Michelle Rose has contributed photos to the site before. Here, she brings us not only photos from a great New Brunswick basement show, but also her first-ever CoolDad Music review. Take it away Michelle, and thanks.
Pat The Bunny at The Empire in New Brunswick
by Michelle Rose
I spent this past Saturday in a dark New Brunswick basement packed with close to three hundred kids to see everyone’s favorite folk-punk anarchist Pat "The Bunny" Schneeweis (AZ). Pat is currently on tour with anti-folk musician Brook Pridemore (NY). Supporting them at this show were Mikey Erg, Teenage Halloween, Those Corn People, Toy Cars, and Eric Funn (PA). Brook Pridemore and Luke Henderiks of Teenage Halloween booked this killer folk-punk fueled show.
The night started the way it would end: a performance from just a man and his guitar. There were about thirty people in the basement when Eric Funn began his set. Eric’s music is a perfect balance of catchy acoustic tunes and witty lyrics. The crowd sang along to his songs and made ape noises when needed. Eric Funn has been one of my favorite acoustic acts for a while now. The stories he tells through simple lyrics just never get old.
Toy Cars were one of the two full-band acts to play that night. Matt DeBenedetti’s vocals and acoustic guitar pair great with the rest of the band. Their mix of folk and ambient instrumentals give Toy Cars a unique sound. The boys from Belmar always have a smile on their faces and put on a great show. This band is a must see in the local music scene.
Next up were everyone’s favorite corn people, Those Corn People. The acoustic tunes of Mike Brock and Eriks Grinvalds come together to create a fantastic folk duo. Although their lyrics may be goofy, Those Corn People’s use of words tells a story. The boys in Those Corn People are by far one of the best acoustic acts currently in New Jersey.
They may be young, but the guys of Teenage Halloween certainly know how to rock the crowd. Their songs about teenage angst, troubled love, and growing up are high energy and can get anyone to move. The band was joined by their good friend Brandon Hakim who played saxophone. I was surprised by how many kids in the crowd knew every word to every song and screamed them right back into the band members' faces. The band ended their set with an awesome cover of “Blister in the Sun” by Violent Femmes. The guys in Teenage Halloween have already achieved a lot over the past year, and it doesn’t seem like they will be slowing down anytime soon.
Brook Pridemore’s songs about death rays and the Cupcake Empire are extremely catchy and fun to sing along to. After five albums, the Brooklyn artist still keeps true to his roots and does it all for the love of the music. I had the privilege of speaking with Brook after the show. He is one of the most down to earth artists I have ever met. To end his set, Brook invited his good friend and New Jersey native Mikey Erg. The two covered “Can't Hardly Wait” by The Replacements with Mikey Erg on drums.
After his song with Brook Pridemore, Mikey Erg of The Ergs! played a solo set. Once again, Mikey Erg played another killer set. The basement was packed when Erg began. The crowd sang along to all of his songs. The combination of just his voice and an electric guitar is simple yet stunning. Mikey Erg is by far one of the most talented musicians to ever come out of New Jersey. He is a friendly guy who is very passionate about his music. Each song is filled with Erg’s heart and soul.
This was my second time seeing Pat The Bunny, and I was still blown away by his talent. Pat is a very humble and down to earth person who puts all of his emotions into his music. Many of the fans I talked to that night started listening to Pat back when he was in his first band Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains. Since then, Pat has been in Wingnut Dishwashers Union and Ramshackle Glory. His first solo album The Volatile Utopian Real Estate Market is a recreation of classic favorites from over the years. Back in December, Pat released his second solo album Probably Nothing, Possibly Everything which has a more mature vibe to it. Most of the album consists of Pat reflecting on his younger self. For many, Pat’s songs about addiction, human emotion, politics, and the justice system,have become a punk anthems for the truth.
By the time Pat started his set, there were around three hundred kids crammed into the small New Brunswick basement. Pat played the perfect mixture of both old and new music. He may be an acoustic act, but Pat’s punk style quickly got the crowd pumped up. Everyone jumped around while screaming the lyrics to all of the songs Pat played. Alex Farber was lucky enough to be chosen from the crowd to sing “Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of Your Fist” on stage with Pat. The set ended perfectly with one of Pat’s newer songs “I’m Going Home." Pat is without a doubt one of the most appreciative musicians I have seen. He is truly grateful for all of his fans who have lead to his success.
All photos by Michelle Rose NJ.
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