What's Going On: 5/28, 5/29, 5/30 & 5/31, 2015

Mazel Tov

Happy Crystal Anniversary, CoolMom!

Sorry for being a little late with this one today. I've been kind of distracted as it's our 15th wedding anniversary today. Somehow I got the coolest woman in the world to agree to spend the rest of her life with me, and I've just been kind of reveling in that fact this morning.

Onward...

Things get started with a busy Thursday. CoolMom and I will be bopping around Asbury Park as we celebrate. American Aquarium come to Asbury Lanes with Thomas Wesley Stern, Brian McGee, and goodnightgoodmorning. Volt Direction play their second-ever show at Asbury Park Yacht club with Daughter Vision and Ceremonial Abyss. I got a chance to catch them on Sunday, and it's cool to hear some fresh sounds coming out of Asbury Park. Sounds of Spring Fest kicks off at The Candy Barrel in New Brunswick with Eagle Daddy, Fond Han, Lake Effect, and Kadian Quartet. The Great Depression are back at The Court with Sistine, 18th and Addison, and Hunson Abadeer. Jersey Rock has the lovely and talented Dough Zambon along with the lovely and talented Emily Grove for free at Pier Village in Long Branch. In Brooklyn, if you managed to get in an RSVP, you can check out the premiere party for The Chris Gethard Show at Rough Trade with Mal Blum, Jeff Rosenstock, Hiccup, and a band of Jersey upstarts known as Screaming Females. Worriers kick off their tour with Caves at Silent Barn. That show also features Don Giovanni labelmates Alice and Sundials.

On Friday, The Court Tavern hosts a benefit for Nate Gluck featuring Old Wounds, Manalive, The Holy Terror, Jaguar Shark, and Hounds. The weekend long Red Bank Riverfest kicks off at Marine Park. Geoff Rickly of Thursday plays Maxwell's Tavern in Hoboken with Meghann Wright, Gatherers, and Help Me Help You. Sounds of Spring continues at Nowhere USA with Turnip King, Mal Devisa, BLKBX, and YJY. The Pure Thirteen play The Saint with Shiksa, The Drive Home, Conover, and Chiaroscuro. The Empty Hearts are back in town at Wonder Bar with The Doughboys, Tara Elliot, and Lost Romance.

It's another installment of the always fun Asbury Park Punk Rock Flea Market on Saturday. Saturday also brings Murder Junkies to the Brighton. There are two Sounds of Spring shows in Bruns with Professor Caveman, Morris Alba, Super City, and Forth Wanderers taking the evening slot at Candy Barrel. CachaBacha, Bruise, Phantom Lanterns, and M. Rudin play a matinee at Pigeon Pad. Paul Rosevear, Tri-State, Miss Ohio, and Adam and The Plants are at Lot 13 in Bayonne. The Jersey Born Music Festival takes over Cookman Ave. in Asbury.

Crossroads in Garwood has two shows on Saturday featuring a bunch of our favorites. The matinee brings together Eastern Anchors, Overlake, Sink Tapes, Dollar Store Riot, Galanos, and RocknRoll HiFives. In the evening you can catch Inside Drivers, Jet Weston & His Atomic Ranch Hands, and our buds in Black Flamingos.

Also on Saturday, Tierney's Tavern in Montclair presents the second annual Tierney's Tavern music festival. The free all-day event features The Porchistas, Jersey Shore favorites like Accidental Seabirds, Thomas Wesley Stern, and Bone & Marrow, plus more for a total of 13 bands.

Sunday is weirdly packed out. Ghost Camp, The Corrinas, The Welts, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Conover, and Teenage Halloween try to do a show at Aidan's Garage. Two more Sounds of Spring Shows: dollys, Diplopia, Loser Groove, and Maeby Funk at PussyPad early. Perennial Reel, Gypsy Wig, Night Idea, Sojourner at In The West late. Karmic Juggernaut, We Used To Cut The Grass, and Max Swan are at The Saint.

THURSDAY (5/28)

Asbury Lanes (Asbury): American Aquarium / Thomas Wesley Stern / Brian McGee / goodnightgoodmorning, 7pm, $10 adv, $12 door (ALL AGES)

Asbury Park Yacht Club (Asbury): Volt Direction / Daughter Vision / Ceremonial Abyss, 8:30pm, FREE

Candy Barrel (New Brunswick): Sounds of Spring Fest #1: Eagle Daddy / Fond Han / Lake Effect / Kadian Quartet, 8pm, $5