 at The Tradewinds, SeaBright, New Jersey (archive 1998) Computer Art by Interview & Photographs by Sondra Faye So I was in South Jersey with 5 great looking musicians- one who was devistatingly adorable named Kevin aka Baby Grunge, his pretty mommy Trish & Misty the doggy. Go listen in to the real audio to get it all & here's some blips & pieces of a band I love- one things' the music but mostly cause they have a lot of heart. Sondra: So like you're going to probably hear Kevin and what's the diggity dog's name? Trish: Misty. (If Chris Lusardi seems a little distracted well he was seated right next to Baby Grunge and handing him his toy again & again- in case you're wondering why the screams were so loud- I believe Baby Grunge definately feels he is a big part of this band )... Sondra: What kind of keyboards are you playing? Chris Lusardi: Yamaha. Sondra: Do you also play piano? Chris Lusardi: Yeah. Sondra: So what's your add in to the band? Baby Grunge: YOW! Chris Lusardi: Back up vocals really, harmony vocals. Sondra: And Malibu Grunge plays, (Sneeze) That was Andrew Madman Hughes sneezing.From Portland, Oregon Malibu Grunge: Yes. Sondra: Playing the guitars. I don't know, we are actually in your house? Malibu Grunge: Yes. Sondra: I actually made it, we are in Belmar (New Jersey) Malibu Grunge: Now we're in Belmar, New Jersey. Sondra: And when did you get to Belmar? Malibu Grunge: I came to Belmar about 4 years ago. I lived here 10 years ago But I've been traveling around. I started in Portland (Oregon) Went to Chicago (Illinois). Came out to New Jersey. Went back to Oregon . Now I'm back in New Jersey. And this is over; since since 1982.  Guitarist Malibu Grunge at The Saint in Asbury Park, New Jersey Sondra: How did you get together with everybody in the band? Malibu Grunge: I was looking up a friend of mine Tyne Dale Marshall (sorry Malibu if I screwed that name up) who lived in Bradley Beach (New Jersey Shore). I finally found him, and I hooked up with him when I first moved back here. We were jamming in his kitchen. And happened to be sharing the same parking lot as Mike's Subs and- Chris Lusardi: Michael's Place.  Keyboardist- Chris Lusardi Trish: Michael's Place Sondra: We're not endorsing that place. By the way- (Well actually we should- so for you foodies it is a great place in Belmar 732/681-5115 & tell Michael that rockazine sent you- that is only if you leave a decent tip- we rockaziner's don't want to be thrown out of there) Andy Hughes: Sondra It's a twenty minute interview man, the kid thinks he's at the grammy's right now. We've got twenty minutes. Sondra: Allright Andrew. Malibu: And I'd like to thank, Sondra: SHOW ME THE MONEY! Andy Hughes Ching- Ching. Malibu: Anyway the house shared the same parking lot as Michael's Place where Andy had worked as a short order cook at the time. Andy Hughes: Sondra, My cousin owned the place. Jay Walker: A line cook. Not a short order cook. Andy Hughes: Sondra I was a line cook at the time. Speedmuffin: He was doing dishes. Malibu Grunge: Whatever. He was out washing mats & he heard this noise going on so he came over and introduced himself and said we've got to get together and he's got a cousin that plays the bass . Sondra: Who's the cousin that plays the bass? Malibu: Jay (Walker). Sondra: So you guys are related? Jay Walker: Yeah. Unfortunately. Andy Hughes: Sondra, Me, Jay, Chris, we're first cousins man, our mothers are sisters. Malibu: I'm the outcaste. Andy Hughes: Sondra They're brothers.( He points to Jay & Chris) Sondra: I actually met Andrew's mother. Andy Hughes: That's right. That's right. Cause she's at the show.(The Saint in Asbury Park, New Jersey) Sondra: She's a real traditional rock'n roll mom. Andy Hughes: Yeah. She's great man. We used to watch soul train together listen to Mo-Town all kinds of real soul influenced music.  Drummer- Andy Hughes We were all seated on the floor around a glass coffee table in Malibu Grunge's Belmar home including Misty Malibu's dog. Sondra: You know what I was noticing that you write most of the lyrics- am I right about that? Jay Walker: Him and Shakespeare. Andy Hughes: A little plagurism never hurt anybody...We have one called Volume Song, I wrote that about my son. I mean like the chorus is- In this world there's only you and I, To understand the reasons of your mind. Some of them have specific meaning, and some of them are just general like thoughts that transpire that I luckily I thank God everyday that I was able to put down onto paper. Bring it to these gentlemen and take it from there. Bring it to the stage you know.  Bass- Jay Walker at The Tradewinds in Sea Bright, New Jersey About Speedmuffin's CD Spirit of the Storeroom Jay Walker: Yeah, we have a limited amount of copies because we're just doing them ourselves from the computer like I just dropped one off today to Robin, Rockin Robin( she's a South Jersey Disc Jockey 95.9 WRAT) she's associated with Stan Levinstone...Ah, Yeah, he's associated with them, he's part F.P.I. too. Or he's head of F.P.I. I don't know I could be wrong I don't want to mix anybody up... ( and now rockaziner's you'll just have to go listen to the real audio to find out what the blue eyed Jay Walker was talking about- cause one of the rockaziner's decided to test out my recording device- which prooves one thing- you should never go to BlockBuster in the middle of transcribing a tape & have sex on your way back- just kidding- almost & as Lisa Noonan would say- Hey why doesn't this thing work?) Andy Hughes: She's ( Rockin Robin)been playing us though, on 95.9 The WRAT and we're also been getting some play on 88.9 WMCX. We sought out some other college stations They could be playing it.  Speedmuffin The Speedmuffin's reveal one of Andy Madman Hughes' secret. He has dark hair, a nose ring, with an explosive energy on and off stage & like all the Speedmuffins' as my yo- yo- yo- girlfriend would say- he's a babe magnet. Andy Hughes: We've gotten in, we've been to Polygram.We'd like to say Angel we're waiting for you to help us please! Tell her Sondra, And now a brief message- Andy Madman Hughes believes I should tell you that the Speedmuffins need a recording contract. And no Angel, I am not their agent. Zenning Out, Sondra Faye Andy Hughes: come on Angel Barnard is someone that we've been dealing with from RCA records, I don't know some days she's inspirational, and some days she's- No Andy. Click. Malibu Grunge: But Andy get's his way he bugs her enough. Andy Hughes: One day we were up there I just called her & said, please let me come up and bring these to you. She's like, Allright Andy, allright. Jay Walker: Andy's on the verge of becoming a stalker type. Chris Lusardi: He's like an A & R rep Stalker. Jay Walker: But she (Angel) never met him yet. Andy Hughes: tonight on the news, stalking specifically A & R people... Getting Wet With the Speedmuffins Andy Hughes: We opened up for Blue Oyster Cult. We've played with The Aquanettas... Sondra: Ummm.Right now I am being licked. Andy Hughes: Hey lick me, lick me. Sondra: By a Dog. Andy Hughes: Oh Misty- Malibu Grunge: That's also my other pet name. Dog. Andy Hughes: Dog. Hey that was good. Baby Grunge: Heyyah. Jay Walker on Frank Lloyd Wright Sondra: Jay Walker is a Bass Player & also has another hobby that I happen to be familiar with- Architecture. Jay Walker: Yeah. but that's not important right now. Andy Hughes: Jay's the man. Jay went to Pratt & I spent many a weekend at Pratt. It was great man. Jay's the man. Sondra: Are there any Architects that have influenced you? Jay Walker: Frank Lloyd Wright. He's the man. I don't think anyone could top him. He's just like the Jimi Hendrex of Architecture. He's naturally gifted.He can manipulate buildings three-dimensionally in his mind & then draw them on paper. All his designs are done already in his head. Then he puts them down on paper. That's the magic of it. I'm not there yet. And I probably won't be. Andy Hughes: Jay wants to be Jimi Hendrix instead of Jimi Hendrix of Architecture. And then there's Minx. A shout out to Minx! What you say, she might come to be the Mascot. Sondra: Who's Minx? Andy: You got Misty after Minx. Sondra: What kind of dog? Jay Walker: A Pit Bull Mutt... Andy Hughes: She's babyish. Jay Walker: I got her up in Brooklyn on the street some little kids were selling her. Andy Hughes: Usually she's around... Steve Lusardi- Keyboardist & Influence on the Speedmuffins Andy Hughes: Jay's dad (Jay & Chris's father )my Uncle he's I would say an incredible seasoned, gifted keyboard player. Who's since put the equipment under wraps for right now. But he's done some serious gigs. Like he has a B-3 that he still has wrapped in the garage. He played with Springsteen back in the day. He played with some big guys. When I was like 5 or 6 he made a couple of records & he definately influenced me. Sondra: What's his name again? Andy Hughes: Steve Lusardi, keyboard extraordinaire... Jay Walker: He was guitar playing when he was 7, all of us. Andy Hughes: I was in Drum & Bugle .Drum Core, for any musician Drum Core is a good thing to have under your belt. It enhances, very rudimentary. Everybody's Favorite Muffin Malibu Grunge: Well you don't want a tough muffin. Sondra: that's Malibu, What about Chris Lusardi? Andy Hughes: Stud Muffin. Sondra: That was Andrew. We're trying to get Chris to speak. What's your favorite muffin? Chris did not leave the room. He is here. Andy Hughes: I'd like to note that Chris (Lusardi) represents Mickey Rourke from Bullet right now. He's a K-O (for the people watching illiterati a Knock- Out; on real audio Andy does his Sly Stallone Impression) We love you rock. I love yous too. If it wasn't for my kid being born. Chris Lusardi: My favorite muffin is definately Blueberry. Sondra: And Andrew we already know is a Studmuffin. Andy Hughes: Oaw. Stud - A - Muffin. Sondra: And Jay. Jay Walker: Favorite Muffin? That would have to be Mal (as in Grunge) Malibu Grunge: Once you've had a Mal muffin you don't really go back. And there's more on Real Audio. To get on their e-mailing or snail mail list and their up to date Gig Dates the Speedmuffin web Site is- http://members.tripod.com/~speedmuffin/index.html coming soon: SPEEDMUFFFIN.COM |