Jersey Rock Band of the Week: Sharkys Machine
Rocking The Millhill Basement in Trenton on December 22!
Central Jersey Punk Rock pioneers Sharkys Machine will celebrate 3 decades as a band in 2024!ย The group formed in Long Branch in 1994 and has performed across a number of New Jersey music eras.ย From their inception through 2008 they were a fixture on the Jersey Shore Punk/Rock Scene headlining shows at The Stone Pony, Club Bene, Birch Hill, The Brighton Bar, Fastlane, and many other venues. They continued to play festivals and induction ceremonies into the 2020’s.ย The group was even honored on the Brighton Bar’s legendary Wall of Fame.ย Sadly many of the aforementioned venues, including The Brighton Bar, no longer exist.ย We’re very happy that Sharkys Machine still does!
Speaking of the longevity of Sharkys Machine, founding member Joe Vegas said:
“Lasting 30 years as a band is not the norm. It takes a close friendship, great music, an incredible fan base, and lots of beer to make it happen. Above all else, it is to not take things too seriously. Have fun and be a band of brothers above all else! While we have seen many of our beloved venues shut their doors, the advent of all the music platforms has been a great way to get our music out there. We need everyone to support the local venues that support the local bands!”
Sharkys Machine will take the stage at another storied venue on December 22.ย Catch them at the Millhill Basement in Trenton on December 22 for a pre-holiday show with The Cryptkeeper Five, Doc Rotten, and Hobo Houston!ย Vegas said of the upcoming evening:
“The annual Christmas Spectacular at The Millhill hosted by The Cryptkeeper Five has been a holiday tradition for years. We have been close friends and playing with them all over the Northeast for almost 3 decades! They along with Doc Rotten are sons of Trenton. We played with Hobo Houston last year and he will get you in the holiday spirit! You can expect an infectious vibe with passionate fans who will know every word of every song.”
Admission to the show is just $5 at the door.ย This is a 21+ event.
Sharkys Machine’s latest album “Ye Olde No. 7” is available now.ย According to Joe Vegas, the album came about as a part of an effort to help a New Jersey music legend.ย He said:
“Sharkys had been on a hiatus when in 2014 we learned The Brighton Bar’s Jacko Monahan had gone through a health crisis. We reunited for a benefit and ended up writing new material. We went back to John Bailey at SS Sound Studios where we recorded “Drunks Like Us” and in 2021 we released our latest album “Ye Olde No. 7″. It includes new songs we wrote throughout our almost 30-year history and has a great range!”
Tune to Jersey Rock on 95.9 The RAT Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 11:30 pm to hear cuts from across Sharkys Machine’s catalog.ย The entire band will call in each night!
Learn more at thesharkysmachine.com!
Brownie Heaven: The 10 Best Places to Satisfy Your Cravings on the Jersey Shore
Happy National Brownie Day! Iโve been writing a lot about comfort foods. Itโs the season where we subconsciously fatten ourselves up to stay warm for the cold Winter ahead.
I make brownies 2 or 3 times a year. The office begs for them, listeners have asked for them, and of course, my friends and family will never say no to my homemade brownies.
Many years ago, my brownies were turned into a station promotion.
A listener suggested I give them away on the air. I loved the idea, even though it required an extraordinary amount of work.
Of course, we had to go through a lot of red tape getting clearance through our former owners, Greater Media and their legal department.
The liability insurance was up to date, and my kitchen was not a health hazard. So, off we went with the โWin Rockyn Robynโs Bad Ass Brownies For Your Office.โ
People who rock at work with the WRAT, entered every week.
We’d select a winner on Friday. Once a week, usually on a Wednesday, the winning office received a big platter of my freshly baked brownies along with a gallon of milk.
One of our promo dudes would hop into the RAT van and personally deliver the goods.
I loved that promotion!
Sadly, we had to stop doing it after several months. It seems that someone at another radio station tried to copy my idea and wound up making one of their listeners sick. The listener filed a lawsuit, and then it was lights out for “Rockyn Robyn’s Bad Ass Brownies.”
Our corporate folks got wind of it and asked me to cancel the contest for good.
I even offered to have the county health department come to my house to inspect my kitchen, but the corporate legal folks still said no.
When Iโm not baking my own brownies, I head out to a local bakery, or I find my favorite baking Goddesses, Amy & Lisa from โMust Get Sconedโ.
Read Lisa & Amy’s Story Here
When I first sought out Amy & Lisa at Bell Works Marketplace in Holmdel, they gifted me the absolute best brownie I ever ate. It was this luxurious peanut butter brownie cake. My first thought after taking a bite, โIf thereโs a bakery in Heaven, this is the Earthly model.โ
Now itโs time to find the best brownies on the Jersey Shore. Hopefully, your favorite made the list.
Tom Hanley is the host of Jersey Rock, New Jerseyโs longest running local rock show on 95.9 The RAT. He got his start in broadcasting at Monmouth University's WMCX-FM. He's hosted Jersey Rock since 2016, been on the air at WRAT since 2008, and been listening to RAT Radio since 1996! Jersey Rock is a multi-platform local music brand that provides exposure to NJ artists. The on-air program features a different Garden State band each week. Tune to 95.9 The RAT every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday night at 11:30 pm to hear call-ins and songs from the Jersey Rock Band of the Week! Each week Jersey Rock features a different music video as the Jersey Rock Video of the Week . Between Jersey Rock's on-air and online platforms, there's opportunities for 9 different NJ bands to be featured each week. If you're in a NJ band and want to be on Jersey Rock, e-mail Tom Hanley. Send your mp3's, videos, pictures, and links to
[email protected]
