The Court Tavern is closed indefinitely, owner Bobby Albert said on Wednesday.

The venerable New Brunswick club was shut on Wednesday. Albert declined to comment further on the club's closing when reached at his North Brunswick home.

There was no notice of its closing posted at the club at 124 Church St., its website or its Facebook page. Music promoter Andy "Diamond" De Nicolo said that he was not alerted of the club's closing, nor did he known how the situation would affect upcoming shows scheduled there, including the high-profile concert by city punk legends Ensign on Friday. [myCentralJersey.com]

Gorilla Biscuits at CBGB 2006 (more)

Gorilla Biscuits will return from the dead to play the annual Black & Blue Bowl (previously the Superbowl of Hardcore) on May 28th at Webster Hall alongside Agnostic Front (playing a special set), Terror, Antidote, Absolution, Down to Nothing, Maximum Penalty, No Turning Back, Backtrack, Take Offense, Bottom Out, and a secret guest. Tickets will be on sale soon on PitchforkNY.com, and at places like Lotus Tattoo in Sayville (Civ's tattoo shop), NYHC tattoos (Vinnie Stigma and Jimmy Gestapo's shop), Generation Records, and maybe other spots. There will also be some tickets saved to sell at the door, though the show will sell out.

In sort of related news, Sick of It All, Snapcase, Merauder & Razorblade Handgrenade play Webster Hall on March 26th.

Meanwhile, Walter Schriefels' more current project Rival Schools are readying the release of their new LP Pedals (out 3/8 on Photo Finish/Atlantic Records). The band begins a stint of dates in Chicago tonight (3/2) that include a record release party at Santos Party House on March 8th. Tickets are still on sale.

Rival Schools are also playing a show at Court Tavern in New Brunswick on March 10th! And Sasquatch.

Want a a 180 gram vinyl copy of Pedals and a 24"x36" Pedals lithograph signed by Ian, Walter, Sam and Cache? Details on how to win all of that and a picture of it, plus two new Rival Schools videos, all tour dates and more, below...

Continue reading "Gorilla Biscuits & Agnostic Front playing B&B Ball, Rival Schools kicking off tour (win vinyl & a lithograph)"

...at the State Theatre on April 30th with The Smithereens. Tickets are on sale (thx J!)

For nearly 50 years the Court Tavern has been a New Brunswick fixture. Since the early 1980s it also has been a vital part of the state's rock scene, hosting up-and-coming bands such as the Smithereens, which later returned the favor by donating one of its platinum albums to the small club.

But the slow economy following a re-financing effort a couple of years ago bought the owners, Bobby and Eileen Albert, to the brink of closure, with a 4 p.m. deadline today to pay $20,000 in back taxes and city fees or face foreclosure.

In the pre-dawn hours [on December 15th], Eileen Albert posted messages on the club's Facebook and MySpace Web pages, the Alberts discovered how their club had touched people across the country, and beyond.

The first call came in at about 2 a.m. from a former employee the Alberts hadn't seen in 15 years, offering to give $500 to $1,000.

"It's been like wildfire," said Eileen Albert. "It's been crazy. There's 20 messages on the phone now."

Former customers and employees from as far away as Washington state called to help. A member of a band that had played at the club years ago called from London, where he heard of the financial problems.

By 12:30 p.m. Bobby Albert found a line of more than 15 people outside the door with envelopes of money and checks.

Then came a longtime family friend, who walked in and handed over a $20,000 check. [NJ.com]

photos by Tim Griffin

The Walter Schreifels Band, led by Walter Schreifels of Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits Civ, Rival Schools, and Youth of Today fame, performed at the BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 20th (with Fanfarlo, Laura Marling, The Antlers, Think About Life, and The Wheel.) Since then, the band (which also features Dave Hill on guitar and Arthur Smilios of GB/Civ on bass) played another show in Austin. They were actually on the same bill as Voxtrot at the Mohawk on Saturday night. It was a Fun Fun Fun Fest afterparty and Walter and Arthur were already in town because Gorilla Biscuits played the fest proper (those pics coming soon).

Walter's next show will take place this Saturday night, 11/14, at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick, NJ. Also on the bill are Atlantic/Pacific (Garrett from Texas Is The Reason), Dave Walsh (The Loved Ones), and Tom Dunphy. Walter is also making an appearance at Lolita Bar in NYC on Wednesday, 11/18, but at that...

"I'll be reading with this Italian translator reading some choice Italian pop songs in translation, A banjo playing double decker bus tour guide and the beautiful banshee Kamara Thomas from Earl Greyhound."

Continue reading "Walter Schreifels Band played BV-CMJ (pics & setlist) & a FFFFest afterparty, playing Court Tavern, Lolita Bar"

DOWNLOAD: Vivian Girls - Blind Spot (Daisy Chain cover) (MP3)

Vivian Girls @ the Court Tavern, New Brunswick, NJ (thepiratehat)

Vivian Girls, NYC & NJ 2009
Dec 31 (NYE) - they opened for Yo La Tengo
Jan 04 - they played the Court Tavern (see above)
Jan 11 - they're playing for kids @ the Living Room
Jan 14 - they're playing w/ Titus Andronicus @ Maxwell's
Jan 20 - they're playing w/ Fucked Up & Pissed Jeans @ MARKET HOTEL *
Feb 19 - they're opening for M Ward @ Apollo Theater $

* the MH show was moved from Danbro Studios
$ one of three shows they're playing with M Ward. Weird? yes.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Vivian Girls - kids, M WARD, Titus Andronicus, the Court Tavern, Pissed jeans, Fucked Up & Market Hotel "

Bouncing Souls/Lifetime @ Court Tavern, New Brunswick, NJ Aug 19, 2007 (CRED)

* Luke Temple is playing Sound Fix
* Andrew WK joins Leo & Tony @ UCB
* It's classic soul night in Wingate Park
* The Bouncing Souls are playing Cha Cha's

What else?