By Danny Coleman
originally published: 03/31/2016
"Tour? I've been on tour since 1980. I'm on the road all of the time," says observational comedian and "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" alumnus Bill Engvall as he discussed his upcoming April 15 Appearance at the Bergen PAC in Englewood, NJ. "The difference this time is that I spent my career talking about my wife and kids and now I'm back to writing like I did when I first started; it's challenging and kind of neat at the same time."
A Galveston, TX native, Engvall left the town in which he grew up after high school and moved to the big city of Dallas where he became a disc jockey in a local night club. While in this role, he decided to try his luck at stand-up comedy during one of the club's open mic. nights. Finding it to his liking, he began to frequent more open mics. and amateur nights and began honing the craft which would eventually become a career in comedy, television, film and even as a game show host. "I had intentions on becoming a school teacher," he said with a small laugh. "That of course didn't happen but I give credit to teachers; to me they're entertainers in their own way. Think about it, we all remember the teachers who made learning and school fun; right? The ones who didn't use or dwell on negativity; they're the ones who stand out in our memories.I started with comedy because people, friends, thought I had a unique way of looking at things; I guess they were right."
That unique way has led to a platinum album ("Here's Your Sign"), a multi-platinum album ("Live"), a gold album ("Dorkfish"), countless TV appearances, solo specials and movie roles. One of his last specials, "Aged and Confused," showed a different side of this likable comedian; one that featured a return to creativity and for an observational comic that's not always the easiest thing to come by. "Yeah, it can be a struggle at times," he mused as he reflected on his past efforts. "Anybody who is familiar with me knows that my material came mostly from picking up on things in my family life. My daughter, wife and son gave me things to ponder almost daily. My wife going through menopause, kids growing up and the various challenges there, it's what fits for me and some stuff just comes to you; like a gift (laughs). Now though, my wife is through menopause, my daughter is grown and out in her own place, my son is at school; I've got to start looking for things again. It really is like when I first started doing this; I have to write things and look for the funny in situations and that's not always easy to do but I'm really enjoying it."
Engvall was enjoying moderate success on his own but it was the teaming up with his good pals Jeff Foxworthy, Larry The Cable Guy and Ron White to form the "Blue Collar Comedy Concert" and subsequent tours and albums that broke things wide open for the one time amateur from Texas. "Oh yeah, that was a gift from God! It just came along at the right time for me and it started something huge for all of us. Those fellas are all so funny and great human beings; it was one of the most fun times of my career."
Along with his Blue Collar buddies; Engvall admires comics such as Jim Gaffigan, Kevin Hart and some of today's "Younger comics,"because he says he finds their take on things to be, "Very funny" and he, "Loves to laugh." Although he does readily admit that he enjoys clean comedy more so than other acts. "I appreciate clean comics who can be funny. Guys like Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart; work clean and are very relatable. Clean comedians work a long time. Look at me; I've been doing this for 35 years (laughs)."
There are no signs that Engvall is ready to slow down either; a new taped special is being shopped around and it too is based on his life experiences. "We're thinking of entitling it "Just Sell Him For Parts," he explained with a hearty laugh. "It seems like after I did "Dancing With The Stars" that everything started to go wrong. I had a knee replacement, kidney stones, shingles and all kinds of aches and pains that I never had before; I'm scared to get out of bed (laughs). My wife joked and said, "We should just sell you for parts," and that's how that came about. Currently, we're shopping it around and seeing who has an interest but we'll definitely get it out there somewhere."
Engvall brings his act to The Bergen Performing Arts Center on Friday April 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $39 to $99 dollars each and can be obtained by going to either www.billengvall.com or www.bergenpac.org.
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
Amalfi's Restaurant146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1599
Fri. 8:30 p.m. The Dadz
Sat. 8:30 p.m. The Prophets
Amarones Windsor Inn29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Fri. 8 p.m. Rick & Kenny
Sat. 8 p.m. Meg Hanson Group feat. Billy Hill
Blend Bar & Bistro911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
Backstage at Championship Bar 931 Chambers St. Trenton
Fri. 7 p.m. "Pizza Hustle Hip Hop" Presents: Real Rude Dude Girl, Condition Oakland, TMSFE, Tusko, Wade Wilson, Vulture Peak, Crack Filler, From Philly, Honah Lee, Molly Rhythm. Ages 21+, $7
Sat. 5 p.m. Beneath Polaris, Broken By Chance, Yorkshire Tenth, Rocket Silence, Cut The Act, Kylan Hillman, Broken Angels. All ages, $10
Sun. 4 p.m.Eyes Set To Kill, One-Eyed Doll, Open Your Eyes, The Things They Carried, Empire Fallen, To Vanish Tomorrow, Misery Loves Company. All ages, $15/$18
Wed. 7 p.m. Matthew Charles, Joshua Adair, Stampy Goblyn, Pilot, Elissa Janelle Velveteen. Ages 21+ $6
Candlelight Lounge 24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Orrin Evans & Friends Birthday Show. $10 (cover charge)
Chickie's & Pete's183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Wed. 9 p.m. Quizzo Trivia
Dempster's Pub437 Pine Street Mount Holly
(609) 261-0500
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. DJ DNIAL
Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Chris
Dog & Bull Brew House810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Soul Kitchen
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. David Dzubinski Group. (9 p.m.) Faraway Guys
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. David Dzubinski Group. (9 p.m.) The Mix
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Keli Vale Jazz. (3 p.m.) Jay Regan
Mon. 8 p.m. The Keith Lesnik Trio
Wed. 8 p.m. Joe Robinson
Fran's Pub116 S. Main St. New Hope, PA.
(215)862-5539
Sat. 8 p.m. Ja-Tun & Random Acts of Soul
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows 21+
Glory Days Tavern1200 Hornberger Ave. Roebling
(609) 499-0896
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 8 p.m. Sandy Zio & Kim Yarson
Halo Pub4617 Nottingham Way, Hamilton
(609) 586-1811
Sat. 7 p.m. Deb & Mike
Havana New Hope105 S. Main Street. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Bigg Romeo
Sun. (1 p.m.) Midnight Sun Orchestra (6 p.m.) JB Kline
Tues. 8 p.m. John Waite / Kathryn Dean. Doors at 6 p.m., Limited reserved seating $40, VIP Meet & Greet $70.
Tues. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Hopewell Valley Vineyards46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Fri. 6 p.m. Roundabout
Sun. 2 p.m."Jazzy Sundays" feat. Hazelrigg Brothers
Ivy Tavern 3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 10 p.m. The Ernie White Band
Sat. 10 p.m. Mr. Lucky
All shows 21+
John & Peter's 96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 9 p.m. Glitter, Tim Tam & The Cannon Band
Fri. 9 p.m. Stinking Lizaveta, St. James & the Apostles, The Workhorse III
Sat. (3 p.m.) Modzilla (9 p.m.) The Mixxtape, Wineskin, John Beacher
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Laurita Winery85 Archertown Road, New Egypt
(609) 752-0200
Sat. 1 p.m. The Ragtime Relics
Sun. 1 p.m. John & Maggs
McStews Irish Sports Pub5316 New Falls Rd Levittown, PA
(215) 949-9570
Thurs. 10:30 p.m."Beer Pong" w/ DJ Codie
Fri. 10 p.m. Fish Out Of Water
Sat. 7 p.m. "First Annual Lip Synch Battle" $10
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzo hosted by Mike
Millhill Basement300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Check web site for upcoming shows
O'Connor's American Bar & Grille1383 Monmouth Road, Easthampton Mt. Holly
(609) 261-1555
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Dave Murray Duo
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Class A Kings
Olde Liberty Tavern2114 Liberty Street, Trenton
(609) 396-2262
Sat. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Palermo's Of Hamilton310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 8 p.m. Just Us
Sat. 8 p.m. Raven Rock Rounder
Randy Now's Man Cave134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Check Web Site for Upcoming Events
RHO Waterfront50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 10 p.m. "College Night" w/ DJ Paul Desisto. Doors at 9 p.m. Ages 21+
Fri. (4:30 p.m.) Happy Hour Buffet. $10 (8:30 p.m.) Grace Little Band
Sat. 9 p.m. Dance Party
Tara's Tavern 1 Cookstown-New Egypt Road, Wrightstown
(609) 286-2300
Thurs. 9 p.m. Out Of The Red Acoustic
Fri. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Big Daddy G
Sat. 10 p.m. No Direction
Tavern On The Lake101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. ArHouse
Sat. 9 p.m. Kick Back
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Corner House Tavern24509 E. Main St., Columbus
(609) 298-8543
Sat. 9 p.m. Deep Release
The HOB Tavern146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
The Ivy Inn248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. DJ Fatha Ramzee
Sat. 10 p.m. Jam Lab
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 10 p.m. "Wednesday Wheel Night Spin To Win Karaoke" w/ DJ Rockn Ron
The Record Collector 358 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Fri. 8 p.m. My darling Clementine / Jet Weston & His Atomic Ranch Hands. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (advance)
Sat. 8 p.m. "Little Steven's Underground Garage Party" Hosted by Bill Kelly w/ Soraia, Jeremy & the Harlequins, Kris Rodgers & The Dirty gems. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $20 (advance)
The Roost 181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-0050
Fri. 9 p.m. 80's Undercover
Sat. 9 p.m. Ned & The Groundhogs
The Sticky Wicket 2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. (TBA)
Sat. 9 p.m. (TBA)
The Sun National Bank Center 81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check website for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog 1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Oliver McElhone
Sun. 3 p.m. "Irish Sessions" w/ Kathy D'Angelo & Dennis Gormley
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz702 Pine St. Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Fri. 8 p.m. Live Band & Open Mic.
Trenton Social449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Fri. 4 p.m. First Friday: "Moving Pictures: Abstracts In Motion" by Kat Liao
Mon. 9 p.m. Monday Night Karaoke w/ Benny P
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Bellas Bartok ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Sassafraz ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night (Sign ups 6:30 p.m. at hostess stand)
Tues. 9 p.m. Live band Karaoke
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock
All shows 21+
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
