New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Makin Waves Scene Report with Rachel Ana Dobken, Asbury Park Hip-Hop Fest, This Year’s Comeback and more


By Bob Makin

originally published: 08/02/2018


Multi-hyphenated Asbury Park-based talent Rachel Ana Dobken, the music curator at Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery, has launched an Indiegogo campaign to finance the release of her next record, “When It Happens to You,” to be released Sept. 8 at Asbury Lanes. Also featured this week are Asbury Park’s Universal African Festival, Pyrrhic Victory Recordings, Green Knuckle Material and Drive, Kid, and more. PHOTO BY JUSTIN FVLLER

Rachel Ana Dobken, the singer, songwriter, drummer, guitarist, pianist and Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery music curator, will release her latest record, “When It Happens to You,” on Sept. 8 at Asbury Lanes. In the meantime, she needs funds for tracking, mixing, mastering, musician pay, distribution, video, photography, marketing and publicity, so she’s started an Indiegogo crowdsourcing campaign.

Produced by Dobken, recorded by Joey Henderson of The Burns and Tim Pannella at Cedar Sounds in Oceanport, and being mixed by Kyle Joseph, who’s worked with Bob Weir, “When It Happens to You” is a full-length follow-up to her 2016 EP, “Detach.” The multi-hyphenated talent says her record stretches across a multitude of genres, including indie rock, jazz and soul. Imagine Amy Winehouse meets My Morning Jacket, Lake Street Dive meets White Denim. In addition to writing, producing arranging and singing the songs, Dobken also played drums, guitar and piano on the album …

Asbury Park Hip Hop Fest Vol. One will feature presenter Solo for Dolo, Pacewon, Ren Thomas, Joe College, Nujericans, DBM, Age of Extincton, Drea, Shoreshot, Redline, Dro Pesci, The Good People, DJ C Reality, Ghetto M.C. and Sun Lo on Aug. 6 at the Wonder Bar. The 7 p.m. 21+ show is free thanks to sponsors, who include Lite House Music, Parkview Projects, 7th Boro, Flip the Script Radio, Kanek, and The Credit Pros …

Neptune-based rapper Joe College also will be among the performers at Zamirahssad A. Dunbar Foundation’s Universal African Festival on Aug. 4 at Springwood Park in Asbury Park. Other performers will include rappers ImaniAray, Most Dop and HD Picasso, hip-hop band King Ramses, Universal African Dance Ensemble, Nikki Robinson and the Nick Nack Dance Attack, Asbury Park Technical Dance Academy, Sigma’s Control Step Team, inspirational singer Michelle White, spoken word artists Paige Ryans, Made Pierre, Felicia Simmons, Sunlite the Poet, and participants in and organizers of the KYDS conscious youth development program, R&B singers Nadirah Dawson and Eric Smith, soul/hip-hop band Whodat, The Reactivation Series Band, and comic Al-nisa Lawson. Highlights also will include vegan and soul food, art exhibits, kids’ activities, yoga and other mindfulness and wellness programs, and scholarship and community awards …




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



After a year of singles, up-and-coming energetic Jersey Shore pop-punk band This Year’s Comeback will celebrate the release of their debut LP, “Far from Fine, a Garden State Tragedy,” Aug. 4 at Asbury Park Music Foundation with Callout,  That's Not Pop Punk Of You, Painted Young and Drive, Kid. If you like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Panic! At The Disco, Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, All Time Low, and A Day To Remember, you’ll dig these guys …

Speaking of Drive, Kid, the similar-sounding Long Branch act recently dropped their full-length debut for which This Year’s Comeback participated in the celebration. The 11-song “Enjoy Being” follows two EPs, 2016’s self-titled debut and “Picturesque,” which was released in March. The busy boys will open on Sept. 8 at Asbury Park Brewery for Shane Henderson of Valencia and Promise of Redemption, along with local bands June Divided and My Lonely Heart ...

North Jersey indie Pyrrhic Victory are keeping busy producing bands and their shows. The label has three new releases out. Scary Hours, the one-man project name of singer-songwriter Ryan Struck, recently released a PVR single, “Live to Serve/Serve to Live.” Scary Hours will play with label mates The 65’s on Aug. 18 at Harp N Bard, Clifton. The Components and Summer Husbands will share the bill. 

In support of their self-titled debut LP, Philly synthwave band Retroglyphs will play Aug. 3 at Mill Hill Basement, Trenton, with Bar/None recording act Overlake and goodnight/goodluck. PVR recently reissued the 1987 single, “Faith Is Torn,” of Voice of Doom, featuring members of Samhain and Dag Nasty. Voice of Doom will reunite to play a show PVR is presenting with fellow North Jersey indie labels Mint 400 Records and Sniffling Indie Kids on Sept. 18 at Pet Shop Bar, Jersey City, also with The Components and John Cozz. 

The aforementioned 65’s have a tasty show coming up Aug. 30 at John and Peters, New Hope, Pa., with Mr. Payday and Secretary Legs. Due in the fall from PVR will be the latest record by the rootsy two-piece Hidden Cabins …

Green Knuckle Material will kick off the Renaissance tour in support of their same-named 2017 EP on Aug. 9 at Debonair Music Hall, Teaneck, with Jean Pool, Olive & the Pits, and Joyride sharing the bill. The tour then will take the New Brunswick-by-way-of-North-Jersey rap-rock act to Baltimore, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina before heading Aug. 18 to The Skate Foundry in Philadelphia. Then it’s Albany, Vermont and Massachusetts followed by Aug. 23 at Caffeine Underground in Brooklyn; Aug. 24, St. Babs, Cape May Courthouse, and concluding Aug. 25 at Evelyn’s, New Brunswick.

Bob Makin is the reporter for www.MyCentralJersey.com/entertainment and a former managing editor of The Aquarian Weekly, which launched this column in 1988. Contact him at makinwaves64@yahoo.com. And like Makin Waves at www.facebook.com/makinwavescolumn.




New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

Frisson

Frisson Winds

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Three

Three American Troubadours: A Tribute to James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723
category: music


 

Candlelight

Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Motor

Motor City Revue

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Bell Theater
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Strand

Strand Center for the Arts presents Chicago 9 – The Ultimate Tribute to Chicago

(LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- The iconic horns, unforgettable melodies, and powerful rhythms of Chicago come alive on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8:00pm, as Chicago 9 – Tribute to Chicago takes the stage at the Strand Center for the Arts in Lakewood. They are widely recognized as the premier Chicago tribute band in the country.



All-Bluegrass,

All-Bluegrass, All Night: Live at Albert Hall on July 12th

​​​​​​​(WARETOWN, NJ) -- On Saturday, July 12, 2025, Albert Music Hall will present an evening dedicated entirely to Bluegrass music. The event begins at 6:00pm and features six live performances, each offering a 30-minute set, showcasing both new and returning acts.



Jazz

Jazz Concert at Trenton City Museum will Feature the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience

(TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum will present a free jazz concert Friday, July 18, 2025 at the museum's Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park. Featuring world-renowned vibraphonist Joe Baione, the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience is the first group to perform in a series of jazz events leading up to the museum's 2026 TRENTON MAKES JAZZ exhibition, in collaboration with the City of Trenton.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Tonight's the Night - a tribute to Rod Stewart

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Tonight's the Night - a tribute band that celebrates the music of Rod Stewart - will perform at The Newton Theatre on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8:00pm.



Hoboken's

Hoboken's Sinatra Park to Host Concert by Freedy Johnson and Karyn Kuhl and the Gang

(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Local events organizer, Geri Fallo, who retired last year, is inviting you to celebrate with her, as she embraces new and exciting endeavors. Come enjoy a free evening of music in Hoboken's Sinatra Park (525 Sinatra Drive) on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The evening is presented by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, The Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs, and Geri Fallo. The event is free, and music starts at 6:30pm. Come early for the best seating.