Confessions of my Undying Love

Dear Madam,

I'm Drowning. It's been about a year since we became acquainted. Truth be told I doubt either one of us thought this would ever go this far. We were introduced by mutual friends and I'll admit not much for first impressions. And to be honest some folks I know called you a jaded harlot bitch queen. So our ensuing courtship was delayed a bit. After time I came to realize they were jealous ex-lovers and pathetic admirers you had spurned. So one night I conspired with you to meet. We exchanged numbers and met that subsequent Tuesday.

Of course as with most girls ....um women your age I figured I'd likely deal with the bland conversation of your ex-girlfriend's crimes against you, and that you'd leave me alone for far too long to check your make-up in the bathroom. Imagine My utter elation when you indulged me with your stories of travel and new bold fashion tastes. We chatted about science and philosophy and even comics! Before too long and after several drinks we were both pretty drunk and it was last call. I'd like to tell a fairytale to our grandkids one day about how we kissed good night and went our separate ways only to meet later that week. We both know that wasn't the case. You certainly had other designs, altogether. You whispered to me, "Please take me back to your place." Of course I complied.

We whirlwinded into my place I threw on my itunes, and you ravaged me entirely. It was sexy! It was dirty! It was raw! And I fell for it hook line and sinker. I had to see you again! You obviously had other plans. I woke alone the next morning. I could still taste your lip gloss in my mouth. There was a note on the bed.

"Good times, Maybe I'll see you soon, Cutie!"
Hearts and Power Chords,
the Local Music Scene

Yes I called the day after. Damn the social bindings that state otherwise! I know a good thing when I see it. But you didn't answer. In retrospect I guess I'm happy you didn't call the cops when I started texting you daily. I even (I admit it) stalked you on facebook and myspace. But to my credit you were leaving comments on my page and you did accept my friend request. YOU EVEN TAGGED YOURSELF IN PICTURES I TOOK OF YOU OUT ON THE SCENE!

Social Awkwardness kept me from saying hi in person. It was like you were always with some other guy. "Turns out the Jackals were right!" I thought, "Harlot, Skank, Floosey!" But my heart knew otherwise. Months went by I grew cold, several relationships crashed and burned. When I saw you out you asked how things had been and how I was doing. "Like you give a shit!" I replied. And we'd argue about how much of an asshole I'd been the past few months. I couldn't do much more than agree with you and walk away. I was drinking a lot, my ambitions were lack luster and my love life was pretty hit and run. I guess I was missing the message, in that haze.

One day I'd had just about enough. I spent the weekend locked up and just figured out where I was headed. The only thing I've ever been really good at is taking pictures. I had some old photos of you when we hung out in New Brunswick circa 2002. I called you up, and you dug the idea. So I started taking pictures of you. You liked them! I was happy, you where happy, I even started writing about your adventures. People liked you! They wanted to know about you. So I asked questions and you answered. I did some video of you being you. People liked that too. We've been doing this thing where we hang out almost every weekend and a few times during the week for like six months now. I know you like me. I can see it in the pictures. I'll just be blunt. I'm drowning here! will you go steady with me or at least consider me on a reoccurring one night stand basis!?

Guns and Roses,
Zac Clark, Rocker Tycoon

Flashback to 2002

I found some pics shot back in 2002 when some friends and I used to run shows out of our basement. Back then I was just a straight edge kid hanging out in mosh pits and drinking Mountain Dew. I shot bands like Paulson, My Chemical Romance, and Armour for Sleep, some of these bands went on to make something of themselves! My friend Paul Cox (currently of the Wayward Winos and I worked on a scene zine we produced in out of our room called The Alternative. It's been 7 years and a lot has been going on since then but you can still see my style in these! Take a look at these shots!

The Rocker Tycoon turns 29 with The Great Nostalgic

Firstly, I want to impart to you a little life advice. If you decide that you should want to go out on the eve of your next birthday, take it easy. Try to keep a low profile, just enjoy the night’s entertainment, have a few drinks. Most importantly, make a break for the door before twelve. I’m a huge fan of the irish exit. That’s when you politely excuse yourself (normally pretending to go out for a smoke or to get some air or use the rest room) and then leave without saying goodbye to anyone. It might seem rude at first but believe me, if I had taken my own advice I would not have been so hungover on my birthday proper. Thanks to a few friends and some really great bands I erred on the side of a mind-shattering hangover on my birthday. I'm quite sure I manifested forms of telekinesis previously unheard of by mankind that day.

It all started when I walked into IM Automata Chino to see Marshall Mann behind the bar. I had been cleverly planning not to see anyone who’d know it was my birthday that night. Marshall, a friend of mine and fellow bartender, knew all too well. Shots flowed as u say usa took the stage. A happy go lucky group of troubadours. U say usa is Steven Nelson (vox,guitar,harp) Leif Nelson (drums) Mike Ishaya (bass). Steve also rocked the harmonica during the show. Their set was energetic and punchy. They went well with the whiskey that was forced upon me.

As I spiraled into a cavern of intoxication. Mister Badger set up! Mister Badger is Julia Rogers (bass, cello, lead vocals) Jahna Rain (guitar, vocals) Jim Geyer (ukulele, banjulele, Hawaiian steel guitar, plaid pants, strange accents) Zachary Eldridge (drums, percussion, cuteness, xylophone, vibraphone, sound effects). What a cool little band! Really cool sound. Jim's cavalcade of string instruments punctuates the band's unique sound. Julia and Julia sound like cherubs with guitars, and Zachary's percussion expertise carry's the whole thing steadily onward and upward. You can tell all 4 members of the band are having a great time, they’re all smiles and winks.

The Great Nostalgic got in touch with me a few weeks prior to make sure I was gonna be out at IMAC to see them. I have to say I’m flattered that a band all the way out from Austin Texas even knows about the Rocker Tycoon! All hail the power of the internet. The Great Nostalgic is Abram Shook(Guitar and Vox), JoBeth Cox (keys, vox) Mike Faircloth(keys), Vincent Durcan (drums), and James Miller (bass). Vincent and Mike ground the Band suberbly with all four wheels on the ground. Jobeth and Mike on the Keys add an element of kickshaw that most bands seem to overlook. The first thing you’ll notice about this group is Abram’s voice. It’s calm but hauntingly disturbed. It’s really hard to put it into words. It’s like the scene out of Akira, those children are so calm, but there’s something that doesn’t touch the ground about them. JoBeth tones in and it almost gives you goose pimples. The songs ranged from country infused new wave (County Line) to dance hall romps with a blues twist (Young Lovers). Music like this wasn’t produced when I was younger. You can hear influences from David Byrne, Joe Stummer, and the Killers all in the same song.

Looking back on the last 29 years, it’s interesting to see the evolution that music has taken. It’s wild to think of the amount of time I’ve been alive as an era, but if you listen to just the music that I’ve heard in that time, it would be hard to even think of it as just one era. So much has happened in the last three decades. Even the way the industry works has changed. Hell, the way we find out about new music has changed. The Digital Age has ushered in people like myself and Brooklyn Vegan as liaisons to the next big thing, musically. That sort of power wasn’t even a thought in my mind when I was 22 writing paper music zines to hand out at house shows. It’s been an enlightening time. I look forward to that role as the years continue to slide by.

Rockabilly Buenos Aires Style

As most of you know, my sister blog Wayward Winos is written by my best friend Paul Cox and his girlfriend Melanie McLean. Currently they are traveling through South America. I've been trying to get them to get me a post for the last few months, and here it is. Keep in mind all this week there's gonna be a new post everyday! Make sure to check out their blog and if all goes right I'll be joining them in a few weeks for a my hand at a travel post!



Growing up, bringing a camera to a show was almost unheard of. All the jumping, moshing, and dancing would most certainly lead to the demise of any object in your pockets. I can't count the pairs of glasses I've broke or the sets of keys I've lost. Now, as a self proclaimed journalist and blogger, these ideas have changed.

So there I was, at The Roxy, in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires, a second resort after our, per usual, tardiness. While waiting for an unknown band to take the stage, I noticed many of the girls in the room were adorning a haircut in the image of Betty Page, but I payed no mind. Suddenly, the curtains were pulled open to reveal three people: one standing behind a drum set, one behind a guitar, and another behind a stand-up base... We had stumbled unknowingly into a Rockabilly show-- and I hadn't a camera!

This surely would be cause for execution at the hands of the Rocker Tycoon, Zac Clark, so I chugged what was left of my beer and sprinted the eight blocks back to our apartment to retrieve the device, then sprinted the eight blocks back to the show.

When I returned, Melanie had a fresh brew waiting for me and Los Primitivos were in the middle of a cover of "Ball & Chain" by Social Distortion. Although, it was a rocking version, I was a little worried that we were in the midst of a cover show. They soon broke out into lyrics I didn't really understand and I was reassured that I was at my first South American Rockabilly show.

Phonzy behind the stand-up bass, aptly named the Slap Rod, carried the band in stage presence; bouncing about and using his bass like his dance partner. The other two members, Uru. Cat on guitar and Animal Lee on drums, followed closely behind, wailing out and having a jolly good time.

Since I speak Spanish just as well as I speak Klingon, I didn't get many of the lyrics, but the sound was enough to make you want to dance. Songs like "Whiskey en el Tren" and "Primitivo" showed the true colors of good Rockabilly.

For a band that has been rocking out since 1988, Los Primitivos definitely can still put on a great show.

Check out clips from the concert and our relaxed interview with the band outside of The Roxy, Buenos Aires.





________________________________________________________________________________________
Paul is a traveler, budding writer and beer connoisseur. He's recently been featured on the short fiction blog hypershort.blogspot.com. Melanie finds herself behind a camera of some sort most of the time. See more of her work at www.melaniemcleanphoto.com.

Together, Melanie and Paul are The Wayward Winos. The pair has been waywardly wondering around South America, documenting their adventures. They seek unique aspects of frequent travel destinations as well as the hidden gems, share their impressions and pass along travel tips for the low-budget traveler. Join the wayward travels at www.waywardwinos.blogspot.com.

Star Trek, and PJ Bond.... whats not to love!

Friday Afternoon I called up my good friend Steve Guzman to go see the Star Trek Movie. We made it out for the 4:15 show. Which admittedly is a little late for a show at the Newport mall. School is out. Teenagers hooligans and all types of unsavory characters (including the two of us) are at large. Still the theatre was pretty empty and we made it to a decent spot and buckled down to geek out! Of course we had to deal with the common problems of this theatre, constant talking, cell phone calls and the like. We even moved once just to get away from all the chatter. Still the movie was great, I suggest you see it, as a non trekkie, I really dug it.

Afterwords we went to White Star grabbed a little food and a few (or more) drinks. I made my exit knowing that I wanted to make it out to IMAC to see PJ Bond (former member of Outsmarting Simon). I got home, showered to get the stank off, and headed back out for the venue.

Ladyfingers was about halfways thru his set. Ladyfingers is Adam Weiner, playing Guitar singing and rocking the stompbox. This guy is a solo act playing three parts. I have trouble peeing and standing up somedays, this dude has a gift! A combination of quick witted lyrics, old fashioned shoe stomping, and concrete rock/folk guitar really piqued my interest. That and when he asked a couple in the audience if they were married, they replied no, and then he paused and apologized for any awkwardness he might have caused in the sort of way you knew was half meant. He just put out a vinyl release and his music is available for download at http://ladyfingers.org for any price you choose! That’s right you can pay $.01 or you can pay $1,000,000. Don’t be a cheap ass pay a few bucks at least!

Celebrator began just a little while after. Celebrator is the Brainchild of Jason Primavera and Tim Sullivan. These guys totally elude me as far as classification. Ambient Rock?
Background trance? I HAVE NO IDEA I’ve never heard anything like it. It was like a social experiment in rock. I’ll have to check these guys out again, it was their first time together. I look forward to seeing what becomes of it all.

Afterwards I’d say PJ Bond hit the stage. But instead of getting on stage he decided to take a spot down with the crowd. And get a little closer to his friends and fans. I gotta say it takes balls to come don to the level of the masses. Thankfully the venue and the movie theatre had two distinct differences. The first being that the people there were actually interested in what they were their for, the second was that everyone kept quiet and listened. Since he was the final band and I had time left on my camcorder, I decided I’d record the entire set! I love the fact that he came down into the crowd to play. I was able to get around him for some pretty interesting shots. The crowd tosses him suggestions and he played some Outsmarting Simon stuff as well. It was a cool and intimate moment with a local artist!

Cinco de Mayo with Deivito and Kagero

As with most cultural holidays punctuated by drinking, I like to assume the culture in question and have a few of their native beverages. So, you’ll undertstand when I say on Cinco de Mayo, I navigated through a haze of tequila to see Deivito and Kagero at Lucky 7 tavern. For the record Anejo style tequila margaritas are really the only way to go. I got in a bit early to touch base with James Dower, the fellow who is in charge of the booking there. I wanted to know how bands might be able to get in touch with him to play. If you contact James at L7showcase@gmail.com that’s the very best way to get in touch with him. Also there will be a Myspace page up very soon too.

Robbie of Tip Canary starts the night off with a few songs. A couple of folk style tunes get the crowd rosined up. After a little bit of Mexican cuisine (quesadillas and tortilla chips with nacho cheese) and several beverages. Deivito got his groove on. His style is a really energetic mash of traditional latino folk and punk rock. He’s got a serious stage presence too! He goes between being reverant and popping off a joke or two inbetween songs. As his set moves on he adds more members to his “solo” act. Wes and Robbie from Tip Canary and Matt of the Mcmickle Bros. make appearances. He played one of my favs Salsa y Ketchup. At the end of the set everyone’s stomping and clapping and I’m left wondering how he can really say he’s a solo act at all, the whole damn bar is singing along and hooting and hollering!

To be totally honest there was a band inbetween Deivito and Kagero called Rainbow Fresh. I got to hear a few songs from them and the crowd had been sufficiently warmed up so everyone was enjoying them, but I ran back to my pad to grab something and I regret to say I missed most of their set. When I got back to the bar they were just finishing up.


Kagero finished the night in style! Bringing their patented brand of Japanese Gypsy Punk to a very receptive crowd, this time the whole trio was at large. Rob Simpson on bass Kaz on Harmonica vox and guitar, and JW on Violin. Dancing ensued. In fact between, Deivis and I there was no choice but to feel the holiday spirit. They busted into My Daddy was a Thief and the whole bar proved it on thick. These cats always show up to entertain. If it’s the first time you’ve seen them or the fifteenth they always leave you wanting more.

Important Notes....

Early last week I was approached, via email, by Jon Whiten of Jersey City Independent. We hit it off it seems and now I'm going to be splitting up my time between here and there. You can still expect the same kind of coverage I give here once or twice a week, and you can find me posting there too! I'll be covering shows, EP and LP reviews and Band Bios. It's a step in the right direction and I'm really excited that I'm getting this kind of recognition! Having said that, there are a few people who are responsible either directly or indirectly that I'd like to thank for the their support.


The Wayward Winos
When Paul and Melanie decided to travel South America, I have to admit I was a little jealous. When they told me they'd be blogging while they were down there I decided I'd do the same for my exploits in Jersey City. They had a cool slick name, I figured I might as well give myself a moniker as well. The Rocker Tycoon was born! It's been a constant competition between us to have better stories and coolest pictures, and although they still have me beat in both categories, my constant proximity to internet access gives me the edge in consistency. We've all three been pushing each other to the limit and without them I probably would have given up after a month of this.

@DrewMerc
Andrew Mercurio: Local Jersey City Citizen and man about town. The two of us are constantly chatting it up via Twitter. We started getting together a local clutch of twitter followers. He keeps it fun and simple, let's you know what he's upto without telling you about the bathroom stops.

The bands
If I list you all I'm at risk of missing a few of you. Suffice it to say without you this would be impossible. You've all been infinitely gracious, and pretty damned awesome. For the bands I knew about and hunted down as a fan: Thanks for giving a nod to an average guy. For the bands that I found out about while doing this: I had no idea that when I started doing this some of you would be in the top ten of songs played on my Ipod!

The Venues and Promoters
Of course a little free press never hurt anyone, but most of you are tripping over yourselves to make me feel comfortable. Jen, James, Steve, Eric, Mike, Mark and the many bartenders along the way.

Kate Connolly
My partner in crime and longtime photobuddy. Years ago we were both just waiter/waitresses at a restaurant in New Brunswick talking about the day when we could make a living taking pictures. We always stressed that talking about it wasn't good enough. Deeds not words, or in this case photos. Years later we both went on to work for ourselves as photographers, using each other's advice and equipment. Today she's living out in California, but if my luck holds she's due back out in NJ for good real soon.

Fellow Locals
It's you cats that really I owe the biggest thanks to. Just knowing that you dig the scene and that you want the music in town to flourish, is good enough. Sometimes I'm at a show and someone I didn't even know will come up and just tell me they dig what I'm doing! That's pretty damned rad that people I've never met are reading my stuff. Also to see whats up in town Dancin' Tony is the guy to know. He responsible for most of my local image no doubt.

Also in other news I'm publishing a photobook soon. So I'll keep you updated on that! I'll be posting a bunch more soon but I wanted to go ahead get that out. Again Thank you all for your support, Bands keep me updated via Rockertycoon@gmail.com and If you have music you want me to checkout, get in touch, I'd be happy to oblige!

Also Youtube has my videos from shows at:
Zac's Youtube

And my photos are generally up on Flickr within a few days:
Zac's Flickr