Gastropub will host Gas House Gorillas

Stanhope — On Friday, Aug. 15, The Salt Gastropub will host the Gas House Gorillas on Friday, Aug. 15, at 10 p.m. Irvington native Rick Fink has brought his love of comedy, cartoons and music together in his band Gas House Gorillas. “We’re really playing party music,” he said. “It’s really just about getting people to have a good time.” “We thrive on audience participation,” said Fink. “You never know when I’m gonna be right next to you or when I’m gonna be pulling you onstage. When we play, it’s pretty crazy.” Gas House Gorillas started as a jump blues, swing and classic R&B band dedicated to carrying on the legacy of Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway, Louis Prima and Sam Cooke in late 2003. “I wanted the band to be really eclectic,” said founder and lead singer Fink. The lineup originally included Fink, saxist and accordion player “Handsome” Dan Alvaro, guitarist Jimmy Prav and drummer Joe Geary. Upright bassist Chris “Crusher” Carmean came on board six months later. Japanese blues guitarist Hiro Suzuki replaced Prav in spring 2006. Today, the band has expanded its repertoire to include country, rockabilly, zydeco and rock‘n’ roll. Gas House Gorillas derives its name from the Brooklyn baseball team that played against Bugs Bunny in the 1946 classic cartoon “Baseball Bugs.” “I knew all about the old Warner Brothers and MGM cartoons,” said Fink. “’Baseball Bugs’ was a great one. I always thought someday I’d like to have a band called the Gas House Gorillas.” The Salt Gastropub is located at 109 Route 206 in Byram Township, For more information, call Salt Gastropub at 973-347-SALT (7258), or visit www.saltgastropub.com.