ROCK ON! This Week's Sound Bites...7/23/15
By Danny Coleman
originally published: 07/24/2015
"I've been playing guitar for 30 years. I started, oh God, my first band was when I was nine or ten years old; we were called Thunderbolt," laughed an excited Brian Quinn, the newest member of
"Le Projet" and
"Candlebox." "We played two songs well; "Wild Thing" and "Hey Joe" in our parents basements but hey, it was a start."
Hailing from Pittston, PA, a working class, coal mining town situated between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre with rolling hills as a backdrop; Quinn now thrives on much larger stages in larger cities. "I don't know if I can specify one gig that cemented it for me but I do remember playing a reunion show with my former band Octane at the Electric Factory in Philly; the place was packed. I never knew that the band, or just didn't see it, either way I didn't realize we, or it were as popular as it was. I'm so glad that I stuck with it and it really set the tone for what was to come."
Quinn a two time "Philadelphia Music Award" winner for "Best Guitarist" in 2001 and 2004 and a critically acclaimed performer is loved by the press and has toured with or opened for some of rock's biggest acts. Metallica, Seether, Kid Rock, Zakk Wylde, Warren Haynes, Deftones, Sevendust, Candlebox and many more are among the ones lucky enough to have seen or shared in Quinn's talents. However, it was the last two bands with which Quinn left an impression. "I literally just got hired to do this full time. My band at the time, well my current band, Fosterchild; we were/are on a hiatus and I was doing a lot of freelancing; we were signed to a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records. We had done a show in New York City and we had become buddies with Kevin Martin who asked me if I'd be interested in doing some recording with his projects. I did that and then another and I kind of thought, OK this was cool, I got paid for the session and it was a great experience and that was that. Later on I ran into Kevin at NAMM out in California and he said that they were thinking about adding another guitarist for Le Projet; then the guitarist left the band and I was asked to step in."
Le Prejet, a side project of Martin and Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose; has led directly to all that is right with Quinn's career at the moment. "Le Projet is a little bit different than how I'm used to working and totally different from how I am used to working in studio. This is a different process; in the past I used to write, work it out, try different things then record. In this band it's focused on writing then recording; it's a very organic process. We do the pre-production work and then we are recording and within hours we have scratch tracks down. The whole thing is rapid fire, guerrilla writing, add what you feel will fit and get it done; it's a really organic vibe and I love it! Here's a good example; we just finished a track and it's already in the final stages, it's an interesting mix, I haven't heard it yet but I'm looking forward to it. Now with Candlebox, the tour started Thursday in Louisiana and our first full rehearsal was Wednesday," he stated with a chuckle. "I'm not worried, I know the material, it was just a matter of getting together before we started the tour. We've got the original drummer from Pearl Jam, Dave Krusen with us; I'm just so anxious to get started!"
Quinn is loving the experiences of a national tour and performing with such a talented cast of players and looks forward to the challenges that lay ahead. "Like I said; it's a baptism of fire for sure but I can't wait for it to start and I'm sure it's going to be great! I welcome what is yet to come!"
To discover more about Brian Quinn; please go to www.brianquinnguitar.com .
Lisa Sherman, the woman who brought us "Decades of Divas" and her "Songbird" shows will be rockin' Tim McLoone's Supper Club located at 1200 Ocean Avenue in Asbury Park, NJ on Saturday July 25 as she presents: "The Best of Bonnie Raitt-An Evening Tribute to the Woman and Her Music." Join this talented performer and her assembled cast as they recreate the music of the Grammy Award winning Raitt, done only as Sherman can; full tilt, all out and to perfection. Tickets are $25 and with each purchased seat $1 will be donated to The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
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. The Beagles
Sun. 9 p.m. Kenny Cunningham
Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic w/ Kevin Rovner
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Fri. 8 p.m. F2 & The Anchovy Brothers
Sat. 8 p.m. After Dark
Blend Bar & Bistro
911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
Fri. 7 p.m. "Melissa's 30th Birthday Bash" feat. Maximum Oversatan, Endless Lament, Exinfernum, Lesch-Nyhan, (TBA). All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. Blue Son, Darren Deicide, Fastride, Escape From Crete, Reckless Serenade, Experiment 34, Dead Robins. All ages, $10
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Sylvia Cuena Drum Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Wed. 9 p.m. Trivia Night
City Streets
510 Route 130 South East Windsor
(609) 426-9400
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Superman Steve
Fri. 9 p.m. Crossfire
Sat. 9 p.m. That Acoustic '80's Band
Wed. 6:30 p.m. Rich Genoval
Dog & Bull Brew House
810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Soul Kitchen
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Keli Vale Jazz Duo (9 p.m.) Mike Estabrook
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. Michael Leggerie (9 p.m.) Wizard Duo
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Keli Vale Jazz Duo (3 p.m.) Mike Bortnick
Tues. 8 p.m. Mike Cono
Wed. 8 p.m. Mark Macmanus
Fran's Pub
116 S. Main St. New Hope, PA.
(215)862-5539
Thurs. 9 p.m. Curtain Call
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows 21+
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main Street. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. 10 p.m. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Fresh and Crisp Night
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Shot of Southern
Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran & Friends
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 10 p.m. Blind Lemmon Pie
Sat. 10 p.m. Soul Custody
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 9 p.m. John & Peter's Comedy Presents: Sean Lynch
Fri. 9 p.m. Jerry Feiss & Friends
Sat. (3 p.m.) Bootstrap Bandits Record Release Show (9 p.m.) Moonbreaker
Sun. (3 p.m.) Miss Pumpkin Presents: A Drag Show Benefit (9 p.m.) Collin J. Rocker
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Tim
Tues. 9 p.m. DJ Aggreschen
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern
2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Nook's Pourhouse
2043 Rte. 130 South Florence
(609) 447-0927
Fri. 9 p.m. The Polish Nannies
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. Out Of The Red
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing
1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Buffalo Trixx
Sat. 7:30 p.m. (TBA)
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Joe Hoyer and Friends
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Tangled
Randy Now's Man Cave
134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Thurs. 8 p.m. Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses. Doors at 7:30 p.m., $25 (advance) This show takes place at The Open Arts Stage 146 Rte. 130 South Bordentown, NJ
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Fri. (4 p.m.) Happy Hour Buffet. $10 (8:30 p.m.) Black Frost
Sat. "Anthony Walker Presents" (6 p.m.) Luau. Ages for men 30+/women 27+, $20 (advance) (10:30 p.m.) Saturday Night Live. Ages for men 25+/women 23+, $20 (advance)
Tavern On The Lake101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket
216 4th St. Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Sat. 9 p.m. Radio Fiction
The HOB Tavern
146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. DJ Darius
Sat. 10 p.m. El Ka Bong
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. (8:30 p.m.) Tune Trivia (10:30 p.m.) DJ Rockn Ron
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Rivers Bend
Sat. 9 p.m. Drunk Monkeys
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check web site for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. The Shantys
Sat. 9 p.m. Mike Barniskis
Tues. 9 p.m. Jerry Monk
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz702 Pine St. Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Thurs. 8 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Hek Cat
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. Cinema Thursday Presents: (TBA)
Fri. 7 p.m. First Friday
Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic.
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. The Rocket Boys. ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Bella's Bartok. ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock
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.
