New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Review: Maybe Pete / Jason Mather @ Saint - December 29, 2005


By Gary Wien

originally published: 12/30/2005


(ASBURY PARK, NJ -- December 29, 2005) -- Ok, I've gotta admit that I wasn't really planning on reviewing this show but two things changed my mind. The first was hearing an interesting version of "Dancing In The Dark" come out of Jason Mather's guitar and the second was when Scott Stamper delivered the bad news.

"We're out of Yuengling until Friday," he said.

Devestated, I looked over the available taps and ordered something else. Something a bit more fancy than I usually go with. As he brought it over to me I asked quietly, "uh... are you out of Yuengling bottles too?"

"Yep."

Damn distributor... anyway, now that that's off of my chest lets get to the show. Jason Mather opened up the night with a set largely previewing his upcoming release, The Hottness. In between cuts like "Breaking The Chains Of Love" and "It's Cool" he provided an explosive cover of "Come Together" by the Beatles and the adventureous take of Springsteen's "Dancing In The Dark". He closed his set with the brillant "Goodbye Someday" off of his new record.

Jason is an exceptional guitarist who really brings out a 70s retro rock and roll experience to the stage. He grew up a huge fan of bands like Kiss and it's clear that he's got a little rock God in him. Fans of guitar heroes will definitely want to check him out.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



After Jason's set, the beer I had been drinking just ran out and wouldn't be back until Friday as well. I swear it's almost as if somebody was telling me to quit drinking. This being New Year's and all maybe that should be my resolution. Save a kidney, save a life... nah, maybe in 2007. I may hear voices in my head, but that's one I can generally tune out.

Maybe Pete treated this show as the New Year's Eve Eve Eve show and handed out noisemakers to the crowd before getting on stage. They opened with "Hide Away" which has become their traditional opener of late. This was the fifth and final Thursday night show at the Saint for Maybe Pete in December and despite another miserable night weatherwise, the band came prepared for a killer set.

After "No One But Yourself To Blame" Frankie McGrath pulled out the harp for a wonderful take on "About This Town". And then brought the guitar back for a manic version of "Whatever You Want Me To Do" that made you wish there was more people in club to hear it. After the song somebody yelled out, "now that's rock and roll!" They were absolutely right. Maybe Pete came thundering out all night long - showing off their punk bloodlines and playing lost nuggets and new tunes for the die-hards in the audience.

A new song that doesn't seem to have a name yet was dedicated to Nikki and then "Shari Lynn" - a nugget from the band's early days was played. At this point I began to wonder exactly where this so-called blue ribbon that my beer had won was. I don't believe there is such a ribbon. False advertising. Cheap beer, but false advertising. Thankfully, Maybe Pete saved me by playing a gorgeous version of "Not This Time" with Kelli McGrath on mandolin and more harp from Frankie.

Then came the song that should have been nominated for an Asbury Music Award as song of the year - "Somehow". Dedicated to Lisa, the song featured just Frankie on acoustic guitar and Kelli on mandolin. In this format, the song took on a totally different feel. There's just something great about watching those two alone on stage - Bruce and Patti have serious competition for top rock couple in Jersey!

It was then time for Frankie to hold up the clock and get everyone to celebrate it being close to close to New Year's Eve! After the noisemakers, the band flew into "Ours For The Taking" as their last number. The crowd rewarded them with a pair of encores and they got "Close Enough For Rock and Roll" (a version last night that would have made ANY punk band proud) and the brilliant "Exit 140A".

Scott Stamper once again showed his class by taking the mic to thank Maybe Pete for their residency in July (sponsored by Upstage :) ) and their residency in December and asked them for one more song. Scott's reward was an incredible take on Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" that the band plays on occasion. They really should drag it out more. It's a killer cover for them.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



Maybe Pete's energy seemed to rise with each song. Even though this was a fake New Year's Eve show, they showed that they would be a cool choice for such a night. Maybe next year somebody will ask them to play on December 31st. I can't think of a better way to rock in the new year.


Click here for pictures from the show.

Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station The Penguin Rocks. He can be contacted at gary@newjerseystage.com.

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.


There,

There, There (A Tribute to Radiohead)

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Asbury Lanes
209 4th Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
category: music


 

Band

Band Infusion Musical Night by GG

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 7:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Annual

Annual Jazz, Health and Food Truck Festival 2025

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 11:00am
Monte Irvin Orange Park
S center and South Harrison Street, Orange, NJ 07050
category: music


 

The

The Fumos

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Michael

Michael Allman Band (evening show)

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

bergenPAC

bergenPAC presents Hanson

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) presents Hanson on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 7:00pm. Over their first 28 years as the band Hanson, brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson have made a significant mark in music.



A

A Brother's Revival: Celebrating the Legendary Sound of the Allman Brothers Band Live at Drew University

(MADISON, NJ) -- Get ready to experience the timeless legacy of the Allman Brothers Band like never before, as A Brother's Revival takes the stage at Drew University Concert Hall on Thursday, September 19, 2025 at 8:00pm. This high-caliber tribute band honors the spirit and soul of one of America's most iconic rock groups with a performance brimming with power, precision, and heart.



Lizzie

Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 7:30pm. Griffin is an American singer-songwriter and storyteller. Touring and making records for over 20 years, House has a discography that includes over 13 albums.



Grammy

Grammy Award Winner Raphael Saadiq to Bring "No Bandwidth" Tour to NJPAC

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Get ready to experience an exceptional performance by Raphael Saadiq at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 8:00pm. This highly regarded one-person show, entitled "No Bandwidth," will highlight Saadiq's extraordinary talents through a compelling blend of storytelling and musicianship. Attendees can anticipate an unforgettable evening filled with artistic excellence.



Dave

Dave Koz brings his Summer Horns tour to MPAC in August

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Get set for a night of smooth summer jazz and funk with a touch of the sounds of the 1970s when Grammy-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) as part of his Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns 2025 tour on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 7:30pm.