'The Roar of L'Amour'

TRIXTER - The winner of my first 'battle of the bands'  

Ah Yes Indeed ... Trixter

In 1986, I asked for a raise and instead of a raise the owners offered me my own nights.

I was already booking all local acts and giving my opinions on national acts, so why not?

In 1987, I decided to try the old "Battle of the Bands" format and asked WSOU radio to join in and promote it.

The station always treated me great and vice-versa, so it made sense.

Dave Gizzo (who started the WSOU change to hard rock and metal) was my assistant and DJ on all my nights and he recommended a band Trixter.

I thought "Trixter"? 

I will either love or hate them based on the name alone.

I remember coming in that night to run the club (the owners trusted me so much that they left the running of the club to me and one of the owners' sons) and seeing a bunch of excited teenagers.

I figured it out ... "Trixter".

The first round of the "battle" is on, and I noticed there were a bunch of pretty teenage girls there for the band and as a promoter I thought "please don't suck".

Gizzo from the booth announces them and I leave the front door to watch and I was blown away by their energy and enthusiasm.

To be fair, they were a bit sloppy, but you got caught up in their energy and they were the clear-cut winners that night.

I remember talking briefly to the band and they were so polite and respectful to me with "thank you Chuck" being said over and over.

They famously wound up winning my very first BotB and taking home the $1,000 ($3,000 in today's money) and every time they played, they were better and better and by the finale they were a tight band.

It was obvious something was happening with them because the audience was connecting.

After they won, I gave them an opening act spot, and I remember two different headlining acts watching me and telling me "please don't have them open for us".

I get it, they would be almost impossible to follow.

They had an audience connection that was undeniable and because of their energy and age, you rooted for them.

In an era of "presentation" with the more commercial acts, they had likability which was different. 

Other commercial acts tried to be "stars" with their presentation. 

Trixter came across as a group of kids having fun rocking out ... they stood out.

Of course, they went on to be a national act with a hit album and single and I couldnt be happier for them ... they were very easy to deal with, and we will always be tied together for the BotB they won.

In, 2023 I ran into PJ Farley (bassist) at Motley Crue/Def Leppard in Atlantic City.

PJ, told me a story I forgot.

He was in the same BotB with a different local band that lost in the finale to Trixter.

He reminded me he was pissed they lost, but at the finale he saw Steve Brown (founding member and guitarist of Trixter) watching him play from the audience.

Because of that night, Steve asked PJ to jam and eventually join the band.

We kidded; I was responsible ... I wasn't, I never take credit for stuff like that. 

I was happy to hear the story took place under my watch though

When I resurfaced Steve Brown was one of the first to reach out and welcome me back with a Facebook post "Chuck, you still rock, but do you roar?", playing off the nickname Mike Tramp of White Lion gave me.

It was nice to be remembered from all those years ago and I found out Steve was a patron at L'Amour and knew me from everything I was doing and my radio appearances and we started talking about the scene and who did what.

It's a bit goofy looking back and discussing a BotB, but it filled up a lot of nights (for me) and I felt it was better than the prior way L'Amour had bands "audition" (10-minute set on a Sunday when club was closed while owners sat at a table).

But yeah, Trixter was my first winner and obviously their success proved they deserved it.

They are touring as a 3-piece with Steve on vocals - check them out at TRIXTER | Facebook 

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“Chuck's contribution, man, he goes down in history because L’ Amour in the Tri-State area, on the East Coast, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut—L’Amour was undoubtedly the most famous rock club in the area, had some of the most legendary shows, and Chuck was a part of it, being the DJ there and a host so many nights. I think anybody that's ever played L’Amour knows who Chuck Kaye is, so that speaks volumes.” - Steve Brown (Trixter)

Chuck Kaye

Ah Yes Indeed

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