The annual birthday celebration for Chris ‘Gibby’ Gibson used to take place at CBGB. Of course this year the party needed a new home and to the rescue came Bill and Frank of Beelmedia. They offered up their massive warehouse turned loft apartment which remarkably fit fourteen bands on two stages. Electric bands on the large main stage and acoustic acts in a smaller stage across the room. Frank kept a delicious array of food and snacks coming all night.
But aside from the shear scope of this party, my biggest thrill came from being asked to emcee. Gibby asked me to step in when my good friend Jim Testa of Jersey Beat—who normally hosts these parties—had to pull out due to other commitments. I was nervous as hell because the last time I emceed a party was many moons ago and there weren’t nearly as many bands. But, this was a symbolic return for me since Gibby’s band High Speed Chase played that last party too.
On my way to the Beelmedia Loft, I prepared myself for a long night with two big cans of Monster Energy stuff. The room would be hot, the bands even hotter and the fun was thru the roof. At this point I would dearly like to thank all of the SUV owners and those who refuse to carpool thru the Lincoln Tunnel for allowing it to be over 80° on an October night. The sweat would be constant but I just chalked it up to further detoxifying my body.
The music tonight would range from Samba to folk to noise to hard rock and beyond. The variety of of bands was yet again proof to the talent that is raging thru this area. For various reasons, the night got off about a half hour late. So I started a frantic routine of jotting notes, crossing out times, recalculating sets and so on. Thankfully all of the bands were very understanding and sympathetic to the running of a show with so many bands. I certainly got my share of exercise tonight. and the cool night air of my walk home would eventually feel remarkable.
Everyone who came had a fantastic time. $10 got them thru the door and all the food and beer they could want. Of course, this was more than a party to me. Being held in honor of my friend Gibby who has been a supporter of original live music for years in Hoboken meant a lot. Having this apartment that has over the past few months turned into a one of the best venues to showcase great talent meant even more. I know Bill and Frank want to do at least one party a month here with the next one being a huge Halloween bash on 10/27. Come in costume or be punished. Check out Beelmedia’s MySpace for more.
See Also:
Beelmedia
Photo Gallery
Las Vandelays
Troy Wise
Lin McEwan
Barbiana Complex
Dave Calamoneri
End of October
Jon D’Angelo
Crewman Number Six
Jay Della Valle
High Speed Chase
Dave Entwistle (no link yet)
Beel Band (no link yet)
Power Cousin
Jak Tripa
