FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH THE BODINGTONS
2. TUESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT PARTIES AT THE STONE PONY
3. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This Week at The Stone Pony: Splintered Sunlight (Friday), Underdog (Saturday), Super Tuesdays - Vodka Nite Party (Tuesday), Heavy Wednesday (Wednesday)
New on the Stone Pony Calendar: The Bodingtons (May 19), Between The Buried And Me (May 21), Badfish (May 26), Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Jody Joseph on vocals (May 27), John Eddie's Summer Kickoff Extravaganza (May 28), Alexa Ray Joel (June 2), Spankfest 2006 (June 3), Break 2006 Finalists (June 4), Marah (June 9), Angry Drunk Graphics Happy Drunk BBQ (June 10), NJ Show of the Summer (June 11), Hidden In Plain View (June 16), U Melt (June 21), Atmosphere (June 24), Hot Tuna (June 25), Circa Survive (June 30), Dookie - The Green Day Tribute (June 30), Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (July 1)
Visit The Stone Pony on MySpace.com at: http://www.myspace.com/ponyrock
For many bands, their first time performing on the legendary Pony stage marks a career highlight. It shows that they've reached a point in their career where the best local, regional and national acts of the past thirty years have stood. That experience is only topped by actually having your name on the marquee that faces the Atlantic Ocean, being the headliner, bringing people in the door. When The Bodingtons played the club recently, the show went so well with such a positive crowd reaction that they were invited back and will now headline for the first time on Friday evening, May 19. Supporting their debut self-titled album, The Bodingtons are all music veterans, having performed nationally and internationally in The Lemongrass Band and The Badlees. For long-time fans of Lemongrass Band members Mark Helbock, Casey Pesce and Phil Pesce, the evening will be extra special as the Lemongrass Band will hold their first reunion of the original members in six years as one of the supporting acts. It's all a birthday celebration for lead vocalist/guitarist Helbock, who started off the Bodingtons as a solo effort and quickly nurtured it into a promising and talented pop/rock outfit. The Pony Newsletter interviewed Helbock about the band and its debut release as well as their upcoming gig at the Pony on May 19.
The Stone Pony: You'll be returning to the Stone Pony to headline the club Friday, May 19. What are your thoughts on your last appearance on our stage and how does it feel to have an opportunity to headline for the evening?
Mark Helbock: The last show was the first show for The Bodingtons at the Pony and we had a great crowd so that made for a great show. Because of that show we were asked to come back and headline which is very exciting for us. Any show at the Pony is a blast but to have it be your night, it doesn't get any better than that. And, we'll be celebrating my birthday after midnight!
The Stone Pony: Three of your members were part of the Lemongrass Band, who released a successful EP and LP, and toured nationally and internationally for several years. Can you share the story of how that project turned into the Bodingtons and how you feel this band will differ from previous projects?
MH: The Bodingtons project started as a so-called "solo" project of mine but I couldn't record my new songs without Casey playing the drums and then I wanted to get Phil to play blues harp on one of the songs which then lead to us all singing harmony on a couple of tracks. It happened kind of naturally and with Bret & Paul lending their talents as well it really started to feel more like a band project, and thus was born "The Bodingtons!"
The Stone Pony: Speaking of the Lemongrass Band, you'll be playing a reunion set that same evening. How long has it been since you performed that music? Are you looking forward to actually opening for yourself, and do you feel there's anything special about playing music from both bands that same evening one after the other?
MH: That's funny; you're right, we're opening for ourselves. I like that. We've played maybe once a year in the last six years but never advertised it. This is the first "real" show with the original members - our bass player AJ Perna will be joining us - in over six years. It's my birthday present to myself I guess you could say. I really miss playing our old songs and the grass has a different sound than the Bodingtons - yet the same, but different. You know what I mean?
The Stone Pony: Your debut self-titled album was released at Sin-e in the East Village earlier this year. How did the show go and how did everyone feel about finally getting the album out there for fans? Did you get nervous at all about how the album would be received, or were you just happy that the whole thing is finally done and people are actually hearing it?
MH: The show at Sin-e went over really well and we are going back there probably in June. It was good to finally get the CD out and let people see and hear the band live for the first time. I was a little nervous because this is very much a guitar-driven rock/pop band whereas Lemongrass was more rootsy rock. But it turned out great and people really reacted in a very positive way.
The Stone Pony: Let's talk more about the CD. When and where was the album recorded and did you enjoy the process of producing it? How much time did you spend in the studio, and do you tend to record tracks live in quick takes, or do you prefer to do a lot of tracking and pre-production to get everything sounding just perfect?
MH: The album was recorded over the past few years at Bret and Paul's studio called Saturation Acres in Danville, PA. We would go out and spend a few days at a time out there recording since it was about a three-hour drive each way. I was just really excited about working with Bret and Paul because they were a major part of one of my favorite bands, called The Badlees, and it was just a blast to have them play on my record. We did a little pre-production at my house with Casey and I putting together a quick demo of the songs which we sent out to the guys before we went out to do the drum tracks and basic tracks which helped things fall together pretty easily once we started recording. We wanted it to sound like we were all in a room together just banging out the songs with the energy and feel of a live performance and I think we captured that yet gave it enough of a production feel so that it will work for radio.
The Stone Pony: The first single off "The Bodingtons" is "Hold On Me," which definitely has a major Beatles vibe going on with it and a nice use of melody and harmony. Would you say that song sums up the Bodingtons sound and do you like the idea that your music is something that sticks in people's heads and they can sing along to it?
MH: That song was performed and recorded as to capture that "beatle-esque" sound and feel. We even miked up the drums differently to give it more of the sound that they had back then. I think Paul had something like two mics on the whole kit. We used a Rickenbacker guitar and everything. I'm not sure that it really sums up our sound as we're still progressing with that but it might be a precursor to what's next since the new stuff we're working on is somewhat similar, just going for that simple pop-rock sound with a catchy melody and chorus for each song like the Beatles did. This way the crowd can catch on quick and sing along and have a good time.
The Stone Pony: It sounds like you put a lot of thought into how your songs are produced. How long does it take for a song like "Hold On Me" to go from its inception as an idea to a finished work that you'd perform on stage for fans on lay down on a record? Can you give us a little insight into how that song came into being and how much it did or didn't change from its genesis to the final sound we hear today?
MH: It came together pretty quickly. It's somewhat similar to what we did on the pre-production demo just with better sounds and honing in on that old-time production quality with the effects on the vocals: the loud tambourine, the three-part harmony and getting that classic Rickenbacker guitar sound in there. Live it's a little rawer, which is fun 'cause we can rock it up a bit, but the focus is always on the harmonies and the big chorus for everyone to sing along to!
The Stone Pony: The promo for your new CD describes it as "10 pop/rock classics." Which songs on the album are becoming the crowd favorites and are there any songs that the band especially enjoys performing live? Do you generally used a fixed set list for your shows, or do you just know one or two songs that you'll start and close with and leave the rest to chance?
MH: The best thing about the reaction thus far is that everyone has a different favorite song with maybe "This Time," "Hold On Me" and "Movin' In" looking like the overall favorites. But then, just about everyone loves the story of "Unconditional Love," which is not a song I wrote about a girl - it's a love song I wrote for my guitar! We have been using a set list which is basically the whole CD except for "Satisfy Me," which we've been leaving off because it's a little too negative for right now but it's kind of funny because we replaced it with a new song called "Deconstruct Love" which is almost just as negative but it's been going over really well at the last couple of shows. We have been ending the set with The Band's classic "The Weight" with each of us taking a verse and then getting the crowd to sing along on the chorus which has been a great way to end each show.
The Stone Pony: It seems that rock music is focusing more on the hook these days, and bands are getting more comfortable with multi-part harmonies and slicker production in their music. Do you think this is a reaction against the influence of R&B and hip-hop, which is much more centered around the groove and beat of a song, and do you feel that it's a positive trend for pop music in general?
MH: I just think everyone should try to write the best songs they can and if possible make them catchy so people can relate to them instantly. It's not a sellout to write a catchy song with a great hook. The Beatles wrote two-minute pop songs but they changed the world with them. They would do something lyrically as simple as "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" and then turn around and do a song like "Nowhere Man" which had deeper meaning in the lyrics but was just as catchy as anything else they did.
The Stone Pony: What are your plans as far as touring and promoting the album in the coming months? Do you anticipate an active touring schedule, and what opportunities do you hope that the new album will bring to you?
MH: We are hoping to travel and get the music out there to as many people as possible. I would like to see us do a college tour in the fall and then get to work on another record that could come out at the beginning of next year.
The official Bodingtons website can be found at www.thebodingtons.com. Look for the band's self-titled debut album at Jack's Music in Red Bank and at the band's live shows.
SUPER TUESDAYS: VODKA NITE PARTY
The Shore's newest party with your host, the Mistress of the Mic &
Queen of Cool, DJ DAWN!
$1 vodka drinks 'til 11, $2 'til closing - $1 Coors drafts 'til 11, $2 'til closing
Lots of dancing to reggae, house & rock, guest bands every week
Tricycle races, musical chairs, cash prizes
Doors at 9 pm - Admission: $5 21 & up, $10 18-21
Dress code is casual, summer attire OK
THURSDAY NIGHTS: LADIES NIGHT DANCE PARTY
18 for girls, 21 for guys - Ladies 21+: Free admission all night!
To enter, ID a must! - Reduced admission for guys 21 & up w/ valid college ID
Dress Code: Dress to impress, no headgear, no baggies, no t-shirts, no
athletic wear, clean sneakers & clean Timbee's OK - Crazy contests at midnight with MC BJ
DJ John Farruggio - $1 Coors Drafts all night - Doors open at 10 pm
Ladies Night on MySpace: www.myspace.com/ponythursday
