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.

“What can you say about Frank Sinatra that hasn’t already been written, or thought, or whatever? He’s an American icon and he’s certainly at the top of the heap when it comes to music with connections to the Garden State. This week on “Garden State Sound” join Michael Feinstein and myself as we discuss Frank on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

We’ll also discuss Mr. Feinstein’s many years of working with the Sinatra songbook and his centennial concert at NJPAC. Happy birthday, blue eyes; here’s to 100 more. Now, click play, baby.” —EZT

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 features us flipping the knob about the radio and getting into all kind of miscellaneous nonsense.

You’ll be teased about Bruce’s new archival release, The Ties That Bind, talk about Sinatra at the Sands, get serious about Looking Glass, and break out some Blondie, Screaming Females, Count Basie, Smithereens, and Ms. Lauryn Hill.

Join us and go all over the place.” —EZT

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.

Tune in to Garden State Sound with Evan Toth to explore the diverse music with connections to New Jersey. You’ll hear in-depth interviews with some of Jersey’s best music makers and have the opportunity win tickets to some of the best concerts in the state.

“How do you interpret a Beatle? How can you alter their lyrics and music into your own vision; give them a new sound, or feel? How can one do so in a way that won’t detract from the timeless originals, but yet be unique enough for people to want to hear? Those were some of the challenges facing Paterson, NJ’s John Pizzarelli when he decided to embark upon his latest project, “Midnight McCartney.”

But, it wasn’t really John’s idea, it was Paul’s. Having worked with Paul as a featured jazz guitarist on his 2012 standards release, Kisses on the Bottom the former Beatle was aware of Pizzarelli’s jazz chops and methods of interpretation. So, he sat right down and wrote him a little letter about interpreting his solo work in a jazz setting. When Macca makes a suggestion, you’d best follow suit.

Join us this week as we talk McCartney originals, recording with a legend, and how the miles that separate Paterson from Liverpool aren’t really all that much between musicians.” —EZT

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.

“Whatever your personal politics are, there’s no doubt that things are a little ominous out there. Maybe that’s what people always think and say, maybe that’s how everyone qualifies their place in the ever-expanding galaxy we call home: now is their personal time on Planet Earth, these times are singular, how lucky they are to witness them.

In any case, few would disagree that tumult, suspicion, anxiety, and distrust are the order of the day. Maybe that’s why revisiting Bruce’s 1995 album The Ghost of Tom Joad on its 20th anniversary isn’t a bad idea. Today, the climate is right for us to sink into the shoes of the characters Bruce sketches on this album and walk a mile, or two, even if the path we are led down is a little dark and cold.

One of the major values of art is—if done right—the viewer is forced to see the world through new eyes. Sometimes that’s uncomfortable, but that’s the point. The Ghost of Tom Joad isn’t an easy listen, but it’s not supposed to be. Tune in.” —EZT

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 we often share with you a cornucopia of music hailing from New Jersey. This week, however, we dig into one particular album and enjoy the whole thing, from beginning to end. The album—of course—must have NJ ties, which Sarah Vaughan’s 1981 release, Songs of the Beatles does.

Born in Newark in 1924, Sarah Vaughan became not only one of the greatest jazz singers in America, but one of the greatest singers, period. The story goes that Songs of the Beatles was recorded in 1977, yet was not released until 1981.

The album stands as a tribute to both Vaughan and the Beatles. Of course, you know the tunes and could probably use a nice refreshing listen to them in different arrangements, but if you’re not all that familiar with Vaughan, you’ll surely enjoy her vocal treatments. The record just works, and that’s why it’s being featured—as a whole—this week on Garden State Sound. —EZT

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.

Tune in to Garden State Sound with Evan Toth to explore the diverse music with connections to New Jersey. You’ll hear in-depth interviews with some of Jersey’s best music makers and have the opportunity win tickets to some of the best concerts in the state.

“It was a beautiful day outside, so what do you do when you are in New Jersey? You break out some Rascals—or, some Young Rascals. Sure, there was a little Rascals set, but there was a gaggle of other good stuff too: Dionne Warwick, Southside Johnny, Lauryn Hill, and more.

Maybe even a little bossa nova. Click the link already, would ya?” —EZT
ORIGINALLY AIRED 5/18/15

Hold Fast Records on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park has long been home to a staggering selection of vinyl. Owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Joe Koukos and Meghan Scott, the store also offers a variety of vintage clothing, art and jewelry, as well as offering a venue for performances by local artists.

Meghan and Joe are also the driving force behind the semi-annual Asbury Park Punk Rock Flea Market which, like their store, is heavy on records but also offers an assortment of treasures you may not have even known exist. On November 8th, it will be all about the vinyl as Hold Fast will invade the legendary Stone Pony for the first Asbury Park Record Show.

I spoke with Meghan and Scott about the event, the store, the town, and its music scene of which they are such a big part.

How did Hold Fast Records get started? Was vinyl something you guys were passionate about or was it an evolution of the business?

Before we opened up Hold Fast we both worked in the local bars and venues and basically were starting to get burned out on the long, late hours. Opening our own business became our crazy dream. We started out with just the idea of opening a store selling things we were into. In the beginning vinyl was just a part of it.

We sold clothing by independent designers, vintage, art and memorabilia—basically anything we liked. The vinyl section grew and took over becoming the main focus of the store. Joe got completely hooked on chasing down collections and got the “fever” for finding rare records. We still sell a small amount of clothing, art, and memorabilia, and have added used CDs and gear to our offerings, but records are definitely the heart and focal point of the shop.

Read 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.

“It doesn’t have to be Halloween for aliens to take over the planet Earth.

77 years ago, Orson Welles engaged in a very daring radio experiment. While not seemingly created to intentionally fool people, Welles’ radio rendering of War of the Worlds was realistic enough to send people running from their homes, calling the police, packing into churches, and looking for some way to avoid being destroyed by the imminently lurking tripod creatures!

Of course, in Welles’ version, such a horrific event could only take place in…New Jersey. Today on Garden State Sound we visit Grover’s Mill, NJ. Don’t look at those internet devices. Close your eyes and let your imagination go. You might just get a little…scared.” —EZT

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, we dig into the record bag and spin some of your favorite New Jersey classics. The Halloween season starts off right with The Misfits.

There’s a little something new, yet old, from Bruce Springsteen, and we’ll also hear Melody Gardot, R. Stevie Moore, The Bouncing Souls, and, of course, a dark, brooding and middle-aged Frank Sinatra ruminating on experiencing the deepest loneliness through the darkest night: what could be more terrifying than that?

Happy Halloween, everyone.” —EZT

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.

Tune in to Garden State Sound with Evan Toth to explore the diverse music with connections to New Jersey. You’ll hear in-depth interviews with some of Jersey’s best music makers and have the opportunity win tickets to some of the best concerts in the state.

“Goosebumps. When you get them, you know you’re experiencing something which taps into your psyche in a way that’s often difficult to describe. The music of Russell Norkevich, for me, always leads to goosebumps. It offers me a hazy, nostalgic, dreamy quality that is devoid of time or space: Eltonesque. This New Jersey singer-songwriter arms himself with 88 keys and occasionally imagist lyrics which reach out to the listener from some familiar, but slightly abstract place.

Russell’s got a new song, “River Town,” which we also premiere on the program.

Tune in to hear Russell talk about writing and harmonizing life’s responsibilities, and enjoy the simple pleasure of a terrific songwriter making good sounds behind a piano. You might get some goosebumps, too.” —EZT

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.

Tune in to Garden State Sound with Evan Toth to explore the diverse music with connections to New Jersey. You’ll hear in-depth interviews with some of Jersey’s best music makers and have the opportunity win tickets to some of the best concerts in the state.

Many have been through Atlantic City, the rest know it—they are aware. But, few can identify it as a home, a base, a place where they grew up. John Arthur and Cristofer Slotoroff from The Deafening Colors met as mere teens. They know each other well and they know New Jersey, they are ready to use the Garden State as a model for their canvas.

Is Carousel Season a New Jersey concept album? Kind of. It starts by driving a heart full of damage down the “Parkway South” and brings us past Atlantic City and to other locations that hug the Atlantic Ocean. It’s an album of myriad textures and sounds: voices (John) and all other instruments (Cris) beautifully harken the California Sound—via NJ—and haunt your speakers.

Hey, out of towners: play this record to get a better idea of what it feels like to pull a fast Cadillac onto the Atlantic City Expressway on a dark afternoon weekday during late winter. It’s shiny, beautiful, well-constructed, but it’s also a little creepy, parched, foreboding.” —EZT

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.

Tune in to Garden State Sound with Evan Toth to explore the diverse music with connections to New Jersey. You’ll hear in-depth interviews with some of Jersey’s best music makers and have the opportunity win tickets to some of the best concerts in the state.

“Today, nobody sells five million records. Even in the good (bad) old days, it was no small feat to sell five million records. Chris Barron helmed the Spin Doctors through the ’90s. Remember the ’90s? There was a lot of wonderful music around, much of it dark and gloomy. But, like after a long stretch of rain, when the sun finally breaks through, your neck muscles melt.

That’s what “Two Princes” was like for me. A melody! It was fun, a party. I—and apparently five million others—needed a break from the maudlin grunge and punk we loved so much to have a few laughs—it meant a lot.

But, let’s not spend too much time in the past—let’s talk to Chris Barron about the future as well. You’ll hear the great music he’s writing lately, and learn that the Spin Doctors are very much alive and kicking in 2015. You’ll hear about how he learned about music at the Princeton Record Exchange and how adept he is at turning weaknesses into strengths. Of course, we’ll talk about New Jersey, too!” —EZT

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.

Tune in to Garden State Sound with Evan Toth to explore the diverse music with connections to New Jersey. You’ll hear in-depth interviews with some of Jersey’s best music makers and have the opportunity win tickets to some of the best concerts in the state.

“Who wouldn’t like to return to their high school, with professional sound reinforcement in tow, and rock the house as a celebrity rockstar? Well, Joe Walsh gets to do just that this week (October 3) when he returns to his alma mater, Montclair High School to do a benefit for the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence. After graduating 50 years ago, Joe felt it was the right time to come back and do something good with his immeasurable talents and skills.

Joe Walsh isn’t your typical musician—he’s had a successful solo career, but has also been involved in some of the most amazing musical acts of the 20th century along the way. His solo sound is unique, aggressive, and full of excellent Beatle flavor and riffy psychedelic references. He’s another excellent musician with deep New Jersey roots.

When is the last time you heard a solid block of Joe Walsh? What are you waiting for? Click play already!” —EZT

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.

Tune in to Garden State Sound with Evan Toth to explore the diverse music with connections to New Jersey. You’ll hear in-depth interviews with some of Jersey’s best music makers and have the opportunity win tickets to some of the best concerts in the state.

“How do you interpret a Beatle? How can you alter their lyrics and music into your own vision; give them a new sound, or feel? How can one do so in a way that won’t detract from the timeless originals, but yet be unique enough for people to want to hear? Those were some of the challenges facing Paterson, NJ’s John Pizzarelli when he decided to embark upon his latest project, “Midnight McCartney.”

But, it wasn’t really John’s idea, it was Paul’s. Having worked with Paul as a featured jazz guitarist on his 2012 standards release, Kisses on the Bottom the former Beatle was aware of Pizzarelli’s jazz chops and methods of interpretation. So, he sat right down and wrote him a little letter about interpreting his solo work in a jazz setting. When Macca makes a suggestion, you’d best follow suit.

Join us this week as we talk McCartney originals, recording with a legend, and how the miles that separate Paterson from Liverpool aren’t really all that much between musicians.” —EZT

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.

Tune in to Garden State Sound with Evan Toth to explore the diverse music with connections to New Jersey. You’ll hear in-depth interviews with some of Jersey’s best music makers and have the opportunity win tickets to some of the best concerts in the state.

“Many bands give lip service to the fact that they are climbing the barbed ladder to wealth and fame, that they’re starving for their art, but very few have rented a house—in which to live with their bandmates—and really gone for the gold.

This is what Deal Casino has done. The band, originally from northeastern Sparta, chose to move in together and embed themselves in the burgeoning Asbury Park music scene, and—of course, probably—to be just a short bike ride from the beach.

Their music is expressive and passionate, their business heads appear to be screwed on straight, and they are friendly, affable fellows. There doesn’t seem to be any reason that Deal Casino won’t be the next big New Jersey band to make us proud.

Join us this week as we hear them play some great music, introduce tracks from their new EP “Nika”, discuss why NJ is probably one of the best places in the country to be a musician, and reminisce about encounters with the Boss.” —EZT