Prior to the concert, Danny promoted the concert on Long Island radio station Sunrise 1370 am WALK and 1240 WGBB am, on "Pet Talk," hosted by Alicyn Leigh, from 5 to 6 pm. This is the station that sponsored the "Rockin' for the Animals" benefit concert. Alicyn played "Miss America" from the album, and talked with Danny about his involvement with "Noah's Ark" Animal Placement and Rescue. Danny returned as a guest on July 7.
News
Here's a show review from The Star Ledger:
"At the Pony, Joan Jett headlined a quality triple-bill of skilled hard-rock bands that also included The Characters, a Union- based group whose self-titled debut album was recently released by Joan Jett's Blackheart records; and China White, from Central New Jersey.""The Characters, who moved to Los Angeles in 1987, returned recently to their native Union. Led by singer-songwriter-guitarist Danny Solazzi's on-the-money pop-rock tenor, the guitar-bass-and-drums foursome was augmented in a tasty manner by a saxophone player."
"The Characters offered fun-loving, entertaining R&B- and pop-influenced hard-rock.
"'Miss America,' which opened the show, included a shouted 'yeah!' which sounded a lot like, well, Joan Jett. On 'A Little Bit of Rain,' The Characters sounded like the Black Crowes imitating The Rolling Stones, while 'Last of a Dyin' Breed' sounded like The Stones imitating The Temptations."
"Some Characters' songs were distinctive enough to be compelling as well as enjoyable, including the hard-rocking, attention-grabbing 'I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight' and the great, catchy power-pop tune that could be a hit, 'Maryann.'"
- The Star Ledger -
The Characters opened for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at The Tradewinds, 1331 Ocean Ave, Seabright N.J. Their set list included: I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight, Miss America, Truth Becomes a Lie, Maryann, Let it Bleed, Not Dead Yet, Nobody Understands, and Pleasant Valley Sunday.