Punk Rock, Alive and Well: A Night with The Jukebox Romantics

I consider myself to have a diverse palate when it comes to my musical delights. I can listen to and enjoy almost any assemblage of instruments out there. But, while I find many tunes to please my ears, I have to proclaim that punk rock will forever own my heart. It’s a genre of music whose lifestyle I have lived, and whose emotions I can relate to.

The music of punk can be compared to a finely aged cheese. If you haven’t developed a taste for it, chances are you’re just going to think it stinks.

Granted, the music is not for everyone, but the fact that the pop-punk band Green Day won their fourth Grammy last year, and currently have their own rock opera, American Idiot, showing on Broadway, says that this genra might have approached its highest level of popularity yet.

My biggest gripe with the scene lately is that I haven’t found many good new local bands. Now, while I love my music collection dearly, I feel like I‘ve been listening to the same NOFX albums for the past 15 years. (Mostly because I have).

 I’m bored. Or at least I was until last weekend.

On the tip of a friend, (thank you Delia), I headed out to the Peekskill Brewery to celebrate the presidential holiday weekend with a good ol’ fashion punk show.

Cue The Jukebox Romantics. 

Covered in tattoos and fuled by beer, these guys write the songs I will be learning all the words to over the next few weeks.

Three members of this five-piece punk ensemble stem from the Peekskill-Cortlandt area: Bassist Mike Stratton graduated from Walter Panas High School, and Drummer Joe Jacobs and guitarist Seth Dellon graduated from Lakeland. Their additional two band mates, singer Chris Schultz and guitarist Mike Terry are from the New York City area.

When approached by the brewery’s owner about providing entertainment for the Sunday night crowd, The Jukebox Romantics were more than happy to accept the request.

That evening at their show I got the dose of live music I was drastically craving. I witnessed the members of this band spew talent like a busted fire hydrant ferociously spits water. As I stood amongst the many others who had crammed themselves into the pub’s dining room, people all around me popped their elbows as they energetically thrust their clenched fists in the air to the rhythm of the music. 

Now, I am not by profession a music critic, but this band’s talent is undeniable. As a collective their musical coordination is incredibly tight. I found their songs to be consistently good, as well as distinguishable from each other (an issue that often presents itself in punk music).

As any music fan knows, what makes a good show is created by a combination of factors. Some of the best shows I have attended remain in my memory that way not because the sound was amazing, but because the members were into the moment.

I was kept entertained throughout the evening by the bands theatrical performances, as well as their music. As singer Schultz mimed along to the words he sang, those in charge of the stringed instruments pogoed around the make shift stage and noodled on their guitars. Throw in the sweet backing vocals of Stratton, plus the rapid machine gun fire drumming style of Jacobs, and you’ve got yourself the perfect punk rock evening.

 Often times you’ll hear music fans reminisce about a time they saw a popular group at a smaller venue before the band achieved stardom. Allow me to boast now.  I am already grateful for the chance I had to see TJR perform in such a small intimate setting. I believe they are well on their way to making teenage girls swoon by the thousands.

And apparently, I do not stand alone on these opinions. After releasing their self-titled debut album on Altercation Records some two years ago, their fan base is expanding rapidly along with the band’s popularity. After hitting the stages of Warped Tour and Austin, Texas’s South By Southwest Festival last year, they have continued to tour steadily, admirably  promoting themselves tirelessly. Over the next few months they will be playing almost two dozen shows across the tri-state area.   

Their sophomore album, A Lion & A Guy, is being released May 3. I’ll be looking forward to hearing it, as well as catching the band’s next show, where I'll be, singing along.

Editor's Note: The originlal article stated the new album would be released March 3, the correct date is May 3.  The article has been corrected