By Danny Coleman
originally published: 11/09/2017

"I think," says Mike Reukberg who comprises one half of the retro-sounding band known as The Red Button. "I think we are rock's greatest odd couple. We don't agree on much but we do agree on music!"

"I was finishing up a solo CD in the studio and there was Mike just hanging out and we just got into a conversation about music," elaborated the other half; Seth Swirsky. "We both love the three minute pop songs and thought we can't do this. Then we thought, we both listen to and love music ranging from Smokey Robinson to Celine Dion; yes we can. I mean; why not? I've written songs for Taylor Dayne ("Tell it to My Heart"), Rufus Wainwright ("Instant Pleasure"), Tina Turner and Al Green as well as three bestselling books about baseball and I've made a documentary called, "Beatles Stories;" I think we can write some pop songs (laughs)." 

So the duo set out to write the music that they enjoyed and in 2007 they released their first album called, "She's About To Cross My Mind." The album won, "Album of The Year" in many music polls which led them to release a second effort, 2011's, "As Far As Yesterday Goes." 

"Mike and I didn't want to be The Ruttles," said Swirsky. We are both good at writing the three minute pop songs so that's where we went to work. I brought the pretty stuff and he usually dirtied it up (laughs). Me personally, I want to make a melody that you can't get out of your head." 

"Seth and I bonded immediately," says Reukberg. "I heard his record before I ever actually met him and he was singing with an English accent; I think I made fun of him (laughs). Then we both discovered our love of the Beatles and we got into a deep discussion about, "Lady Madonna," we were like a couple of Talmudic rabbis" and as he laughed even more loudly about his analogy he went on to summarize his take on the band; "This is where we indulge ourselves, we get to go British." 

 

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 Swirsky wholeheartedly agrees with his partner and both he and Reukberg are ecstatic with what they've achieved thus far and are very excited about the recent release of their latest two CD set called, "Now It's All This," featuring 33 tracks of re-mastered previous releases, six new songs and four "Unplugged Rarities." 

"Marty Scott over at Jem Records is really the one to thank for this," said an appreciative Swirsky. "We had a bunch of songs recorded and wanted to get them out there, you know, to give our fans the latest and greatest (laughs); we just felt that it was time. Our first record sold like 15,000 copies and that came out of the blue and took us by surprise. We then figured, OK, maybe we've got something here so we made another one and this one revisits some of each and some new tracks with some surprises; we really like it." 

Even though they've both had behind the scenes success, Swirsky writing for others and Reukberg on Geffen Records with a previous band, greeting card music, film scores and TV soundtracks, as Swirsky explained, they are quite dedicated to the product which they produce for the public. "We pride ourselves on the fact that nothing is filler. We don't just write songs to take up space on an album. When we write, we write with the intention of being really good, we never say, yeah OK that's close enough because this is what we love to do and we do it the best that we can all of the time. Albums are a lot of work, in spite of all of the dangers of putting one out, we just do it and I think it's because Mike and I have a real passion for what we do. We just want people to feel good and to us that is the coolest thing." 

Favored sons on, "Little Steven's Underground Garage" radio program and with their material featured on shows such as, "Family Guy" and various satellite radio channels, you'd think they might be used to hearing themselves by now; or are they? "I was listening to the Sirius XM channel, "The Loft" one day and suddenly I heard our single, "Can't Let Candy Go" and it's very satisfying. I love hearing our music or anyone's music who we've been involved with over the car radio or in a hotel lobby, elevator or wherever; it really never gets old." 

To discover more about The Red Button, please go to www.theredbutton.com. 

That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!

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This week's event listings

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Bill's Olde Tavern
2694 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-0192
Thurs. 9 p.m. Trivia
Wed. 9 p.m. Karaoke Contest (Cash prizes) 
Ages 21+ 

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Blend Bar & Bistro
911 Highway 33 Hamilton 
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Trivia  Jam
Wed. 7 p.m.  Open Mic. Hosted by Shaun Ruymen

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Bowman's Tavern
1600 River Road New Hope, PA
(215) 862-2972
Thurs. 6 p.m. Glenn McClelland Trio
Fri. 8 p.m. Bob Egan
Sat. 7 p.m. David Dales Trio
Sun. (12 p.m.) Brunch With Ottmar (6 p.m.) Lorenzo
Mon. 6 p.m. Andy Prescott
Tues. 6 p.m. Tony Alosi
Wed. 6 p.m. Lorenzo

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Brickwall Tavern & Dining Room
19 E. Union Street Burlington
(609) 733-3562
Sat. 9 p.m. Dull Blue Lights

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Candlelight Lounge 
24 Passaic Street Trenton
(609) 695-9612
 Sat. 3 p.m. (TBA) $10 (cover charge/$10 Minimum includes buffet) 
Tues. 6 p.m. "Tuesday Jazz Jam" Open Session feat. James Stewart / Tom Littwin Trios. $5 (Lite appetizers)

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Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night
Wed. 9 p.m. Quizzo Trivia 

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City Streets 
510 Highway 130 South East Windsor
(609) 426-9400
Sat. 9 p.m. Branded Ink Society
Mon. 9 p.m. "Malibu Mondays" w/ DJ Brett Gash
Tues. 9 p.m. Trivia w/ Jessie & Chelsea
Wed. 6:30 p.m. "Wine Down Wednesdays" w/ Rich Genoval

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COARadio.com 
Main Street Hightstown 
(609) 241-7103
Sun. 7 p.m. "Rock On Radio" feat. Robert Agnello

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Dadz Bar & Grill
744 Main Street Lumberton
(609) 267-4344
Thurs. 9 p.m. DJ Jason Byrd / "Beer Pong Tournament"
Fri. 10 p.m. Steamboat Annie
Sat. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Dubbs
Sun. 4 p.m. Al Snyder
Tues. 8 p.m. "Game Night"
Wed. 9 p.m. Karaoke w/ Superstar Entertainment

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Dog & Bull Brew House
810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Mike Smith
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Funky Friday Funk Music (9 p.m.) Jake Bracey
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch" feat. Michael Leggerie (9 p.m.) Kevin Toft & The Alternators
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Keli Vale (4 p.m.) Nytrous
Wed. 8 p.m. Jay Regan

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Fran's Pub
116 South Main Street New Hope, PA
(215) 862-5539
Fri. 8 p.m. Honey Spot Blvd. 

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Freddies Tavern
12 Railroad Avenue Ewing
(609) 882-0978
Fri. 8 p.m. Judge and Jury
Sat. 8 p.m. JB Rocks
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic. Hosted by Joe Vadala

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Grover's Mill Coffee House
Princeton-Hightstown Road Princeton Junction
(609) 716-8771
Thurs. 7 p.m. Open Mic. Hosted by Anker

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Havana New Hope
105 S. Main Street New Hope, PA. 
(215) 862-9897
Fri. (8 p.m.) "An Evening with Kate Taylor." Doors at 6 p.m., $20 (10:30 a.m.) DJ Dance Party
Sat. (8:30 p.m.) Coast 2 Coast (12 a.m.) DJ Dance Party
Sun. 8:30 p.m. Blackfoot feat. Ricky Medlocke. Ages 21+, Doors at 6:30 p.m., $40 (Advance)
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Wed. 8 p.m. "Local Original Music" Hosted by Pat Foran feat. Lisa Bonner

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Hopewell Valley Bistro & Inn
15 East Broad Street Hopewell
(609) 466-9889
Fri. 8 p.m. Open Mic. Night

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Hopewell Valley Vineyards
46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Thurs. 6 p.m. Victor Tarrasov
Fri. 6 p.m. Acoustic Road
Sat. 6 p.m. Roundabout
Sun. (2 p.m.) "Jazzy Sundays" feat. Al Oliver (5 p.m.) Yoga Class and a Glass. $20 (Advance)

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Hurricane Jacks Bar and Grill
7759 New Falls Road Levittown, PA
(267) 914-4517
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke w/ Paul Kircher
Tues. 9 p.m. Karaoke w/ Paula & Sam

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Iron Plow Vineyards
26750 Mount Pleasant Road Columbus
(732) 306-9111
Fri. 6 p.m. Lauren Marsh
Sat. 2 p.m. Jerry Steele
Sun. 2 p.m. Terry Rivel

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Ivy Tavern 
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 9 p.m. El Ka Bong
Sat. 9 p.m. Smoked Ice
All shows 21+

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Jake's Eatery 
869 Bustleton Pike Richboro, PA
(215) 322-6787
Sat. 9 p.m. John & Maggs
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Mic Hosted by Bob Tomlinson
Wed. 8 p.m. Trivia Night

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John & Peter's 
96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 9 p.m. Room For Mojo
Fri. 9 p.m. The Mike Montrey Band / Jonathan Tea
Sat. (3 p.m.) Dirty Soap Blues Band (9 p.m.) Mister Revelator
Sun. (3 p.m.) Ellie Spy (9:30 p.m.) Jason Trzaska
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic.
Tues. 9 p.m. The Paper Jets
Wed. 9 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+

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Killarney's Publick House
1644 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 586-1166
Sat. 5 p.m. "Fire Pit Party"

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Laurita Winery
85 Archertown Road New Egypt
(609) 752-0200
Thurs. 7 p.m. "Laurita Fall Singing Showcase"  Junior Idol Tryouts
Sat. "Veterans Day Food Truck Festival Weekend" (11 a.m.) Raw Sugar (2 p.m.) Fast Forward 80's (6 p.m.) The Snakes
Sun. "Veterans Day Food Truck Festival Weekend" (11 a.m.) 80's Undercover (1:30 p.m.) Nash East (5 p.m.) The Funktion
Wed. 6 p.m. Girls Night Out "Cornucopia Cupcake Class"

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Mamma Rosa's 
572 Klockner Road Hamilton 
(609) 588-5454
Thurs. 6 p.m. Open Mic. Hosted by Richard Schneider 

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McGuinn's Place
1781 Brunswick Avenue Lawrence
(609) 392-0599
Sat. 9 p.m. Domino Domino
Tues. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Ages 21+

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McStews Irish Sports Pub
5316 New Falls Road Levittown, PA
(215) 949-9570
Thurs. 10:30 p.m."Beer Pong" w/ DJ RV & MC Slim
Fri. 10 p.m. "Frisky Fridays" w/ DJ Favs. & MC Fredo Ages 21+
Sat. 9 p.m. The Fredz / Bottomz Up
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzo hosted by Mike

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Mill Hill Amphitheater
Mill Hill Park (Corner of East Front & South Broad Streets) Trenton
Thurs. 6 p.m. Tim & Dim

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Millhill Basement
300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Sat. 9 p.m. Goddamnit, Alpha Rabbits, The Warhawks, Teenage Bigfoot. $10
Tues. 10 p.m. "Local Artist" Hip Hop, Experimental EDM and Bass Music Showcase 

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New Hope Winery
6123 Lower York Road New Hope, PA
(215) 794-2331
Fri. 8 p.m. The English Beat. Doors at 7 p.m., $45
Sat. 8 p.m. A Tribute to The Rolling Stones w/ Classic Stones Live. Doors at 7 p.m., $30

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Nook's PourHouse
2043 Route 130 South Florence
(609) 447-0927
Tues. 8 p.m. Trivia Tuesday w/ Quizoholics

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Nottingham Tavern
9 Mercer Street Hamilton Square
(609) 587-6623
Thurs. 7 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Super Dave
Sat. 9 p.m. Deep Release
Wed. 5 p.m. "Weekend Warm-up" w/ DJ Chris Barlow
Ages 21+

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Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Road Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21 +

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Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Avenue Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Running With Scissors
Wed. 9 p.m. Karaoke

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Randy Now's Man Cave
134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Sun. 5 p.m. Kepi Ghouhlie & Vic Ruggerio. All ages, $12

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Rossi's Bar and Grill
2110 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 890-2004
Thurs. 7 p.m. Ernie White

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Salt Creek Grille
1 Rockingham Row Princeton
(609) 419-4200
Fri. 8 p.m. Paul Plumeri Blues Band
Sat. 8 p.m. Charles Clarke

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Small World Coffee
14 Witherspoon Street Princeton 
(609) 924-4377 x2
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Dan Kassel
Sun. 7 p.m. Princeton Bluegrass Jam

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1867 Sanctuary 
101 Scotch Road Ewing
(609) 392-6409
Fri. 8 p.m. Ben Rosenblum & Deborah Davis. $20
Sat. (3 p.m.) H.T Burleigh Tribute Benefit w/ Harlem Opera Theater. $20 (8 p.m.) Solo & Chamber Music Concert Series. $20
Sun. 2 p.m. "1867 History and Architecture Presentation"
Wed. 8 p.m. "Soloist Live" feat. Patrick Bamburak & Chris Kudela

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Tara's Tavern 
1 Cookstown-New Egypt Road, Wrightstown
(609) 286-2300
Fri. 10 p.m. Drunken Clams
Sat. 10 p.m. Psycho Misfits

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Tavern On The Lake
101 Main Street Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. (TBA)
Sat. 9 p.m. Quartet Of Catastrophe
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night

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Temperance House
5 South State Street Newtown, PA
(215) 944-8050
Fri. 7 p.m. John & Maggs

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The Cool Cricket
216 Burlington Street Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. Asylum Choir

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The HOB Tavern
146 Second Street Bordentown
(609) 291-7020
Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Entertainment
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Wed. 8 p.m. Deb & Mike

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The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau Street Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Rockin' Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. Diablo Sandwich Band
Sat. 10 p.m. Stereo 87
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 10 p.m. "Wednesday Wheel Night Spin To Win Karaoke" w/ DJ Rockn Ron

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The Pines Tavern
6217 North Radcliffe Street Bristol, PA
(215) 788-1659
Fri. 4 p.m. Brian V.
Sat. 9 p.m. Vermilion
Sun. 3 p.m. Open Mic. Hosted by Bill Monach Jr.

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The Raven 
385 West Bridge Street New Hope, PA
(215) 862-2081
Thurs. (5 p.m.) Russell Eiffert (8 p.m.) Will & Grace Viewing Party (10 p.m.) All Male Revue
Fri. (9 p.m.) Michael Ferreri (10 p.m.) DJ Dance Party
Sat. (5 p.m.) Russell Eiffert (10 p.m.) DJ Dance Party
Tues. 8 p.m. "Bearlesque In The Oak Room"
Wed. 7 p.m. Bob Egan

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The Record Collector
358 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Sat. 8 p.m. Frank Viele Trio / Avario. All ages, Doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (Advance)

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The Roost 
181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-0050 
Sat. 9 p.m. El Ka Bong

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The Sticky Wicket 
2465 South Broad Street Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Thurs. 9 p.m. "Throwback Thursday" w/ DJ Chillio
Fri. 9 p.m. (TBA)
Sat. 9 p.m. The Drunk Monkeys
Tues. 7 p.m. Karaoke

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The Sun National Bank Center 
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check website for upcoming events

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Third State Brewing
352 High Street Burlington
(609) 387-1620
Fri. 7 p.m. Open Mic Night Hosted by John Johnson

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Tir Na Nog 
1324 Hamilton Avenue Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Mike Brill
Tues. 9 p.m. Trivia
Wed. 9 p.m. Open Mic Hosted by Paul Wiese
All shows  21+

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Trenton Buzz
702 Pine Street Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Fri. 8 p.m. Live Band & Open Mic. 

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Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8 p.m. "Audio History of Funk and Soul" w/ Professor DJ Tangency
Sat. 7 p.m. "Zen That Beat" Yoga w/ Cheryl Young scored to live music
Mon. 9 p.m. Monday Night Karaoke w/ Benny P
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic. Night w/ Benny

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Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m.  (TBA) $5 (cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Dylan Jane. $5 (cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Stage Night (Sign ups at 6:30 p.m.)
All shows 21+ 

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Triumph Brewing Company
138 Nassau Street Princeton
(609) 924-7855
Fri. 9 p.m. Jason Liberatore
All shows 21+

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Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Road Pennington
(609) 773-2392
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. Ernie White
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock Night
Mon. 9 p.m. "Moonshine Mondays" Trivia
Tues. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson
Ages 21+

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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.

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