Tuesday Night with Kagero at Lucky 7 Tavern

It's been a long time coming. I've seen Brooklyn's Premier Japanese Gypsy rock band something like 6 times. My first bad shoot in a bout four years was of these fellas back in late Dec. I was trying to figure out a project for myself. That was a few weeks before my first post. But in the last few months I haven't been able to get out to their shows. So a staple part of the Jersey City band social scene has been missing. Well no longer! It was a beautiful Tuesday night, if not a little muggy as I left home for Lucky 7 Tavern.


The McMickle Bros. started off the show. This was a last minute gug for these boys. This performance included a special treat. John Clifton (keys) was playing with them. One of many great things about the Mcmickle Bros. is they are part of a tightly knit crew that hails from Montclair. Virtually everytime one of these bands plays (Mcmickle Bros., Tip Canary, Bern and the Brights, Deivito! even The Crosstown County All-stars) there's a great showing of the other bands. It's refreshing to see that kind of support locally. Robbie from Tip Canary and Deivis of Deivito fame where on hand for the set as well as plenty of fresh faces from the Montclair area!

The McMickle Bros. have appeared in my work several times, if you don't know about them check out my post on them and on the One and Nines. I'm gonna tell you about how John's slick work on the keys really added a synergy to songs I now know by heart. Filling in areas that I never would have thought needed any help with some piano sounded interminably entertaining and well thought out. There was some dancing and foot stomping and plenty of singing along for everyone!

Kagero is one of the wildest and most innovative bands I've seen and heard locally or otherwise. They blend crafty violin solos with rocking harmonica driven bridges solid backing bass, and break out guitar verses. The bands Front man Kaz, certainly pulls the gypsy look off well. From the scarves, and fedoras right down to the small details, like his steampunk goggles! JW the bands Violinist also pulls out that anachronistic feel generally wearing a suit and keeping it classy. Rob (who was out for the night) is a touch more lax in his garb. Jeans and a rock T shirt will always do the trick no matter what kind of music you play. Last time I saw them Rob was rocking a Heart tee.

All of this is well and good but it doesn't tell you whats inherently important about this band. What do they sound like? Well it's like a slow motion riot that builds up over time. Sometimes they start out slow other times they jump right into the rock! They go from folky and shift gears right into dance rock, and then jump train for a little rock ballad. Few songs implement this as well as "Red and Black" it starts off with a little harmonica and Kaz let's you know about his colour fetish. Then the chorus demands a tango beat the brigde duels the harmonica and Violin, and slows back down for the 2nd verse. It's fun and it's something you don't hear everyday. The crowd was in a full on dance mode by the time they got finished. And we weren't letting them go anywhere without an encore!

Just as Kagero finished their set. It started to rain. They had apparently pleased Old Kuraokami. They had pleased me at the very least. After the show I sat down and had a few drinks with the gang. Matt Sam Robbie Deivis and several hangers on took a walk after the rain died down and we crawled around to a few other bars. Like the busted tilt-o-whirl we represented, eventually all this fun had to shut-down. There's no denying that for a Tuesday night it was one crazy time!

A Night Out with my Two Dads!

Weird things ensue when worlds collide! But sometimes when it happens and makes for a good anecdote. Last Summer, I worked the Country Rock BBQ at Lucky 7. This the first of what was to become a series of monthly rock events from Lucky 7 Tavern. I was excited because the world famous Clark Bros. (The Baron Von Rosky Kralc and One Eyed Connivin' Ivan) were going to be the opening band. That's right true believers my pop and uncle were going to be getting together to play a set. I had also booked The Cross-town Country All Stars. So you'll understand when I say I was both excited and nervous to see how the crowd would react to two very real country acts. Everything went off without a hitch and both bands picked and grinned their ways into the hearts of this Jersey City dive.

Let me cut to the point! You're most likely curios about my title. Everyone had thought that Ace Case of the Cross-town Country All Stars was my dad. In the excitement of the day I had forgotten to introduce my father to the crowd. Fast forward to a few months later when I tell everyone that my dad will be coming back! So they assumed that the tall goofy cat(I mean that in the best possible way) from the C.T.C.A. was my dad. Of course, this got around and it became an inside joke between the three of us. Ace would go on to play several more shows around town with C.T.C.A. and on his own. He would shout out into the crowd, "There's my son, good to see he's out tonight!" To which my only reply could be, "You're not my real dad!" We'd have a good laugh whether or not anyone got it.

Once again titans clashed and they both played this Mardi Gras. My Dad, my real one, covers Mojo Nixon's Don Henley Must Die w/ Uncle John Becker. Ace Plays Douglas MacArthur (the Ha Ha song) And I made sure to get plenty of pictures and video. The quality of the videos is so much better! See for yourself!

Aint Nothin but a good time

Last night, after the picking up of some much needed laundry (Thank you Laundry City and co) and having what I believe to be jersey city's, and perhaps the universes, best general Tsao's Chicken (Sen Hai). I ventured out into the breach for a night of wanderlust and rock and roll.
I started out at Lamp Post on 2nd Street. Fellow Bartender and Rock Doctor Ryan Stevens' band was playing under the moniker PLOWING MUD FOREVER. Enclosed are some shots from the crowd. I got in a few songs and shot a video of one from my phone from these Jersey City Rockers before I realized the time and had to dash for the next bar. I scheduled an interview with PMF and moved on to Lucky 7 Tavern for Glen Coleman. I got a few shots of Glen and talked to some folks about meeting up later. Basically, I laid the ground work for a few future posts went out had a good time, drank a few closed down the bar and went home. Between the drinking the nights music and the snow, it was kind of surreal.