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This here's a hoedown!!!
Folk-rockers from New Brunswick and Staten Island converge at the Broadway
Central Cafe.
If you're into honest, intelligent songwriting that bears no trace of pretention, may I suggest these three acts that have been making
a buzz on the coast: Jack Stock, the Bonzo Quintet, and Me Jane. I had the pleasure of catching all three of them at the Broadway Central Cafe on Saint Patrick's Day.
Despite their name the Bonzo Quintet is actually a band of FOUR fun musicians who are into the old fashioned hootinany tradition of music. The
group is named after their percussionist, Bonzo and also features Tim Curry (not the actor) and tenor saxophonist James Anglin.
Fronting the the group is none other than Spook Handy, who sings, picks a mean guitar, plays harmonica.
The group delves into the catalog of folk-rock anthems like Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" and Bob Dylan's "When I Paint My Masterpiece."
They came up with some pleasant surprises, like a minor key blues version of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Their set also include Spook's original songs like "Funky Stuff" and "Same Thing." And it's not just lightweight singer-songwriter music, either. The band gets into some jams that really cook.
By the way, Spook Handy has two great CDs out: Breakfast at Bill's and Breakfast by Myself. He also hosts an open mic at the Corner Tavern in New Brunswick on Tuesday Nights. For more info, check out the official Spook Handy Website.
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