Category Archives: TVD Asbury Park

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

Live music is major business here in New Jersey. From the Meadowlands to the Stone Pony, the Garden State has always harbored vibrant and exciting places to witness live music. A New Jersey summer is, however, a magical time to witness a live event, preferably outdoors.

Perhaps you’ve watched Bruce Springsteen sing “Who’ll Stop the Rain” during a torrential downpour in Giants Stadium and glanced at the mass of humanity in front of you and been aware that just outside the stadium, the New York City skyline hovers and the Meadowlands’ estuaries reach out to infinite waterways which connect NJ to the rest of the world. Or, maybe that’s just me.

It’s important to think about these things though; to appreciate your local regionalism but also to be aware of the bustling world happening just around the bend. This week, we explore some outstanding musical moments which took place in the great Garden State and prepare for a fun weekend sure to offer more of the same. Be safe.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

A musician’s vehicle often says a lot about their dedication to the craft. Francie Moon’s well-worn mini-van displays the many miles this young lady has logged in search of a stage and an audience. The vintage bicycle hanging on the back of the van communicates that she likes to explore, and the red bandana hanging off of the lift gate, exclaims that she’s a bit of a free spirit.

Francie is one of those NJ musicians who always seems to be out there, doing a gig somewhere, getting some people together, and making some sounds.

And then there are the sounds that Francie makes: her voice surprises; explodes out of her small frame and fills the room. And her guitar chops: meaty, riffy, and chewy. When coupled with her unique vocals, she grabs you by the lapels and dares you to do something else while she’s performing. Come on in, meet Francie Moon. There is a lot to learn about her. You’ll be charmed.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

Last week, I enjoyed the unique experience of shopping for records at the Archive of Contemporary Music which, twice a year holds a sale to relinquish their library overflow. While I was a little woozy from heat exhaustion, especially after sitting in three hours of NYC gridlock and skipping dinner, some wonderful purchases were made.

On this episode, we delve into those with Jersey connections: Sarah Vaughan, Titus Andronicus, The Rascals, Johnny Smith, and Ron Carter. Bruce, Dionne, Tony Bennett, and even The Band come by to say, “hello!”

Finally, we end this week’s episode with an homage to Marlton, NJ’s own, Christina Grimmie.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

Look, I’ve done over 75 episodes of “Garden State Sound” and before I start crafting another episode I think to myself, “Are there enough New Jerseyans to keep this thing running?”

However, once I get started, the connections flow freely. That’s what happens this week as we explore The Rascals, The Roches, we compile a new wave set including Blondie, The Catholic Girls, and The B-52s, and check in with the Deafening Colors, Real Estate, and Desir Decir, and of course Frank Sinatra and The Monkees.

Most importantly, we have a pair of tickets available for you to see The Smithereens at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in West Orange, NJ on Saturday, June 18th. Enter for your chance to win by emailing your contact information to gardenstatesounds@gmail.com.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

New Jersey is rife with jazz; always has been, always will. This week we go from the obvious (Count Basie and Frank Sinatra) to some more obscure choices (Emily Remler and a Direct-to-Disk recording of “Jersey Bounce”).

There is something for everyone on this edition of Jersey Jazz. Part two might not be too far behind.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

All sorts of new, wonderful, New Jersey music come to you on this week’s episode of Garden State Sound—many genres and sounds: Readymade Breakup, Thank You Scientist, Candy Hearts, TV Tramps, Titus Andronicus, Mree, the Amboys, and many more!

Click play to discover your new favorite band.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

This is what I love about New Jersey. In some ways Avi Wisnia epitomizes the NJ musical experience—born in Princeton, spends formative years in the temple, becomes a talented singer-songwriter, finds a new home in Philadelphia, falls in love with Bossa Nova, and immerses himself in his grandfather’s Holocaust experience. That is, of course, the abridged version of Avi’s story, but it reflects the diversity found in many artistic Garden State stories.

This week, Avi will tell us about his latest excursions, we’ll talk the music of Brazil, and he’ll even be kind enough to perform on the new Garden State Sound piano which was in dire need of a tuning. It didn’t scare him away though, he’s a pro.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

This week, on “Garden State Sound” we get into the car and drive all over the state before the snow starts falling. That’s right, this episode was taped while Jonas was out there lurking and preparing to dump two feet of snow on the New York City metro area.

Let’s take advantage of the snow-free streets and sample all the best that NJ has to offer: Melody Gardot, The Battery Electric, Spiraling, Wyclef Jean, Chris Barron, A Girl Called Eddy, and more!

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

Here on Garden State Sound, it’s fine to highlight the musical monsters of New Jersey. However, another goal of this program is to highlight and champion bands who are on their way up, as well as pay homage to the stalwarts. On this week’s episode, we do both.

We analyze something new from Paul Simon and then dig in a little deeper. If you don’t know them yet, now is a great time to meet, The Vaughns, Roadside Graves, River City Extension, Modern Chemistry, and The Front Bottoms. Also featured, Screaming Females, The Doughboys, The Insomniacs, and more!

So, join us this week for a little bit of the old and a big chunk of the new!

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

Rob Fusari is a young man but he’s already accomplished so much. After scoring major hits with Destiny’s Child, Will Smith, and others, he connected with Lady Gaga which culminated in co-writing and producing a few—umm, I guess we’ll call them—monster hits.

After forays into a few alter-ego musical acts, Fusari is now ready to step behind the writer’s keyboard and mixing console—a talented singer and multi-instrumentalist performer, this Wednesday (4/27), he performs a solo show at New York City’s Cutting Room. The show, a William Paterson University music event where Fusari is an alumni, is a mix of his own music and music of the Beatles.

Tune in and sit down with Fusari and me as we talk the Grammys, multiplatinum records, Lady Gaga, writing, producing, and how hard it is to resist the temptation of the music industry no matter how difficult of a road it may be.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

Not only was Sarah Vaughan one of the greatest female jazz singers of all time during the height of the early 1940s, she continued to lend her voice to jazz standards—and popular music—until her death in 1990.

Born in Newark in 1924, Vaughan wasn’t merely a jazz singer, but a fan of all kinds of music. The music on this summary of her career focuses on all of those facets: the early career, her forays in Brazilian music, her unique versions of popular tunes, and more. Tune in and celebrate the sound of Sassy.

Back in November of last year Joe Kouckos and Meghan Scott of Hold Fast Records in Asbury Park, long the force behind the regularly held Asbury Park Punk Rock Flea Market, decided it was time to bring a full-blown record show to town.

The event, held at the legendary Stone Pony, was an overwhelming success, so much so that a mere five months later they’re doing it again.

This Sunday, April 10th the doors of the Stone Pony will open again for vendors and buyers alike, starting at 10:00AM for the early birds who want to get a first look at what is available, at the Asbury Park Record Show. I recently spoke with Joe whose philosophy on record collecting is as serious as it is simple, “If you want a record from Jamaica…you go to Jamaica to get it.”

The Asbury Park Record Show, Sunday, April 10, 2016
The Stone Pony, 913 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ
Early Bird 10:00AM ($10) | Doors 11:00AM ($4)
DJ’s spinning all day

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

Good friend of the show, Lay Lustig from NJArts.net, reminded us all that this week is the 30th anniversary of an important record label from right here in Hoboken, NJ, Bar/None Records, that’s from way back in 1986 for those of you keeping score at home. At that time, Hoboken was the Williamsburg of the NYC indie scene. Bar/None has been known for releasing some wonderful—and important—music and can be looked upon as certainly embracing the jangly Hoboken sound.

So, tune in this week to hear a generous helping from the Bar/None records catalog—both old and new—and put this unique and longstanding label into perspective. We could do several shows featuring Bar/None performers, but let’s start with: The Feelies, They Might be Giants, Richard Barone, The Db’s, The Front Bottoms, Yo La Tengo, Speed the Plough, and many more.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

Like any good shoregoer returning from a long walk on the sand, I return with some trinkets and interesting bobbles which I didn’t have before I left. I’m back from the Cape May Songwriters Conference and here I share with you this year’s new discoveries: Mycenea Worley, Craig Greenberg, Pat Foran, and Charlotte Berg.

Also present on this program is Bruce, A Girl Called Eddy, Avi Wisnia, and many more. We even say a few words about the untimely passing of Frank Sinatra, Jr. The beach might be a little chilly, but the weather is always right for some great NJ tunes. Join us.

All jokes aside, New Jersey is a pretty great place. While it has a lot to offer as a state, it also has a rich musical history of which many people remain unaware. Everyone knows Sinatra and The Boss, but there’s much more.

Even though forecasters are predicting a final winter snow blast this weekend, it feels like spring in NJ—the birds are chirping, a warm wind can be found blowing, and there was even a thunderstorm this week. So, what better time to head to Cape May to attend this year’s Cape May Songwriters Conference. That’s where I’ll be this weekend, and where you—if you’re in the vicinity—should consider going.

This week, we don’t rely too heavily on this year’s roster of performers, we’ll do that in the future. But, we do revisit some old friends that we’ve met there. There is also music from some other underrepresented NJ favorites: Shirk Circus, The Feelies, and others. Come on in!