After last night (June 2) at the Lamp Post I can now say with impunity that the
Jersey City rock scene is undergoing a renaissance. Just a couple of
years ago it was a struggle to find a spot to see live bands in town.
This week I was able to make it out to three shows and I even missed a
show do to work. Last night's show was the cream of the crop, with Nikki
Sue & the Bad News, Crazy & the Brains, They Live, and Theodore Grimm.
The place was packed for most of the night.
Nikki Sue & the Bad News lead off the night. A Country rock quartet from
the heights, They combine the the vocal styling of some of the 1950's
great country female singers with a tangy guitar and steady bass &
drums. Tonight Nikki Sue said goodbye to one member of the Bad News and
hello to a new member. Bassist Mike Petzinger is tagging out and New
Drummer, Jonathan Buscema is tagging in. Nikki Sue (vox/guitar) and Ben
Hutcheon (Guitar) remain in the ring.
Batting second, Christopher Urban (vocals/guitar), Jeffery Rubin
(xylophone/glokenspeil/vocals), Brett Miller (bass/background vocals),
Lawrence Miller (drums) of Crazy & the Brains. All the classic rock
elements are here. Lead singer with ship captain's hat, guitar, drums
and just to throw you for a loop Xylophone! I have to say that rock
Jeffrey on xylophone is kind of wild. This cat holds four sticks and
plays two boards! That all that while he sings back up. C&tB is nothing
if not super fun! These fellas don't take themselves too seriously. That
makes for some really hilarious songs and great lyrics to boot.
They Live on the other hand is about as serious as it gets. Remember
that movie… the one with Rowdy Ronnie Piper, where he puts on a pair of
wayfarers and sees aliens. Pat (vox), Tommy (bass), Sean (guitar), Jon
(drums), and Mikey (organ) and a hurricane of punk rock. These guys are
so serious about this movie they devoted a band around the concept. I
mean don't get me wrong it's about as campy as you could get but the
"tents" in this camp are so huge it's like going to the circus. Speaking
of circus this was their last show for a while as their bassist Tom will
be making the circus circuit (say that three times fast) to be a sword
swallower. I can't make this stuff up.
Cleaning up, Theodore Grimm. TG is David (vox), Mark (guitar) Chucky
(drums) and JJ (bass). Theodore Grimm is driven by there rhythm section,
solid back beat and bass combined with melodic vocals and conquering
guitar bring a unique and very professional sound to the North Jersey
Scene. David's attitude on the mic really pops the music. Seeing them
live is a must these fellas bring a really amazing energy on stage.
After the show I walked down to Brunswick street and did some Press
shots with They Live. With my duties over for the night, I made for the
train. Sufficiently rocked out with good friends, whiskey sated and ears
ringings life doesn't get much better.
Zac Clark, Rocker Tycoon 
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