(JERSEY CITY, NJ) --Why settle for rocking around the Christmas tree this holiday season when you can party with the Jersey City Fire Department and rock around downtown Jersey City instead? Stop, Drop, and Crawl – A First Responder Themed bar Crawl – takes place in downtown Jersey City on December 2 at 3:00pm, culminating in a show by hometown rockers, MoTHER, at White Eagle Hall at 8:00pm. Portions of all ticket sales will go to the Jersey City Fire Department Holiday Toy Drive. Ticket holders are requested to bring new toys that be collected at White Eagle Hall. The event also features giveaways, raffles, drink specials and other prizes.
For more than 20 years, the JCFD has sponsored a very successful toy drive during the holiday season, an event started by Jersey City fire Capt. Mark V. Lee, who passed away in 2014. The firefighters have continued this tradition of giving in his honor, but this year has added a hefty pour of Rock & Roll. The 2017 Toy Drive – which is also the unofficial JCFD Holiday Party –features a Holiday Pub Crawl that culminates with a Rock Concert at White Eagle Hall, headlined by MoTHER, a hard rock band now on the Flextone Records label. MoTHER has toured extensively receiving critical acclaim and a growing fan-base. MoTHER has played with Slash, Pop Evil, Godsmack, and Red Sun Rising and opened for Buckcherry at White Eagle Hall in July. They will be joined on the bill by Ten Ton Mojo and a special appearance by FDJC Emerald Society Pipes & Drums.
MoTHER – a powerhouse hard rock ensemble with bluesy grooves and heavy guitar-driven riffs – features front-man Nick Fargo, guitarist Mike Gowen, bassist Jaron Gulino and drummer Dan Traglia and has a unique Jersey City connection. Fargo is also a Jersey City firefighter, and the band enjoys a die-hard following among Hudson County residents, especially our first responders. It was his idea to expand the Toy Drive to not just include music, but the entire community, both natives and newcomers.
“The toy drive has been going on for a long time,” says Fargo. “I helped deliver toys with a few friends last year and noticed the positive impact the drives has on the community. I also noticed how much it grows with each passing year. I decided to take the draw of the band, add the bar crawl for a fun and interactive experience, and use all of this to bring awareness and help to the Toy Drive. I am completely a third party just looking to push it even further into the light. Jersey City is expanding rapidly and there are a lot of new residents unaware of how active the Fire and Police Departments are in the community. Hopefully this can get everyone together in a creative way.”
All tickets include the concert, which begins at 8:00. The pub crawl begins at 3:00pm at White Eagle Hall, with registration and toy drop/off. The local tavern tour takes place in this order: Pet Shop, Lucky 7's, Healy's Tavern and concludes at White Eagle Hall. Drink specials and other holiday fun will be available at each stop along the crawl.
Originally constructed in 1910, the newly restored White Eagle Hall is an impressive new venue for arts and entertainment, including concerts, theater, performances and other events in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. White Eagle Hall features complete food & beverage service, with two bars on the mezzanine level and one on the balcony level. The restoration enhanced the intimacy and charm of this historic venue while adding the latest in sound and lighting technology, creating a distinctive and memorable audience experience.
White Eagle Hall is located at 335-337 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey.
