H4TH2014, Night 1

Emily Bornemann joined Smalltalk at the H4TH2014 After Party at Asbury Lanes.

Interesting Evening

CoolDaughter #1's bud has a Boxing Day birthday. That can't be the greatest day to have a birthday; but I give her parents credit for managing to make yesterday special. CD1 spent the day with her, and then the rest of us headed over to their house for early drinks and pizza.

"When's your next show?" someone asked me.

"In about 2 and a half hours," I said.

"You're nuts," someone else advised me.

I was a little tired, but it's a big weekend in Asbury Park, and my OCD won't let me miss anything. We said our goodbyes and headed home. I made my way down to the Wonder Bar for Asbury Unplugged, figuring that I'd spend the evening there until it was time for the Home for the Holidays after-party at Asbury Lanes. I'd slept on getting any Souls' tickets, you see; so I was thinking that I was pretty much SOL for any shows. Sad.

Colton Kayser

Doug Zambon

Chris Brown had just finished his set by the time I got to The Wonder Bar, and Doug Zambon had just started. Colton Kayser and Jay Monday followed that with a pair of great sets. Then, a Boxing Day miracle happened. Chris (Santa) Brown told me he had an extra +1 for the show at The Pony and that I could have it!

We got inside The Stone Pony just as BANE finished their set, and we ran into Scotch and Bouncing Souls SuperFan Timmy LaRock just inside the door. Tim was pumped for The Souls who came out and did a full pre-2000 set. It didn't necessarily cover all of his favorites, but he was on track for a good night.

The crowd was absolutely nuts, random circle pits forming like little whirlpools throughout the audience. It was pretty hairy.

I fought my way over to the other end of the venue and managed to get up to the side of the stage. Gentleman Jim Norton was there. We said our hellos. He asked about the LaRocks and disappeared into the crowd. A few songs later, he was back, this time with little Tim in tow. We hoisted him over the barricade into the VIP area and people cleared a path for him. He got to watch the rest of the main set with his hands on the stage.

"Jim! Jim! I've never been this close before!" He was beaming, and so was everyone who saw him.

Really cool.

He'd had enough by the time the encores were starting, so we reconvened with his dad.

When the show was over, the LaRocks and I walked to the parking lot. They went to their car, Timmy looking forward to some Gatorade and waking up to work on his new Lego sets; and I headed to The Lanes.

Dark Blue

Philly's Dark Blue went on at around 12, I guess. They played in, basically, absolute darkness. I couldn't see them, but I liked what I heard -- late 80s, dark, post-punky.

I stuck around to check out Smalltalk. Emily Bornemann of Dentist was filling in for Tara Jones, who's on a short maternity leave. They sounded great. Emily did a fantastic job on vocals and jimmy-jangling the tambourine. They finished up at around 2.

Smalltalk

It ended up being a fantastic night: Friends and family at home, friends at all the shows, the look on young Tim's face. I can't wait for tonight. I'm not sure what it will bring (still no Souls' tix), but CoolMom and I have a sitter. Whatever happens (late Cayetana set at The Lanes, definitely), we'll do it together and have a blast.