What do you get when you take three funny guys who also happen to be talented musicians and singers? You get a tremendous three-piece comedy band.
‘Lifetime Guarantee’
Jim English, Darrin Hall, and Justin Janosko, Jersey City residents, formed the comedy band Lifetime Guarantee three years ago. The band’s first gig was at Oddfellows in Hoboken, at open mic night. They gained a following, which made it possible for them to play at The Whiskey Bar in Hoboken.
Then they entered the Battle of the Bands competition at the Whiskey Bar. They competed against 150 bands for best original band and won first place in August 2004. Scott Rush, one of the partners of Media 51, a managing company for bands, recently signed Lifetime Guarantee. Rush was impressed by the originality of the band and their commitment to the music.
“The band is very talented musically and yet very funny,” said Rush. “It’s like Crosby, Stills and Nash had a love child with Robin Williams.”
John Seymour, the producer of Media 51, is working with the band on their first professional album. Seymour, who is a Grammy Award winning producer, thinks the band has mass market appeal. “These guys are not only funny, they are extremely talented musicians,” said Seymour, “and they have the potential to take musical comedy to a new level.”
The comedy clubs
After winning the contest, the band began playing comedy venues in Manhattan. They played at Carolines, Gotham Comedy Club, and Stand-Up NY. At Gotham Comedy Club, the trio played to a crowd of 150 people. English, who writes the music for the songs and plays keyboard, will sometimes work a song around one funny line. The band works hard to perfect the three-part harmony that is a signature of the songs. They perform from a set list, but the banter in between songs is all improv. The hardest part while singing is to get the words out without laughing. They work off of each other during a set, with rapid quips.
“We are like a working man’s Neil Diamond,” said Janosko. “Darrin [Hall] does a great Neil Diamond impression,” said English. According to Janosko, who plays drums, a washboard, triangle, and cymbals, the best part of a show is when the audience laughs.
“People will come up to us and say, ‘You guys are really funny, but you sound really good,'” said Janosko. Hall, who plays guitar, said to fans, “We’re quite possibly the best three-piece comedy band in the world.” “I’ve never heard anyone better than me,” said English.
Future plans
One of their new songs to be recorded is called Threw Up in My Mouth. According to English, people don’t get offended by songs with questionable lyrics because of the three-part harmony. They strive to create musically original songs that sound great paired up with the funny lyrics. In addition to the album, the band is starting to play the college circuit. In five years’ time they hope to have their own TV show and an even bigger fan base.
“We want to be the guys who hang out with their fans,” said Hall. English said that fans will say, “You won’t believe who I’m hanging out with right now.” But for now, they are busy with their album, the band’s website, and live performances. All three performers said performing in front of a live audience is the best part of their job. “Every show has been great,” said English.
Lifetime Guarantee will be performing at the Whiskey Bar in Hoboken on Tuesday, June 28 at 9 p.m. The trio can be booked for private parties. For more information: www.thelifetimeguarantee.com