GENO & THE JUKEBOX is secretly New Jersey-based singer/songwriter/ guitarist/drummer/air-bassist/cartoonist/stay-at-home dad Gene Pompilio, who specializes in a sunny-yet-neurotic brand of self-deprecating acoustic power-pop influenced by Buddy Holly, the British Invasion, AM radio, Jonathan Richman and, somehow, Nirvana. Gene began his musical journey as the singer/drummer for 90’s proto-psych-popsters Cosmic Avenger, whose lo-fi magnum opus, 1999’s “The Sunlight Diner & the Meaning of Life,” graced respected LA music journalist David Bash’s year-end “Best-of” list. Mr. Pompilio next sang and manned the kit for the sole, self-titled release by alterna-rockers Stereosoul, which saw significant college radio airplay and merited an entry in “Are You Listening?,” lauded Jersey Shore author Gary Wien’s collection of the 100 best albums of the 2000’s. When sessions for Stereosoul’s sophomore release became interminably bogged down in intra-band squabbling, Gene found himself struggling with not only the death of his musical aspirations but also the ongoing symptoms of undiagnosed Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Inspired by a transformative Jonathan Richman gig, Gene began recording stripped-down acoustic home demos of a decidedly more personal lyrical bent as therapy, and GENO & THE JUKEBOX was born. Determined not to let whatever creative spark left within him die, Gene posts a new song and cartoon every month (give or take) on the G&TJB soundcloud page, hoping to someday prove to himself that there maybe is still a little value in a 2 ½ minute, 3 ½ chord tune that comes from the heart.