The Scene...
Speakers is tucked into a corner of downtown Marlboro between Rt 20 and Main St. Its front windows are blacked out, leading me to believe that Sharky had invited me to a gig at a gentleman's club, but, sadly, it was not to be. As I entered, I noticed a placard out front that had a young girl's photo on it along with some birthday wishes, leading me to believe that Sharky had invited me to a child's birthday party gig, but gladly, that also was not to be. Apparently it was someone named Marcia's 40th birthday party. Luckily for Sharky, they started their gig with a built-in crowd of 40ish year olds who were already in the mood to party.
Despite it's camouflaged appearance, Speakers is actually a pretty big venue. Its high ceilings and open floor plan give it decent acoustics and sightlines. There are several video screens around the club that were showing 80's videos, anything from Tony Basil ("Hey Mickey!"), to Dexy's Midnight Runners (I won't remind you of their hit song or it'll be stuck in your head all day), to the Muse's favorite artist of all time, Terence Trent D'Arby.
The Show...
Sharky is a professional band, very tight, and all very competent players. And it's clear from early on in this gig that they like to play to their crowd. Marcia and her birthday party are on the dance floor from the first note, and Sharky keeps them out there throughout.
Sharky is serious about putting on a good show, but that doesn't mean that they're not having fun. Frontman Steve isn't afraid to interact with the crowd, and maybe getting a little crazy while he's at it. The band keeps rockin' clean and steady behind him and lets him do his thing. He puts his wireless mic to good use: At one point, he dances his way through the crowd, finds a spot on a secondary stage, and is quickly "Stuck in the Middle" of a couple of well-dressed ladies dancing up a storm on either side. At another point, he invites Marcia up to the stage and proceeds to spank some birthday wishes - and a Sharky sticker - onto her derriere. He's a great showman, and he likes to get the crowd into the show, and they're happy to oblige.
The Music...
Sharky mainly covers classic rock, with some soul and R&B mixed in. They don't exactly stick to the classic rock staples, though, so it makes for an interesting mix -- anything from John Butcher Axis to The Stones to Stevie Wonder to The Church to The Foo Fighters. Despite the wide variety, Sharky keeps it all flowing well. They have a particular sound - a soulsy-rock sound that you'd expect from a band that started in a garage, got polished up through years of playing, but never forgot their roots. That's not the case with Sharky, as the members all cut their teeth in previous bands, but they gel so well that it seems like it could be. Sharky are also good at putting their own stamp on the songs, by altering arrangements, the parts within the arrangement, or just letting guitarist Paul rip (which he can really do).
Sharky is a seriously fun band. If you're in the mood for some good ol' rock and soul, then check them out!