Big time flashback here! The New Era band performing at February's. This was a nightclub that was really in Elmont (not Amityville) Long Island (as indicated in the introduction of the video) and was recorded (in our early days) quite some time ago. I played at so many places, with so many different people, that I initially forgot exactly where this particular bar was located. Not to mention, that it has been quite some time since I've been back to Long Island to begin with...
We only had a few rehearsals, with this rather new incarnation and member lineup, before our first performance (and launch) here. With this particular lineup being: Dennis Marques on Drums, Frank Orlando on Bass, Bob Goodwin on Guitar, and myself on Guitar, and Lead Vocals. The club back then, although being pretty popular, was somewhat dingy, with the sound system and lighting being rather primitive. For instance, I would often get an electric shock whenever I got too close to the mic! And the monitors were not very loud. Which means, that you basically couldn't hear yourself singing; or hear the other members of the band, for that matter. But never-the-less, it was allot of fun, and we had a really good time; as was pretty much always the case whenever we played out in front of a live audience. We would sorta' like get off on all the energy in the room, and all...
But the sound here, to begin with, IS pretty raw; and not very polished yet. But we sorta' didn't care at the time; as we were all partying, and kinda' buzzed. In other words, we felt no pain! I mean, hey. Bottom line. After all, it WAS (basically) just a freakin' bar!
Note: The third song in this video was the song I was discussing with my friend Kevin on my Facebook page about a year or so ago. The song is called: "If You Believe." Now, the funny thing about this song, is that part in the Chorus that sounds EXACTLY like that R.E.M. song: 'Man on The Moon' -which seemed to be a big hit for them - some time after I wrote the 'If You Believe' song. I think the R.E.M. track was actually released in 1992. (About 6 years after I wrote 'If You Believe'). In fact, for whatever it's worth, I thought I was hearing things, and couldn't believe it, (no pun intended), when I first heard the song for the first time on the radio. Could be a complete coincidence, I don't know. Just thought it was an interesting bit of trivia there, and just couldn't help mentioning it. But yea, I was pretty taken aback by it, to say the least; yet also thought it was kinda' cool I guess...