The song "This Town" was inspired by events Caspi observed after he had just moved to Keyport. A town resident, father of three, and popular children's football coach, suddenly died after undergoing surgery, due to complications. He was the family breadwinner and because of the unusual events, the insurance company was holding payments until they investigated the case. The entire town seemed to rally together to help this family in need. "I was blown away by the loyalty of the town and how selflessly everyone responded," says Caspi. Inspired by his new town's spirit, he penned what is now a local classic.
In Keyport in 2005 it was hard not to have become familiar with Caspi and his song about the town. It was being played in stores throughout town, on the Keyport High School's media programs, and by Jon's many in-town performances that year. Caspi recollects, "I remember performing a lot at Espresso Joe's coffee shop and at each show having a larger audience. Then it came to a point where we couldn't fit everyone in." He continued, "My son used to tell his people that his dad was ‘a little bit famous', which made me laugh, but it was kind of true... but only in Keyport, and maybe a little bit in Asbury Park."
In the ten years since he released this album, Caspi has released five more, including three highly-acclaimed albums with his band, The First Gun. He has also become one of Monmouth County's musical fixtures and considered one of its most creative performers, using stage props, story-telling, sharp audience interaction and humor. His third album Eddie Knows!, a musical "novel" with each song telling a chapter of the tale. The album was converted into a multimedia Broadway-style stage show with two sold-out performances at Asbury Park's Showroom Theater.
Caspi's musical style has shifted and grown in the past ten years. His fifth album took him in the direction of punk rock and was produced by the legendary punk band Bouncing Souls' guitarist, Pete Steinkopf. The album was inspired by the plight of Africa's child soldiers and all the proceeds were donated to a small school in Uganda that provides education and a safe haven for children abducted for rebel army warfare. His most recent album, Sucker, spawned another local cult classic, Raise Em High!, a barroom "Hooligan" sing-along that he recorded with his fans actually singing along at the Brighton Bar. All of his albums have made year-end "best of" lists and three were selected for inclusion in Are You Listening, a book which identified the 100 greatest albums released between 2001-2010 by New Jersey artists.
In celebration of the 10th year anniversary of This Town, Caspi has just re-released the album via online download which can be accessed by visiting his website, www.JonCaspi.com. He will perform most of the album and include a few other of his local "hits" on Saturday, January 17th, at 4pm at the Gallery Where Music Lives in Asbury Park as part of the Asbury Underground / Light of Day Winterfest. The venue is located at 708 Cookman in Asbury Park.
