NJ DISCOVER with Singer Kevin John Allen at Acorn Digital Recording Studios. Farmingdale NJ by Calvin Schwartz (Video by TJ Vitale)

For NJ Discover these past few months, it has been a magical journey into the essence of Monmouth, Asbury Park and New Jersey music.  Without ever sitting down and constructing one of those business plans, while wearing suits and ties, sitting around an oak conference table, coffee cups resting on coasters with pictures of President Eisenhower and Elvis Presley, NJ Discover has innately known our mission statement (well one of them) which was to elevate, promulgate, inspire, uplift and report on all the redeeming workings of our geographical music world here.

A thought occurred a while back; we’ve been doing it all, with camera and pen, exploring and extending our coverage but somehow a journey to a recording studio/session had escaped us. Along comes Kevin John Allen, singer, song writer, personality extraordinaire and friend who called recently, as a morning fog was lifting and invited Tara-Jean Vitale and myself to come down to John Mulrenan’s Acorn Digital Recording Studio for a real live recording session.  I love synchronicity and perfect timing.

We knew we were several miles away from the Atlantic Ocean in Monmouth County, but suddenly a right turn off Route 34 into a forest; then a winding driveway.  Then Kevin John Allen appears and opens a door into a custom built almost surreal looking room with high ceilings that reduced my 6’5” frame to insignificance.  Tara-Jean and I were in an acoustical heaven.  A series of guitars lined a wall. I knew that was history. A spiral staircase (my favorite kind) ascended just in front of me as I gazed down on a Yamaha console. Mine eyes took in state of art everything. Huge glass windows afforded views into a dense forest. I remarked, “What a perfect place for a recording studio.”  Tara-Jean and I were introduced to John Mulrenan, studio owner, Jim Sickels and Ray Sorrentino, the other members of Kevin John Allen’s ‘Lonely Teardrops Band.’

I almost thought being in southern Florida in one of those escape to childhood places of rides and amusements; it really felt like adventure or fantasy land; I was wide-eyed absorbing everything about the studio. Tara-Jean was busy filming with camera.  Kevin and band gathered this day to record, “Get A Little Closer,” from their new album, ‘Life’s Lonely Rodeo.’ Kevin described the album as a little of everything, from do-op to reggae to country Jersey.  Then they started recording. I was mesmerized and actually quiet for the session and it wasn’t easy for me to be quiet. I have to admit: I love the depth and quality of Kevin’s voice and the harmony and sound of the band. It was dreamy magic stuff.

Of course we took some still pictures and then the band sat down and I wasn’t quiet anymore. There were some questions that had been percolating being in this amazing recording studio in the middle of an almost make believe forest. For a brief moment, I thought I saw the scarecrow, tin-man and lion run by outside. I was close in my visual. Kevin John Allen has long hair just like the lion. And I just realized; I was in OZ that day at Acorn Digital Recording Studio. Thanks to Kevin John Allen and the band and John Mulrenan. And to co-producer Tara-Jean for putting up with my dreamy state that day.