No one does more for the Hudson music scene with less reward or recognition than Jacqueline Smith, the force of nature behind JC Music Scene, an invaluable resource for musicians, fans, and yes, even music journalists.
Smith’s social media prowess on Instagram and Facebook provides a nexus for news on upcoming concerts and festivals, new releases, and pretty much anything of interest to the local music community. On Wednesday, June 26, JC Music Scene brings its vision of a more eclectic and inclusive music scene to life with a “Groove on Grove Takeover,” when Smith curates the weekly showcase and presents hip-hop duo PeteyXKraze, electronic music act Merlo, soul singer SHRLS, and alternative rockers Zero Fox at the Grove Street Plaza.
“It’s truly been a privilege to be asked to host a Groove on Grove ‘takeover’ now four years straight,” said Smith. “‘Dancing Tony’s’ Jersey City summer stage series is actually my most favorite booking opportunity because I am able to showcase the most eclectic artist bill without any additional pressure to strictly bring in ‘heads.’”
She noted that while JC Music Scene followers are exceptionally loyal, they tend to stay most loyal to their preferred genres, whether it’s rock, dance or rap.
“When I am curating a lineup for the general public, I am able to capture a much broader and diversified audience ... one that ultimately might prove more impactful in pushing homegrown act’s awareness forward,” Smith noted.
Groove on Grove, which snags commuters coming home from work on the PATH and passing through the busy Grove Street Plaza in the early evenings, does just that.
“In running JC Music Scene, it remains my mission to shine a light on Hudson County talent spanning all genres,” Smith continued. “It is insanely common to find acoustic nights, hip-hop battles, jazz nights, and even country nights these days, but I am happy to get all genres of music together on the same stage if only for an evening.”
On the bill for JC Music Scene’s “takeover” will be PeteyXKraze, the hip-hop duo of Jersey City rappers Petey and Kraze.
“We make music for people who are going through something, we like to relate to them, so they don’t feel quite so alone,” said Petey. “We say that we make people smile who are struggling, we make people dance who might be suffering. We make good music that everyone can relate to and have a better day, or a better week.”
Petey has booked shows and owns a recording studio in what he calls “the other side of Jersey City,” where rappers come to record their inner-city tales of drugs, crime, and struggles on the street.
“But there’s some of us that just want to give the world something more important,” he noted. “We want to make music that can uplift and empower people to change the world for the better. Or at least to make life a little easier.”
PeteyXKraze will share the bill with Zero Fox, a veteran alt-rock band whose frontman Kieran Sullivan has been performing in the area for decades, most notably in Babe the Blueox. With bassist Emilio Guarino and drummer James White, the band makes music for the fun of it, past the point of careerism or chasing the elusive major label dream. Use your imagination in pronouncing the name and you’ll understand that at this point in life, these musician lifers give “zero fox.”
“We have three superstars in this band who have absolutely paid their dues, and we all still work in the music industry, but at this point in our lives, we basically just play for ourselves and our sub-conscious,” said Sullivan. “We’re all attached to different agencies and play in wedding bands and whatnot to earn a living. But what is punk rock nowadays? For us, it’s really our sub-conscious run amok, with people we trust.”
Sullivan and White met in college.
“We’re both old school, and he’s just the best effing drummer that I’ve ever seen,” enthused Sullivan. “He’s bananas, he can do anything. And then I met Emilio Guarino, who’s the best bassist. These dudes are geniuses.
“So what do we play? I don’t know what to call it,” said Sullivan. “It’s very punk, it’s very sad, but it’s also drum and bass. It’s like all the best stuff from the ‘90s. It’s dance music, it’s experimental, sometimes it sounds like LCD Soundsystem, sometimes like Jane’s Addiction, it’s all over the place. But it’s gonna leave you entertained.”
Also on the bill will be EDM (electronic dance music) act Merlo and SHRLS, a talented young woman who’s a vocal producer, songwriter, choreographer and recording engineer, as well as a powerhouse vocalist.
“I have so much gratitude for Rockit Docket and HDSID for this opportunity,” Smith summed up. “While it may seem small to some, it is events like these that are truly launching pads for artists to move much further beyond our talented scene.”
Jim Testa is on Facebook at facebook.com/Constant-Listener-Jim-Testa-On-Hudson-Music-108591071738628. He can also be reached at jim@jerseybeat.com.
