You can never have too much fun. That’s been the rallying cry for Kinderhook for 40-some years. That song, “Too Much Fun”, is one of the tunes on the band’s recently studio produced CD, simply titled “Kinderhook.” Too much fun is also what fans look forward to when they come to a Kinderhook show.

And too much fun is to be expected when Kinderhook takes the stage at historic Roy’s Hall in Blairstown on Saturday Dec. 7. Kinderhook will be joined by some “surprise friends” during their performance.

The country rock band, a hugely popular group in the 70s and early 80s when the music club scene was truly hopping all over New Jersey, reunited on a regular basis about nine years ago. They’ve since recaptured their original fan base, and have acquired many new fans along the way.

Formerly once known as Kinderhook Creek, the group has shared the stage with numerous major acts over the years including The Byrds, Alabama, Dickey Betts, Joan Jett, New Riders of the Purple Sage, David Bromberg, Poco, and Commander Cody. In recent years they’ve performed throughout the state; among the venues: Two River Theater in Red Bank, McLoone’s in Asbury Park, Stone Pony, Wonder Bar, Shippen Manor, and the Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton. They have played at numerous summer community concerts, including in Woodbridge and Somerset County. In addition, they’ve been called upon to perform at reunions and many other special events hosted by longtime fans. 

Late last year they put the finishing touches on their first studio produced CD. 

“It’s never too late,” admitted Andy Fediw, bass player/vocals and one of three original members still with the now 6-piece band. “It was a long time coming, that’s for sure. It’s something we talked about for a while. We were finally able to put all the pieces together.” 

Joining Fediw as the band’s original “Core 3” are Hackettstown’s Jerry Kopychuk, vocals and guitar, and Craig Barry on drums. 

Rounding out the current band line-up are Jimmy Ryan, pedal and lap steel/vocals, formerly of another band favorite from years ago, Cowtown;  Jack Kurlansik, who has performed with various groups, on guitar; and Gary Oleyar, violin/banjo/guitar, who has played with several major acts, including Jim Messina.

On stage, Kinderhook intertwines both new material and classic favorite covers, the covers with a “Kinderhook touch.”    

All the songs on the CD were written by band members. “Run Boy Run”, written by Fediw, is about man’s best friend. That song has gotten airplay on radio stations around the country. “Good Guys Wear Black” is a tribute to those who ride motorcycles, “Cowboy Union” is a throwback favorite to the group’s early days, and “Rumble at the Roadhouse” brings back a time when roadhouses were typical musical stops for bands, Kinderhook included. Other tunes on the CD, a mix of ballads and high energy, are “Let’s Go”, “Love Takes a Part of You”, “It’s Not the Same”, and “Cash on the Barrelhead”. And showing that the band still has that sense of humor that it has always had, “Unfriended” is a soon to be classic that pokes fun at Facebook. 

For more on the band, visit kinderhookmusic.com or its Facebook page, Kinderhook.  For tickets to the Roy’s Hall show, visit royshall.org.