Word just out that Jimmy Buffitt Inc. is purchasing the Trump Marina in Atlantic City, which will become the Margaritaville Hotel and Casino.
Employees of the Trump Marina were told today, Thursday, May 29.
Trump Marina, which has been on the market now for some time, will be renamed the Margaritaville Hotel and Casino Atlantic City. It has been on the market, along with the other two Trump casinos in Atlantic City, Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal.
More informaiton as it becomes available.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24874765/
Jimmy's got a concert set for the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall later this summer, and he'll have the "Hap" Farley Marina to put his saleboat, a long term lease that comes with the property.
It's going to be quite a change, from the stuffed shirt and shiney shoe Donald, to the laid back, flowerprint shirt guy in flipflops on the blender.
BK
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
AGENDA 2008
AGENDA 2008
FRIDAY Higher Ground at the Crab Trap; Acoustic Fish at Library III: The Rocco Brots at Maynard's Margate;
SATURDAY Lew London at Deauville Inn deck, Strathmere; Marion Sable at Library III; Highter Ground at the Crab Trap; Don Ellsworth at Maynard's Margate:
SUNDAY Lew London at the Deauville Inn deck; The McCool Bros at Maynard's;
MONDAY Lew London at the Deauville Inn deck;
TUESDAY Patty Blee at Library III; Kickin’ Bear at Stumpo’s;
WEDNESDAY Acoustic Fish at Library III; Higher Ground at the Crab Trap.
THURSDAY Gianni at the Crab Trap; Patty Blee at Library III: The Back Bay Duo at Maynard's Cafe Starlite Garden;
VENUES
Le Grand Fromage 25 Gordon's Alley 347-2743
Maynard's Cafe Margate 9306 Amherst Ave. On the Bay. 822-8423
The Trinity Pier Shops at Caesars 609 345-6900
30 JUNE - Bubba Mac Blues Night Trump Marina. 7:30
JULY
2 Edgardo Cintron and the Azuca Band
4 Boz Scaggs Borgata Music Box 9pm
4 Edgardo Cintron & the Azuca Band Cuba Libra [ www.CubaLibreRestaurant.com ]
4 Bobby Campanell Band at the
4 Melessa Etheridge Event Center
4 Boz Scaggs Borgata
4 Rush Trump Taj Mahal
5 Gretchen Wilson HOB
7 “Summer Solstice” with Jim Brickman.
9 Weird Al Yankovic HOB
10 Jimmie Van Zant Band HOB
11 Gizzae reggae at
11 Tony Bennett Caesars
12 Steel Pulse Trump
12 Zombies Trump
12 Van Morrison Borgata
14 Riders in the Sky (Comedy & Western) Stockton Beach OCMP
17 Boyz II Men HOB
18 Lil’
19 Elton John Boardwalk Hall.
19 Eddie Griffin HOB
19 Brad Garrett Borgata (8 & 11)
21 “Stayin’ Alive” Bee Gees Tribute Stockton Beach OCMP
25 Dr. Bobby Fingers with Danny Eyer at Somers Point Beach
25 Yes Borgata
25 Arthea Franklyn Borgata Music Box 9pm
25 Donna Summer Caesars
26 Crosby, Stills & Nash Borgata.
26 The Fab Faux HOB
28 Chris Hilman (Byrds) with Herb Pedersonj SB OCMP
30 Dark Star Orchestra HOB
31 Zappa Dweezel Zappa at HOB.
AUGUST
1 Howard Isaacson Somers Point Beach
2 Earth, Wind & Fire Borgata Event Center
2 Clutch HOB
2 Damon Wayans Resorts
2 Peter Frampton Tropicana
3 Jill Scott Borgata
4 Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience SB OCMP (What a accordian!)
6 Jay Mire Jazz at
7 Miranda Lambert HOB
8 Jill West and Blues Attack Somers Point Beach
8 Hootie & The Blowfish HOB
11 Rusty Evans Johnny Cash Tribute SB OCMP
15 Billy Walton and South
15
15, 16 Smokey Robinson Trump
16 Bob Dylan Borgata. 8pm
16 Herbie Hancock Borgatta
16 Elvis in Atlantic City HOB
16 Bruce Hornsby HOB
17 Robert Cray Band/Keb'Mo' and Band HOB
18 Dickie Betts (Allman Bros) & Great Southern SB OCMP
22 New Old Fashioned play
23 Greg Fitzsimmons Trump
23 Billy Idol HOB
24 Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band Boardwalk Hall
25 Jesse Cook (Rumba flamenco guitar master) SBOCMP
29 Big James and the
30 Foreigner Trump Taj Mahal
30 Travis Tritt Trump
30 Smashmouth HOB 9pm
31 Carlos Mencia Borgata
SEPTEMBER
3 Mike Pedicin, Jr. at the
5 Debbie Davies Somers Point Beach
12 David Maxwell Somers Point Beach
20 Celine Dion. Caesars. $55 - $225.
DECEMBER
Benefit at DiOrio's for DJ Rick DiFrancesco
THURSDAY May 22 Benefit at DiOrio's.
This just in. There will be a benefit show tommorow night, Thursday, May 22 at DiOrio's for DJ Rick DiFrancesco, featuring some of the best local entertainers around, with all proceeds going to Rick's family in a time of need.
This musical tribute to DJ Rick DiFrancesco, will be Live at DiOrio’s Café, with dynamic pianist Bobby Fingers, guitarist extradonaire Danny Eyer, living local rock & roll legend Bob Campanell, Steve Moore & the Billy Walton Band. If you haven't heard Billy Walton yet, you need to check this guy out, and this is the perfect opportunity to do it.
There will be a dance party with musical performances dedicated to Rick.
“Share our love and support for Rick and his family,” say Nancy and Carmen Marotta, who helped organize the affair.
DJ Rick’s wife Donna, is Nancy Marotta’s cousin.
There will be a silent acution and raffles with prizes.
The $35 donation includes 3 hour buffet, beer and wind and hours of
For more info or do make a donation call: 609-653-6069
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
2008 Somers Point Beach Concert Listing
Somers Piont taps acts from around the country for beach concerts - Current Story:
http://shorenewstoday.com/nls/ p. 15
The 16th Annual Somers Point Beach Concert Series
June 13th The Duke Robillard Band
Grammy Award Winning Swing Jump Band
June 20th The Shakes
Popular Local Party Band
June 27th Scott Holt
Contemporary Rock Singer/Songwriter
July 4th The Bob Campanell Band
A Patriotic Salute
July 11th Gizzae
Ethiopian Rooted Reggae
July 18th Lil’ Dave Thompson
Mississippi Delta Blues
July 25th Dr. Bobby Fingers with Danny Eyer
Pop Rock Sing-a-long & Christmas in July Party
August 1st Howard Isaacson CD Release Party
Contemporary Melodic Jazz
August 8th Jill West and Blues Attack
Party Band
August 15th Billy Walton with the South Jersey Horns
Hot Young Jersey Boy Rockers
August 22nd The New Old Fashioned
Premier Billy Joel Tribute Band
August 29th Big James and the Chicago Playboys
Trombone Led Chicago Soul Band
September 5th Debbies Davies
World Class Female Guitar Singer
September 12th David Maxwell
Old Fashioned Boogie Woogie Piano & Gospel Show
xxxx
2008 Somers Point Beach Concert Series
Many blues and jazz acts from across the country go on the road in the summer, playing blues festivals and clubs like the old Chitlin' Circuit of traveling blues bands. Now they include the Somers Point beach on that curcuit, as the Friday night series, now in its 16th season, has been tapping into that high energy talent that's traveling around, some promoting award nominated recordings. From humble beginnings, this concert series now features recording stars that have been nominated for multiple W.C. Handy and Grammy awards, and play regularly at major festivals and blues and jazz clubs in Chicago and New Orleans.
Supported by local businesses and organized by the city’s department of Community Education, the concert series is one of the most popular events around, and encourages neighbors to spread out their beach towels and sit back in their beach chairs to enjoy some of the best music around.
The lineup is as strong and varied as usual, with a good mix of fine local talent and traveling recording bands, with different types of music that should satisfy everyone’s taste, and turn people on to something new and different.
Since weather was usually uncooperative, and the early season events not as well attended as later ones, they decided to start late and finish later, so they’re going to start on Friday the 13th of June with the Duke Robillard Band.
Led by the Duke of the blues guitar and supported by his Grammy Award winning swing jump band, Robillard has recorded a now legendary session with Jay Giels and Garry Beaudoin, and his latest sound is moving towards a soul, jazz swing thing.
On the following Friday, June 20th, , a local band, The Shakes will get people dancing in the sand. As a popular South Jersey party band that has gone through a lot of personal changes over the years, the Shakes continues to maintain their popularity, now with a classic funky sound.
On June 27th we’ll hear from Flordia guitarist Scott Holt, who is billed as a contemporary rock singer/songwriter and vocalist, who performs with bassist Richard Sanders and Tyler Crowell on drums. Holt has a recording, "Messing with the Kid."
For the past few years they’ve added a special July 4th concert featuring Bob Campanell and his friends, but since this year July 4th falls on a Friday, and Bob gets to kick off the holiday weekend with his patriotic rock & roll salute. While Bob used to front the Shakes, he went out on his own, and now gets together with friends to jam when he needs a band, like for this night. You can expect guitarist Danny Eyer to be there, along with some other surprise guests, who will jam with the fireworks over the bay.
For something really new and different, Friday July 11th will feature Gizzae, an "Ethiopian Rooted Reggae," that includes a band with four grammys winners, some having played with Ziggy Marley’s touring band. Sunday is usually Island Night at the Point, but on this Friday, Rocket, Ruphael, Clem, Asrat and Ralph will certainly have the beach jammin’ and dancing in the sand.
On Friday, July 18th Lil’ Dave Thompson, a North Carolina guitar legend, will be passing through on the old Chitlin’ Circuit. Lil’ Dave leans heavy on Mississippi Delta Blues, or at least he did with his old Howlin’ Blues band, but now he’s with a new group that includes Josh Presler, Leon Baker and Dave Stuart, and Somers Point may be introduced to a new sound from Dave’s guitar and his new friends.
On July 25th, , when things couldn’t get any hotter, Dr. Bobby Fingers will play the keys and Danny Eyer guitar in what they’re billing as a Pop Rock Sing-a-long & Christmas in July Party. Now the good Doktor is a great pianist who does Billy, Bruce and Elton in his sleep, and on request, but he has this goof off schtick that’s sort of cross between Larry Ferrie and Soupy Sales that the girls like, and so will the kids.
Not all the recording talent is on the road and from out of town. On Friday August 1st local jazz saxman Howard Isaacson will celebrate the release of a new CD as the Somers Point beach becomes a CD Release Party for Isaacson’s contemporary melodic jazz. Familiar to anyone whose been to a Somers Point Jazz Fest, Isaacson will have some local players in his band and all his family, friends and neighbors will be there for this gig.
It’s going to be real hard to top Duke Robillard, Scott Holt, Gizzae, Lil’ Dave, but on August 8th Jill West and Blues Attack Party Band will play and may take things to new heights. From Pittsburgh, this hard edged blues band includes Nick Crano on drums, Hank Rattetto on bass, and Greg Krupa and Mark Cholewski in duel guitars, backing the fine vocals of Jill West.
August 15th is Billy Walton night. The hottest new guitarist around, Billy Walton earned a return to the beach after his hot show last summer, and he returns with his South Jersey Horns and Hot Young Jersey Boy Rockers. From Asbury Park, Walton opened for Jacque Major at the Stone Pony, and now has a strong Somers Point fan contingent. See and hear him yourself.
Things slow down a little on Friday August 22nd, when they bring in The New Old Fashioned, a Billy Joel Tribute Band, but hey, there’s a lot of Billy Joel fans out there who can now hear Billy’s songs on the beach.
But wait, this just in, a correction.
Drew Nielands checks in and reports that, "Hi Bill, I represent a band called "the New Old Fashioned." They are scheduled to perform as part of Somers Point Summer Concert Series. Somehow that band has been slated as a "Billy Joel Tribute Band". I don't know how this descirption came about but it is completely inaccurate. They do not play Billy Joel Covers. They are an original Americana band (that play a mix of eclectic covers as well). The band is signed to the CheapO Records label and regularly tour the east coast and beyond. If possible, a revision of your blog would be greatly appriciated. Thank You!
My blog has been revised to reflect the truth. And I hope to catch the show, with a bottle of red and a bottle of white and some clams at the Clam Bar.
The following week on Friday August 29th when we hear from Big James and the Chicago Playboys. It’s hard to believe that a guy who plays trombone can lead a band, but Big James Montgomery will make you a believer in the Chicago blues. Having played in the horn section behind Little Milton and Albert King, Big James struck out on his own, having recorded, "Thank God I Got the Blues," and played regular gigs at the House of Blues and Buddy Guy’s Legends, the Somers Point beach will be a different kind of gig for both Big James and for the audience.
As the summer schedule winds down, things stay interesting as blues guitarist Debbie Davies puts into the Somers Point beach on Friday, September 5th. Not as well known as the people she plays with, like James Cotton, Hubert Sumlin, Charles Musselwhite and Tab Benoit, Debbie Davies is a rare, red head guitarist who has been nominated for the Best Female Blues Artist, so she’s going to have to live up to that billing.
Boogie woogie piano player Dave Maxwell will close out the 2008 summer season on a high note, on Friday, September 12th. Maxwell, who has been nominated for Handys, Grammys and a Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award, is responsible for the original Roomfull of Blues, and has a CD "Maximum Blues Piano," which says exactly what he does.
Most people in Somers Point may not have heard of Duke Robillard, Scott Hold, Lil’ Dave, Jill West, James Montgomery, Debbie Davies or David Maxwell before, but by the end of the summer they will if they attend the free Friday night beach concerts.
[Bill Kelly can be reached at Billykelly3@yahoo.com
]
Friday, May 16, 2008
Camp Jam Spring 2008
When I first heard about Billy Hector from Tim, a Browns Mills neighbor who lives a few blocks up on Lakeshore Drive, I didn't realize that he not only had a cult following of people who really like good music, but that they also put on their own little rock fest Camp Jam.
Camp Jam in the Pines started small, but is now almost a major industry, as their web site shows:
http://www.campjam.org/
The first Hector groupie I met after Tim was Roger Beckweth, also a Browns Mills neighbor, who used to have a radio show on the Burlington College station (Where Michael Tierson can also be heard on Friday nights), and now puts out a weekly tip sheet for live music RoadhouseReport.com.
From Dad's, Clarke's and Dempsters in Mt. Holly, to the Hedger House (A real Roadhouse) in Chatsworth, Jake's Escape on 206 or Harper's in Clementon, there's a group of twenty or so avid music fans who follow Billy Hector around and try to catch him whenever and whereever he plays.
One night at the Hedger House, I overheard someone call "Cooch," who I inquired, "Coochanada? from Camden Catholic High School?"
Indeed it was the same "Cooch," who was a few years ahead of me, but who had a sister Ellen, who was a year behind me, and married one of my good friends from down the Shore, Pete Pospech, from Mack & Manco Pizza days.
Cooch was one of the Billy Hector crowd, along with his cousin Lisa, and her friends, all of whom go to Camp Jam.
Most of these people also like to dance, and one Sunday afternoon last summer, while Billy Hector was playing in the back barn at the Hedger House, one of the dancers was a wild red head, who I got to talking to later on.
She's the main driving force behind Camp Jam, and was enthusiastically telling me about when Billy Hector came over and asked when he's going to get to play Camp Jam again?
Well, it's not this time, as Billy's not on the list, but these people know good music and whoever is playing Camp Jam you can be sure they've been checked out, seriously vetted, and are truely terrific.
I was with Tim, the neighbor who first turned me on to Billy Hector, and he was packing up his pickup to head out to Elmer and stake out his camp site on Thursday afternoon. After all, getting the right spot at Woodstock was half the battle.
So here it is early Friday morning and I'm looking out the picture window at the rain coming down hard on the lagoon, and the ducks playing around like it's just right, and thinking of Tim setting up his camp in the rain.
Just like Woodstock! In the rain.
It won't make any difference, except a few of the less hearty souls will stay away, but those who show will have a great time.
Tim wants me to stop by his campsite and the crazy red head promised me a free pass if I wrote something positive about Camp Jam, so there you have it.
But I don't know about camping out in the rain. I was at Woodstock and it was no walk in the woods.
Hold on, I'm coming.
BK
Roger: 2006 - photo 030
http://www.campjam.org/images/Fall%2006/CAMP%20JAM%202006-WEBPAGE/index.html
The Red head:
http://www.campjam.org/images/Campjam%202004%20Pics/009.jpg
Billy Hector:
http://www.campjam.org/images/Campjam%202004%20Pics/089.jpg
http://www.campjam.org/images/Campjam%202004%20Pics/096.jpg
Billy and Reds:
http://www.campjam.org/images/Campjam%202004%20Pics/097.jpg
Camp Jam in the Pines started small, but is now almost a major industry, as their web site shows:
http://www.campjam.org/
The first Hector groupie I met after Tim was Roger Beckweth, also a Browns Mills neighbor, who used to have a radio show on the Burlington College station (Where Michael Tierson can also be heard on Friday nights), and now puts out a weekly tip sheet for live music RoadhouseReport.com.
From Dad's, Clarke's and Dempsters in Mt. Holly, to the Hedger House (A real Roadhouse) in Chatsworth, Jake's Escape on 206 or Harper's in Clementon, there's a group of twenty or so avid music fans who follow Billy Hector around and try to catch him whenever and whereever he plays.
One night at the Hedger House, I overheard someone call "Cooch," who I inquired, "Coochanada? from Camden Catholic High School?"
Indeed it was the same "Cooch," who was a few years ahead of me, but who had a sister Ellen, who was a year behind me, and married one of my good friends from down the Shore, Pete Pospech, from Mack & Manco Pizza days.
Cooch was one of the Billy Hector crowd, along with his cousin Lisa, and her friends, all of whom go to Camp Jam.
Most of these people also like to dance, and one Sunday afternoon last summer, while Billy Hector was playing in the back barn at the Hedger House, one of the dancers was a wild red head, who I got to talking to later on.
She's the main driving force behind Camp Jam, and was enthusiastically telling me about when Billy Hector came over and asked when he's going to get to play Camp Jam again?
Well, it's not this time, as Billy's not on the list, but these people know good music and whoever is playing Camp Jam you can be sure they've been checked out, seriously vetted, and are truely terrific.
I was with Tim, the neighbor who first turned me on to Billy Hector, and he was packing up his pickup to head out to Elmer and stake out his camp site on Thursday afternoon. After all, getting the right spot at Woodstock was half the battle.
So here it is early Friday morning and I'm looking out the picture window at the rain coming down hard on the lagoon, and the ducks playing around like it's just right, and thinking of Tim setting up his camp in the rain.
Just like Woodstock! In the rain.
It won't make any difference, except a few of the less hearty souls will stay away, but those who show will have a great time.
Tim wants me to stop by his campsite and the crazy red head promised me a free pass if I wrote something positive about Camp Jam, so there you have it.
But I don't know about camping out in the rain. I was at Woodstock and it was no walk in the woods.
Hold on, I'm coming.
BK
Roger: 2006 - photo 030
http://www.campjam.org/images/Fall%2006/CAMP%20JAM%202006-WEBPAGE/index.html
The Red head:
http://www.campjam.org/images/Campjam%202004%20Pics/009.jpg
Billy Hector:
http://www.campjam.org/images/Campjam%202004%20Pics/089.jpg
http://www.campjam.org/images/Campjam%202004%20Pics/096.jpg
Billy and Reds:
http://www.campjam.org/images/Campjam%202004%20Pics/097.jpg
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Jacque Major at the Stone Pony
JACQUE MAJOR AT THE STONE PONY
It wasn't as historically significant as Lee invading Pennsylvania, but there was a certain South Jersey contingent contributing to the goings on at the Stone Pony Sunday night (April 13), when Jacque Major made her Asbury Park debute and brought a crowd of fans from Somers Point with her.
Exit 100 on the Parkway isn't South Jersey so we all felt a little out of our element, up the Parkway and then riding down Route 66 east to the boardwalk and ocean, then one block north to the Stone Pony.
The Stone Pony is a dump of a bar situated in a what appears to be a bombed out quarter of Beriut. But it's a Glorious Dump, surrounded by vacant lots of concerete that feels a lot like a war zone. At least that's the case until once inside the Pony, which is similar to some other old rock & roll joints that I remember - Bay Shores, Tony Marts, Mothers, CBGBs et al...., dingy, dark and musty. The first familiar face I see, Rich Spurlock, whose been there before, says that they actually cleaned up the joint.
At least they've salvaged the place, so far, which had been tettering on the border of being "redevelloped" into condos, a fate that the crash of the housing market has apparently put off to a later date. The Stone Pony should be ground zero for the redevelopment of the entire area.
The Stone Pony is small, as expected, but it's really small. It reminds me most of the Ocean Pub beach bar in Margate in the 70s. There's a small 20 seat oval bar when you first walk in, a wall full of t-shirts, baseball hats, micro bikinis and memorabilia with the Stone Pony logo, and a cash register and credit card swipe machine next to the front door. Then there's rise with some small cabaret tables and seats, a nice, small dance floor, a hole in the wall they knocked out and set up a tent for the smokers. There's a small six seat bar that sets off a wall full of guitars signed by the high and mighty. And just past the restrooms there's another small, horse shoe bar and gas lit stove that makes you think you're at a ski resort. The walls are full of photos, articles and memorabilia, but the wall wraps abound to the stage door and stage, where all the important action takes place.
Opening for Jacque, Billy Walton is my new favorite guitarist of the moment, which is saying a lot since I've recently seen Santana and Billy Hector. Walton, at 32, is one of the youngest of the hot guitarists to come out of Asbury Park. He's a local guy, rooted in the blues and rock n' roll and leader of a power trio which he had expanded with sax and more for the Somers Point Beach concert last summer (that I have pix of). Walton also played JR's last winter, his first foray South of Atlantic City (further than Bruce got - See: End Notes), and he does JD's at Smithville on occassion, but he's basically an Asbury Park guy whose trying to break out of Jersey.
Walton, who could be a down home character out of the WaltonsTV show, is big as a football lineman, and could play power forward like his basketball namesake. This being his home turf, he's played the Stone Pony many times before, and opened for the Boss before 40,000 people at Giants Stadium two nights in a row and then played the Pony the next night. What a trooper. That says a lot, as Spurlock points out, when Bruce doesn't really have anybody open for him most of the time.
Packing a lot of puch in to one solid hour set, Walton wired the room and set up Jacque nicely. And he didn't get her in the Pony. "She did that herself," said Walton, who recognized some of the South Jersey Shore contingent in the house, including Spurlock, retired Somers Point Mayor Dan Reilly, one of the Pancoast girles, Carmen and Nancy Marotta of Tony Marts and Tom Major, Jacque's dad.
Jacque and her friends used to play every Sunday afternoon at the Bubba Mac Shack, where we'd all meet after church, and it was beginning to feel like the old Shack when in walks Herb Birch, making a full house.
Jacque showed off her new band, new name (Walking Wounded), and a new bass player, Michael Maiorano, a veteran journeyman, joining drummer Matt Curran, Wayne "Cuz" Scheller on keys, and standout guitarist Danny Eyer, who also plays in Herb's Bubba Mac Blues Band.
Opening with a unique arrangement of the Beatles' song, "Sexy Sadie"? with the refrain, "Won't you come out and play?," she took off on a hour and half set that kept a good pace and showed that she knows where she's going. There was no hesitation between songs and the band came across as well rehearsed and ready to rock & roll.
I started to keep a song list, but then forgot about it after getting into the music. Jacque's voice is strong, and she seemed to be having a real good time, belting out some of the tunes she sang every Sunday at the Shack, plus a few new ones.
One of the new ones is Randy Newman's "Guilty," which she recorded with the late Brian Trainor and posthumously released on his jazz anthem "Too Late to Change Me Now." (See: Brian Trainor RIP), which they take out of the jazz realm and make it rock.
Jacque gave each guy in the band a chance to shine, and Danny Eyer stood out special and showed the Asbury Park crowd that South Jersey also has a hot and heavy homegrown guitarist, ready to break out and who we can be really proud of.
The band's talents really came out on some cover tunes, like the Doors' "Break on Through," and they got people dancing.
When the band cut into "Born to Run," Spurlock said that it's something of a tradition for new bands to play at least one Springsteen cover, pointing out that Billy Walton also squeezed in a little recognized Boss number, keeping the tradition going. But even though it's an E-Street signature tune, Jacque had been doing "Born to Run" since back in her Bubba Mac Shack days, and played it straight up, no chaser, no fiddling with the arrangement, just rolling down highway nine, the same two lane blacktop, north or south. And she did it with balls.
Genuinely appreciated, they did a three song encore and left everybody satisfied.
It was a good night at the Stone Pony.
Jacque's dad, Tom Major took some photos, and promised to send me afew via email, but I haven't heard from him yet. Wll figure out how to post them when I get them.
Sharon Stabhley, a young, vivacious photogrpher from Ocean City [http://www.sharonstabley.com/] also took some pix, and promised to share.
I'll post the photos here as soon as I get them.
In addition, Jacque and the band recorded a live CD in Ventnor on April 6th that should be available soon. More to come on that.
Now that Jacque has a tight band together, she should get a few local South Jersey Shore gigs for this summer, one for a Sunday afternoon, where we can all meet her after church and jam.
End Notes: On an historical note, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band never played the South Jersey Shore, south of Atlantic City. They played LBI, Burlington County College, Pemberton (outdoors) and Uncle Al's Earlton Lounge at the bowling alley on the Rt. 70 circle in Cherry Hill.
When I got a chance to talk to Herb "Bubba" Birch, he said that there won't be a Bubba Mac Blues Fest in Atlantic City this year, but maybe next year, if he can get a sponsor.
Then, as I was writing this, news came of death of Danny Federici, the keyboard/accordian player with the E Street Band. If you want to play some tunes in his honor, think of "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" and "Hungry Heart," "I got a wife and kids in Baltimore Jack, went out for a ride and never went back,....," that's Danny on the circus accordian and keys. Danny is featured strongly on the 9/11 song "You're Missing."
A founding member of the E-Street Band, "Phantom Dan" was replaced in November 2007 with Charles Giordano (more on this guy later).
Bruce and the band postponed shows in Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, and Bruce issued the statement: "Danny and I worked together for 40 years - he was the most wonderflly fluid keyboard player and pure natural musician. I loved him very much...we grew up together."
For a taste of Danny Federici's soul, listen to his solo CDs, "Flemington" (1997, as in Flemington, New Jersey, his hometown) and "Out of a Dream." (2005).
Bill Kelly
billkelly3@gmail.com
It wasn't as historically significant as Lee invading Pennsylvania, but there was a certain South Jersey contingent contributing to the goings on at the Stone Pony Sunday night (April 13), when Jacque Major made her Asbury Park debute and brought a crowd of fans from Somers Point with her.
Exit 100 on the Parkway isn't South Jersey so we all felt a little out of our element, up the Parkway and then riding down Route 66 east to the boardwalk and ocean, then one block north to the Stone Pony.
The Stone Pony is a dump of a bar situated in a what appears to be a bombed out quarter of Beriut. But it's a Glorious Dump, surrounded by vacant lots of concerete that feels a lot like a war zone. At least that's the case until once inside the Pony, which is similar to some other old rock & roll joints that I remember - Bay Shores, Tony Marts, Mothers, CBGBs et al...., dingy, dark and musty. The first familiar face I see, Rich Spurlock, whose been there before, says that they actually cleaned up the joint.
At least they've salvaged the place, so far, which had been tettering on the border of being "redevelloped" into condos, a fate that the crash of the housing market has apparently put off to a later date. The Stone Pony should be ground zero for the redevelopment of the entire area.
The Stone Pony is small, as expected, but it's really small. It reminds me most of the Ocean Pub beach bar in Margate in the 70s. There's a small 20 seat oval bar when you first walk in, a wall full of t-shirts, baseball hats, micro bikinis and memorabilia with the Stone Pony logo, and a cash register and credit card swipe machine next to the front door. Then there's rise with some small cabaret tables and seats, a nice, small dance floor, a hole in the wall they knocked out and set up a tent for the smokers. There's a small six seat bar that sets off a wall full of guitars signed by the high and mighty. And just past the restrooms there's another small, horse shoe bar and gas lit stove that makes you think you're at a ski resort. The walls are full of photos, articles and memorabilia, but the wall wraps abound to the stage door and stage, where all the important action takes place.
Opening for Jacque, Billy Walton is my new favorite guitarist of the moment, which is saying a lot since I've recently seen Santana and Billy Hector. Walton, at 32, is one of the youngest of the hot guitarists to come out of Asbury Park. He's a local guy, rooted in the blues and rock n' roll and leader of a power trio which he had expanded with sax and more for the Somers Point Beach concert last summer (that I have pix of). Walton also played JR's last winter, his first foray South of Atlantic City (further than Bruce got - See: End Notes), and he does JD's at Smithville on occassion, but he's basically an Asbury Park guy whose trying to break out of Jersey.
Walton, who could be a down home character out of the WaltonsTV show, is big as a football lineman, and could play power forward like his basketball namesake. This being his home turf, he's played the Stone Pony many times before, and opened for the Boss before 40,000 people at Giants Stadium two nights in a row and then played the Pony the next night. What a trooper. That says a lot, as Spurlock points out, when Bruce doesn't really have anybody open for him most of the time.
Packing a lot of puch in to one solid hour set, Walton wired the room and set up Jacque nicely. And he didn't get her in the Pony. "She did that herself," said Walton, who recognized some of the South Jersey Shore contingent in the house, including Spurlock, retired Somers Point Mayor Dan Reilly, one of the Pancoast girles, Carmen and Nancy Marotta of Tony Marts and Tom Major, Jacque's dad.
Jacque and her friends used to play every Sunday afternoon at the Bubba Mac Shack, where we'd all meet after church, and it was beginning to feel like the old Shack when in walks Herb Birch, making a full house.
Jacque showed off her new band, new name (Walking Wounded), and a new bass player, Michael Maiorano, a veteran journeyman, joining drummer Matt Curran, Wayne "Cuz" Scheller on keys, and standout guitarist Danny Eyer, who also plays in Herb's Bubba Mac Blues Band.
Opening with a unique arrangement of the Beatles' song, "Sexy Sadie"? with the refrain, "Won't you come out and play?," she took off on a hour and half set that kept a good pace and showed that she knows where she's going. There was no hesitation between songs and the band came across as well rehearsed and ready to rock & roll.
I started to keep a song list, but then forgot about it after getting into the music. Jacque's voice is strong, and she seemed to be having a real good time, belting out some of the tunes she sang every Sunday at the Shack, plus a few new ones.
One of the new ones is Randy Newman's "Guilty," which she recorded with the late Brian Trainor and posthumously released on his jazz anthem "Too Late to Change Me Now." (See: Brian Trainor RIP), which they take out of the jazz realm and make it rock.
Jacque gave each guy in the band a chance to shine, and Danny Eyer stood out special and showed the Asbury Park crowd that South Jersey also has a hot and heavy homegrown guitarist, ready to break out and who we can be really proud of.
The band's talents really came out on some cover tunes, like the Doors' "Break on Through," and they got people dancing.
When the band cut into "Born to Run," Spurlock said that it's something of a tradition for new bands to play at least one Springsteen cover, pointing out that Billy Walton also squeezed in a little recognized Boss number, keeping the tradition going. But even though it's an E-Street signature tune, Jacque had been doing "Born to Run" since back in her Bubba Mac Shack days, and played it straight up, no chaser, no fiddling with the arrangement, just rolling down highway nine, the same two lane blacktop, north or south. And she did it with balls.
Genuinely appreciated, they did a three song encore and left everybody satisfied.
It was a good night at the Stone Pony.
Jacque's dad, Tom Major took some photos, and promised to send me afew via email, but I haven't heard from him yet. Wll figure out how to post them when I get them.
Sharon Stabhley, a young, vivacious photogrpher from Ocean City [http://www.sharonstabley.com/] also took some pix, and promised to share.
I'll post the photos here as soon as I get them.
In addition, Jacque and the band recorded a live CD in Ventnor on April 6th that should be available soon. More to come on that.
Now that Jacque has a tight band together, she should get a few local South Jersey Shore gigs for this summer, one for a Sunday afternoon, where we can all meet her after church and jam.
End Notes: On an historical note, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band never played the South Jersey Shore, south of Atlantic City. They played LBI, Burlington County College, Pemberton (outdoors) and Uncle Al's Earlton Lounge at the bowling alley on the Rt. 70 circle in Cherry Hill.
When I got a chance to talk to Herb "Bubba" Birch, he said that there won't be a Bubba Mac Blues Fest in Atlantic City this year, but maybe next year, if he can get a sponsor.
Then, as I was writing this, news came of death of Danny Federici, the keyboard/accordian player with the E Street Band. If you want to play some tunes in his honor, think of "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" and "Hungry Heart," "I got a wife and kids in Baltimore Jack, went out for a ride and never went back,....," that's Danny on the circus accordian and keys. Danny is featured strongly on the 9/11 song "You're Missing."
A founding member of the E-Street Band, "Phantom Dan" was replaced in November 2007 with Charles Giordano (more on this guy later).
Bruce and the band postponed shows in Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, and Bruce issued the statement: "Danny and I worked together for 40 years - he was the most wonderflly fluid keyboard player and pure natural musician. I loved him very much...we grew up together."
For a taste of Danny Federici's soul, listen to his solo CDs, "Flemington" (1997, as in Flemington, New Jersey, his hometown) and "Out of a Dream." (2005).
Bill Kelly
billkelly3@gmail.com
Friday, April 11, 2008
Santana at Borgata Review
Santana at Borgata - Review.
I went to Woodstock to see Santana. Not Bob Dylan, the Band, Crosby Stills, Nash & Young or anybody else but Santana, and then, after actually being there, I don't remember Santana at all. Ah, the Sixties.
The Santana Quest began in a Wildwood motel room sometime in mid-August, 1969, the summer after I had graduated from high school and went looking for two of my buddies. I found them holed up in a first floor motel room they had rented for the summer, with twin beds, tv, bathroom and shower and clean sheets and towls daily.
They were glad to see me, but couldn't explain why they chose to live in such squalor rather than stay at my family's rooming house in Ocean City for free and do the same thing, like they before.
I forget whether it was Gerry or Mark who asked me to, "Just listen," while he put on a 33 1/3 Long Playing (LP) vynal record, handing me the album cover, "Santana."
The previous recordings they thought worthy of calling my attention to were limited to Blood, Sweat and Tears and Janis Choplin, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and sat back and listened for the next half hour or so.
Okay, I thought, another counter-culture guitar genius, God bless him, but then they explained that Santana would be at Woodstock, a rock festival in upstate New York a few weeks hence and they were going.
Also on the bill were other cultural icons, or soon to be, but it was Santana who sparked our interest in going to Woodstock in the first place.
But once we got there, and got home safely, and as I look back on Woodstock decades later, I have no recollection of Santana actually playing at Woodstock, and that began to bother me. Especailly so when Jeff called and asked if I wanted to go see Santanta at Bogata in Atlantic City on Friday night.
"I don't know," I told Jeff, it's kind of sudden. What happened, your date back out at the last minute and now you don't want to waste a ticket?
No, I just had an extra ticket, do you want it or not?
Okay, okay, I say, and agree to meet him at the Gypsy Bar at the Borgatta Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City at 6:30, a half hour before showetime.
Normally I would take the back roads to the Garden State Parkway at New Gretna, but this time I veered off past the biker's pit stop at Green Bank Inn to Egg Harbor City, where I cought the White Horse Pike east right into Atlantic City and the Marina district that includes the Borgatta.
Just like the TV commercials, I felt like I was riding my Italian moped with girlfriend on the back into the Borgatta garage, which was miraculously easy for prime time on a Friday night.
Showtime was 7 pm, which was kind of hard to believe since most concerts begin around 10 and are timed to end around midnight, but this one, for sure, was for a 7 pm show with no opening act.
As planned, I arrived at the Gypsy Bar around 6pm and grabbed a ($7) draft of Youngling beer, and talked with the band setting up, Steamroller Picnic, which I remembered from many summers at Sea Isle City and Wildwood.
Since nobody I knew was around I went onto the casino floor and found a $5 minimum roulette table and put down $10 on the first third 1-12, which if it hit, would have paid off 2-1 or $30, which I would have let ride, and if it hit again, I would have spread it around the first third field a bit, and see what happens. I lost right away and went for a walk around the joint, which is a classy place and had a variety of restaurants (two steak houses).
Right across from the Gypsy Bar is the Oyster Bar, open 24-7 and has a nice sidewalk cafe and thus a great place to meet someone if you're a spy or need a place for an all night rondezevous.
The Gypsy Bar is quiet, but full early on, with a few old hippies that you know are there to see Santana.
Steamroller Picnic guys are still setting up their stuff, but the bar is full and people are mingling around in loose groups. Eventually my friend Mike shows up. Mike's the man with the tickets, so we're good to go anytime now, but will wait for the rest of the gang - Greg shows up first, then eventually Jeff, and after a few brews and cover tunes by Steamroller Picnic, we head up stairs to the main event, except for Jeff, who stays back to meet somebody with the last ticket.
The Borgatta is a classy joint, is laid out nice and they treat you right. The main showroom is big, though not as big as the Taj, and unlike the Taj horseshoe bleachers, the seats are set back straight from the stage. Our seats were in the middle, first teer up, so the people on the floor could all stand up and we could still see over them sitting down.
Without an opening act, Santana went on at precisely 7 pm and by the time the whole room was seated about a half hour later, he had verybody's attention.
Three songs into the show he stops the music and gives a short, three to five minute sermon, during which he praises other prophits, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, ......
One time when Santana was giving his sermon in Atlantic City, I have it from a reliable source on the scene, that somebody in the audience threw a beer bottle wrapped in a t-shirt at him and hit him square in the face, sparking a curse spewed chawing that showed how quick he can go from good to bad.
This time he called down the Holy Ghost upon us, but He didn't show up until near the end of the show.
I went to Woodstock to see Santana. Not Bob Dylan, the Band, Crosby Stills, Nash & Young or anybody else but Santana, and then, after actually being there, I don't remember Santana at all. Ah, the Sixties.
The Santana Quest began in a Wildwood motel room sometime in mid-August, 1969, the summer after I had graduated from high school and went looking for two of my buddies. I found them holed up in a first floor motel room they had rented for the summer, with twin beds, tv, bathroom and shower and clean sheets and towls daily.
They were glad to see me, but couldn't explain why they chose to live in such squalor rather than stay at my family's rooming house in Ocean City for free and do the same thing, like they before.
I forget whether it was Gerry or Mark who asked me to, "Just listen," while he put on a 33 1/3 Long Playing (LP) vynal record, handing me the album cover, "Santana."
The previous recordings they thought worthy of calling my attention to were limited to Blood, Sweat and Tears and Janis Choplin, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and sat back and listened for the next half hour or so.
Okay, I thought, another counter-culture guitar genius, God bless him, but then they explained that Santana would be at Woodstock, a rock festival in upstate New York a few weeks hence and they were going.
Also on the bill were other cultural icons, or soon to be, but it was Santana who sparked our interest in going to Woodstock in the first place.
But once we got there, and got home safely, and as I look back on Woodstock decades later, I have no recollection of Santana actually playing at Woodstock, and that began to bother me. Especailly so when Jeff called and asked if I wanted to go see Santanta at Bogata in Atlantic City on Friday night.
"I don't know," I told Jeff, it's kind of sudden. What happened, your date back out at the last minute and now you don't want to waste a ticket?
No, I just had an extra ticket, do you want it or not?
Okay, okay, I say, and agree to meet him at the Gypsy Bar at the Borgatta Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City at 6:30, a half hour before showetime.
Normally I would take the back roads to the Garden State Parkway at New Gretna, but this time I veered off past the biker's pit stop at Green Bank Inn to Egg Harbor City, where I cought the White Horse Pike east right into Atlantic City and the Marina district that includes the Borgatta.
Just like the TV commercials, I felt like I was riding my Italian moped with girlfriend on the back into the Borgatta garage, which was miraculously easy for prime time on a Friday night.
Showtime was 7 pm, which was kind of hard to believe since most concerts begin around 10 and are timed to end around midnight, but this one, for sure, was for a 7 pm show with no opening act.
As planned, I arrived at the Gypsy Bar around 6pm and grabbed a ($7) draft of Youngling beer, and talked with the band setting up, Steamroller Picnic, which I remembered from many summers at Sea Isle City and Wildwood.
Since nobody I knew was around I went onto the casino floor and found a $5 minimum roulette table and put down $10 on the first third 1-12, which if it hit, would have paid off 2-1 or $30, which I would have let ride, and if it hit again, I would have spread it around the first third field a bit, and see what happens. I lost right away and went for a walk around the joint, which is a classy place and had a variety of restaurants (two steak houses).
Right across from the Gypsy Bar is the Oyster Bar, open 24-7 and has a nice sidewalk cafe and thus a great place to meet someone if you're a spy or need a place for an all night rondezevous.
The Gypsy Bar is quiet, but full early on, with a few old hippies that you know are there to see Santana.
Steamroller Picnic guys are still setting up their stuff, but the bar is full and people are mingling around in loose groups. Eventually my friend Mike shows up. Mike's the man with the tickets, so we're good to go anytime now, but will wait for the rest of the gang - Greg shows up first, then eventually Jeff, and after a few brews and cover tunes by Steamroller Picnic, we head up stairs to the main event, except for Jeff, who stays back to meet somebody with the last ticket.
The Borgatta is a classy joint, is laid out nice and they treat you right. The main showroom is big, though not as big as the Taj, and unlike the Taj horseshoe bleachers, the seats are set back straight from the stage. Our seats were in the middle, first teer up, so the people on the floor could all stand up and we could still see over them sitting down.
Without an opening act, Santana went on at precisely 7 pm and by the time the whole room was seated about a half hour later, he had verybody's attention.
Three songs into the show he stops the music and gives a short, three to five minute sermon, during which he praises other prophits, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, ......
One time when Santana was giving his sermon in Atlantic City, I have it from a reliable source on the scene, that somebody in the audience threw a beer bottle wrapped in a t-shirt at him and hit him square in the face, sparking a curse spewed chawing that showed how quick he can go from good to bad.
This time he called down the Holy Ghost upon us, but He didn't show up until near the end of the show.
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