January 30th The LONG LIVE ROCK show was a special event for Dexter’s Entertainment in Riverdale, NJ as day one benefit was kicking off to keep Dexter’s venue open and to benefit Woodbridge Buddy ball for autistic and special needs children.
Doors opened at 5pm with the opening band SCHOOL OF ROCK - MAIDEN vs. PRIEST kicking things off. I heard of the school of rock but never expected the youth of American being that impressive as the jamboree of kids rocked the stage.
You know looking as these kids walking on stage you figure ah this is nothing let me go get a drink, but before the end of their first song the front of the stage was full of patrons cheering them on. I was totally blown away how good these kids were as they ripped through multiple member changes and pummeling the audience with MAIDEN & PRIEST covers. Very impressive!!!
Next up was New York City’s own SWEET CYANIDE. I love a band that brings an image to stage, dressed to kill with smeared make-up playing some great rock music from their last disc SWEET CYANIDE. Their thirty minute set turned head as Sal Scoca stood front and center pounding out the vocals; this is one band you gotta check out.
WITHOUT END were next with their hardcore thrash terrorizing and growling to great heights. WITHOUT END bring a style of past great TESTAMENT.
Next to hit the stage were MARLBORO BOX that were an excellent cover band that had bassist Shawn standing front and center bellowing vocals and stage right Spunk that also shared vocals. Both members were killer and fans enjoyed their set.
JERSEY GYPSY hit the stage next, a band I first saw as a judge for a battle of the bands competition at Dexter’s last year who went onto the finals at the New Jersey state fair. Since then JERSEY GYPSY added a rhythm guitarist and makes the band sound enhanced. The band has definately jumped a level this time around with their bluesy rock style.
Hitting the stage next was another band I wasn’t familiar with called FULL SCALE RIOT but it didn’t take me long before I became a fan. As a former staff photographer for Metal Forces magazine photographing MOD, TESTAMENT, DEATH and many others I surely enjoyed their provocative style and energy. Rob Moschetti is truly an icon as front man.
Lastly was TESTICALS OF ROCK with members of TRIXTER, TNA & UNCHAINED. This was something special as I have never seen a band that had so much fun as smiles and electricity pranced the stage with Steve Brown/Mark Scott TRIXTER, Doug Odell/Sean Tarr TNA and front man Ricky M’Coy from the VAN HALEN cover band UNCHAINED memorized fans as they audience sang along. Nearing the end of their set they brought up the Siberian looking Chris Caffery of SAVATAGE/TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA to play a couple tunes. Tell me that isn’t a killer line-up, yeah if you missed it you suck, you missed a great night of music and didn’t come out to support a great cause.
Now onto Day two by Mark Balogh RockEyez.com
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