FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH DAWNE ALLYNNE
2. NEXT OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE STONE PONY: MONDAY, OCTOBER 11
3. THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE STONE PONY: LADIES NIGHT
4. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This Week at The Stone Pony: Rich Robinson (Tuesday), Jersey Style Wednesday (Wednesday), Light of Day Preview Show (Friday), Amfibian (Saturday), Rock For the Cure (Sunday)
New on the Stone Pony Calendar: G106.3 ANNIVERSARY BASH with very special guests JIMMY EAT WORLD (November 10)
LIGHT OF DAY PREVIEW SHOW FEATURES BOCCIGALUPE AND THE BAD BOYS, JOE D'URSO & STONE CARAVAN, JENNIFER GLASS AND DAWNE ALLYNNE'S NEW BAND, MOXY
Each November, one of the area's most popular and worthwhile events, Light of Day, is held at the Jersey Shore. Returning to the Pony, Light of Day raises money for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation through a weekend of shows which have become memorable events for the past several years. While we'll be talking more about Light of Day in the months ahead, on Friday, September 24th, you can be a part of a special Light of Day preview show featuring performers who have participated at past events, Boccigalupe and the Bad Boys, Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan, Jennifer Glass and Dawne Allynne.
The Pony Newsletter interviewed Allynne, a regular performer around the local scene, about her participation in Light of Day, as well as her own music. Dawne is often seen on the area's most popular stages, and has recently opened shows here at the club for John Eddie and Gary U.S. Bonds. A talented acoustic performer, who just received an Asbury Music Awards nomination as Top Female Solo Performer, Dawne will be appearing with the debut of her new rock project, Moxy.
The Stone Pony: Your upcoming show on September 24th is being called a preview for this year's Light of Day event. For anyone who's not familiar with Light of Day, can you briefly explain its mission and how you've gotten involved?
Dawne Allynne: The mission of this amazing fundraising event is to raise money for research of Parkinson's Disease. I'm involved on two levels. First, as a performer, I join many other artists donating their talents hoping to raise money for this very important cause. Second, I and many of the performers are caring friends and colleagues of Bob Benjamin, the promoter for this wonderful event. Bob Benjamin is a very humble and unique individual who had been diagnosed with this debilitating illness since his late 30s. This event is very important to Bob and all of us, as it could help to develop better medications and hopefully a cure.
The Stone Pony: You were at last year's Light of Day, and were on stage at the end of the night when the musicians were performing their last jam and paying tribute to Bob Benjamin. Do you have any lasting memories of that evening, or any moments that were really special for you?
DA: I think the obvious expression of hope on Bob's face was really special. He was responsible for this moving and successful fundraiser that will help so many others with this illness. How rewarding! And all of us were pleased that so many compassionate people were there to be a part of it.
The Stone Pony: In addition to supporting Light of Day, you've performed in support of the Kristen Ann Carr Foundation and other worthwhile causes. Do you feel it's important for musicians to be able to lend their talents to causes they believe in, and why do you feel that the New Jersey music scene has always has an altruistic side?
DA: It's always important to lend whatever talent you have to causes you believe in and, yes, musicians should be a great part of that plan.
I'm not entirely sure why the New Jersey music scene has had such an altruistic side except that I know a lot of great music has come from here with great respect to the everyday hard- working individuals and families. A lot of well-known writers are from this area who are able to capture the essence of everyday life as we see and live it. I guess we can all relate to the fact that, basically, we are all in this world together. People love music whether they write it, sing it, listen to it, support it; hence, I suppose, an altruistic side is born.
The Stone Pony: Let's turn to your own music. You've performed a number of times recently at the Pony. Do you remember the first time you played our stage, and what does it mean to you as a local artist to be able to perform here?
DA: I can remember one of the first times I performed on the Pony stage. I thought it was cool. I had a special guest come to see me so it made it very special and I love the sound system there, great set up. Little did I realize that I would be opening for some of the great acts that I had seen as a fan.
The Stone Pony: When and where did you get your first guitar, and how did you learn to play? Do you feel that playing is something that you're still working at to improve, and would you like to be recognized for your playing as much as your songwriting?
DA: I got my first guitar when I was ten. I was in the 5th grade and my best friend at that time came running after me down the hall at school all excited. We would spend countless hours singing everywhere we could, except now someone was coming to give free guitar lessons after school which gave us something to sing with. We bought our first guitars from our teacher for 35 bucks. I still have it.
I will always try to improve my playing ability until I'm in the grave. Maybe I won't stop then either! I hope my audience enjoys hearing my guitar style as much as I do. It goes hand-in- hand with my songwriting, as do my vocals. It should all be appreciated as one.
The Stone Pony: Do you recall at what age you began songwriting, and what were some of the things that inspired your early lyrics? Did you want to compose your own music right away when you started playing guitar?
DA: I was very young when I started playing and all I could think about was learning every song I ever heard. I wasn't interested in composing or writing at ten. But, I couldn't get over the incredible storytelling that others told, like Joni Mitchell. Her words painted an entire story that I could feel and see and almost touch. Like I could be there, but I was too young for these words and I knew that.
I did find out how good of a writer I was when our 5th grade teacher assigned the class to make up a fable. All year I had been screwing off, a little ADD maybe? I was always really bored until this project came along. I went home and wrote a story about a lion and a mouse involved in a strange predicament. After having my mom spell check the story, 'cause we didn't have computers. I turned in my story. The next few days our teacher gave back our papers. Sitting quietly, the teacher called my name. It sounded like my name could be heard all the way to Timbuktu and the whole class was staring at me. She asked me to come to her desk and yelled at me in front of everyone. "Here's your paper!" with a big "F" written on the top. "You didn't write this!" [She] sent me home with a note to my mom, for her to come in. The teacher accused my mom of writing the story 'cause it was so good. Don't worry, my mom told her off. I became the teachers pet, NOT! Wouldn't that teacher be surprised now, eh?
Ok, real inspirations? Really bad relationships. Ring a bell?
The Stone Pony: In addition to performing your own solo material, you perform regularly with the band Roamin EZ. Does that band allow you to do music that's different than what you would do on your own, and do you enjoy the challenge of being involved with multiple projects concurrently?
DA: The music is different and it gives me a chance to be somewhere else in my head and in my heart. I like change sometimes, it keeps me on my toes.
The Stone Pony: You've been performing around the local area for a while, and play most of the bigger rooms in and around Asbury Park. How have you seen the local scene change over the past few years and do you see an increase in the opportunities for original bands to reach an audience?
DA: I see a lot of clubs changing constantly and not always for the better in this area. I don't believe I see enough opportunity for original bands to showcase properly. Unfortunately, there is NO budget for original music at all which is really stifling artistic inspiration, desire and creativity. Original bands are treated with great disrespect from club owners to audiences. It's always about money and it's not for the little guy!
The Stone Pony: You had an opportunity to perform with a number of big names recently, including John Eddie and Jeffrey Gaines. Have you had any opportunities to speak with any of these veterans about the music business, and did anyone offer you any suggestions or advice that you found particularly valuable?
DA: I absolutely have had introspective conversations with many of these veterans from the industry and they most certainly have valuable advice: Quit! No, just kidding.
The Stone Pony: What are some of your plans for the coming months, and where should fans keep an eye out for you? Where would you like to see yourself musically in a year or two?
DA: I've just begun with my newest rock project. It's a four-piece called "Moxy". It's an all- original group that I front and I'm having fun with these guys. So much talent, wow!
I would love to play some larger venues, starting in New York, that is where I'm from, and continue to move on to other places and continue to open for other acts. All info is on my website, which is constantly kept current at dawneallynne.com. I'm looking forward to going into the studio to record or, who knows, maybe something even better!
Dawne Allynne's official website is located at www.dawneallynne.com. Watch for more news about Light of Day on its official site, www.lightofday.org.
Now at AsburyPark.net:
Film competition seeks entrants: The third annual
Garden State Film Festival seeks entries from independent filmmakers.
NEXT OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE STONE PONY: MONDAY, OCTOBER 11
Acoustic, electric, solo, band performances welcome. Backline provided by MUSICMAKERS, just bring guitars. Hosted by PETER SCHERER of HWY 9. Guest DJs from 105.5 WDHA, 105.7 The Hawk, 95.9 WRAT, Sirius Satellite Radio, 90.5 The NIGHT and more. Voting by everyone in attendance.
Prizes from the Pony, Budweiser, Max Cruise, Yoo-Hoo, Compact Disc World, Music Makers, Funk and Standard, Starbucks, Jack Daniels and more. Happy hour 8-11, $1 off all drinks, 25-cent drafts 8-11, $1 drafts after 11, shot specials all night.
Doors at 8 pm. Sign-up begins at 8:30 or e-mail openmic@stoneponyonline.com to sign-up in advance. Admission: $5.
THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE STONE PONY: LADIES NIGHT
The hottest Thursday night continues with LADIES NIGHT at The Stone Pony.
Music by DJ PRIME spinning the best in house, hip hop, reggae and trance. 18 to enter, 21 to drink. ID a must! Doors open at 9:30 pm. Dress to impress. 25 cent Budweiser drafts 'till 11 pm. $1 drafts after 11. $2 shot specials all night.
Come see for yourself why Thursday nights are the hottest with Ladies Night at the Pony!
