ASBURY PARK VIBES PODCAST

Asbury Park Vibes' most recent podcast finds us chatting with local musicians Dan Apy, Patty C, and Cranston Dean. The three musicians have their hands in a multitude of bands and projects, including but not limited to the Mercury Brothers, the Apy Brothers, En Delirium, Patty C, Cranston Dean, Jackson Pines and more! What's most significant, though, is the cross-pollination of musical ideas and songwriting that takes place between the three.  In an industry that's often characterized  as "every person for him or herself" ... Dan, Patty, and Cranston break free from that mold and place a high value on gently nudging each other to produce their very best work. They share their musical ideas freely, perform together, and have a very strong bond of friendship that's evident the moment you meet them.

Tune in to learn all about Dan's, Patty's, and Cranston's solo and collaborative projects and to enjoy their genuine conversation about their deep love of music. Most importantly, make sure you join them this Friday, February 24th at Asbury Lanes for an incredible show featuring the insane musicality of the Mercury Brothers, En Delirium, Cranston Dean, and the Apy Brothers! This is a performance not to be missed!!

Co-Hosts Diane DiMemmo & Doug Dresher

Intro music courtesy of Supermutt

PLEASE NOTE - THE OPINIONS AND VIEWS OF OUR GUESTS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OPINIONS AND VIEWS OF ASBURY PARK VIBES

Asbury Park is certainly filled with music and arts.  But it is also filled with people who grew up in town and remember the past with both fondness and longing for progress moving forward, including everyone.

We welcomed Soli and Sheila to our podcast.  They were born and lived in Asbury Park, and  have local businesses that make Asbury Park a special place.  And they are both real characters.  

Here we learn about their Day Care business, their Airbnb business, and a food truck that cooks delicious empanadas!

Anchor House Airbnb

2 for Care Early Childhood Center

Kiyahs Kiye Food Truck

The fast-rising, high-octane LA-based rock and roll band – Classless Act – will be pumping out the hits from their debut album Welcome To the Show this Wednesday, Dec 14th at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ! Formed in 2018 and before their first album was even released, these crazy-talented musicians were asked to join the biggest tour of last summer ... The Stadium Tour with Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts! Their music has been labeled “the future of rock n’ roll;” and Derek Day (vocals), Chuck McKissock (drums), Dane Pieper (guitar), Griffin Tucker (guitar), and Franco Gravante (bass) have been dubbed “hard rock’s new elite.”

We got the chance yesterday to chat with Derek and Chuck where we found out what it was like for them to collaborate with Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe) and Justin Hawkins (The Darkness) on two of their singles, what it’s like to play in huge stadiums, how the flame for music was ignited in them as kids, and how surprises feed their creativity when writing music. Classless Act is currently releasing five (5) acoustic versions of their Welcome To The Show singles, of which the final will be shared on December 16th. 

Tune in to our podcast to meet the band and get hyped for their show tomorrow in Asbury Park where they open for Giovannie & The Hired Guns! Tickets can be purchased right here!!

Podcast opening music by Connor Bracken & The Mother Leeds Band

Asbury Park Vibes caught up with Andrea of the band Iceblynk.  Not only did we get a chance to meet her cat, but we talked about the band's new self-titled release.  They describe themselves as "Ethereal gaze dreampop indie rox w/ reflections of The Cure, Lush, The Sundays, Melody’s Echo Chamber."  We couldn't agree more.  Their gentle jangly, and interwoven layers of sound complement Andrea's beautiful voice. This is a band to watch!

www.facebook.com/iceblynk

Iceblynk on Spotify

We had a blast on this recent podcast with Joe Pomarico (Pom) and Matt Fernicola (Fern) from Telegraph Hill Records, along with friend and collaborator Jim Lenskold (Tiki Jim). The gentlemen joined us to talk all about their annual end-of-year festival What A Wonderful Year (WAWY)!

Now if you’ve never been to WAWY before, we are here to tell you that it’s a PARTY … and that this is an event NOT to be missed!! This year the festival takes place on Dec 29-30 at The Wonder Bar with 10 (ten) musical acts performing each night, charitable auctions & contributions, and unique guest collaborations! Also making an appearance this year is the event's official "What A Wonderful Beer" by Last Wave Brewing Company!

Tune in to hear all about how WAWY started, what goes into the planning, what attendees can expect this year, and some cool little nuggets of info about Tiki Jim, Fern & Pom! Always a pleasure, always a lot of fun … make sure to listen to this one and join us at WAWY on Dec 29 and 30 at the Wonder Bar!

TICKETS NOW ON SALE:

DEC 29

DEC 30

Podcast intro by Connor Bracken & The Mother Leeds Band

When you go to a live performance featuring Alexander Simone, you hear the most wondrous music and vocals behind his larger-than-life stage presence. And the natural question that pops into your mind is "Who is THAT?" or ... "WHODAT?!"

Simone very proudly refers to his "WHODAT? LIVE CREW" band as his family and we spend the better part of our most recent podcast chatting about their extraordinary talent, personalities, and musical upbringing. Their stories are fascinating so we invite you to tune in and learn all about this incredible group of musicians!

Podcast intro music by Connor Bracken & The Mother Leeds Band.

Patty C recently stopped by our studio to chat all about his first album I Ain’t Ever Gonna Stop!  It contains seven beautifully crafted songs that come straight from his heart.  The melodies make you want to dance and the lyrics make you want to sing along. It’s an overall infectious collection of tunes from a variety of genres of music ranging from rock n roll, hip hop, alternative rock, reggae and more.

Patty C shared how he got the music bug, what inspires his songwriting and his many collaborations. He hints at a lot more music coming soon and we just cannot wait to hear what comes next from this promising musician!

Saturday, November 19th, Madison Community Arts Center

We had an opportunity to talk to the two people who are producing and promoting GURLZILLA 2023.  We chatted with Caroline Romanelli ( from Embrace DIY Productions) and Katie Miller (from the band Kate Dressed Up) about the annual GURZILLA event.

While the pandemic might have slowed them down in the past, they have fully returned with a great lineup - Featuring live music from:

The Vaughns
https://www.thevaughns.com/

Kate Dressed Up
https://www.katedressedup.com/

Tula Vera
https://tulavera.com/

Bad Blooms
https://badblooms.bandcamp.com/album/no

Join them on Saturday November 19th at the Madison Community Arts Center for a kick ass show to benefit the Reproductive Legal Defense Fund which "covers bail and funds strong defenses for people who are investigated, arrested, or prosecuted for self-managed abortion."

reprolegaldefensefund.org/

Facebook Info

11/19 @Madison Community Arts Center
7:00pm doors/8:00pm music
$10 adv/$15 doors
All ages

Something special's goin' on at The Wonder Bar on November 19, 2022! The music of Joe D'Urso & The Stone Caravan, Jarod Clemons & The Late Nights (with special guest JT Bowen), Alexander Simone & The WHODAT? Live Crew, and Stella Mrowicki will fill the venue and spill out into the streets ... all in the name of charity. An added treat will be an Asbury Park Music History Panel moderated by Eileen Chapman, director of The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music!

We recently sat down with Bob Makin, Eileen Chapman, Jarod Clemons, Charles Trott, and Alexander Simone to chat about the upcoming show, what we can expect that night, and the stories behind the non-profit organizations who are the inspiration for the event.

Tune in to our latest podcast to hear more about The Asbury Park African-American Music Project, The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, and The Rick Makin Memorial Scholarship at Monmouth University!

Tickets on sale now at Ticketmaster, through Asbury Sunset, Asbury Park Vibes, and the artists!

The Break Plans - An indie pop, post-punk, post-emo, post-everything-else alternative rock band has a lot to say and backs that up with a full-bodied sound.

Fun dance music - yes / Fun rock and roll - yes / fun to chat with - yes / waiting for their big break because they are ready - yes
entertaining - yes, energetic - yes...  You do not want to miss this band!

CLICK HERE FOR THEIR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF THEIR INFORMATION

The grandson of Nina Simone and  son of Lisa Simone, Alexander Simone comes from an amazingly talented family.  He has built upon that with his own original  hip-hop laid-back, funky sound.  As a solo artist or with The Whoda Live Crew, Alexander has something to say about the joy of performing and his commitment to spreading a positive vibe everywhere he goes.

Here we chat about his roots, his loves and fears, and the need for unity and peace.  He is both outspoken and laser-focused on his purpose.

Check out his links!

Instagram

Whodatcrew

Facebook

Spotify

We were thrilled to recently have Asbury Park dynamo musicians Natalie Farrell and Lou Panico in our studio for our latest podcast. They are an incredible team as husband and wife as well as collaborators in songwriting and scoring; however they are successful independent artists in their own right. 

Natalie's discography includes an EP, a live album, and five singles ... the latest stellar tune titled, "Fake Authenticity." She dove into the meaning and inspiration for this new music which is fascinating and well worth the listen. Natalie's hope for "Fake Authenticity" to help others navigate the negative web of social media that sucks us all in and sometimes influences our emotions and actions.

Fresh off a dynamite performance opening for Morningside Lane at Asbury Lanes, Natalie is currently prepping for her first "Rave" headlining show at The House of Independents on September 2 alongside pals Blaise, Dano, and Taylor Tote! Tickets can be purchased here.

During our podcast, Lou also touched upon his extensive touring experience with former band SOCRATIC (Drive-Thru Records) and sharing the stage with acts such as Bleachers, The All American Rejects, The Early November, Incubus, and Mumford & Sons. He also  has released an amazing new single titled "Heard A Song" and shared there's a lot of new music coming soon. 

Definitely tune into Podcast #118 to hear Natalie and Lou go back in time and share their memories of the the events that propelled them into their music careers. We also dove into the nuts and bolts of collaborative songwriting, how to promote yourself, and techniques for manifesting your dreams. A must-listen for everyone!

Click here for music by Natalie Farrell

Click here for music by Lou Panico

APV Podcast Intro Music by Connor Bracken 

There is a very good chance you have heard John Ginty's Hammond B3 organ and never knew it was him.  He is a member of The Allman Betts Band  and has toured, and recorded with The Chicks, Citizen Cope, Robert Randolph, Santana, Jewel, The Wu-Tang Clan, Redman, and Neal Casal.

John not only is a top-notch keyboardist but is also a percussionist, music director, producer, arranger, songwriter, conductor, mixer, and, engineer.

John is a truly talented musician, originally from New Jersey,  and now a resident of Florida.  In my opinion, he is the epitome of cool and was really fun to chat with.

https://www.johngintymusic.com

https://www.johngintymusic.com/music

Renaissance Blvd is a Philadelphia/South Jersey-based cover band with a very distinct WOW FACTOR. With literally hundreds of songs in their repertoire, this dynamic group plays completely different sets every show with the goal of giving the audience the best night of their lives. Staying true to the artists’ original songs, Renaissance Blvd will add their unique nuances and embellishments to bring a show that encourages listener participation and a really great party!

The band started as a morale-building project in their workplace and blossomed into the seven-piece, multi-instrumental group that includes Natalie Hann (Vocals), Ray Delfing (Vocals, Mandolin, Harmonica), Macey Roberts (Vocals, Keys), Trent Morris (Guitar), Alan Hammerschmidt (Guitar), Patrick Rodgers (Bass), and Landon Jones (Drums). And this Friday, July 8th, they will be working their magic at The Stone Pony when they open for Yacht Rock Revue!

Tune in for this super fun podcast where we chat all about their very diverse musical backgrounds, how they choose which songs to play, what their pre-show rituals are, and if they may begin to write some originals! When you see Renaissance Blvd's name listed for an upcoming show, make sure to be there and you will be blown away!

We had a wonderful conversation about the Asbury Park Live Summer Concert Series – nine free concerts that will take place Wednesday nights on the Asbury Park Boardwalk First Ave Green Space!! Joining us were Tim Cabrey (Asbury Sunset), Jim Lenskold (Asbury Park Music Foundation), Russell Lewis (Watermark-Asbury Park), and Brian Erickson (Frontman of The Extensions, solo artist, podcaster, and concert promoter)! These gentlemen, along with the Asbury Park Music Foundation and many others who we mention in our discussion, work tirelessly (and often anonymously) behind the scenes to promote and uplift the local talented musicians here.

The FREE summer concert performances are the perfect outing for families, Asbury Park visitors, and music fans alike. Each Wednesday show features some of the hottest musical acts from our area, as well as opening sets by Lakehouse Music Academy students! The shows run from 7-10pm so bring your beach chairs and get ready to listen to stellar music under the stars!

Now, all of this could not take place without the support and financial backing of these very generous sponsors: the omnipresent/always philanthropic MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Watermark-Asbury Park, Asbury Sunset, Lakehouse Music Academy, The Stone Pony, Lakeland Bank, Asbury Park Food Collective, Ansell Law, and Last Wave Brewing Company!

The Asbury Park Live Summer Concert Series is to benefit the Asbury Park Music Foundation, the heartbeat of this vibrant local music community. As you enjoy the live music, feel free to make a donation if you are able. There are several ways in which you can help; such as by giving to the collection bucket at the shows, by purchasing APMF merchandise, or by purchasing a specialty summer cocktail at Watermark where a portion will be given to the Foundation.

We look forward to seeing you every Wednesday this summer from 7-10 pm at the First Avenue Green Space! Check out the schedule below and listen to our fun conversation via podcast or YouTube!!

Asbury Park vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist Sean Tobin stopped by the APV Studio recently to chat about his brand-new album “Ghost of the Arcade” which was released today, June 10th! This extremely talented artist, along with his band The Boardwalk Fire, are local favorites here who leave dedicated fans in the wake of every show that they play. Their signature Americana/Folk-Rock sound and lyrical storytelling will transport and elevate you to a higher plane.

“Ghost of the Arcade” is the band’s sophomore album and its songs display Sean’s magnificent growth as a lyricist and musician who dug deep within himself to produce his most authentic sound. After receiving advice to “stop trying to write cool,” Sean discovered that his most unique gift is as a storyteller who is able to uplift his stories with brilliant music.

During our discussion Sean gives insight and background on some of the album's singles - "Quiet Boy" and "Ghost Of The Arcade," and plays my favorite tune "The Corner Of Sunset." We also visited topics like the importance of living in the present moment, following your true path, and everything that goes into the creation and promotion of an album.

Mark your calendars to catch Sean Tobin & The Boardwalk Fire on their upcoming “Ghost of the Arcade” tour which will take them through NJ, PA, IL, KY, and ending in Nashville, TN!  And make sure to stream “Ghost of the Arcade” today, because this masterpiece is going to propel Asbury Park's favorite artist into the national spotlight!

Podcast Music Intro by Connor Bracken

We had an opportunity to interview Constantine Maroulis as he and his band prepare for the ORANGE LOOP FESTIVAL in Atlantic City next week.    

Constantine Maroulis, with his soulful voice and broodish good looks, talks about growing up in Northern NJ and how he knew that he would be a performer.  Here he talks about American Idol, being a Tony Nominated performer, and the fun of just being a father.

https://www.constantinemaroulis.com

https://www.instagram.com/constantinemaroulis

The Orange Loop Rock Festival will take place on the Showboat Festival Grounds outside of the Showboat Hotel but will also incorporate the Orange Loop and other venues into event programming.  Featuring: Stone Temple Pilots / Chevelle / Hoobastank / Puddle of Mudd / Hinder / Treach of Naughty by Nature / John 5 and The Creatures / Stephen Pearcy (The Voice of Ratt) / Great White / Slaughter / LA Guns / DORO / Dangerous Toys / Foreigners Journey (Constantine Maroulis / Ozzy Osbourne Tribute / The Four Horsemen / Metallica Tribute / Libricide / Kamenar / Dead Fish Handshake / Whiskey Grin / Black Dawn / Who On Earth / Sekond Skyn / East Side Steven & The Asbury Jacks / AC/DC Tribute / Corvid Corpus / Pierced

https://www.orangelooprockfest.com

My conversation with the multi-faceted, progressive musician Brian Erickson was interesting on so many levels because we not only spoke about the multitude of projects on his musical resumé (past and present), but we also took a deep dive into the process and beliefs that drive his creativity. 

Brian did not start playing or writing music until his college years when he first picked up a guitar. He found early success with his first band, The Paper Jets, and before the art of podcasting was the force that it is today, Brian and a buddy began The Great Albums Podcast (which has been downloaded over three million times and reached #1 on iTunes’ Top Music Podcasts Chart)!

Since then, Brian has continued his musical journey as lead vocalist/guitarist of the popular band The Extensions, who are creating new music at a frenetic pace. They recently participated in Mint 400 Records’ Zoe’s Project, a compilation of previously unreleased music to raise awareness and funds for victims of domestic abuse. On June 10th, the group plans to release their new single “With a K” ... an upbeat, dance-worthy tune which promises to be on everyone’s summer playlist. And The Extensions’ have even more exciting news with the promise of an upcoming DOUBLE album release!

As if this weren’t enough, Brian is also a solo artist, the YouTube TV Show Host of “One More with Brian Erickson,” a music reviewer and show promoter. You might guess that all those accomplishments are based upon a tenacious quest for success; however, Brian is mostly driven by the happiness and joy he gets from the creative process. He places high value on doing what has never been done before; a philosophy celebrated in Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” … a perspective which is the main characteristic of the true creative.  

Podcast Intro by Connor Bracken

I didn't think a conversation with a band would be as fun as watching them perform live, but I had an absolute blast chatting with the guys of Ordinary People for the APV Podcast.

The Northern NJ funk/rap/rock band is wise beyond their years when it comes to vision, dedication, and focus in regards to the band's direction and future plans. We talked about all about the importance of practice and preparation, how their tunes are fleshed out, and the history of the band. 

Ordinary People is preparing for the release of their sophomore album - Burning the Midnight Oil - on June 10th, which promises to be a dynamic next step in the development of their signature sound. During the podcast, we get a behind-the-scenes acoustic performance of "The Midnight Oil - Interlude" and the new single, "Catching Your Fall."

Tune into Podcast #111 to get to know the band really well ... and to find out why Ordinary People are more like "extraordinary" people!

Mike Fuller made the trek from Brooklyn to our studio in Asbury Park.  We talked about his love of music and how he finally decided to step onto the stage.   From his first memory of music in his home, his first guitar, and his upcoming solo shows, Mike is ready to take on whatever our post-pandemic world offers.

https://www.mikefullersounds.com

https://www.instagram.com/mikefullersounds

Mike Fuller YouTube

Mike Fuller Spotify