Jersey boys unite
(continued from page 3)
Keith Monacchio and the Commons gave the audience his walloping jolt of thought-provoking angst-rock.  The hardness of their sound was peppered with other stylings including 12/8 Celtic Rock, post-modern alternative balladry, and country funk.  The audience was more than enthusiastic and Keith sold a few CDs afterward and made out pretty good.

Things were toned down a notch by the wonderfully down-to earth Frank Sabo whose excellent fingerstylings shed new light on his originals and James Taylor's "Blossom." Bobby Strange joined him on stage for some leads.

These three acts were the perfect set up for Norman Nardini, who used to be a bonafide Jersey boy, and is now living in "Pittsville, Pennsatauket" (or at least last what I thought he said...I'm sure it's somewhere in Appalachia). His three piece brought the house down with his superb songwriting, wild antics, frenzied harmonizing, and ferocious melodic guitar fills and solos. My favorite of his set was the humoruous "That's enough about me."

Bobby's vignette of New Jersey rock'n'roll heroes, "The Ballad of Dancing George." The song was very fitting for the occasion because it invokes Springsteen, Nardini, and Bon Jovi by name.  All three of their (continued on page 16)

Echo
(continued from page 5)
Gambuzza said. Basically, the venue is classy above classic, with some midpriced food at high quality and diverse alcohol choices. Even without the live music, Echo would be a unique place to hang, but the music is of such a quality that it would draw you there on its own, too. It's a good combo.

Echo is open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, with the kitchen available until 11 p.m.  Monday through Thursdays and until midnight Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, Echo is open only to private, reserved parties. --Catherine E. Galioto

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