New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Dana Fuchs LIVE! on the Atlantic City Boardwalk


By Spotlight Central, Photos by Love Imagery

originally published: 08/15/2022

Music lovers are gathered this August 2, 2022 evening at Kennedy Plaza on the Atlantic City, NJ boardwalk for a free Wednesday night Mardi Gras AC concert starring blues-rock musician Dana Fuchs. Known for her distinctively soulful voice, Fuchs made a name for herself playing Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway musical, Love, Janis, and also appeared as Sadie in the 2007 film, Across the Universe. As a recording artist, Fuchs has released a number of well-received albums including 2003’s Lonely for a Lifetime, 2011’s Love to Beg, and 2013’s Bliss Avenue. Her latest recording is 2022’s Borrowed Time.

Concert producer Carmen Marotta greets the crowd by tossing green, purple, and gold Mardi Gras beads out to members of the audience. After reminding everyone about future free Mardi Gras AC concerts — including jazz guitarist Stanley Jordon on August 17, Inca: A Tribute to Carlos Santana on August 24, and John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band on August 31 — Marotta introduces the audience to Dana Fuchs, describing her as a “phenom,” “a serious dedicated artist,” and “one of the roots-rock divas in the world.”

The members of Fuchs’ band — guitarist Jon Diamond, bassist Kevin Mackall, and drummer Richie Monica — take the stage and launch into “Ready to Rise.” Opening with a distorted guitar riff with shimmering drums and booming bass, the musicians whip up a funky groove that immediately captures the audience’s attention.

With her long curls flowing and sporting amber shades, Dana Fuchs enters, announcing, “Hello, New Jersey — my home state! This is our seaside Woodstock! Can we get together in the name of love and music tonight?”

Singing with passion, her soulful and bluesy voice rings out, “I won’t cry any more with the sun in my eyes/I’m tired of losin’ and I’m ready to rise,” before Jon Diamond shreds a guitar solo and the audience reacts with avid cheers and applause.




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



After thanking the crowd, Fuchs exclaims, “Let’s rock it out! Come on!” as she segues into “Double Down on Wrong,” a cut from her new album, Borrowed Time.

Booming bass and driving drums underscore her smooth, passionate vocal on this electric rocker before the band decrescendos and Fuchs says, “I’ve been fighting with everyone I love. We are what matters, person to person.” The crowd responds with enthusiastic whistles and cheers.

After revealing, “I wrote this next song way before the pandemic. Do you have a pain in the ass who you love? If you are still with them, that is true love!” Fuchs sits on a box drum playing percussive rhythms on “Handful Too Many.”

Her smoky vocal adds dimension to the country-boogie feel of the song and Jon Diamond sparkles on a guitar solo on this percussive and rhythmic tune.

Following the bluesy and upbeat rocker, “Hard Road,” the crowd cheers and Fuchs says, “Thank you. I wrote this next song when I had lost a lot of people. I lost my mom, my dad, a brother, and a sister. Then, I heard this Tibetan monk talk and he said, ‘We are sitting on gratitude.’”

Here, she and the band perform “Sittin’ On,” a tune with an island groove that has audience members moving at their seats as the ocean breeze wafts the salty air and the sun begins to set in the west.

Fuchs talks about her relationship with her father before announcing, “This song is for the ‘faithful sinners’ we have in our lives and in our hearts.” She takes a seat downstage as she croons “Faithful Sinner,” a power ballad on which her soulful voice cries out, “If you could see through my sad eyes/This pool of tears that I’ve cried/Would you see a villain for all time/Or a sinner with a faithful mind?”




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



The crowd applauds, and Fuchs responds by performing an Otis Redding song, “Nobody’s Fault But Mine,” an upbeat tune which features rhythmic guitar, driving drums, and a funky bass which accompany Fuchs’ irresistibly bluesy vocal filled with feeling and grit.

Singing on her knees on stage, Fuchs says, “I’m gonna add a little Ike and Tina Turner,” as she segues into the funky “I Smell Trouble,” impressing with her complete vocal range as the band cooks.

Strapping on an acoustic guitar, Fuchs performs “the first country song I ever wrote — about two messed-up people who will never be on the same page.” Showing her versatility, she spins a yarn with her voice on “I’m Thinking ‘Bout You (But I Got Nothing on My Mind),” a number which has Jon Diamond playing an inspired electric guitar solo.

Fulfilling an audience request, Fuchs and Co. perform “Battle Lines,” a song which Fuchs says is “based on a Socrates quote: ‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.’” On this appealing country-rocker, Fuchs accompanies herself on acoustic guitar crying, “I see high tides and river flow/Always drift back to sea/Can’t hold em close/Can’t hold anything/Pullin’ away from me,” as the sky darkens and stage lights glow.

The crowd cheers, and Fuchs declares, “I want to thank you so much, New Jersey! I’m proud to say I was born here!” before performing her final number, a cover version of David Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure.” Kevin Mackall lays down the song’s famous ostinato bass line while Fuchs gets the audience on its feet clapping along to the rhythm. Having fun, Fuchs has the crowd — and, then, concert producer Carmen Marotta — echo-sing with her before a member of the audience, Pete, takes the stage and the pair vocally riffs together. The crowd loves the spontaneity of the performance and responds with animated whistles, cheers, and applause.

“Thank you!” exclaims Fuchs as she raises her microphone stand above her head a la Queen’s Freddie Mercury before exiting with the band.

As audience members get ready for a second set of tunes by the New Orleans ensemble, Flow Tribe, we chat with several music lovers in the crowd who share their thoughts on tonight’s performance by Dana Fuchs. Declares Daniel from Atlantic City, “Dana was really good! Before tonight, I wasn’t familiar with her or her music, but I loved her soulfulness, and the band was really crisp, too.” Larry from Ventnor agrees, exclaiming, “She was superb!” before adding, “We come to all of the Wednesday Mardi Gras AC concerts,” explaining, “You just can’t beat a concert on the beach!”

Susan from Margate maintains, “I loved the bluesy edge to Dana’s voice! It really drew me in,” adding, “I also liked that she told us the stories behind her songs — she made the music so personal that I feel I almost know her now.” George from Margate concurs, insisting, “Dana Fuchs’ voice is so powerful — plus, I really liked the variety of her music which ran the spectrum from country to blues to rock and to soul.”

Lastly, we chat with Frank from Absecon who acknowledges, “I’m here tonight because I know Dana Fuchs from the movie, Across the Universe. Now I’ve learned that she not only sings Beatles’ songs with a soulful twist, but she injects that trademark bluesy sound of hers into her own quality material,” before concluding, “I could listen to her all night long!”

To learn more about Dana Fuchs, please go to danafuchs.com. For information on future free Mardi Gras AC concerts on the Atlantic City Boardwalk at Kennedy Plaza — including guitarist Stanley Jordan on August 17, Inca: A Tribute to Carlos Santana on August 24, and John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band on August 31 — please click on tonymart.com.




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



Photos by Love Imagery

Spotlight Central. Your source for Jersey entertainment news and reviews

Love Imagery Fine Art Photography. all you need. peace/love/flower/power


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Rick

Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung, and Paul Young to bring the "I Want My 80s Tour" to NJPAC

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Get ready to revive the spirit of the 1980s! Iconic rock star and eternal heartthrob Rick Springfield, a true emblem of the '80s music scene, is set to take the stage on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Showtime is 7:00pm.



Young

Young the Giant to Play Tropicana Atlantic City

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Critically-acclaimed, multi-platinum selling band Young the Giant announces the In The Open 2025 Acoustic Tour. An intimate concert experience performed in beautiful spaces and venues around the country, the band will be supported by Cassandra Coleman (debut album produced by Jack Antonoff out June 6 via Warner) throughout. Locally, the tour comes to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, July 12, 2025.



West

West Windsor Arts presents Summer Music and More: Channel Collective

(PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ) -- West Windsor Arts presents Channel Collective on Saturday, July 12, 2025 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm. Dan Kassel and Friends, featuring Gregg Merkle, will open the night. This is the first of three in their free summer concert series sponsored by Site Centers. Admission is free.



Asbury

Asbury Lanes presents There, There - A Tribute to Radiohead

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Asbury Lanes presents There, There on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 8:00pm. They are the premier Radiohead tribute act, playing songs from throughout the band's iconic multi-decade catalogue.



All-Bluegrass,

All-Bluegrass, All Night: Live at Albert Music 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.



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