By Danny Coleman
originally published: 01/02/2014

Welcome to my musical world! This is one man's attempt to alert you to the best in area entertainment!
"I've known Paul for a long time, he used to sit and play guitar with my dad," says TJ Nix as he began to explain his seemingly life long friendship/musical relationship with area blues legend Paul Plumeri. "I used to sit in with Paul and then after a picnic in 2009, we started writing and playing together."

The partnership formed one of the best blues/rock bands in the area and beyond, Blues In Disguise. Friday evening Paul, TJ and the rest of the band will be having a special CD/DVD release party at RHO Waterfront commemorating one magical evening and recorded at Trenton's War Memorial Building.

"Live At Patriot's Theater" is two disc collection which captured the audio and visual of one of the group's finest moments. "Yeah, this combination from that show reflects that night beautifully," said Plumeri. "We captured a show indicative of that band after making our "Blues In Disguise" CD, we think it's a really good representation of blues rock." "I remember it like it was yesterday," adds Nix. "The magic in that room, the energy of a sold out crowd, oh God, we have so much to give, give us a crowd and it's going to be something special."

Plumeri and Nix, although only recently combining forces have both had highly successful careers. Plumeri, known as "The Bishop of The Blues" has performed since childhood, toured the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada with Duke Williams and The Extremes, founded two great bands of his own (Hoochie Cooch and Paul Plumeri Blues Band) and now has continued his run with Blues In Disguise.

Nix has bounced around since those days of watching Plumeri jam with his dad at their kitchen table, forming some well received projects of his own; most notably Nix And The Side Kixx. "I remember just showing up and jamming with different bands at different bars, that was my method back then. I got to meet a lot of different players and musicians. It's sad, there aren't many places left to play like there were in the '80's and early '90's. I remember back then we would make a decent buck, things have changed though; here I am fifteen years later and the money being offered is still the same; or less (laughs)."

Making music for the love of it and their talent is what drives most musicians and Paul and TJ are no exception as their lengthy resumes can attest. "My relationship with TJ goes back, the roots of it to the early '70's," said Paul. "His older brothers and I were in a band together, I was always in or around his house, his dad played harmonica but Tom (TJ) always did his own thing. We really didn't join forces until around 2010, we started throwing out songs, writing, arrangements, rehearsing and then we recorded at Tom Reock's (Squirrel Ranch) studio. TJ just loves to play. H e has a strong love of performing and is a hard worker, it's a good thing all around."

Joining Paul and TJ are their band mates, drummer Marty Paglione, bassist Jerry Monk, guitarist Nicky Hutton and special guests Mike White on percussion and Angelo DiBraccio on saxophone. Nix and Plumeri expect good things on Friday for those in attendance, "This should be bigger, it's a CD Release Party. We've got Stan Steele playing during the buffet hour, then JB Kline is going to do an acoustic set and we're going to do one straight ninety minute set, like a concert; no stops or breaks," said Nix. "People can expect all that's on the CD and maybe some other's," affirmed Plumeri.

Expectations for this set of two discs? Nix says it will "be available at the show and then on up to twenty additional outlets" and Plumeri, well his take is a bit more cautious. "I'd like to see it sell and do well. Everything is so different today in the entertainment industry, especially live entertainment. We've hopefully made a good product and when you make a good product, you hope that it represents you forever as an artist, musician, who you are; everything else is icing on the cake."

Once again, RHO Waterfront, located in Riverview Executive Park on Rte. 29 in Trenton is the setting for what promises to be a fantastic night of music. Doors open at 6 p.m., tickets are $15 and includes the buffet dinner. Come on out and support these hometown artists who've been entertaining us for decades.

Aside from the above show, the area entertainment seems to be operating on a holiday schedule. There's not much that's been made public from the various music establishments but I'm sure that they will gear up once again in 2014.

Otherwise, Radio Fiction is at Pete's Steak House in Hamilton also on Friday and Saturday The Aldrich Brothers Band returns to Amalfi's in Lawrence. and Deb & Mike will be rockin' at Palermo's, also in Hamilton. Any of these bands are sure to entertain one and all!

This space welcomes any suggestions and/or comments. Please send them to: [email protected]

That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!


THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS
Alchemist & Barrister

28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Ed Wilson
Sun. 9 p.m. Princeton Area Blue Grass Jam
Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night Hosted by Eric Puliti
All shows 21+
Amalfi's Restaurant and Bar
146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1599
Sat. 8 p.m. The Aldrich Bros. Band
Amarones Windsor Inn
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Scott & Debbie Gager
Fri. 8 p.m. Rick & Kenny
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Larry D
Tues. 7:30 p.m. Texas Hold'em
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Tommy Grice Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Centro Bar And Grille
2360 Rte. 33 Robbinsville
(609) 208-9300
Thurs. 9:30 p.m. Jimmy K & Steve
Chambers Walk Cafe
2667 Main St. Lawrenceville
(609) 896-5995
Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton

The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
(609) 394-7437
Fri. 7 p.m. Paradigms, Provenance, Tides Of Deception, Spectrums, Strength In Numbers. All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. True Will, Lying and Low, God Sex Weapons, Ratfarm, B-Side Avenue, Throdl, (TBA). All ages, $10
Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100
Sun. 4 p.m. Irish Sessions w/ Billy O'Neal
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. 10 p.m. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Bonehead
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Se7en
Sun. 2 p.m. Midnight Sun Orchestra
Wed. 8 p.m. Local & Original Music Series Wino Wednesday w/ Pat Foran & Friends
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Mon. Open Mic.
Wed. The Invitational (Featuring John & Peter's House Band)
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern
2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Mastoris Lounge
144 Rte. 130 Bordentown
(609) 298-4650
Fri. 7 p.m. DJ Chris Barlow
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. Deb & Mike
All shows 21+
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Radio Fiction
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Jeff Scott
Fri. (6 p.m.) Stan Steele (8 p.m.) Blues In Disguise (10 p.m.) DJ Jimmie Palumbo. $15 (cover charge includes buffet, bands and DJs)
Sat. 8 p.m. Primera Fiesta Del Ano Latin Dance Event
All Shows 21+
Spigola Ristorante
3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd. Hamilton
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Tony Malandro
Star Subs Café
621 Rte. 130 Buckley Plaza Hamilton
(609) 333-1230
Wed. 7 p.m. Acoustic Open Mic. Night hosted by Bri LoBue
Tavern On The Lake
101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. (8 p.m.) Sarcasm Comedy Night (9 p.m.) DJ Night
Sat. 9 p.m. Pretty Baby
The Cool Cricket
216 4th St. Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Thurs. 8 p.m. Kinky Bingo
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Wed. 5 p.m. DJ Chris Barlow
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Monster Jam 2014. Doors at 6:30 p.m., $10, $20, $45 (VIP), $55 (Front Row)
Sat. 2 p.m. Monster Jam 2014. Doors at 1 p.m., $10, $20, $45 (VIP), $55 (Front Row)
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Paul Kennedy Jr. & Paul Kennedy Sr.
Sat. 9 p.m. Nicki Sbaffoni
Sun. 3 p.m. Sunday Sessions w/ DeAngelo & Gormley
Tues. 9 p.m. Chris Pinto
Wed. 9 p.m. Tommy Glover
All shows 21+
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
www.trentonsocial.com
Thurs. 7 p.m. Social Thursdays w/ DJ Tangency
Fri. 7 p.m. Social First Fridays
Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-JayKountree
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
www.triumphbrewing.com
Fri. 10 p.m. Funkadelic Astronaut $5 (coverage)
Sat. 10 p.m. Crucial. $5 (cover charge)
Sun. (2 p.m.) Dharma's Kindness (7 p.m.) Open Jam Night hosted by The Lawsuits
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
www.wildflowersinnrestaurant.com
Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+

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About the author:

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Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.

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