North Shore Public Library Transforms
Into A Nightclub For One Afternoon

Patrons at the North Shore Public Library weren’t just reading novels, working quietly on their laptops or talking in whispers to each other Sunday. They were shaking their hips, and clapping and snapping to local Rockabilly band The Vendettas.

“Imagine you’re in one of those basement parties when you were a kid!” lead vocalist and drummer Lenny Brentson, aka “Teenage,” told a crowd of about 60 people who squeezed into the library’s basement, filling it to the brim.

The 50's rock n’ roll-era cover band played classics like Buddy Holly’s “Peggie Sue,” and Bo Diddley’s “You Can’t Judge a Book by its Cover,” a song particularly apropos for the show’s venue.

Completing The Vendetta trio was David Doscher, nicknamed “The Chin,” slapping his electric upright bass, and guitarist Jay Janoski, nicknamed Jaybone, singing backup into a vintage microphone and wearing black and white checkered retro “creeper” shoes. Joining The Vendettas Sunday was guest saxophonist Peter Randazzo, who encouraged audience members to get out of their seats during his gravelly solos.

Mr. Brentson’s deep, throaty voice turned to sandpaper at times during “Folsom Prison Blues,” giving Joaquin Phoenix solid competition for Johnny Cash cover performances. Reminding us that Mr. Brentson was not the real Johnny Cash, live and in person, was the cocktail-style three-piece drum set in front of him. The “secret weapon,” Mr. Brentson said, of the smaller drum set is the floor tom drum, which is equipped with a reverse bass pedal, allowing that drum to dual as a bass drum.

Mr. Janoski, who founded the band six years ago, said he turned to rock n’ roll music after a 15-year stint in an R&B band, The Hackensack Men. That band would play rock n’ roll songs to give its horn section a rest, reminding Mr. Janoski of his first love in music.

And that intimidating band name? Mr. Janoski said he wanted a band name reminiscent of a 50s movie gang.

The Florists' wasn’t cutting it,” joked Mr. Doscher.
“[We] wanted to return to our roots and play in a band
with that 50s, bare-bones
rock n’ roll sound”

The long-time cover band has been writing original music since the start of the winter, none of which has yet been publicly performed.

The new music, band members say, is in keeping with the songs they cover, spanning the rock n’ roll and Rockabilly genres.

“We’re staying away from Rap,” Mr. Doscher said.

At first, The Vendettas tried out some more obscure music, but quickly realized that fans don’t go as crazy over songs they don’t recognize. The group then turned to classics by rock n’ roll greats Elvis Presley, Stray Cats and Gene Vincent.

“We found we just needed to stay with the stuff that’s popular,” Mr. Janoski said. “We still throw in obscure gems once in a while.”

Story By Samantha Brix for North Shore Sun