The Jersey Mystique.
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I spent a few years bouncing around the eastern seaboard, from DC to WV to VA. And when I'd tell people I was from New Jersey, I'd get a number of reactions. My response was always "Never underestimate the curious allure of the Garden State." And it's a credo I live by; there's no place quite like it. Our unifying theme in talking to the artists of the XPoNential Music Festival this weekend was "What's your favorite thing about New Jersey?"
Here's a selection of our favorites:
The Devils.”–Keith of Good Old War
“The Turnpike.”–Dan from Good Old War
“Jersey Tomatoes.”–The Peace Creeps
“…I LOVE the New Jersey Nets.”–Tre’ Williams of The Revelations
“It’s great to play so close to home.”–Kevin Bacon
“Flying Fish Beer, brewed locally in NJ (you got a problem with that?)”–East Hundred
“Taylor Ham (pork roll for those not in the know)”–John Gorka
“The Jersey shore.”–Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams
“The shore, the corn, the tomatoes.”–Like a Fox
Like a Fox also wins the prize for "best tattoo we saw all weekend"--one of the band members has the state inked on his left forearm (see the pic up top).
That's Jersey Love, people.
Speaking of which, my favorite moment of Jersey Love was The Bacon Brothers' fun cover of Springsteen's "I'm in Love with a Jersey Girl." You can't go wrong with the Boss.
And, as Raegan just pointed out, John Gorka has perhaps the best-known and most affecting of all expressions of Jersey Love, as shown in the video below from NJN's State of the Arts. This was the second song of his set on Saturday, and got a huge reaction.
So, enjoy! To be continued.
