It's ironic when the middle-aged dad is in his room, rocking out on his Stratocaster, trying to perfect some of Keith Richards’ more famous licks, and the teenage daughter has to come upstairs, knock loudly and say “Can you please turn that down?”

   Jon Baum of Pennington assures that this is a true story. At 61, he’s a poster child for his generation, which grew up loving the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Cream, Van Morrison — all classic rock. He picked up guitar in college, but pointed himself in a more sensible career direction, eventually becoming Scientific Information Technologist for Bristol-Myers Squibb. It wasn’t until he was about 53 that he unearthed the guitar and shared his talents with a friend.

   ”It was a lifelong dream to play music with other people,” Mr. Baum says. “It just goes to show that it’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”

   Mr. Baum, along with keyboardist and singer Ron Balerno, guitarist John Velit, drummer John Knobl, bass guitarist Tom Timperman, keyboardist/flutist/singer Mary Baum (Jon’s wife), and percussionist Maria Burke Stover make up the Dadz, a group of friends “of a certain age,” rediscovering the joys of rock ‘n’ roll.

   Although the Dadz has been playing around central New Jersey and Bucks County, Pa., for years, the group is pleased to announce its first CD, Snapshots and Intervals (No Shame Records). Filled with 14 original songs, and recorded at Squirrel Ranch Studio in Hamilton, the CD is available at Pennington Market and Viva Gelato Café in Pennington, or through the group’s Web site (www.thedadz.com). The album and individual songs can also be downloaded from www.digstation.com. The Dadz will have a CD release party at JB’s Bistro in Morrisville Jan. 18.

   Mr. Timperman has pretty much the same story as Mr. Baum. There was always a love of classic rock and an itch to form a band, but family and career came first — in his case, 30 years with Johnson & Johnson. Scrutinizing music store catalogs, collecting equipment, rehearsing, writing and playing in public came much later in life. Mr. Timperman was also in his 50s when he first played in a band.

   ”I always wanted to play, so I bought a bass guitar and taught myself,” he says. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

   Mr. Velit has a similar tale — he’s admittedly a late comer.

   ”We all have different perspectives,” he says. “As a kid, I wasn’t involved in music except to listen. Our lead guitarist and drummer were both in bands when they were younger, but they left music to raise their families. Then we all got together and they got back into playing live, so it’s come full circle for them.”

   Since a couple of the Dadz’ wives and partners are in the group, it’s obvious the ladies don’t mind the guys’ middle-aged indulgence. Their children are also enjoying the ride.

   ”They’re intrigued, and they see that we’re having fun,” Mr. Timperman says. “They come to our gigs and see how much we enjoy ourselves. And they’re impressed that we have a CD.”

   ”Our drummer’s daughter has a lot of friends who are fans,” Mr. Baum adds. (That figures — drummers always get the chicks.)

   Snapshots and Intervals runs the gamut from Mr. Baum’s “Main Street Boogie” — a straightforward jam that grew out of the band’s break song, and allows everyone to improvise a little — to “Because of You,” with music by Mr. Baum and lyrics by Mr. Balerno, in remembrance of Mr. Baum’s father, who passed away in 2005 at age 93.

   ”It was easy to pay tribute to him,” Mr. Balerno says. “It could also be taken as a love song, just about anyone who has done something special for you. One thing about being older and writing songs, the point of view is very different from an 18-year-old writing. For example, ‘25’ is about my 25th wedding anniversary. These are things that are happening in our lives that a lot of people relate to.”

   In the liner notes to the CD, the band writes that “...a funny thing happens on the way towards mid-life. It becomes clear that there is a space between the ‘have to’ and the ‘can’t do.’ This interval is the perfect opportunity for a new outlet of creative energy. The Dadz has been our result. The stories we tell aren’t the tales of teenage angst. They are snapshots taken a little further down the road.”

   The ‘snapshots’ in the CD’s title also relate to the arrangement of family photos that adorn the sleeve inside the Dadz’ logo — a 45 rpm adapter with a “D” in the center spindle instead of a circle. The CD was also created to look like a 45. This phenomenon might be a mystery to a generation that downloads its music, but any music lover of a certain age will remember these little slabs of black vinyl fondly.

   Influences range from the Allman Brothers to Trenton’s Ernie White, and at least three of the Dadz revere the Beatles.

   All the men and women currently have or have had demanding careers, in pharmaceuticals, systems and technology, education, interior and architectural design, or as business owners and managers. Despite their schedules, the Dadz rehearses regularly at Mr. Balerno’s home in Pennington.

   ”We always practice, in fact it’s a little like a religious experience,” Mr. Timperman says. “I used to travel internationally but I tried to make the rehearsals a priority. It’s so much fun after you’ve had a long day at work. I look forward to Wednesdays and making great music.”

   ”It’s not hard to work up the energy because we’re enjoying ourselves,” Mr. Baum says. “And it’s better than watching TV.”

The Dadz will celebrate the release of its CD Snapshots and Intervals at JB’s Bistro, 482 W. Trenton Ave., Morrisville, Pa., Jan. 18, 8 p.m. Free admission. (215) 295-5765. The Dadz on the Web: www.thedadz.com