FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH TOBY LIGHTMAN
2. LADIES NIGHT THURSDAYS AT THE STONE PONY
3. CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This Week at The Stone Pony: THE 2007 WAVE GATHERING
(Friday, Saturday and Sunday)

New On The Stone Pony Calendar: STATUS GREEN (May 26), JODY JOSEPH and the AVERAGE JOES (June 9), ALBERT HAMMOND JR. (June 15), STATE RADIO (July 1), SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE ASBURY JUKES (July 3), INSPECTER 7 (July 7).

JOAN ARMATRADING: Thursday, June 7
The Stone Pony is proud to announce that Joan Armatrading's new album, "Into the Blues," debuted last week as the number one Blues album on the Billboard charts and the number two album on the iTunes Blues chart.  Don't miss this opportunity to hear her eclectic, sophisticated sounds live on the Pony stage.  Buy your tickets today!

Buy tickets online with Stone Pony Fan Club Ticketing!

Visit The Stone Pony on MySpace.com at: http://www.myspace.com/ponyrock

TOBY LIGHTMAN AND THE WAVE GATHERING RETURN TO ASBURY PARK

This weekend, May 18-20, the 2007 Wave Gathering comes to Asbury Park.  The second annual edition of emerging music festival will be showcasing over 150 artists at more than a dozen venues around Asbury Park, making it one of the largest events of its kind ever to hit the area.  The Stone Pony is proud to be hosting some of the biggest shows at this year's event with a line-up that includes Paperback Radio, Divine Sigh and Nicole Atkins & The Sea on Friday, May 18, Arland Feiles & His Lone Orchestra, Earl Greyhound and Val Emmich on Saturday, May 19 and Lisa Bouchelle and Jenny Owen Youngs on Sunday, May 20.  Also, it's just been announced that Marah will be performing a very special acoustic set at midnight on Saturday that fans will not want to miss.  For more information on the complete line-ups for the Pony shows and the complete Wave Gathering weekend, visit www.wavegathering.com.

One of the talented performers at Friday's show will be singer/songwriter Toby Lightman.  The New York-based Lightman is currently supporting her second major label release, "Bird on a Wire," and recently completed a Northeast tour supporting American Idol Taylor Hicks. Growing up in New Jersey, Lightman learned to play violin, later picking up the guitar and developing her songwriter and vocals.  Her first demo was produced by Wyclef Jean, which eventually led to her signing with Lava/Atlantic for her debut release, "Little Things" in 2004. Her career has continued to expand with each additional success.  The Pony Newsletter interviewed Lightman about her participation in this year Wave Gathering festival, the tour with Hicks and how her writing has developed over the past two years.

The Stone Pony: Your upcoming show at the Stone Pony is part of the 2007 Wave Gathering. What are your thoughts on being involved as one of the featured  performers at this year's festival?

TL: I'm flattered to be asked to play!

The Stone Pony: When you're involved in a large event like Wave, are you ever able to hang out and enjoy any of the other performances?

TL: Not usually, but hopefully I'll have time to see a few acts and hang for a while.

The Stone Pony: You recently performed a series of shows with American Idol winner Taylor Hicks. Did you find his audience to be receptive to your sound and did the tour give you any insights into the whole Idol phenomenon?

TL: The tour was fantastic for me. It seemed like a good fit and his fans were really receptive. I still have no idea about the inner workings of American Idol, but Taylor sure has a good thing going on because of it!

The Stone Pony: "Bird on a Wire" is your second album. How did the experience of producing your second album differ from the first?

TL: This time around, I was able to work [with] a couple of really experienced producers and was extremely flattered to work with them. I knew a little bit more about myself, and knew how to push a little harder.

The Stone Pony: Did you find it a more rewarding experience, or is there something special about recording your first album that just doesn't get captured ever again?

TL: They were both very different experiences. I wouldn't change a thing about either one.

The Stone Pony: Your musical experience began with the violin and you later picked up the guitar while in high school. What are the earliest memories that you have that involve music and how did your musical tastes evolve to lead you towards the guitar and being a singer/songwriter?

TL: I did start the violin at an early age, and taught myself guitar in college. They both helped me with my writing. The violin because I got good pitch early on and the guitar because it helped shape my songwriting, for some reason.

The Stone Pony: Did you always aspire to sing and write or did that come later on?

TL: It came a lot later on!

The Stone Pony: Was your interest in the guitar driven at all by a desire to branch into these other areas? Did songwriting develop from other forms of writing that you did, such as poetry or keeping any sort of journal?

TL: No, I never wrote before, so songwriting to me was kind of like starting a diary for the first time.

The Stone Pony: You studied radio and television in college. Do you feel having that formal education has helped you in the development of your career? Is there something about understanding how media works that you have been able to use to your advantage that most musicians might not understand?

TL: I simply majored in comm arts because I liked the behind-the-scenes workings of the arts. It helped me get a grasp on digital recording, if anything.

The Stone Pony: Since you were playing music at such a young age, were you always comfortable performing in front of people? When you first started writing your own songs, how hard was it the first time you had to share the lyrics with people or get up and perform them in front of an audience?

TL: Both were hard! I was NOT confident singing in front of people. It took me years to get the courage. The same goes for playing my first song in college. Luckily, I had friends that weren't too hard on me.

The Stone Pony: Your bio in the All Music Guide describes "Bird on a Wire" as "an album far more noticeably mature than [your] 2004 LP." Do you consider that a fair statement and how do you feel about the music from your debut release when you perform it on stage?

TL: I would agree that it's more mature, simply because people grow and change every day. It wouldn't be right if it wasn't. But I love all the [songs] the same. Just because your children grow, it doesn't mean you love them less.

The Stone Pony: Do you continue to write new songs while on the road? Do you ever come up with a new idea that you just have to try out in front of a crowd as soon as possible, or will you wait until it's time to start working on the new album before working on new song ideas to include?

TL: It's hard for me to write on the road. They're like two completely different aspects of music to me. But, if I do, then I do like to try it out on a crowd. They're the best test.

The Stone Pony: Now that your tour with Taylor Hicks is over, what are your touring plans for the rest of the year? Do you anticipate any other extended tours or do you have any plans for getting back into the studio to record your third album?

TL: I have a few things planned. I'll do some dates with Marc Broussard, but other than that, I'm going to start writing again for the third!  Crazy!  (Laughs.)

The official Toby Lightman website can be found at www.tobylightman.com. Her latest CD, "Bird on a Wire," can be purchased online or at fine music retailers like Jack's Music in Red Bank, NJ.

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LADIES NIGHT THURSDAYS
THE SHORE'S HOTTEST DANCE PARTY

Dress To Impress • No Hats • No White Tees • No Baggy Clothes
Drink Specials All Night! Comes Party With The Shore Girls!
Doors: 10 pm • 10-11 pm Free 21+, $5 under
Free for Ladies 21+ All Night • $5 Guys 21+ • $10 Guys and Girls 18-20

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For updated information, set times and directions, visit www.stoneponyonline.com or call the Pony box office.

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