913 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA
Doors open at 8pm unless otherwise noted.
18 to Enter, 21 to Drink.
FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
1. SOUND CHECK
2. FREE LIVE MUSIC AND FIREWORKS TO CELEBRATE JULY 4TH
3. JOHNNIE B. GOODE ROLLS INTO THE PONY
4. WOW!, IT'S AN OPIE & ANTHONY ROAD SHOW
5. THE NINTH ANNUAL ASBURY MUSIC AWARDS
6. A TRIBUTE TO JOHN LEE HOOKER
7. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
A musical venue's success lies with the artists that perform within. The club is constantly working to book and to promote quality acts that will provide those that attend the shows a great time. Generally, it's the headliners that get the attention, the posters and the promotion. Most people attend concerts to hear names that they know, perform music they are familiar with. Recently, the Pony received an e-mail that reminded us that the best musical venues also serve an additional purpose: to bring new music to the public.
"Had the opportunity to be at the Stone Pony last night and the luck to see the opening act - Danny White Band ... This band should be considered to be a 'headliner' and not an opening act --- he totally had the crowd in his hands ..."
Anyone that enjoys seeing live music knows the thrill of discovering a great new band is one of the best parts of being around great musicians. It's easy to forget that every time a headliner takes the stage, one or two bands have already played, given it their all and gotten the crowd ready. While the club is understandably proud of the famous names that play our stage, we recognize that there is also a responsibility to promote the scene, rising new talent that is working on their chops and playing the hundreds of shows that it takes for a new band to "make it". When you see these bands perform, you are watching the famous names of tomorrow, the future headliners. Jimi Hendrix played smalls clubs in New York City, the Beatles spent countless hours playing everything and anything they knew in Germany, Nirvana's first gig was a Halloween party and even Bruce Springsteen started out ... well, you know the story. Don't miss the opportunity to catch these "other" bands perform. Even if they don't become famous, you just might discover an unknown band that puts on the greatest show you ever heard.
Spend Independence Day enjoying live music, great food and cool fireworks at The Stone Pony and Convention Hall. Doors open at noon. Free admission all day, with Live Music by De Sol at 7 pm on The Stone Pony stage. Afterwards, watch the fireworks from the Stone Pony Landing at 9:30 pm. Top off the evening with the Freedom Concert After-Show Party at Convention Hall with Pete Dibs and Special Guests. Admission is free for the Freedom Concert show as well, and all ages are welcome. The Stone Pony Cafe will be serving great food and drink all day, 'till 1 am. Stop by, spend a warm summer evening and be a part of all the fun at the Jersey Shore.
The Stone Pony Cafe: Good food and drink from 11:30 am daily!
Johnnie Johnson has perhaps the most famous nickname in rock history, Johnnie B. Goode. The St. Louis pianist asked Chuck Berry to sit in with his band on New Year's Eve 1952, starting a musical collaboration that would result in the songs that defined rock & roll, "Roll Over Beethoven", "No Particular Place to Go", "Rock and Roll Music", "Sweet Little Sixteen" and almost 50 others. In honor of his partner, Chuck Berry composed one of the most covered songs in rock history, "Johnnie B. Goode". Despite their incredible creative output, Berry gave Johnson little credit, or money, for his writing and Johnson lived in obscurity for many years, until rediscovered by Keith Richards. Since then, Johnson has found renewed respect and interest in his contribution to rock history, including induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and tributes from many of the artists that his music influenced. Unfortunately, his relationship with Berry does not share such a happy ending, as he has had to file law suits with Berry to try and gain some of the credit and royalties that brought Berry his greatest fame. No one who is fan of rock history should pass up the opportunity to witness this performer do his thing when he plays The Stone Pony stage on Friday, July 6th. Johnson is the subject of an authorized biography, The Father of Rock & Roll: The Story of Johnnie "B. Goode" Johnson (Thomas, Cooke & Co.) More about his career, his music, as well as ordering information for his biography and his albums, are available on his web site at www.johnnie.com.
Fans of Opie & Anthony know that WOW isn't just for New York anymore. The afternoon radio team recently expanded into the Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia markets as part of their new syndication deal. Soon, fans in those cities, and everywhere in the United States, will know what listeners in the tri-state area have come to know: O&A are very unusual, a little insane and very, very funny. With their "friends of the show", including many of the area's best comics and performers, O&A bring their brand of underground radio to New York's 102.7 WNEW weekdays from 3 to 7 pm. Fans of the show, or those just looking for a little something different to do on Saturday afternoon, July 7th, should come to the Pony and be a part of the O&A Road Show, a collection of musical guests, games and general strangeness. Some of show's regulars will probably be around as well. Listen to the O&A show on 102.7 WNEW New York, 105.9 WCKG Chicago, 94 WYSP Philadelphia or 105.3 FM Dallas (check for local show times) for details. Gates will open at noon for the show, but you must be 21 or over to attend. You can also learn more about O&A by clicking on the Opie & Anthony link at www.wnew.com or by visiting www.foundrymusic.com..
For news and information about Asbury Park, New Jersey, visit asburypark.net
in June and July!
Rent the Pony for your event! Call (732) 502-0600 and press option 9.
This newsletter began with a piece about new musicians, rising talent and bands playing live gigs looking for experience and recognition. On Wednesday, August 8th, fans have the opportunity to see many of those bands honored at the Ninth Annual Asbury Music Awards at The Stone Pony. Last year, 800 people witnessed the awards ceremony, honoring bands that have played the Pony, as well as other areas spots such as The Saint, Hooligans, The Brighton Bar and The Court Tavern. Bands that have played the area in the past year qualify. Nominees are selected, and winners chosen, by members of the local music scene, including journalists, promoters and club and radio station employees. It's the best opportunity all year to hear and see the best and brightest of the Asbury scene. More details can be found on the Pony's web site at: www.stoneponyonline.com/news/awards2001.html.
The word legend is tossed around freely in the music world. John Lee Hooker earned that accolade. Born in Mississippi, he began playing the blues as a teenager. His recording career began with 1948's "Boogie Chillen'" and progressed through an estimated 100 albums (recorded under several different names), four Grammy Awards, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a lasting influence over countless musicians that followed him. Once of those musicians, blues great Billy Hector, was gracious enough to share his own tribute to Hooker with the newsletter:
"Johnny Lee changed the world with his boogie beat and his poetry. He said his uncle taught him his guitar style that he put to use so well in "Boogie Chillen'". His songs "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer", "Dimples", "Serves You Right", "Big Legs, Tight Skirt" and the one everybody did, "Boom Boom", will live on forever. I met him when he played Asbury and I thanked him then, it was all I could say. Blues was a haze around him when he spoke it sounded like music check "Tupilo" and "Jessie James". I imagine God's voice to sound like John Lee's. I think Pete Townsend had him play God in one of Townsend's operas. I am glad I saw him, glad he sang, sorry he's gone. His spirit in song will be here a long time. Timeless ..."
No tribute is more fitting to a musician than his music. Fans interested in learning about Hooker's work should check out the 2-CD release John Lee Hooker, The Ultimate Collection: 1948-1990 (Rhino), which contains 31 tracks spanning his career, including most of the songs mentioned here.
