New Jersey Stage

Friday, December 13, 2013

2013 ASBURY MUSIC AWARDS RECAP

(ASBURY PARK, NJ -- DECEMBER 12, 2013) -- Hundreds of musicians, music fans, and industry professionals packed the Stone Pony on a cold winter's night to celebrate the local music scene with the annual Asbury Music Awards. Over 35 different awards were presented along with live performances from some of the hottest acts in the scene throughout the evening.


Performers included Lemon Juice, Empire Escorts, Wreaths, The Black Jesuses, The Battery Electric, Amy Malkoff & the Moonshines, Lower The Veil, Harper's Fellow (featuring Joe Michelini of River City Extension), The Sunday Blues, Emily Grove Band, Cranston Dean, Ardvark Smile, and Alex English. 

The two special lifetime awards were presented to Tony "Bocci" Amato (2013 Living Legend) and John DiCapua (James M. MacDonald Behind the Scenes Lifetime Achievement Award).

More than anything, the annual event is a great night of networking, seeing old friends, and sometimes even a way to find bandmates for new projects. This was the 21st annual Asbury Music Awards show, an event that was originally called "The Gold T-Birds Awards" and presented at the old T-Birds Cafe. The idea for the awards came from Scott Stamper (owner of The Saint in Asbury Park) as a way to give something back to the performers and fans who make up the Jersey Shore music scene.

Here are the 2013 Asbury Music Award winners:


Bands

Top Americana: Thomas Wesley Stern
Top Avant-Garde Act: Wreaths
Top Blues/Soul Band: Sandy Mack Band
Top "Classic" Asbury Artist: Stringbean & the Stalkers
Top Heavy Rock Act: Toothgrinder
Top Indie Rock Band: Brick+Mortar
Top Jam/Groove Band: Lemon Juice
Top Pop Rock Band: Quincy Mumford & the Reason Why
Top Live Performance: The Battery Electric
Top Punk Band: Lost In Society
Top Rock Band: The Battery Electric
Top Young band (Under 21): The Glycerine Queens

Solo Artists

Poet Laureate: Joshua J. Ballard
Top Female/Band Acoustic Act: Emily Grove
Top Female Vocalist: Amy Malkoff (Amy Malkoff & the Moonshines)
Top Male/Band Acoustic Act: Thomas Wesley Stern
Top Male Vocalist: Ron Santee (The Battery Electric)

Songs & Videos

Beyond Asbury Top Record/Single/Digital Release: Nicole Atkins ("Neptune City" to benefit Sandy Relief)
Top Local Release: "Thanks For Tonight" by Harper's Fellow
Top Music Video: "Bangs" by Brick+Mortar
Song Of The Year: "Shock Hazard" by The Battery Electric


Individual Awards

Top Bassist: Alex Rosen (The Battery Electric)
Top Drummer: Wills Weller (Toothgrinder)
Top Guitarist: James McCaffrey (Karmic Juggernaut)
Top Keyboard Player: Matt Wade (Matt Wade Band)
Top Multi-Instrumentalist: Keith McCarthy (The Sunday Blues)


Music Industry Awards

Top Live Sound Engineer: Jack "Hinge" Pitzer (The Saint)
Top Local Club DJ: DJ Jack The Ripper
Top Journalist In Support Of Live Music: Chris Rotolo (Speak Into My Good Eye)
Top Music Photographer: Jeff Crespi (freelance)
Top Music Website/Facebook In Support Of Live Original Music: Speak Into My Good Eye
Top News Publication In Support Of Live Music: The Aquarian Weekly
Top Radio/Internet Station To Support Live Music: 90.5 The Night WBJB-FM Brookdale Public Radio
Top Radio Personality In Support Of Live Music: Stu Coogan (WBJB-FM 90.5 The Night)

Venue Awards

Best Thing to Happen In 2012/2013: Happy Monday's (Wonder Bar, Asbury Park)
Top Hang-Out Bar: Bond Street Bar (Asbury Park)
Top Live Original Music Venue: The Saint (Asbury Park)

The Big Ones

2013 Living Legend: Tony "Bocci" Amato (Boccigalupe & the Badboys)
James M. MacDonald Behind the Scenes Lifetime Achievement: John DiCapua
Congratulations to all of the winners!


Photo of The Sunday Blues performing live at the Asbury Music Awards. Photo credit: Gary Wien

Sunday, December 1, 2013

THE BRICK ART OF NATHAN SAWAYA AT THE MORRIS MUSEUM

(Morristown, NJ) This November, incredible LEGO sculptures created by Nathan Sawaya are returning to the Morris Museum for a new exhibition. The Morris Museum is pleased to announce the opening of The Brick Art of Nathan Sawaya, which will be on view from November 14, 2013 through March 9, 2014. While Sawaya's art is on display, a special area will be set up where visitors can create their own sculptures out of the iconic toy. Several special programs are planned, including a series of building workshops featuring LEGO building blocks.

Read more at http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2887

STATE THEATRE PRESENTS THE PRICE IS RIGHT, LIVE!

(New Brunswick, NJ) -- State Theatre presents The Price Is Right, Live! on Friday, December 6, 2013 at 8pm. Tickets range from $25-55. The Price Is Right Live! is the interactive stage show that gives contestants pulled right from the audience the chance to "Come On Down" to win appliances, vacations, and even new cars by playing classic games from television's longest running and most popular game show. From Plinko to Cliffhangers to the Big Wheel, and Showcase, all the favorite games are played just like the TV show.

Read more at http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2879

PREMIERE STAGES AT KEAN UNIVERSITY SEEKS SUBMISSIONS FOR ACCLAIMED ANNUAL PLAY FESTIVAL

(UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean University, is now accepting submissions for the 10th Annual Premiere Stages Play Festival. This yearly competition for unproduced scripts offers developmental and production opportunities to four playwrights born or currently residing in the greater metropolitan area (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut).

Read more at  http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2874

MARSHALL CRENSHAW & THE BOTTLE ROCKETS WILL SMOKE THE STAGE AT THE NEWTON THEATRE

(Newton, NJ) -- The quirky Marshall Crenshaw & the Bottle Rockets will perform at the Newton Theatre on Saturday, February 1st, 2014. 


Over 25 years since breaking through to critical and commercial acclaim with his 1982 self-titled debut and its infectious, era- defining pop hit Someday, Someway, Marshall Crenshaw creates an incredible new chapter in his career with his 429 Records debut Jaggedland. Crenshaw's first studio recording in more than six years is his most musically dynamic and lyrically intimate collection yet. Classic Crenshaw attributes including an indelible sense of melody and tuneful essence combine to create a rich warmth and intimacy on every song of Jaggedland. The recording has a powerful vibe of immediacy thanks to Crenshaw's warm vocals and riveting guitar work. 

Read more at http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2858

THE FAMED KENNY VANCE & THE PLANOTONES COMING TO THE NEWTON THEATRE

(Newton, NJ) -- Kenny Vance & the Planotones will perform at the Newton Theatre on Saturday, January 18th, 2014. Growing up in New York, Kenny Vance was captivated by the magic of rock 'n' roll. At 15, he was hanging around the Brill Building meeting other singers and songwriters, and eventually formed the successful group Jay and The Americans. They went on to record 15 albums and tour extensively, opening for the Beatles' and Rolling Stones' first U.S. Appearances.

Read more at  http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2843

PIXIES COME TO NJ PAC

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Fortified with four instantly-sold-out New York City club shows, a sold-out UK/European tour and five brand-new songs, the Pixies announced today that a coast-to-coast North American leg has been added to its 2013-2014 world tour and will stop at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on January 21, 2014 at 7:30pm. Special guest Fidlar will open. 

Read more at  http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2836

NJ REP PRESENTS THE NJ PREMIERE OF "MIDDLEMEN"

(Long Branch, NJ) -- New Jersey Repertory Company is proud to announce the New Jersey Premiere of "middlemen", written by David Jenkins and directed by Marc Geller, on November 7 through December 8, 2013 at 179 Broadway in Long Branch.


Ripped from the headlines, this highly topical play deals with the cynicism and corruption that has come to characterize our financial institutions and Wall Street. Amid the drone of industrial air conditioning and the buzz of fluorescent lights, middle manager Stan and fiscal analyst Michael toil away on an exhaustive annual report in their desolate sixty-floor office tower. One-by-one, their co-workers have mysteriously disappeared, but neither really seems to care about anything, except that no one bought milk for their break-room and one of them may have been responsible for the collapse of Bolivia.

Read more at  http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2835

AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH EDWIN MCCAIN

(Newton, NJ) --An intimate evening with Edwin McCain, with his soulful voice and romantic songs, will take place at the Newton Theatre on January 10th, 2014. 


Taking the stage for what's easily the 100th time in almost as many days, Edwin McCain casually joins his band as they start off another set that's impossibly tight and laid back at the same time. By the time his vocals kick in, it's clear that this is no ordinary troubadour on the club circuit. This is Edwin McCain, the voice that is romance incarnate, that has launched a thousand marriages and stirred up Southern soul for over 20 years.

Read more at  http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2834

MUSICAL CHAMELEON MATISYAHU IN A STRIPPED-DOWN SETTING AT MONMOUTH U

(WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- When the singer known as Matisyahu first headlined a concert on the Jersey Shore, he cut a strikingly unique figure in pop music a skilled specialist in reggae/ hip-hop beats (and a beat-boxer of rare form), who delivered his boundary-busting hit "King Without a Crown" while attired in the traditional black garb, long beard and sidelocks of his Hasidic faith.

Read more at  http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2828

LEON RUSSELL TO PERFORM AT THE NEWTON THEATRE


(Newton, NJ) -- Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell will perform at the Newton Theatre on Saturday, January 11, 2014. Russell is a legendary musician and songwriter from Tulsa, Oklahoma who has been performing his gospel-infused southern boogie piano rock, blues, and country music for over 50 years. 

Read more at http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2817

FALL 2013 ACTING AND IMPROV CLASSES ENROLLING AT DREAMCATCHER


(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, professional Theatre in Residence at the Oakes Center in Summit, will offer Acting and Improv Comedy classes for kids, teens and adults this fall beginning October 14 and concluding with a class showcase on December 13.







Read more at: http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2794

STATE THEATRE AND METROPOLITAN ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT THE LAURIE BERKNER BAND -- A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION CONCERT

(New Brunswick, NJ) -- State Theatre and Metropolitan Entertainment present The Laurie Berkner Band A Holiday Celebration Concert on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 2pm. Concert tickets range from $25-$35. Special $100 VIP packages are available that include preferred seating and an after-show meet and greet. 

Read more at http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2790

STATE THEATRE PRESENTS FOREIGNER

(New Brunswick, NJ) -- State Theatre presents Foreigner on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 8pm. With 10 multi-Platinum albums and 16 Top 30 hits, Foreigner is one of the biggest bands in rock history. Foreigner's hits include "Juke Box Hero," "Feels Like the First Time," "Urgent," "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," and the worldwide smash "I Want to Know What Love Is."

Read more at:  http://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=2787