The Buzz Rocks North Jersey!

We dare you not to have fun when The Buzz hits the stage. The North Jersey-based act has quickly risen to become one of the region’s top cover bands thanks to its high-energy shows, second-to-none musicianship and audience interaction. The Buzz’s sets span 1970s classic rock to 1980s pop and new wave, and 1990s alt-rock to 21st century hits. Be prepared to hear everything from Neil Diamond and Rick Springfield to Pearl Jam and Black Sabbath.

The band includes Bergenfield brothers Tom (vocals) and Eddie (guitar) Carr, drummer Ted Chernishuk of Wayne, keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Ron Hagen of Little Falls and bassist Frankie Joseph of Bloomfield.

The Buzz can be seen often at the Grasshopper Too in Wayne and the Stage House in Scotch Plains. The Carr brothers also perform unplugged under the banner of Carrma Acoustic, which has upcoming shows in Wyckoff and Hackensack. A full schedule can be found at the end of this article.

We recently spoke with the Carr brothers.

How did you get into music and performing together?

Eddie: My older brother Dan had a guitar lying in his room and when he went to work I would go into his room and try to play it. Then I’d put it back exactly where he had it so he didn’t know. I was around 10. I took some lessons but really learned on my own. By the time I was 16 I was playing with another guitarist and a drummer.

Tom: I was sitting around one day while they were playing and sang along so they could follow the song a little bit easier. I had never sung before. This is when I was 15. The first song I sang was either “All Right Now” or “Paranoid.” I had no idea what I was doing. I ended up going for a few singing lessons to learn how to breathe correctly. We’ve been playing in bands together ever since.

How did The Buzz come about?

Eddie: In 2008 they needed a singer and guitarist to fill out some dates and Tom and I have always come as a package. We found their ad on Craigslist. We answered the ad on a Wednesday, had one quick practice and played the gig on Saturday. Last summer we joined the band permanently. Ted and Ron were in the band. Ted’s wife Jen had played bass and did some vocals and she left when she was having a baby. There was a different singer at the time who also left. We hired Frankie to play bass.

Tom: The chemistry was immediate. We played The Stage House (Scotch Plains) last August and after one show they said, ‘we want these guys here once a month.’

Tom, you’re a born showman, always out in the audience, engaging people and getting them into the show, even if they’re sitting at the bar with their backs to the band.

Tom: Cover bands play a lot of the same songs. It’s the energy and how you present it that makes your band stand out. Everyone wants to be entertained. I want people to look at me and say, ‘that guy is nuts. What’s that guy going to do next?’ I ask people questions about themselves. They may act like they don’t want to be bothered but they end up loving it.

Can you tell us about the other band members?

Eddie: Frankie, our bassist, joined last summer. The songs we asked him to learn he knew to a tee and he took the extra effort to learn them exactly as they sound on record. He also sings when Thomas needs a breather, which is great as well. He keeps improving musically and as a stage performer with every show. Ted has such a groove. He’s probably played between 500 and 1,000 songs and can pick things up so fast. Ted is also the glue that holds the band together, working behind the scenes and keeping the show on the road.

Tom: Ron is our secret weapon. He’s like Jon Lord (Deep Purple) on the keys. He’s always dialing stuff into songs.

Eddie: Ron’s experience playing with so many different musicians over the years makes him invaluable. We also could never do some of the stuff, “Rio” by Duran Duran Rio and some of the Black Crowes songs, if he wasn’t there.

Any especially memorable shows?

Eddie: We played the Grasshopper in Wayne on the anniversary of our father’s death. We ended up playing “Sweet Caroline,” one of dad’s favorites. It was almost like our father was there leading the charge.

The two of you also play unplugged as Carrma Acoustic.

Eddie: That wasn’t something that was planned. In 2004 our drummer got arrested on his way to a gig. We gave the bass player $50 and said, ‘go home, don’t worry we’ll take it from here.’ I had the acoustic guitar in the car. That night it was Carrma Acoustic.

Tom: Entertainment wise it’s the same but the song list is different. We do “Bad Leroy Brown,” “Twilight Zone” by Golden Earring. I don’t know anyone who does “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol acoustically.

How long do you envision playing with The Buzz and Carrma Acoustic.

Eddie: We play so much and it’s been part of our lives for 30 years now. We always say to each other that we’re never going to stop.

Summer schedules for The Buzz and Carrma Acoustic. (Shows usually start around 10 p.m. for the Buzz and 9:30 p.m. for Carrma Acoustic. For more information visit www.thebuzznj.com

The Buzz
Friday July 3rd, Stage House - Scotch Plains
Saturday July 18th, - Grasshopper Too - Wayne
Friday August 7th, Stage House - Scotch Plains
Saturday August 8th, The Boardwalk Bar & Grill - Point Pleasant
Saturday August 22nd, Grasshopper Too - Wayne

Carrma Acoustic
Friday, July 24 Blue Moon Café - Wyckoff
Saturday Aug. 15, Lenora’s – Hackensack