What's Going On: 12/11, 12/12, 12/13 & 12/14, 2014

That Santa is pretty sketchy.

Go Big or Go Home

So, let's see. Lots happening this weekend. Each of the cooldaughters has a swim meet. We're nearing CoolDaughter #2's 8th birthday. There's still holiday shopping to get done. Oh, and this is the weekend I've been stressing over for weeks as the Little Dickman Records / CoolDad Music holiday benefit for the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and the Mercy Center of Asbury Park is nearly upon us.

But first...

Deal Casino release Heck on Thursday night with a show at Asbury Lanes. Helping out will be Dollys, Modern Chemistry, and Monterey. Prehistoric Forest are at Brighton Bar with Jaded Past and Against Grace. Pat DiNizio continues his run at Langosta Lounge with Karen Mansfield. Lost Leaders and Blisstique are at The Saint.

On Friday, Mikey Erg, Blackwolf Beach, Weird Fantasy Band, and Brick Mower help to celebrate Jay Insult's birthday at Asbury Lanes. Colton Kayser plays for free at APYC. Little Dickman / CoolDad Music benefit performers, Overlake, are in Montclair at The Meat Locker. Ropetree play The Saint with Until It Hurts, Vextion, and Canamara. Wall's Village Coffee has Cackhander Happy, Cutters, Fire Is Motion, Vegetable Broth, Teenage Halloweeen, and Abigail Adams.

Saturday night brings the debut CD release from Plato Zorba to Asbury Lanes with Los Pocos Locos and The Bloodshots. You can "Deck The Hall" in Asbury Park's Convention Hall with The Von Mons, GayGuy/StraightGuy, and The Gay Blades. There's an all-day benefit for the beloved Jacko Monhahan at The Brighton featuring The Ribeye Brothers, Lord Sterling, Acid, Dog Lift Leg, Ziggy Shock, and more. The Ribeyes and Lord Sterling then head over to The Theatre Bar at SixTen Bangs with Odds Are for a late-night show. The Wonder Bar hold their annual "Rock for Tots" benefit with Amy Malkoff and The Moonshines, Creeptones, Climbing The Walls, Cranston Dean, and The Amboys.

Then Sunday. Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!...

Little Dickman Records and CoolDad Music Present:

The Theatre Bar at SixTen Bangs, Asbury Park

Twelve performances: The RocknRoll HiFives, Black Flamingos, Overlake, Dentist, Hot Blood, The Battery Electric, TV Tramps, The Off White, Luke Henderiks of Teenage Halloween, Chris Brown, Mike V of The Everymen, Ron Santee of The Battery Electric solo. (Ms. America, unfortunately, are a scratch.)

Prizes to be auctioned off from: Chunksaah Records, Augmented Asbury, Brickwall Tavern, Big Slick Pomade, Word of Mouth Studios, ACDWSH, Holdfast Asbury Park, Arcade Radio, more.

All to benefit the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and The Mercy Center of Asbury Park.

Doors open at 3pm, and music goes into the night. It's $10, or just $5 if you bring even one $.69 can of tunafish or something.

I figured, for the first show I've ever had a hand in presenting, we may as well go all out.

If that show doesn't do it for you, then you do have other options on Sunday. The Meat Locker has a good show with Everything Ever, The Blithedale Romance, Hurricane Season, and Milkmen. You could also hit Stubhub if you want to catch The 1975 at Starland.

But, really, wouldn't you rather give some of that money to one of the great causes this weekend -- Toys for Tots, Jacko Monahan, The FoodBank/Mercy Center -- than to some nameless scalper on the Internet?

Of course you would.

See you Sunday.

THURSDAY (12/11)

Asbury Lanes (Asbury): Deal Casino (EP Release) / Dollys / Modern Chemistry / Monterey, 7:30pm, $7 adv, $10 door (Free EP w/ admission)