The Songwriters Tour Guide

by Erik Balkey

The following is an excerpt from Chapter 5 of Erik Balkey's "Songwriters Tour Guide" 2000. Back issues of this "road journal of a traveling songwriter" are available on hisweb  site

On Thursday, March 16th 2000,  I stopped in to see a show featuring Sean Kerr at the Internet Cafe (www.icafenj.com) in Red Bank, NJ (732/842-4503).  Sean, a local songwriter, produced the show and hosted his friend and featured performer, the talented Bari Koral.  Congratulations to Sean on a successful night of music. There was a great turnout, a who's who of local artists, musicians and music enthusiasts. Yolanda Fleming was among the crowd. Besides being a musician who fronts "One Single Breath", Yolanda writes features for the Asbury Park Press (732/922-6000) and has been covering shows like this and increasing the visibility of the budding Red Bank original music scene.

The next night, I kicked off the weekend with a Saint Patrick's Day show in Bayonne, NJ at Jo-cino's where I practiced my cover set as well as worked out some of my originals. This is not a songwriter's listening room, but folks at this café/bar are easygoing.  Anthony is looking for musicians from Thursday through Saturday - they pay moderately well for two hours of music.

On Sunday I did an in-store performance in Brooklyn at Music Matters (718/369-7087).  Thanks to Jason for his support of original music at his great music store, Music Matters, on 7th Avenue in Brooklyn.  Jason puts local artists' CDs in his store and makes sure his customers are aware of the great local music. (continued on page 7).

Commons/Marbles/GoldenSeal
(continued from page 1 ) good snare work and several success at playing in 3/4 and 12/8 time. From the two-chord pop thrash of Come Gather Round to the the Can-like guitar licks on Snake Chamber, the band won the audience over. Grank Funk Railroad was definitely an influence on the bands' closing number, "Eat Off The Vine." This band has been gigging solidly for over a year now and there'ye getting better with each gig.  The Commons will play next at the Stone Pony on February 7, 2001.

Sayreville's The Marbles

The Marbles were the second act, full of high energy, and with a new bass player, too, in the form of John Haussman. He along with vocalist/guitarist/producer Mike Grau and (continued on page 8 )