It seems like if it has to do with music, I am connected in some way. Here’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
It was 2016 and I was in the lobby of the Asbury Hotel. It had been a long day spent with friends by the pool. I was all alone late at night just unwinding. As I glanced over at the hotel front desk, my eyes met and I saw him and he saw me. Of course it was only seconds, however it felt like a long time. I just could not look away and that was the exact moment my eyes locked with Danny Clinch.
Oh, I knew who he was. I had seen him several times out and about doing his thing but now he was All mine. I recognized the girl next to him as a local very talented artist and on the other side was Danny’s wife, Maria.
What do I do now? As I slipped my hand into my backpack I felt a CD. I needed it right away and I walked over to him with our eyes still locked together. He smiled and I smiled as I reached out to introduce myself and shake his hand as my left hand was still in my backpack holding the CD.
Of course I could feel myself start to shake OH NO! Not a panic attack not now, I told myself. Danny smiles with his eyes and all I could see was him looking at me. At me!
I have walked right up to Bruce Springsteen in the past and I never remember feeling like I did at that very moment. This IS what I do, that was who I was.
I told him I was a Promotor booking agent and I handed him the most recent CD of the Mike Montrey Band.
We chatted about the last music festivals he had coordinated and I asked him if he would ever consider booking local artists, to be a part of his next music festival? Little did I know he was working on his baby, Sea Hear Now. He would be bringing this festival to Asbury Park.
Danny was possibly a little taken back by my bold question and he just smiled and told me, at this point every musician he knew worldwide wanted to be included and these were his friends. He needed to get things finalized before making any decisions.
Photo by Patrick Jordan at Newport Folk Fest 2019
He held the CD now in his hand and I asked if he would give it a listen. It happened almost in a blink of an eye but it still feels like yesterday that this took place between us. I thanked him for taking the time to chat with me, then I walked away still shaking.
Seldom if ever do I get intimidated when I meet someone, especially when music is concerned. I am sure this happens to Danny hundreds of times and all I kept thinking was, I had My moment, yes I did!
My memories of meeting Tina Kerekes, way back in 1997 in Beach Haven, New Jersey. Tina owned a boutique that my daughter stumbled upon while we were on vacation. Tina was kind and personable and we continued building our friendship for well over five years. Tina had and still has a Unique Fashion Sense. She knew how to put my daughter together and many outfits were purchased through the years on vacation preparing for school clothes too. We found ourselves parting after so many summers and lost touch.
Moving forward I found myself in Asbury Park more and more often attending shows I had booked for the artists I was working with. Over twenty-five years later I bumped into Tina at the Wonder Bar and she invited me to stop by so she could show me around the gallery. So here we are...
Transparent Clinch Gallery is located on the corner of 5th and Kingsley, attached to The Asbury Hotel. A spot to admire as an iconic cultural and community location. This gallery displays some of the finest rock n roll photography of all time. It is a spot where some of the biggest rock n roll legends tend to stop by: Springsteen, Trey Anastasio, Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam…
Plus the stage is filled with wonderful vintage gear, set up for a fantastic listening environment.
An immersive Art Gallery known for its photography of rockstars and also offering curated spaces for homes, offices, restaurants, storefronts, galleries and more.
Clinch was born in 1964 and is an American Photographer and Film Director. He began his career as an intern with Annie Leibovitz.
He has gone on to photograph Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tupac Shakur, the Smashing Pumpkins, Blind Melon, Phish, Nicole Atkins, and Bjork to name a few.
Notable artists who have visited the gallery include Bruce Springsteen and members of The E Street Band, Eddie Vedder, Dogs in a Pile, Nathaniel Rateliff, Â Billy Strings, Glen Hansard and more. Most of their live shows can be viewed on the Live Show Vault of their website.
Clinch is the master of black and white photography but also works in color and varies the format of his portraits. With museum quality Danny offers archival pigmented fine art prints.
Danny also gives back in ways he knows will render funds towards benefits like last November's Soulshine Benefit Concert at Madison Square Garden, which aided the Hurricane victims devastated in North Carolina in 2024. His recent print fundraiser collaboration with John Mayer helped raise funds and awareness for the victims of the recent fires and devastation in Los Angeles.
If you visit his website you will see photos he has taken in the past for purchase.
Being a promoter and booking agent for the past 24 years brought me back to Mike Montrey. We met back in 2006, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. I offered him a solo gig, at a brewery in Princeton I was booking and we have been working together ever since.
When I saw that the Mike Montrey Band will be performing on Saturday, March 22 at 4 pm, I reached out to Mike. These were the questions we discussed.
What does it mean for you and your band to be playing soon at Transparent Clinch Gallery?
Transparent Clinch is kind of the creative epicenter of Asbury Park, which is kind of the creative epicenter of New Jersey. So that’s pretty significant.
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How is the sound? What vintage instrument do you have your eye on?
We haven’t played yet but I’ve heard it is a warm sounding room. I really dig the Supro Amps they have.
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Being an artist for so many years  is there an artist you see in the gallery you would most want to jam with?
I would love to jam with any of them! Having seen Trey Anastasio, Bruce Springsteen, Jim James, Eddie Vedder and more just drop in and play instruments, I would be ecstatic to play with any of those people.
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How do you feel Danny Clinch helps and gives back to the community in Asbury Park?
I would think Sea Hear Now is a pretty big example but really just having this creative space that shows not only his helping out it also provides a spot for music and community, that’s a big deal.
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In what ways does an art gallery lend itself to a good listening room?
The environment the art the walls. The intimacy of the space. It’s small and warm. You just want to be in it.
What are you most looking forward to at your upcoming March 22nd gig?
Seeing the amazing photographs while playing music amongst the inspiration of not only rock n roll icons but some incredible photography, is something I’m really looking forward to. It will inform the music and bring out the best in all of us. I think often times people overlook the environmental impacts on music.
I once watched a small symphony play BACH, in a building in Prague, that was hundreds of years old. It was built for the sound of acoustic music, sonically and visually. It was an all encompassing sensory experience.
If you happen to visit Transparent Clinch Gallery, Tina Kerekes will probably be there to greet you. She shared with me recently and here is our discussion.
Knowing you and meeting you years ago, I can see you as the perfect fit at the gallery. How do you feel you are the best suited for the job?
Tina - The gallery was only supposed to be a 3 month pop up. I was asked by Danny and Maria to help curate the gallery and I instantly said yes. I asked who was going to run it, with my hand up in the air. We have been here for now over 8 years, and I wear many hats. My love of music, art and community fits the role.
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Through the years, I’m sure you have met so many memorable people, is there any that stand out over the others and why?
I am lucky to meet people from all over the world, their stories intertwine with the stories behind the photographs. Some of my favorites have been fans of the musicians. But I loved connecting with Glen Hansard, Head and the Heart, Bruce Springsteen, Portugal the Man and the War and Treaty.
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You always have a smile on your face. I can tell you love what you do and do what you love. What are the things you enjoy doing when you are not in the gallery?
I love fashion designing, running, gardening and taking care of my mom.
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Have you done any traveling through the years?
I visit my son, Isaiah, every year in Los Angeles. Just this past October we visited Nobu, in Malibu and most of the towns that have been destroyed by the fires. We are both grateful that we had that experience. I’ve also traveled to Barcelona, Spain, San Sebastián, Medellin, and Guatape in Columbia, in the last couple of years.
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Is there anything coming up at the gallery you would like to share with us?
We have incredible shows that are very intimate and we are truly a listening room, when this happens. You can find our events on our website at TransparentClinchGallery.com
So you see we all feel extremely grateful Danny came to town and opened his gallery. It is filled with iconic photographs, vintage furniture, a music stage, cool clothing, prints and lots of goodies you will not find anywhere else.
I am looking forward to the Mike Montrey Band's upcoming performance on Saturday, March 22, at 4 pm.
If you see me, come on over for a hug and thank you for supporting live music in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
