Live in JC: Plowing Mud Forever and No Pasaran at Groove on Grove
By Zac Clark • Jul 14th, 2009 • Category: Arts, Featured
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009: Admittedly, the story I’m about to tell you is bizarre and incredible. Those of you who wish to avoid being unsettled — who wish to avoid thinking — will label it fiction. Though you, the reader, may find these facts almost impossible to substantiate, that does not alter their inherent quality. Facts they are. I know. I have the pictures and video to prove it.
I had taken the afternoon off to catch the latest installment of Grove on Groove. Plowing Mud Forever and No Pasaran were slated to perform. I arrived on scene at about 5 after 6 pm and Plowing Mud Forever was shaking things up.
Plowing Mud Forever takes pride in being one of Jersey City’s loudest acts, and perhaps now they have substantive facts to back that claim up. After their set, they were actually approached by Jersey City’s finest about a noise complaint during the show. How such complaints are even possible during an event set up by the city is fully beyond me. No fines were levied, since Groove on Grove is city-sanctioned (“They have a license to rock,” Cultural Affairs’ Greg Brickey says). “We were ‘too loud,’ according to a caller,” the band’s drummer Ryan Stevens says. “I apologized to the cop — he said he liked our music and was just doing his job.”
All noise complaints aside, Plowing Mud Forever was in full rock mode. Stevens and his bandmates Rollie Hatch (guitar/vocals) and Kirk Howle (bass/vocals) took the audience by storm and nearly tore the stage asunder.
No Pasaran, North Jersey’s panicky post-punk pack, have been playing around Jersey City and the rest of the region for several years. Prone to melodic verse and manic choruses, the band is propelled by Tom Barrett (drums), Romel Espinel (guitar/vocals) and Eric Mason (guitar/bass/vocals). Tom’s beats, Romel’s riffs and Eric’s vocals come together in what could only be described as harmonious discord.
Most of the commuters leaving the PATH stopped for a moment to check out the sound. Even better was the reaction of the children at the show — check out the second video below. If this doesn’t inspire you to come out for Groove on Grove, chances are you may be suffering from delusions of the mind, vertigo, or some malignant form of agoraphobia.
Plowing Mud Forever
No Pasaran
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Zac Clark is Jersey City's rogue rock writer. He is an avid blogger/indie music junkie and founder of rockertycoon.wordpress.com as well as an award-winning photographer, specializing in rock, fashion and weddings.
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