The Jersey City Independent"

Since JCI’s usual correspondent Zac Clark was MIA, I thought I’d pinch-hit and cover yesterday’s free Groove on Grove show with newcomers Ben Franklin and Jersey City alt-Americana favorites The Poconos.

It continually astounds me that these shows aren’t better attended, given that, yes, they’re free, right outside a major transportation hub, and impeccably booked. Last night’s show was no different — a sparse crowd for Ben Franklin, a few more people for the Poconos, but nowhere near the kind of attention these bands deserve.

Let’s start with Brooklyn’s Ben Franklin, featuring ex-Meltdowns guitarist Billy Gray, ex-One & Only Typicals/Imperialists bassist Eddie Garza, and drummer Sarah Tomek, who frequently backs Asbury Park singer/songwriter stalwarts like Rick Barry and Jerzy Jung. The trio rocks like a quintet, mixing throbbing, melodic basslines, slashing guitar leads interspersed with head-bouncing riffage, and driving backbeats, melding a hectic fusion of pop, punk, and funk — imagine Cheap Trick jamming with early Black Flag at Dismemberment Plan’s 4th of July BBQ. It’s a big sound for a three-piece, especially when Garza and Gray start trading call-and-response vocals that fuse into spot-on harmonies on rockin’ anthems like “Tell Me How You Really Feel” or the politically pointed “Timmeh,” whose lyrics connect the dots between the financial shenanigans of the Federal Reserve and the plight of the contemporary working stiff. This band has a lot of big ideas and big sounds, and since they just finished mixing their debut full-length, we can all look forward to hearing more from them soon.

The Poconos were missing guitarist Marty O’Kane but the remaining four members — led by the charismatic Brian Leopold (ex-Low Flying Jets) on vocals, guitar, and harp — sounded just fine. Multi-instrumentalist Chris Smith filled in with guitar, banjo, and most importantly, pedal steel, which he tuned variously to either emulate the twang of Nashville country or to add synth-like effects. Given that the Poconos are basically a traditional roots-rock combo, with catchy major-chord melodies and simple lyrics about girls ‘n’ stuff, Smith’s contributions accentuated the Poconos’ kinship to Wilco — a big city band using classic country tropes to convey small town earnestness, occasionally expanded with the use of electronics. Yes, Leopold did throw on a pair of neon sunglasses at one point, but basically the Poconos deliver unfiltered Americana, without the smug irony imposed by so many Brooklyn alt-country acts; simple, smooth, and satisfying, like chicken fried steak with white gravy.

There are a couple of Groove On Grove Wednesdays left (a big mystery band next week, or so we hear) and a can’t miss, end of the summer blowout on Sept. 11 (also a JC Fridays night) with the Milwaukees and Any Day Parade. Keep your eyes on JCI’s calendar and I’ll see you on the PATH train.