What's Going On: 4/16, 4/17, 4/18 & 4/19, 2015

Alabama's Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires play The Buzzcocks after-party at Asbury Lanes on Friday and join The Everymen at Knitting Factory Brooklyn on Saturday.

Back in the Swing of Things

Vacation was fun, but it's nice to be back home. CoolMom had a business trip as soon as we got home, so I still haven't been to any shows since getting back. This weekend is chock full, though.

On Thursday night, Toms River's River City Extension enter the home stretch of their tour as they play Philly's Boot & Saddle with Cold Fronts. The Court Tavern has Pale Angels, Milkmen, The Kairos Effect, and Tex and The Girls. Pat Dinizio plays for free at Langosta. Maxwell's Tavern in Hoboken hosts the Looms record release which also features Big Wake and Terrible Terrible.

Then comes a solid Friday night with The Blues Magoos, The Ribeye Brothers, and Muck & The Mires at The Brighton. Our friends in Paper Streets head to New Brunswick's Candy Barrel for a show with When Thieves Are About, The Color Atlantic, and Ever So Noble. Smalltalk, who will always have our vinyl hearts here at CDM, play Court Tavern in support of BIGWIG with City Limits and Asbury's own Lost In Society. Teenage Halloween are up at Montclair's Meatlocker with Dizzy Bats, Boys In Crop Tops, Whisper Wars, Basement Beers, and This Is Me Looking Dangerous. All Time Low come to Monmouth University with Issues, Tonight Alive, and State Champs. It's another edition of Asbury Unplugged at Wonder Bar with Sammy Kay, Amy Malkoff, Taylor Allen, and more.

Also on Friday night, legendary British punks, The Buzzcocks, hit The Stone Pony with Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices / Nada Surf and The Obvious. The after-party happens over at Asbury Lanes with the fantastic Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires, Deal Casino, Trans Charger Metropolis, and Eastern Anchors.

On Saturday, Remember Jones brings a 25-piece band to Asbury Lanes to play Amy Winehouse classic Back to Black live in its entirety. Mad Feather Group and Philly's Underwater Country Club play for free at APYC. New Brunswick's Banana Stand has ROMP, Plainview, American Lions, YJY, and Darla. John Mellencamp sings of pink houses, scarecrows, and bloody plows to a sold-out Count Basie Theatre. The Roadside Graves, Lowlight, Wreaths, Animal Shapes, and Love Gas make up a loaded bill at Court Tavern. RatFest takes place at TCNJ with Title Fight, The Menzingers, Four Year Strong, and Head North. This one may be TCNJ students only. Tech Fest 5 happens in Toms River with GayGuy StraightGuy, Accidental Seabirds, Prehistoric Forest, and more.

That's not all. Saturday also brings us the single release show at New Brunswick's Glitterbox for dollys' "How Charming," a single which we premiered here a few days ago. Also on that bill are Perennial Reel, Howlish, and Specimen 47. You've got another chance to catch The Glory Fires as they play Knitting Factory Brooklyn, this time with The Brooklyn What and our good, good friends The Everymen. It's acoustic matinee day at The Meatlocker with where is my spaceship, Luke Henderiks, and more. Cabinet play the first of two nights at The Saint.

Saturday is also Record Store Day. Honah Lee and Mikey Erg play Randy Now's Man Cave in Bordentown. Check your local store for more in-store performances and other festivities.

Even Sunday this week is unusually busy. Hub City Stompers are at Court Tavern. The Glitterbox has The Great Depression, Young Spines, and more. It's Earth Day, and Hey Anna are playing an Earth Day celebration in Union Square. New Brunswick's Scarlet Pub hosts Steve Burks, Toy Cars, Catch Me If You Can, Johnny Ott, The Wolf Inside, and Those Corn People. Cabinet are back at The Saint. River City Extension are at Brooklyn's Rough Trade.

Can't wait to get back out there for some live music and picture-taking. If you see me, come say hi. I'll buy you a beverage.

THURSDAY (4/16)

Boot & Saddle (Philly): River City Extension / Cold Fronts, 8pm, $15-18

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): Pale Angels / Milkmen / The Kairos Effect / Tex And The Girls, 9pm

Langosta Lounge (Asbury): Pat DiNizio, 8pm, FREE

Maxwell's Tavern (Hoboken): Big Wake / Looms / Terrible Terrible, 9pm

The Meatlocker (Montclair): The Engine Of A Film / No Hope Kids / Dutch Boys / My Eyes Fall Victim / Alleys, 10pm

FRIDAY (4/17)

Asbury Lanes (Asbury): Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires / Deal Casino / Trans Charger Metropolis / Eastern Anchors, 9pm, $10 ($5 w/ Buzzcocks ticket)

Asbury Park Yacht Club (Asbury): The Jack Moves, 9pm, FREE