Tiny Giant Summer Bummer, Asbury Lanes PHOTOS

A Great Day for New Jersey Music

The Tiny Giant Summer Bummer made a stop at Asbury Lanes on Saturday, June 22nd, bringing with it over 20 bands and solo acts. From the acoustic indie rock of Mike Baglivi to the post-hardcore of Cicada Radio to the story of Meet Pause told through song to a -- as I heard one audience member describe it -- joyful set by The Everymen, the Tiny Giant Artist Collective showcased some of the most original acts in New Jersey Music.

I got there as the show started at 2pm and caught the last-ever set by Kids with Guns. I took a dinner break and made it through the set by Those Mockingbirds before reluctantly giving in to the fact that I had to drive the family up to Maine at 6AM. Apologies to all of those bands that I missed.

You should head over to the Tiny Giant Artist Collective's Facebook page and check out all of the member bands. You're bound to find something you'll love.

Special recognition should go out to The Everymen's Mike V. and Asbury Lanes for putting together such an immense undertaking. Everything ran like clockwork.

Here are some photos of the acts I managed to catch.

Tiny Giant Summer Bummer

This Weekend, June 22nd at Asbury Lanes

After a long day of business meetings Tuesday in Irving, TX, I went back to my room, put on my New Jersey Hardcore T-shirt, and headed over to the local Tex-Mex establishment for a beverage or two. As I watched the basketball game at the bar, a couple of people said they liked my shirt. They asked me if I was from New Jersey, and we had a nice chat. People everywhere seem to feel a connection with New Jersey and its music.

If you're just about anywhere in New Jersey come this weekend, you'll have an opportunity to get a taste of some of that music that everyone loves so much. The Tiny Giant Artist Collective will be holding their Summer Bummer festival at several iconic venues.

Nemo snowed out Tiny Giant's first attempt back in February. This time, the main event at Asbury Lanes starts at 2pm on Saturday and goes all night. Acts on the bill include The Everymen, Stephen Chopek, Janet LaBelle, Secret Country, Cicada Radio, Lionel Pryor, Those Mockingbirds, Cinema Cinema, and on and on.

You say it sounds great, but you've already got tickets to see Social Distortion at The Stone Pony? Don't worry. Anyone who's in Asbury Park for the Social Distortion Summer Stage performance can use their ticket to gain free admission to Asbury Lanes after the show.

Tiny Giant is also holding smaller scale showcases at New Brunswick's Court Tavern on Friday and both Jersey City's Lamp Post and Hoboken's Maxwell's on Sunday. You can check out the Facebook event to RSVP and to see all of the details.

Even with crowding, hurricanes, nor'easters, whatever, those of us who live in New Jersey are pretty lucky. Great people. Great beaches. Great music. Think about heading out this weekend to celebrate all of that. Do it for your friends down in Texas.

Janet LaBelle Releases New Single

"Wide Awake Dreaming"

She currently calls Brooklyn home, but Janet LaBelle is a product of the New Jersey pop punk scene. As a solo artist she's so far specialized in retro, surf, or girl group-inspired pop. On "Wide Awake Dreaming," LaBelle goes for a slightly different sound from the same era.

Piano and strings give the song a kind of early 1960's ballad feel, and had me thinking of a (much) more stripped down version of something like Wilco's "Reservations" from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

LaBelle and many, many others from the Tiny Giant Artists Collective will be appearing at Asbury Lanes on June 22nd for the Summer Bummer, which is the rescheduled version of the canceled-by-Nemo Winter Beach Ball.