913 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA
Doors open at 8pm unless otherwise noted.
18 to Enter, 21 to Drink.
Very Special Kick-Off to Fall! Clarence Clemons and Band recording live at The Stone Pony on Saturday September 1st! Tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 1. Watch for more details coming soon at www.stoneponyonline.com and in future issues of the newsletter.
FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
1. THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND PLAYS THE PONY THIS FRIDAY
2. READ THE TRUTH ABOUT SINGER/SONGWRITER JOHN MONNECKA
3. SHOW TO BENEFIT FAMILY OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTER
4. JOE GRUSHECKY ROCKS THE HOUSE JULY 28TH
5. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
A lot has changed in music since 1973. The Marshall Tucker Band's line-up is no exception, as only frontman Doug Gray remains from the band's founding members. One thing that has remained a constant is that the band likes to rock and doesn't limit itself to the "southern band" label. Both classic rock and country radio have put Marshall Tucker classics "Heard It In A Love Song", "Can't You See", "Take The Highway" and "Fire On The Mountain" into their regular rotation. Fans have a chance to see the band live, when they headline at The Stone Pony on Friday, July 20th. Since the release of their self-titled debut album (AJK Music), through their latest 1999 CD Gospel (Era Records), over twenty-five releases have produced seven gold and three platinum albums. They still tour up to 200 dates a year, and continue to add to their musical influences. Fans can get more information about the band, including a history of the band members, as well as purchase merchandise and read a complete discography, at the official Marshall Tucker Band website, www.marshalltucker.com.
For news and information about Asbury Park, New Jersey, visit asburypark.net
Acoustic performers often have a special relationship with their fans. While many bands can get an audience moving simply with a lot of volume and energy, a lone individual with a guitar has to establish a connection with their listener, and draw them in with an emotional attachment to the music and the message. John Monnecka, who returns to The Stone Pony to share a bill with The Marshall Tucker Band and Juggling Suns this Friday, July 20th, has been very successful at making that connection. Monnecka, who plays clubs from Boston to Delaware, has received acclaim, and radio airplay, for his passionate lyrics, songwriting and performing style. He is currently supporting his album, The Truth (Dangerous Eyes Music/BMI), nine tracks revealing a wide range of emotions. The New Jersey-based songwriter shared the following thoughts on his style, and his future, with the newsletter:
The Stone Pony: How has the Internet changed the way
that an artist interacts with his fans? Do you feel that you benefit
by allowing fans to download and share your music digitally?
John Monnecka: The internet has made it easier to be more personable with
your fans. I think that being able to share your music digitally is great.
Every artist now has the ability to have worldwide distribution without
needing a record deal.
The Stone Pony: Where does acoustic music fit into the music industry
these days? Several years ago, Mtv's "Unplugged" series
seemed to renew interest in acoustic performances, yet these days the trend
seems to be the more production and the more electric, the better. Are
record labels looking for acoustic performers to sign?
JM: There is always a place for acoustic music in the industry. Any good
song can be stripped down to an acoustic version. I think a record
company is going to sign the guy that can sell the most albums basically. It
doesn't matter if you are acoustic or not. This business has and
always will be about how much money the record companies can make.
This is why you end up with so much garbage on the radio and tv.
The Stone Pony: You've cited Edwin McCain as one of your influences, and
had the chance to open for him at past shows. How does it feel to be
able to perform with people that have had an influence on your music, and
are there other artists that you would like the opportunity to play with?
JM: Edwin McCain is a great influence to me because he is passionate about
what he does. He is not a product that someone has thrown a label on
and stuck up there on a stage. It feels great to share a stage with
someone you admire. I hope to be able to play with many others such as
Jeffrey Gaines and Beth Hart.
The Stone Pony: Explain briefly your creative songwriting process.
Do you write your music and lyrics at the same time, or does one come first
and gets complemented by the other later on? Is songwriting a long
evolutionary process for you, or do your songs develop quickly after the
initial concept?
JM: I don't really have any specific way of writing. I would tend to
say that the music comes first with me. I always write the lyrics at
the end. Some songs take a little longer than others to write, however
I think most of the best songs are written in the shortest amounts of
time. This has always been the case for me, some of my best songs I
have written in 5-10 minutes.
The Stone Pony: Which CDs of yours are currently available to fans, and
how can they
get copies? Will fans be able to purchase any of your music at the
show?
JM: I have 2 CD's that I have been selling: The Truth, and The Old
Songs. The Truth will be available at the Stone Pony
show. The Old Songs is just a compilation of some demo material
I used to make copyrights, etc. People liked it so I make it available
on my website for them:
http://www.JohnMonnecka.com.
The Stone Pony: You have announced plans to release a new album by the
end of this year. Do you have a name for this album, or a definite
release date? Can you tell us anything about this project, and what
fans will be able to expect when they hear it?
JM: The new album will be self-titled. It will contain a lot of music
that is similar to The Truth CD. I have more music that has a
"band" feel to it. I will also have a few acoustic songs on
the album as well. People can expect the same music they have gotten
from me before. I am in the process of recording right now, and hope
to have it finished before Christmas.
The Stone Pony: July 20th is a return appearance for you to The Stone Pony. Any impressions or stories from past shows at the club?
JM: The gig with Edwin McCain had many moments for me. I am just glad to be back. I hope that we get a great crowd like we had last time. I thought the club was a great place to play. The sound is great in that room. If you don't have a good-sounding room and a good engineer it can make your life hell. They were very good to me the last time I was there.
Fans can discover more about John Monnecka's appearances, and download his music, at www.johnmonnecka.com.
Upon arriving at a burning three-story apartment building, firefighter Al Tirado learned that there were two children still on the third floor. He dashed into the building and frantically searched the third floor until he ran out of oxygen. Al Tirado died trapped in a building burning so intensely that no firefighters could reach him to tell him that the children were safe outside.
Al Tirado left behind a wife and four children. On Sunday, July 22, at 7:00, The Stone Pony will host a tribute and benefit for the wife and children of the fallen firefighter. Performing will be The Nortons, Joe D'Urso, Plug Spark Sonje and Chris Grace and other special guests. The "Streets of Fire" motorcycle club, known for their charitable contributions, will be hosting a bike run to the benefit and the Freehold Fire Department will display the fire truck donated by Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi.
Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will go to the Tirado family. For further information, contact The Stone Pony at (732) 502-0600.
In September 2000, Pittsburgh Magazine awarded Joe Grushecky their Harry Schwalb Excellence in the Arts Award. Rolling Stone magazine christened Grushecky's album, Love So Tough (MCA), with his original band the Iron City Houserockers, as 1979's best debut by an American band. More recently, Grushecky's Down the Road Apiece Live (Schoolhouse Records) CD, with his current Houserockers band, was one of Billboard magazine's top ten albums of 1999. With all of these awards and honors throughout his career, one might think Grushecky a glossy rock star that made his money and ran. In fact, Grushecky, who has been called one of the creators of "working class rock", doesn't just write lyrics that touch people and weave songs that tell solid stories of overcoming struggle, he has spent many years working as a special education teacher, helping disturbed kids to overcome their own emotional problems. This immensely talented and interesting performer makes his return to The Stone Pony stage on Saturday, July 28th. Fans can learn more about Joe Grushecky and the Houserocker's music, as well as purchase CDs, read lyrics and download music samples, at his official web site, www.grushecky.com.
Rent the Pony for your event! Call (732) 502-0600 and press option 9.
