COMING ATTRACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The Acoustic Lounge, Freehold. ‘Divas Doing Divas.’ Thursday November 14th 7:30 PM Do Not Miss!!  By Calvin Schwartz

Back in September, to commemorate Bruce Springsteen’s Birthday, the Acoustic Lounge held ”Thunder Road’ Thursday to an overflow crowd. Twenty performers banged out Springsteen in what I’d call an electrifying night. For a long time, I’ve been such a huge proponent of live music in Freehold. For me it’s evolutionary and meant to be for a few dozen reasons; the team at Acoustic Lounge is so right on bringing live themed venues. It’s not often when  I can describe a music event, the town and the musicians and singers as pure magic. Acoustic Lounge is pure magic and Thursday night’s ‘Divas Doing Divas’ promises to be another special night. Where’s my excitement and commitment to this night? Those of you who know me well also know I never miss a Rutgers sporting event. Never. I don’t go to weddings if it conflicts with a Rutgers sporting event; basketball or football.  Well Rutgers plays Yale on Thursday night. Yet I’ll be at ‘Divas Doing Divas’ at the Acoustic Lounge. I think that puts things into perspective. See you all around.

Calvin Schwartz

The Acoustic Lounge presents Diva’s Doing Divas. A Thursday evening filled with some of New Jersey’s most beloved female vocalists. This event will be a co-sponsored show with our friends from Single Glow. Also we have our iPad raffle give away … much more info to follow… stay tuned!

ACOUSTIC LOUNGE:

 A Major FREEHOLD LIVE Music Event to Celebrate BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S Birthday: THUNDER ROAD THURSDAY.  Acoustic Lounge @American Legion Post-54           62 W.Main St. Freehold, NJ.  Thursday September 26^th 7 PM.  Many Performers.    By Calvin Schwartz

I live two traffic lights from downtown Freehold and for a quarter of a century I’ve been pondering the relationship between music, Bruce Springsteen’s hometown, Freehold (the county seat of Monmouth County) and the plethora of cool hip restaurants and the fact there just isn’t that overwhelming essence of live music that bespeaks the ambiance of this historic (Revolutionary War) quaint town. (I think this was a run on sentence but I needed to make a point) Point being; live music is finally setting up shop the way it was pre-destined and now the evolution, revolution(almost)by the visionaries and pioneers( Jimmy Arcoleo & Gene Walk) that have brought the Acoustic Lounge to Freehold. Indeed. I am excited by the prospects and energies of acoustic live music in a town two traffic lights from where I have a bowl of oatmeal every morning.

As far as Thursday September 26^th and The Acoustic Lounge and Bruce Springsteen’s Birthday Celebration and THUNDER ROAD THURSDAY; I am so excited about the night that I cancelled a doubles tennis match of significant consequence which is personally evident of my intention to be at the American Legion and Acoustic Lounge early and I never cancel tennis.  Here’s to that first time and looking at you kids, about to join us for a special night.

As of this writing (Friday 9-20-13  1022 AM) here is a retrieved collection of notes about the performers in chronological performance order:

Gene Walk, Jimmy Arcoleo, Albert Cestero, Joe Heumiller, Virago, Alliance Singers, Tommy Byrne, Eddie Testa, Lee and Sheri, Lori Gilmore, Acoustic Step Aside, Chris Daniels, Eddie Mac, Michael Heumiller, Willie and John, Nikki Briar, Pat Roddy, Strumberry Pie, Taz, Joe Cartwright, Neal DeSimone, Jo Bonnano.

Once again the address: the Acoustic Lounge@ the American Legion Post 54, 62 W.Main st. Freehold, NJ

CALVIN SCHWARTZ

Hurricane Sandy may have been strong but New Jersey proves it is stronger!

NJDiscover Team TaraJean Vitale and Calvin Schwartz attend local benefits organized by many to help raise funds for the devastated communities of the Jersey Shore.

Homes and businesses were hit with the power of Hurricane Sandy. Many lost much more than they could ever imagine. The response to help the victims has been enormous.

At the American Hotel in Freehold Synergy Event Planners Wendy and John Bruzzese along with the American Red Cross rallied their friends, colleagues and local business together to support a toy drive that would be “the biggest toy drive ever!”

In West Windsor the volunteer Fire Department and First Aid Units along with SandAid created a coffeehouse cabaret style benefit to help raise funds. Bands performed throughout the day while kindhearted strangers from all over the East Coast dropped off supplies for those suffering from the terrible storms after effects.

The overwhelming response has been emotional for volunteers. United and Jersey strong, the community is rebuilding thanks to the help of so many.

This is the first of a Series: Jersey Benefits for NJDiscover.com, and NJ Discover TV

Produced by TaraJean Vitale

Song: “Because I Love You” Written by Kevin John Allen, Performed by Brianna Eve

BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Light in Darkness” by Lawrence Kirsch

An NJ Discover(y):   A Freehold friend writes about a Freehold icon: Bruce Springsteen

Calvin Schwartz

Six weeks and three days ago I was contacted by Lawrence Kirsch, author and publisher of boutique books (especially about Bruce Springsteen).  Would I like to review ‘The Light In Darkness,’ his latest work, about Bruce Springsteen’s 1978 fourth album, ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ and the tour as vividly articulated by Springsteen fans?  Of course, being one of those fans, I said how fast can I get the book and how high do I jump. My jumping was not high enough; this was a perfect pictorial (200 pictures) and word journey that took me soulfully back to 1978-1979. The pictures magically carpeted me into that world of Springsteen’s 1978 tour (with some of his most famous smaller venue shows, like Agora in Cleveland and the Capitol Theatre right here in Passaic) making me feel as if I was slipping through that elusive Freehold rabbit hole through a looking glass in coming to understand the darkness and anger behind the album. I studied the pictures. Bruce is from Freehold. I’m the next town over. Maybe I’d recognize a fellow Jerseyan in the pictures.  Because of the book, I’ve been listening to ‘Prove It All Night’ all week.

It was a perfect journey back to the future. Kirsch did amazing work analyzing themes of the album, which for me meant the opportunity for that special understanding and grasp into an American icon’s early days. Timing is everything as Bruce Springsteen just announced his 2012 tour. I’m not in the habit of tiptoeing through endorsements; however if you’ve got any proclivities and affinities for Bruce Springsteen and dreams and memories or verbal historic incisions, then you should order this limited edition book which is only available on line at

http://www.thelightindarkness.com/home

This makes a special holiday or any occasion gift!  Confession proudly revealed:  I always hope to bump into Bruce. The book is a taste; someday over a Freehold, New Jersey rainbow.  Thanks Lawrence Kirsch.

Pictures courtesy of   ©theLightinDarkness.com