Jim Robinson (Somerset, NJ):

For Jim's full bio, please read "History of the NJProghouse"

Musical Influences:
Kansas, Fates Warning, U2, Queensryche, King Crimson, Johnny Cash, Chuck Mangione, Bob Dylan, Alice in Chains, Judas Priest, Rush, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Dixie Dregs, The Police.

Between playing music, and being involved within the music scene as a promoter, Jim considers it to be his greatest pleasure next to his family

Ray Loboda (Lewisberry, PA):

I've been a music lover since the tender age of two. My parents would put music on the turntable ( when they were used to play music and not used by rapper DJs) and I would rock myself into toddler oblivion. I bought my first prog album in 1971 (ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition) and I remember saying to myself, "This is the music that I like".

It's all good from there as I joined a prog band in high school doing some originals but mostly covers. Nektar's "Remember The Future" Part 1 was our showcase tune along with ELP, Yes and even some Robin Trower tunes. Those were great days.

Now, I'm a UPS driver with wonderful kids and the best wife a man could have. Noreen is a REAL prog lover, one helluva cook and my partner in all crimes.

As for my "staph" duties, some say I act like I own da place, but I'd prefer to say that I help coordinate some of the things that help take the strain off of Jim. I do whatever is required to help produce a great Proghouse show, be it beverage coordinator, merch, or just helping make sure the place is ready on show day.

Jon P. Yarger (West Caldwell, NJ):

I have been into Prog since age four (that darn Loboda has me beat by 2 years).

Having a much older brother with good musical tastes really helped. I remeber ELP's "Aquatarkus" off the "Welcome Back My Friends..." live album had me hooked. One could just imagine the look on the face of my kindergarten teachers face (and the class too) when I brought the album in for show & tell one day.

So I guess I would say my musical influences have to be: ELP, YES, Genesis, Rush, Pink Floyd, and the Next Wave Prog Acts like Spock's Beard, The Flower Kings, Neal Morse, Glass Hammer, Porcupine Tree, etc. etc...

I do the website for the Proghouse, as well as all the archival recordings, some accounting, and try to help Jim with whatever else needs to be done.

When not listening to prog I am usually sleeping.. but seriously I am an IT Director and a freelance consultant.

Alan Benjamin (Bridgewater, NJ):

Blessed with a mother who is both a talented composer and accomplished pianist, I grew up hearing all kinds of music from the very start. Begged my mom for piano lessons at age two, started at three, then moved to (classical) violin a few years later and eventually (rock) guitar as primary instruments. Significant influences along the way included (chronologically): Bach, Mike Oldfield, Queen, Rush, and Gentle Giant. Joined the distinguished league of Berklee dropouts while still 16 and made a living playing in a Philly-based FM top-40 cover band for nearly a year and a half a short time later. By age 20, though, decided it best to pursue a technology-related career--a decision which also provided the artistic freedom to make music the way I really wanted, without any sense of compromise whatsoever.

Moved to New Jersey in 1987, formed Advent two years later, and joined (the reunited) Mirthrandir in 2005. Along with my beautiful wife, Amy, attended the wonderful "Central NJ Progressive Music Series" Flower Kings show in New Brunswick in September of 2001, followed by the very special IZZ (Proghouse) performance in January of 2003. Have been a regular ever since and can't really remember a time where I haven't felt like part of the family. (Thanks, guys!)

Amy Benjamin (Bridgewater, NJ):

I was 13 when the music of my older brother’s copy of Yes’ Fragile made its mark on me, and it was from that point forward when I began my love affair with the music I’d come to call “prog”. I begged my folks for a piano, as Rick Wakeman became a profound influence upon me, and I took lessons until college. My piano teacher said that I had the stuff to go to Berklee, but instead I went to Rutgers. The music scene there was nothing to sneeze at, however, and I immersed myself in playing on my own, playing with a couple of bands, going to show after show after show, and discovering musical worlds as-yet uncharted.

As fate would have it, I met Alan at a Glenn Alexander Group show in the basement of a seedy bar in downtown New Brunswick - not long after my four years of college in that town were done. I found him to be my soulmate in myriad ways, not the least of which was our common and fierce love for music. We got married, had a kid, and when I gave him permission to leave the house, he spent a fair amount of time at the schoolhouse in Metuchen. I watched from the wings for a little while before eventually stepping out to join him.

Over the last few years, my interest in the music and the scene in general has grown exponentially, and the Proghouse got to mattering more. I’d look to upcoming shows with great anticipation, and was never disappointed. What amazing talents, brought practically into my own backyard! As time went on, I found myself wanting not to just be a member of the audience, so I volunteered to sell merch for several of the acts – this was fun and I felt like I was giving a little bit back. It came as quite a pleasant surprise when Jim decided to bring me on as an official member of the “staph”. (I think he liked how neatly I stacked those CDs on the table. ;-))

Being a part of this group, who are committed to bringing to audiences much of the finest music on the planet, is such a great and honorable thing, and I’m proud of it. Some progressive-minded musician once said, “Music is the best” - and I agree wholeheartedly. Can’t wait for the next show!

Karl Eisenhart (Alburtis, PA):

Some have speculated that, like some people might need to tie a steak around their necks to get the family dog to play with them, I had to buy a PA system to get into a band. The truth is actually not too far off…

I first had the brilliant idea to try to be a big-time rock star while I was in college in the early nineties. Consequently, I’ve been playing around the Pennsylvania/New Jersey area in a variety of bands for the past 10 years with the usual result--growing more and more bitter and discouraged all the time. Which bands?? Well, let’s see…The Starlites, Twist of Fate, Red (an acoustic duo still available for your private party or seedy-dive bar.) Beef, Dread Pirate Roberts, Landslide (those last two are the same band), Gritz (a modern country band, also still available for your private party or seedy-dive bar) and Pinnacle (a Progressive rock trio with Greg Jones—the coffee guy—and Bill Fox—bass player/radio guy—still available for your private party, seedy dive bar or even a small house museum)(that’s a hint, Jim.)

(Check out the website at www.everything2xs.com.) (Enough parenthesis yet?) (They’re like subliminal messages) (Buy the Pinnacle CD, A Man’s Reach. You’ll love it.) (See?)

Along the way I started accumulating PA gear and learning how to use it simply to avoid being the victim of the deaf, drunk and clueless sound guys I had run into. I quickly found out that there was a demand for a sober soundman who actually knew what all of the knobs and lights in his rack were for, so the sound gigs rolled in. The problem was that I ended up running sound for some CRAPPY bands which got boring and frustrating. No matter WHAT I did, the band still sounded like doo-doo. (Sorry, guys, I don’t have a “talent” button over here.)

So I pretty much retired from hiring myself out as a sound guy and concentrated on playing.

Then came Jim Robinson. I’m not even really sure how everything got started. I guess I somehow managed to sweet talk him into letting me be the acoustic freak show opening act for a couple of his shows. After I did that, he needed a sound guy and asked me. Hmmmm…the chance to run sound for some of my favorite bands and some of the best musicians in the world HELL YES I WAS IN. It’s been a blast--both the actual sound man stuff and getting to meet so many progressive bands and so many of the cool, cool people who come to the shows.

And, so far, I haven’t been killed by anyone for screwing up the monitor mix, so I guess I’m doing okay.

mikE Emerson (Clifton, NJ):

first known exposure to prog was probably around the age of 19 (with rush's 'hold your fire' and 'a show of hands') and i've been infected ever since... =)

over the years, i've found some great music, met some great people and had some great experiences thanks to my love of music in general and my love of progressive music in particular...

all time faves: porcupine tree, dream theater, rush, spock's beard, transatlantic

current sanity level: 25% and falling =D

Bill Fox (Nazareth, PA):

Bill's motto is, "I love music," something that he can say in several languages.

He's in six bands where he sings, plays bass, guitar, synths, and saxophones.

These bands are:

• Pinnacle - Original Progressive Rock
• Pulse - Classic and Progressive Rock cover band
• Malarky - Modern Celtic music
• Xeroid Entity - Electronic Music Chamber Ensemble
• The Municipal Band of Allentown - A Community concert band

Bill's influences started with the Beatles and branched out from there. Just check out the song lists at the Pulse website for more influences. Bill is also a tech head who is a whiz with audio technologies.

Michelle Hansen (Fishkill, NY):

Mich was thrown head-long into the world of prog after meeting bony in mid-2003.
After experiencing the Proghouse Staph's passion for the shows they were presenting, she was more than happy to add her culinary talents into the mix, bolstering the Proghouse's reputation for the best "crew food" in the world!

Greg Jones is a man on a mission; he wants the entire world to experience the finest coffees available and will settle for nothing less.

In his fourteen year association with DALLIS BROS., a third generation family owned roaster in NY that the Wine Spectator called “one of the most respected names in the specialty coffee business”, Greg has mastered the essential skills of excellence in coffee preparation, taught the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Espresso classes and been granted the title of Estate Coffee Specialist by the grower of the Santa Lucia estate from Nicaragua, who said “Greg is the only man I’ve ever met with true passion for the subtleties and consistency of each of the single estates”.

When you consider that four of Greg’s customers have earned the prestigious Golden Cup award from the SCAA and that he once spent ten days working with one of them to identify and overcome a mysterious water problem that neither professional water testers nor the local utility company could explain, it is no wonder he is in demand for coffee tastings, lectures and training seminars.

Currently finishing a book about his experiences in the coffee business, he will always stop at a moment’s notice to talk to anyone about how they can have better tasting coffee.

Oh, and he likes Prog ;-)

Kenny Lesko (Hillsborough, NJ):

I was born.. I'm living right NOW.. and someday I'll be dead.

Sex: Yes

Favorite color: Black

Likes: Prog music, dental floss, Little Rascals, Greg J’s Coffee

Dislikes: Everything else

Music Influences: Beatles, ELP, Genesis, Yes, Tull, Marillion, King Crimson, etc.

Favorite TV show: Late night infomercials

Favorite movie: To Kill a Mockingbird

Last Book read: Green Eggs & Ham – Dr. Seuss

Favorite Quote: Maybe we ain’t us?

Life Philosophy: Stray Dogs That Live On the Highway Walk On Three Legs.

Pet Peeves: Questionnaires & Bio’s

"Bony" Marone (Fishkill, NY):

My first experience with one of J Rob's shows was The Flower Kings at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.(To this day, one of the best concerts I've ever attended)

Shortly thereafter I became a regular NJ Proghouse (before there officially was a "NJ Proghouse") attendee.So then, I figured, since I'm usually among the first to arrive and the last to leave, I might as well lend a hand...setting up chairs, loading in gear, etc.

Before you know it, I had become a de facto member of the Staph (before there officially was a "Staph"). Then, Ray printed up the infamous "Staph" t-shirts and the rest was......y'know.

I consider my involvement with this series (and all the hard work and long hours that goes with it) to be a privilege, and one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences of my life.

Support "Staph"

Shellyn Ganger
Mark Warfel
Beth Hannah
Adam Dorfman
Suzie Picard