Cover Band singer goes solo with first album
BY AMY KUPERINSKY Staff Writer - The Shopper News

Singer Dennis Zimmer is a 24/7 musician, dividing his time as a soloist, band member and developing recording artist.

Zimmer, a member of the successful cover band Big Orange Cone, is stepping out with his own sound, which he called a funky blend of rock 'n' roll. His performances have been honed by years of shows, both good and bad, but he said it's all for the best as his musical career continues to evolve.

A graduate of Wallington High School now in his late 20s, Zimmer started out as a drummer in his teens with his first band, Magic.

He majored in music at jersey City State College but left when he decided to devote more of his time to making music. Success came when he joined Big Orange Cone in 1997 as one of two front vocalists. In its seven years, the band has become a premiere cover group, gigging all over the state and region.

While he now performs as a solo artist with his own backing band, Zimmer still plays shows with Big Orange Cone.

"It's keeping me pretty busy." Zimmer said. "As a cover band you can't mess with us. We're a team?"

Other band members have pursued solo projects of their own, and everyone is equally supportive, he said.

Zimmer said his solo album, "In My Head," grew out of a desire to "take it a step further" and create an original sound. While Big Orange Cone decided to stick to covers and its largely successful style. Zimmer funneled his creative energies into a side project that . became a learning process in itself.

"I said maybe I've got some thing," Zimmer said. "At that point I started slowly purchasing recording equipment"

He assembled a recording studio in his mother's basement in Pompton Plains and created an album reflective of his musical influences, "a little more rock `n' roll" than Big Orange Cone, incorporating his love of the Rolling Stones, Prince, John Mellencamp, Lenny Kravitz and the Black Crows.

"I'm very funky," Zimmer said. "I'm a big Mick Jagger fan;"

Performing with a five-piece band including Walter Stacey of Big Orange Cone on bass guitar and two backup singers, Zimmer said lie is looking forward to developing a listening base at his shows.

"Right now there's been many curiosity seekers," many of whom recognize Zimmer from Big Orange Cone, he said. "It takes them a while to get used to your originals. Patience is a powerful thing."

"I get an easier shot than some because of just seven years of paying dues'" Zimmer said, noting he knows he'll have to keep at it to connect with fans. "I'm a big believer of you've just got to get yourself in and do it"

Zimmer attributed Big Orange Cone's success to luck and timing, along with having two front men and a dynamic group chemistry.

"We connected as a band and we connected with the people," Zimmer said. "There are some bands out there that don't connect."

Zimmer's experience touring with a successful band for years has shown him the value of the long haul, he said: "The school of hard learning, bad gigs and good gigs."

With the help of friend turned business associate Ken Shane, Zimmer has performed his solo work along with his band at venues including the Stone Pony in Asbury Park - one of the good gigs.

"There was energy on that stage,' he said. "They treated me very

Zimmer said New York City Would be a big step forward for shows, but he's in no rush. For one, he still has to spread his funky rock around venues in Hoboken, where he will play this month.

"Might as well start my buzz in Hoboken, it's right on the cusp," he said.
The big city across the river and the possibility of going completely solo if an opportunity knocks both remain hypothetical for now, he said.

"I will cross that bridge when I come to it," he said.

That doesn't mean the soloist can rest. though. Zimmer is working on a second album for what he anticipates will be a summer release.

He can be seen at 9:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Maxwell's, 1039 Washington St. in Hoboken and 9:30 p.m. Feb 9 at the Whiskey Bar 125 Washington St. in Hoboken where he will play Wednesdays through April.
 

Dennis Zimmer Is Singing A Different Song
By Gary Wien

There's something interesting going on in the world of New Jersey cover bands. Several of the most popular groups are taking a break from performing Bon Jovi classics in front of their usual throngs of fans. Instead, they're finding themselves in clubs where a couple dozen people could be called a good night. In other words, they're taking a stab at the original music scene.

Two of the major players in this movement include the popular bands Big Orange Cone and The Benjamins. The former currently has front man Dennis Zimmer touring under his own name in support of his debut CD as well as members playing in the band Full Out Freak. The latter has decided to mix original music shows within the band's schedule.

Historically, fans of NJ cover bands have not show support for local original music. Dennis Zimmer hopes to slowly change that, and in fact, at his early shows there are signs that he's making some inroads. His performances at venues like Stingers (Long Branch) and the Stone Pony (Asbury Park) won over new fans and led to return bookings. Upstage talked with Dennis before a show in Asbury Park about going the original route.

You're used to playing in front of hundreds and thousands of people, why take a chance at playing to dozens?  - Desire, just desire. It's the challenge. I want to breathe a little bit and have some fun. I've had plenty of fun and still am having fun with Big Orange Cone, but it's just desire. During the day I have a lot of time to write, so I've been sitting down in that basement and spending a lot of time creating music. It's fun.

There's a vision that I've had. I'm a huge Black Crows fan, huge Stones fan, Lenny Kravitz - I just always loved the way a rock and roll band with a couple of girls in the back looked. And to have this vision and watch it come together. It felt so good to have this picture in my mind out there.

For a while it's going to fall on some deaf ears, but I think it'll turn around.

What was it like during that first show at Stinger's? You're used to seeing that flood of people in front of you. What was it like to play again for a dozen or so? - It felt great! I was so excited about it. It's a new challenge.

Is that how you felt about making your debut album?
Yeah, every step in the process of getting it out there is exciting. It's exciting despite these small crowds. And I'm definitely coming out at a tough time. The first show was in the middle of November; the second show was the end of November; the third show is two weeks before Christmas. It's a tough time to launch. I think some of those Cone people will get on it eventually. They'll come check it out - out of curiosity.

Can you build on the Cone audience or do you think that they're two separate audiences? - I'll have a few curiosity seekers and some die hards that will be interested. There definitely will be a small infiltration of Cone people, but I'm not expecting the masses to come over because they want to hear us play Bon Jovi and Blink 182. I'll get some, but I'm not expecting the masses.

But let's call a spade a spade. If Big Orange Cone was playing a Wednesday night at the Stone Pony in the middle of a freezing night two weeks before Christmas, I don't think we'd be doing all that great anyway. And that's another reason it's tough because I have to do it on the nights that people don't like to go out. But I have no choice, the Cone takes precedent right now.

So will you be doing Cone shows while trying to squeeze in original shows here and there? - Yeah, well that's my plan - pursue them side by side. I know what I have with the tone and I'm not going to screw that up. It's a great thing we've built.

Like Big Orange Cone, another big cover band in the Benjamins have started doing original shows now. Is there any particular reason why this is happening now? Or is it just coincidence? - That's a great question. I don't know. Maybe it's just a gut feeling.

Sort of like maybe the time is right? - The ship may turn because in the early 90s it was all about girls flocking to original bands now they flock to cover bands.

Now the Benjamins are going out as the Benjamins. The only confusion they're going to run into is if they say The Benjamins at the Stone Pony; people may come here hoping to hear them play Bon Jovi perhaps. I've gone completely separate. Big Orange Cone/ Dennis Zimmer -one's cover and one's original. The Benjamins may draw but people may be wondering where the Bon Jovi songs are. They have to really specify that this is an original show.

I guess ifs just gut. It seems that lately the gut tells us to get on it... to get something going.

You can hear tracks from Dennis Zimmer's debut record, in My Head, and see where he's playing at his official website www.denniszimmer.com
 

System Black Dog Studios Interview - Click Here
 

Breakers - By Cynthia Van Wert
The Sandpaper - 8/11/04

Speaking of the heart or anything having to do with love, Dennis Zimmer, the other front man of Big Orange Cone, is the dashing, James Deanesque man whom every woman hopes to encounter in her lifetime. With his good looks, shy demeanor and talent, he made every female in the audience smile from ear to ear- and all those ears thoroughly enjoyed what they were hearing every time Zimmer opened his mouth to sing.

Zimmer had a smooth tone to his voice, but could also edge out those rock 'n' roll tunes alongside Harrington. Like his sidekick, Zimmer has also made time to write and record his original work which can be heard on his website,  www.DennisZimmer.com. His CD, In My Head, was his way to depart from the group and show that with or without the backdrop of a band, he's one big blaze of talent. This Nick Lache look-alike worked well with Harrington's rugged image. While Zimmer was no pretty-boy with his ink-drenched tattoos encompassing his right shoulder, he remained the nice- guy of the group. His Abercrombie and Fitch jersey may have had #67 on it, but-he was surely #1.
 

Local Noise - Aquarian Weekly - 8/18/04
Solo In Good Company - by Hal B. Selzer



Big Orange Cone is one of the leading club bands on the Jersey scene these days, regularly packing clubs at the shore all summer long. And band visionary Dennis Zimmer is the focal point, acting as MC for the crowds coming out to party with the group.

But there is another side to Dennis, which is evident as he steps out on his own with a new solo CD, In My Head. The album is a great collection of rock and pop, ranging from funky rhythms and horn driven rock to straightforward, radio-ready, hook laden pop songs. "I would like to just call it rock and roll," says Dennis "But I know these days you have to narrow it down even more than that. So then I guess I would have to say it's more pop than anything else."

While he played most of the instruments himself, Dennis called on some of his friends from the Jersey music circuit to help with the recordings. "I played everything on the CD except guitar," he relates. "The guitars players I used are Steve 'Maz' Mazza of 40 Ft. Ringo, and Abe `Rui' Ruiz, formerly of The Benjamins. All of the other instruments played on the CD except the drums and guitars were done with keyboards."



As far as the recording process, Dennis took things into his own hands. "I produced and engineered the CD myself," he says. "With some good equipment advice from my Big Orange Cone soundman Vinnie Cupo, and additional advice from John Samuel at Guitar Center. I bought some of the right gear, and put together a pretty tight home studio. The rest was done with heart, soul and instinct. And some motivational guidance from my good friend Ken Shane."

While fans of. Big Orange Cone might associate Dennis with their alternative rock sounds, Dennis has a wide ranging musical taste. "My musical influences, of course, vary greatly. .. from a musical songwriting standpoint, I am influenced by Lenny Kravitz, Mick Jagger, Phil Collins, Prince, David Bowie when he got a little more pop, Robert Palmer, INXS, the list goes on. I tend to like the stuff with a big beat, I guess because I started out as a drummer. As a frontman the influences are a little different. Scott Wieland, Chris Robinson, Mick Jagger, Josh Todd of Buckcherry, and of course Steven Tyler, seem to round out the top five for me."

Dennis does plan on bringing the band out for live shows in the near future. "As a matter of fact, rehearsals have just recently begun," he explains. "So I guess September would be a good time to start playing out. And with the Big Orange Cone schedule as crazy as it is, I'm sure most shows are gonna be earlier in the week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday type deals in NYC, Hoboken, and wherever else they might have some original music nights." Currently the line-up for the band will include Steve on guitar, Abe on guitar, Jimmy Kennedy on bass, Damon Weber on drums, Chris D'Amico on keys, and Angela Esposito on percussion and backing vocals.

As far as his compatriots in Big Orange Cone, there are no problems over a conflict of priorities. "The members of BOC are very supportive of the solo efforts, as they are involved in solo efforts themselves," says Dennis. "Will and Joe are currently in a band together called `Full Out Freak; and Walter plays with Alex Haven. Eddie is the only one currently not in an original project, but I think he's looking."



Although the new CD is getting great reviews so far, Dennis is making no plans to break away from his successful stint with Big Orange Cone. "My goal is to build a successful career in the music business outside of, and/or alongside the success I already have with Big Orange Cone;' he says. "I am very grateful for what we have already built as Big Orange Cone, and I think I speak on behalf of all the guys in BOC when I say we plan to keep it that way for as long as possible. It has afforded us the freedom to do other things like writing, recording, and pursuing other aspects of our musical careers. So if something pans out as a writer/solo performer, so be it, but it would have to be a pretty big step for me to leave Cone. So in the meantime, I'll pursue them side by side."

For further information about Dennis and the new CD, check out his website at www.DennisZimmer.com, or contact him via e-mail at DZSITE@aol.com