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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HERALD |
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By Carol Barbieri “But now that I’ve been looking in a new direction John Monnecka should be a star by now. And you would have thought he was the star of the show, if you were in the audience at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ, last Friday night, where he opened for Patty Smyth and Scandal.
Poised, powerful, and polished, John took the stage like he was born to be a headliner himself, not merely opening up for the world’s most famous artists. An astounding guitarist, heads in the audience began to turn from his very first riff, as his fierce, gutsy sound slowly filled the room. John Monnecka has it all: singing, songwriting and musical talent. And he does it all, too - all by himself. No band stands behind this guy; he likes it that way. John Monnecka’s good enough to stand on his own. But he’s been doing it on his own for too long now. John Monnecka’s ready for a change, a break – a hit record, a recording contract, and more opportunities to be a headliner act, as well as to open up for more national acts. After successfully opening for artists like, Edwin McCain, The Marshall Tucker Band, and The Smithereens, John Monnecka’s got a taste for more. And the Starland Ballroom audience wanted more than just a taste of him, after performing just a few of his original songs. His bold, intense, almost angry delivery of his songs, “Hello,” and “The Truth” hooked the audience immediately. It didn’t take them long to realize that there’s a depth to this artist that’s both honest and boundless. Yet, between songs he laughed and joked with the crowd as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Like I said; John Monnecka has it all. By the time John performed his new composition, “Drive,” it seemed as if he had driven his point home: He’s been “down the road before” and is now ready to “take the steps” he has to take to make it on his own, to “take life by the soul and drive.” His original songs are captivating, but it was his cover of Stevie Wonder’s, “Superstition” that brought one of the biggest roars from the crowd. When the song ended, a man in front of me – a stranger - turned to me and said, “That was incredible!!!” It was. In fact, Monnecka does more than just “cover” songs; he breathes new life into them and “owns” them. He gives them such a unique and personal spin, it’s as if you’re hearing them for the first time. That’s one of the reasons why John has such a strong following at the local clubs where he performs regularly, seven nights a week. Faithful fans from all over New Jersey turn out to see him every night, never tiring of his eclectic shows. He’ll play anything for you from the Beatles to the blues. He’s got one of the most extensive repertoires of any cover artist out there. He should; his music has been his only source of income, since he was a teenager. Not many musicians can say that. Some of Monnecka’s most loyal fans are musicians, who plant themselves in front of him, in an effort to grasp just one of his stupefying guitar skills. They know that he’s one of the most talented guitarists around. But he’s frustratingly impossible to imitate. A guitarist myself, I’ve often spent the greater part of many a ride home from one of John’s shows plotting the demise of all of my guitars. He’s that good. Good enough to make it. John Monnecka certainly deserves to make it. He believes in what he does and works harder at it than anyone I know. But if “making it” means that a man has perfected his craft, has distinguished himself as an artist, has consistently excelled and grown as a performer, and has devoted himself totally to his music and his fans, then I guess John Monnecka already has made it. For more information about John Monnecka, visit his website at: www.johnmonnecka.com.
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