COMING ATTRACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Half Way 2 Mardi Gras at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park on Wednesday, July 31st ,2013  by Calvin Schwartz

Here’s how my “Coming Attractions and Recommendations” column at NJ Discover receives energy, vibes and participatory inclinations. I’m like a rocket tethered to life support systems about to take off. I need the energy. And then an event comes along that I get excited about; it launches me into word seek, like now.

Edward Maier from ElmThree productions contacted me last week about ‘Half Way 2 Mardi Gras: From the Big Easy to Asbury Park’ and told me about the event, the performers and venue, Asbury Lanes on July 31^st.  I’ve written in the past about heading back to the future at Asbury Lanes and I know about the magic music of Bonerama, Eric Lindell and The Sunliners and Soul Project.

Indeed the venue, Asbury Lanes, is special and time-warped and the flavor of Mardi Gras can magic carpet (rocket) anyone down south instantly.  Then after I posted a notice on my Facebook wall, I got a message from a good friend from Owings Mills, Maryland (near Baltimore) about how much he loves Eric Lindell, suggesting he’d even travel up 95 for this event; therefore enough energy for me to recommend and urge readers at NJ Discover to get thee to Asbury Lanes on July 31^st. And even better, Sandy Mack is the emcee for the night.

Calvin Schwartz   July 21, 2013

The Saint and ElmThree Productions present Half Way 2 Mardi Gras at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park on Wednesday, July 31st ,2013

July 21st, 2013 (ASBURY PARK, NJ) – The Saint and ElmThree Productions are pleased to present Half Way 2 Mardi Gras at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park on Wednesday, July 31st at 8:00 pm (7:00pm doors).  Tickets are available through Ticketweb and at the door the day of the show.  Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 day of the show at the door. Tickets are also available at The Saint at 601 Main St., Asbury Park. 

http://HalfWay2MardiGras.com

Half Way 2 Mardi Gras is a powerhouse night of New Orleans based rock featuring Bonerama, Eric Lindell & The Sunliners and The Soul Project.  We are pleased to have Asbury Park’s own Sandy Mack as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Even in a city that doesn’t play by the rules, New Orleans’ Bonerama is something different. They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song. Bonerama has been repeatedly recognized by Rolling Stone, hailed as “the ultimate in brass balls” (2005) and praised for their “…crushing ensemble riffing, human-feedback shrieks and wah-wah growls” (2007). Bonerama carries the brass-band concept to places unknown; what other brass band could snag an honor for “Best Rock Band” (Big Easy Awards 2007 and 2010)? Co-Founders trombonists Marc Mullins and Craig Klein were both members of Harry Connick’s band.

Eric Lindell writes music that is as at home on your front porch on a summer evening as it is in a hot sweaty club on a Saturday night. It is southern soul music, infused with R&B and a touch of New Orleans funk. It is blues music, glazed with a taste of country. It is simple, heartfelt song writing; melodic guitar solos and energized live performance. Eric has been writing and recording songs for over 15 years, and is now touring behind the strength of his latest release I Still Love You. His band’s rhythm section, Myles Weeks on upright bass and Will McMains on drums, have been with Eric for over three years, making their performance on I Still Love You, as well as their live shows incredibly tight and intuitive. Both players are young, but have a swing feel of much more seasoned musicians.

Returning to New Jersey is The Soul Project.  Digging deep into the soulful grooves dug by O.V. Wright and Wilson Pickett, the funky moves of James Brown and Maceo Parker, the old school cool of the Meters and The Neville Brothers, and the feel good fuel of the Crescent City itself, the Soul Project brings New Orleans soul with them wherever they go.  Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, this group described as a “…hip group with horns…” spent 7 months building a following on the Jersey Shore and Tri-State area before returning to New Orleans to help and be part of the rebuilding process.

Asbury Lanes is a nightclub located at 209 4th Ave., Asbury Park, NJ 07712.

For further information or to schedule an interview, contact Ed Maier at (732) 948-1834 | ed@elmthree.com or Scott Stamper 732-245-0135 | saintnj601@aol.com.

For more information, contact:

Scott Stamper                                                             Edward Maier

The Saint                                                                     ElmThree Productions

732-245-0135                                                             732-948-1834

saintnj601@aol.com                                                    ed@elmthree.com

http://www.thesaintnj.com                                         http://ElmThree.com

There’s a recurring theme to my words and explorations this past year. “I love Asbury Park.”  Sometimes I feel like Winston Zeddemore, the character from ‘Ghostbusters’ when he proclaims at the end of the movie, “I love this city.” I do. But it’s Asbury Park. I’ve been saying for a long time as well that I keep feeling a magic dust constantly descending upon this New Jersey seaside city. Part of the dust is definitely a Bruce Springsteen affectation; pure magic and inspirational. You can feel it everywhere. Good old palpable dust that moves you to creativity and dreams. If you want a piece of it, to experience it, then come to Asbury Park.

Asbury Park is becoming that iconic cultural hub for music, art, theater, food and walks on boards. I suppose there’s nothing quite like salt air, inhaled deeply to sweep you back to seeing news reports of President Eisenhower playing golf or Good Humor ice cream trucks pushing Chocolate Éclair bars; obviously my favorite; toasted Almond in second place.  Part of the allure of diversity of culture in Asbury Park is Dr Sketchy Anti-Art School. I think it’s time to tell the deal with Dr. Sketchy and why I have so much fun attending (as a journalist).

Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is both a burlesque cabaret and life drawing event originating in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and was founded in New York City in 2005, by illustrator and former artist’s model Molly Crabapple and illustrator A.V. Phibes. They’ve grown globally with branches all over.  As of a few years ago, Dr. Sketchy’s branches exist in 100 cities around the world. Branches vary in their conservatism and the skill of their artists. Asbury Park’s Dr Sketchy brings in eclectic, beautiful, charming, and fun models. I’ve been to several events which are always themed. Several months ago it was ‘vampires.’ The other evening was ‘horror.’ Sociologically speaking it’s quite an event; artists sketching and photographers capturing.

Asbury Park’s Asbury Lanes has hosted several Dr. Sketchy events. For a small cover charge you’ve got up to four hours of sketching models and themes. Poses range up to five minutes and sometimes you feel as if you’re on a movie set. Props and music put you in the themed mood; sometimes the models even act as impromptu judges for a captured particular sketch. Tim, the franchisee has been particularly gracious and helpful in keeping me in the information loop.

Back to Asbury Lanes; as one donut chain advertises; it’s definitely worth the trip to set a bowling foot back in time to bygone days of the Lone Ranger, Pac Man, Photo Booths, Art Deco paintings and posters garnishing the walls and a bar that reminds me of Jack Torrance and red-rum and Stephen King.  Even the water fountain belongs  in a hip-hop museum. Everything about Dr Sketchy Asbury Park is in good taste and fun. The models are professional, outgoing, and intelligent and yes, beautiful. Usually a professional photographer takes part of the bar area and recreates scenes and themes with the models.  I could learn to be a photographer if I keep hanging around.

Lately I’ve been pondering how curious topics arrive at my computer keyboard. Earlier this week, I wrote about Monmouth County Cemetery Chasing because NJ Discover writers (me) have been on the grounds of several local cemeteries for rather serendipitous reasons. At NJ Discover we’re all over Monmouth County doing our job description; discovering, elevating and exploring our home county. Last month, I’ve also immersed myself into the art scene in Asbury Park and an hour ago, I realized that I should be telling a tale of art discovery.

Through the magic of Facebook with never ending stories of networking and events, last month I heard about an ‘artsy’ item at Asbury Lanes called Dr. Sketchy Asbury Park and decided to click the JOIN button after getting an invitation from Tim. I checked Google first; a new tool of investigative reporting. “Since 2005, Dr. Sketchy’s has been the name in alternative drawing. From illegal flash mobs to the Museum of Modern Art, Dr. Sketchy’s has brought artists a rule-breaking cocktail of dames, drinking and drawing. Dr. Sketchy’s branches draw in over a hundred cities around the globe, from Akron to Zagreb. Whether you’re an art star or a scribbling newbie, Dr. Sketchy’s is the perfect place to get your fill of life-drawing.”

For me, all a new world; in the past I’ve thought that if Christopher Columbus had approached me way back in my medicinal and potions medieval shop, a mile from where Queen Isabella lived, I would’ve jumped at the opportunity for a long ocean voyage. Crazy after all these years; so I still jump.

Cut to a recent Sunday afternoon; fellow producer and writer Tara-Jean Vitale and I arrived at Asbury Lanes for the Dr Sketchy’s Asbury Park sketching session themed as vampire motif with young female models. Asbury Lanes is as close to back to the future, 1950’s ambience, as I’ve seen since Michael J Fox drove a Delorean car. An old self photo booth, bowling ball rack with the top shelf filled with candles, a vending machine, the kind you pull the handle to release (four selections available) set the mood for ambience. A bar that almost reminded me of the ‘The Shining’ was off to the left; neat eclectic art work on the walls; an image of Springsteen, Henry Winkler and a rhinoceros and four rows of liquor in a bright showcase. A sign in the snack bar read, “Menu on counter. Booze in back. Vegetarian eats too.” Even the water fountain arrested eye contact.

Then we met congenial and inventive Tim, the host of Dr. Sketchy and Christopher Fitzgerald, an extraordinary artist and force field. Meanwhile 60 real artists with sketch pads positioned over ten vacant bowling alleys did their thing drawing the beautiful ‘dames’ posing in vampire suggestive poses on a stage. Finally, posing for an old fashioned photo-op with striking model Tricia completed my day in a brave new artistic world.

A few weeks later, Tim invited me as a journalist to cover a special photographic shoot at a private studio in Asbury Park. Of course, there wasn’t much processing just what this shoot was all about. Entering a vestibule (neat descriptive word), I rang the doorbell of suite five, was buzzed into a voice calling down a flight of stairs. “I’m from NJ Discover,” I yelled towards the voice. Next, I entered the photographic artist studio of  amazing Andrei Jackomets; a frenetic universe of sets, props, and four models being meticulously made up for a vintage art-deco classy pin-up shoot. More brave new world explorations for this reporter.

Tim was thrilled with my effort of being there. I was thrilled to be standing on the deck of the Santa Maria, so I thought; another Columbus voyage for me.  Time and energy expended into creating this shoot amazed. I asked permission to photograph what was witnessed. Works of Andrei lined the walls; an extraordinary artist. Everyone was gracious. Space was tight and most of the time, I couldn’t find a place for my 6’5” frame. Andrei and I saw eye to eye; he asked me to pose and then he posed with a model for my camera. I remember what Winston Zeddmore said at the end of ‘Ghostbusters.’ “I love this city!” And I do love the invention of Asbury Park. And thanks Tim, Dr Sketchy.

Last Saturday, March 24^th the new Bangs Art Gallery (congratulations Doug Z’illa) in Asbury Park celebrated an opening. Christopher Fitzgerald displayed his dazzling mixed-media collages before its multi-gallery tour. Rather than describe; check out pictures.  With artist Kortez, from Freehold; I stared at his mixed media/canvas and was transported far away; I like when art makes you think by reaching for an often misplaced social conscience. The gallery was crowded and folks talked not only about present art but how great it is to see Asbury Park alive. Prior to the gallery opening, we grabbed a sandwich on Cookman Avenue and afterwards walked across the street to The Press Room for Live Asbury Park’s presentation of ‘An Evening with Dusty,’ which recreated a 1969 concert experience with the original pop Diva and blue-eyed soul singer, Dusty Springfield.  Dusty was delivered by “powerhouse singer Kirsten Holly Smith, complete with peroxide beehive and panda eye shadow, backed by a trio of pop-soul doo-wop girls who step out for their own funky star turns.”  By the way, what a night; those that confine souls to the sedentary couch TV ought to know this entire evening in Asbury Park cost me $24.75 for two for everything.