|
Zing in his strings
Veteran rocker still plays for the love of it
BY STEPHEN
BOVE
STAFF WRITER
Bob Burger will lay it
down for you. When it comes to the essence of great rock "n' roll,
the music should speak for itself.
"It's something that can't be put into words," he said. "It's
when you hear a song, and the hairs on the back of your neck stand
up. You can't explain it, but you know it's just changed your life."
It's this primal approach to hearing, writing and playing music
that's guided the local rocker throughout his lifelong love affair
with music and the art of making it.
"I just get up there and play my heart out," he said "I let the
music take over, and whatever happens just happens."
And if there is one thing to expect at a Bob Burger show, it's
that you'll never know what you're going to see or hear next.
"I don't use set lists. Even I don't know what I'm going to play
until I start playing it," he said. "The songs I choose depend on my
mood that night. And I'm a moody person."
The Eatontown resident has been performing in New Jersey for more
than 20 years, and has been writing, singing and playing guitar
since he was old enough to hold one.
Like most independent musicians, he got his Jersey start from the
ground up, in a band with his brother Jeff.
Filling in wherever he could, he soon hooked up with various
local rockers such as Glen Burtnik of Styx and Jimmy Leahey, and
eventually scored a spot playing bass alongside Bobby Bandiera.
"I owe everything to those guys," he said. "Bandiera, Jimmy
(Leahey), Glen (Burtnik), and Lee Mrowicki, the DJ at the Stone
Pony, and a ton more, I wouldn't be here without them."
Burger said he's not exactly sure why, but there is a tremendous
fellowship within the New Jersey music scene that's unlike any other
he's experienced.
He added that this camaraderie is even more evident as he watches
his son, Mitch, garner support for his own band, a death-metal
outfit called Severed Hand.
"You can just get up there and play, and are accepted. It's
exceptional," Burger said. "There are so much talent, and a great
fan base that really knows and appreciates so many different types
of music. And the bands and fans all support each other. It really
is like a big family."
Leahey reacquainted with Burger about two years ago, and since
then the duo have
returned to playing regular gigs together anywhere from two to
five times a month, Leahey said.
"When we play, something just clicks. We come down on time, we
end on time, it's almost magical," Leahey said. "Especially because
we've never rehearsed together."
Leahey, who plays guitar in the house band for stand-up comic
Richard Belzer, as well as with his own band, The Alice Project,
says that getting to know and perform with Burger has been an
education for him.
"I play with a lot of different people, and none are like Bob,"
he said. "His knowledge of music never ceases to blow my mind."
Over the past four years, Burger has been performing at venues
that include The Celtic Cottage in Long Branch, Basil T's in Red
Bank, and The Wonderbar in Asbury Park.
"Solo gigs aren't easy," he said. "It's just you up there, with
nobody to hide behind."
Burger said it's never been about the money. He's happy enough
just doing what he loves.
"I don't charge for my album at my shows," said Burger, 51. "It's
much more important to me that I'm able to communicate something to
people — that they're coming out and listening to me. For that, I'm
happy to just give my album away."
For more information on Bob Burger, visit http://www.bobburger.com/ on the Web.
|
