ROCK ON! This Week's Sound Bites...7/21/16

By Danny Coleman

originally published: 07/21/2016

"If you want to see what's new in the San Francisco Bay area, come check us out," says guitarist Roger McNamee of Doobie Decimel System. "It's a really cool thing we have going on and Midnight North will be opening for us; that's Graham Lesh, Phil's son's band."

Havana in New Hope, PA is the scene tonight for Roger and his band mates as they take the stage at 8 p.m. in an intoxicating evening of jam bands. "Yeah, the tour thus far has been unbelievable," said a confident sounding McNamee. "We're doing more shows here in the Northeast than in the bay area; it's crazy. I love playing in the east though, Jason is in New York and I lived in Swarthmore, PA for 20 years so it's always great to get back there."

Doobie Decimel System is comprised of some of the finest musicians not only from the jam band culture but in rock music in general. "We began as a duo," explained McNamee as he recounted the band's beginning and current lineup. "Jason Crosby and I started performing together. Jason plays with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir and has played with Susan Tedeschi and a whole lot of others. Well the band I was with, we somehow found ourselves booked at "Sweetwater," which Weir is or was involved with and Jason was there one night and he approached me after our set and told me he really liked what we were doing; I thought he was just being polite. The next month he showed again and this time he jammed with us and then he and I started playing together and we kept getting invited back.Eventually we morphed into a band and added Leebo of ELO, Jay Lane and Pete Sears who played keyboards on the first two Rod Stewart albums and Jeff Pehrson who has performed with Hot Tuna and when we go out on the road it's a lot of fun."

The Band's name is interesting in itself; a play on an outdated library system and one that has drawn the ire in the past of another group with a similar sounding name. "It really is a funny story," said Roger with a slight chuckle. "Jason, as I said before, is in New York and he is in like nine bands or something like that; he jams with everybody. So one night after a recording session or a gig, someone asked him how he keeps track of all of the bands that he's in and he responded, "I need a system, I need the Dewey Decimal System; no, I need the Doobie Decimal System and of course there's usually lots of weed involved so it kind of fit. Jason comes back and tells me this story and I started laughing and said, "Buddy! That is a great name for the band" and that's how we arrived at that!"

Ah but with a name like that, there's bound to be aroused suspicion and or difficulties; right? "Yeah," says Roger as he relayed a rough ordeal from another band's manager who demanded that they cease using the word, "Doobie" in their name. "So we're riding in the tour bus, now you have to realize, up to this point the Doobie Decimel System wasn't gigging a lot; as a matter a fact we were on the road with my other band called Moon Alice. My cell rings and this nice gentlemen calls and immediately begins screaming at me that we're, "Ruining 35 years of work," and that we need to stop immediately. I literally had the phone feet from my ear like in a cartoon because this guy was yelling so loud. Turns out it was the manager of The Doobie Brothers and he insisted that using the word, "Doobie," somehow infringed on their copyright. Now us being easy going kind of guys, we asked him to give us a week and we'd have our people look into the legalities of using the word "Doobie." "Sure enough we found Doobie Brother tribute bands using the word and other uses for the word and they were not being asked to do the same. So a week later we speak with him again and he insists that we drop the name. We agreed to another two week period where we would try and reach an agreement and the Friday before the Monday we were due to speak; we get hit with a lawsuit over the use of the name. Well, we put it out on our site on Saturday, by Sunday it was all over Facebook and by Wednesday it somehow got picked up by Howard Stern and he rips into the Doobie Brothers and their management. OK, as luck would have it, Moon Alice was playing one of the largest jam band festivals in the nation in Virginia and we are scheduled to go on right before the Doobie Brothers. Our set up backstage was such that the bands were all in close quarters with each other and Tom Johnston, who has got to be one of the nicest men on the planet, approached us and heard about what had happened with their management. He wanted us to know that the band had nothing to do with it and apologized. I guess being ridiculed by Howard Stern helped but regardless it was very nice of him to come over to us. So I get an idea to have Jason take a picture of both bands together, handshakes and the works and we blast it all over the internet showing that the rift is healed and all was well. So, essentially, the name which came from a card catalog became much bigger than that."

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Tonight's show at Havana and the ensuing tour with dates in New England, upstate New York and then out to California before returning east are just part if their schedule. The band loves to perform and does so as often as possible and looks very much forward to the show tonight and all shows in the future. To discover more about Doobie Decimel System, please go to www.ddsband.com. To find out about Midnight North, please visit www.midnightnorth.com.

Havana is located on Main Street in New Hope, PA and tickets are priced at just $15.

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

This week's event listings

Amarones Windsor Inn
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. "Simply Piano" feat. Carla Gaiser
Fri. 8 p.m. Zephyr
Wed. 6:30 p.m. "Simply Piano" feat. Carla Gaiser

Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
Thurs. 5 p.m. The Funeral Portrait, The Ivory, Cirtana, Less Than Ruined, Kevlar, Misery Loves Company, Buried. All ages, $10/$12
Fri. 6 p.m. Kings Without Crowns, Pixel Face, The American Standard, Cut The Act, Never Let This Go, Dead Robins. All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. Anticosm, Xenophile, Psilocybe, The Donner Party, (TBA). All ages, $10
Sun. 5 p.m. Grave Gnosis, Mehenet, Nite Rite, Failing Light, (TBA). All ages, $10
Tues. 7 p.m. Andross, Big City Noise, At The Interview, Don't Tell Lucy, True Will. All ages, $10

Blend Bar & Bistro
911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam

Bowman's Tavern
1600 River Road, New Hope, PA
(215) 862-2972
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Neil Podgurski Trio
Fri. 8 p.m. Bob Egan
Sat. 8 p.m. Tom Adams Trio
Sun. 6 p.m. Lorenzo
Mon. 6 p.m. Andy Prescott
Tues. 6 p.m. Lovey Williams
Wed. 6 p.m. Lorenzo

Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Ed Cherry Quartet. $10 (cover charge)

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. Quizzo Trivia

Columbus Farmers Market
2919 US Rioute 206, Columbus
(609) 267-0400
Thurs. 5 p.m. Sweetie Pie

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 House
810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m.Dick Gratton
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Keli Vale (9 p.m.) Wizard Duo
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. Michael Leggerie (9 p.m.) New Pony
Sun. (11 a.m.)"Sunday Brunch" feat. Keli Vale (3 p.m.) Brian Bortnick

Fran's Pub
116 S. Main St. New Hope, PA.
(215)862-5539
Fri. 8 p.m. Dr Sloth Claw
Sat. 8 p.m. Laurie Vosburg and 519 South
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows age 21+

Halo Pub
9 Hulfish Street, Princeton
(609) 921-1710
Sat. 6 p.m. John & Maggs

Havana New Hope
105 S. Main Street. New Hope, PA.
(215) 862-9897
Thus. (8 p.m.) Doobie Decimel System / Midnight North. Doors at 6 p.m., $15 (10 p.m. )"College Beat The Clock Night" DJ Dance Party
Fri. 8 p.m. Jefferey Gaines / Leslie Dinicola. Doors at 6 p.m., $25 (advance)
Sat. 9 p.m. "An Evening With the Jelly Jam'" feat. Ty Tabor, John Myunk, Rod Morgenstein. Doors at 7 p.m., $40 (advance)
Sun. 6 p.m. Rock and Roll Over "Kiss Tribute." Doors at 4 p.m., $10
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Wed. 8 p.m. "Live, Local, Unplugged" Hosted by Pat Foran

Hopewell Valley Vineyards
46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Thurs. 6 p.m. Tim Brent trio
Fri. 6 p.m. B-Side
Sat. 6 p.m. Thieves & Poets
Sun. 2 p.m."Jazzy Sundays" feat. McMillan and Company

Iron Plow Vineyards
26750 Mount Pleasant Rd., Columbus
(732) 306-9111
Fri. 7 p.m. "Singer/Songwriter Night" feat. Papa Carl Anderson, The Williamsboy, Bobby Rue
Sat. 2 p.m. Ed Wilson
Sun. 2 p.m. Don the Medicine Man

Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 9 p.m. Einstein Bridge
Sat. 9 p.m. The Dawgs
All shows 21+

Jake's Pub
869 Bustleton Pike, Richboro, PA
(215) 322-6787
Tues. 5 p.m. Bill Shannon

John & Peter's
96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+

Killarney's Publik House
1644 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton
(609) 586-1166
Thurs. 5 p.m. Radio Fiction Duo
Sat. 10 p.m. The Polish Nannies

Laurita Winery
85 Archertown Road, New Egypt
(609) 752-0200
Thurs. 7 p.m. Farm to Table Winemaker's Sunset Dinner. $75 per person (Includes gratuity)
Fri. 7 p.m. Awesome 80's Dance Party
Sat. 1 p.m. The Bergers
Sun. 1 p.m. First Call
Wed. 6 p.m. 2016 Laurita Idol Singing Showcase Junior Idol Tryouts

Levitt Amp Trenton 2016 Music Series
Capital Green @ 201 Barrack Street, Trenton
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Calma Carmona

Mamma Rosa's
572 Klockner Road, Hamilton
(609) 588-5454
Thues. 6 p.m. Open Mic. Hosted by Richard Schneider

McStews Irish Sports Pub
5316 New Falls Rd Levittown, PA
(215) 949-9570
Thurs. 10:30 p.m."Beer Pong" w/ DJ Codie
Fri. 9 p.m. Carfax Abbey, I Vampire, Wade In The Water, DJ Dev-L
Sat. 9 p.m. "Saturday Night Dance Party" w/ DJ RV and DJ OXX (Beyonce Ticket Giveaway)
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzo hosted by Mike

Millhill Basement
300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Tues. 10 p.m. "Local Artist" Hip Hop, Experimental EDM and Bass Music Showcase

O'Connor's American Bar & Grille
1383 Monmouth Road, Easthampton Mt. Holly
(609) 261-1555
Sat. 9 p.m. Rick Winow & Danny Coleman

Olde Liberty Tavern
2114 Liberty Street, Trenton
(609) 396-2262
Sat. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night

Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+

Patriot's Crossing
1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 8 p.m. Kevin Toft & the All Stars
Sat. 8 p.m. Riverdogs

Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Mon. 9:30 p.m. Deep Release

Randy Now's Man Cave
134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Steve Forbert w/ Mark Stewart, Scott Evans. All ages, doors at 8 p.m., $25 (advance). This performance takes place at the Open Arts Stage Theater 146 Route 130 South, Bordentown.

RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Fri. (4:30 p.m.) Happy Hour Buffet. $10 (8:30 p.m.) High In the Mid '80's,

1867 Sanctuary
101 Scotch Road, Ewing
(609) 392-6409
Fri. 7 p.m. Gordon Thomas ward
Sun. 3 p.m. Tom Littwin Trio

Tavern On The Lake
101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. City Hicks
Sat. 9 p.m. Barbara Harley Band
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night

The Cool Cricket
216 Burlington Street, Fiedlsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke

The HOB Tavern
146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 8 p.m. John & Maggs

The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. El Ka Bong
Sat. 10 p.m. Diablo Sandwich
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. Bob Solo
Sat. 9 p.m. Victar on Guitar

The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. The Drunk Monkeys
Sat. 9 p.m. Polish Nannies
Tues. 7 p.m. Karaoke

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
Thurs. 9 p.m. Paul Wiese
Fri. 9 p.m. The Shantys
Sat 9 p.m. Ziggy Isaacs
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic w/ Jerry Monk
All shows 21+

Trenton Buzz
702 Pine St. Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Fri. 8 p.m. Live Band & Open Mic.

Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Fri. 4 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
Thurs. 7p.m. Paint Nite
Fri. 10 p.m. Mark Lanky Band. ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Anders and Friends. ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night (Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m)
Mon. 9 p.m. Matthew Szlachetka
Tues. 9 p.m. Live Band Karaoke
All shows 21+

Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock
Tues. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson
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, NJ

Joe 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, NJ

Join 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].