New Jersey Stage Issue 48 | Page 133

ets with stones and walking into a river. Similarly, for the eter- nally morose “Infinity & Gloom,” Weinberger draws his inspira- tion from and pays tribute to sad lass Sylvia Plath, an influential mid-20th century poet. I know a local album is good when it has four strong contend- ers for the Song of the Week. The nominees on Montclair- based The Porchistas’ new “Porch Drive” are: • The opening “The Martyrs,” a reggae-tinged call to arms with Elvis Costello-like soul-pop overtones that aims to inspire a continuation of a rebellion start- ed by the title characters • “The Abe Vigoda Polka,” an hysterical but touching tale of a musical couple, who during an adventure in Florida, twice run into the unsung actor Abe Vi- NJ STAGE - ISSUE 48 goda (“Barney Miller,” “The God- father”) to whom the song is a tribute • “She Deserves,” a fun, folkie Jimmy Buffettesque character study about a woman who danc- es naked in the rain by the sea • “Bitter Fruit,” a gypsy jazz nugget with a stray cat strut that flirts with hard rock sung by Kelly Henneberry in homage to a va- riety of jazz greats, particularly Billie Holiday. INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 133