Friggin'Palooza
Local bands step into the spotlight at White Eagle Hall
Nick Ciavatta’s Friggin’ Fabulous Productions has curated showcases both large and small in and around Jersey City for years, providing locals band with not just places to play, but opportunities to create community. Taking that concept up a notch, on Friday, July 11, Nick will celebrate his 60th birthday when his own group, Sea of Otters, headlines a benefit at White Eagle Hall for the Jersey City Theater Company. Sharing bill will be Sylvana Joyce & The Moment, Carol Lester, Beeman & Bannon, Dujuana Sherese, and Marty & Carmen. We chatted with Nick about the show, about Friggin’ Fabulous Productions, and how he became such a passionate advocate for local musicians.
Q: First of all, happy 60th birthday! A lot of people know you from the intimate spaces you’ve booked, so doing a show at White Eagle Hall is obviously a major achievement. How did this benefit come together and can you share your hopes and trepidations about the project?
Thanks, Jim. I already hosted a big birthday show at White Eagle Hall back in 2018 and we were able to get over 300 people to come out to see local bands perform. I’ve only been booking intimate venues since the Pandemic hit. Prior to that, I was hosting many of the shows at FM (along with running the Open Mic there), Corkscrew Bar, Headroom, and a few shows at Harsimus Cemetery. Live at the Lumber Yard and the Riverview Park Shows back in the mid 2000’s were my shows too (under the aegis of Friggin Fabulous Productions,) where we got hundreds of people out every week, and I was booking shows at venues such as The Iron Monkey and Boca Grande back in the early 2000’s.
My hope is that a lot of people come out to the show (and I am trepidatious about the fact that we won’t get enough people out) but if they can’t come out, I’m hoping that they can buy a ticket in support, even if they can’t make it. Tickets are only $20 (plus tax) and if people have time to email me, I can connect that ticket to someone that could really use a free ticket right now. So my hope is that we sell a lot of tickets and spread awareness for the importance of live music in our area. One of the other reasons that I’ve been hosting shows at smaller venues lately is that very few bigger venues want to host live music because they say it’s not profitable. My goal is to prove them wrong!
Q: The show is a benefit for the Jersey City Theater Center’s Art Center on Marin Avenue, which is a gorgeous space. Do you foresee the theater being used for more music as well as theater and other events?
The show on July 11th is a benefit for JCTC, which has been hosting shows in Jersey City for many years. Their new center, which will be in Journal Square, is slated to have a few stages for music and theater, art galleries, rehearsal studios and affordable artist housing (which is desperately needed!) It’s a wonderful undertaking from my point of view, but they certainly need donations! More information is available at JCTcenter.org.
Q: Sylvana Joyce & The Moment have played White Eagle before and have a substantial following, Carol Lester is an industry professional, and your band Sea of Otters has plenty of experience. Obviously, bringing in an audience in a larger space is always a concern, have you strategized with the other acts about how to maximize your draw?
Sylvana Joyce & The Moment are amazing, and I had them on the bill with me at my last show at White Eagle Hall in 2018. In fact, that was the first time they played at White Eagle Hall. All the bands on that bill worked very hard to get people out. Back then and we had a lot more time to promote the show. That show was in May (when less people go away on vacation) so having it in July is more challenging, but the super talented acts that I have on the upcoming bill have all worked very hard to promote it! Carol Lester, who is one of the most entertaining performers around, did much of the graphic design for the flyers as did my intern, Scarlett Choi, so I want to thank them both for all their help!
This show will be quite the eclectic mix of local bands who I have been working with for years. I feel honored to have them on the bill, and I wish that it could be a 4- or 5-day festival so I could get all the super talented Hudson County bands on the bill!
Q: I couldn’t find anything online about the two opening acts, Dujuana Sherese and Martin Cole. Can you tell people what they’re like and who their music would appeal to?
While both performers have been around for a long time, their current incarnations are relatively new, which is probably why their digital footprint is smaller. Marty & Carmen are kind of a mix of Rock & Folk with a bit of a Latin Music influence. Carmen Arrojo’s percussion really adds a wonderful layer to their sound, Krow Azul is one of the best (and most interesting bass players) in the area, Glen Coleman (who also plays with Sea of Otters) is a phenomenal lead guitarist, and Martin Cole is not only a great singer but writes most of the songs. In fact, they are all great singers!
Dujuana Sherese is quite unique (and I don’t use that term loosely). She is probably best known in Jersey City as a Spoken Work Artist, but her act is a mix of Spoken Word, Hip Hop, Soul and Trippy Loops. I like to think of her as “The Hip Hop Lori Anderson”, but that may be simplifying things. She will be joined onstage by Rescue Poetix, Ameerah Shabaz, Ihuoma Tueseday, who are all incredibly talented Poets and Spoken Word Artists!
Q: William Bannon and Barbara Beeman are folk icons who rubbed shoulders with Bob Dylan back in the day in Greenwich Village. I’d pay just to hear those two tell stories for an hour! They’re about to release a new CD and they’re still very much a contemporary act, but for those who don’t know them, can you explain who they are and what they do, and what makes them so vital and entertaining?
I could talk about Beeman & Bannon all day! And, speaking of their new album, I had the pleasure of doing the Audio Mastering for it (which I’ve done for many local Indie Artists and some well-known Major Label artists over the years). Besides being wonderful human beings, they are so super talented. Barbara has such a unique singing style, and her interpretation of certain covers gives me chills! Bill Bannon is one of my favorite guitarists; he’s technically top notch, and his riffs also have a lot of soul, so his playing touches my musical brain and heart! I’ve had them on my stages many times over the years. People used to come into Café Peanut to pick up a takeout order and would end up staying to watch Beeman & Bannon.
Not only are they my friends, but I see them as my “Adoptive Grandparents.” They have both given me great advice over the years. They are true legends and it’s an honor to have them on the WEH bill!
Q: Your organization Friggin’ Fabulous Productions does so much to help other artists, I’d like you to be able to take a bow here. Tell us about Sea of Otters, who’s in the band, and describe what we’ll here at the show.
Thanks so much, Jim! I am truly blessed to have so many wonderfully talented people in my life! I used to think that I had a knack for finding incredibly talented artists, but I think it may be the other way around. Somehow, they seem to find me, and the biggest compliment that I think I ever got regarding my Open Mics was the one guy who said, “I’ve been to a lot of open mics, and usually about half of the performers are terrible, but everyone that plays for you is either very good or great!” Somehow The Universe puts super talented folks in my orbit.
Sea of Otters has been around for many years (since 1988) in many different incarnations. The band started out in Asbury Park, where I was living at the time, but has been a Jersey City based band for about 25 years. The band name came from a mnemonic device to help people pronounce my last name, “Ciavatta.”
We’ve been described as Alternative Rock, Folk Funk, Rock Funk Fusion, and my favorite, “Sarcasorock” by the late Chris Barry. We gained some fame in the early 90’s when my song “Disclaimer” blew up briefly on College Radio (and some commercial radio stations). That was thanks to my good friend, Matt Pinfield, who many know as the host of “120 Minutes” on MTV. I had the honor of working at FM106.3/WHTG back in the day, a few years after he debuted “Disclaimer” and other Otters tunes on his show.
The current, incredibly talented line up includes “Lightning Lou” Iacobelli on drums, John Warren on bass and vocals, Ralph Capasso on percussion, sax and vocals, Glen Coleman on lead guitar and vocals, and yours truly on Guitar and Lead Vocals. I’m very lucky to be surrounded by these super tight musicians, and the best part is that they are all my best friends. How many bands can really say that?
Q: Speaking of Friggin’ Fabulous, please feel free to mention the services you provide in terms of behind the scenes services instruction, and any other projects you’d like to pitch.
With pleasure! My main gig is Voice Acting, and I’ve lent my voice to many TV and Radio Commercials, Documentaries and more. You can hear my voice on the current “Skyrizi” spots, and I’ve done voice-over work for NBC, Discovery Channel, Amazon Prime, Prudential Insurance, Amazon Prime Video, Allegra and many more. I also teach Voice Over in person in my amazing sounding home recording studio in Jersey City and via Zoom. I also produce VO Demos and do home studio installs.
Some of my other services include Podcast Hosting, Training and Production, Emcee services (I’ve been an announcer at Radio City Music Hall, Prudential Center and many more,) Audio Mastering, Video Production and Analog to Digital tape conversions (almost any Audio or Video format). And, as you know I like to host and produce Live Music Events. I have a few other things in the works for this Fall, so stay tuned! Check out my website at www.frigginfabulousproductions.com
I hope that everyone can come out to White Eagle Hall on Friday, July 11th, and if you can’t, please but a ticket in support of a great cause (and if ticket sales are high enough, the performers may make a few bucks). Thanks again, and everyone please support your Local Performing Artists!
