Stoked and Stacked
3 nights. 15 sets. 14 different bands. I got tired. My feet hurt. I went through a few camera batteries. It was that kind of exhaustion, though, where you feel fully satisfied. The kind that follows something like Thanksgiving Dinner. From Thursday through Saturday, I got to see some of my favorite bands for the umpteenth time; and I got to see several other bands for the very first time. Each night felt like a celebration.
Thursday, 7/28: The Bouncing Souls, Beach Slang, Cayetana at The Stone Pony
What: "The Bouncing Souls Stoked for the Summer: Night 1"
Why: It was the eve of The Bouncing Souls' album release. Simplicity is the band's 10th studio album, and they planned two days' worth of shows in Asbury Park to celebrate.
Favorite Moments:
Running into Beach Slang before the show and getting to chat with frontman James Alex about how excited he was to be playing that night, for the band's new record, and for their upcoming European tour.
Cayetana's entire set. I just love this trio from Philly. They played a few new songs set to appear on their upcoming record, and I can't wait for it.
Beach Slang's appearing almost "professional" during their set. I think there was only one deviation from the setlist with James Alex shouting, "OK. 'Dirty Cigarettes' for that guy over there!" Afterwards, bassist Ed McNulty brought Alex over to his own copy of the setlist and jabbed his finger at what was written.
Just the overall sense of family and community of every Bouncing Souls set. This culminated when the band brought a young girl -- 4 or 5 years old, maybe -- onstage to sing "Lean on Sheena."
Seeing all the familiar faces from Asbury Lanes and around the city. Getting to chat and catch up at the end of the evening.
Pictures:
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| Stoked for the Summer, Night 1 |
Friday, 7/29: The Bouncing Souls, Rocket From The Crypt, The Explosion, The Flatliners, Creeper, Restorations, The Vansaders at The Stone Pony Summer Stage
What: "The Bouncing Souls Stoked for the Summer: Night 2"
Why: Celebrating the official release of Simplicity, celebrating friends and family, celebrating Kate's birthday
Favorite Moments:
Being pleasantly surprised by British horror punks, Creeper, whom I'd never heard before.
The incremental ratcheting up of energy with each successive band. Toronto's The Flatliners have a solid Asbury Park following. The Explosion were making a rare live appearance, and the crowd up front were obviously thrilled.
Rocket From The Crypt. I know several people who are deeply devoted to this band. They have the tattoos and everything. I'd never seen them. They blew me away. Ass kicking showmanship and rock and roll. Amazing.
Again, the love and camaraderie that just oozes from the stage and from the crowd during a Bouncing Souls set in Asbury Park. There must have been 100 or more friends and family members onstage with the band. Frontman Greg Attonito led the entire audience in a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Kate Hiltz, the hardest-working person in all of rock music.
Getting to hear "Ghosts on the Boardwalk" and "Moon Over Asbury" while standing "where the city meets the sea" in Asbury Park.
Sticking around for the after-party inside The Stone Pony with Restorations and The Vansaders. Both bands were great, and The Vansaders absolutely brought it in front of a big crowd of friends.
Pictures:
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| Stoked for the Summer, Night 2 |
Saturday, 7/30: Colton Kayser, Lowlight, Cranston Dean Band, We're Ghosts Now, Cold Weather Company at Wonder Bar
What: Record release party for Colton Kayser's Place to Settle
Why: see above
Favorite Moments:
Colton Kayser is absolutely one of the nicest people in the Asbury scene, and it was great to see a packed out Wonder Bar for his record release.
All of the bands turned in excellent sets. Cold Weather Company and even Colton Kayser in a full-band configuration were firsts for me. The Cranston Dean Band and We're Ghosts Now both energized the crowd. I love Lowlight, plain and simple.
Watching Colton Kayser just enjoying every moment of his band's set while friends and family sang and danced along.
Pictures:
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| Colton Kayser at Wonder Bar |
I'm going to admit, with so many sets from so many bands, I had brief moments where taking pictures at all of these shows and then going home to edit them felt like work. But they were fleeting. Mostly, I just found myself thinking about how much I love doing it. More than a photographer or a blogger or whatever, I'm a fan of live music; and just being there for all of this over the weekend was really as much as I could have asked for.
Click on all the links above to check out the pictures. I'll also dump them over on the Facebook page if you prefer that.
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