News
Women Rock At BCC Guitar Show
By Uncle Mike
LINCROFT - On Sunday, February 15, the Donald Warner Student Life Center on the campus of Brookdale Community College played host to the 12th Annual Brookdale Guitar Show. Once again the Student Life Center came alive with the sounds of music, only this time around most of the sounds were provided by those of the female persuasion. Presenters 90.5 The Night, Brookdale Public Radio and Raritan Bay Guitar Repair added a little twist to the show this year. That twist being the theme Women In Rock which dominated most of the live performances and clinics throughout the day. And as they have done for over a decade guitar-heads, music fans, musicians and curiosity seekers alike packed the Student Life Center for what has become one of Brookdale's best attractions and biggest fundraisers.
There were a number of holdover performers from last year like the rock/pop duo of HelenaMaria and Freehold blues act, Jo Wymer & The Itty Bitty Band, as well as heavy metal guitarist Jack Frost. I was most interested in first timers like Beth Arentsen, Sophia Ramos and Divine Sign. And while I enjoyed the efforts of Beth Arentsen & Friends and Asbury Park's Divine Sign (more on these two acts later), it was New York City's Sophia Ramos who truly embodied this year's theme. Talk about a woman who rocks. Nobody and I mean absolutely nobody rocks like singer Sophia Ramos. Accompanied by New Brunswick guitar wiz, Chris Buono, as well as Paul DiLeo on bass and Tobias Ralph on drums, Sophia shook the Twin Lights Room, no check that, Sophia shook the entire Student Life Center to its core. Channeling Janis Joplin and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Sophia and the boys lit it up with over the top, take no prisoners renditions of "Let Me Tell You Something"(Sophia soars as band comes on like gangbusters), "Aryan Zulu" (badass sound with Paul's chest thumping bass/big crowd favorite), "Kill Your Pain" (monster vocal/hardcore rock 'n' roll), "Freedom Is Over" (very hip guitar intro by Chris/short on lyrics but big on beat/Paul and Tobias play out of their heads/ reminiscent of T.M. Stevens and Out Of Control), "Good Thing?" (Sophia gets down and dirty as Chris gets filthy on guitar/killer blues # dedicated to all those ladies out there looking for that good man), "What Do I Know" (Sophia gets funky as the band rocks), "Esperanza" (song of hope dedicated to Chris' cousin who left for Iraq this past Monday /a rapid fire rocker) and Hendrix's "Ain't No Telling" (Sophia belts out one from Jimi to huge cheers). Now, I can go on and on about Sophia's performance but I won't. All I'll say is this. There are very few women who rock like Sophia Ramos. Janis was one and maybe Joan Jett or Gracie Slick on a good day. Sophia is the real deal. And when you see her name on a marquee, in a newspaper or magazine, run don't walk to go see her. Sophia Ramos is a Rock Diva! A Supersonic Rock Diva!!!
Now, back to the previously mentioned acts, Beth Arentsen and Divine Sign. Making her first appearance at the Guitar Show, Beth Arentsen a former Middletown girl who grew up in New York City's East Village and cut her teeth performing in Lower Manhattan music halls offered up an interesting eight-song set. Accompanied by Steve DeVito (electric guitar), Chris Russo (drums) and Lenaé Harris (cello), Beth (vocals/keys) did a fine job on such tunes as "Gossip Queen" (strong vocal), "Sap" (title cut from latest a crowd favorite), "Like They Care" (cool electric guitar and cello/nice little band vibe) and "Conquistadora" (terrific change of pace/wonderful vocal and cello/most heartfelt #/best of set). As for Divine Sign, I felt that Kerry McNulty (lead vocals), Lindsey Miller (acoustic guitar/vocals) and Keith McCarthy (acoustic guitar) got off to a rocky start, but as they made their way through their seven-song set they seem to gain confidence and finished up strong with impressive renditions of "Overdue" (strong lead vocal), "Dear Lover" (superior vocals/best of set), "Lose Me" (the big come down sounds great as Kerry nails vocal/ the ladies finish up strong) and "Live Alone" (a very fine closer).
Look. While everyone gave it their best from start to finish, hands down the performer who stood head and shoulders above the rest and ruled the day was Sophia Ramos. If Sophia Ramos knows anything, she flat-out knows how to rock! End of story.
As always this article is dedicated to the memory and spirit of Dave Mac (1963 - 2007).
