Tune In, Turn On With Doug Deutsch
Once the summer season ends and there are no more Tony Mart Presents concerts, it’s generally slim pickings around southern New Jersey if you want to see blues acts perform — except for one venue. Since the House of Blues closed in the Showboat in August 2014, there have been very few blues shows either in the casinos or in local noncasino venues (Buddy Guy at Ocean in summer 2026 and Tedeschi Trucks at Hard Rock in winter 2014 being the only shows that come to mind).
That one aforementioned venue that does present blues regularly? Lizzie Rose Music Room, a small but mighty live music club located, as this column likes to say, “a short drive up Route 9” in Tuckerton. This Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5 and 6, the approximately 70-seat, alcohol-free room presents one of the biggest blues and soul vocalists in the business, Shemekia Copeland, with different special guests each evening: guitarist Peter Karp on Thursday and the JB Blues Band on Friday. The latter features bassist, vocalist and recording artist James “JB” Barnes, joined that night by well-known Jersey rock guitarist, producer and former Spin Doctors member Anthony Krizan.
Tune In Turn On got to interview Barnes and Krizan before the show. Here’s how it went.
DD: Talk about what type of set you guys will be performing when you open for Shemekia Copeland at the Lizzie Rose Music Room. How much of the set will encompass JB’s music, and how much Anthony’s?
JB: We are looking to bring the JB and Anthony style of blues to (Lizzie Rose). Rocking and upbeat blues with a tasteful brand of original love songs with a bluesy feeling. Most of the songs will be coming from my acclaimed 2025 album, “My Mississippi Roots.” We will also be performing a couple of songs from Anthony’s recent record. Mostly originals with a couple of great blues covers. We plan on bringing the heat with some songs and will also break it down tastefully.
DD: How do you both think southern and central New Jersey’s music scene stacks up compared to those in other parts of the country where you have both performed?
JB: From what I see, the southern and central New Jersey scene is great, especially within the smaller venues. People do embrace the blues in the smaller clubs; however, I would like to see more large festival-type settings throughout New Jersey. There are many more festival-type settings down South and out West. The New Jersey blues scene has some way to go to catch up with other parts of the country. As New Jersey’s blues scene grows, I want to be a part of it.
AK: I would say southern and central Jersey have a good music scene. There’s definitely no shortage of great musicians and songwriters. Sometimes it depends on the room you’re playing. If they’re used to having original bands and singer-songwriters, they are more open to new music, sometimes music they haven’t heard, which is a good way to build your brand and gain new followers.
DD: What do you think your next five years will look like regarding playing and recording music?
JB: I’m looking to release a minimum of three to four new records over the next five years, starting with a strong follow-up to “My Mississippi Roots.” I’m in the process of recording my next record, “Blues & Jazz Joined — At the Hip,” which I’m looking to release in early 2027. The key for me is to continue telling stories through the songs and music and also seek collaborations with other top blues artists. I’m also looking to perform at much larger venues and festivals to get my music heard in a live setting on a much larger scale. I aim to take it to the limit, God willing.
AK: I just hope to stay healthy in the future and to be able to do what I’ve been blessed to do my whole life, which is make music, perform, make new friends, and travel and see a bunch of cool towns and countries along the way!
Tickets and information: lizzierosemusicroom.com.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com
