Since returning to New Jersey in June of 2001 I've been in search of local bands who are even worth comparing to the local music scene near Nashville, Tn. On December 15, 2001 my search ended at Rumors in Buena Boro, New Jersey. When first learning of the show I was informed it was five punk bands, which didn't excite me too much. Then learning that it would be a show for all ages I thought it would be a waste of time going but I figured I'd check it out anyway. When I arrived I was surprised by the sound check that was under way since it was anything but punk. Just before the show was scheduled to start at 9:00 it was made known that one band wasn't going to show. The four remaining bands were The Fresh Jawn, Safe Heaven, Innercore, and One In The Chamber.
The Fresh Jawn took the stage at about 9:30. The three man band - guitarist and vocalists Dustin Burrows, bassist and vocalists Buck Rompton, and drummer Bailenhymenhogal Shmidt - was the only band of the night that even sounded punk. The funk, punk, alternative sound got the "young" - under 18 - crowd away from their tables and towards the stage. Although they got the crowd up and into the music they themselves appeared to be concentrating on the music too much. They didn't appear to be having alot of fun while they were on the stage. For a young band they sounded great but while they are on stage they need to relax and move too their music.
Next to take the stage was Safe Heaven. The four man band - guitarist Rusty, guitarist and vocalist Marko, bassist Adrian, and drummer Jason - took the crowd in a whole different direction. The combination of the growing crowd near the stage and the hardcore music style lead to only one thing...mosh pit. The pit was relatively calm and small at the start but that wasn't good enough for Adrian. Adrian moved across stage and mearly uttered the words I wanna see a circle pit into the mic. That was all the crowd needed. The crowd exploded into more intense frenzy but Adrian wasn't done yet. After a few songs he again moved across the stage and announced that he wanted to see the pit kill each other. The pit again exploded and most of the floor infront of the stage was turned into a free for all. Safe Heaven is a young band but appeared to be perfectly comfortable on the stage and knows how to get the crowd involved and mo! ving.
When Innercore took the stage the floor was packed shoulder to shoulder with people but with the hype I heard about them I knew it wouldn't be that way for too long. The five man band - vocalist Dan Dimarco, guitarists Aaron Stampa and Mike Vonsuskel, bassist Oliver Twist, and drummer Sean Shropsire - sent the crowd into a frenzy the likes I haven't seen in quite some time. But not only was the crowd going crazy Innercore themselves nearly had a pit of their own on the stage which only intensified their music. Dan Dimarco provided the perfect vocals and screams which set them apart from the rest of the bands that night. Their set was straight up hardcore until they neared the end when they changed it up and threw in a little rapcore. Throughout the set Innercore showed exactly how they earned the reputation and hype I heard before they started their set. They had nearly everyone in the place on their feet and trying to get closer! to the stage.
At about 12:45 One In The Chamber took the stage facing a seemingly impossible task of following the Innercore set. The four man band - guitarist and vocalist Shane Gellert, bassist and vocalist Chris Leaverton, guitarist Joe Mionie, and drummer Steve Sutton - drew in a totally different crowed than any of the previous bands. Again the floor was packed with people but a pit never emerged. The set flowed very smoothly from songs as early as their third song ever written to their newest songs which had no titles but were simply called number 20, 21, and 22. The only low point of their set was suffering technical difficulties when the power blew out twice in the middle of their newest songs and once when guitarist Joe Mionie broke a string before their final song of the night. During the technical difficulties vocalist Shane Gellert took an opportunity to thank friends and fans who have supported them throughout their careers and this pas! t year. He also announced that the band would be taking the next few weeks off and this would be their last show of 2001. Their set measured up to all the talk I heard before they took the stage and then some. A few onstage collisions between guitarist and vocalist Shane Gellert and bassist and vocalist Chris Leaverton led to a few tunning problems but the crowd loved every minute of it. During their set I can't remember a person in the place whose attention wasn't towards the stage. One In The Chamber showed the maturity I expected from a band that has been around for a while when dealing with the three technical difficulties that they could not have been prepared for.
The only thing I saw that disappointed me all night was the fact that after Innercore finished their set the majority of the "young" - 20 and under - crowd left the club without even giving One In The Chamber a chance. Theirs really no point in going to a show and missing one of the best local bands around especially one as talented as One In The Chamber. The absence left by the youngest on the dance floor was filled quickly by the dedicated One In The Chamber fans. I'd like to see these bands more often but they usually play a local teen club which explains the relatively young crowd.
