Despite the
prospect of a major line-up change, Mr. G continues to gain momentum on the
Jersey Shore scene. Chris Grenda, the band’s singer/guitarist, prides
himself on doing it his own way.
The band is currently focused on recording a compact disc, for spring
release, at Long Branch’s Shorefire studios. "I probably won’t
play another show until the release party because I want to have a big
blowout," said Grenda. However, Grenda is faced with
the task of filling the shoes of his solid bassist, Ryan Martin. Martin
will record the CD, but leave the band after its release party. Grenda
plans on using the new disc and his two earlier releases to give to Martins’s potential replacements. This can help them
decide if they feel the music.
"I feel like this one is actually going to be more dramatic than
the last one," said Grenda of his release in progress. "It’s
going to have that kind of mood. There’s going to be some rock songs on
there, but it’s going to be my more melodramatic rock style."
The band last played, with Brown, at the Saint for "One Nite of Music" on
October 9. The event, organized by Local Voices for USA, had bands around
New Jersey play local venues and donate all proceeds to the Twin Towers
Fund. Money from this fund goes directly to families of the victims of the
September 11 tragedy.
Before that, the band played in front of 4,000 people at Ernie
Ball
String's Extreme Moto Music Madness Tour.
Grenda has decided not to play area clubs, but to organize his own
events for Mr. G and other local artists to perform. This gives him the chance to
tailor treatment of bands and audiences to his liking. "I’m not
going to be beating on (the club’s) doors asking for gigs," he
said. Grenda wants to give those who attend his shows what he feels local
clubs are missing.
The last event he organized was G-Fest, which took place on August 4.
Although rain ended the event before the last three bands took the stage,
he still doubled the previous years attendance at 200 people.
He has chosen to put these shows together every three or four months.
This gives Mr. G fans the opportunity to see the band, but not be
overexposed to them. Grenda admits that seeing his favorite bands more
than once a month would make him tired of that band. "I’m going to
put enough time between each one of my shows so people start asking me
when I’m going to be playing again," said Grenda.