The Jersey Shore's hardest-working musician, Bobby Mahoney, has landed himself a well-deserved record deal with Wicked Cool Records, the label owned by Sounds of Asbury Park architect Little Steven. The label debut, "Another Deadbeat Summer," actually is a greatest local hits collection from the LPs, EPs and singles released since 2014 by Bobby and his East Brunswick-originated, Asbury-based band, the Seventh Son, as well as the 2015 solo EP, "Luck."
On “Another Deadbeat Summer,” the band — drummer James McIntosh, bassist Jon Chang-Soon and guitarist Andrew Saul — remain intact, along with longtime saxophonist Zack Sandler. Together, they make a Johnny Clash-like sound that’s equal parts Bruce Springsteen and Social Distortion, much like Gaslight Anthem.
Remixed by Geoff Sanoff and remastered by Joe Lambert, the 13-song collection kicks off with “A Shot in the Dark,” the emotional title track from the 2016 LP. The closing booty call of “Black and Milds” also was featured on that album. Both songs were re-recorded for the 2018 self-titled LP, which also featured the new album’s first single, the touring-inspired “Empty Passenger Seats,” as well as the addiction apology of “Called It Quits,” the strained chug of “Lorraine,” the party-drenched loyalty of “Roaring Twenties,” and its teenage wasteland-like title track.
“Another Deadbeat Summer” also features the angry “Something in the Night”-like 2019 Telegraph Records single, “Nothing for Nothing.”
The remainder of the Wicked Cool release first was heard on the entirety of the 2022 Telegraph EP, “We Go On”: anthemic title track, the passionate “Moth to the Flame,” the dark, dingy dead end of “Take What You Can Get,” the tongue-in-cheek band brotherhood of “No Amens in This Van,” and the rousing soulful plea of “Lay It on Me.”
Bobby and band will celebrate the release of “Another Deadbeat Summer” on July 12 at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. Soraia, Idle Wave, and Feeny will share the bill.
The release party sandwiches shows July 6 at The Kill Shed in Toms River and July 20 at Kingsland in Brooklyn. Then Bobby will head to Europe for a two-week tour.
For more about Bobby, visit https://www.bobbymahoneymusic.com. For more about Wicked Cool Records, click https://wickedcoolrecords.bandcamp.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
