Asbury Park hosted the second annual Asbury Park Music in Film Festival in several venues throughout the city this past weekend. The conceptually-unique event was an enormous success headed by a group of distinguished organizers - Tom Bernard, Danny Clinch, Tom Donovan and a diverse Board. According to the APMFF website, their mission strives on “…bringing people together to share our collective passion for both music and film while also helping to inspire and support our community.” While the city has existed as a hotbed of musical talent for decades, its allure has been underscored recently by the ignition of a cultural renaissance. Celebrating music in film, as well as music and film, organizers have created a galvanizing event that draws eclectic crowds from all over. They bring with them their good taste and a genuine love for the arts, including live music.
At the Wonder Bar on Ocean Avenue on Saturday, April 9, the Matt O’Ree Band took the stage ahead of Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers. Crowds hurried to fill the standing-room-only space as the Matt O’Ree Band leapt into “Black Boots,” an energetic, Southern Rock-inspired song complete with “cold gin” and hard-hitting drum sounds. Setting the incendiary tone from the start, O’Ree proceeded to blaze through more original tunes such as “Saints & Sinners,” “Don’t Ask Me,” and the existential, mid-tempo “Life,” illustrating his ability to fuse rock and soulful blues into each guitar riff. O’Ree’s strong vocals and guitar prowess has made him a local legend in his own right. Landing a touring gig with Bon Jovi and winning a “King of the Blues” guitar contest through Guitar Center and Guitar World Magazine has earned him respect from many musical comrades in the area.
Though the band is no stranger to opening for big acts such as Deep Purple and Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as headlining, this night proved special in the spirit of brotherhood. O’Ree gave a shout out to Grushecky for being one of his biggest supporters after he had hit the road with Bon Jovi. It was clear the two bands held a mutual respect for one another as people and performers as Grushecky later returned a compliment to the evening’s openers.
Taking a breath after the melodic original “We’re Going to be Alright,” O’Ree asked the crowd, “What did you think of that one?” receiving loud approval from the captured audience. He announced that the band’s new album would be coming out this summer. Perhaps, the engaging song with a memorable refrain is radio ready and just may make the cut.
Eryn Shewell’s exquisite backup vocals shone during the hard rocking “Big Jenna” as her solo expressed her incredible range (Layonne Holmes, the second half of the powerhouse backup duo was performing across the street with Tim McLoone and The Shirleys on Saturday). Meanwhile, John Hummel’s pounding precision on the drums mixed with Scott Bennert’s grooving bass lines added to the funky feel. Their penchant for blues-rock jams speaks to their faithful following and well-known reputation for live performances.
On a danceable “My Everything is You,” a song O’Ree co-wrote with David Bryan, keyboard player Eric Safka provided multiple layers and ethereal tones that emanated from his distinctive Hammond B3. The song’s catchy chorus had attendees engaged straight through to the height of the crescendo. At times, the band even teased the crowd with hints at an all-out raucous jam on tunes such as their rock and roll blues interpretations of Albert King’s “Born Under a Bad Sign” and Humble Pie’s “30 Days in the Hole.”
Not unlike the lounges of Nashville, music lovers flock to places around town such as the Wonder Bar expecting to hear top-notch, first-rate musicianship. The Matt O’Ree Band delivered and then some.
When it came time for the evening’s main event, Joe Grushecky walked on stage in a black t-shirt, guitar strapped on in enthusiasm, ready to rock. Greeting his diehard fans with a full-sounding “No Strings Attached,” his good-humored attitude and warm smile was embraced by his audience. The Houserockers wasted no time in appeasing their fans. Joffo Simmons’s thumping rhythms lead the band in a cohesive direction, while Grushecky decided to treat the room to “Code of Silence,” a song he and Bruce Springsteen had written together. The crowd seemed to remember it was just last year, July to be exact, when the two collaborators had performed it on that very stage.
Ed Manion offered up sensual moments on the sax, his solos extending clear, melodic sounds to each corner of the room. During “Labor of Love,” “East Carson Street,” and “Dark and Bloody Ground” Manion was merely beginning to warm up, eliciting excitement from the front of the stage to the back of the bar. By “Never Be Enough Time” the band was in their groove. The Houserockers are a tightly synthesized group who, interchangeably with the Iron Houserockers, remain an almighty wealth of talent - Art Nardini on Bass, Joffo Simmons on Drums, Joey Pelesky on Keyboards, Danny Gochnour on Guitar and Johnny Grushecky on Guitar.
Danny Clinch, donning his signature fedora, joined the Rockers on mandolin during the lyrical “Oh, Kathleen” off the End of the Century album. His playful presence added to the goodtime vibe of the night as he made his way around stage. Though known for photographing famous musicians such as Bob Dylan, Clinch proved his worth as a guest bandmate. The Tangiers Band member later offered up his skillful harmonica playing on “Pumpin’ Iron” and elevated the raucous crew on the stage to the next level. It was surely a busy weekend for the festival’s organizer and contributor. His band was scheduled to play The Stone Pony on Sunday with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Nardini and Simmons drove “Chain Smoking’” along like a steady train, chugging and driving through while the strains of rhythm guitar moved through easily. Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers’s sound has often been labeled Heartland Rock. With roots in Pittsburgh and relatable working-class lyrics, the genre may be fitting although restrictive. The band’s versatility was evident as they slowed things down a bit with “Hearts of Stone.” A crowd favorite that features Grushecky’s ability to capture the more intimate moments vocally and on the guitar, the song was able to shift the mood of the room instantaneously.
Jamming through “Savin’ Up,” a popular Jersey Shore club sing-a-long song, and a newer “Broke Down, Busted and In Love with You,” Grushecky and crew went out on a high note. They seemed to be enjoying themselves so much on stage that at one point during the end of “I’m Walking…” Grushecky joked, “Apparently we have no ------- ending to this song!”
Giving the crowd more of what they came for, the Houserockers bounded into “Down the Road Apiece” into “Wipe Out.” Capping off the festival evening like a true rock veteran and, perhaps, delving into the Heartland a bit, Grushecky injected a long-winded, comical story into a rousing version of Van Morrison’s “Gloria.” The musical storyteller gave festival-goers and fans a glimpse into a stripclub in Pittsburgh wherein he ran into a tassel-wearing girl who he’d known from school. It evoked a hysterical response, and he seemed pleased.
Joe Grushecky’s contributions to the weekend’s festivities were more than a Wonder Bar performance. His documentary, “A Good Life: The Joe Grushecky Story” shown on Cookman Avenue at Salt Studios Saturday afternoon won him an APMFF award. The film chronicles his journey as musician and a teacher as he navigates his way through the tumult of life while somehow maintaining artistic integrity. The film award is just one in a long list of accolades bestowed upon the hardworking Houserocker over the years.
As much of a son to Jersey’s musical community as Springsteen, the Pittsburgh native seemed right at home in his adopted city. Grushecky announced that the album American Babylon Live, recorded at The Stone Pony last October, would be released at the Wonder Bar on July 9th. It will be an event fans and music enthusiasts will not want to miss. Expect there to be fireworks on Ocean Avenue that night.
Money raised from the festival supports youth charities such as area music programs and the Hope Academy in Asbury Park.
(TOP PHOTO BY LISA HUMMEL)
