Pleasure my ears with the sounds of Nick Meyer & the Meyer Straights playing live several times this summer, and I'll be a happy SkookOwl.

On Saturday, May 16 I was on hand to ingest the music and lyrics of the five-piece based in Pottsville while seeing a three-band show at Hucklebucks.

The atmosphere couldn't be more perfect as the band itself is a bit quirky like the venue, drawing influence from the indie, rock and pop genres that combines to make a solid sound that moved the fairly diverse audience on hand.

The band introduced us to nine of their original works, such as "Sour" and "Away from Here," and provided a few interpretations for songs by Elvis Costello, Nuetral Milk Hotel, Paul Simon, and Lagwagon.

Nick Meyer, the guitar-playing frontman who writes all lyrics for the band's original work, uses a full range of tools vocally, from whining to melodically screaming into the mic in order to cast a spell on listeners.

Josh Iverson adds a unique element for the band, switching from your typical guitar player role to adding depth to the songs by playing the lapsteel guitar.  This may have been the most impressive element of the band's composition and performance for several audience members.

Steve Leipensberger adds crisp, clean beat as the drummer while Dan Zyk thumps through the rhythm on bass.

Drew Pavlick, the seemingly painfully amused keyboardist provides a simple and sincere direction During the recent performance, Pavlick was celebrating his 24th birthday Saturday, but it seemed that he and the rest of the band gave more of a present to the audience than we may have given to him.

Nick Meyer & the Meyer Straights have performed at Hucklebucks previously and at the Pat Garrett Amphitheatre, as well as out-of-the-area venues such as the Northstar Bar in Philadelphia and the Appalachian Brewing Co. in Harrisburg.

Having been together for just under a year, this band should classify as up-and-coming.

While it would be this SkookOwl's recommendation for any upbeat yet thoughtful rock fans to make time to see Nick Meyer & the Meyer Straights this summer, Unfortunately, the band only has one tentative show slated for Aug. 1 at the Northstar Bar in Philadelphia where they will be first-time headliners.

Until the band books more shows, I will quench my thirst for their music in recorded fashion - by listening to their CD, produced by Blind Pigeon Records, and available through iTunes, Amazon and physical purchase through CDBaby.com/nickmeyer entitled "Second Son". 

For your first taste, or to satisfy a momentary itch, you can sample their entire CD at their MySpace page (LINK: www.myspace.com/themeyerstraights) and message the band to purchase a physical copy through that mechanism as well.

Thunder Road in downtown Shenandoah sits as a testament to the ability of a community to rally behind a neighbor fallen and help them rebuild in a very literal sense after disaster. 

The bar, which originally opened in July of 2007 for just a few months, was almost completely destroyed by a fire that spread from a neighboring business. 

After just eight months, friends of the family, in the community and in other local business had come together by raising money and the new roof and other elements of the establishment, in order to allow the bar to reopen in July of 2008.

The light charcoal walls and wafting cigarette smoke help add to the ambiance of the phoenix-like local watering hole. 

Anything but just a hole in the wall, however, the large open stage and dance area, pool table and long bar are the major features of the establishment as well as that fast-paced bar staff.

Several glass-front refrigerators filled with beverages glow while customers line the stools along the bar or the pub-style tables along the wall. 

Thunder Road has become known as a great venue for local musicians and has played host for acts such as The Rising Descent, Lights Over Ashfield and recently, the Poptart Monkeys who all have commented on the incredible story of the bar’s rebuilding.

The room, which is loud even when fairly empty, can interfere with the quality of sound, prompting any performers to choose wisely when selecting their sound engineer for their show.

Unabashedly and unashamed, Lights Over Ashfield touts themselves as a local band focused on original music who sometimes toss into their shows covers of anything from Better than Ezra to Bruce Springstein.  

With songs that are intelligent and artistic, the band offers the audience tunes that may not be easy to sing along to upon first exposure but that could easily become part of everyday rotation in their playlists.

What makes Lights Over Ashfield a must-see act is the fact that carbon copies just don’t do the four-member band justice.  Unlike many local performers and some major stars, Lights Over Ashfield sounds better live than on clean, crisp, cut CDs.

Adding to the appeal is the energy and enthusiasm exhibited by lead singer, Damian Gessel, and the rest of the band.  Gessel takes over the stage and beyond in the performances and connects with the audience through raw emotion and penetrating eye contact.

Each member of the band, brings their own elements of excellence that combine to make a sound so well managed listeners might wonder when not if they will no longer be able to see Lights Over Ashfield several nights a month as they move on to bigger venues outside the area. 

Ed Burke takes the drums to task, cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, and thrills the crowd when he offers a postlude to songs.

Troy Moser performs with the four strings like nothing else is needed, offering a solid base of style and sound for equally talented guitarist Jamie Rodgers to build on and blow and unsuspecting crowd away.

When listening to the band, it is hard to get around the fact that each song is a story and each story, if allowed, can help us focus on and connect with the human condition. 

So sorely lacking in much novice original work, the lyrics of songs by Lights Over Ashfield offer the audience an opportunity for reflection on modern life. 

Lyrics for all their songs have been provided on their MySpace lyrics page, and range from messages of love and loss to a message that can easily be interpreted as commentary on the sickening sinking of our collective spirit after a national disaster like 9/11.  What’s more, the songs transport us to our own space, including sung images of work and home.

Unfortunately, Lights Over Ashfield recently dropped two shows scheduled for Striker’s Pub, Pottsville and Yocko’s Bar and Grill, Minersville, creating a bit of anxiety among the faithful.  However, Gessel and company have much to work with and for as they continue to gain local sponsors, fans and venues seeking their sound to entertain desperately wanting Skooks. 

Their upcoming shows include a mix of bar atmosphere and open-air venues.

This Skook Owl’s recommendation? Be sure to see the Lights before they pull out of our backyard “Ashfield”.

Self-deprecating humor is one of the main ingredients in the entertainment package offered by the band, but clearly upon first listen, these men have nothing to be self-conscious about regarding their music or ability to rock a crowd.

With the energy-packed performances and down-to-earth manner in which Nothing Sakred performs there is no way you could sit through a performance without becoming involved through dance, singing or drinking along as they tell a story of the everyday man.

The band has been touring local venues for just over four years, and in that time has seen some turn-over of members as do most groups. 

The current members work well to bring audiences to their feet, entertaining them with everything from Korn to Billy Joel and tailoring their shows to the audience present. 

Nothing Sakred offers a combination of lead vocalists in Sean Boylan and TJ Taylor. 

Boylan stalks the stage, prowling as he emotes through the music as the front man, but also doubles agilely as a guitarist. 

Taylor jumps with both feet on the gas peddle into the drivers seat when provided the mic, both through the song performances and his interaction with the crowd but will often be found back-to back with guitar in hand next to primary guitarist, Mike Crawford. 

Crawford ferociously fingers his guitar, supporting the tight sounds of Nothing Sakred while Jeff Sallada provides a powerful bass-line and dishes out deep back-up vocals.

To round out the band, newest member Brian Herig drums like a man on a mission but often intent on his task, shies from the crowd.

Nothing Sakred has promised to debut their first original at an undisclosed upcoming show, and this SkookOwl is waiting with thin patience.

To match the collective talent of the group as a whole, it should be said that it is imperative for the band to begin to move to the next level and entertain us with their own material as well as that of bands from which they draw influence.

After back-to-back nights of reviewing bands that performed primarily or exclusively covers, I can say nothing more than powerful than this: Nothing Sakred is absolutely one of the top three must see acts for summer 2009 for any Skooks who love music.

This SkookOwl can’t say enough about the ability of Nothing Sakred to put a smile on the faces of audience members, either during the performance or during set breaks where they interact with the crowd, showing a deep appreciation for the fans and newfound friends.

SkookOwl is also happy to report that members from the group will also make a regular appearance at skookowl.com as bloggers focusing on an insider’s perspective of being in a band.

Look for their blog as well as videos and photos of recent shows at Club 54 in Mahanoy City and Striker’s Pub on this site.

On Friday, May 14, this SkookOwl was able to experience the sound of the band “Second Best” at Trippin’ Billie in Pottsville.

It is Sunday, and with two nights to sleep on the encounter, I am still left trying to decide if their sound is second best to nails on a chalkboard or a three-car crash in noises that will fail to entertain, and more so, hurt your ears. 

With my very broad music interests and appreciation, especially when dealing with local music, I found it hard to write such a derogatory statement about a local band, however, over and over upon coming back to the review, it was the most appropriate given the performance.

After consulting with several other individuals whose music tastes, I believe, compliment my own well in breadth and experience, it seemed the sentiment was not solely my own.

What made the performance worse as an audience member was the fact that at least two of their selected covers I have recently heard performed by other local bands that were leaps and bounds better than Second Best’s versions.

The entire show felt like an assault on the auditory process, and my temptation to flee from the scene of the musical crime being committed turned to firm resolution almost an hour before last call at Trippin’ Billie.

I know I am not alone in choosing to exit upon the initial start of Second Best’s set as I saw several people, tightly drawn faces, leave the bar after only a few songs. 

In fact, in at least two locations where the band has played staff have confirmed that attendance has gone down after the band began performing rather than grew.

This SkookOwl makes it a point to stress the positives of anything local, but there is very little I can say to encourage readers to experience the sound of Second Best for themselves.

If there is a Cheers of Pottsville, it is Hucklebucks. 

Intimacy is the key to this downtown bar, and upon first or second visit, most of the regulars will take the time to know your name.

Hucklebucks offers patrons a selection of live music unlike many other downtown bars.  With frequent appearances by bands and performers such as Nick Meyer & The Meyer Straights, The Pony Bottles and Tupperwerewolf, Hucklebucks is often filled with strumming and drumming sounds that draw influence from country, rock, metal, folk, and more.

Hucklebucks is also one of the premiere venues to debut originals at any of the first Friday scheduled open mic nights as most of the songs played are not covers but locally grown, lyrics-driven sounds.

Unlike the ambiance of aged professionalism at a few other downtown bars, this is truly the spot for the young professional willing to wear their tweed while still letting down their hair – or spiking it up in a faux-hawk. 

Thursday nights you may find standing room only at Hucklebucks as patrons pack in for wings and one of the best selections of craft beer in the area served by a staff that is both personable and laid back

Tuesday Hucklebucks offers patrons free tacos which go fast, so get in and eat up!

The regulars have grown so much with the bar that often they can be found volunteering to take out trash at the end of the night or clean the bartop of ash and spillage.

Etiquette for becoming part of the crowd at Hucklebucks is simple: sit at the bar, enjoy your beer, and debate with your neighbor on the stool next to you.  But whatever you do, don’t forget to tip your bartender and nod to those walking in because you will be the talk of the establishment if you fail to follow those two simple rules.

I was in college, pulling through a semester filled with newspaper all-nighters and classes where I felt in over my head when I took a break to hear the Poptart Monkeys for the first time. 

I have always had a love affair with local music, and at the time, the electrifying performance of PTM added logs, not just twigs to fuel the fire.  I left the show, PTM shirt in hand, energized.

At their recent show in Shenandoah at Thunder Road, in spite of the metamorphosis the band has undergone since I last saw them in 2001, things had changed little.  The performance by the Poptart Monkeys was an electrifying experience filled with crowd interaction and sing-alongs to popular songs the band covered and a smattering of original work thrown in

Over the years, the Poptart Monkeys have changed in many ways, but most notably in the composition of the band itself.  Several of the original PTM members exited, and their last founding member left the band in 2007.

In the ten plus years the group has been together, the Poptart Monkeys started realizing part of the dream of being a household name.  They made a move from sleepy coal country to fast-paced Florida late last year, and have become an East Coast sensation.

Lead singer Tyson Clark, and guitarist Matt Lytkowski charm the audience by verbally and physically interpreting, even sometimes embodying the songs they present. 

Clark’s punk-style look stands out from the more alternative rock appearance of the rest of the band mates.  He is a consummate performer, charismatic and amusing while Lytkowski’s flair on guitar and leveling gaze leaves the audience lurching, screaming for more.

Bassist Jamah Terry uses his bass as a weapon against flat sound as Chris Kurtz, the second guitarist for the band stirs the bubbling pot of PTM stew.

All four combine to the vocal stylings of PTM while phenom Brandon Osborne doles out sweet punishment on the drums.

Not losing their local identity, PTM touts their coal-cracker heritage when they perform on the road.  Friends in Alabama were entertained by the Poptart Monkeys at a concert in Birmingham where the band mentioned drawing roots from Pennsylvania.

Speaking of being loyal to the home-crowd, this SkookOwl must sadly note some disappointment in the fact that the Poptart Monkeys missed out on the opportunity to debut more originals at the Thunder Road show. 

While covers that we can sing along to are clearly entertaining, with the amount of talent in the band and effort put into creating original music, it is strange to see a group so popular fail to respect the good taste of its fan base by not trusting them in sharing their own music rather than renditions of others.

Poptart Monkey’s newest CD “Count to Zero” includes 10 original tracks, of which only four were performed at the show. While these were arguably the best four of the album, there were others not introduced to the eager audience that would most likely to have proven well-received.  “Count to Zero” brings the group total of released, and nationally distributed CDs to five.

What is more, the growing audience waited patiently to see their hometown musical heroes until their scheduled start of 10 p.m. drew to 10:40 and suffered through two long set breaks that lasted in excess of 15 minutes each throughout the show.  While the two hour and 45 minute performance was more than worth the $8 cover, for as much as we miss the group, we will always beg for more from PTM.

We bid a fair ado to the Poptart Monkeys early Saturday morning as they headed to Wilkes-Barre for their second and last show of the Pennsylvania trip, feeling as if we had reunited with long lost friends.  But while it was nice to have them home, I think the rest of the PTM faithful will agree – go out, rock out, keep growing the PTM fan-nation and we’ll be waiting to see you again.

Trippin’ Billie is the newcomer of the Pottsville bar scene, having only opened Sept. 17, 2008. 

Formerly the building housed the bar Holihan’s, but since Steve Smith took over last year, the space has been converted from local dive to downtown house of fun.  

With the small space, Smith packs in tons of local talent and quirky characters both on the bar stools and the walls.  To the right upon entry, one will see a full wall mural that includes portraits of rock icons, a scene reminiscent of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, a scene from 80s kid classic TV show Fraggle Rock, pseudo-psychedelic shapes and phrases that encourage embracing life and its simple pleasures. 

Smith has done much in little under a year to bring bands both from Schuylkill and surrounding counties into the downtown bar.  Frequently, favorites like Lights Over Ashfield and Cyanide Sunrise play on Saturday nights.  Thursday crowds are mixed in many ways, including age, gender, sexuality and race as DJ Xtreme gets the music pumping and bodies on the dance floor.

According to Smith, Trippin’ Billie will also begin to serve as a night spot for Skooks under 21 this summer.  Full details of this will be made available at this Web site in the upcoming weeks.

On the whole, the bar seems like something straight out of the middle of a college town.

The staff is full of life, charisma and class.  They offer cool drinks – both in temperature and taste – and personable interaction. 

More than that, when you come into Trippin’ Billie, you’ve come into the fray.  Whenever there’s hint of things going wrong, Smith as well as the rest of the staff are quick to act in order to make the evening the best it can be for the customers enjoying their evening. 

Trippin’ Billie is quickly becoming one of this SkookOwl’s favorite downtown hot spots, and even more so as the caliber of entertainment and service continues to increase. 

First let me start by saying that the food served at the Lazy Dog is excellent.  The preparation and presentation were both top notch.

After a long look at the menu that hosted some of the most appealing salad and entrée selections I have seen in quite some time, I chose chicken skewers and a twice-baked potato to satiate my hunger. 

Both were quite tasty, and I couldn’t stop raving about my wildberry fruit smoothie.

Unfortunately I didn’t make it to the fabulously displayed desserts that evening, but since have found time to dive into some red velvet cake that tasted like it just came from the back of a southern kitchen – YUM!

As for entertainment at the Lazy Dog, this SkookOwl was able to see Rusty Foulke, a one-man band of sorts perform as well as a karaoke and open mic night recently and is quite impressed with the talent that appears there weekly.  Many of the performers who are booked on Fridays and Saturdays play local light rock, folk, rhythm and blues to name a few. 

On the evening I was there for karaoke I was surprised at the amount of talent that took the mic. 

What helped the mid-sized selection of karaoke choices was the face that performers could bring their own karaoke CDs, and the staff was more than familiar with how to use the sound equipment and system, which is not always the case with in-house run karaoke nights.

The funky little coffeehouse may have to become a regular stop for this SkookOwl, even if it is a well-kept secret from most of the rest of the county.

This is hoping, for the Lazy Dog, that the secret may now be out.

With over 30 different flavors and more variations upon reasonable request, the Good Hose Co., goes beyond your typical hosey wing night. 

Each Tuesday, locals in Llewellyn and those from as far as Mexico have come to ingest the expertly prepared wings available in half-dozens for $3.50 and dozens for $6.

This SkookOwl was fortunate enough to sample six different types of wings prepared by the members of Good Intent Hose Co. recently, including the sweet onion teriyaki, mild Buffalo, cheese, sweet southern BBQ, parmesan peppercorn and hot sweet bacon. 

Each tantalized the multiple taste areas, and was cooked to perfection. 

By far the best of the wings was the Parmesan peppercorn, while the most surprising and easily second best were the cheese wings, covered in cheddar and Parmesan cheeses. The hot sweet bacon was a close third, offering just a slight bit of heat and dripping with bacon-greasy goodness.

One disappointment was learning that the house special, the “Pump and Dump,” was not part of my sampling.  This wing is smothered in a sauce that uses several cheeses and the in-house hot sauce. 

While this SkookOwl didn’t get to sample everything, I can safely say that the base of each variety was part of the mix sampled. I would argue that once the base is perfected, all the variations of them couldn’t go too far wrong.

I was also able to sample the peel and eat shrimp.  Served hot, as the local prefer, this was the only slight disappointment as the crustacean was slightly over-steamed, but the accompanying cocktail sauce with kick covered this fact nicely.

Take-outs are available from Good Intent, a real popular option with the local crowd.  For those who prefer to eat in, the pub and bar of the fire company serves as the dining area.

Overall, it is hard not to recommend the Good Intent Hose Co. as a Tuesday night stop for dinner.  In fact, I’ll be back soon gentlemen, so have a half-dozen of your Pump and Dump ready for me!