New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Lanky


By Gary Wien

originally published: 04/01/2005


It may not rank up there with Bob Dylan going electric at the Newport Jazz Festival, but watching Lanky grab hold of a Telecaster with the backing of a full band does make a live set different from his solo shows.

Lanky is a singer-songwriter from New Jersey that has been criss-crossing most of the country during the past few years. He has released two records - the first being a full-length called Inner Onwriter, and his most recent being Last Chance To Make A First Impression, which came out a few months ago. The two records show just how different Lanky's music sounds with and without a band.

Inner Onwriter was recorded in the studio with full instrumentation on every track. Last Chance To Make A First Impression was a live recording of how most of the country was used to seeing Lanky - live on stage with an acoustic guitar. As an artist trying to define himself, it probably didn't help.

"I put out the first record and it's like a full production," said Lanky. "And then I go and tour with just a guitar. So everyone sees me with just a guitar. Then I put out this EP that's stripped down... it's kind of back and forth. I guess sooner or later I've got to present it one way."

The way he's currently presenting it is with the introduction of a band behind him. The first full Lanky with band show took place at the Dewey Beach Festival in October. Right now it's a straight four piece, traditional rock and roll setup with two guitars, bass and drums. In the future, Lanky says he would like to experiment by adding a keyboard or cello to the mix.




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



"I want to keep it interesting and fun," he said. "I don't want to be just another rock band or a rock band with me up front playing acoustic guitar."

If you've seen Lanky play before, hearing him with a band makes for a much stronger, rock sound. At times, it becomes easier to get a sense of his alternative music influences with the band sound.

"It's a lot more rock," he says. "I mean, I like to rock. I've kind of felt like I've been a wolf in sheep's clothing playing these acoustic gigs because I'm kind of a rocker."

This is the first time he has played in a band in quite a while and things like soundchecks and coordinating schedules take much more time now.

"It's just a big shock considering I used to just throw the guitar in and go," explained Lanky. "I think it's good that I was able to do that for a while because I think I would have shot myself if we had to take four guys around the country."

Sadly, Lanky is one of many New Jersey artists that have a larger fanbase outside of their home state. Maybe going electric will be the answer to building his fanbase. After all, it worked out rather well for Bob Dylan.



Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station The Penguin Rocks. He can be contacted at gary@newjerseystage.com.




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Tuesday

Tuesday Night Record Club - Crowded House

Tuesday, July 01, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Curtis

Curtis Salgado

Wednesday, July 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

John

John Lee & Friends

Thursday, July 03, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Blues

Blues People with Special Guest: Jeff Levine

Saturday, July 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Two

Two NJ Jazz Musicians Will Play with The Jazz Ambassadors in Morristown

Pianist Anthony Pocetti grew up in Hamilton, NJ, studying piano, "doing sort of traditional piano lessons. I have an uncle who was always encouraging me to get into the jazz thing. He gave me the (Miles Davis) Kind of Blue CD, and he knew that the jazz pianist Jim Ridl was living in Hamilton."



Asbury

Asbury Lanes presents There, There - A Tribute to Radiohead

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Asbury Lanes presents There, There on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 8:00pm. They are the premier Radiohead tribute act, playing songs from throughout the band's iconic multi-decade catalogue.



bergenPAC

bergenPAC presents Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90's Part 2

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- After a totally fly 2024 summer tour packed full of 90s boy band, pop, and R&B hits, RIAA-certified Gold a cappella group Straight No Chaser is back by popular demand with "Straight No Chaser Summer: 90s Part 2." The tour comes to Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) on Thursday, July 8, 2025 at 7:00pm.



Blue

Blue Curtain presents 2025 Summer Concert Series in Princeton

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Blue Curtain returns to Pettoranello Gardens Amphitheater this July with a free three-concert series. The 2025 season opens on Saturday, July 12 at 8:00pm with a performance by internationally acclaimed trombonist, composer, and bandleader Jimmy Bosch, also known as El Trombon Criollo.



NJPAC

NJPAC presents KEM with special guest Melania Fiona

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents a special evening with KEM, known as Soul's Greatness, on Friday, July 18, 2025 at 8:00pm. Special guest Melanie Fiona will open the night.