#ergs!

If you've read certain articles of mine pertaining to bands, venues, or tours associated with New Jersey, then you've heard me frequently air my grievances about the current musical state of my home that has become nothing short of derelict. The problem doesn't necessarily lie in the musicians, by any means, because acts like Screaming Females in reality actively take part in saving the underground basement scene in New Brunswick, but the true root of it all is just how awkward of a state New Jersey is.

I've come across many areas that are privy to bands never coming to their hometown, such as Ottawa, or where I was born, Florida, but whereas as both Ottawa and Florida's reasoning is that they're cut off from tour paths, New Jersey is right in between two large touring cities, Philadelphia and New York. But that is exactly why bands never come to Jersey, either because they think that Jerseyans can just as easily hop over to Philly or NYC, or they just can't get a gig here. 

Places like Nebraska or Idaho where you have no idea what goes on there, if anything at all, actually do better than New Jersey does. Maybe it's because the musician wants to make a cheesy joke about Springsteen's album (Nebraska) or they just really like potatoes, but if you check out an artist's tour, most likely they'll be going to these states but not little old New Jersey.

You would actually think quite the opposite of what was famously home to not only Bruce Springsteen, but Bon Jovi (aka Bruce Light, or Southside Johnny Light, because even comparing him to Springsteen negatively is too much), Frank Sinatra, the Four Seasons, and even more underground acts like the Screaming Females, the Ergs!, Patti Smith (if only for a short time), and Bigwig, but there isn't a lot of great major venues here anymore. Even the legendary Stone Pony has turned into a cesspool for E Street Band tribute acts. 

One of the only other major venues (I'm not talking about arenas) is Maxwell's, but they tend to hike up their prices, but that's just me getting picky, because the only other public places to turn are dive bars across the coast or venues that are +21.

Interestingly, the 21 age limit is precisely the reason for New Brunswick's major, and famous, basement show culture. Of course, New Brunswick is home to Rutgers, and their basement shows started out of college kids not being able to get into the area's age restricted venues like the Court Tavern. I'm actually going to a basement show tonight. It's supposed to be Big Eyes' final local show before they move out to Seattle, and I can't see that it's such a bad idea. 

The Ergs! - Kind Of Like Smitten