Battle of the Basement Bands: Juicebox

If Leslie Goldman is nervous about defending Juicebox's 2009 Battle of the Basement Bands title, it doesn't show.

"It's about having fun," said Goldman, who is known for her blond locks and throaty singing voice.

Goldman sings lead and plays rhythm guitar for Juicebox. Her South Orange next door neighbor Arlene Correa is on bass, Marco Ranieri of Maplewood is lead guitar and Loren Svetvilas of West Orange plays drums. 

Goldman and Correa are the two original bandmates, playing together for the last three plus years. Said Goldman, "We were originally a duo and have had a few different members but now we are all dedicated Juicebox members!"

Where does the name Juicebox come from? "It can relate to small children, a power source, or it has dirty connotations," teased Goldman. "Depending on what people think the name suggests, tells you where they are coming from. Guys in the bar always think it's dirty."

The band plays 98% original songs, about half written by Goldman and half by Ranieri. "But we don't co-write," said Goldman. For this weekend's competition, however, Juicebox will throw in a cover of 20 Flight Rock by Eddie Cochran. 

The band practices in Correa's basement, making it a true basement band (not a garage band like FELT!). Asked to characterize the band's sound, Goldman said they were "power pop, punky." She said that some listeners said she sounded like Melissa Etheridge but that they were "way off," although she does have that signature whiskey-soaked singing voice. Others have suggested that the band sounds a bit like Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Goldman said, "No, but that's closer." (Check out the attached videos, both featuring Juicebox's original song "Maplewood" and make your own determination.)

Goldman, who has always played in bands and started with piano at age 7 (one former band was Boom Box Barbie), said she was feeling lonely after moving from New York City to South Orange after having her second child (now age 8). She became friends with Correa who lives literally next door and likewise had two small children. When Correa said she was going to take lessons to learn how to play bass, Goldman "pounced." 

Now, with Correa up to speed and Ranieri and Svetvilas on board, the band plays gigs about every other month at clubs like McGlynn's in Union. "It's hard to find the right venues," said Goldman. Juicebox actually held a concert in Goldman's backyard last year and charged $15 to pay the fee for headliner Jill Sobule. 

About last year's win, Goldman said, "We didn't expect to win so we went out and had as much fun as possible. We had a bunch of friends come out as dancing girls." Battle of Basement Bands is "really a fund gig," said Goldman. "It's good for goodness sake and such a blast."

Still, the stakes are high this year. Besides meeting Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram (Juicebox was on their program on 101.9FM this morning during the 9 a.m. hour), Goldman and bandmates are anxious to win the concert performance prize at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair. 

Last year, Ranieri and Svetvilas were not a part of the band. "They feel we will blame them if we lose," joked Goldman. "But really, we're just gonna go out and have fun."

Going out and having all that fun takes a lot of energy, however. How do these four musicians with four day jobs and eight kids between the ages of 2 to 12 between them find the time and the energy?

"Rock & Roll keeps you young!" exclaimed Goldman.