Goodman Fiske This Band Is Raising The Bar

By: Krista Doran

Is it just me or does it seem as though the cover band scene in this area has done a good amount of “self-weeding” lately? Let’s face it, everyone is, or at some point in time wants to be in a band. It’s a pretty cool job, if I may so myself! I spend a lot of time out there on the scene and it seems like the bands that truly have the staying power are easily getting booked, while others are struggling to get a return date anywhere. I suppose there is always going to be a level of saturation when it comes to local cover bands but clubs and fans of the local scene are wising up and they will no longer settle for mediocre or the same old thing. They want something “different.” One band that we have been seeing and hearing a lot about lately is a band out of NJ called Goodman Fiske, and that is who we are featuring in this issue of the OOT!

I sat down and talked to band co-founder, Gene Goodman who is a very down-to-earth, no nonsense guy, who truly knows the talent of this band. Gene told me, “I have spent a lot of time researching all the bands around the area, as well as the music scene itself, and I can pretty much guarantee the musicianship you see with this band is different that any other cover band out there. We have definitely raised the bar.” Specializing in hard-hitting Rock and Party Rock, Goodman Fiske is a band that has been getting a lot of attention lately, and for good reasons. These guys have only been together less than 3 years, and they are playing some of the best clubs in the area such as Ri Ra and Bally’s Beach Bar in Atlantic City, and most recently they added 3 shows in August and will be performing on the Carnival Cruise line out on the Atlantic Ocean! GMF usually plays mainly in the NJ area, but are making an effort to start working the Philly scene and will be appearing at Tavern on Broad, Wednesday 8/11. “We are here to show everyone that there are still really good cover bands out there that not only play well, but know how to entertain a crowd,” Gene told me. I have to agree with Gene because I have been around the scene a long time and I really believe a lot of bands have forgotten how to entertain. Many don’t even know there is a difference between playing and entertaining. This band “gets it” and they strive to be the best they can be.

If you go to see Goodman Fiske, you are going to experience a very entertaining party band that will stun you with their musical ability. The things they do onstage, the songs they choose to perform and their overall playing style is something every music lover should experience. In the time GMF has been playing live, they’ve had some major opportunities to shine such as performing on channel 3’s “Beasley Reece Show” inside CBS studios. They have also worked with local radio station events such as 94.1 WYSP’s Fat Tuesday with Danny Bonaduce, 93.3 WMMR’s MMRBQ with Pierre Robert and recently became the house band for 102.7 WJSE – a rock station down at the NJ shore area.

Managed by The Shore Bets Agency, you can find Goodman Fiske playing up and down the East Coast all year long. This band definitely has the energy, drive, dedication, and creativity to become one of the best cover bands to ever come out of the Philly area. Goodman Fiske is: Gene Goodman, Lead Guitar and vocals, Ryan Fiske, Guitar and vocals, Ian Lightcap, Bass and vocals, John Kresge, Drums. You can view their schedule online at www.goodmanfiskeband.com. Goodman Fiske is certainly one of The Out On The Town’s favorites because we know and support the best local music!