FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH CHUCK SCHAFER OF BARRY AND THE PENETRATORS
2. THE ATARIS AND VENDETTA RED - OCTOBER 13
3. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This Week at The Stone Pony: Slightly Stoopid (Wednesday), Seth Yacovone Band (Friday), Pro Skateboard Shop "Throwdown" with Borialis (Saturday), Local Matinee (Sunday)
New on the Pony Calendar: Splintered Sunlight 10th Anniversary Celebration (September 26 & 27), Vertical Horizon (September 30), Tantric (October 12), The Ataris and Vendetta Red (October 13), The 11th Annual Asbury Music Awards (October 15), Sebastian Bach (October 18 & 19), Girlz Garage (October 21), Echo and the Bunnymen (October 24), Mountain (November 7)
AFTER TWO YEARS, BARRY AND THE PENETRATORS RETURN TO THE STONE PONY
The diversity of the local music scene may be one of its best-kept secrets. While fans around the world know the arena rock, and r&b sounds that the area has made famous, less well-known are the alternative and underground scenes that have allowed countless local talents to have impressive musical careers performing and touring around the world. One of these sounds, best known as a product of Jamaica by way of Southern California, are the reggae dub grooves of Barry and the Penetrators, who make their long-awaited return to the Pony opening for Borialis at the Pro Skateboard Shop "Throwdown" on Saturday, September 20. The quintet, several of whom have been around the Jersey scene for years, are hoping to follow up the success of their CD, "Beaver County", with the upcoming release of a new disc, "Addicted". The Penetrators' bassist, and two-time Asbury Music Award winner Chuck Schafer, filled us in on what it took to bring the latest record to their fans, what it takes to promote your band, and the real secrets to being one of the best bassists around.
The Stone Pony: Your gig on September 20 marks the band's return after two years to the legendary Stone Pony. Can you remember the band's early appearances at the club, and how does it feel to be playing in front of that famous logo? Does the band hope to see familiar faces in the crowd when you're playing here?
Chuck Schafer: Of course, but our fan base has journeyed with us from the last time we played at the Pony 'till now. I think the only people that will be psyched will be the soundman, John, and all the bouncers that always ask me, "when are you guys coming back?"
The Stone Pony: The band's sound is described as a "reggae dub sound infiltrated by rock and punk influences." For fans who haven't heard you play, who are some of the artists who have influenced your style, and what are the special touches that make your sound unique?
CS: Bands like Sublime, No Doubt and Bad Brains are strong influences. I think reggae music is very universal, it pumps and sooths most people to dance. However we like to "F" with our audience by surprising them with faster and more aggressive styles to keep them from falling asleep. You can hear us modulate all of those styles in one song. Example being: a listener can go from slow dancing to a reggae beat and in a moments notice start moshing out of control and then back again. We like people to be surprised, if not wondering what the hell are we doing.
The Stone Pony: Big news with the band these days in the immanent release of your new CD, "Addicted". What's the latest news on when the disc will be available and how fans will be able to get their hands on it? Your last CD sold out the 3,000 copies that were made. Are you hoping for similar success with the new disc, and are there any plans to press more copies of "Beaver County"?
CS: This album is taking a longer time then we expected; in fact, we are still working on the artwork. We plan on distributing on consignment to stores throughout N.J. and, of course, selling it during performances and [on the] website. We plan on manufacturing 2,000 copies to start out with. As far as producing more "Beaver Country," it's up in the air. We originally wanted to release a live CD from the Saint, but our attention needs to be on "Addicted".
The Stone Pony: Give us some background on "Addicted". When and where was the CD recorded and produced? How long did it take to put the record together, and how many tracks are on the album? Are the songs new ones fans haven't heard before, or are they tunes that you've been playing in your live sets?
CS: I wear a lot of the hats in this band and, besides being the bass player, I produce and engineer all our albums. I have recorded and produced many of the bands in Monmouth County in the basement of my house for close to ten years. My studio is called W.O.M. studio, meaning "word of mouth" (I don't advertise).
This particular album started in 2001 and the mastering was done this summer. It took a long time due to a lot technical changes to my studio as well as some personnel changes to the band. There are 16 songs and there are songs on it that we don't play out live. There are songs on this record that we have been playing out for the past two years. I would like to think our fans have heard most of these songs.
The Stone Pony: Several members of the band have a decade or more of musical experience along the Jersey Shore scene. Can you give us a little background on the band members' musical resumes? How has having so much experience in the band shaped your sound, and do you all see this project as an extension of everything you've done before, or something new and different?
CS: I have been a musician since the age of 12. Without trying to list all the bands I have been in, I will only name a few. When I was 20, I was in a band called "The Kind", later "The All City Creepers" and, even now, I play with my good friend Dave 13 in "Pure 13" and an improv group called "Shoot the Messenger".
Our guitar player, Mark Sisom, was in a band called "Past Pluto" and "Ten Penny".
Our drummer, Pat Sullivan, used to be in "Sweird", "Sunday Skin", and side project "The Alagash 5".
Our singer, Barry, has jumped on stage with "The Wailers", "The Verdict", "Brian Kirk", "Steady Ras", and "Sprout". I believe this is Barry's first real band beside all his impromptu singing with whomever dares let him on the stage only to be destroyed by his free styling tongue lashing.
Keyboardist Jeanea comes from Oklahoma, so I can only recall a group called "The Brutal Gardners."
We try to be open to what all of us can offer to the music. I think at times we pay attention to simplicity and staying true to the musical forms that are in our songs. This band to me is a new experience and find it be different to all the previous bands, and I think it's mutual for all the other members.
The Stone Pony: The band members are regular nominees at the Asbury Music Awards, the 11th edition of which are returning to the Stone Pony on October 15. What does the number of nominees and the diverse listing of categories say about the state and health of the local scene? Have you felt any changes in the atmosphere for playing live music in this area over the past couple of years, and have you found it easier build an audience and book gigs?
CS: There are so many bands and musicians in N.J., as well as listeners. It's only natural for a long list of categories and genres. I believe that serious bands have to travel beyond this area and cover bands still control a lot of income that original bands should receive. The other side of the coin is for bands to really put themselves out there and play places that may be apprehensive to original music (you would be very surprised to what is really out there).
The state and health of the scene is what any band wants to make of it. Nightclubs come and go and I have seen so many changes. It's nice to see that most of the people that I do business with are still at it. It really helps with bookings and those little perks that can occasionally pop up! In reality, persistence is crucial for respect.
There is nothing easy about winning over fans because a band has to move beyond friends and family from showing up to shows. Good, aggressive street promotion is the only answer. Always remember one fan at a time and every show should be performed like it's the last. People like honesty and devotion from their entertainers.
The Stone Pony: You've personally won two Asbury Awards for Best Bassist. Is it rewarding to have your playing recognized by your peers around the scene? What do you think is the secret to playing a good bassline and laying down a solid groove?
CS: I have to say I am very lucky to be able do what I want as far as making music my lifestyle. It is a rollercoaster ride and it will test everything you believe in, even borderline schizophrenia with bouts of depression. What keeps me from blowing up the world is "you can't do this six feet under, so do as much as you can while you're alive".
As far as my friends are concerned, they only like me for my Mohawk (laughs) not my bass playing. The secret to a good bass line is: don't steal mine and play to a metronome, not a drummer, unless you have ones that are as good as the ones I play with.
I forgot: get a tuner!
Really, just play what you want and don't f*ck up! I am not sure if this is the secret but you can use this with everything that you do in life. (Laughs.)
The Stone Pony: For everyone who wants to cop your sound, can you describe your favorite bass and the equipment that you prefer to use on stage? Are there any special effects or gear that you can't live without to help get the tone you're looking for?
CS: Right now, I use a Fender Precision Lyte. I judge a bass by the neck. I have small fingers; I tend to go for thinner necks. I have several basses for the studio work that I do. A well-made bass with good pickups can dramatically shape your sound.
Amplifiers are as important. I use a Hartke 7000 with a 4*10 Trace Elliot cab. I would like to upgrade my whole rig, but at this point I would like to customize my whole rig with unknown products built by eccentric technicians that claim they have the best bass system. Special effects and stomp boxes are unnecessary. I only say this because people who use these things never really use it at its potential. If you are bass player using these devices, it has to work musically. Basically, if you're not T.M. Stevens, save your money, don't waste your time buying devices. Get a well-made bass and amp and a good chord to plug in. So much of your tone comes from your personality and the pads of your fingers.
The Stone Pony: The band seems to have held on to the dying art of concert posters, producing lots of great and colorful artwork to promote your gigs. Want to give some credit to the artist who does the posters for you? How much does the band get involved in the promotion of their shows and merch, and how important are those things to allowing you to make a living off your music?
CS: Our guitar player, Mark Sisom, is responsible for all the great posters. His other trade is graphic design and he is extremely skilled. Barry and I, plus some of dedicated friends, run around to all the 7-11 and local record shops with our flyers. You can find me out drinking at most of the bars where I shamelessly promote the shows. It is very important to do this, it is! The love you show to people makes people interested in what you're doing. Hopefully, it will be this love that gets us everything we want.
The Stone Pony: Now that you're making your return to the Stone Pony and the new CD is set to be released, what are your plans for moving the band forward? How are you hoping to build on this momentum and what's the next level you want to reach?
CS: The next level? I am not sure about answering this because I don't want to count my eggs before they hatch. I think it's one day at a time. It's a lot of hard work that goes unappreciated by outsiders. Again, it's persistence and the will to stick up for yourselves with smile on your face. We plan on traveling more and continue to play as much as we can. The momentum has been there, it's getting our music to that one person or persons who are inside the industry. There is nothing guaranteed in this business and it changes all the time, so just believe in what you do and don't stray.
Barry and the Penetrators appear at The Stone Pony with Borialis, The Sweathogs and Stigmatic at the Pro Skateboard Shop "Throwdown" on Saturday, September 20. Their website can be found at www.barryandthepenetrators.com.
Now at AsburyPark.net:
Date Set for Major Hearing
The state Department of Environmental
Protection has set Thurs., Sept. 25 as the date for a public hearing on
Asbury Park's application to redevelop its waterfront. The hearing
will take place at the Paramount Theatre on the boardwalk.
THE ATARIS PLAYING A "SECRET SHOW" ALONG WITH VENDETTA RED IN OCTOBER
The night before the final stop of the Warped Tour in Asbury Park, members of The Ataris, whose cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" (from their 2003 Columbia Records release So Long, Astoria) is on practically every radio station in the country, came by the Stone Pony to hang out. The next day, during their set on one of the Warped Tour's two main stages, Ataris singer Kris Roe told the huge crowd that the band would be back to play a "secret show" at the Pony.
"Well, I guess it's not a secret any more," he added. The Ataris and the Pony then went to work and made the show happen. In what should prove one of the year's most packed events, the Ataris will be headlining on the club's famous stage on Monday night, October 13th. Also on the bill will be Vendetta Red, whose "Shatterday", from their Epic records release Between The Never And The Now, became the rock anthem of the summer. This will be an all-ages event, and doors will open at 7 pm.
Tickets go on sale September 26, and an Internet pre-sale begins September 18th. Watch the Pony's website for further details. There will be a limit of four tickets per person.
The official Ataris website can be found at www.ataris.com. Vendetta Red's site is located at www.vendettared.com.
Thursday Nights: Ladies Night
The best mix of house, trance,
progressive and vocal. 18 to enter, 21 to drink (ID mandatory). Drink
specials. Doors open at 9:30 pm. DJ Prime and B.G. are on the wheels of
steel ... Dress to impress - our promoters are tough on the door ... Come
see for yourself what all the hype is about. It's on every Thursday
only at The Stone Pony!
