Chris Moffa & The Competition - "Places To Live"

Chris Moffa of New Jersey's Chris Moffa & The Competition referred to his band's music as "Contact Music" which in his words meant "music brought about by a real need to express some serious social issues". They were compared to the Clash (though he didn't completely agree) and the song "Places To Live" is filled with Clash style references to rap/rock/disco and politics. The band's music had punk and pop/rock influences as well. They toured up and down the east coast in support of an ep from which this track comes but soon split up when Chris joined Soul Attack (soon to be featured here).Chris Moffa & The Competition were Chris Moffa - guitar and vocals, Jim Ohm - drums, and John Lewis - bass, although Frank Roselli played bass on this track.

Chris Moffa & The Competition - "Places To Live".mp3

Student Teachers - "Looks"

Larchmont, New York's Student Teachers were one of few teenage bands on the NY punk scene and had one of the first female rhythm sections in a non-all-girl band . Shortly after they began playing, Jimmy Destri (the keyboard player from Blondie) started producing the band. The song "Looks" was released on a compilation called "2 x 5" on legendary Marty Thau's Red Star label along with tracks from the Bloodless Pharoahs, Revelons, Comateens, and Fleshtones. They opened for Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Richard Hell and The Dead Boys among others. In November of 1980 they released an EP entitled "Easter 78 - Halloweeen 80" and broke up. The Student Teachers were David Scharff - Vocals, Philip Shelley - guitar, Joe Katz - guitar, Bill Arning - keyboards, Lori Reese - bass, Laura Davis - drums. Philip Shelley later founded the Mystery Dates and the Nitemares. David Scharff has worn many hats in the music industry including fanzine publisher, and record company art director and writer. "Looks" was covered in 2000 by former Soul Coughing's Mike Doughty.

Student Teachers - "Looks".mp3

The Go - "Don't Take Her Away"

I'll never forget how nervous I was the first time I crossed the Hudson River from New Jersey to go to New York City's Bowery and CBGB's to see The Go. I was a 19 year kid who rarely strayed from the safe environs of the NJ club scene. Hearing their clean, jangly Power Pop sound made the graffiti covered walls of CBGB's less threatening. The experience opened up NYC as a club destination for me and The Peppermint Lounge and Mud Club became new haunts. The Go were from nearby Yonkers, NY and played CB's as well as many other tri-state area clubs regularly. Unfortunately they only managed to release an independant 4 song EP in 1980. Despite coming close to getting a recording contract they called it quits a couple years later . The Go were Kenny Dutch : Guitars/Vocal, Tom Conte : Guitars/Vocal, George Peters : Bass/Vocals, Joe Brya : Drums/Percussion Kenny and Tom still play in a band called Hipripper.