If you think of the summer as the year's weekend, then Labor Day is like the mother of all Sundays. Folks are winding things up after vacations, relaxation, or constant partying. It may be a little difficult, then, to get worked up for one, final party on the day that you're loading up the car in preparation for your return to reality. But those of us who found that last reserve of summer energy and made it out to Asbury Lanes on Monday night got an evening that I'm pretty sure we won't forget for some time.
Except for a little humidity, it was really a beautiful evening on the boardwalk after a dreary, rainy day. CoolMom and I had some pre-show drinks, and the beautiful evening kind of had us lamenting the fact that we hadn't spent more time on the beach this summer. September is here, though. It's usually a beautiful beach month, so we've still got our chance.
We walked into Asbury Lanes just as last minute fill-ins Nick Berry and Darrin Bradbury were concluding their set. I'm sorry I missed them, but I'll make sure to check out Bradbury's Ka Kool EP. As the acoustic duo stepped down from the stage, Elevator Art began setting up for what would be their last local set before calling it quits.
A crowd of fans, friends, and family filled the floor for the Toms River six-piece. They did an emotional set that included fan favorites "Lesbian Father," "Tent City," and recent single "Bear 141." CoolMom turned to me several times to remark on the band's great energy and, especially, on vocalist Maureen McGowan's performance. Each of the members displayed some significant musical chops and showed why this band has become so popular on the local scene. Good luck to all of them in whatever comes next.
I love it when CoolMom comes out with me because, well, I love her with every fiber of my being; but it also means I get to have a few drinks. While we do get some great shows in our area, the fact that we live out in the 'burbs means that we almost always have to drive. That can present a few issues for those of us who are responsible, but enjoy an adult beverage now and then. It can also present issues, in New Jersey at least, for minors who drive to all-ages shows like the one last night. More on that in a moment.
Nashville's Diarrhea Planet took the stage at around 9:30. Unlike the show I reviewed as this blog's first post, the band were at full four-guitar strength on Monday night. They played a set heavy on selections from their just-released I'm Rich Beyond your Wildest Dreams like "Separations," "Babyhead," and "Kids." Old favorites like "Ghost With a Boner" also made the setlist.
Diarrhea Planet are, quite simply, a great rock band. Their four-guitar assault references hard rock, arena rock, metal, 90s alt rock, punk, and pop punk. They bring an energy and abandon to all of their shows that infects the entire audience, whatever its size. We can only hope that Diarrhea Planet see fit to make our area a regular stop on their East Coast swings.
The Brooklyn-via-Brooklyn So So Glos, whose Blowout could be my favorite record of 2013, closed out the evening. They opened with "Diss Town" from that album, and got the crowd -- especially two seventeen year-old guys up front -- moving immediately.
"You know," said lead singer / bassist Alex Levine, "we played a show at Shea Stadium last night. Sold out. Boston the night before. Sold out. Night before that, Boston. Sold out."
Referencing the less than sell-out Mother of All Sundays crowd, he said that the band were getting back to their DIY roots on Monday. He said he looked forward to an intimate evening. The band took every advantage of their ability to interact with the crowd, talking with individual audience members and choreographing audience participation.
At one point, one of the seventeen year-olds, citing New Jersey's "probationary driver's license" restrictions, asked if the band couldn't finish in time for him to drive himself back to Middletown before his state-imposed curfew. Levine had the young man call his mother; and, from the stage, promised to make sure that her son got home safely and legally, getting the entire band's agreement to drive him home.
That problem resolved, the band completed a fantastic set heavy on Blowout tracks like "Lost Weekend," "Xanax," "Blowout," "Wrecking Ball," and main set closer "Son of an American." They also included Tourism / Terrorism standout "My Block." For the finale / encore, The So So Glos brought Diarrhea Planet back on stage for a version of the Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right" during which just about every member of the audience got a chance on the mic.
I went into yesterday with those typical Sunday-type blues about having to return to the aggravation of being a corporate lackey in the morning. For a few hours, though, music and a sense of community washed over me and took my mind off of anything other than just having a great time out with some great bands and the lovely CoolMom.
Thanks to Speak Into My Good Eye and Asbury Lanes for making the evening possible.
Enjoy your fall. And if you ever see that The So So Glos or Diarrhea Planet are coming to your town, make sure you get yourself out there. You won't regret it, no matter what night of the week it happens to be.
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