It seems Jon Stewart has found new ways to achieve his Moment of Zen.
Stewart, who finished out his 16-year run with "The Daily Show" Aug. 6, 2015, told TMZ last year that he'd taken up drumming as a new hobby during his hiatus from TV. He even challenges Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl to a drum-off on "Come As You Are."
Wednesday, the New Jersey music blog and indie label Speak Into My Good Eye released a recording of Stewart pounding the skins for No Wine For Kittens, a defunct Asbury Park indie-rock band that reformed to record a single song for the label's annual "24-hour Songwriting Challenge" compilation.
Stewart, a Lawrenceville native who is building an animal sanctuary in Colts Neck, had linked up with the band through a connection to ex-Kittens member Andy Bova, who happens to be Stewart's drum teacher. The Kittens + Jon recorded the track, called "Catastrophes," at Simple Sound Studio in Oceanport.
And you know what? Stewart isn't too shabby on the kit!
Granted, it's a harmony-laden indie-pop tune without the need for much fireworks from the rhythm section, but he's sure-handed to the point that you'd never know it was a 54-year-old ex-TV host who just picked up the instrument last year.
We say "rock on, Jon" and await the duel with Dave Grohl.
Speak Into My Good Eye's 4th annual 24-hour Songwriting Challenge compilation album, with more than 50 tracks from killer Jersey bands including Lowlight and Jackson Pines, will be released Nov. 17. All proceeds go to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier. Find NJ.com on Facebook.