Daniel Pena of The Silverhounds, who’ll perform Oct. 21 at Roxy & Dukes for the fourth and final Makin Waves Rock Circus.
This month’s Scene Report features The Silverhounds, Trenton Punk Flea Market, The Degenerics, Chris Gethard, Screaming Females, The Front Bottoms, several hurricane relief benefits, Bobby Mahoney & the Seventh Son, Mint 400 Records, The Porchistas, Hang Tight, The Early November, Wetbrain, P-Funk North, Danny Coleman, Speak into My Good Eye, 100th Monkey Foundation, Aquino, Robin Tricker, Briz and The Revival, and The Inversion Circus
The fourth and final Makin Waves Rock Circus once again will combine New Jersey's best bands, burlesque and circus acts on Oct. 21 at everyone’s favorite Halloween haunt, Roxy & Dukes in Dunellen. The evening will feature music performances by psycho-billy trio The Silverhounds, the rootsy two-piece Coach N' Commando, the Celtic-rooted Philly/Jersey combo Mass Folk Commons, and world music multi-instrumentalist Anthony Carrera. NJ burlesque queen Vivi Noir, the exotic aerial acrobatics troupe Vertical Fixation and sword swallower Dean Formica also will perform. An art/photo display/sale will be presented by award-winning Woodbridge-raised artist Tiffany Harned. A $100 cash prize will go to Best Costume and a $50 prize to Sexiest Costume. Don't miss the Makin Waves Rock Circus because it never will happen again. Check out photo galleries from previous events here and here. And buy advanced tickets online. They’re $20 at the door …
I’m telling you, Trenton is going to make a music-scene comeback like Asbury Park did, especially if Joe Kuzemka, founder of the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market, director of Art All Night, owner of the new Pork Chop Express Booking & Promotion, and manager of the Levitt AMP Trenton Music Series, Capital City Food Truck Battle, and the brand-new Activate Trenton “Mill Hill Amphitheater Live!,” has his way. The Flea Market returns Oct. 21 and 22 to Historic Roebling Machine Shop, where more than 200 vendors and a dozen food trucks will be each day, along with a Neshaminy Creek beer garden, a meet-and-greet with Weird NJ, a costume contest each day for tickets from Starland Ballroom, Bloodshed Farms and more, face painting, and live music. On Oct. 21, there will be an after party at Millhill Basement with Crazy and the Brains, Dusters, Thorazine and The Dirty Merlins.
Kuzemka’s new Pork Chop Express also has shows coming up at Millhill on Nov. 3 with Molly Rhythm, Boss’ Daughter, and John Underwood; Nov. 11 with Goddamnit, Alpha Rabbit, The Warhawks, and Teenage Bigfoot; Nov. 17 with You Vandal and Feeny, and Dec. 15 with Digger, Mikey Erg and Honah Lee. On Nov. 8, he’ll present Yotam Ben Horin and Seth Anerson at Trenton Coffee House and Roaster.
The new Activate Trenton community project aims to activate underutilized spaces within Trenton with free, pop-up live entertainment events starting with “Mill Hill Amphitheater Live” on Thursdays through Nov. 9. The series will kick off Oct. 19 with Pennsy singer-songwriter Joshua Adair …
The Degenerics were a DIY hardcore punk band from New Brunswick active from 1996 to 2008. The band quickly gained a loyal East Coast following playing intensely energetic, positive live shows. Tinged with heavy metal, reggae and rock, the band’s raw, emotive opposition to authority and societal rules was released on two EPs and then a definitive LP, “Generica,” in 2000. “Generica” recently was reissued on Don Giovanni Records. The Degenerics are reuniting for one show only on Nov. 4 at Brooklyn Bazaar to celebrate the reissue, which has been pressed on 180-gram vinyl, is housed in a gatefold sleeve and includes a download card and two-song seven-inch EP of unreleased material …
In other Don Giovanni news, the New Brunswick-originated label will release on Nov. 3 “Chris Gethard: Career Suicide,” a comedy about depression, alcoholism, suicide, and the other funniest parts of life. West Orange-raised comic Chris Gethard holds nothing back as he dives into his experiences with mental illness, psychiatry, and finding hope in weird places, especially North Jersey. From devastating lows to manic highs, “Career Suicide” is a painfully honest journey into the comic’s original mind and available digitally and as a limited edition purple vinyl double LP …
Also on the Don Giovanni tip, New Brunswick-originated Screaming Females are dropping a new LP, “All at Once,” on Feb. 23. The 15-track CD and double vinyl LP features several amazing and artistic pre-order packages at www.dongiovannirecords.com. The anxiously awaited collection will be celebrated with a three-night stand Feb. 22 to 24 at Monty Hall in Jersey City. Right now, the steadfastly DIY trio are a national tour that has them on the West Coast and will bring through the Southwest, New Orleans and the East Coast through Nov. 1.
The Front Bottoms are back with a national tour in support of their latest album, “Going Grey,” that will bring them from the House of Blues in Boston on Oct. 19 and Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, Oct. 21 to The Fillmore, Philadelphia, Nov. 22 and Terminal 5, New York City, Nov. 25. In between, they’ll also play the Midwest, West Coast, Southwest, and Southeast with tour mates Basement and Bad Bad Hats. Then on Dec. 16 at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, the band’s annual Champagne Jam will return with two stages also featuring AJJ, The Districts, White Reaper, Delicate Steve, Slaughter Beach Dog, The Big Easy, Weakened Friends, and Strange Eclipse. In February, The Front Bottoms will tour Europe with fellow Asbury Park act Brick + Mortar, as well as Australia’s The Smith Street Band …
Several hurricane relief benefits are happening this weekend and next week. On Oct. 19, “Hand-n-Hand Bands” at the Strand will band together Colossal Street Jam, Arlan Feiles, Acoustic NRG, Brue Crew, Chris Daniels, The Eddie Testa Band, Heidi DeFabritus, Jo Wymer, JoBonanno & The Godsons of Soul, Joey Arminio & The Family, JT Bowen, Lori Davis, Richie Santa, Robert Santa, Sharon Lasher, Sheri Gilmore, The Sensational Soul Cruisers, and Step Aside at the Strand Theatre in Lakewood. The fundraiser is on behalf of Convoy of Hope Foundation, which provides relief efforts to hurricane victims of Harvey, Irma and Maria.
On Oct. 20, The Stone Pony in Asbury Park will present “Rocking for Relief” with The Revel, Owl Kill, Manta, Triple Addiction, The Shoobies and Antonio Gonzales. Also down the Shore, Rebuild It Foundation will present “Jersey Calling: A Benefit for Victims of Hurricane Harvey” on Oct. 21 at The Headliner in Neptune with host Rob Acumpora of 1071. The Boss and performances by Dark Sky Choir, The Riffs, Vextion, Experiment 34, and I Am Tommy. A Chinese auction also will raise funds.
Also on Oct. 21, the Metuchen-originated Roadside Graves will reunite in their hometown to benefit Defend Puerto Rico Hurricane Fund and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands Hurricane Relief and Recovery Fund. Sharing the bill at Old Franklin Schoolhouse will be Lowlight and RocknRoll HiFives …
On Oct. 22, “NJ Cares Benefit for Puerto Rico” at the Dragonfly Music and Coffee Café in Somerville will support Habitat for Humanity of Puerto Rico with the talent of John Wilkey, Troy Etienne, Gerard Dutka, Joe Canzano, Peter Prasa, A Halo Called Fred, DDA, Phil Liebergal, Keith Beck, Bonk Percussion Group, and Bread and Circus.
“We Are One: Musicians United for Gulf Coast Relief” will band together Rachel Wise & the Guys, Andy Lackow & Mess Around, Kelly Ellis & Flynn, The Midnight Ramblers, The Bob DelRosso Band, Son Lewis Trio, Arthur Nelson Band, The Chuck Lambert Band, and Big Time Spenders on Oct. 22 at Crossroads in Garwood on behalf of displaced victims of Hurricane Harvey.
And on Oct. 26, The Saint in Asbury will support the Red Cross’ Hurricane Maria relief efforts in a show that will feature Modern Crowds, Shoobies, Taylor Tote Band, Idle Wave, Ernest, Maria Krauss and more …
East Brunswick faves Bobby Mahoney and the Seventh Son are out on the road on a tour that started in Asbury Park on Sept. 28, continued throughout the Northeast, and will head to the Midwest and Southeast before making its final stop with a headlining show on Nov. 3 at The Stone Pony. That show will coincide with the release of the prolific band’s third single, “Called It Quits,” from a forthcoming LP, their sixth since 2012. Sharing the Pony bill will be Ute Rock from Australia and Goodbye Spaceman. Look for a review of Mahoney & Sons’ three latest singles in Makin Waves on Nov. 2 …
Mint 400 Records will present two of its newest signings, Yawn Mower and Tony Saxon, on Oct. 24 at Pet Shop Bar, Jersey City, with label mates A Bird. The hard-working label also has a killer show on Nov. 10 that will feature tasty craft beer and free indie rock by LKFFCT, Yawn Mower, Shred Flinstone, Mutual Interest, and Professor Caveman. That show is in collaboration with frequent partner, Sniffling Indie Kids, who recently signed the beloved Springfield-based band The Vaughns …
It’s another busy Rocktober for Montclair-based The Porchistas, who recently dropped a video produced in Costa Rica for the song “Tooty Tooty Ta.” Having played their hometown’s Glenridge Ave Arts Festival and New York City’s legendary Bitter End earlier this month, the roots, rock ‘n’ reggae ensemble’s Rocktober will continue Oct. 19 at their home studio with a show featuring the folk-rock outfits GoldenOak from Maine and Sourland from Lambertville. On Oct. 21, The Porchistas have an early set at the Pour House Zombie Music Festival in West Orange, then they’ll be back in Montclair on Oct. 28 to play Tierney’s Halloween Bash with Defending Champions. Halloween costumes are highly recommended for that one.
November is looking pretty nice for The Porchistas too. On Nov. 18, they will be one of six bands featured in the Makin Waves Roots Fest at Asbury Park Yacht AND Langosta Lounge. Also performing will be Lowlight, Accidental Seabirds, Jackson Pines, Coach N’ Commando, and Jeff Linden and the Black Spot Society. The Roots Fest is free, but a tricky tray of sponsor prizes, as well as other funds raised, will help offset the cost of Langosta Lounge’s annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the homeless …
Jersey surf punks Hang Tight have signed with Standby Records, which will release their debut EP, “Grind,” on Oct. 27. The title was inspired by the hard work it takes to tour as an indie band. See the video for the track “Digital Age” streaming above …
The great Jersey band The Early November will perform their 2003 Drive-Thru Records debut, “The Room’s Too Cold,” in its entirety on Oct. 20 at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City. Sharing the bill will be fellow Jersey acts Gates and Owel …
Asbury Park-based Wetbrain have dropped a trippy new video for “Pirouettes” from their smokin’ debut album, “A Certain Light,” animated by the band’s own uber-talented Rudy Meier. Also coming up, Wetbrain will play a Little Dickman show with Blaha, Carb on Carb, and Yawn Mower on Oct. 22 at Asbury Park Brewery, release an EP entitled “Quebrado” in November, and play Dec. 2 with Dentist and Yawn Mower at Asbury Park Yacht Club. All the while, they will be writing their second full-length album …
In between studio albums, that always entertaining fusion of Parliament-Funkadelic, Bob Marley and Sublime known as P-Funk North have dropped a live EP, “Quake & Bake: Live from Earthquake Studios.” It's available on all major music outlets with extra live cover tracks exclusively on Bandcamp. P-Funk North currently are on tour in New England and will be announcing local shows soon …
A musician’s musician turned local media mogul, Danny Coleman remains a triple threat with his new web series, “What’s Next with Danny Coleman,” which will air 8 p.m. Mondays on YouTube (see the stream above). The show is produced by the Hightstown-based City of Angels Recovery and Addiction program and also can be found on their web site at COARadio.com, which also is where Coleman’s “Rock on Radio” show now airs 7 to 9 p.m. Sundays. The cast and crew of “What’s Next” is Art Ackerman, head engineer, cameraman and producer; Jay Petsko, graphic designer and cameraman, and award-winning best-selling author Maryann Castello as Coleman’s sidekick and co-host. The catchy theme song was composed and performed by former Nektar/Renaissance guitarist Ryche Chlanda. A new format is modeled after “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” with three guests, a musical performance, and soon-to-be-announced segments. To be featured on Coleman’s shows and in his New Jersey Stage music column, email him at [email protected] …
Speak into My Good Eye’s fourth annual 24-Hour Songwriting Challenge will be celebrated Oct. 21 at John & Peter’s in New Hope with GoldenOak, Dave Mooney, Meeko Brando, A Bird, and Ashley McKinley. This year’s collection will benefit the National Suicide Prevention Life, 800-273-TALK …
The 100th Monkey Foundation will celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Band’s “The Last Waltz” with “It Makes a Difference: Dead Dog's Eye Perform The Last Waltz” on Nov. 4 at The H.A.T. in West Orange. Dead Dog’s Eye will take the role of The Band with special guests James Taylor Collins,
Delaynie Cusick, John "Oak" O'Connor, and Miguel Rodriguez taking some of the other roles featured in the brilliant 1977 Martin Scorsese documentary about The Band’s historic all-star “farewell” concert Thanksgiving 1976 with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and many more. The show will benefit Angels of Animals, a pet rescue in Clifton …
Cuba-Rican singer-songwriter-guitarist Aquino has created his own brand of indie Sazón folk heard on the new second LP, “City Stars, a follow-up to 2015’s “Giants Will Fall.” Having raised funds for The Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico with his recent record release party at Bloomfield Public Library, the native New Jerseyan once again will apply his rich talent to those struggling on his ancestral island. On Nov. 13, he will participate in Artists United for Puerto Rico at The Physics Theater in New York City. Other upcoming shows include Nov. 24 at the Madison Holiday Arts Festival and the Spaghetti Sessions Songwriter Showcase on Dec. 21 at Fox and Crow in Jersey City …
Trop-rock singer-songwriter Robin Tricker has teamed with acclaimed producer-songwriter Anthony Krizan for a soulful reggae song, “You, Me, Vitamin D,” that recently hit the Billboard trop chart. All a-buzz in Nashville, Tricker will perform the song with Rich DeFeo in the duo Gypsy Moon on Oct. 20, Nov. 10 and Dec. 15 at Woody’s Roadside Tavern, Farmingdale, and Nov. 17 and Dec. 1 and 8 at Nardi’s Tavern & Grille on Long Beach Island in Beach Haven …
Princeton-based Briz and The Revival keep working hard in support of their 2016 EP, “Love and Light.” Having opened for Mary J. Blige and Boyz II Men at the Wawa Welcome America Festival in Philly, the smooth, exotic-sounding band next can be seen Nov. 2 at The Grape Room in Philly and Nov. 25 at the Arts Council of Princeton …
Before The Inversion Circus head into the studio to record a follow-up to their 2017 debut LP, “InTents (Fire at the Big Top),” they will finish out the year with impressive road work: Oct. 20, Decicco’s Tavern, Raritan Borough; Oct. 29, Dingbatz, Clifton; Nov. 4, The Alternative Gallery, Allentown, Pa., and Nov. 9 to 11, Mesa Music Festival in Arizona.
Bob Makin is the reporter for www.MyCentralJersey.com/entertainment and a former managing editor and still a contributor to The Aquarian Weekly, which launched this column in 1988. Contact him at [email protected]. Like Makin Waves at www.facebook.com/makinwavescolumn.
