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| Marissa Paternoster at Asbury Lanes. Another fantastic shot by Mike Petzinger. |
Words by Allyson Dwyer, Pics by Mike Petzinger, Bonus Pics by Gentleman Jim
I could end up being the Wally Pipp of vanity music blogging. The skill with which both Allyson Dwyer and Mike Petzinger have covered for me -- and now add in some extra special coverage from Gentleman Jim Norton -- may have put me out of a job for good. Even if that doesn't happen, we've barely skipped a beat here thanks to the talents of some of the great friends I've made while running CoolDad Music.
This show was a tough one for me to miss. I love Screaming Females and ROMP live, and I was excited at the prospect of finally getting to see Mitski. Family vacations are important, though; and this one's been fun so far. And, honestly, this week's takeover has been about as close to being at these shows for me as I ever thought I'd get.
Enjoy Allyson's recap and Mike's photo highlights. Don't forget to keep scrolling to get the insider, backstage view from Gentleman Jim Norton.
Time for my audience with the Pope.
Screaming Females, Mitski, and ROMP at Asbury Lanes
words by Allyson Dwyer
photos by Mike Petzinger
backstage photos by Jim Norton
Hey! It's me again! At the time of this writing, CoolDad is in Venice riding a gondola with George; and he said he might not ever come back. CoolAllyson Music takeover imminent.
Back here in New Jersey, the Italy of the US, Saturday was perfect. It felt like the real first Spring day of the year. And for me, it was one of those days that is the right mix of lazy and fun, starting with an awesome breakfast, some writing, good coffee, drinks, and a show at my favorite venue, Asbury Lanes.
The line-up was a dream: ROMP, Mitski, and Screaming Females. The show also marked the release of the Asbury Park Feminist Collective's second annual Women's History Month 'zine. Rachel Casey and members worked really hard on it, and I contributed my own little blurb on why Sailor Moon means so much to me. It was really fun to read and even more fun to see the various bands up on stage give a shoutout to the group. Plus, they had free Matzo!
I picked up SIMGE's Chris Rotolo in my slick ride, aka Flareon, and headed over to the Lanes with the intention of buying a lot of vinyl. I assisted sound man Gentleman Jim Norton in selecting some badass female-fronted music for a playlist. Not too long after, New Brunswick-based and CDM fave ROMP took the stage with their joyous pop-punk. I had only heard ROMP's EP, having not yet caught them live. The band has a dedicated following, and the crowd was full of excited sing-alongs and bobbing bodies, everyone wearing stickers that said “ROMP is...” - fill in the blank. They're an incredibly special band, both for their catchy music and their lovable live show.
Next was Mitski, an artist who I had been waiting to see since I saw the show announcement. Mitski's Bury Me At Make Out Creek got much deserved high praise last year and she's recently signed to Don Giovanni. I wasn't the only one excited, she had some very dedicated fans, all in the front of the crowd, singing along passionately word for word. Adding even more excitement was the fact that Mitski's guitarist was Maggie Pakutka, local resident and member of the Feminist Collective.
Mitski was a force on the stage that couldn't be denied. While she spoke softly and kindly about how wonderful the night was, and how much she loved the internet; she would transform through her songs into another being. On tracks such as “Drunk Walk Home,” her voice would erupt like an unexpected volcano; and, as soon as the song ended, her demeanor would soften and she would return to her composed self. Her album is already so intimate; but live, these songs feel even more intimate. In those moments when she lost herself, as she did when she sat down to chant into the caves of her guitar strings, I forgot there were hundreds of people around me. And even afterward, when I went up to buy her album, we talked for a little bit; and she signed the sleeve and took the time to write a personal message. Her thoughtfulness is part of what makes her special.
The crowd began to surge toward the stage for the appearance of Screaming Females. They had packed the house, no different than the last time they came to the Lanes. But, in contrast to last time, this crowd wasn't as responsive, or even as invested in the show. As the band came out and played not just new songs, but classics like “It All Means Nothing” - most people were barely phased. I know people just want to be somewhere on a Saturday night; but if you feel like having a conversation louder than Marissa Paternoster's guitar solos, go to the back room bar. Don't stand next to me at the stage.
But yes, if you need to know, Screaming Females were wonderful. I personally love Rose Mountain, and I love the tight, poppier direction of the production. Many were worried that this was going to take the edges off the roughness that is Screaming Females. But fear not. None of that has changed the band. If anything, these tighter songs have only given them a jumping off point from which to play around and experiment on stage. That is the brilliance of seeing them on this tour.
The band closed out their set with a favorite of mine, “Boss,” and proceeded to extend it with a very long, very intense finale. Marissa passed her guitar into the audience to continue playing, and I saw Chris right there in the midst of it having a blast.
As the set ended, the lights came up, and the band members jumped right off stage into the crowd. Another wonderful night at the Lanes.
Here are some more photos by the talented Mike Petzinger. Keep an eye on Mike Petzinger Photography for more.
And here are some backstage shots of Screaming Females and ROMP by Gentleman Jim Norton.
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