Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, sings second from left with Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame inductees the Flashcubes on Friday night at The Palace Theatre.
Before the hard-working members of new hall of fame band The Flashcubes were ready to call the Syracuse Area Music Awards officially over Friday night, they invited a good friend to the stage to sing with them for one last song.
SpongeBob SquarePants bounced up to perform.
Well, this being real life and not Nickelodeon, that would be Tom Kenny, the Syracuse native who’s well known for voicing that famous cartoon character from under the sea.
Kenny sang — in his own rocking voice — with Gary Frenay, Arty Lenin, Paul Armstrong and Tommy Allen while those left from a capacity crowd of 700 musicians and music lovers crowded to the space in front of the stage to dance.
A great time was had by all.
While Kenny was growing up in his native East Syracuse, you see, he loved to play music. He sang with a band called The Tearjerkers. He sang on many stages with many musicians. One of the groups he connected with was Syracuse’s power pop international phenom, The Flashcubes.
Kenny also was known as Tomcat back then, part of a pack of Syracuse comics that also included his friend since first grade, Bishop Grimes High School classmate Bobcat Goldthwait, who’s gone on to Hollywood fame, too.
Riding the SpongeBob SquarePants wave out west, Kenny made an music album singing as the undersea softie. He’s told me enthusiastically how starstruck he was riding around town and working with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
But on Friday night, he came home to rock, sweat a little, and have a great, big time connecting again to his roots.
The Sammys inside The Palace Theatre brought hustle and bustle to Syracuse’s James Street on Friday night.
It was a big ending to a happy night of awards and performances.
I carried my music reporter’s pad in the name of the Syracuse New Times, the Syracuse alternative weekly newspaper and web site for which I blog twice weekly about film.
They get first crack at my news story, which will be published in print and on syracusenewtimes.com Wednesday.
I’ll promote it here that morning with another photo and the link to my New Times story.
Here and now, though, I will tell you what it feels like to go up on stage while running a stoplight put up by a master of ceremonies.
I was part of the festivities, presenting the Best Pop award alongside Syracuse veteran musician Kate Kolb. Liz Nowak, Sammys chair, asked me earlier in the week if I could step in for an ailing presenter. While I was the music writer for the big daily until last year, I presented at least one award every Sammys, and two if they were in a pinch.
Last year, I presented the Brian Bourke Award for best new artist, named in honor of the music writer for The Syracuse Herald-Journal newspaper who died when his bicycle was struck by a van more than 20 years ago. And then I accepted the Founders Award, getting my own Sammy trophy for the 21 years I covered the scene before getting laid off by the big daily.
So, no biggie.
Except that MC Skip Murphy introduced Kolb as the sole presenter. When he saw me approaching with her, he said, “Oh, and Mark Bialczak. He’s not on my list.”
I presented with Kolb. Sir Magnus won the trophy.
Nobody jumped up from the wings and wrestled me from the stage.
Have you ever marched on even though somebody said you weren’t on the list?
Mark Bialczak 
Tommy and Bob opened for The Poptarts at the Firebarn in 1979 as The Squished Worms, doing a comedy set. Later Bob was our roadie for a bunch of gigs at the Firebarn and the Slide Inn. Tommy was also dating Cathy, our rhythm guitarist, and I eventually married one of The Tearjerkers, Dave Soule.
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Glorious days, it sounds like, for Syracuse music and more. Thanks for filling us in, Gael. I apprecitate it.
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..tom kenny playing with the ‘cubes had to be hella cool..I remember the scene back when..I played with the penetrators,then with my sin..there was dress code,the poptarts,the tearjerkers,distortion..my sin did a show at jabberwocky with tangled thought and the dead ducks with bobcat singing..never forgot that night
..keep doing your stuff,mark..
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Thanks for sharing those bands here, Curtis! Nice to have you stop by.
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omg, i had no idea about sponge bob’s other life. that is so hilarious about your award, makes it even more special. congrats, mark )
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I know, isn’t it great that the voice of SpongeBob is an accomplished comic and singer from Syracuse? At a benefit show for our Landmark Theatre 20 years ago, Tom put on an old usher’s costume and mixed with all the patrons. He looked like a 1920s bellhop, hat and all. It was fantastic.
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that is so great, he must be one hell of a character )
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My twinky granddaughter (long for twin) is in a photo she arranged for me, more like her flip-flop is, with Sponge Bob in the sandal.
As for the being left out feeling, here’s one for you. When I was still driving all the sibs were home at the same time, and since I don’t have a booming voice like the rest of them, I started wondering how long it would take for them to realize I wasn’t there. So, got up, drove home, and two days later got a phone call from older brother asking when I left and why didn’t I say goodbye. That was such a warm and fuzzy moment. Now I just don’t go. They know where I live.
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Wow. Two days. That’s something, Angie. Ouch.
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This was an excellent adventure in your life, Mark! So glad you were a recipient last year! You deserved it for all the years you presented! An honorary Sammy is something not everyone gets! (Sorry about the ‘snub!’)
I am a big follower of bands and love to hear music. You have made this sound like a fantastic concert, Mark! So glad to know a little background to the one whose voice I hear when I watch “SpongeBob Square Pants on t.v. with my grandkids! Smiles, Robin
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You can tell the grandkids that you know somebody who knows SpongeBob, Robin. See how they react to that odd but true comment.
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I think they would first want to get you to introduce them and then, second want to get to know You! Smiles, Robin
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Sometimes you just have to keep moving, playing it off cool, even if you aren’t on “the list.” Remember to keep smiling as you’re doing so. I can’t wait to read the full story.
Sorry about my comments being brief. Strange day, busy day, but positive nonetheless. Hope your weekend is going well so far!
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I’m glad the day was positive for you, Chris. Strange and busy can be interesting, too. It was intense for me, too, movie, writing review, writing full Sammys story for Wednesday New Times. Satisfying, too.
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Glad to hear, man. 🙂
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I agree with Colleen. I often don’t know the artists you are reviewing but your appreciation is so authentic. As a music fan, I love that!
And that nobody who slighted you is just jealous that you upstaged his welcome!
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Nah, Skip will not be upstaged. He was just surprised by my presence.
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I had no idea he sang. How neat to see that. I’m sorry he added you as an afterthought. When I was about 12, I was so supposed to get baptized up at the front of the church and was all prepared for it. The pastor went through the other people one by one, and then he never called my name. So I just sat there in my chair in the back. Afterward, my mom had to take me to his office and he just did it there in private. 😦 Not cool. Almost felt like it didn’t count. So I did it at age 33 again, and they didn’t forget me.
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I’m glad the baptism went perfect for you the second time around, Kerbey. That must have been horrifying to not be called when you were 12. For me last night, I just went up and did my thing. Good think, too, because my co-presenter told me ahead of time that she didn’t to talk at all except she agreed to announce the winner’s name. It would have been a quiet interlude if me and my mouth did not go up there.
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So you were the life of the party between you both.
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I was in reporter’s mode. Not that it means I was entirely subdued, Kerbey.
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Mark, I love your enthusiasm for music and life. It comes across so clearly and with such appreciation!
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It was easy to be enthusiastic about Tom Kenny joining the Flashcubes, Colleen. There was a lot of Syracuse history up on that stage. Thank you, my friend.
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🙂
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Very cool, Mark. Just flash a smile and own it, and yes I’ve marched on through many times. Enjoyed reading about this music scene of yours.
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There are those who believe: act like you belong and you can go anywhere. I’m confident, but I wouldn’t want to try it at the White House. Just saying. I’m glad you enjoyed reading about our music scene here in Syracuse, Audrey.
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Well let’s not get crazy. The White House is a stretch. 🙂 I do. I have a interest in all things music.
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I just brought that up because that couple did have the crashing audacity several years ago, Audrey. I should remember their name but alas, it slips my mind after good music last night …
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I remember it, actually. That couple had big ones, huh? 🙂 I bet the music was amazing!
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Sounds like a fun time. Who knew Sponge Bob could sing and party? Will you be sharing a video of that? 😉
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No video from me. Nickelodeon has the exclusive … or I just shoot pictures … I’m hoping for a photo my friend took of Tom and I, though.
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