(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) — There are few songwriters who have impressed me over the years as much as Anthony D’Amato and I'm excited to see him be the first headliner for Split Level Concerts in 2026. He will be performing at the Jersey Shore Arts Center on Saturday, January 24th with the electrifying Deseree Spinks opening the night.
I’ve known Anthony since he was in high school. A friend of mine told me about this young writer who I should get in touch with. He lived in Northwest Jersey, but was popping up around the Jersey Shore quite often. At the time, I was publishing Upstage Magazine and had a website called AsburyMusic.com. Anthony would soon write for both, covering shows and writing features on artists who were on the cusp of going from indie to becoming household names. It was clear he knew music. I once referred to him as New Jersey’s own Almost Famous character, bouncing around from show to show, penning reviews, and artist interviews. It wasn’t long before he was writing for major music publications.
Then one day, he handed me one of his CDs. I didn’t even know he was performing music at the time. The first album I received was raw, but full of potential. The next was far better and began a run of brilliant album after album as he moved on to Princeton University. Some of my favorite songs of his were from these early works; a few got re-recorded and wound up on later releases while others got lost to history - only surviving in the archives of DJs like myself. One such album, Shades of the Prison House, was recorded in his dorm room at Princeton and came in at #17 in my book detailing my choices for the Top 100 Albums by New Jersey Artists from 2001-2010.
In the book I wrote, “His songs blend poetry with catchy folk-rock guitar. Shades Of The Prison House isn’t just a collection of tunes, but an entranceway into the mind of a young poet who has experienced life far beyond his years.” He often penned what I call "killer lines" - a lyric that stays in your mind long after the song ends, almost haunting you.
One of Anthony's most impressive attributes in my opinion was the way he saw the future he wanted and made it happen. At Princeton University, he sought out and was mentored by the Pulitzer Prize winning poet Paul Muldoon. He began being a regular performer for the Light of Day shows and started working as a music publicist at Shore Fire Media. In both places, he met tons of artists who gave him opening spots on their tours and even performed on his albums. Step by step, he made his dream come true.
In 2014, he became a national artist when his debut for New West Records, The Shipwreck From The Shore, was released. He began being played on NPR stations and featured in some of the music magazines he once wrote for. And as he toured more and more of the world, he added photography to his repertoire. On his website you can see some of his stunning work in that field.
In 2021, D’Amato joined forces with fellow singer-songwriters Don DiLego, Brian Dunne, and Mike Montali to form the band Fantastic Cat. They’ve since put out two of my favorite albums of the decade and are an excellent band to see live. This bunch of New York singer songwriters remind me of the Philadelphia supergroup called Four Way Street (now known as U.S. Rails). It doesn't always work when a band of great songwriters join together, but when it does it's something special.
Over the years, Anthony D’Amato hasn’t changed his writing style as much as he’s refined it. He can still write brilliant folk tunes and terrific rockers, but he’s matured as an artist and as a person. In my opinion, he’s not only one of the best songwriters from New Jersey but one of the best of his generation. If you are a fan of artists like Josh Ritter, be sure to catch Anthony in Ocean Grove.
Deseree Spinks, who opens the show at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, is one of the best vocalists in the area. She’s probably best known around here as the lead singer of Des & the Swagmatics, but odds are you’ve seen her provide backup vocals on stages with artists like deSol, Arlan Feiles, and Ray Andersen to name a few. As the leader of the Swagmatics, she headlined a show at the Stone Pony this past summer and performed at the kickoff show for the 2025 Asbury Porchfest. Deseree is a three-time Asbury Music Award-winning performer.
You can see them both at the Jersey Shore Arts Center (66 South Main Street, Ocean Grove, NJ) on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 8:00pm. Tickets are $31.60 and available for purchase online.
The show on January 24th was originally scheduled for Nathan Graham and tickets already purchased for that show will be honored. Refunds are also available for people who contact [email protected]
