Teaneck–Last Saturday night, Smokey Joe’s, the Glatt Kosher Tex-Mex barbeque restaurant famous for slow-cooked, pit-smoked authentic barbeque, kicked off its 5th annual Motzei Shabbos concert series, “Saturday Night Live Music at Smokey Joe’s.” Offering live music performed by local artists, the concerts run from the beginning of November through mid-March, and are a labor of love for “Smokey Joe” Godin, the proprietor. “I love music,” Godin said. “It’s wonderful to be able to bring live music along with excellent food to Cedar Lane, where there’s absolutely nothing like it. The level of musicianship is very high, and the response is always very positive.”
Each featured band plays two sets a night, one at 8/8:30 and another at 10:00. Several have been playing Smokey Joe’s since the launch of the series, and some are new to the venue, like the Jersey Po’ Boys, the New Orleans-style band that played last week. Led by David Bockman, they perform New Orleans party music, funk, and rock ’n roll. Their Facebook page described their appearance at Smokey Joe’s as being for “all those ex-pat N’Awlinians living in Jersey and New York…a Smokey Joe’s kosher barbecue Mardi Gras party with real music and beads and faux Mardi Gras inyuns–like a mini Jazz-fest in the Garden State.”
Saturday night (November 8), the audience enjoyed SR2, fronted by Robbie Harris. A classic rock band with a repertoire of covers and original songs, SR2 debuted some much-anticipated new additions to their set list. The following week (November 15) will showcase Jordan Hirsch and the Creole Curmudgeons, who have been playing Smokey Joe’s for about five years, with 1920s and ’30s New Orleans and Chicago Jazz. “I love playing at Smokey Joe’s,” said Hirsch. “I get to play with musicians I don’t usually get to play with, who are well versed in the music I’m most passionate about. It’s a great opportunity to bring music not often heard in kosher restaurants to different listeners. People don’t know what they like until they hear it. We always get a tremendous response.”
On November 22, The Al Watsky Djangle Box Project will perform music at the intersections of Jewish Liturgic Chant, Roma Melody, Latin and Middle Eastern Rhythm, Flamenco, and Jazz. Watsky describes their music as eclectic. “It’s a reflection of my musical journey within a context of Eastern European influence and a varying stream of almost cantorial melody combined with a more contemporary flavor, traditional piyut, and Moldavian, Serbian, and Gypsy inspiration,” he said. They have played with well-known artists like Lou Reed, Klezmer Inc., and the SoCalled Orchestra.
Watsky’s new album has a release date in early December, and his Smokey Joe performance will feature an acoustic selection from the new album. “This album is Moroccan Jewish music, and all the musicians are specialists in the Jewish genre,” said Watsky. “We love to play for this audience. It’s a great opportunity to play for our target audience in a local venue. We can play for people who actually listen to Jewish music, so it may not be exotica for them. While culturally some of this music might be new to them, there are aspects that will be familiar. Our music is open and inclusive to influences, and combines European music with Middle-Eastern music.”
November 29 will have Fatback and The Urban Ploughboys led by Dave Hirsch and Shmuel Ziegler. Their genre is acoustic American Roots, Western Swing, Country, Bluegrass, and Blues in addition to down-home renditions of Carlebach favorites. December will have the Sassi Shalom Jazz trio. Godin adds: “We love having a mix of bands that are familiar to us, such as Watsky, while introducing others that are new to us. The bands work really hard to keep things fresh. But at least three of the bands have released new albums just in the last year. And some of the musicians live so close that you can see them walking through Teaneck hauling their equipment.”
“This is a commendable endeavor by Joe,” added Hirsch. “Putting art and culture on Cedar Lane is practically a civic duty, and Joe does it because he believes in music. He’s turning a great restaurant into something more than just a utilitarian place to eat delicious food.”
Smokey Joe’s has a BYOB policy, but all wines must be kosher/mevushal. There is a music cover charge of $8.00. Call 917-846-2270 for more band info or 201-836-RIBS for reservations, which are recommended to ensure entry.
By Lisa Matkowsky
