Modern American Gypsies: Big D and The Stanhope House

It was past midnight.  Saturday morning and I was drenched in sweat.  I was alerted that David Mcwane, the lead singer of Big D and The Kids Table was at the bar.  Loren and I were excited to just get an autograph.  We got more then that.  You see I had just bought David's book The Modern American Gypsy and was hoping to get all of the band to sign it.  David made jokes about the show and downplayed his rock star label, then circled his favorite chapter in his own book highlighting it's importance.  He signed 6 posters for us.  We did our best to not act star struck, but to me anyone in a ska band is most likely humble or should be.  He said, "People always ask me if I have time. As if I have somewhere to be."  and let out a laugh.

One third of the way through David's book, a paragraph reminded me that the Big D show I attended was just one night.  David did this every night!  England, Scotland, Netherlands, France, Luxemberg, and Germany.  All  just a third of the book.  How did he find the energy, strength, and passion to play every night as hard as the last?  Sleeping in attics with cracked roofs and bar floors stained with puke and blood. I was just one night, one fan and he had many more to go.  When you're a Modern American Gypsy you're working class, it's hard work disguised by passion and love of music.

Big D played hard and fast.  Answered the crowds energy with more energy, resulting in more adrenaline on both sides. The $15 ticket price was worth this. It was worth the large bruises appearing two days later on both my shins from being pushed into the amp on stage.  I looked to my right, me and my new friend screamed lyrics at each other with a smile, we will never talk or see each other ever again, only united by the music.  This is a clear sign of a good show.  I turn around to see my friends yelling and smiling, the result of what was called The City Special, $6 dollars for a shot of well whisky and a PBR.  I love the Stanhope House.

A Post By: Michael Berger

Big D and the Kids Table rock the Stanhope House

Pictured left to right: Loren Kessell, David McWane,
Mike Berger, Fiona Lynch

The Stanhope House is a place where local musicians and well-known bands can come together. Every night offers a different kind of show from punk rock to blues.  On Friday, May 11 the ska punk band Big D and the Kids Table put on the show of a lifetime.

The opening acts before them were all talented, and they included the bands Hub City Stompers, Survay Says!, and a group of high school students known as No Vertebrae.  The Stanhope House was filling up with people while each band played, and eventually it hit max capacity.

Over time the room felt stuffy, and my phone was collecting condensation on it from the sheer amount of people, but the excitement was buzzing in the room like electricity. Everyone was awaiting Big D's performance, and when they came on stage everyone went wild.

The togetherness was incredible, and the dancing was great. David McWane, the lead singer, also explained why the band went through a hiatus.  He had been diagnosed with cancer, and he took the time off in order to fight it. Luckily for him he won the battle, and he told the audience to never give up hope if anyone is dealing with the disease.

They played the songs "Steady Riot," and "Shining On," during their set and the crowd went wild.  They also played the song "Noise Complaint," which I thought was appropriate considering how loud the show was in such a small neighborhood. They left the stage after their last song, but everyone at once started shouting for one more song.  This turned into everyone chanting for the song, "LA.X" and the band took the stage one more time.

McWane said instead of "LA.X" they would be playing some free form jazz, and everyone started playing different melodies. This led right into "LA.X," and the crowd began to dance their hearts out. Everyone was jumping, singing, and shouting.  I made my way to the front of the stage for one of the best encores I have ever seen.  I may have been a sweaty mess by the end of the night, but the dancing and the experience was well worth it.

At the end of the show McWane was by the bar, and my friends and I managed to speak with him.  He was so happy that everyone made it out, and he talked to us for a long time.  He is a genuine person who loves talking with his fans, and he signed all sorts of merchandise.

To find out about more shows at the Stanhope House visit their website at http://www.stanhopehousenj.com/. Be sure to check out the Facebook pages of some of the opening bands as well.  No Vertebrae is especially one to check out, because they are a group of promising young kids.

No Vertebrae: http://www.facebook.com/novertebrae
Survay Says!: http://www.facebook.com/survaysays
Hub City Stompers: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hub-City-Stompers/194996510716

A post by: Loren Kessell

The Last Great American Roadhouse

For the most part Main Street of Stanhope, NJ is quaint and quiet.  But every Wednesday about twenty or so punks, hippies, fans, or whatever can be seen outside smoking their cigarettes on the porch of The Stanhope House.  At about 8:30pm on March 14th the weather must have been just perfectly strange or the planets must have been nonaligned in a jumbled mess because the music blaring through the walls as I walked up was utterly Hard and perfectly Core.
The sign coming in read "No Moshing" but it didn't stop some from trying.  As I walked in I was greeted by my friend's on stage Ben Scardo and Ricky Hall of the band BDFM, making it just in time to see them play a Ukulele included cover of a Dead Kennedy's song.  Walking up to the bar a sign reads $2 Rolling Rocks and $3 PBRs.  About 5minutes later friends Collin, Kelsey and fellow writer of this blog Loren Kessel walk in.
As the night went on the music got more Hardcore and at one point insanely Metal.  So we abandoned our spot in front of the standard crowd line standing about 7 feet back from the stage and headed toward the bar.  So maybe the metal wasn't our thing, but the crowd it attracts and the comradery of the bands made the venue special.  The silence between each set invited a ghostly feeling as each group of friends talk among themselves, their voices echoing within the history of the walls.  Then maybe the most important question of the night came to light, "How long has this place been around?"  After some research I found my answer and more!  I could paraphrase but the website says it best.

"If walls could talk, the old walls of the Stanhope House (c.1794), the Last Great American Road House, would have some serious stories to tell. The club was the stomping grounds and post-show hangout of a massive array of loved blues legends.Imagine, the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn scrubbing dishes in the kitchen after a late night, jam packed gig. Picture Muddy Waters' deep, grainy voice trading chicken recipes with former club Matron, Mama Wrobleski or the original Hoochie Coochie Man, Willie Dixon stopping by for Thanksgiving dinner. All of it happened at The Stanhope House, one of the last great blues bastions left in America."

In conclusion the show was great... because the atmosphere was amazing.  I wasn't the biggest fan of the music besides BDFM but that didn't stop me from enjoying myself!  If your wondering what the venue's schedule looks like my answer is incredibly impressive, for such a small venue.  Recently a friend watched as 40 year old men threw on their old leather jackets and skanked to The Toasters.  On Sunday March 18th Post-Rock band Moving Mountains headlines for a ticket price of $12.  But the show flyer that made my pupils dilate as I read the name was... Big D & The Kids Table on May 11th for a ticket price of $12 dollars!  Oh did I forget to mention that if you enjoy blues guitarist the calender is full of $25 dollar shows to see guitarists that my generation has never heard of?  

Post by: Mike Berger

Links: http://www.stanhopehousenj.com/

http://www.facebook.com/BDFMango