ROCK ON! This Week's Sound Bites....3/20/14
By Danny Coleman
originally published: 03/20/2014
“Well, I’ve got no personal experience with it; just some basic knowledge. I’m thankful that nobody I know suffers from it and having a chance to help is a very fulfilling thing,” says Ed Kowalczyk as he prepares to bring his acoustic show into Ewing, NJ as part of the Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy series.
Kowalczyk, best known as a founding member and former lead singer of the premier rock band “Live,” left the band in 2009 and to this day is still engulfed in controversy over his departure; none of which has seemed to deter him from his current solo career path. “I, uh, well,” he started and then paused for a moment, as if to choose his words carefully. “Five years ago was the end of a chapter. I’d been playing music the same way for a long time; I had started to lose my passion. I started doing acoustic shows, trying something different. I reconnected with fans and thanks to them I’ve been around the world four times now; they are really incredible.”
With a recently released CD added to his repertoire, Kowalczyk feels that its title, “The Flood and The Mercy” is quite apt, given his tumultuous past. “This is my second full length but technically my third release,” he said. “I love the photo on the cover; it was taken by Doug Lusander. He is a great photographer and this picture, with all of the technical camera work that he did, really is a great representation of what the album is about. I love how it speaks about the nature of the album and my life as a solo artist. I mean, the flood represents the recent drama I’ve been through and the mercy is the great reception that I’ve gotten from the fans the world over. The picture itself, with all of that water about to come down on me, yet with such a calm look on my face is just perfect; a fantastic representation of what I was trying to convey.”
No stranger to charitable work, Kowalczyk is heavily involved with “World Vision,” a charitable organization which aides impoverished children. Ed is championing bringing clean drinking water to the children of Zambia, Africa; a luxury that many here in our country possibly take for granted. According to the “World Vision” web site, more than 1,600 children per day under the age of five die from unsafe drinking water related diseases that are a direct result of unsanitary consumption. Kowalczyk’s desire to help came about as he performed a nightly ritual, that of getting his young daughters their glasses of water at bed time. “Yeah, well, I realized that everybody should have clean drinking and bathwater. I began supporting the cause when I went solo; I developed an artist affiliation and endorsed them. Now, they tour with me, they are lining up lots of kid sponsorships; they’re amazing. They have got to be one of the most credible and ethical charitable organizations around. They have signed up over 300 kids sponsorships just from fans that come to my shows; it’s an amazing feeling to see this happen. It’s like this epilepsy show, as an artist, to play and sing for any charity is the least that I can do. To make a difference is what we strive for.”
So far to date, Kowalczyk is extremely happy with the way this current tour is progressing and his ability to shake off the doldrums of playing both acoustic and electrified shows. “This tour? Oh wow, this tour is great!” he said with obvious enthusiasm in his voice. “I finished the month of February by celebrating the 20th anniversary of my own full band. The beauty of it is that we are 50/50 acoustic and electric. I can play acoustically for as long as I want and when I start getting tired of doing things that way; I can switch back to full band electric. I love having that option, it’s great!”
The man who helped bring us tunes like “I Alone” and “Lightning Crashes” likes his options; and next week on March 27 at The Trinity United Methodist Church located at 1985 Pennington Rd. in Ewing, NJ, he’ll be exercising the acoustic side as he performs the first Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy of 2014. The doors open at 7 p.m. for this 8 p.m. show and the ticket cost is a scant $30 in advance and $35 at the door. The Ed Kowalczyk show is the first of four taking place between March 27 and the end of April. The band Living Colour, followed by Joan Osborne and Paula Cole will all grace the stage in an effort to raise awareness about epilepsy; a condition which affects tens of thousands of people each year. Opening for Kowalczyk is Pete Donnelly of Soul Asylum, NRBQ and The Figgs Fame.
So what does the future hold for Ed and his band? According to Kowalczyk, some very exciting new things are on the horizon. “First, I am looking forward to the concert for epilepsy,” he said. “After that, man, lots more performing, we are going to Europe in June and then I will be going to Poland for the first time; I am very excited about it all. I’m sure that they’ll be able to say my name much better than I so I am anxious to go (laughs).”
To discover more about the Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy series, please visit www.candlelightconcert.org . To read up on Ed Kowalczyk, please go to https://missinginkshop.com/eddieklive/blog .
The Diablo Sandwich Band makes their return to our area with the first of two shows. Friday they will be rockin' The Ivy Inn at 248 Nassau Street in Princeton and then again on Saturday at Spigola located at 3817 Crosswicks-Hamilton Square Road in Hamilton. These veteran rockers are always a crowd pleaser and a fun time for sure.
Saturday night sees the return of a long time local favorite Frank pinto as he sets up shop with Snake Eyes at The Halo Pub on Rte. 33 in Hamilton. A staple for many years on our local music scene it's great to see Frank returning to action.
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. Arnie Baird
Sun. 9 p.m. Kenny Cunningham
Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night Hosted by Eric Puliti
All shows 21+
Amarones Windsor Inn
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-714
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Pizza Party Night feat.Scott Gager & Debbie
Fri. 8 p.m. The Gyrl Band
Sat. 8 p.m. Sounds of The Street
Tues. 7 p.m. Texas Hold'em
Blend
911 Rte. 33 Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Fri. 9 p.m. Rich Schneider
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Hill Greene Bass Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Centro Bar And Grille
2360 Rte. 33 Robbinsville
(609) 208-9300
Thurs. 9:30 p.m. The Dawgs
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. 4 p.m. Arsonists Get All The Girls, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Beyond The Shore, Seeker, Your Chance To Die, The Color Nothing, Drowning Swans, The Enemy Is You. All ages, $13/$15
Sat. 4 p.m. Diet, Windermere, Donovan's Devils, Keep'em Blind, Retake The Video, Crash Landing, Count Me Out, Villain Fox. All ages, $8/$10
Sun. 10 p.m. Barrabas Black wagon, Jay Toxic, Aids Queen, Wizard Slave. Ages 21+, $5
Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100
Sat. 2 p.m. Andrew Pittman
Sun. 4 p.m.Billy O'neal
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen
Fran's Pub
116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215)862-5539
Fri. 8 p.m. BKWG
Sat. 7 p.m. Blue Meanies
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam
All shows 21+
Halo Pub
4617 Nottingham Way Hamilton Square
(609) 586-1811
Sat. 7 p.m. Snake Eyes
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 12 a.m. DJ Dance Party
Sat. 8 p.m. The Marshall Tucker Band. Doors at 6 p.m., $45
Sun. 6 p.m. Paul Mitchell Event
Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridge
Wed. 8 p.m. Wino Wednesday Local Unplugged feat. Pat Foran / Michael Ronstadt
All shows 21+
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 10 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Sat. 10 p.m. Stage Hamz
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 9 p.m. Mike DiAlto's Stand Up Comedy
Fri. 9 p.m. Jerry Feiss
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Keith Kenny
Sun. (3 p.m.) The AMoS Duo (9:30 p.m.) Brother Eye / Reverend B. Ill (Benefit Show)
Mon. Open Mic.
Tues. 9 p.m. DJ Aggreschen
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
Millhill Basement
300 South Broad St. Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Sat. 8 p.m. Rabbi Darkside. Ages 21+
Wed. 9 p.m. Awkward Talking
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Alright Alright
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing
1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Two Men Trio
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Shawn Would & Bonnie Von Duyke
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Ernie White & Tom Reock
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Infinite Bandwith
The Revere Ristorante
802 River Rd. West Trenton
(609) 882-6365
Sat. 8 p.m. Paul Plumeri & Jerry Monk
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Jeff Scott
Fri. (5 p.m.) Deb & Mike (8 p.m.) DJ Jimmie Palumbo. $10 per person includes buffet, bands and DJ
Sat. 9 p.m. High in The Mid 80's / DJ Wessy Wes. $8 (cover charge)
All Shows 21+
Spigola Ristorante
3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd. Hamilton
Fri. 8:30 p.m. DJ Frank Olivetti
Sat. 8:30 p.m. The Diablo Sandwich Band
Sunsets at Cream Ridge
181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-2500
Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Jim Gaven
Fri. (6:30 p.m.) Rob Silver Duo (9:30 p.m.) DJ Dave
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Stan & Dave
Mon. 7 p.m. Open Mic. and Karaoke w/ Rich Barry
Tavern On The Lake
101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. (8 p.m.) Sarcasm Comedy (9 p.m.) Speed Limit
Sat. 9 p.m. Blues Tattoo
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket
216 4th St. Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Thurs. 8 p.m. Kinky Bingo
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. Gunsmoke
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Fri. 9 p.m. The Diablo Sandwich Band
The Record Collector
358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Fri. 8 p.m. April Mae & The June Bugs / Debra Dynamite & Crash Gordon. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (advance)
Sat. 8 p.m. Alexis P. Suter & The Ministers of Sound. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $20 (advance).
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Out of The red
Sat. 9:30 p.m. D*Luxe the band.
All shows 21+
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Sat. 10:30 a.m. American Cheer Power Presents: "Fabulous 50s Open Championship." Doors at 9:30 a.m., Tickets $5/$10 kids ages 6 and under FREE
Sun. 5 p.m. WWE Live: Road to WrestleMania. Doors at 3:30 p.m., $15, $25, $35, $55, $95
Mon. 6:30 p.m. NJSIAA Basketball Tournament of Champions. Doors at 5 p.m., $8/$2
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Birmingham 6
Sat. 9 p.m. Mike Barniskis
All shows 21+
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays
Fri. 7 p.m. Social First Fridays
Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-JayKountree
Tues. 9 p.m. LiveMusic/Open Mic.
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Thurs. 10 p.m. Ross Livermore
Fri. 10 p.m. Tumbleweed Highway. $5 (coverage)
Sat. 10 p.m. Alycat. $5 (cover charge)
Sun. (1 p.m.) Bucks Bacon and Beer. (7 p.m.) Open Jam Night
All shows 21+)
Villa Romanza
429 Rte. 156 Hamilton
(609) 585-1717
Fri. 6 p.m. Arturo Romay
Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+
About the author:
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.
Joe Russo's Almost Dead
Thursday, November 12, 2026 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJJoe Russo's Almost Dead is Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Tom Hamilton, Scott Metzger and Joe Russo. We're a Grateful Dead cover band.
Mccarter At The Museum: An Evening With Jason Robert Brown
Thursday, November 12, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Princeton Art Museum
45 Elm Drive, Princeton, NJJoin us for McCarter at the Museum - renowned performing artists in one-night only events at the Princeton University Art Museum.
Jason Robert Brown is a four-time Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist of The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World, 13, The Bridges of Madison County, Honeymoon In Vegas and The Connector, has performed as a soloist or with his band in venues around the world, including sold-out shows at the London Palladium and Carnegie Hall. His albums as a singer-songwriter include Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes and How We React and How We Recover on Ghostlight, and Coming From Inside the House and Live In Concert with Stephen Sondheim on Concord.
With Special Guest Tony nominee Betsy Wolfe. Tony Award-nominated actress Betsy Wolfe is currently starring as Audrey in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, following her recent Broadway run as Madeline Ashton in the hit musical Death Becomes Her. She previously originated the title role in Joy, the new musical inspired by inventor Joy Mangano, and earned a 2023 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her celebrated performance as Anne Hathaway in & Juliet. Other Broadway credits include starring as Jenna in Waitress, Cordelia in the acclaimed revival of Falsettos, Bullets Over Broadway, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture, and 110 in the Shade, as well as her critically acclaimed performance as Cathy in the Off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years. Wolfe made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Die Fledermaus and has appeared as a guest artist with more than 65 symphony, pops, and philharmonic orchestras worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra, with performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Her screen credits include First One In, Estella Scrooge, CBS’s Instinct, and the film adaptation of The Last Five Years. Wolfe is also the co-founder of BroadwayEvolved, the acclaimed musical theatre training program she launched in 2018 to train and mentor the next generation of theatre artists.
A limited number of early access tickets for McCarter Director’s Circle members and members of the Museum’s Partner Circle are available, on sale Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM. General public on sale begins Friday, September 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM.
Please be aware there is no public drop-off or parking at the Museum. For visitors with mobility needs, please contact the Museum at least three business days in advance of your visit to request special access to the Museum via Elm Drive. Call 609-258-3788 and select option 1 to speak to a visitor services staff member, or email Louise Barrett at [email protected].
John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJThe legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock’n’roll group JOHN CAFFERTY & THE BEAVER BROWN BAND began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the “Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack”. The hit single “ON THE DARK SIDE” held the “#1” position on the Billboard Rock charts and the MTV video charts for five consecutive weeks.
Griffin House
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ“If you are looking to be blown away by raw talent, then look no further than Griffin House.” —American Songwriter
Floyd Pink - Celebrating The Music Of Pink Floyd
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJFLOYD PINK is a Pink Floyd tribute band from the New York metro area, celebrating the music of Pink Floyd.
EVENT PREVIEWS
State Theatre New Jersey and Relix present Joe Russo's Almost Dead
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey and Relix present Joe Russo's Almost Dead on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 7:30pm. The band was formed in Brooklyn, NY in 2013. While they are a Grateful Dead cover band, they are known more for interpreting songs by the Dead rather than attempting to replicate the band's work.
NJPAC presents Gregory Porter with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell
(NEWARK, NJ) -- With a voice that can fill a concert hall and make every listener feel personally embraced, Gregory Porter has become one of the most beloved artists in contemporary jazz. On Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm, the two-time GRAMMY® winner returns to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell for an evening of soulful expression, exquisite storytelling and remarkable vocal artistry, presented as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival.
Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Friday
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 7:30pm. Griffin House is an American singer-songwriter and storyteller who has been making records for over 20 years.
KANSAS to perform at Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday
(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- One of classic rock's most iconic bands, KANSAS, will perform at the Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. This "garage band" from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner, and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide. A limited number of tickets remain.
NJPAC presents Jesse Cook on Saturday
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Jesse Cook on Saturday, November 14, 2026 in the Victoria Theater at 8:00pm. A global artist in every sense of the term, Jesse Cook redefines music's power to connect people across cultures and continents.
Forte Piano Music Company presents Exquisite Contrasts: Haydn & Schubert Piano Trios
(PARAMUS, NJ) -- The Forte Piano Music Company presents a Piano Trio Concert - "Exquisite Contrasts" - Haydn & Schubert on Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 2:30pm. This program brings together two landmarks of the piano trio repertoire, revealing the evolution of the genre from the Classical era to early Romanticism.
Mahwah Museum Hosts "Les Paul from Start to Finish" with Jim Wysocki
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Come to the Mahwah Museum on Sunday, November 15, 2026 for a discussion of a 29-year friendship, rare memorabilia, and the story behind Les Paul's home with Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki from his nearly three-decade friendship with legendary musician and inventor Les Paul. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition to take place on Sunday
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- You can get your holiday shopping done on Sunday, November 15, 2026 when Anchor Rock Club hosts the Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition. The event runs from noon to 6:00pm.
Song of the Meadowlark takes place on Sunday in Hopewell
(HOPEWELL, NJ) -- Song of the Meadowlark takes place Sunday, November 15, 2026 at Highland Design Farm. This is a meditative rock odyssey weaving reimagined contemporary songs, stream-of-consciousness poetry, and live painting. Doors are at 2:00pm, showtime is 2:30pm.
Avenel Performing Arts Center presents Chris Smither
(AVENEL, NJ) -- Chris Smither will perform at the Avenel Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:30pm. Born in Miami, during World War II, Chris Smither grew up in New Orleans where he first started playing music as a child. The son of a Tulane University professor, he was taught the rudiments of instrumentation by his uncle on his mother's ukulele.
