By Danny Coleman
originally published: 08/06/2014
"Riot On The Dance Floor" is a soon to be released film documentary about the now legendary City Gardens, a now long defunct music club/venue, situated in a ghetto neighborhood of Trenton, NJ. Bands such as the Ramones, Green Day and Henry Rollins, as well as punk and thrash metal bands frequented its stage; many with regularity.
"The club was dark, dingy and yet it worked," said the venue's main man and booking agent; DJ Randy Now. "Funny thing is that everybody wants to talk to me about it but it (the club) never would've happened without the Nalbone family. They did the dirty work, they handled the politics, bar, the government and fixed the very bad leaking roof."
Now's involvement with the club came about the old fashioned way, before social media and the internet, "I answered an ad in the Trentonian newspaper. I wanted to take this from a blues to a new wave club, the first week didn't go so well but then the college kids found out about it and it soon became a hundred to sometimes two hundred people in the place."
"Why did I make this film? I made it because I went to the club," said the film's maker Steve Tozzi. "I met a lot of people there; interesting people, people who shaped my youth. It was the uniqueness of the club, that's what it was, there were not many like it around. There was Max's in Kansas City, CBGB in New York or the 930 Club in D.C. and that was about it. Trenton was not a city like New York or D.C where there were already people there; people came to Trenton just for the club. The location didn't do the club much good, it was an old building and a tough place but Randy, he was the polar opposite. He wanted to build a scene and he did build it; he pushed the music not the bar. I also wanted to do a story on New Jersey, something unique to Trenton and to the state so..."
With that, Tozzi began his quest to bring the club's history to film. The countless musicians who passed through its doors all had stories to tell, from the punk rockers to Joan Jett; City Gardens and even Now himself, housed and heard just about everything there was to hear from these unique acts. "You wouldn't believe the people who slept on my couch," says Now with a chuckle. "That place brought so many famous or now famous people to Trenton."
"I started filming three years ago at rough intervals," explains Tozzi. "Trying to find audio and artists who played there multiple times wasn't easy; the place closed down nearly twenty years ago and they stopped with live bands before that. Then there was a question of financing the film, I used a Kickstarter for the funding and the film production ended last summer. The last thing we shot was footage from inside the club itself and it wasn't a lot of footage; the video quality came out poor so we relied more on still photos."
A youthful Tozzi frequented the club during its glory years and mentions bands such as Jack Irons, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Shades and The Groceries, along with personal favorites Johnny Pompadour and Sim Cain as memories and part of the club's storied past. "Early punk bands, fellow radio DJs, ska bands were the biggest players but Pompadour stayed with the club a long time and was a great story teller. He was the best interview I've ever had. During the filming, I learned so much, these bands all trusted Randy, a lot of people knew that they could count on him; lots of bands praised him without being prompted to do so."
In a recent interview with Now, he was asked about his role and/or perceived impact on these bands and artists lives and careers; his response was akin to that of an hourly employee and not a man who had an eye for raw talent. "I blush," he laughed loudly. "I just did my job. I never once asked for a photo or an autograph for the first two years but then it went from fun to a job. I never used the word lucky, it wasn't luck that brought these acts in; it was hard work dealing with it all. We had no book, no instructions to follow, we just did it."
Now laughs when asked about the film and the recently released book about the club titled "No Slam Dancing, No Stage Diving, No Spikes Allowed" the title taken from a sign that adorned the club wall. "Steve was another one who said to me, "I wanna make a film on City Gardens." So I gave him Ken Salerno's information and it just went from there. I've heard that so many times, from so many people, that I just kind of figured, yeah well, ok, good luck. It never fails to surprise me how the club still intrigues people."
Armed with information and memories, Tozzi set out to prove to Randy that he was different than the others. "I went to the club but only during a certain time frame; for the film I wanted to get it all. I wanted to know what went on before I started going, what it took to produce a show. I discovered that most of the bands came for Randy. Randy explained what he as a promoter actually did; there were times he paid out of pocket to cover the bands and I learned about what he did, about the amount of work that went into one show for one night. Getting that information from Randy was huge, the musicians viewed City Gardens as a stopover, a go between their gigs in New York City and Philly or Washington D.C."
The club had major issues over its existence. Fights, riots and general ill will permeated the club's atmosphere at times and it eventually played a role in the building shuttering its doors. "The club turned violent," says "No Slam Dancing...." author Amy Yates Wuelfing. "When it closed for good in 1999, there was just too much going on between Randy, Frank the owner, lawsuits, etc.; it just wasn't worth keeping open." Now has a similar, yet different view on things, "They stopped having bands in '94; it was all DJs from that point on. I stuck around until '96 but then I left. I don't know, it ran its course I guess. Clubs like Katmandu took over the scene but hey, how many clubs or bars that had bands can say that they were open and kept it going for twenty years?"
Tozzi shot footage, researched, interviewed and even followed Randy around, setting up radio and print interviews in hopes of learning more or obtaining a new tidbit of information that perhaps Now had not divulged during any times prior. When asked about their expectations of the film, the two men have viewpoints as different as their personalities. When asked about his legacy and the film, his response was candid yet typical Randy, "I hope in my heart, oh geez I don't know," he started and stopped, as if in a rare moment, he was lost for words. "The biggest surprise about the place, was that it was in Trenton. A capital city town with no book stores and no movie theaters; yet somehow we succeeded. The Film? We'll have to just wait and see; it could flop (laughing) or propel us into the stratosphere. I don't know but we'll find out soon." Tozzi's reply was more in line with what one might expect from a relatively new film maker; applauding the process and the journey more so than any possible rewards. "My expectations were never low but I didn't do this to make money. My goal was to tell the story and encapsulate what the club meant to those who went there and to Randy; so as far as I am concerned my expectations have been met. Anything beyond that is great but to tell the story and what I just said about Randy was kind of my goal; so yeah, anything else above that is a bonus."
"Riot On the Dance Floor" has been featured on former City Gardens bartender Jon Stewart's Daily Show and been hand picked by several independent film festivals; most recently by one in New Hope, PA. This Monday and Tuesday August 11 and 12 the film has sold out both showings at Randy Now's Man Cave, the current home of Now's latest venture, located at 134 Farnsworth Ave. in Bordentown City, NJ. The Man Cave features collectibles, rare records and recordings and is full of curiosities. These two shows at The Man Cave have Tozzi right on schedule with the film and its release. "I had planned on showing the film now in the summer with a DVD release by the end of the summer. I've been asked why I'm releasing the two so close together and I want to get it out there. I've been approached by some theaters but not too much in that way, so I can release it on my terms like this."
To find out more about "Riot On The Dance Floor" please go to www.citygardensfilm.com . To discover more about Randy Now's Man Cave, please visit www.mancavenj.com .
Leading up to the film's showing is another great show at The man Cave. Prolific songwriters Keith Monacchio and Jessica Paris will be performing on Saturday August 9. The cost is only $5 and there are only thirty tickets sold. This is also a BYOB event!
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS
Alchemist & Barrister
28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 10 p.m. John Morrison Jazz Trio
Sun. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson
Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night
All shows 21+
Amarones Windsor Inn
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Scott Gager & Debbie
Fri. 8 p.m. The Gyrl Band
Sat. 8 p.m. Tony Malandro
Tues. 7:30 p.m. Texas Hold'em
Wed. 7 p.m. FREE Salsa Lessons
Big Shots Bar and Grill/Hebe Music Lounge
835 E Rte. 130 South, Burlington
(609) 267-1200
Fri. 8 p.m. Hollystock Kick Off Show w/ Midnight Mosaic
Sat. Hollystock Music Festival in Downtown Mt. Holly (All day) (10:30 p.m.) Hollystock After Party at Big Shots
Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic.
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Ritchie Cole 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
Fri. 7 p.m. Syka, Forbidden Territory, Sycarian, Unkempt Harold, Fatal Verdict. All ages, $8/$10
Sat. 4 p.m. This or The Apocalypse, Those Who Fear, Silent Planet, Proletariat, Inventure, DieVersE, Premonitions, Regressor. All ages. $13/$15
Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
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
Sun. 3 p.m. Infinite Bandwidth
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam hosted by Jimmy Pritchard
All shows 21+
Halo Pub
4617 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-1811
Sat. 7 p.m. (TBA)
Halo Pub
9 Hullfish St. Princeton
(609) 921-1710
Sat. 6 p.m. (TBA)
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. (7 p.m.) Sip & Style (10 p.m.) Beat the Clock College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 8 p.m. Grateful Dead Tribute/Jerry Garcia Memorial Show "'64-'74 the Pigpen Years" feat. Box of Rain. Doors at 6 p.m., $15
Sat. 8:30 p.m. FM
Sun. 3 p.m. Southern Rock Tribute w/ Southern Steel
Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridge
Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran w/ Jaime Garamella, Jeannine Hebb
All shows 21+
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 10 p.m. The Dawgs
Sat. 10 p.m. Anchovy Brothers
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 10 p.m. Mike DiAlto's Stand Up Comedy Show
Fri. 9 p.m. Rainbow Fresh
Sat. 3 p.m. Crosscut Saw
Sun. (3 p.m.) The Fermenters (9:30 p.m.) Chris Padgett of the Stereofidelics
Mon. Open Mic. w/ Chris
Wed. The Invitational (Featuring John & Peter's House Band)
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern
2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Sat. 10 p.m. Matt & Rachel Duo
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Paint the Roses Tea and Café Restaurante
37 W. Broad St. Hopewell
(609) 466-8200
Sat. 11 a.m. Bryan Hill
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. 7:30 p.m. Steve Bross
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Danielle Stewart
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. No Way Out
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Polish Nannies
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Jeff Scott
Fri. (5 p.m.) Sarah Copley. $10 Buffet (9 p.m.) Kindred Spirit (10:30 p.m.) DJ Jimmie Palumbo
All Shows 21+
Spigola Ristorante
3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd. Hamilton
(609) 585-5255
Sat. 8:30 p.m. After Dark Band
Sunsets at Cream Ridge
181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-2500
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Psycho Misfits
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Today's Country w/ The Ride
Tavern On The Lake
101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. Groove Pocket
Sat. 9 p.m. Anything Goes
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket
216 4th St. Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. School of Rock Performances
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr
Fri. 10 p.m. DJ Darius
Sat. 10 p.m. Sharks On Bicycles
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr
The Man Cave
134 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Sat. 8 p.m. Keith Monacchio / Jessica Paris Doors at 7:30 p.m., $5, BYOB
The Record Collector
358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Fri. 8 p.m. Tempest "25th Anniversary tour." All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $15 (advance)
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. New Dawn
Sat. 9 p.m. DJ Aero
All shows 21+
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check web site for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Oliver McElhone
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Taylor Reed
All shows 21+
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays Presents: The King of Arcade
Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx
Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree
Tues. 7 p.m. Young Non-profit Professionals Network
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Thurs. 10 p.m. DJ Trubblemaker
Fri. Splintered Sunlight. $5 (cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Girls Guns and Glory. $5 (cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Rakim. $45
Tues. 9 p.m. Christian Lee Hutson
Wed. 9 p.m. Heather Luttrell & The Possumden
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
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.
EVENT PREVIEWS
South Jersey Jazz Society's Concert on the Beach with the PJ Keiter Octet Set for June 5th
(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- For the fifth year, the South Jersey Jazz Society (SJJS) will "unofficially" kick off the summer beach concerts on the William Morrow Beach in Somers Point with music by the PJ Keiter Octet on Friday, June 5, 2026.
The Vogel presents Pete Yorn Solo Acoustic: 25th Anniversary of "musicforthemorningafter"
(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Vogel presents Pete Yorn Solo Acoustic: 25th Anniversary of musicforthemorningafter on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 8:00pm. The New Jersey native celebrates the release of his debut album, which put him in the national spotlight.
Concerts in the Studio presents Bastards of Fine Arts on June 5th
(FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Concerts in the Studio presents Bastards of Fine Arts on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 7:30pm. The band includes Matt Keating, Jason Mercer, Steve Mayone, and Greg Wieczorek. You could say they are a new band with old roots.
The Newton Theatre presents L.A. Guns on June 6th
(NEWTON, NJ) -- L.A. Guns comes to The Newton Theatre on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 8:00pm. The band has been rocking for roughly 40 years since establishing themselves as the undisputed sleaze kings of the Sunset Strip, and, eventually, the world.
Jazz Royalty Comes to the Hamilton Stage on June 6th
(RAHWAY, NJ) -- Saturday, June 6, 2026 marks the date when Jazz Royalty comes to Hamilton Stage with Dizzy Gillespie alumni and Grammy winning bassist John Lee in collaboration with 16-time Grammy winner Paquito D' Rivera.
The Chamber Music Society of North Jersey presents "Music Under the June Moon" at Anderson Park
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Chamber Music Society of North Jersey presents "Music Under the June Moon" on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Anderson Park. Bring a picnic and a blanket and enjoy an al fresco performance under the stars. Admission is free. Showtime is 7:30pm.
Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "The Boss Bash" featuring The B-Street Band
(MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre will host its annual fundraising event, "The Boss Bash," on Saturday, June 6, 2026, featuring two electrifying performances by The B-Street Band — the longest-running and most requested tribute to Bruce Springsteen in the country.
Sinatra Celebration Concert To Swing in Ocean Grove This June
(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Sinatra Celebration Concert, a theatrical special event to honor the legendary career of musical icon Frank Sinatra, is being presented by producer Karen Morris of Sand Castle Communications and The Rat Pack Music Alliance.
Broadcast Legend Sid Mark to be Remembered at Ocean Grove Event on June 7th
(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Sid Mark, the popular and iconic radio host, sadly passed away four years ago, on April 18th, 2022. Sid’s son Brian Mark, Executive Producer of Orange Productions' nationally syndicated radio program The Sounds of Sinatra with Sid Mark, will be a very special host/guest speaker, at a musical event which will highlight the legacy of his father and celebrate the 70th Anniversary of The Sounds of Sinatra broadcast program.
Prudential Center presents Mexican superstar Carín León on June 7th
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Mexican superstar Carín León entered a bold new chapter of his acclaimed career with the release of Muda - his new studio album and one of the most eclectic of his catalog. See for yourself when he performs at the Prudential Center on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Showtime is 8:00pm.
MORE EVENTS
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