Junior Varsity, the newest band from punk/rock 'n' roll legend Mighty Joe Vincent, has debuted with one of the year's best EPs. If someone with impeccable taste like Palmyra Delran is championing this band, you know it has to be great. And how could it not be? Vincent (The Devil Dogs, Swingin' Neckbreakers, Prissteens) gets to show off his songwriting and producing chops with Junior Varsity, and he has assembled an all-star cast of veteran rock 'n' roll musicians from the New York/New Jersey area. Let's be honest: this is no JV team. All these guys have earned their varsity letters many times over. Paul Bertolino (The Sleaves, Atomic Jones) is on lead vocals. Mike Fornatale (Dot Wiggin Band, The Left Banke, Mark Lindsay, Moby Grape, etc.) and Mike Dudolevitch (The Nuclears) are on guitar. Alec Morton (Raging Slab, Monster Magnet) is on bass. Dave Lieb (Rebecca Carter Burke & Blame The Whiskey, The Vinyl Skyway) is on keyboards. Now that's a hot band!
Where The Groove Is, out now on Rum Bar Records, may surprise people who only know of Vincent from his work in garage and punk bands. With Junior Varsity, he has crafted a more sophisticated brand of rock 'n' roll with a well-refined pop sensibility. I love the big sound here — replete with backup singers, keyboards, guitar solos, and arena-sized lead vocals. I always have a sweet spot for classic rock with great hooks, and these songs totally hit the mark. I love that you can hear many different influences at play: glam and power pop in the title track, a little Rolling Stones in "Back to Reno," some swinging garage rock in "Everything," and classic '60s pop with hints of E Street swagger in "Show Me What You're Made Of." This, my friends, is songwriting and musicianship of the highest quality. All of these four songs could be considered "the hit," and they only get better with repeated spins. Mighty Joe Vincent has brought his musical vision to life, and he couldn't have picked a better group of players to make it happen. If you like your rock 'n' roll with hooky choruses, catchy melodies, and a groove to die for, Junior Varsity is definitely the band for you.
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