By Danny Coleman
originally published: 01/22/2016
Continuing a look back to 2015; one of the more pleasant surprises was Peter Frampton at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ.
The show started as a reunion with many of Frampton's family members in attendance and his son Julian as the opening act. Performing an approximate 30 minute set to an appreciative crowd; the younger Frampton had every bit his father's stage persona and was a perfect choice to kick things off.
The stage was set up with a couple of chairs and a radio as Peter dialed in at 8:45 to begin his portion of this solo acoustic evening. "All I Want to Be" was first on the list and upon its completion Frampton told the first of many stories which captivated those in attendance throughout the evening; this one in particular was about a certain tuning for his guitar that he "Borrowed" from George Harrison. "I was over with George one day and he was playing in such a key that was unlike anything I'd heard and he said it was a special tuning and that it was his and I wasn't allowed to have it," he said with laugh. "So of course I stole, I mean, borrowed it from him..." and as the laughter died down the first notes of "Wind of Change" danced between the seats.
Next up was the Buddy Holly classic "Peggy Sue," which was prefaced by a neat recollection of how he met Holly's widow and the ensuing gift she bestowed upon him of a guitar headstock, "I think it was actually meant for Paul McCartney but I'm pretty sure she gave it to me because she couldn't get in touch with him."
This combination of self deprecating humor in the context of the stories along with the raw openness of a solo acoustic presentation, really personalized Frampton and allowed him to seemingly connect with the crowd in ways that a large electrified concert does not. Songs like the next two, "Just The Time Of Year" and the instrumental "Penny For Your Thoughts," which the prior he credits Joni Mitchell as his inspiration and the latter a filler track for the "Frampton" album; may not have had the same panache with more wattage behind them.
Pausing only briefly enough to introduce Gordon Kennedy, Peter gave a quick synopsis of perhaps his largest hit, "Show Me The Way," even joking that there were, "No electronics so I need you all to do the wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wahs." The crowd, now pumped up, immediately stole the lead vocal from Frampton and sang the tune from start to finish. Kennedy stayed on board for the remainder of the program as the two stage mates engaged in the guitar instrumental "Lines On My Face;" trading off licks and complementing one another's styles nicely.
"Hummingbird" was introduced by a lengthy, yet interesting dialogue involving Peter, his grandfather and a beautiful box/puzzle with an ironic twist ending. Inspired by his recent work with the Cincinnati Ballet, this once again allowed insight into the man, enhanced the song and added to the overall experience. "Heart To My Chest" was followed by a comedic exchange as a phone rang and Frampton took the call; "No the Blue Man Group is not here tonight, no we don't take requests." Shaking his head in mock disbelief he continued, "Can you believe he wanted me to do a Beatles tune?" With that he broke into "Norwegian Wood" as the crowd reaction quickly went from laughter to cheers.
"Oh Another Day" and "You Can Be Sure" proceeded a ballad which Peter dedicated to his mom and dad, Owen and Peggy Frampton. "This song gets harder to sing," he said as he caressed "Not Forgotten" out of his six string. "Take Me Back" slid right in next with little fanfare, however he next called upon his "Marvelous opening act" and Julian joined him onstage for "Road To The Sun." The elder Frampton couldn't help the smile on his face as he performed with his son; pride beaming through as bright as the stage lighting.
Keeping Julian around a bit longer; the trio had a little "Humble Pie" as they went into "Heartbeat" complete with fantastic three part harmony that drew appreciative applause from the sold out venue. "Change The World" was well done and served as a bridge to the end of the evening as Frampton divulged the story of how yet another smash was written; "Baby, I Love Your Way." "Well, I was under some pressure to produce by the record company and I was in the tropics; let's just say I saw this woman and I wrote this song on the beach. I bought this guitar before my first Humble Pie rehearsal and I'm about to play this song on it now which means I'm really old (laughs)."
Wasting little time, he launched into "Do You Feel Like I/We Do" and the faithful ate it up like candy. Another full out sing along ensued and the house was rockin' as some were transported back to that summer of '76 and others were experiencing it for the first time. The last notes rang out at 10:50 p.m. as Frampton said his thanks and exited the stage; only to return at 10:52 p.m. for a three song, nine minute encore which began with the combination of "You Had To Be There" and "Break The Rules," and ended with Peter on piano for the mellow ballad, "I'm In You."
An energetic acoustic show from one of rock's most underrated and perhaps unappreciated guitarists and performers but that doesn't seem to bother Frampton at all; he seems quite content to play the smaller venues; creating new music while opening up younger audiences to his "Old" music. A pleasant experience from the opening act, to the stories, to the material choices and all presented in a great venue which was perfect for the performance.
A special thanks goes out to "Vinny" the sound engineer who opened up his world to my photographer and I; making this a total experience from start to finish.
To discover more about Frampton and his upcoming tour dates; please go to www.frampton.com
Photo Credit: Rose Barbaree
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
Amalfi's Restaurant146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1599
Fri. 8:30 p.m. The Diablo Sandwich Band
Sat. 8:30 p.m. The Prophets
Amarones Windsor Inn29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Fri. 8 p.m. Lonnie Youngblood
Sat. 8 p.m. After Dark
Blend Bar & Bistro911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
The Backstage at Championship Bar 931 Chambers St. Trenton
Fri. 7 p.m. Don't Tell Lucy, Weary Travelers, Surrender The Night, Skip Monday, Conway. All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. Experiment 34, Menace Of The Canvas, Endless Taile, Alcove, Beneath Polaris, (TBA). All ages, $10
Sun. 6 p.m. The Toasters, Hub City Stompers, Molly Rhythm, Death In The Arena, Backyard Superheroes, Autocracy East. All ages, $13/$15
Candlelight Lounge 24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Jullian Pressley Alto Sax Quartet (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chickie's & Pete's183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Wed. 9 p.m. Quizzo Trivia
Dempster's Pub 437 Pine Street Mount Holly
(609) 261-0500
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. DJ Dnial
Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Chris
Dog & Bull Brew House810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Shawn Byrne
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Keli Vale (9 p.m.) Mike Estabrook
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. Michael Leggerie (9 p.m.) The Conshocken Curve
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Keli Vale (3 p.m.) Brian Bortnick
Wed. 8 p.m. Paul Donavan
Fran's Pub116 S. Main St. New Hope, PA.
(215)862-5539
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows 21+
Glory Days Tavern1200 Hornberger Ave. Roebling
(609) 499-0896
Fri. 8 p.m. Kevin Toft & The All Stars
Havana New Hope105 S. Main Street. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Fri. 8 p.m. KICK, The INXS Experience. Doors at 6 p.m., $15
Sat. 8:30 p.m. 52 Pickup
Sun. 3 p.m. Sandy & The Sneaky Petes
Hopewell Valley Vineyards46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Thurs. 6 p.m. "Thurs. Jazz" feat. Vine DiMura
Fri. 6 p.m. Mark Macmanus
Sat. 6 p.m. Jim Gaven
Sun. 2 p.m. "Jazzy Sundays" feat. Jean Chaumont
Ivy Tavern 3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 10 p.m. New Dawn
Sat. 10 p.m. The Buicks
All shows 21+
John & Peter's 96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 9 p.m. Bansai Bills
Fri. 9 p.m. Spitune
Sat. (3 p.m.) Faust/Fulton Duo (9 p.m.) Collin J Rocker
Sun. 3 p.m. Brian Dolzani
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Tues. 9 p.m. Bill & Fred's Excellent Adventure
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
McStews Irish Sports Pub5316 New Falls Rd Levittown, PA
(215) 949-9570
Fri. 10 p.m. South Of Heaven
Sat. 10 p.m. "Saturday Night Party" w/ Dueling DJs
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzo hosted by Mike
Millhill Basement300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Thurs. 9 p.m. AMFMS (EP Release Party), All Pawns, Mr. Payday
O'Connor's American Bar & Grille1383 Monmouth Road, Easthampton
(609) 261-1555
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Travis Coffin
Olde Liberty Tavern2114 Liberty Street, Trenton
(609) 396-2262
Sat. 10 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Palermo's Of Hamilton310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 8 p.m. Old Brew South
Sat. 8 p.m. Audio Pilot
Pete's Steak House523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Jimmy & Jimmy
Randy Now's Man Cave134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Sat. 6 p.m. "A Tribute to David Bowie" Local musicians performing the music of David Bowie
RHO Waterfront50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Closed until January 28
Tara's Tavern 1Cookstown-New Egypt Road, Wrightstown
(609) 286-2300
Thurs. 9 p.m. Curt Benson
Sat. 9 p.m. Psycho Misfits
Tavern On The Lake101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket216 4th Street Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. 80's Undercover
The HOB Tavern146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 8:30 p.m. Deb & Mike
The Ivy Inn248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. Rich Scanella Group
Sat. 10 p.m. DJ Darius The First
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 10 p.m. "Wednesday Wheel Night Spin To Win Karaoke" w/ DJ Rockn Ron
The Roost 181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-0050
Fri. 9 p.m. Ernie White Duo
Sat. 9 p.m. Ar House
The Sticky Wicket 2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Deb & The Sons of Rock
Sat. 9 p.m. Money Shot
The Sun National Bank Center 81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check website for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog 1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Sat. 9 p.m. Jet Weston & His Atomic Ranch Hands
Tues. (7 p.m.) "Rock On Radio Happy Hour" hosted by Danny Coleman feat. Rick Winow (9 p.m.) Open Mic. hosted by Jerry Monk
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz702 Pine St. Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Fri. 8 p.m. Live Band & Open Mic.
Trenton Social449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Fri. 7 p.m. First Friday
Mon. 9 p.m. Monday Night Karaoke w/ Benny P
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Jermiah Tall / Jason Ager. ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Wise Old Moon. ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night (Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m.)
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock
All shows 21+
Yardley Inn82 E. Afton Ave. Yardley, PA
(215) 493-3800
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Paul Plumeri Band
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.
