Worriers' Lauren Denitzio Played Asbury Park Brewery w/ Natalie Newbold, Emily Bornemann, and Mikey Pellegrino, 3/22/18

Lauren Denitzio of Worriers

Solo But Not Alone

There's been a lot of "stuff" going around town this past week. We finally heard the plans for what's going to happen to the building that used to house Asbury Lanes, and it's caused some... ...conversation. Much of that conversation has centered on what it was that made Asbury Lanes special; and, while Asbury Lanes no longer exists, some of that spirit still flickers around town at shows like the one Aftermath Collective and House of Independents threw at Asbury Park Brewery last night.

Lauren Denitzio of Worriers returned to Asbury Park for an intimate solo set and headlined a bill that also included Natalie Newbold (Well Wisher), Emily Bornemann (Dentist), and Mikey Pellegrino (latewaves). It was a special evening. Each performer usually plays as part of a full band; and, naturally, there had to be some nerves. But everyone playing was in the same boat; and I think that gave everything a nice, communal feel. At any rate, if there were any nerves, they didn't hurt a single performance.

Mikey Pellegrino

One of the great things about hearing the songs stripped of their full-band arrangements, guitar solos, drum fills, is that you really notice what good songs they are. Natalie Newbold and I discussed this with reference to Emily Bornemann and Dentist following Newbold's set, but it was true across the board. latewaves, Dentist, Well Wisher, and Worriers can all get pretty loud in their own way; but, last night, everyone's songs held up -- shone even -- in the more intimate setting.

Emily Bornemann

And the interactions with the audience -- from Pellegrino's pointing out where the band would come in, to Bornemann's revealing that this was her first solo set in a decade, to Newbold's forgetting the opening line to one of her earliest songs, to Denitzio's admitting that they liked to be able to do shows like this whenever the rest of the band was unavailable -- felt natural, like a shared experience among friends.

Natalie Newbold

Just a sweet, sweet night. I could go on about it, but I just wanted to acknowledge that there are still plenty of chances to support cool things in and around Asbury Park. It's easy to get down on the way things are trending, and I forget that sometimes. Last night was a nice reminder of what we can still do.

Prince Rama Played The Saint with Wrinkles and Geena, 8/19/16 (Words Allyson Dwyer, Pics Emily Bornemann)

Photo: Emily Bornemann

Team Coverage

by Allyson Dwyer

#TeamCDM are back at it to save the day again while a certain someone jet sets off to the land of baguettes and Ratatouille.

I had never heard of Prince Rama before. A quick Google and subsequent description of the band had my "hipster bullshit" detectors going off like fireworks (The quick Google search also gave me nightmare flashbacks of college and NYC and the dawn of MGMT); but after hearing a few of their songs on YouTube, I figured why the hell not. It was time I saw something new, especially with the strong recommendation from CoolDad.

Imagine how stupid I feel now. Kids, never judge stuff based on their publicity blurbs. Go see a band live. Especially when they offer to be a bit more entertaining than the normal rock bands we see in Asbury every day (Much love to our bands, but how often do we see something so poppy?).

I learned that Prince Rama is a concept by sisters Taraka and Nimai Larson, that they were "discovered" by Avery Tare of Animal Collective, and that they're now eight albums deep into this project. Looking over their past albums, it seems they're just now finding their voice. And clearly it's working, because the people who did show up to The Saint were pretty devout in their love for this band.

The night started off with a very subdued, calming performance by local artist Geena. Between songs, she spoke to the room like it was a natural conversation, using The Saint's small space as a living room to just strum on her acoustic guitar while her evening was just beginning. The night was still early, but for those there her voice captured the room.

Photo: Emily Bornemann

Following Geena was Wrinkles, a rock-dance band from Missoula, Montana. You don't hear that often; but their music was very much informed by their home turf, as they sang songs about mountains and snow and distance, all backed by a pulsing, electronic beat. They took the stage in what I can only describe as the youth pajama department at Target. Some members wore onesies. All of them wore different colored wigs. They were ready to have a blast.

Even with the room barely full, Wrinkles were full of energy. Each song was a show stopper for them, and they seemed to just be amused to be up on stage doing their thing. The members kind of hopped around, switching instruments and lead singers and places on stage. Later in the night, I would notice pretty much the whole band going crazy over Prince Rama.

Photo: Emily Bornemann

And I won't lie. By the end of the night, I would be too. Emily and I were pretty pooped and were thinking we would try to stay half the set before going to pass out somewhere, but that never happened. We were so transfixed by the whole thing that we just stood in place, sometimes turning to look at each other and laugh and nod our heads like "hell yeah."

The curtain opened, and the three members were clad in neon spandex and fishnets, leggings and neon face paint. Lead singer Taraka's face was bejewelled. Flower crown in hair, she spoke into the mic that modulated her voice to sound deeper, masculine. She looked and felt like a small powerful alien that had just landed on the stage with her band to bestow upon the room the power of music (Strangely, that reminds me of how Flaming Lips shows usually start).

Photo: Emily Bornemann

Photo: Emily Bornemann

I wish words could do this justice, but I doubt it. Looking up their live show on YouTube won't either. I tried. Simply put, Prince Rama is one of those bands you need to see live, and specifically now, when they're playing small rooms where they're able to make intimate connections with the audience. They've been around a while; but I wouldn't be surprised if, over time, they become something bigger. They have that kind of draw. And I feel like this band works best now, like this, in small spaces.

Aside from the spectacle of it all, their music (both recorded and as a live band) measures up to their appearance. The Saint wasn't even half full. But the people who were there, were there knowing every beat drop, every chorus to songs like "Bahia," "Those Who Love Will Live Forever" and "Now Is The Time For Emotion." At one point, Taraka jumped on the back of someone in the audience, who proceeded to run around the room with her as she sang. Somehow she ended up back on stage. She kind of just floated like that. Sister and drummer Nimai was just as mesmerizing, grinning as she stood at her drum kit, jumping up and down and hyping the audience up.

Photo: Emily Bornemann

After being begged for an encore, the band came out again wearing silky robes. Taraka had the room come sit up on stage while the band played an acoustic, more subdued song. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen at a show, and all of this coming from a band that I was ready to write off. I left feeling pretty converted.

[CoolDad Note: Thanks, as always, to Allyson and Emily for covering this show for me. As soon as I saw this on the calendar, I knew it was a good one. Maybe we'll get another thing or two up here from guests while I'm away. I'll post the rest of Emily's pictures when I'm off of this hotel wifi. Off to London in the morning. Au revoir.]

New Single from Seaside Caves

Artwork: Matthew Gere

"Summer"

Most of the memories of my youth are of the summer. The ones that get further and further away as time passes start to become hazier and more dreamlike, kind of like the steamy days that spawned them. Lots of my summer memories are joyful ones: watching the fireworks in Red Bank with my family, piling my friends into my little Tercel after summer evenings on the beach. That car was always full of sand. I have other summer memories, though: leaving a party alone, unhappy and riding my bike along Rumson Road in the dark, sitting and staring at the waves by myself on the beach at night.

On "Summer," the first single from their upcoming Hope, Seaside Caves come to us with one of those solitary summer memories. "She is going to a party. I am left here with the lie," sings Todd Wacha. He's alone in his apartment as the carefree days of summer creep along outside. The keys and the guitar merge into a New Wave / shoegaze dream, and Dentist's Emily Bornemann contributes a hint of gauzy backing vocals to complete the picture.

Seaside Caves worked with Pete Steinkopf at Little Eden Studios on this and the rest of the tracks on Hope, which the band will release at the end of summer. Stream "Summer" below or at Seaside Caves' Bandcamp page. As part of this single release, you can also hear a live version of "Summer" recorded at Asbury Lanes along with the original home demo of the track.

Mitski Played The Saint with Secret Mountain and Algebra II, 6/13/16

Photo: Emily Bornemann

[CoolDad Note: After four straight nights back and forth to Brooklyn, away from the CoolFamily, including an 11:30pm, Sunday night change of a flat tire on the Garden State Parkway, I had to rest my old bones and stay in. The dream team of Allyson Dwyer and Dentist's Emily Bornemann have you covered when it comes to Mitski, though. Allyson gives us her review and Emily documented the entire evening with all of the pictures in this post. They're two of my absolute best buds and great at what they do. I can't thank them enough.]

Or Screw You Garfield. My Monday  Was Awesome.

by Allyson Dwyer

A Monday show at The Saint? Could I do it? For this line up -- Algebra II, Secret Mountain, and headliner Mitski -- there was never really an option. I bought a ticket the day the show was announced.

CoolDad couldn’t make it to the show because he had partied so hard at Northside all weekend, so it was up to me and Dentist’s Emily (with CDM’s camera diaper bag) to pick up his slack.

And I think he missed a pretty damn good show. The place was jam packed, thankfully with mostly short people like me, making it an extra good occasion. The energy was high. Maybe it’s because I was up front, but something just felt special about the show. Like all eyes in the room were on the stage. I think because every single person in that room wanted to be there. And not just for one band, but for the entire bill.

The first opening band was Asbury Park’s Algebra II, a three-piece fronted by Asbury Park Feminist Collective’s Maggie Pakutka (Maggie had also toured with Mitski back when Mitski played the Lanes). Although having existed for three years, Algebra II joked onstage this was like their "tenth show” ever. You would have never known because they played so perfectly together. Self described on Facebook as "friendship rock/quiet grrl," their music was a gorgeous mixture of soft sounding melodies and rock-pop tunes infused with even a bit of country. The band was also collecting money to help those affected by the tragedy in Orlando, and I believe they've since raised over $200. A beautiful way to open the night, and I hope to see more and more of them.

Algebra II

Secret Mountain followed. I cannot tell you how unprepared, and then blown away, I was by this band, beginning with their first song, "Shift Happens." The one thing I kept thinking the whole time I watched them was that they were like a punk-lo-fi-indie jam band. The entire room, if not bouncing along, either knew the words or knew the right moments to dance to songs. Lots of freaking out and laughing and in-jokes between the band and audience. There was a lot of love in the room for this band, and it was hard not to feel that.

Secret Mountain

Time seemed to fly watching both bands, and it was time for Mitski. Taking the stage at around 9:30, Mitski and her band came right out and opened with "Townie." They followed that up with my favorite song of hers, "First Love/Late Spring." I didn't think the set could get any better just two songs in, but she and her band also played "Thursday Girl," an early favorite of mine from listening to Puberty 2 on NPR. It's incredible how, with just three musicians on stage, Mitski is able to reinterpret the production of her songs in new and interesting ways that give them even more depth.

Of course, she also played "Your Best American Girl," a track that has been talked about quite a lot and played just as much on SiriusXMU and other stations. To be honest, I was sad to not hear a live version of "Happy" because of how intuitive and new sounding the live versions of these songs were. But we were spoiled with so many other songs that I didn't even realize I missed it until writing this.

Mitski closed out the show solo, switching from bass to guitar, and singing the closing tracks to Bury Me at Makeout Creek and Puberty 2, "Last Words of a Shooting Star" and "A Burning Hill." These solemn songs are just as captivating -- if not more so -- than the songs she played with her full band. Just a moment between a really gifted lyricist and an audience dying to hear her sing those lines out loud.

One of the best times I ever had at Asbury Lanes, at any show, was the night Mitski opened for Screaming Females. The place was packed; and, when Mitski took the stage, I realized it was possible maybe most of the audience was there to see her.  Even though I had to stand off to the side far away, her material immediately clicked with me. And now, not much later, I was right in the front, mouthing along and finding myself getting emotional at certain lyrics.

After that Lanes show, we talked a little bit -- mostly about Sailor Moon -- and she signed my copy of Bury Me at Makeout Creek.  It's probably one of my most played and treasured records. And I can't wait to listen to Puberty 2 on vinyl over and over. And hopefully the next album around, Mitski will be back in Asbury Park.

You can see all of Emily's photos from the evening in CoolDad's Flickr galleries.