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ROCK ON! This Week's Sound Bites....5/15

By Danny Coleman

originally published: 05/15/2014

Pete Donnelly, founding member of The Figgs, former member of NRBQ, touring member of Soul Asylum, Graham Parker and others is a tireless performer, producer and engineer. Past artists including G.Love, Carsie Blanton and Amos Lee have all used Pete's production skills.

A short time ago, Donnelly performed at an epilepsy awareness concert series; "Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy." Taking the stage at a church in Ewing, NJ as the opening act for former Live mainstay Ed Kowalczyk; Pete was very engaging and very much in tune with the capacity crowd of approximately 300 at this quickly growing concert series.

There are those who say that "One is never more naked than when in front of a room full of people with only an acoustic guitar between them and the audience," a statement that this writer feels is quite accurate. Donnelly seemed somewhat shy at first as he put his acoustic over his shoulder, a distinction which quickly dissipated as he launched into the opening of "Got Caught Up" off of his most recent release "Face The Bird."

Donnelly's set was a short eight songs, three of which were from the new disc and the rest offering a nice representation of the true uniqueness of this great artist. "Something Happened" was followed by "American Town" and then "There's Always Something to Talk About," which he delivered quite nicely to a now very appreciative crowd. One gets the feeling that he could sense the audience's pleasure by the smile that crept upon his face from time to time as he relayed several funny short anecdotes prior to slipping seamlessly into "All The World Will Fail."

Not even a slight audio glitch could derail the Pete train as he chugged through "Original Wonder" and the new tune "Toodle-Oo" an upbeat kind of punkish tune which was perfect for one man and an acoustic guitar.

Finishing up with "The Trench," Donnelly made a quick exit to well deserved applause only to surface in the hall where he manned his own merchandise table selling discs and vinyl albums of "Face The Bird." Although his availability was brief due to his tour schedule, Pete stayed for the maximum time he could and autographed as well as interacted nicely with his fan base both old and new.

 

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"Face The Bird" was recorded in a vacant store front in a southern NJ shore town, a perfect setting for what Donnelly set out to accomplish; his inner most feelings. Recorded in a home studio atmosphere, he was able to revitalize his inner songwriter and turn in not only a very good musical compilation of thirteen tracks but some lyrical masterpieces as well.

Overall, Donnelly was very entertaining and playing solo acoustically seemed to suit him well as he put on a great show for an even greater cause.

To learn more about Pete Donnelly, please go to www.petedonnellymusic.com. To find out more about the Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy Series, please visit www.candlelightconcert.org .

This space welcomes any suggestions and/or comments. Please send them to: Rockonradio1460@hotmail.com

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

 

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

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THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS

Alchemist & Barrister

28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555

Thurs. 10 p.m. Arnie Baird

Sun. 9 p.m. Lance Green Trio

Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night Hosted by Eric Puliti

All shows 21+

Amalfi's Restaurant & Bar

146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd Lawrenciville

(609) 912-1599

Sat. 8 p.m. Mike Matisa & Karly Coleman w/ Matt Panfili

Amarones Windsor Inn

29 Church St. Windsor

(609) 448-714

Thurs. (6:30 p.m.)Pizza Night w/Scott Gager & Debbie (7:30 p.m.) Texas Hold'em

Fri. 8 p.m. Phaze

Sat. 8 p.m. Meg Hanson Band feat. Billy Hill

Tues. 7:30 p.m. Texas Hold'em

Big Shots Bar and Grill/Hebe Music Lounge

835 E Rte. 130 South, Burlington

(609) 267-1200

Fri. 8 p.m. Paint Box, A Thousand Days, Fromless Form

Sat. 8 p.m. Nobody Yet, Speak In Sounds

Wed. 8 p.m. Open Mic.

 

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Blend

911 Rte. 33 Hamilton

(609) 245-8887

Fri. 5 p.m. Rich Schneider

Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Tues. 8 p.m. Trivia Jam

Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612

Sat. 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Vince Ector Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)

Chambers Walk Cafe
2667 Main St. Lawrenceville
(609) 896-5995

Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton

The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton

(609) 394-7437

Fri. 6 p.m. Dropping A Popped Locket, Wade Wilson, Lurch Lightning, Ray Strife, Potent da Rockstar, JJ Demon, Phat J, Nathan Ryan, Steez Click. All ages, $15.

Sat. 4 p.m. Broadside, Squid Brothers Inc., Cut The Act, As Your Ghost Takes Flight, Government of Sheep, The Bronson Special, Along The Way, Automatic 253, Risk. All ages, $8/$10

Sun. 10 p.m. Pickaxe, Pablo, (TBA). Ages 21+, $5

Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100

Sun. 4 p.m.Billy O'neal

Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen

Fran's Pub

116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.

(215)862-5539

Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Night

Sat. 8 p.m. Sixty Sents

Sun. 3 p.m. Blue Reighn

Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam

All shows 21+

Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897

Thurs. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party

Fri. 8 p.m. Howie Day/Collide/Judith Owen w/ Leland Sklar. Doors at 6 p.m., $25

Sat. 7:30 p.m. David Uosikkinen / The Naturals Hosted by Pierre Robert of WMMR. Doors at 7 p.m., $35 (advance) $40 (day of show)

Sun. 3 p.m. Ladies 2000

Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridge

Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran & Friends

All shows 21+

Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435

Fri. 10 p.m. El Ka Bong

Sat. 10 p.m. Tangled
All shows 21+

John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981

Thurs. 9 p.m. The Matt Setzer Orchestra

Fri. 8 p.m. Eric Sommer

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Mike Montrey Band w/ The Williamsboy

Sun. 9:30 p.m. Weird Hot

Mon. Open Mic.

Wed. The Invitational (Featuring John & Peter's House Band)
All shows 21+

JoJo's Tavern

2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton

(609) 586-2678

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke

Millhill Basement

300 South Broad St. Trenton

(609) 989-1600

Fri. 9 p.m. "Mayo Es Impresionante" feat. Carlo Quinonez, Beverlymud, Gimmee Back My Sons. DJ Sets by DJ Cutlerly. Ages 21+, $5

Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979

Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Out of The Red

All shows 21+

Patriot's Crossing

1339 River Rd. Titusville

(609) 737-2780

Fri. 7:30 p.m. Astronaut Jones

Sat. 7:30 p.m. Blues In Disguise

Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008

Fri. 9:30 p.m. Ernie White & Tom Reock

Sat. 9:30 p.m. F2 and The Anchovy Brothers.

RHO Waterfront

50 Riverview Plaza Trenton

(609) 393-7300

Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Jeff Scott Gould

Fri. (4:30 p.m.) Matt & Rachel (8 p.m.) Eddie Testa Band (10 p.m.) DJ Jimmie Palumbo

All Shows 21+

Spigola Ristorante

3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd. Hamilton

Fri. 8:30 p.m. Acoustic Road

Sat. 8:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit

Sunsets at Cream Ridge

181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge

(609) 208-2500

Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Billy Simmons

Fri. (6 p.m.) Rob Silvers (9 p.m.) Tangled

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Melanie and Sonny

Mon. 7 p.m. Open Mic. and Karaoke w/ Rich Barry

Tavern On The Lake

101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345

Fri. 9 p.m. War Hammer

Sat. 9 p.m. Groove Pocket

Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night

The Cool Cricket

216 4th St. Fieldsboro

(609) 291-9110

Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Sat. 9 p.m. Polish Nannies

The Ivy Inn

248 Nassau St. Princeton

(609) 921-8555

Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr

Fri. 10 p.m. Alright Alright

Sat. 10 p.m. Diablo Sandwich

Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr

The Record Collector

358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown

(609) 324-0880

Fri. 8 p.m. Reach Around Rodeo Clowns / The Burliques. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (advance)

Sat. 8 p.m. Richard Barone & Friends / Nalani & Sarina. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $25 (advance).

The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007

Fri. 9 p.m. WE

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Deep Release

All shows 21+

The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200

Thurs. 7 p.m. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents: Legends. Doors at 6 p.m., $12, $25, $45, $80

Fri. 10:30 a.m./7 p.m.Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents: Legends. Doors 9:30am/6 p.m., $12, $25, $45, $80

Sat. 11 a.m./3 p.m./7 p.m. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents: $12, $25, $45, $80

Sun. 12 p.m./4 p.m. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents: Legends. $12, $25, $45, $80

Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554

Fri. 9 p.m. Tommy Glover

Sat. 9 p.m. Some Assembly Required

All shows 21+

Trenton Social

449 South Broad Street Trenton

(609) 989-7777

Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays

Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx

Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree

Tues. 9 p.m. LiveMusic/Open Mic.

Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300

Fri. 10 p.m. Christine Havrilla. $5 (coverage)

Sat. (1 p.m.) John Beacher & The Common Ground (10 p.m.)The Brummy Brothers $5 (cover charge)

Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night hosted by Something Shiny

All shows 21+

Villa Romanza

429 Rte. 156 Hamilton

(609) 585-1717

Sat. 8 p.m. "Honoring Mother's Day" Comedy Show feat. Julia Scott, Sandy Ehlers, Joan Weisblatt, Randi Lupo, Joan Syngonakis.

Wildflowers Inn

2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington

Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke

All shows 21+

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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 7:000pm EST on multiple internet radio outlets where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.

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