FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTINE MARTUCCI
2. CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This Week at The Stone Pony: PETE FRANCIS (Friday), CHRISTINE MARTUCCI BAND (Saturday), THE CRUSADE CONTEST (Sunday)

New On The Stone Pony Calendar: Teddy Geiger (October 2),
Project/Object (October 13), Gogol Bordello (October 15), The Dillinger Escape Plan (October 26), Matt Pond PA (November 2), Poco (November 9), The Spill Canvas (November 10), Melissa Ferrick (November 16), Jesse Malin (November 21),
Bayside (December 8)

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CHRISTINE MARTUCCI BRINGS HER HEART
AND SOUL BACK HOME

The Stone Pony is always proud of its home-grown talent.  With their new CD, "I'm All In," getting critical raves and the video from the first single, "There You Are," receiving airplay on VH1, MTV and LOGO, the CHRISTINE MARTUCCI BAND has come far from their early days playing the late, late show here at the club - a story she tells in our recent interview. Martucci and her band return to Ocean Avenue to headline on Saturday, September 22 bringing an emotional, all-out performing style of great rock and roll that's always a fun, good-time at their live shows.  Our interview with Martucci covers everything from her military career, first time on the Pony stage, her relationship with the fans and the band's recent string of successes. We all look forward to seeing her here again and hope that the success and accomplishments will continue to grow.

The Stone Pony: Your latest CD, "I'm All In," hit the streets on March 3. How has the reaction been to the album so far and how do you feel about the songs now that you're several months removed from the recording process and have probably performed and heard them hundreds of times?

Christine Martucci: The reaction to "I'm All In" has been outstanding and humbling and just incredible. We have fans that are flying in from all over the country. It is awesome. We wanted to record an album that wasn't over-produced, and also an album that sounds the same live as it does on the CD. We achieved that, and because of that I think we have gained a grass roots
following, a back-to-the-basics rock and roll following.

I feel the same way about the songs now as I did when I wrote them. When you write from your heart and soul, you go back there, to that place, when you sing it, again and again. It is cathartic. I can never get tired of playing these songs. Especially "There You Are". When you have fans sing your words back to you, it is the most humbling and amazing moment as a songwriter.

The Stone Pony: The video for your first single, "There You Are," has received airplay on MTV (and is available for fans on mtv.com). How does it work getting your video on the air? Do you submit it and just hope that they pick it up? Does someone from MTV call you and tell you they're interested in running it? Or does it just sort of happen?

CM: First you have to have a good video. We were fortunate enough to work with Jamie Manalio from The Rust Company. He shot and directed the video while we were doing the photo shoot. Our art directors knew Jamie so he brought his high def camera and we filmed all day; a cold December day, but it was well worth it.

As far as how we got airplay, that was all my manager, she does all that stuff. She submitted our video to LOGO, and they LOVED it. So we were told we would be aired on LOGO. We received some paperwork and it was MTV/Viacom. So MTV picked it up as well as VH1. It was pretty cool seeing yourself on MTV.com. VH1.com, and LOGO.

I am sure also luck has a lot to do with anything concerning the music business, and I am one lucky gal.

The Stone Pony: Talk about the video for "There You Are" a bit. Who came up with the concept and how long did it take to shoot and produce? Did you and the band enjoy the process of making the video and are you planning to do any others from this album?

CM: Well, as I said, Jamie Manalia was introduced to us from our art directors, Darlene and Anne Marie from Knowbody's Design Marketing and Illustration. Both are veterans in the marketing part of the music business, and designed our entire packaging and concept. So they both had worked with Jaimie before and, well, the rest is history.

The process was awesome and very new to us. It was a very long, cold day, but we survived. I am planning on doing another video for this album, just figuring out which song. But, I am almost certain it will be "Child Inside".

The Stone Pony: Do you remember how you first began playing guitar and wanted to make music? Was it always a passion for you that you wanted to do full-time, or did that process of wanting to make music your career evolve over a longer period of time?

CM: I first started playing guitar at nine. I wrote my first song at nine. I loved playing and singing and writing goofy songs and then play them for my family. My three brothers and I all play instruments. I started out on the drums, but liked the guitar better because I got to be in front, stand out, I guess. I always wanted to be in front of the stage and as far back as I can remember I was always the performer in the house. And in school, too. I was voted class clown in high school. So, yes, music and performing have always been a passion for me.

The process of actually fulfilling that passion came much later. I had to find myself first. I had to live first, then I would have something to write about. I grew up very naive, so I needed to see the world first. Experience pain, heartbreak, happiness, loss.

The Stone Pony: How about your songwriting? When did you first start writing, and did you start with song lyrics, or did you write other forms such as poetry or a journal? Were you comfortable the first time you let people read or listen to your lyrics and when did you think that you had talent as a songwriter?

CM: I hear the whole song all at once. I hear the melody, and the lyrics, I see them. I call it divine inspiration. I then take it, write it down, work it out with my guitar, then bring it to the guys and they fine tune it, or say 'hey that's cool, let's do it.' And that is how the process happens.

I always was very open about my emotions and feelings, sometimes too much, so I always was comfortable letting people listen to my songs. The first time I realized that I could do this, that I thought "yeah man, I can write songs" was when I was working with Platinum recording artists and they wanted to work with me. I am an artist first and foremost. I will never say or admit my own talent. I always think I can do better. I leave that up to my fans. Your fans will know. As long as they love my music, then I am happy.

It is a really neat feeling, though, being on that stage and having 600+ people singing your song.

The Stone Pony: Your bio mentions that you're an army vet. Does your military experience give you a different perspective on world events today, and does that translate into your lyrics or the topics of your music? Do you feel that musicians have any sort of "responsibility" to be political and are you surprised that activism isn't as much a part of the modern music scene?

CM: My experience in the military was bitter sweet. I spent nine valuable years trying to figure myself out while my musical peers where already light years ahead of me. So when I got out I had some catching up to do. I do not, however, regret one minute of my life and my choices. I needed the military and it helped me later as a songwriter. I traveled the world and met some of the most amazing people one could ever meet. It gave me character and it gave me a sense of belonging.

My views of my country will never change. I love America and I love saying that I served my country. I cannot say that musicians have a "responsibility" to be political. Everyone has their own path. Who am I to say "hey, since you are a role model, get out there and do this or that." We have a responsibility to our own hearts and beliefs. You hear a call, you answer it. Everyone is different and everyone has their own views and choices.

I commend anyone that stands up for what they believe in. It shows character and bravery.

The Stone Pony: You grew up in Central New Jersey, so I assume you were familiar with the Stone Pony from early in your musical career. Can you remember the first time you performed here and are there any memories from being at the club that stand out in your mind?

CM: Boy, do I remember the first time I performed at the Pony! (Laughs.) Everyone has this story ... We were a supporting act, we went on dead last. The headliner, Jody Joseph, asked me to open for her. It was a few years ago.  We got to close the night. Well, no one really knew me yet, so after Jody was done, you know, the crowd leaves. So it was me and my band and the bartenders and the sound crew.  You know, I will never forget that night. Those people behind the bar, working their asses off, the people at the door, the staff, the sound guys, you know, they could have just called it a night. But they sat there and relaxed and watched us play and clapped when we were finished. They didn't have to do that. These people are dog tired, man. But they did and that is why I will always, forever and ever, say that I got my first big brake at The Stone Pony. I will always have a special place in my heart for this place.

The Stone Pony: How did the CMB get started? Can you introduce our readers to the "boys" in the group and tell how you know each of them and asked them to perform with you?

CM: CMB, my boys, Duane Horne on bass, Chuck Ribaudo on drums, Pat Ruh, guitar.  I have to tell you, I have nothing but admiration and respect for these guys; they back me up, you know?  They each bring years of talent and experience on that stage with them. They were there with me from the beginning; the nights we didn't get paid, the nights we played to four people, but we played to those four people like it was 4,000. Those nights that I truly knew I am with my brothers and real professionals. I wouldn't trade these guys for anything.  We have had a great year so far with the release of our new CD and we enjoy every second of it.

The Stone Pony: I noticed on your message board that one of your fans contacted their local radio station in Canada to tell them about your video and was actually invited to drop off one of your CDs for potential airplay. How important is your relationship with your fans and what does it mean to you that someone would take that extra time and effort to not only enjoy your music themselves, but try to promote it and help make you more successful?

CM: My fans are amazing. As I have stated, I have fans from all over the country and abroad and they are so important to me. I try to make it a point as much as I can to answer all e-mails, letters - I still get those - that I can.  My fans are like my family, they are coming right along with me on this awesome ride to fame. Man, it is amazing. They get excited when I share with them an exciting thing in my life. My fans are hardworking, honest people and, believe me, I know how hard it is today to save a buck. So, when my fans come out and support CMB and fly from all over the world to come to NJ, 'cause I can't get to them yet ... man, what do you say to that? That is priceless. They are priceless to me. I love them all very dearly.

And, it is so cool when my fans want to help me reach my goals. That is how much they believe in me.  But, here is the thing: you put out LOVE, you get LOVE back.  And these wonderful people are awe inspiring.

The Stone Pony: With the positive critical reviews for the album, and the recent debut of your video on LOGO, things are continuing to build for you. Where are you hoping things will progress in the next several months and are there other upcoming projects that you'd like fans to keep on the lookout for?

CM: Yes, thank you, it does seem like everything is going the way it should, the natural progression. We, as a band, hope to bring our music to our fans all over the country. That is where we see ourselves, in a position to do that. So, we are hopeful the next natural progression will lead us to that path.  We are still playing out and supporting "I'm All In". But we are working and writing new songs, as we will be back in the studio next year with the follow-up of "I'm All In". We will be playing some of the new songs at our upcoming shows.

I would just say to my fans: keep checking our website, you never know what awesome news might be posted. And also thank you for all your support and encouragement! I LOVE ASBURY PARK, NJ, and so happy to be a part of this community and also to say that The Stone Pony is my heart and my soul. God bless all of you.

The official Christine Martucci Band website can be found at www.christinemartucci.com. Her latest LP, "I'm All In," can be purchased online or at fine music retailers like Jack's Music in Red Bank, NJ.

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