What's Going On: 5/7, 5/8, 5/9 & 5/10, 2015

The Baseball Project play The Saint on Friday.

Replacements!

Back in 1993, not-yet-CoolMom and I had our very first date. We went to see Paul Westerberg at The Fastlane in Asbury Park. That was the tour for Paul's first official solo record 14 Songs (All Shook Down doesn't count). He packed the set with classics like "I Will Dare," "Skyway," "Can't Hardly Wait," "Here Comes A Regular," "Left of the Dial," and "Alex Chilton" along with his solo material. It was a magical evening for me, and I somehow knew that this woman and I were destined to be together. We were married in May of 2000. You see what I'm getting at here, right? This month marks our 15th wedding anniversary, and we're going to see The Replacements (along with freaking Superchunk) on Saturday. Couldn't be more excited. But first...

Strung Out come back to Asbury Lanes on Thursday with Red City Radio, La Armada, and Morningside Lane. Asbury Lanes looks kind of like a war zone from the outside right now, but trust me. It is still the warm and welcoming place you love on the inside. Don't let the construction deter you.

Also on Thursday, My Excuse are at The Brighton with our friends in Grey Goes Black, Blisstique, and The Shaking Trees. Hamilton, Ontario's Arkells play The Saint with Mainland and The Catching.

Friday is chock full of options. Our sweetest of sweethearts in Dentist (Have you seen the video we made together?) play with our buds The Black Flamingos at APYC for free. Lost Romance, Jefferson, and Lake Effect are in Sparta at Krogh's Brewpub. Our brothers in denim, The Battery Electric, head to Bruns for a show at The PussyPad with Deal Casino, Shadowplay, and Leeds. The band with the greatest name in the history of earth, Wolfasaurus Rex, play The Rail House with Amy Malkoff and The Moonshines, Centennials, and All Sensory Void. It's punk rock karaoke at Wonder Bar with Lost In Society as your backing band. The Baseball Project, featuring Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Scott McCaughey (R.E.M., The Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows), Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate), and Linda Pitmon (Steve Wynn and The Miracle 3), return to Asbury Park for a show at The Saint.

On Saturday, CoolMom and I head to Philly's Festival Pier to see The Replacements, Superchunk, and J. Roddy Walston and The Business. Asbury Lanes has Clash tribute band Straight To Hell with The Street Walking Cheetahs (Stooges) and Disorder (Joy Division). The Vauhgns play APYC for free with Howler Weary. Semiotics, Goodbye Tiger, Cold Weather Company, Howlish, and Impossible Cities are at The Banana Stand. The Asbury Park Spring Bazaar takes place at Convention Hall with acoustic sounds from Ron Santee, Chris Brown, Emily Grove, Paul Rosevear, and more. Marky Ramone and Anderw W.K. are at The Stone Pony doing Ramones classics. It's open mic night at Wonder Bar, hosted by Dark City.

Also on Saturday, The Saint hosts the record release for Tony Appleseed's Metanoia. Little Big Toe, Bone and Marrow, El Mar, and Moon Motel help celebrate that one.

On Sunday, Paper Streets head up to Cake Shop for a show with WOMPS and Current Joys. New Brunswick's Scarlet Pub hosts Towns, Little Rose, Spiral Scar, Brian Rothenbeck, Lethal Affection, and James Hill Rose for some free Soft Sounds.

Lots of stuff to enjoy. Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there. And to the coolest of moms, thanks for coming to that Paul Westerberg show with me.

THURSDAY (5/7)

Asbury Lanes (Asbury): Strung Out / Red City Radio / La Armada / Morningside Lane, 7pm, $18 adv, $20 door (ALL AGES)

The Brighton Bar (Long Branch): My Excuse / Grey Goes Black / Blisstique / The Shaking Trees, 7:30pm, $7 (18+)