By Danny Coleman
originally published: 08/13/2014 The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ was a "groovy" place to be recently as west coast groove artist Donovan Frankenreiter laid it down smooth to a packed house of enthusiastic fans.
With Hawaii as a home base of operation, this "surfer dude," as he's been called, plays a unique brand of laid back, yet up tempo, borderline eclectic mix;unlike anything else in music today.
Accompanying Donovan on multiple stops of this current tour, is former fellow professional surfer and Santa Barbara, CA native Tom Curren. Curren took to the stage of the fabled Stone Pony at 8:18 p.m. EST to an already large crowd made up of various age groups and styles.
Once the lights went down, Curren smiled as he walked onto the stage; a smile that was hard to detect due to the fedora type hat which adorned his head. The crowd, which at first seemed slow to react to this artist's laid back offerings; quickly warmed as his short set of only twenty four minutes progressed. Intertwining folk and upbeat tempos, Curren did a very nice job of setting the tone for his wave riding buddy.
Frankenreiter was up next but as was the case with Curren; he was fashionably late taking the stage at 9:30 p.m. Opening up with an older selection called "Move By Yourself," Donovan had the now capacity crowd bopping along and getting more in tune with his "cool vibe" persona before the songs completion.
Frankenreiter's apparel was, as said earlier of his music; an eclectic mix and one that I am sure his previous Billabong sponsors may have frowned upon. Gracing the Pony stage in a white shirt, dark pants, a bright red jacket and a very interesting hat (or it was probably more of a "chapeau") which drew some colorful comments from the crowd; Frankenreiter plowed through tune after tune with very little fanfare or interruption. He seemed focused and well prepared, stopping only briefly to address the crowd; preferring to let his music do the talking.
The stage configuration was a bit odd with the drummer up front and stage right, Donovan stage left and the bass player seated in the middle. This must have been to plan as Donovan was able to look right down a line to his band mates while establishing very little eye contact with the audience itself as he delivered great pieces such as "Heading Home" and "Free," the second featuring his good buddy Jack Johnson on the studio recording.
The overall performance was however, one of defiance; as in, Frankenreiter seemed to defy all in attendance to stand still. He and his two accomplices had the floor of this storied venue moving together as one in an almost musical trance as they swayed and weaved their bodies to Donovan's cross between funk, folk and "surf rock."
"Call Me Papa" and "Girl Like You" were also highlights of an evening filled with many. Frankenreiter chugged along like he had a plane to catch but not before loading those in attendance into the cargo hold and taking us for a ride. The main set was an hour long; ending at exactly 10:30 p.m. Donovan made the revved up passengers of this flight wait an agonizing four minutes for a three song thirteen minute encore closing the show at 10:52 with "It Don't Matter."
Seeing a show at The stone Pony is always a treat due to the venues history and intimacy; its cement floor and dark décor lend just enough element of seedy underground rock club to the great stage which has seen some of the music world's best talent, both national and local. The Pony is often a home to the thriving music scene of Asbury Park and the Jersey shore's live and original music community. On this night, it belonged to Donovan and Tom Curren. Welcomed as Jersey welcomes all who come to the Garden State; with open arms.
Frankenreiter continues his trek across the country with ten east coast shows in ten days beginning Thursday August 14 in Washington, D.C. and ending on August 23 in Ft. Lauderdale FLA. before taking a break until September 14 when he does the "Phases of the Moon Music & Art Festival" in Danville, IL.
To see the tour schedule and find out more about Donovan Frankenreiter, please go to www.donovanf.com . To discover more about Tom Curren, please check out www.tomcurren.com .
There's a new blues band in town and they are called Mr. Lucky, Playing a brand of jump, swing and older blues/funk danceable selections, these guys are a lot of fun to see. They will be playing at Sunsets Bar and Restaurant adjacent to the Cream Ridge Golf Course on Rte. 539 in Cream Ridge this Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
Staying with a blues theme; Paul Plumeri and Blues in Disguise will be playing their versions of amazing blues at Patriots Craossing on Rte. 29 in Titusville. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. this is a great night of food and blues.
Also on Saturday, Kevin Toft and his All Star band will be performing at 9 p.m. in an old familiar haunt to us Trenton area residents; Hamilton Lanes Lounge. The bar once known as "Alley Oops" located inside the Hamilton Bowling Lanes at 1200 Kuser Road in Hamilton, NJ used to house some great entertainment; then times and trends dictated a closing of the bar for a number of years. A new revived interest and attitude have brought about a reopening. So, check out Mr. Toft and tell him I said hello when you do!
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!

THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS

Alchemist & Barrister

28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Joy On Fire

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Sun. 9 p.m. Pat Foran

Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night

All shows 21+
Amarones Windsor Inn

29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Scott Gager & Debbie

Fri. 8 p.m. Rick & Kenny

Sat. 8 p.m. Living The Dream

Tues. 7:30 p.m. Texas Hold'em

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Wed. 7 p.m. FREE Salsa Lessons
Big Shots Bar and Grill/Hebe Music Lounge

835 E Rte. 130 South, Burlington

(609) 267-1200
Fri. 8 p.m. Only On Weekends, Dan Ex Machina, For The Quitters, Hot Trash

Sat. (7 p.m.) Laura Cheadle (10:30 p.m.) Filthy Micks

Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic.
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612

Sat. 3 p.m. Earl Ross Quartet (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chambers Walk Cafe
2667 Main St. Lawrenceville
(609) 896-5995

Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton

The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
Fri. 7 p.m. Born A New, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Initials, Sentinels, A Scent Like Wolves. All ages, $8/$10

Sat. 5 p.m. Electric Puke, True Revolution, Loss Of Effect, Three Cheers Too Late, Revast, Angels 8 Riot, Government Of Sheep. All ages. $8/$10

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Sun. 4 p.m. Smile Empty Soul, Bridge To Grace, Aurin, Episode Earth, Lethal Affection, The Division, Cut The Act. All ages, $12/$14

Mon. 4 p.m. Eyes Set To Kill, The Relapse Symphony, Close To Home, Drowning Swans, Tides Of Deception, Hopeless Martyr, In Search Of, Endless Lament. All ages, $12/$14
Chickie's & Pete's

183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown

(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100
Sun. 4 p.m.Billy O'neal

Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen
Fran's Pub

116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.

(215)862-5539
Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Night

Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam hosted by Jimmy Pritchard

All shows 21+
Halo Pub

4617 Nottingham Way Hamilton

(609) 586-1811
Sat. 7 p.m. (TBA)
Halo Pub

9 Hullfish St. Princeton

(609) 921-1710
Sat. 6 p.m. (TBA)
Hamilton Lanes Bowling Alley/Lounge

1200 Kuser Rd. Hamilton

(609) 585-2400
Sat. 9 p.m. Kevin Toft and The All Star Band
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897

Thurs. (8 p.m.) Rich Robinson (Black Crowes) Doors at 6 p.m., $30 (advance), general admission. (10 p.m.) Beat the Clock College Night DJ Dance Party

Fri. 8:30 p.m. Fish Out of Water

Sat. 8:30 p.m. The Loop

Sun. 8 p.m. Hello I Must Be Going (Phil Collins Tribute). Doors at 6 p.m., $15

Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridge

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Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran, Gary Redd, Michael Ronstadt

All shows 21+
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 10 p.m. Tangled

Sat. 10 p.m. Jeff palmer & Friends
All shows 21+

John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981

Thurs. 9 p.m. Mayflys

Fri. 9 p.m. Eric Sommer

Sat. (3 p.m.) Rock Bottom (9:30 p.m.) Red Rover Burlesque

Sun. (3 p.m.) Jaime Salvatore (9:30 p.m.) Alex McMurray

Mon. Open Mic. w/ Lauren

Tues. 9 p.m. Van Sabers w/ Hot Blood

Wed. The Invitational (Featuring John & Peter's House Band)
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern

2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton

(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Paint the Roses Tea and Café Restaurante

37 W. Broad St. Hopewell

(609) 466-8200
Sat. 11 a.m. Bryan Hill
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979

Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke

All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing

1339 River Rd. Titusville

(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Dan Zimmerman & The Torquebillies

Sat. 7:30 p.m. Blues in Disguise
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008

Fri. 9:30 p.m. Mark Giovi

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Blind Lemmon Pie
RHO Waterfront

50 Riverview Plaza Trenton

(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Jeff Scott

Fri. (5 p.m.) Matt & Rachel. $10 Buffet (8 p.m.) The Main Event Band. (10:30 p.m.) DJ Jimmie Palumbo

Sat. 9 p.m. Upscale Latin Dance feat. Frankie Negron / Multiple DJs. $35 (advance) $40 (day of show)

All Shows 21+
Spigola Ristorante

3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd. Hamilton

(609) 585-5255
Sat. 8:30 p.m. DJ Frank Olivetti
Sunsets at Cream Ridge

181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge

(609) 208-2500
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Melanie & Sonny

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Mr. Lucky

Tavern On The Lake

101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345

Fri. 9 p.m. Pretty Baby

Sat. 9 p.m. Speed Limit

Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket

216 4th St. Fieldsboro

(609) 291-9110
Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. School of Rock Performances
The Ivy Inn

248 Nassau St. Princeton

(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr

Fri. 10 p.m. Rainbow Fresh

Sat. 10 p.m. Jam Lab

Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr
The Man Cave

134 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown

(609) 424-3766
Sat. 8 p.m. Jana Peri. Doors at 7:30 p.m., $5, BYOB
The Record Collector

358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown

(609) 324-0880
Please check web site for upcoming events
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Out of The Red

Sat. 9 p.m. Trentones

All shows 21+
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check web site for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554

Fri. 9 p.m. Mike Brill

Sat. 9 p.m. Alright Alright

Wed. 9 p.m. Paul Weise

All shows 21+
Trenton Social

449 South Broad Street Trenton

(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays Presents: Robin Williams

Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx

Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300

Thurs. 10 p.m. DJ Trubblemaker

Fri. 10 p.m. Giant Flying Turtles. $5 (cover charge)

Sat. 10 p.m. Blendmode w/ Grey Matter. $5 (cover charge)

Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night

All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn

2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington

Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke

All shows 21+

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Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.

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