Loew's move into rock a rolling success

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: : Loew's move into rock a rolling success : 02/18/02 : By Michaelangelo Conte : Journal staff writer : : Jersey City's historic Loew's Jersey Theater made its first foray into the world of rock-and-roll on Friday, and the sold-out show, held in its majestic lobby, may help boost the Journal Square venue's renaissance as an entertainment center. : More than 250 fans paid $7 to attended the Friends of the Loew's first "Rockin' in the Lobby" concert to hear three independent label bands perform amid the columns, galleries and gilded gold leaf beneath the lobby's three-story-high, vaulted ceiling. : Just after 9 p.m., "Sparrow" took the stage with its driving, electric rock 'n' roll sound and the crowd pressed up to the stage or against wrought iron railings on second floor balconies - where they were silhouetted by bare bulbs hanging behind them in the theater - which is still undergoing renovation. : Sparrow was followed by "Ted Leo and the Pharmacists," and by 11:20 p.m., headliner Calvin Johnson performed his solo, acoustic, often a cappella performance, which included chanting, singing in tongues and crooning ballads until 12:30 a.m. : The concert was the brainchild of Jersey City resident Dylan Evans, who lives blocks from the theater and works in television production. : "It seemed like the perfect place for a concert, especially because there really aren't a lot of social options for people in Jersey City," said Evans, who also booked the bands and coordinated the advertising, which included posters along PATH stops in Hoboken and Manhattan. : Evans said he searched for bands with style, who would not "draw people who would try to destroy the place. I wanted to bring in more literate, smart music lovers." He added that he is ready to book more performances if given a green light. : FOL President Colin Egan said he would like nothing more than to hold more lobby concerts, working around the ongoing renovations. Before the show, Egan said he would be pleased if 50 people showed, but by evening's end, he dubbed the event "a big success at capitalizing on the theater's proximity to the Journal Square PATH." : While smoking under the lights of the theater marquee with the sound of music drifting onto the Square through the theater's double row of brass doors, Ray Flores of Grove Street called the concert "brilliant." : "I think it's great to get some art up here, bring some life to the scene and get people involved," Flores said. : Chris Ronis of Manhattan found his way to the show after seeing an advertisement in a New York City record store. : "I really think this can fly because the place is gorgeous and it's so easy to get to," said Ronis. : Even headliner Calvin Johnson was wooed by the theater's grandeur and before taking the stage he danced with others on the red carpeted stairs which arc upward from either side of the lobby. : "I feel so much more comfortable in a room like this compared to a sterile concert hall," said Johnson. : He opened his performance saying, "It was very exciting to drive up and see my name in lights on the marquee. Usually, places I play don't have marquees."

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