
BACK TO SCHOOL WITH RONNIE BRANDT
originally published: 2005-09-05 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Ronnie Brandt has turned his love for storytelling, teaching, and kids into a wonderfully successful new career. Last year, the singer-songwriter created the company Children's Educational Assemblies and began performing a program called "This Land Is Your Land" at schools throughout the area. This year the program is not only back, but is being performed in schools throughout New Jersey, New York, Delaware and parts of Pennsylvania. "My goal this year is to play to 100...
JOSH ZUCKERMAN HEADLINES CAPITAL RAINBOWFEST
originally published: 2005-09-05 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
When the school year ends, some teachers go home to relax, some paint houses or do other jobs, and some teachers jet set around the world playing guitar in places like Japan and Thailand. That is, if they're a teacher like Josh Zuckerman, who will be headlining the Capital Rainbowfest in Trenton on September 18th. Zuckerman, a grade school teacher in Monmouth County, had a steady calendar of performances scheduled during the summer highlighted by a run in Japan and Thailand with Up Wi...
END OF AN ERA
originally published: 2005-09-05 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
He's not quite sure what he's going to do on Tuesday nights from now on, but one thing is certain - Tuesday nights just won't be the same in New Brunswick without the Spook Handy Show. The longest running open mic night in Hub City has a staple for musicians and music fans for the last twenty years. But on September 13th, the Spook Handy Show will celebrate its 1,000 night and conclude an era with a final go around at the Corner Tavern. "It's just been a great expe...
THE HOTTEST THING AT STARBUCKS
originally published: 2005-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
You might think that the members of Antigone Rising would be getting free cups of coffee for life after selling nearly 75,000 copies of their debut record at Starbucks around the United States, but they're still forced to pay for their lattes like everyone else. Nobody's complaining though as the deal with the coffee giant helped put the band on the map. Starbucks Hear Music's new Debut Series chose Antigone Rising, over hundreds of bands, for its first release. The band, comprised of...
ONE SCARY ASS GIRLFRIEND... ONE ROCKIN' CHICK
originally published: 2005-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
April Smith seemed to burst out of nowhere. I still remember the first time I saw her as she was heading to the stage. The crowd expected her to be just another female singer-songwriter. Maybe a little bit like Joni Mitchell; maybe a little poetic like Jewel or quirky like Liz Phair. But they never expected the second coming of Melissa Etheridge with a voice that seemed to attack the audience from every angle. By the end of her first song they knew she was something different. And ...
L.P. ROCKS! WHY ISN'T SHE FAMOUS?
originally published: 2005-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
One look at the van's odometer and you realize just how hard L.P. and her band work. They drive that van from one side of the country to the other; over and over again. They practically live out of it, and just might from time to time. For a touring band, a good van means everything. And L.P. certainly pushes their van to the limit. Just as she does with her music. The van recently broke down about ten miles outside of Denver and forced them to miss a show in Indiana. "We've drive...
ERIN WANTS TO SEE YOU DANCE
originally published: 2005-07-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
When Erin McKeown sees the audience dancing, she knows that she's made a connection with them. The singer-songwriter says she feels more like a musician when people dance. That may be something you'd expect to hear from the next Madonna wannabee, but Erin's music is far from the usual sounds heard in a dance club. That and the fact that most people don't seem to dance at rock shows anymore. "Yeah, I know," says Erin McKeown in a phone interview. "It's funny because to me there's a ...
THE NEXT BILLY BRAGG
originally published: 2005-07-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Rick Barry may be a man without a home, but he's a man with a vision. The 23-year-old poet turned singer-songwriter is about to release his long awaited debut record. The recordings on the CD issue may very well be the signal that the next great New Jersey songwriter has emerged. Only don't call this guy the next Bob Dylan, he's got too much Billy Bragg in him for that. He's an artist that doesn't give a fuck what people think. In other words, he's the real deal... His CD is call...
IT'S TIME FOR ASBURY PARK TO CREATE AN ARTS DISTRICT
originally published: 2005-06-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
This is a critical time for the arts in Asbury Park. The city has always attracted artists from around the world, but as redevelopment moves forward, the city is in the unique situation of breaking the perpetual urban pattern of revitalization. The story goes like this. Artists move into an area, fix it up and make it look attractive to the outside world. Soon the outside world moves in and push the rents so high that the artists are forced out to move to a new area and start the pat...
SAFE IN SOUND
originally published: 2005-06-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Jim Boggia has been a staple of the Philadelphia music scene for nearly a decade, but the release of his latest CD, "Safe In Sound", should take him above and beyond the local region. You may have heard of Boggia from a side group that he and several other members of the Philly scene put together a few years ago. The band, called 4 Way Street, included Boggia as well as Ben Arnold, Joseph Parsons, Scott Bricklin and Matt Muir. In addition to being a mainstay on the playlists of WXPN...
REWRITING HISTORY...
originally published: 2005-06-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
We call it rewriting history because New Jersey's true music heritage has been kept in the dark for so long. That's all about to change with the creation of the New Jersey Music Hall of Fame. The museum was officially announced on May 16th at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. This is not another rock and roll museum. This is a true look at the entire spectrum of artists to come from the Garden State. And the list is pretty damn impressive. You probably know about the obvious ones like...
WHITE BOY WITH SOUL
originally published: 2005-06-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The crowd always got a little quieter and paid more attention to the stage every time they heard Phil Bensen's voice project from the Stone Pony's stage. He was a regular at the club's open mic night and he never failed to disappoint. Mixing originals with classics from Marvin Gaye and the Tempations, Bensen created quite a stir with a booming, Motown-influenced voice. It was something the Jersey Shore hadn't heard in a while. "People have come up to me and said, 'I can't believe you...
JUSTINA MAKES HER MOVE
originally published: 2005-06-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
It didn't take Justina long to realize that she was meant to be on stage. She was finally coaxed on stage by her father one night at "Van Gogh's Ear" in Union and played her first three songs live. Immediately afterwards, she couldn't wait to be back on stage. Justina recently graduated from the duCret School of Art. For an artist that only picked up the guitar at 18, she's come a long way in a short period of time. "Justina is a phenomenal talent, since her debut performance...
FOR JODELLE THE ADVENTURE IS ONLY BEGINNING
originally published: 2005-05-01 00:00:00
By Gary wien
Virtually every singer-songwriter from New Jersey has been compared to Bruce Springsteen at one time or another. That's a pretty unfair comparison but it's not even close to the unjust world female musicians like Jodelle face every day. Imagine being a female musician that plays piano? It's hard to find one that doesn't inspire comparisons with Tori Amos - regardless of what she sounds like. If she plays piano, she sounds like Tori Amos period. Of course that's as ridiculous as lump...
HOBO POETRY, SWORD SWALLOWERS, LIVE MUSIC AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN
originally published: 2005-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Sometimes in order to do something different you have to dig into the past and that's exactly what the Yard Dogs Road Show is all about. Born from the old saloon vaudeville shows that toured the Wild West in the late 1800s, the show combines the elements of saloon vaudeville and noir burlesque. In other words - anything goes. The Yard Dogs Road Show will be rolling into Coffee Blue in downtown Belmar on Friday, April 8th and promises to be a show unlike anything you've ever seen. The...
MATT KEATING IS DOOMED TO OBSCURITY(GRAHAM PARKER TOLD HIM SO)
originally published: 2005-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Matt Keating is one of those guys who rarely makes the trek from New York City over to the Jersey side unless he's got something new to support; so it probably won't come as a surprise to find out that he will indeed be bringing copies of his upcoming disc to his show at the Saint in Asbury Park on April 12th. Keating has been steadily releasing great alternative rock / Americana based records for over a decade now. Songs like "McHappiness" and "Sanity In The Asylum" were minor hits t...
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ROCK (THE JON CASPI CREDO)
originally published: 2005-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
One of the questions we've been getting the most at the magazine is "who's this Jon Caspi guy and where did he come from." Well, the truth is that Jon is actually a veteran of the Jersey Shore music scene through bands like Boss Gremlin and Bouncing Off Bob. The difference is that he's a little bit older, hopefully a little bit wiser, and booking shows under his own name now. But one thing's for sure - he's not afraid to rock. "Don't ever be afraid to rock," explained Jon Caspi. "It...
LANKY
originally published: 2005-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
It may not rank up there with Bob Dylan going electric at the Newport Jazz Festival, but watching Lanky grab hold of a Telecaster with the backing of a full band does make a live set different from his solo shows. Lanky is a singer-songwriter from New Jersey that has been criss-crossing most of the country during the past few years. He has released two records - the first being a full-length called Inner Onwriter, and his most recent being Last Chance To Make A First Impression, which ...
ARLAN FEILES IS THE NEW LONE RANGER
originally published: 2005-03-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Arlan Feiles doesn't want to be a rock star. He just wants to be around people who appreciate and enjoy hearing live music. That's one of the reasons why he spends so much time along the coffeehouse and open mic circuit. In fact, he performed a tour entirely comprised of open mics around the country - playing a staggering 89 shows in 90 days in around 35 different states! "For the most part, when I go out to play music and to be part of a music community I go to the coffeehouse beca...
REPUBLIC: THE REVOLUTION STARTS NOW
originally published: 2005-03-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
"Make sure you tell them that this was the women's bathroom," yelled Brian Saint, of the band Republic, as we shot the picture found on the cover. I'm not sure exactly why he wanted that information to be known, but you can tell him that you read it here. For some reason the location of the shot seemed to make a lot of sense at the time. Maybe it's because when you're trying to write about a band with a cult-like following you know you have to do something different. And, for the ti...
RED WANTING BLUE: OHIO'S INDIE KING
originally published: 2005-03-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
"Most of all you just have to make sure that the ride doesn't end because there's nothing better than seeing the country through the eyes of a rock and roll band." Every now and then you see a band that reminds you just how crappy radio has become. You'll be listening to the singer on stage and you'll wonder why you haven't heard of them before. Each song sounds better than anything played on your favorite station that day, yet you have know idea who they are until you ask the ...
STEPHEN KELLOGG & THE SIXERS GO OLD SCHOOL
originally published: 2005-02-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
"I think of myself like Seabiscuit, an underdog." So begins the bio of songwriter Stephen Kellogg who will be releasing his fifth and sixth records on Valentine's Day (well, actually midnight on Valentine's Day or February 15th if you want to be exact). Kellogg and his band will be making a stop at the Saint in Asbury Park on February 16th along with two other great artists - Virginia Coalition and Matt Wertz. For several years now, Stephen Kellogg was a hard-working independent artist ...
COUNTRY MUSIC'S RISING STAR COMES TO TOWN
originally published: 2005-02-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Phil Vassar's father gave him two pieces of advice for life. He told him, don't go into the restaurant business and don't get into the music business. So, being a good son, Phil did both. Years later, it's clear to see that Phil made the right decision. He's not only had several of his songs become hits by some of country music's biggest stars but he's become a rising star himself. And he might have only started his climb as his music is a prime candidate to crossover into the pop/rock ...
THE MANY FACES OF JESSI RAND
originally published: 2005-01-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Many people think you have to live in L.A. or New York City to make it as an actress. The truth is that one of Hollywood's brightest stars (Kirsten Dunst) grew up along the Jersey Shore, and if Jessi Rand has her wish she'll be shining along Kirsten someday soon. Rand was born and raised in Long Branch and trained at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts. She's an actress, model and a singer who is currently working on a dance record. But she wants to make one thing perfe...
THE PIERCES WILL STEAL YOUR HEART
originally published: 2005-01-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Imagine if Simon and Garfunkle were a couple of really hot, young, talented women with Southern accents that melted you every time they opened their mouth... Well, get ready to meet The Pierces. The Pierces are a pair of sisters (Alison and Catherine) from Alabama who currently live in New York City. Whether you like folk music or not, chances are their harmonies will seduce you like the Sirens faced by Odysseus. After several delays, their second record is finally being re...
THEY'VE GOT THE SWAGGER!
originally published: 2004-12-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Every now and then a band literally seems to come out of nowhere. Chris Batten & The Woods is that type of band. In less than a year, they've managed to land regular gigs at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, the Court Tavern in New Brunswick and be part of shows at Rutgers University. And these aren't just any shows they're the ones bands would kill for. Shows like the recent Light of Day concert at the Stone Pony or the 2nd Annual Andy Diamond Christmas Show at the Court Tavern on December ...
BROADCASTING CHRISTMAS FROM PRINCETON TO THE WORLD
originally published: 2004-12-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Some people like Christmas music and some people really, really, really like Christmas music. I guess you can count Jon Solomon among the latter. For the past 16 years, Solomon has been manning the controls on Christmas Eve at WPRB (103.3 FM) for a 24-hour marathon of Christmas tunes. The show got its start back in 1988 when he was still in high school. There was a big gap in the disc jockey schedule and Solomon volunteered to fill it. While the show wasn't 24 hours long in that fir...
THE LIZA MINNELLI SCRAPBOOK
originally published: 2004-11-27 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
You never know whom you're going to meet in Asbury Park these days. Once Upstage Magazine moved to the downtown area, we found ourselves face to face with a man generally regarded as one of the world's "experts" on Liza Minnelli and Judy Garland. Scott Schechter, who like many in the Asbury artist community moved to Asbury Park in the last few years from Manhattan has just released, The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook - his second book. The fi...
WHAT ABOUT FRANK?
originally published: 2004-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
What About Frank? is one of the hottest bands along the Jersey Shore these days. In October, they took home the Asbury Music Award for Top Indie Rock Band and were nominated for a bunch of other awards including Top Live Act (Nick Villapiano, the bassist for the band also took home the Top Bassist Award) but what has people jumping the most is the band's intense live show. The band was started around two years ago by a group of friends who all knew each other from their days at Red Ba...
MIEKA PAULEY
originally published: 2004-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Mieka Pauley is a performer from the Boston area that is very quickly generating a buzz in the music industry. She was one of 22 artists to be included on a special Starbucks compiliation CD that was released in October and will be sold in over 170 Starbucks locations throughout the East Coast; She won the prestigious Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase this past August; and she's been playing festivals throughout the country. But it was the fact that she recently opene...
LOW FLYING JETS
originally published: 2004-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Low Flying Jets have been tearing up the New York City clubs for over two years now. Based in Jersey City, the band has been successful in bridging the gap between NYC band and Jersey band by holding steady gigs in New Brunswick and Asbury Park as well. The band's origin's actually stem partly from the Jersey Shore. Jeff Plate, the band's drummer, and Sam Crowell, the bassist, used to play together in a band called Mothermania which was signed to Drive-Thru Records and had a bit of su...
BEN ARNOLD'S ON HIS OWN AGAIN
originally published: 2004-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
When bands break up, it's kind of like watching an episode of Divorce Court. Some band members go one way, others go another way. In the case of 4 Way Street, Ben Arnold clearly won the prize settlement. And the result is the recently released CD entitled Calico. Ben Arnold has been a popular singer-songwriter in Philadelphia for over a decade. His arrival on the national scene came in 1995 with the release of the critically praised, Almost Speechless disc on Ruffhouse/Columbia. Al...
NEW BLOOD REVIVAL: JERSEY'S NEXT GREAT HOPE
originally published: 2004-09-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
New Jersey has had a rather impressive history of being the home for great rock and roll artists. Names like Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi instantly come to mind, but it's been a while since the Garden State has sent someone beyond our borders and watched them get embraced by the rest of the world. The waiting may soon be over... New Blood Revival, led by Matt Witte, will be releasing their major label debut, Nice Girls, at the beginning of 2005. The disc is actually finish...
LISA BOUCHELLE'S PASSION MAKES THINGS PERFECT
originally published: 2004-09-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Hal was right. That's what I told Lisa Bouchelle after seeing her live for the first time. Hal (Selzer) started telling me about Lisa several months ago, but I finally got the chance to see her when she was part of a bill at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Showing up with just herself and a guitar, she glided through a set of originals that were rock-oriented but also hinted at touches of jazz and blues. Her lyrics drew you in with a voice that demanded attention. Of course, it ...
SPOTLIGHT ON CHRIS BUONO
originally published: 2004-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
It takes a certain level of courage to go out on stage under your own name. For years, Chris Buono said he hid under various band names. This year, Chris has decided to take center stage and place his own name and reputation on the marque. In doing so, he hopes to further his career in more ways than one. Chris Buono is one of the most talented guitarists in the area. He's a staff member at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He teaches at Berklee once a week and also provides ...
SPOTLIGHT ON STEVE MITTLEMAN
originally published: 2004-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Steve Mittleman and Peter Jung will be performing at Catch A Rising Star (located inside the Hyatt Regency) in Princeton from August 4th to the 7th. Tickets are $15. For reservations call 609-987-8018. Adult Content. He's got one of the most recognizable faces in the business thanks to roles in major feature films like Roxanne and Radio Days, appearances on late night talk shows from David Letterman to the Tonight Show (hosted by both Jay Leno and Johnny Carson) and spots in over 50...
WHEN JOHNNY A COMES TO TOWN
originally published: 2004-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Johnny A may well be on his way to a having a household name, the question is which will get him there first? His brilliant instrumental songs which show off his mastery of the guitar or the custom made Gibson guitar that's named after him. That's right, he actually has a guitar named after him. How cool is that? "I continue to pinch myself about that," said Johnny A. "It's something I never really aspired to and never expected or anticipated. I've had a long standing relations...
ROOTS ROCK FROM SOUTHERN JERSEY
originally published: 2004-07-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Deep in the Southern part of New Jersey lies a band called Casual Gypsies. Their sound is like a natural extension of the Jersey Shore's roots rock and roll mixed with a bit of country flavor. But unlike true Gypsies, this band is just starting to move around a bit. So, keep your eyes open for them because they're somebody you're going to want to check out. The core of Casual Gypsies is Buddy Ayars and Mark Wilkins. The two first got together about seven years ago while attending the Un...
HE'S NO ORDINARY JOE
originally published: 2004-07-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
There's a classic song from the 80s where the artist laments about being "big in Japan." It's normally a bit of a joke among artists to say that you're bigger in Europe, but in some cases it's true. Take Joe D'Urso, for example, he's hardly a household name in the tri-state area, but he's got a major following in places like Italy and the UK. Last year, Joe played about 120 shows and 90 were in Europe. This year the New York based artist is making an effort to play more shows at home. I...
NOBODY CAN REALLY EXPLAIN ROCK 'N ROLL...EXCEPT FOR MAYBE PETE
originally published: 2004-07-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
If New Jersey's first rock and roll couple is BruceSpringsteen and Patti Scialfa then next in line must be Frankie and Kelly McGrath of the North Jersey based band Maybe Pete. The two met in high school and are now leading one of the most exciting bands in the local scene. Formed in 2000, Maybe Pete has become oneof the latest "adopted sons" of the Jersey Shore music scene. They have been building a solid fan base through incredible live shows at places like the Saint and the Stone Pony...
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!
originally published: 2004-07-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Some things are definitely worth the wait. That's what I thought when I first listened to Ken Shane's debut CD, "South Ridgeway Avenue". The record, which was released in 2003, is simply a remarkable ode to spending summers growing up in Atlantic City. That once proud city now fallen in decay serves as a wonderful metaphor for loss of innocence and days gone by. With a voice that evokes memories of Warren Zevon and songwriting that has been compared to Jackson Browne, the record may have take...
PUSHING OVER THE EDGE
originally published: 2004-06-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Every Thursday night, the Celtic Cottage in Long Branch is packed with people ranging from college students to those in their 60s. They come to see Bob Burger play and they're never disappointed. Burger may be one of the best kept secrets in New Jersey, but musicians have known about him for years. He's been a member of the Bobby Bandiera Band since the 80s and is a frequent songwriting partner of such artists as Glen Burtnick and Joe Vadala. He's shared the stage with Jersey legends...
THE DIPSOS TAKE PHILLY!
originally published: 2004-06-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
For several years now, the Dipsomaniacs have watched their career progress on a rather slow, manageable plane. Each year found the Trenton based band playing bigger shows and each new record receiving more recognition than the previous one. It's a path that has definitely built a fanbase throughout the area, but one that practically ensured that the band would never be an overnight success. That is until now. The plan for the band is changing quickly because the Dipsomaniacs, or Di...
THE SECRET'S OUT
originally published: 2004-06-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Jen Elliott may not want to be called a diva, but her voice is definitely diva-worthy. She's coming to Triumph Brewery in Princeton on July 2nd with her band and she's intent on proving that she's a rocker - not a diva. "Divas scare me!" said Elliott. "I guess it's not quite clear yet. I can tell you that what I want to do is probably going to lean more towards rock and roll. I'm not ruling out diva, but what I want to do is play music, and get some real feeling in the music. I thin...
BACK IN 20!
originally published: 2004-05-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
It's been twenty years since Gary U.S. Bonds has recorded a new studio album, but he's logged hundreds of live shows around the world in that time. Bonds, one of the few performers to have hit records in both the '60s and '80s, is quietly celebrating five decades as a recording artist. Only this time, Bonds didn't have to go very far to record. "I just went downstairs," laughs Gary U.S. Bonds. "That was pretty cool. I got me some stuff in here and I decided to toy around with it for ...
HERE COMES THE SUN
originally published: 2004-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
"I believe that if you dream and you envision yourself at Madison Square Garden you will get there," explains Albie Monterrosa. He's the driving force behind the band deSol, a group which just might make that dream come true. The band, which has paid its dues in clubs and small bars around the East Coast, will release their single "Spin Around" nationwide on Curb Records this April. ?Curb, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers, has created a plan to break deSol from coast to coast. One of t...
INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
originally published: 2004-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
There's a scene in "Where the Buffalo Roam" when Bill Murray, speaking as Hunter Thompson, is asked if his friend Lazlo is a figment of his imagination. He says,"No, you couldn't make up Lazlo, he's one of a kind." The same thing could be said for James P. Dalton, better known as JPAT. JPAT grew up along the Jersey Shore in Bayhead, which just happens to be the last stop on the North Jersey Coast Line. That might have something to do with his love for travel. As a musician, poet, play...
WALKING ON THE MOON
originally published: 2004-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Rock and roll has had its share of poets, but most of the time bands will admit that its their lyrics that need the most work. In true punk style, the Steel Pier Sinners kind of started out backwards. Instead of being good musicians that learned how to write better songs, they were a pair of poets that learned to become better musicians. The Sinners, who are based in Asbury Park, consist of Trina Scordo and Meagan Brothers on guitar and vocals and Stony T on drums. They recently added...
IT'S HIS TURN NOW
originally published: 2004-03-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Boccigalupe and the Bad Boys are ready to take their act across the globe. Their debut CD, It's My Turn Now!, will be released on Sound City Records and available in stores everywhere on March 9th. For Tony Amato, his first major record deal is better late than never. Tony Amato, or Boccigalupe as he's better known, has been playing in Jersey Shore based bands since the '70s. Two of which, Cahoots and the George Theiss Band, were on the verge of signing record deals but something alw...
THE RIGHT ELEMENTS
originally published: 2004-03-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Almost every guy in the world has had a dream to open a bar with his best friend, but few ever see that dream come true. After eight years of watching life take its different twists and turns, Matthew Bongiovi and Vincenzo Rizzo refused to let that dream die. Their persistance finally paid off last October when Elements, the Lounge opened in Sea Bright. "My last call to Vinnie when I found this spot went like this," recalled Matthew Bongiovi. "I said, 'Vinnie remember that dream we ...
JEN CHAPIN'S URBAN FOLK MANIFESTO
originally published: 2004-03-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Jen Chapin isn't quite sure where the word manifesto fits into the description of her new CD, but her publicist may be on to something. Linger, the major label debut for Chapin, truly is a declaration from an emerging voice. "For me I'm just writing the songs that are true to my life," explained Jen Chapin. "And it works out that a lot are connected to the essence of living in the city. I didn't necessarily think about it, but I guess that's how people hear it. At some point, I look...
THE AYES HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
originally published: 2004-03-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Baby put a pot of coffee on
tonight we're gonna stay up
way past dawn
It's gonna be a sky full of stars...
--"Shooting Stars"
From the moment you hear the opening words on the 4-song EP by The Ayes, you know that you're hearing something special. And by the time you run through all four tracks, you're begging to hear more. Rarely has a band become so polished in so short of a period of time. The Ayes (pronounced "The Eyes"), based in Red Bank, were formed in the ...
LET THE LIGHT SHINE IN
originally published: 2004-03-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Tommy Anton was destined to be a singer-songwriter along the Jersey Shore. After all, his astrolocation astrologist told him so. Anton has been gaining a following through his shows at the Java Joint in Toms River and the Saint in Asbury Park. Blending folk music with rock and roll and New Age like lyrics, his songs are immediately catchy. Before coming to New Jersey, he had spent a couple of years touring with a theatre company as its musical director. Once that was over, he beg...
DRAMARAMA
originally published: 2003-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
This month I spoke with John Easdale of Dramarama, the 80s rockers who achieved nearly cult-like status. The band broke up over ten years ago, but recently reunited and has a new EP with a full record coming in the future. New Jersey, may be the butt of many jokes, but it has had an amazing record of musicians succeed on the national stage. Some of the biggest performers in the world (Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, etc..) all hailed from the Garden State....
JOSH RITTER: FINDING HIS VOICE
originally published: 2003-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Josh Ritter is getting used to the comparisons to people like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. He's heard that stuff many times before - it's the kind of comparisons people make when your melodies flow and your lyrics seem like poetry. He doesn't really care about comparisons, he's just looking to find his own voice. Hailing from the small town of Moscow, Idaho, Josh Ritter is on tour supporting his latest record, Hello Starling. It's a record so good that people who have never heard...
STEREOSOUL
originally published: 2003-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
StereoSoul's name may not sound familiar, but the guys have all been part of the local scene for quite some time. The band members started playing together around eight years ago in a series of band names that wound up being Cosmic Avenger. According to Gene Pompilio, the band's drummer, the band basically evolved into StereoSoul after running its course. "We went into a real studio to record in for the first time," explained Pompilio. "It was the Pigeon Club in Hoboken. We came out...
NO NEED TO PANIC (VAL EMMICH)
originally published: 2003-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Val Emmich is about as hot right now as any artist in New Jersey. In fact, he's about as hot as any artist in the country. With recent appearances on two different MTV shows ("Advanced Warning" and "TRL") and upcoming guest spots on popular television shows, exposure is not a problem for Val. Neither is keeping true to his music, but it doesn't stop him from worrying about it. On his latest record, Slow Down Kid, Val has a song called "Panic Attack." He sings it from the perspective o...
BILL CHINNOCK: LIVIN' IN THE PROMISED LAND
originally published: 2003-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Livin In The Promised Land is the latest record by Bill Chinnock and the first in over a decade. After the release of Out on the Borderline, Bill took a break from the music business and started producing and directing business videos and short films. He even directed a full-length film called The Forgotten Maine. Between that and a nasty bout with Lyme Disease, he's been out of the spotlight for a while. But he's ready to take another run at it. "I just felt like it was time," said C...
4 WAY STREET
originally published: 2003-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
When looking at the band 4 Way Street, the sum really does add up to more than the individual parts. The band, from Philadelphia, is comprised of four successful singer-songwriters who have each put aside their solo careers to see where this group may lead them. It all started about two years ago at an open mic night at the Grape Street Pub recalls Ben Arnold. "There was an open slot and basically somebody said why don't you guys sing a song? So, we got up and we played two or three ...
OWNING THE MOON
originally published: 2001-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Did you ever gaze up at the moon at night wondering what it would be like to live there? Writers like H G Wells and Jules Verne filled imaginations with tales from space, and science fiction movies added to the adventure. In 1969, the world appeared to stand still as Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon and made the impossible possible. Well, you may never have the chance to go during your lifetime, but you still can proudly own your own piece of the moon thanks to The Lunar Embassy.
ANDREW MCCARTHY'S SECOND ACT
originally published: 2006-02-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The voice on the other side of the phone sounded so familiar, yet we had never met. It was then that I realized that one of the interviews we sought for this issue was about to begin. An interview I wasn't sure was going to happen. Thankfully it was an interview with someone who most of my generation grew up with, so what to ask wasn't very difficult. "Hello, this is Andrew McCarthy," said the voice. Instantly, images of 80s movies like "Pretty In Pink", "St. Elmo's Fire", and ...
DAN LAURIA WANTS TO BRING THEATRE BACK TO ITS WONDER YEARS
originally published: 2005-01-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The theatre needs more people like Dan Lauria. He's best known for his role as the father on TV's "The Wonder Years", but, in addition to his work in television and movies, he's a true champion of the theatre. More importantly, he's a true champion of new theatre. Dan will be making his return to the George Street Playhouse stage this January for Lee Blessing's new production, The Winning Streak. In the play, he portrays a retired major league umpire who lives near a ballpark. His ...
JACK & TONY: A NOT SO ODD COUPLE AFTER ALL
originally published: 2006-12-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Actors generally have to do a little research for their roles to really understand their characters. Jack Klugman, on the other hand, didn't need to look any further than his own life to play Benny Silverman in The Value Of Names. Silverman is a retired actor whose career was derailed when Leo Gershen named him in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Years later, Silverman is faced with the prospect of his daughter performing in a play directed by Gershen. While Klugman ne...
JACK KLUGMAN & PAUL DOOLEY: LEGENDARY ACTORS JOIN UP IN THE SUNSHINE BOYS AT GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE
originally published: 2007-10-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
I'm sitting at a table with actors Jack Klugman and Paul Dooley totally lost in the stories of Broadway's past that they're throwing around. The two men have worked with just about every actor and director under the sun and are currently in rehearsals for Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys, which will run at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick from October 16 through November 11, 2007. Listening to the two reminisce, it's clear that you couldn't find a better pair for this play which...
SPOTLIGHT ON JANINE SQUILLARI
originally published: 2004-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Have you ever been set up on a really bad blind date? Janine Squillari almost was, but a pre-date phone call spared her an awful night out. Little did she know just how much that phone call would change her life. She was doing accounting work in New York City for some clients who thought she would be a great match for their friend. They passed her name on to the guy who called one day at seven in the morning. She was caught a bit off guard at the early call. Janine told him that she...
JOHN LLOYD YOUNG BECOMES TALK OF THE TOWN
originally published: 2006-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
A year ago, John Lloyd Young was an usher handing out programs at a Broadway theatre. As Frankie Valli sang, "close and yet so far." One year later, Young portrays Valli in one of the hottest hits of the Broadway season, "Jersey Boys." What a difference a year makes. Instead of being frustrated at seeing others on stage where he wanted to be, Young is now one of Broadway's rising stars and a hero to ushers everywhere! "When you're ushering you couldn't be any farther from being the s...
MARK NELSON PLAYS CHARLOTTE & MANY MORE
originally published: 2007-01-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
When you first start out as a writer, people sometimes give you a bit of advice based on their own experiences - don't get too close to your idols because you might not like what you see. Those words came to mind as I read about the journey playwright Doug Wright embarked on while creating I Am My Own Wife. In the beginning, Wright wanted to create a glowing tribute to a gay cultural icon, but as he learned more and more about his subject, he realized that there was far more to the stor...
MARY JANE IS A TRUE ORIGINAL
originally published: 2007-08-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Mary Jane Ajodah's New York debut is about a singer named Sally Clanton who has a dream of making something out of her life. After talking with Mary Jane, I have no doubts that she's not Sally. She may be still in high school, but she's already hitting it big. Mary Jane is a 15-year-old playwright from Carteret whose original musical western "A Handful of Dust" is making its New York debut at The Grand Theater in August. The show will run from August 24-26. The play is set in t...
A ONE WOMAN, ONE BARBIE PLAY
originally published: 2007-04-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
The Playwrights Theatre in Madison, New Jersey will present the New Jersey premiere of "When Something Wonderful Ends" by Sherry Kramer in April. The play is affectionately referred to as a 'one-woman, one Barbie play'. That one-woman is Bonnie Black. The play was recently named one of the top ten theatrical events of 2006 by the Austin Chronicle and was recently read at the Tokyo International Arts Festival. Sherry was working on a production at the Interact Theatre in Philadelphia ...
THE RITES OF PASSAGE
originally published: 2005-11-01 00:00:00
By Gary Wien
Yes Virginia, there is a professional theatre company in Trenton, New Jersey. Passage Theatre may not be a household name yet, but it's working on it and the company is proud to be celebrating its 20th anniversary this season. For 20 years, Passage Theatre has been bringing world-class original work to the stage. The theatre started back in 1985 with the production of "The Undoing" by William Mastrosimone. According to Elizabeth Murphy, a former stage manager who worked her way up ...
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