“I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, saying AYO, gotta let go!” The energetic lyrics of hit single “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz is blasting in a dirty rock bar as people drink and dance carelessly throughout the venue. People are never happier than when partying to music, and we can thank cover bands for that! Here in Hoboken, cover bands have helped shape the night life scene. People look forward to hearing the hits played live; they want to sing familiar lyrics, hear recognizable melodies, and know it’s a 100% guarantee for a good time. Just like following a favorite recording artist on tour, fans follow cover bands, scoping what night and where the party is going to get started!

The purpose of a cover band is to look good, put on an incredible show, and make people have a memorable time. It’s also a business. Let’s not forget that a venue is hiring a cover band so that you will spend your dollars and cents at the bar. How most bands get booked is by creating a name or “buzz” for themselves. Christian Colabelli, a Berklee College of Music graduate, has been playing lead guitar in Johnny Drama for about a year.  Colabelli mentioned that the process of getting into a cover is “networking”. He got his gig through a recommendation from another musician. “It’s not that you can’t just audition the old fashion way, but it helps to know people in the scene you’re trying to break into.” When putting together a band, making sure musicians gel well together is a priority. Marcus Bennett from The Crazy 88s says, “My school of thought is you cannot replace talent. One must have a great ear, a good image, transportation, reliability, experience performing, and so on. The idea of networking is the most imperative tool for any musician.  It can potentially lead to other gigs, friendships, collaborations, and other unknowns.” No one is getting into the music industry with the word stability flashing in neon, but if you’re aggressive enough, you can make quite the living at it.

Cover bands give consistency to gigs. In comparison to playing a 45 minute set of originals occasionally, these guys perform 2-4 shows every week for 3 hours per show. “Musicians just love playing music. Callouses on your fingertips and all,” states Lawrence Ochs from the Classic New Orleans Rhythm and Blues/Soul cover band Jesse Thomas and the Gin Mill Kings.

Myself, I’m a music girl. I love performing, the crowd, the adrenaline rush of throwing a mic in the air as distortion rings through an amp and fans cheer. So of course as I got to know Hoboken cover band musicians, I had to ask how they got into music. Apparently, my mom was blasting James Brown while she was pregnant, so it’s no wonder I came out quite the entertainer! John Edward Allen III, better known as “J3”, was introduced to music at home. His father used to play tunes by Hendrix, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Steppenwolf, the Beatles, and so on.  Lawrence Ochs’s parents brought him a used Fender Telecaster in 7th grade and a new Fender Twin Reverb Amp, and said: “PLAY!” Throughout my interviewing, I came to realize that music is influenced by genetics but also by exposure. Having supportive parents or family who encouraged them to hone their musical skills is key to how these guys got to play professionally. Some started playing originals first and realized that playing covers got more attention; others wanted to master musicality before starting to write originals. Hoboken native Jim Garcia, known as “Spaz”, is a vocalist and bassist for the amazing cover band The Nerds. Spaz earns a living as a cover band musician exclusively. He wanted to play in front of people and play a variety of different styles of music that those people would enjoy. “The Nerds played originals for a while back in the day, but no one remembered them or cared, so we stuck with what we did best – covers.” Now The Nerds are the most influential cover band in Hoboken, and maybe even in the country! They’ve done a dozen TV shows, including The View, Uncle Floyd, Carson Daly, and others. They’ve performed in venues from Carnegie Hall to Willie McBride’s and brought old and new Hoboken together by playing festivals and joining Hoboken’s changing demographic. In this situation, The Nerds rule the school!

Lead vocalist of Screaming Broccolli, Michael Loughlin , also known as “Broc”, actually got into the cover band world after seeing The Nerds perform. His admiration for the band empowered him to create his own group, and they have been successful for the last 18 years playing throughout Hoboken. So Rock On to that!

When it comes to a personal life while in a cover band, if you are mature and grounded, you’ll be fine.  Everyone dreams of being a rock star –  the fame, the groupies, the money, and all-around love. In this scene it’s kind of like playing the role of a local rock star. People know you, flirt with you, ask to get your autograph, and so on. Just because cover bands play other musician’s music doesn’t mean they aren’t riding the fame train. It fills a fantasy for those unfortunate enough not to have seen the original band live.

The music industry is a male-dominated bubble. When I attended Berklee College of Music in 2004, the ratio was 10 males to 1 female.  While there are tons of female musicians out there, during my interviewing I didn’t happen to meet any ladies performing covers! So if you’re out there, I do apologize!  According to these gentlemen, it’s quite the brotherhood. A family builds as rehearsals continue, long nights drag on, cars break down in the middle of nowhere, instruments go missing or get damaged, and the nutzo groupie won’t put down the “I LOVE YOU” sign. Tom Moloney, guitarist and vocalist for Daddy NoBux, has been playing for 17-plus years and claims that girls definitely dig musicians but hasn’t dealt with real town drama …yet! “Let’s just say marriage is going to be difficult. The woman I’m looking for is going to have to be very accepting of my schedule. Five nights a week is tough to match with.”  When Marcus Bennett of the Crazy 88s and I talked about the women in the cover band scene, he smiled ear to ear. “I love women! I do think the cover band world is generally male-dominant, but this is a good time for females to take over! Most of the music on the pop-oriented radio seems to be female artists anyways; therefore, ladies you have the power in your hands!” As a lady, I would have to agree. There is nothing sexier than to be a female who can rock out on stage, but with that being said, nothing is sexier than mastering your art in general.

Working in the music industry takes a lot of dedication. A professor of mine at Berklee once said, “It takes 70% determination and 30% talent.” Gerard Toriello, also known as “Dino”, played in RCA signed band “ISM”. When asked about making it and playing in cover bands, he says, “If you’re not going to be on tour living up a rock star lifestyle and getting paid for it when that’s all you wanted to do, then join a cover band and do it that way. Why do you need to be on MTV to get laid?” Dino, having worked as a bassist for Lady Gaga, adds, “It’s a dynamic that bends to the right or to the left and nowhere in the middle. When you make it, your world changes, and you better be ready for the highs and lows of it.” Dino and another great musician, Pat Via performed recently for the May hMAG mixer held at Black Bear. The two joined forces to perform a night of acoustic cover songs that everyone loved.  Via, a former American Idol contestant finds that collaborating with different musicians is the way to improve your original sound. “It’s not about being discovered at all. It’s about climbing the ladder.”

Whiskey Bar, Willie McBride’s, Village Pourhouse, and Northern Soul… just a few places in the one square mile of Hoboken that support cover bands. Paying homage to the great songwriters, rockers, pop divas, and more, our local musicians should be thanked. These guys provide an atmosphere with energy strong enough to bring friends together to enjoy a night out and to allow us to let loose. There is nothing like live music. The stories behind each of these musicians are too long for this article, but hMAG and myself personally, say thank you for sharing with us.  At the end of the day I couldn’t say it better than my good friend, Nelson Pla, founder of The Clueless Charity Fund and Sessions of Pla, “If one is fortunate enough to make a living in music, more power to them!”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRIS BORGMAN, NBC/UNIVERSAL, AND DAVE SCLAMBRO