What's Going On: 5/26, 5/27, 5/28, 5/29 & 5/30

Free music and free beer with High Waisted and BOYTOY in Hoboken on Thursday

We're Gonna Build Something This Summer

Back at the dawn of the 21st century, on Memorial Day Weekend in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, CoolMom and I tied the knot at La Fonda Hotel and then had what I still consider to be the best party ever. For 7 years before that and for 16 years since, CoolMom has put up with my... let's call it quirkiness and, basically, made my life worth living. She makes CoolDad Music possible and bends over backwards to let me be whoever I want to be. I love you, CoolMom! Happy anniversary!

You can start your own celebration on Thursday night when the new Asbury Hotel welcomes creatives, local or otherwise, to their first open mic night. It's a folk punk extravaganza at ~~Brighton Bar~~ The Inkwell with Mike Defendant, Teddy Hazard, Luke Henderiks, Emily River, and Eric Funn. Lunch Ladies are in New Brunswick with ManDancing, Living Tradition, and Handheld. Also in New Brunswick, Fortune Yeller, Semiotics, Disposable, Deal Casino, and Fun While You Wait play Court Tavern. Trenton's Millhill Basement hosts From Philly, SICK SHIT, Bahscumbug, Idiot Boy, and Nacht. Cat London, Jerzy Jung, Mike Mentz, and Allie Moss are at Wonder Bar. Jersey City's Monty Hall has Heron Oblivion, Endless Boogie, and Chris Forsyth and The Solar Motel Band. Up in Hoboken, the amazing High Waisted and our friends in BOYTOY play a free outdoor show with free beer provided by SweetWater Brewing Company at Pier 13.

Ribeye Brothers are at APYC with Von Mons on Friday night. Brighton Bar has TSOL, The Scandals, Zombie Mafia, and After The Burn. dollys, Rest Ashore, Kadian Quartet, and Din play The Citizen in Jersey City. Asbury Park Night Bazaar is back at Convention Hall with music by GayGuy / StraightGuy (Happy birthday, Bob Paulos!) and Yawn Mower. The Shady Street Show Band celebrate the release of their new album at House of Independents with Nick Greeley & The Operators, Des & The Swagmatics, Mad Feather Group, and J.T. Makoviecki. Scott Stapp plays The Stone Pony.

Smalltalk return to APYC on Saturday night. The Citizen hosts Centennials, The Company Kept, Casino Sundae, and Pizza Rat. Burlap To Cashmere play House of Independents. Splintered Sunlight are at The Pony. John Eddie is back at Wonder Bar.

Deal Casino continue their summer residency at APYC on Sunday. The Monkees bring their 50th anniversary tour to Red Bank's Count Basie. Remember Jones plays Langosta. Dub Proof hold their record release party at The Saint with Suburban Sensi, Random Test, David Castano, and The Holdfast Sound System. Dowsing, Kittyhawk, Hodera, Have A Good Season, and The Great Depression are at 73 See Gallery in Montclair. Tramps Like Us do Bruce covers at The Pony.

On Memorial Day, the free Happy Mondays series rolls on with Sink Tapes, pioneer the eel, and Airacuda.

I hope all of your dreams come true this summer. Be safe. Make it productive and constructive. Stay postitive.

THURSDAY (5/26)

Asbury Hotel (Asbury): Open Mic, 7pm

Asbury Park Yacht Club (Asbury): Sumtin Good, 9pm, FREE

~~The Brighton Bar~~ Inkwell Coffee House (Long Branch): Mike Defendant / Teddy Hazard / Luke Halloween / Emily River / Eric Funn, 8pm

Captain Tony's (New Brunswick): Lunch Ladies / ManDancing / Living Tradition / Handheld, 8pm, $5

The Citizen (Jersey City): Beninghove's Hangmen, 9pm, $10

Count Basie (Red Bank): Pat Guadagno's BobFest, 8pm, $20-$40

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): Fortune Yeller / Semiotics / Disposable / Deal Casino / Fun While You Wait, 7:30pm, $8

~~Inkwell Coffee House (Long Branch): Music Night at The Inkwell, 9pm~~

Millhill Basement (Trenton): From Philly / SICK SHIT / Bahscumbug / Idiot Boy / Nacht, 9pm, $6

Monty Hall (Jersey City): Heron Oblivion / Endless Boogie / Chris Forsyth and The Solar Motel Band, 9pm, $12

Pier 13 (Hoboken): High Waisted / BOYTOY, 4:20pm, FREE

The Saint (Asbury): Big Something / Daryl Hance Powermuse / Jammerz, 7:30pm, $5

Starland Ballroom (Sayreville): FABOLOUS, 6pm, $55 adv, $56 door

The Wonder Bar (Asbury): Cat London / Jerzy Jung / Mike Mentz / Allie Moss, 7:30pm, $10

FRIDAY (5/27)

Asbury Park Yacht Club (Asbury): Ribeye Brothers / VonMons, 9pm, FREE

The Brighton Bar (Long Branch): TSOL / The Scandals / Zombie Mafia / After The Burn, 8pm, $13

The Citizen (Jersey City): dollys / Rest Ashore / Kadian Quartet / Din, 8pm, $7

Clash Bar (Clifton): Paul Mauled Acoustic, 9:30pm

Convention Hall (Asbury): Asbury Park Night Bazaar ft. GayGuy / StraightGuy / Yawn Mower, 5pm

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): The Production / Ever So Noble / The Dark Matters / Delsea / pioneer the eel, 8pm, $10

House of Independents (Asbury): The Shady Street Show Band (record release) / Nick Greeley & The Operators / Des & The Swagmatics / Mad Feather Group / J.T. Makoviecki, 7:30pm, $10 adv, $15 door