Page 16 Thursday, August 21, 2008 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION Martin Sweeney for The Westfield Leader and The Times Admit One Invasion of the Nerds Brings Party Atmosphere to Park By ERIC NIERSTEDT formance of covers from three de- ers, The Nerds had no problems go- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times cades of music, playing each one to ing from the grandeur of Queen’s MOUNTAINSIDE — While their perfection. “Bohemian Rhapsody” to the dance- getup might need an update, these The Nerds themselves, each dressed funk of Justin Timberlake’s Nerds do not conjure up thoughts of in checkered shirts and short pants, “Sexyback” and then to the hard rock pocket protectors and “Star Trek” re- had just as much fun as the crowd, of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ runs. which had turned into a veritable mosh Mine.” This did make the show even more interesting, seeing such classic rock, pop and metal performed by a group of men in horn-rimmed glasses. There were also some humorous transitions such as “Sweet Child” to Neal Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” (in which the Nerds selected a woman from the crowd to lead the growing mosh pit in song and dance). The band also went from the title theme from “Footloose” to Blue Oys- ter Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” The event became a family affair as Spaz’s sons Jesse, who played the ever-important cowbell on “Reaper,” and Evan, who took over on key- boards for Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” and Metallica’s “Enter Sand- The Westfield Leader and The Times Archives August 24, 2006 REVENGE OF THE NERDS...The Nerds played Echo Lake Park last Wednes- man,” graced the stage. day, mixing old classics with covers of modern favorites. The biggest addition of the night, however, was a teenage girl named On the contrary, The Nerds, New pit by the fourth song. Elena (no relation to any band mem- Jersey’s legendary party band, might Much of the band’s interplay came ber). Elena joined the Nerds for be more synonymous with careless from bassist Spaz (a dead ringer for Creedence Clearwater Revival’s summer fun and rock ‘n’ roll. Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo) and “Proud Mary.” The band rocked the crowd at Echo keyboardist Mongo, who often Elena captured the slow groove of Lake Park for almost two hours as danced together, including doing a the song perfectly before it exploded part of Union County’s Summer Arts standing run while still playing their in to the Tina Turner version. At that Festival. instruments ala David Byrne. point, Elena sang it with just as much The Nerds started the show, in per- Drummer Biff, despite being the passion as Turner did and blowing the haps the best way, by playing the quietest member vocally, still man- socks off the crowd. “Star Spangled Banner” as the crowd aged to make his voice heard on the Nerds band members ended the turned to face the flag. From then on, drums, either pounding or tapping his show by announcing their 25th anni- the band turned in a high-energy per- instrument as needed. versary before moving into the per- Guitarist Stretch showed both fect song to celebrate such an occa- amazing versatility and skill not only sion – Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believ- playing a variety of riffs perfectly, but ing,” which did not feature Tony So- also by moving between a range of prano coming on to sing. songs with complete and utter ease. More on the Nerds, including CDs, While song selections spanned mul- tour dates and band bios can be found tiple decades, themes and perform- on their website the-nerds.com. Verdict’s Reggae Music At Free Concert in the Park All Points West Music / Arts Festival 2008 MOUNTAINSIDE – The Union gether in 1993, specializing in a large County 2008 Summer Arts Festival selection of international reggae, soca Date: Friday, August 8, to Sunday, August 10 concert series comes to a conclusion on and calypso music. Verdict has delighted Wednesday, August 27, with a perfor- audiences from Miami Beach and San mance by the reggae band Verdict, spon- Juan to the halls of the Metropolitan sored by The Union County Education Museum of Modern Art. Location: Liberty State Park Association. Verdict will wrap up a great summer Marylou Morano for The Leader/ Times The Union County Board of Chosen of outdoor concerts with its personal Maria Tisdall, cheese and spe- Freeholders, led by Chair Angel Estrada, blend of beach music and popular tunes cialty food expert at the Shoprite invite the public to attend this free from down the shore. Wines and Spirits of Westfield, concert, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Freeholder Estrada urged people to led a cheese-centered presenta- Springfield Avenue end of Echo Lake “bring the whole family, pack a picnic Park in Mountainside. basket, bring lawn chairs or blankets to tion at Fanwood Memorial Li- Verdict is a lively group from Nep- sit on, and enjoy the sounds of the Featured Act: Radiohead brary. See page 15 for story. tune. The members started playing to- islands on a summer night.” The Union County information van 2XUSURJUDPLQVSLUHV will be at the concert site, along with 3$8/1$==$52086,&678',2086,&/(662163,$12 /(662163,$12/(66216,11-3,$12/(66216,11(: H[FLWHPHQWFUHDWLYLW\DQG representatives from the Union County 3,$12/(66216-(56(<3,$12/(66216&5$1)25'3,$127($&+(5 :(67),(/' YLUWXRVLW\ Police, the Division of Emergency ‘All Points’ Bulletin: Music Festival <RXZLOO¿QGRXUH[SHULHQFHG $//$*(6 WHDFKHUVWKDWPRWLYDWHZKR Management and the Bureau of Envi- FDQWHDFKPDQ\VW\OHVRIPXVLF ronmental Health to answer questions 3DXO1D]]DUR0XVLF6WXGLR3LDQR DQGXWLOL]HWHFKQRORJ\VHDPOHVVO\ ZLWKOHDUQLQJ and offer information about programs /HVVRQV:HVWÀHOG1-:HVWÀHOG available to Union County residents. Rocks Second Largest NJ City 1HZ-HUVH\3LDQR7HDFKHUSLDQR (YHU\VWXGHQWUHFHLYHVD OHVVRQVIRUDGXOWV SURIHVVLRQDOO\PDVWHUHG&' Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que will have By MARTIN SWEENEY due, straightforward rock and roll. “I the skyline is minus two essential RI\RXUPXVLFVLPSO\E\WDNLQJ a food concession, along with an ice Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times just want to say what an honor it is to structures. OHVVRQVDWWKHVWXGLR cream and snack vendor, which will be JERSEY CITY — With the back- be playing back in America, but also Radiohead played a two-hour-plus 7KHSHUIRUPLQJRSSRUWXQLWLHV DWWKHVWXGLRDUHIXQHQFRXUDJLQJ available at approximately 6:30 p.m. drop of a New York City skyline and what an honor it is to be playing set, including two encores. Its set list DQGLQYLWHVXFFHVV In case of rain, the concert will be Lady Liberty, a sellout crowd of 30,000 before Radiohead,” said Caleb featured selections from its latest al- 2XUDGXOWVWXGHQWSURJUDP held at the air-conditioned auditorium people crammed into Liberty State Followill, lead singer and frontman bum, “In Rainbows,” as well as songs WDNHVJUHDWFDUHRIDGXOWVZKRZDQW at Cranford High School, on West End Park on Saturday, August 9, for the All WRSLFNXSWKHSLDQRDJDLQDQG for the Kings. from earlier LPs. PDNHVWKHEUDQGQHZVWXGHQWIHHO Place off Springfield Avenue in Points West Music & Arts Festival. The Roots, a hip-hop group from Radiohead’s performance was FRPIRUWDEOHDQGLQVSLUHG Cranford at 7:30 p.m. For more infor- The three-day festival ran from Philadelphia, performed right after coupled with an astounding solar- &DULQJLQVWUXFWLRQLQRXU mation, call the Union County Depart- Friday to Sunday and featured head- the Kings on a different stage. The powered, multi-colored light show, 6DLQW3DXO6WUHHW:HVW¿HOG1- SULYDWHKRPH /LVWHQLQJWRWKH QHHGVRIHYHU\LQGLYLGXDOVWXGHQW ment of Parks and Community Re- liners Radiohead (Friday and Satur- band played a riveting set, including which added to the visual appeal of newal at (908) 527-4900 or visit the day) and Jack Johnson (Sunday). a tribute to the late Bernie Mac, aganist the show. Some remarked that the Union County Web site at ucnj.org/ With performances beginning at a gorgeous setting sun. Unfortunately, light show was so impressive that the ZZZ1D]]DUR0XVLFFRP parks/summerarts.html. noon and lasting until 10:30 p.m., the Roots’ set was overshadowed by band’s performance was even more there was no shortage of entertain- the approaching arrival of enjoyable from a distance. ment at the festival. Ticket sales were Radiohead’s performance; in other Frontman Thom Yorke walked onto above 20,000 all three days of the terms, the Roots played on the wrong the stage visibly excited for the band’s festival, with Saturday being the most stage at the wrong time. set. He danced and hopped his way popular ticket. British rock group Radiohead drew around the stage for a few upbeat, the farmhouse store Experimental pop group Animal the largest crowd of the day by far. opening numbers like “Reckoner” and Collective took the stage on Saturday All Points West marked the band’s “15 Step,” then collected himself for like no other store in Westfield afternoon around 5 p.m. The perfor- second trip to Liberty State Park; the stripped-down songs like “All I Need” mance drew mixed reviews from the band played there seven years earlier and “Nude.” crowd, pleasing loyal fans while an- (August 2001), and many whom at- Older fans cheered for classics such noying a few unsuspecting festival tended the earlier event, including The as “The Bends,” “Fake Plastic Trees” go-ers with exceedingly loud and re- Westfield Leader/ Times Arts and En- and “Planet Telex,” while newer fans petitive electronic clangs and strange tertainment Editor Michael Pollack gushed at the “In Rainbows” works. vocal yelps. and freelancer Christina Hinke, remi- The band remained chipper Southern rockers Kings of Leon nisced about seeing arguably the throughout – even when Yorke of- followed, unveiling the first single world’s best band amidst a background fered a false start on “Videotape” and from their upcoming album and pro- that included the Twin Towers.