New CD is not just another bump on a Log
North Brunswick band Logs in theMainstream releases fourth album
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

JENNIFER AMATO Logs in the Mainstream band members Bob Nesbitt, Eric Amadeo, Mole and Frank Certo, l. to r., practice in their North Brunswick studio.

NORTH BRUNSWICK- The sound is described as "eccentric rock," "offbeat" and "a little esoteric."

The songs have titles such as "Don't Come to Maryland," "If Hitler Had Sideburns" and "Tequila & Power Tools."

The only reasonable explanation could be the new Logs in the Mainstream CD, "The Ridiculous and the Sublime."

"I can't say we appeal to everybody, but we don't appeal to one age group either," said lead vocalist and guitarist Mole. "I like to believe it's the music lovers, the people who enjoy listening to music."

The North Brunswick-based band began working on the project in 2004 and recently released their fourth CD. AlthoughMole, 38, "never thought we would really go beyond a basement" when he and the original guitarist started the band in 1991, he said the group now prides themselves on leaving the audience "surprised and confused" and enjoys entertaining listeners while providing something original.

"We never want to be afraid of tackling any part of music, and the guys in the band are multitalented. Even if someone doesn't know how to play a riff or a rhythm, they take a chance and they learn how to play," the former North Brunswick resident said.

The group does so by incorporating various less-popular instruments into their music. Bob Dorn, of North Carolina, played bass and bagpipes, Eric Amadeo, 33, was on drums and percussion, and Frank Certo, 40, was responsible for the percussion, didgeridoo, Theremin, backing vocals, production and elements.

"If it makes noise and in some way we can play it, we'll try to play it," Certo said.

The instruments are spread throughout the 12-track CD. "Cliff Diving" is a strictly instrumental piece all four members worked together on.

"Tequila & Power Tools" was written after a bet betweenMole and his wife, who came upstairs with a margarita as Mole was using a power drill to redesign a room in their house. Since he works at a video teleconferencing company and she is handier, he told her if she used the drill, he'd write a song about it.

During recording, Mole and Amadeo wanted to embellish the song since it was done in one take, so although no food or drinks are allowed in the rehearsal space, they brought a bag of electric tools to cut up pizza boxes in order to get a more realistic sound.

"Don't Come to Maryland" was inspired by Dorn warming up on the bagpipes with the Scottish national anthem, and the guys, not recognizing it as such, saying, "Dude, good song!"AlthoughMole, who wrote about 85 percent of the lyrics on the album, said the lyrics don't match the music; he said the random words about fishing and greasy chicken just popped into his head, randomly.

"You Gotta Be Kidding Me" is a more political track, using heavy rock to express more blues-like emotions, according to Mole. It describes how limited paychecks and the Social Security system are affecting citizens.

"If you're an individual person, it's definitely harder to try and make ends meet than when you're in a position of power. A lot easier. But that's the way life is," Mole said. "It's humorously stated but it's pointed."

The last song on the CD, "Another Logs in the Mainstream Song," uses five genres of music in 20 measures.Mole, who lives in Philadelphia now, said he wanted to make the song "simple" and take two chords and go through as many different styles in 30 seconds as they could. Certo nicknamed this the "egg drop soup" beat.

"We just try an idea and see if it works, or we don't grow," Mole said.

The band has also grown in a different way: with a handful of band members coming and going, the newest Logs have only been together for a short while. Bob Nesbitt, 51, of North Brunswick, came on as drummer after the CD was completed, bringing his 30 years of experience to the next album.

"We have all seen a lot of bands come and go over the years. We had some success but we have also seen some struggles where we'd ask ourselves why we're still doing it. But if it's still fun, and if you leave the rehearsal room or the studio or the stage with the feeling like you've done something that defined your life, you've made it worthwhile, and it's worth it. It's always worth it," Mole said.

Some of the "worth it" experiences have been playing at CBGB in New York, the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, Maxwell's in Hoboken, the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, Harvest Moon in New Brunswick and the Sidewalk Café in New York. They have also had their share of house parties, shows, firehouse events, local bars and dives.

Another moment of success, as defined by Amadeo, of Greenwich Township, was having a weekend power session, going through the entire album, and then going back and re-recording.

Frank Certo has a more behind the-scenes story to his involvement with the Logs: Certo owns both FrankenSound Studios and FrankenSound Rehearsal, both located in North Brunswick, where the CD was recorded.

Certo, who grew up in North Brunswick, majored in history and philosophy in college. He then decided to attend an audio engineering school in New York, although he never played an instrument growing up. He started his own studio in 1993 in his apartment, and then came to Adams Lane in 1994.

In the past 14 years, he has had Liberty DeVitto, Bernard Purdie, Senses Fail and North Brunswick's own Glen Burtnik come in and record, and has seen everything from jazz, rock and gospel choirs to radio commercials and voiceovers.

This is the first time the Monroe resident has ever joined a band, and he is eagerly awaiting the fifth CD, which the Logs have already started working on.

In the meantime, the band has been appearing on satellite radio stations and online magazines. They also plan on playing some dates over the summer and colleges in the fall.

For more information about the CD or event dates, visit www.LogsInTheMainstream.com.