b"originatedatCaf Meow,aSpringfield Avenuecoffeeshop whichclosedovera decade ago.Evenduringthe pandemic,theCu-cumbers have released music.Inthispar-ticular case, the songs werepulledfrom thedeskdrawersin ShoshkesandFrieds The Campfire Flies at Tierneys Tavern in Montclair, NJ, 2017.home. We are always L-R: John Baumgartner, Deena Shoshkes, Ed Seifert, Toni Baumgartner, Jon Fried, Matt Davis. Photo credit: Elizabethrecording. And so we Uva. wouldfinishthings and if they werent re-L-R: Jon Fried, Yuergen Renner, Deena Shoshkes, and John Williams performed at Rentleased, we threw them in the desk drawer, says Shoshkes. Their 2021 release is Party in 2016. Photo credit: John Niedzwiecki. aptly titled The Desk Drawer Tapes, a collection of a dozen songs that span their career between 1988-2005. And once again, the couple looked to a talented Maple-be Peter Tork [bassist for the Monkees], he says. My dad got me a bass and anwood neighbor to help them out.amp and I had my first gigs at age 10 playing Monkees covers. Scott Anthony, a mastering engineer who owns and runs Storybook Sound, But when it comes to influential bands that inspired Shoshkes and Fried,has worked on Cucumbers projects for some time. Hes a Renaissance man, theyre quick to tell a story about the Talking Heads. It was 1978 and theysays Shoshkes, who met Anthony when he was running sound at Maxwells in came and played Alumnae Hall [at Brown University], says Shoshkes. It wasthe 1990s. a revelation.Its really interesting because in the '90s, we saw the dawn of the internet, We realized that nerdy college people could write rock music, adds Fried.says Anthony. [The Cucumbers] smoothly made that transition from a pre-in-We were discovering punk and new wave. And we realized we could write ourternet identity to being available on the internet. Deena continued to write solo own songs. stuff, and I think staying active and keeping the community flag up has made it Since the formation of the band in the 1980s, Shoshkes and Fried have beeneasier for them.the consistent core of the band while being joined by an assortment of talentedFrieds writing career took off in his 40s, so he credits Shoshkes for being the musicians for recording and touring. That list includes Brian Hargrove, whoone to keep him playing music. The call to be a writer was too strong, says played bass for the band in 1984-1985. Hed later change his name to BrianFried. Ive only written a handful of songs in the last couple of decades, because Hardgroove and become the bass player for Public Enemy. Everybody broughtmy creative energies are in fiction writing. If Deena hadnt been out on the scene something special and wonderful, says Shoshkes. The most recent line-up in- and inviting me to back her up and hadnt introduced me to everybody in the cludes drummer and Maplewood resident Yuergen Renner as well as bass playerCampfire Flies, I wouldnt be making music today. I am so grateful.and South Orange resident John Williams. The couple have always worked closelyFounded almost five years ago, the Campfire Flies is a sextet which Shoshkes with music and recording collaborators in both Maplewood and South Orange. describes as a group of musicians living parallel lives. In addition to Shoshkes Cucumbers bassist John Williams invited Shoshkes and Fried to get in- and Fried, the band includes John Baumgartner, Toni Baumgartner, Matt Davis, volved in Maplewoodstock during the festivals earlier years. In addition to per- and Ed Seiferta gifted assemblage of seasoned Jersey musicians. And they credit forming as the Cucumbers, Shoshkes played the festival with another project ofFried and Shoshkes for their collaborative energy and deep generosity of spirit.hers called Deena & The Laughing Boys. Everybody in those days played inIve introduced new material to countless bands Ive been involved with over three or four bands, she says. the years and I always found it to be an almost painful experience, even when the Shoshkes and Fried also got involved with Rent Party, the live music seriesother folks were good friends or even family. Theres just something about intro-which donates its proceeds to fighting hunger. The couple credit Rent Partyducing a new musical idea to a group of people that puts you in a pretty vulner-founderChrisable place, says Speed the Plough co-founder and Campfire Flies member John Dickson for intro- Baumgartner. But thats never the case working with Jon and Deena. Theyre just ducing them to lo- so open to something new, so patient, so encouraging. While theyre known for cal bands. In turn,their pretty boundless energy, they both have a very deep understanding of how Shoshkesintro- music works, how parts come together, and how to help the song progress to duced Dickson toplaces you never would have imagined. Those are some rare gifts and Im always singer-songwritershappy to be on the receiving end. shewasworkingTo hear music by Deena Shoshkes, Jon Fried, and the with in a SaturdayCucumbers, scan this QR code to go to a Spotify playlist AfternoonSongcompiled for Matters Magazine readers.SwapthatsheDonnyLevitisawriterandMaplewoodresident. founded with Ma- HeistheauthorofRocknRollLies,10Stories.You plewood musicianAcoustic duo version of The Cucumbers: Deena Shoshkes andcanhearhimDJhisindierockandjazzshowson RebeccaTurner.Jon Fried by the Hudson River in Hoboken, 2011. Photo credit:BonePoolRadio.FollowhimonInstagram@undertheinfluenceradioand ThemusicseriesRobert Langdon. @kindofpoolradio.24/ matters magazine / winter 2022"