Asbury Park, New Jersey
Friday 29th August 2003
Some of the all greats have graced the stage of this world famous New Jersey venue since its opening in the mid-70's ranging from Bruce Springsteen, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello, Lisa-Marie Presley, Southside Johnny, Jon Bon Jovi...the list is endless.
On 29th August 2003 I walked onto the stage at The Stone Pony, plugged in my guitar and sang...
The Gig
Whilst I was onstage virtually all of the 100 or so Badlands Fan Club were stuck on a boat in a horrendous thunder storm somewhere off the Jersey shore! I was facing a Jersey crowd all alone! Fortunately there were a few familiar faces (thanks to Richard and Jo, Mary Wellwood and her husband and the ubiquitous Paul Terrell who's been on a world tour of his own!).
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I opened with a cover of Bob Dylan's 'Don't Think Twice (It's Alright)'. The crowd response was great and my cover of 'Two Hearts' was especially well received; I wasn't expecting applause after just the first verse! These guys know their music so to have them react so well to my songs was a big, big thrill. |
After finishing my set the MC for the evening was talking to the audience about how I was from Brighton, England and how that place has a mythical status for him as he's a big, big fan of the film Quadrophinia. I told him I play the bars and pubs in the very streets where that film was made all those years ago. It's funny how I travel all the way to the Jersey Shore to meet a guy who dreams of visiting the shore where I grew up!
Hanging Out With Vini Lopez
Me and Vini Lopez outside the Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ - 29th August 2003
What a great, great guy! Many thanks for the beers and good conversation.
I was sitting around the Stone Pony all afternoon waiting for soundcheck and knew absolutely nobody. Vini and his Dad Vini Snr. took me under their wing and showed me what true Jersey hospitality was all about. It was an unforgetable afternoon hearing stories about Vini's early days in Asbury Park and his ongoing passion for music. The sooner we get to hear him on record again with Steel Mill Retro the better! And his Dad is just about the sweetest man you could ever hope to meet.
Check out Vini's website at:
Much thanks and appreciation to Phillip and Steven Jump at Badlands and Bob Benjamin in New Jersey.