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Zing in his strings
Veteran rocker still plays for the love of it
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JOB OPENINGS Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/22/06
• Work for Us
BY STEPHEN BOVE
SPECIAL EVENTS STAFF WRITER
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Series (STAFF PHOTO: DARYL STONE)
Bob Burger will lay it down for you. When it comes to the essence of great rock "n' roll,
the music should speak for itself. Bob Burger performs at the Celtic College in Long Branch.
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"It's something that can't be put into words," he said. "It's when you hear a song, and Latest headlines by topic:
EDUCATION the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. You can't explain it, but you know it's just • Pop/Rock
• Newspaper in changed your life." • Styx
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It's this primal approach to hearing, writing and playing music that's guided the local Advertisement
MERCHANDISE rocker throughout his lifelong love affair with music and the art of making it.
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"I just get up there and play my heart out," he said "I let the music take over, and
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whatever happens just happens."
• 5K Run/Walk
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• Kids Stuff Club And if there is one thing to expect at a Bob Burger show, it's that you'll never know
• Whatever Club what you're going to see or hear next.
MARKETPLACE "I don't use set lists. Even I don't know what I'm going to play until I start playing it," he
• Local Coupons said. "The songs I choose depend on my mood that night. And I'm a moody person."
• Fishing & Boating
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• Special Sections The Eatontown resident has been performing in New Jersey for more than 20 years,
and has been writing, singing and playing guitar since he was old enough to hold one.
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• Best of 2005 Like most independent musicians, he got his Jersey start from the ground up, in a
band with his brother Jeff.
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• Product Rates Filling in wherever he could, he soon hooked up with various local rockers such as
Glen Burtnik of Styx and Jimmy Leahey, and eventually scored a spot playing bass
LISTINGS alongside Bobby Bandiera.
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http://www.bobburger.com/Articles/ZingInHisStrings.htm 9/8/2008

2. APP.COM v4.0 - Zing in his strings | Asbury Park Press Online Page 2 of 3
• Baby's First Holiday
• Pet Tributes "I owe everything to those guys," he said. "Bandiera, Jimmy (Leahey), Glen (Burtnik),
• Jersey Autos and Lee Mrowicki, the DJ at the Stone Pony, and a ton more, I wouldn't be here
• Submit Club/Bar without them."
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• Weddings
• Engagements Burger said he's not exactly sure why, but there is a tremendous fellowship within the
• Anniversaries New Jersey music scene that's unlike any other he's experienced.
• Celebrations
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He added that this camaraderie is even more evident as he watches his son, Mitch,
• Births
• In Remembrance and
garner support for his own band, a death-metal outfit called Severed Hand.
Thank You's
• Hot Properties "You can just get up there and play, and are accepted. It's exceptional," Burger said.
"There are so much talent, and a great fan base that really knows and appreciates so
GANNETT NJ many different types of music. And the bands and fans all support each other. It really
NEWSPAPERS is like a big family."
• Asbury Park Press
• Gannett State Bureau
• Courier News Leahey reacquainted with Burger about two years ago, and since then the duo have
• Courier-Post
• The Daily Journal returned to playing regular gigs together anywhere from two to five times a month,
• Daily Record Leahey said.
• Home News Tribune
• Ocean County
Observer "When we play, something just clicks. We come down on time, we end on time, it's
• Times Beacon almost magical," Leahey said. "Especially because we've never rehearsed together."
Newspapers
• Other Gannett Leahey, who plays guitar in the house band for stand-up comic Richard Belzer, as well
Newspapers as with his own band, The Alice Project, says that getting to know and perform with
Burger has been an education for him.
"I play with a lot of different people, and none are like Bob," he said. "His knowledge of
music never ceases to blow my mind."
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Over the past four years, Burger has been performing at venues that include The
Celtic Cottage in Long Branch, Basil T's in Red Bank, and The Wonderbar in Asbury
Park.
"Solo gigs aren't easy," he said. "It's just you up there, with nobody to hide behind."
Burger said it's never been about the money. He's happy enough just doing what he
loves.
"I don't charge for my album at my shows," said Burger, 51. "It's much more important
to me that I'm able to communicate something to people — that they're coming out
and listening to me. For that, I'm happy to just give my album away."
For more information on Bob Burger, visit http://www.bobburger.com/ on the Web.
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