The Dude Ranch (Blink 182 tribute) with special guest The Great Heights Band (Weezer cover set)
Doors at 9 pm, showtime 10 pm
21+ admitted
$12 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $15 at the door
Brown Eyed Women
An all-female tribute to the music of the Grateful Dead
Brown Eyed Women is an ensemble of powerful female players from popular bands around the country, celebrating the music of the Grateful Dead with a unique spin.
Members hail from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, New York, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Their high-caliber musicianship and shared love of the Dead drew them together. This band is decidedly different in a field brimming with tribute acts. BEW brings authentic jams and a soulful new approach to the familiar Grateful Dead catalog.
21 and up admitted
$20 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $25 at the door
Too Cool To Bluff
with special guest
Surfing for Daisys
Door 8:00
Show 8:30
Too Cool To Bluff is a Jersey Shore hybrid jam/blues/classic rock party band. With a great mix of covers from artists such as The Dead, Phish, Stones, Beatles, Clapton, Paul Simon, ZZ Top, Traffic, Pink Floyd, Hendrix, etc., Too Cool To Bluff is beginning to shine on their musical journey and is ready to capture both young and old fans’ ears alike. This is no tribute band. Too Cool To Bluff takes all their musical influences and experiences and brings them together with their own ripping take on a mixture of popular music you know and love! Too Cool To Bluff is comprised of Brandon Lewin on drums, Rafael Orsini on guitar and vocals, Ian Schwartz on guitar and vocals, Cameron Seidel on bass and vocals, and Scott Warren on keyboards and vocals.
$12 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $15 at the door
Christine Martucci and the Band of Love
Annual Pridefest
Doors 8:00pm
Show 8:30pm
21 and up admitted
$20 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $25 at the door
Come celebrate Pride Sunday June 4th with Kathouse at The Wonder Bar… $10 admission all day… Everyone will receive a wristband so they can go in and out to the festival and come back and enjoy this fabulous group the minute the festival is over… Please get there early as we do have a capacity limit and once we hit it, we will not be able to let anyone else in… We open at noon… As always 21 and over
$10
Mondays are Happy Mondays at the Wonder Bar! Come to your favorite neighborhood hang and see your favorite bands take the stage.
FREE! (21+ admitted)
POST ANIMAL
Beautiful Places Tour
with Slow Fiction
Chicago-based Post Animal are a band of brothers. They formed in 2014, began touring in 2017, released their debut album in 2018 and recently released their second album in 2020. Their affinity for slick riffs, pop hooks, and psychedelic tendencies join them in a bond much tighter than their years suggest.
Initially formed when childhood friends, bassist Dalton Allison and guitarist Matt Williams, met keyboardist and guitarist Jake Hirshland, Post Animal’s sound began to take shape when the two enlisted some more pals from both the Chicago music scene and through their time working at local burger joints. Rounding out the band’s lineup, Post Animal is completed by drummer Wesley Toledo and guitarist Javi Reyes.
Like most bands in Chicago’s inclusive music community, Post Animal got their start playing DIY basements and small rock clubs. Between their impressive early releases and their wild live shows which feature the band members sharing lead vocal duties, Post Animal have unquestionably solidified themselves as one of Chicago’s most exciting up-and-coming acts.
Almost impossible to describe, the Post Animal bond is best observed while foolin’ at the merch table after a sweaty show. They look forward to seeing you there and, naturally, becoming your new best friends.
21+ admitted
$18 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $20 at the door
Caitlin Rose and Andrew Combs
Doors 7pm / Show 8pm
$17 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $20 at the door
WILLIE NILE 75 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
40 VIP TABLE SEATS-$75-Includes a Pre-Show Birthday Meet/Greet with Birthday Cake and Party Favors – 6:30pm!
The New York Times called Buffalo, NY born Willie Nile “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years.” Uncut Magazine called him “A one-man Clash.” His album Streets Of New York was hailed as “a platter for the ages” by Uncut. Rolling Stone listed The Innocent Ones as one of the “Top Ten Best Under-The-Radar Albums of 2011”. His single from that album, “One Guitar,” was the “Top Pick of the Week” in USA Today.
Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend, Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams, Jim Jarmusch, and Little Steven are among those who have sung his praises.
His album, American Ride, won “Best Rock Album of the Year” at the Independent Music Awards and it appeared on dozens of year-end Top Ten lists for 2013. Bono called it, “One of the great guides to unraveling the mystery that is the troubled beauty of America.”
In November 2014 he released a new album of piano-based songs, If I Was A River, to great critical acclaim. “One of the most brilliant singer-songwriters of the past thirty years” said The New Yorker.
MOJO wrote about his 2016 album World War Willie, “Four Stars! The real thing…stomp-‘til-ready rock’n’roll…timeless fare.” It made numerous top ten lists for album of the year.
His album Positively Bob: Willie Nile Sings Bob Dylan from 2017 was hailed as “one of the best Dylan tribute albums ever made. And the Associated Press said his 2018 album Children Of Paradise “Might be the best album of his career!”
Willie has toured across the U.S. with The Who and has sung with Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. As the induction program from the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame says: “His live performances are legendary.” His 2020 album New York At Night got rave reviews, with Downbeat calling it a “sonic love letter to Gotham.”
His newest studio album The Day The Earth Stood Still, which features a duet with Steve Earle on the song “Blood On Your Hands” was released in 2021.
ACCOLADES
“The unofficial poet laureate of New York City.” – Uncut
“Better than what most performers have to offer by far.” — Rolling Stone
“Crossing the power of the Clash with the social consciousness of Woody Guthrie…he’s stronger than ever!” – The Morton Report
“Willie Nile is a great artist. If there was any justice in this world, I’d be opening up for him instead of him for me.” Lucinda Williams
“A man who embodies the true spirit of rock n’ roll.” – London Times
“RIVETING!…Springsteen, Mellencamp, Van Morrison…Willie Nile has earned his standing in that esteemed company! – Blurt
$37 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $42 at the door
Mondays are Happy Mondays at the Wonder Bar! Come to your favorite neighborhood hang and see your favorite bands take the stage.
FREE! (21+ admitted)
North to Shore Presents Sensational Soul Cruisers
The Sensational Soul Cruisers are not just another 11-man vocal harmony group with horns. While it is still sometimes possible to find a band featuring a similar line up of instruments, it is unlikely that you will ever find another that performs with as much energy, passion, and talent as these guys. From their humble beginnings rehearsing at the chicken coops on Route 33 to the basement of the Cycle Shop on Throckmorton Street, this band has come a long way from its “Eddie and the Cruisers” days to become one of Jersey’s best kept secrets.
Under the tutelage of legendary Jersey Shore sax player Screamin’ Steve Barlotta, who has been the captain of this fantastic soul cruise for over 20 years, has catapulted this band from the recesses of a dingy basement to over 200 performances a year while capturing the true essence of the Jersey Shore sound and its true R&B roots. Fortunately for those of us that feel that the sound of classic Philly Soul, Motown, Disco, Stax, and the music of The Temptations, Four Tops, Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago, The Trammps and other such groups was and still is some of the best music ever recorded or played live, there will be plenty of chances to see the Sensational Soul Cruisers perform this year and for many years to come. While the band travels to and plays concerts in theaters, clubs, public festivals, and private events throughout the country, they will be spending quite a bit of time in the northeast but especially in the New York / New Jersey / Pennsylvania area this year. This is in no small part due to the bands strong ties to its roots in Freehold Borough in the beautiful Garden State.
Over the past 25 years the Soul Cruisers have been fortunate enough to grace the stage with many great artist from Bruce Springsteen, Little Anthony and The Imperials, Gloria Gaynor, Gary US Bonds, John Cafferty, Southside Johnny, The Emotions, Bon Jovi, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder. As well as being the long time favorite house band at New York City’s famed Copacabana.
Doors 7:00pm
Show 8:00pm
21+ admitted
$22 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $25 at the door
North to Shore Presents Dentist with special guests Little Hag and Lowlight
21+ admitted
$15 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $18 at the door
North To Shore Presents Nicole Atkins
Tommy Stinson
21+ admitted
$27 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $30 at the door
North to Shore Presents The Smithereens with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw
21+ admitted
$40 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $45 at the door
North to Shore Presents Clarence Clemons Celebration featuring Jarod Clemons and the Late Nights
A musical Celebration of the Life & Music of the Big Man, Clarence Clemons.
Jarod Clemons youngest son of legendary E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons will be hosting this special celebration with his band “the Late Nights”.
Jarod has burst on to the Asbury Park music scene with his passion for rock and blues. The JCLN’s are one of the brightest lights on the current Asbury Park music scene! Combined with his compelling original music and emotional stage presence… Jarod and his band always deliver an exciting live show.
JCLN’s play a full headline show, with special guests to be announced.
Doors 6:00pm
Show 6:30pm
21+ admitted
$18 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $20 at the door
Mondays are Happy Mondays at the Wonder Bar! Come to your favorite neighborhood hang and see your favorite bands take the stage.
FREE! (21+ admitted)
Weird Phishes, Litz
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
Weird Phishes is exactly what it sounds like – the iconic melancholy rock songs of Radiohead completely reborn as danceable, crunchy jams. With full-album performances, unexpected mashups, and gluey funk-driven improvisation, their jam-heavy take on alt-rock classics has sparked an unexpected energy in audiences across the northeast. Cleverly avoiding the “tribute” trope, Weird Phishes continues to push the envelope of what a mashup band can be, delivering performances that need to be experienced in order to believe.
Maryland based Litz provides you with a healthy dose of rock and funk with an electronic twist. Their original catalog of music spans nearly a decade and features imaginative lyrics, dancing rhythms, slapping bass, sensational horns and guitar prowess.
21+ admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
RAD x MELTING TRENDS present
RACHEL ANA DOBKEN & THE DREAM OF WHEN
Rachel Ana Dobken returns to the Wonder Bar with a hand picked line-up of rocking friends! Rachel will be performing with a full band for this special show.
The Dream of When
Damn Jackals (NYC)
Speaker Rats
and surprise guests!
Local powerhouse Rachel Ana Dobken (drums, guitar, vocals, keys) describes herself as “My Morning Jacket-meets-Amy Winehouse,” she has a knack for blending indie-rock & soul, and has been featured by BTRtoday, Relix, The Deli, Guitar Girl Magazine, Asbury Park Press, The Aquarian Weekly & more. Dobken’s highly anticipated upcoming album “Acceptance” (2023) was produced by Erik Romero from The Front Bottoms and Paul Ritchie from The Parlor Mob in conjunction with Dobken. It features a slew of special guests TBA. It will be dropping starting this summer, so stay tuned!
The Dream of When is a rock band out of Red Bank, NJ. They blend together a variety of influences, but try to keep things real and fresh. The first released songs are definitely brit-rock, psychedelic, and garage rock inspired – fuzzed out, but melodic to the core.
21+ ADMITTED
$15 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $18 at the door
Mondays are Happy Mondays at the Wonder Bar! Come to your favorite neighborhood hang and see your favorite bands take the stage.
FREE! (21+ admitted)
An Evening with Midnight North
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
There’s Always a Story represents a new chapter for Midnight North. Ten stories told through song on their most polished album to date.
Reflecting on the time since their origin, Midnight North is ready to tell the world its story. A group of multi-instrumentalists with songwriting roots in Folk and Americana, Midnight North is a mainstay on the stages of the national touring circuit. Rolling Stone hailed Midnight North as the “Best New Act” in its review of 2018’s Peach Music Festival saying the band “takes the best parts of roots music and weaves them into a tapestry of rock and Americana.”
Grahame Lesh, Elliott Peck and Connor O’Sullivan began playing together in San Francisco. In early 2012 they played their first show as Grahame Lesh & Friends. Grahame & Elliott both brought a repertoire of original music to this new project that was a perfect marriage once the band began performing in earnest. In late 2012 the band went into the studio for the first time, tracking the entirety of their debut album End of the Night in just 2 days. End of the Night (mixed & produced by Connor) was released in June 2013 as they officially debuted the name Midnight North.
The band began touring in June 2015, with the release of their second album Scarlet Skies. That began a five year run as a touring band, playing in 36 states in front of thousands of people across the country. They released Under the Lights, their most successful studio album to date, in summer 2017. “Across all of the tracks, when you think you have the band pegged for a style or a genre, all of a sudden a chorus, or a new solo or new instrument altogether, diverts the music boldly but smartly to a new sound and feel,” said The Poke Around in their review of Under the Lights. They also released two live albums including 2018’s Selections From the Great American Music Hall which featured Bob Weir & Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead plus members of Twiddle as special guests.
A pivotal moment for the band came when Grahame met drummer Nathan Graham at a benefit show in Philadelphia in 2016. A month later Nathan sat in with the band for a show, eventually joining the band for their longest tour to date in the Spring of 2017. Bringing on the well seasoned drummer as a full-time member of the band (and learning about his banjo playing, singing, and song-writing skills) represented the next step forward as plans were made to record their fourth studio album.
In January 2020, the band went into a California studio with producer David Simon-Baker to craft their fourth studio album, There’s Always a Story, released in 2021 on Americana Vibes. As the world shut down in March and the band quarantined separately around the country, the album was finished remotely in California and Pennsylvania. As the months ticked by they let the rest of the newly written & recorded songs sink into their consciousness so that when work resumed on the album in June the entire album became even better than they could have hoped.
2023 and beyond is a new beginning, and while Midnight North longingly looks ahead, hand-in-hand with the rest of the world, There’s Always a Story will serve as a collective and reflective narrative.
21+ admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
Fantastic Cat
“The New York band ‘Fantastic Cat’ shines with a singular light on their debut album, The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat, a radiant, resonant, and fun folk rock record that sees four singer/songwriters joining forces to become far greater than the sum of their parts.”
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “a wildly satisfying collection of folk-rock, country, Americana, and good old rock & roll,” the album gleefully careens between genres and decades, mixing electrified 60’s roots and 70’s AM radio gold as it balances careful craftsmanship and ecstatic abandon in equal measure.
Individually, each member of Fantastic Cat boasts their own impressive resume along with a litany of critical acclaim. The Guardian dubbed Don DiLego “one to watch.” NPR said Anthony D’Amato “sings and writes in the tradition of Bruce Springsteen or Josh Ritter.” Rolling Stone called Brian Dunne’s latest single a “stunner” and praised Mike Montali’s band, Hollis Brown, as “the soundtrack for a late-night drive through the American heartland.” Collectively, though, the four transcend their respective roots, emerging as an instrument-swapping, harmony-trading, tear-jerking, wise-cracking rock and roll cooperative far greater than the sum of its parts.
21 AND UP ADMITTED
$25 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $28 at the door
Damn the Torpedoes
A Live Tom Petty Concert Experience
An evening of Tom Petty hits and favorites with DTT. This is a spot-on musical tribute to Tom Petty delivered with genuine enthusiasm and love for all things Petty!
21+ admitted
$22 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $25 at the door
Eddie Testa Band
The Jersey Shore’s hard working rock ‘n’ soul band brings holiday heat to the Wonder Bar. It’s always a great night at the WB with Eddie Testa. Don’t forget your dancing shoes for two long sets of good times!
– 21 AND UP ADMITTED
$15 (plus applicable surcharges)
Cosmic Jerry Band
Bring on the jams with Cosmic Jerry! The Wonder Bar welcomes fans from the Summer Stage with a special late show! It’s a night of Grateful Dead Family tunes from the Jersey Shore’s most dedicated band! Get ready to dance with Cosmic Jerry. It’s always a fun night at the Wonder Bar!
Doors at 9 pm, show at 10 pm
21 and up admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $12 at the door
Illiterate Light, The Thing
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
Illiterate Light thrives on subverting expectations. Though just a duo, the Harrisonburg, Virginia-based singer-guitarist Jeff Gorman along with Nashville, Tennessee-based drummer Jake Cochran make surprisingly pummeling and thoughtful alternative rock. Since the band’s 2015 inception, they’ve intently focused on their unorthodox live show with Cochran standing behind his kit and Gorman playing synth bass with his foot as he sings and strums his guitar. Fiercely egalitarian and independent, the two not only split up songwriting duties and arrangement ideas, they even built bike-powered stages: bringing the fans into the live experience and envisioning a greener future for shows.
But with their latest album Sunburned, out January 27 via Thirty Tigers, Gorman and Cochran have turned their attention inward to their songwriting and studio craft. It’s their most fully-realized and ambitious LP yet, one that’s full of immediate songs that update and revolutionize the band’s approach to making music. There are rich keyboard and programmed percussion textures now populating their songs, as well as soaringly anthemic choruses, and hefty doses of fuzz. “On our first record, we were very live-focused and wanted to make sure whatever we were writing was translated in person,” says Gorman. “Without that crutch, we could be more adventurous and take more risks. We definitely weren’t timid in the studio.”
21+ admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
Baked Shrimp
21+ admitted
$15 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $18 at the door
Mo Lowda & The Humble, Under the Rug
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
Mo Gowda & The Humble – Born out of the house show scene in Philadelphia, Mo Lowda & the Humble is an indie rock band that has since evolved into a nationally and internationally touring act. Coming off of their latest full-length release, ‘Ready Coat’ (2020), the band tours all over the country, including festivals like Firefly, Peach Fest, Mountain Jam, and more. Their tight grooves provide the foundation for textural guitars and memorable vocal melodies. Toeing the line between precision and spontaneity, the band creates a unique, interactive experience every time they hit the stage.
Under the Rug – Since forming over a decade ago, Austin, TX trio Under the Rug have cut their teeth as songwriters and engineers, writing and recording dozens of projects, amassing a dedicated fanbase, garnering praise from major publications like American Songwriter and independent tastemaker blogs including Mystic Sons, Two Story Melody, Comeherefloyd, LA On Lock and more, and even receiving a co-sign from The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle.
Lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Casey Dayan, guitarist Sean Campbell, drummer Brendan McQueeney, and keys/ percussionist Dominic Turchiarelli have taken a fanatical and steadfast approach to DIY marketing, which has helped grow the band’s audience exponentially since their 2019 debut album Pale King. With their sophomore LP Dear Adeline, the band grossed over $100,000 within the first month of their CD campaign, and have since received hundreds of thousands of comments from a fierce fanbase on social media, including 300 members from their own home-brewed membership service, The Secret Hideout.
Coming off the success of their Junior LP “Homesick For Another World”, Under The Rug plans to hit the pavement hard this year in celebration of the record and the recent viral buzz surrounding the hit single “Lonesome and Mad” – which was the top searched song in the US for 48 hours on Spotify and continues to top spotify virality playlist charts in several other countries. The album is comprised of their most popular and powerful tunes to date, amassing a boastful 2.7 million views on social media platforms before the official release of the first single.
Packing a decade’s worth of friendship and songwriting in a beat-up van, Under the Rug’s on-the-go work ethic has yielded expansive records written on the road to Los Angeles brimming with hope and hard-won truths from the heart. They’re a band that believes putting the work in manifests success.
21+ admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
Cliffdiver
Michael Cera Palin
Carpool
21+ admitted
Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers
JOE GRUSHECKY is a true rock ‘n’ roll survivor, the talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist first bursting onto the scene in 1979 with his band the Iron City Houserockers and their critically-acclaimed debut album, Love’s So Tough. By the time the band released a follow-up in 1980’s Have A Good Time But Get Out Alive, Grushecky had sharpened his songwriting skills to a razor’s edge, and his intelligent blue-collar anthems mixed muscular, guitar-driven rock with elements of blues and soul like nobody before or since. After two more albums that earned great reviews but sold few copies, the Iron City Houserockers called it a day. Grushecky, a Pittsburgh native, returned home to Steeltown and resumed his day job as a teacher working with at-risk youth, a position that he has pretty much held ever since. He stayed out of music for the better part of a decade, returning with a new band – Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers and released the acclaimed Swimming With The Sharks album.
Forty four years and many albums later, Joe Grushecky and his band The Houserockers are still rocking, playing the rock ‘n roll bars that are still open, at an age where many musicians have retired, collecting social security checks. He hasn’t had a label deal in 35 years, Grushecky and the Houserockers are going it on their own, braving the tidal changes that have assaulted the music industry by rocking harder. Through the years, Grushecky has continued to hone his craft as a blue collar, working man’s songwriter and even with the help of his friend Bruce Springsteen, fame and fortune have eluded him, he remains committed to music as a powerful creative force.
Doors 8:00pm
Show 8:30pm
PERSONS AGE 21+ ONLY ADMITTED
$32 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $37 at the door
Joe Samba, Crooked Coast
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
Guitar slung low, microphone turned up, and emotion overflowing, Joe Samba taps into rock ‘n’ roll spirit and reggae soul all at once. The Massachusetts-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist sonically teeters on an axis of island-inflected grooves and gritty guitar-craft balanced by his dynamic vocals. He finds the sweet spot between smoked-out Caribbean bliss and sweat-soaked punkified energy. It’s why he’s quietly emerged as a phenomenon, toppling charts at #1 and performing alongside everyone from The Dirty Heads to Pepper.
21+ admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
JAMES MADDOCK & BAND
Night Work Record Release Celebration
40 VIP Tables Seats Available!
This special show will celebrate the release of James’ brand new album Night Work.
JAMES MADDOCK’s status as a fixture on the folk and Americana scene is confirmed with every listen of any song in his prodigious catalog. Relix Magazine put it this way: “James Maddock possesses the kind of lived-in craggy voice that would sound authoritative if he were singing the sports pages. Fortunately, he doesn’t need to do that because his compositional skills are a match for his delivery.”
After fronting the Columbia Records band Wood, whose debut Songs From Stamford Hill was featured prominently on TV shows such as Dawson’s Creek, Maddock moved from England to New York City in 2003. His 2009 album Sunrise On Avenue C won a New York Music Award for Best Americana Album, while the follow-up Wake Up And Dream ranked among the top albums of 2011 in WFUV New York’s Listener Poll. With the release of Another Life (2013) and The Green (2015) Maddock continued to demonstrate why many consider him to be one of the best singer/songwriters working today. He has performed with Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nile, Aaron Comess (Spin Doctors) and David Immergluck (Counting Crows). According to radio legend Vin Scelsa, Maddock’s “heartbreakingly beautiful and exquisitely crafted” music “touches the soul.” As a songwriter, James recently had three songs co-written with Mike Scott on the new Waterboys album Modern Blues (which appeared in the Top 50 on the UK Albums Chart), a co-write with Gary Barlow (Actress) on Barlow’s double-platinum new album, as well as a cut called Fragile on the Dirt On My Tongue album by emerging UK artist Jo Harman. Songs from Another Life have been featured on NBC’s Parenthood and ABC Family’s Switched at Birth. Maddock is a constant live presence in the U.S. and Europe.
Maddock’s latest album, Little Bird in the Neighbourhood, harks back to the acoustic approach of Another Life. With some old and some new musical collaborators (Aaron Comess on drums, Ben Rubin on upright bass, Brian Mitchell on accordion and piano, Scott Sharrard on guitar, Ben Stivers on piano and keys, Craig Dryer on flute, and David Immergluck on guitar) Maddock has delivered another exquisite collection of musical vignettes. Little Bird in the Neighbourhood is available where music is consumed.
DANIELIA COTTON is a New York City-based singer/songwriter originally from Hopewell, NJ. In 2010 Danielia was named Lilith Fair’s Ourstage Local Talent Winner for NYC. Since then she has shared the stage with the likes of Robert Cray, Bon Jovi, and Gregg Allman. In the review of her Rare Child album the New York Times says this: “She’s a belter who can hold back or work her way up to a gospelly blues-rock shout, and in the songs she writes with her band’s brawny guitar riffs, she grapples with the road, salvation, holding on and letting go. “The truth will set you free, but it always feels like it tears you apart,” she sings. She’s a throwback, but a gutsy one.” Her latest studio album Good Day is out now where music is sold.
Doors 8:00pm
Show 8:30pm
Delicate Steve
“I’ve spent most of my life trying to escape the sound of the electric guitar,” says Steve Marion. That’s a rather surprising confession considering that, under the name Delicate Steve, Marion has spent the better part of the last decade establishing himself as one of the most wildly innovative and widely revered players in the game. He’s recorded with Paul Simon, been sampled by Kanye West, toured in the Black Keys, and released four critically acclaimed albums of genre-bending instrumental music. He’s your favorite musician’s favorite musician, a virtuoso songwriter, producer, and performer who occupies a lane entirely his own in the modern indie landscape, but he’s never liked the sound of the electric guitar? “I’ve tried everything under the sun to get away from it,” he explains. “Until now.”
Written and recorded on a 1966 Fender Stratocaster that reignited his love for the instrument, Delicate Steve’s captivating new album, After Hours, marks a first for Marion, an earnest, easygoing collection that revels in the simple joys of plugging in and playing. The songs are sweet and breezy here, pairing vintage soul grooves with mesmerizing, wordless melodies, and Marion’s production work is suitably subtle and restrained, stepping back in all the right places to let the album’s masterful performances speak for themselves. In another first, Marion teamed up with outside musicians on the record, bringing in a group of all-star players including renowned bassist Shahzad Ismaily (Yoko Ono, Marc Ribot) and famed Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco (David Byrne, Atoms For Peace) to help flesh out the arrangements and stretch his sonic boundaries. The result is Marion’s warmest, most magnetic work to date, an inviting, immediately accessible album that manages to balance thoughtful introspection and carefree bliss in equal measure.
“I wanted people to find comfort in the music, to find a home in it, because that’s what it did for me,” says Marion. “It helped me finally find a home in the sound of the electric guitar.”
Born and raised in New Jersey, Marion first came to widespread attention with the release of Wondervisions, his 2011 debut under the Delicate Steve moniker. The New York Times raved that the album “slyly eludes generalizations,” while NPR hailed it as “the year’s most epic sun-bleached back porch jam session,” and Mojo proclaimed that “whether this is post rock, space rock or ad hoc it’s hard to say, but who needs taxonomy when music feels this good?” Delicate Steve’s 2012 follow-up, Positive Force, was met with similar acclaim, with Pitchfork declaring that “Marion is one of those rare guitarists whose instrument sings in the place of vocals.” In the years that followed, Marion would go on to release two more highly lauded studio albums; record with the likes of Paul Simon, Amen Dunes, and Sondre Lerche; perform live with Yeasayer, Mac DeMarco, Built To Spill, Dr. Dog, and Tune-Yards among others; have his songs sampled by Kanye West not once, but twice; and join the Black Keys on the road as a touring guitarist in support of 2019’s Let’s Rock. If that all sounds like a lot for one man, that’s because it was, and by the time 2020 rolled around, Marion needed to step away from the noise.
“I spent a year living in Tucson, Arizona, where I didn’t play a single note,” he explains. “I didn’t even really listen to music during that time. It was the longest I’d gone without holding a guitar in my hands, but I think I really needed that time away from everything for some perspective.”
It was after this southwestern sojourn that Marion discovered the vintage Fender Stratocaster that would rekindle his romance with the guitar.
“Up to that point, I’d always tried to push the sound of the guitar forward into unexplored territory,” says Marion, whose 2019 album, Till I Burn Up, flirted with experimental electronics and bold sonic manipulation. “But once I got my hands on that guitar, I started to realize that the most adventurous, unexpected thing I could do was just plug it into an amp and play.”
So that’s what he did. Rather than reimagining the possibilities of the guitar as a vehicle for delivering his instrumental pop masterpieces, this time around, Marion embraced it for precisely what it was, adopting a “just play” ethos that allowed him to strip away distraction and lose himself in the music. With Shahzad and Refosco backing him, he found himself feeling more liberated than ever before, leaning into his role as a modern guitar hero with renewed vigor and excitement.
“Recording with people who were at the peak of their instruments freed me up to play in ways I’d never really experienced,” Marion reflects. “They were bringing rhythms to the table that I hadn’t explored before, and the more they pushed me, the more I pushed myself.”
That chemistry is obvious from the outset on After Hours, which opens with the aptly titled “Playing in a Band.” Lush and immersive, the track showcases Marion’s knack for sonic world building, conjuring up its own little universe of swelling tones and swirling colors underneath a lilting, lyrical melody line that feels as effortless as it is infectious. The intoxicating “Street Breeze” evokes the kaleidoscopic sights and sounds of a brisk walk through the city, while the languid “I Can Fly Away” dips into hazy ’70s soul as it learns to harness its own raw power, and the surrealist “Looking Glass” stirs up an air of mystery and restlessness atop a churning, perpetually unsettled groove. Though Delicate Steve’s catalog has traditionally consisted of crisp, tightly constructed songwriting, the tunes on After Hours are more loose and fluid, unfurling in their own time with grace and gratitude.
“This music is the sound of me embracing my strengths rather than hiding from them,” says Marion. “It’s the sound of me finally letting go of whatever hang-ups I’ve had in the past and just doing what comes naturally.”
And in the end, that’s what After Hours is all about. Delicate Steve is done running from the electric guitar. He’s home.
$15 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $20 at the door
Kendall Street Company, Dizgo
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
Kendall Street Company – Virginia’s Kendall Street Company are no strangers to having a wild time. The genre-fluid, eclectic rock ensemble has drawn varied comparisons to the dynamic jams of Umphrey’s McGee and Widespread Panic, songwriting prowess of John Prine, experimental psychedelia of Pink Floyd, progressive jazz-infused rock of Frank Zappa, and off-color humor of Ween and They Might Be Giants. Including elements of crowd participation, off-the-cuff comedic bits, haphazard choreography, musical improvisation, and surprise musical guests, each Kendall Street Company concert is an experience unlike any other. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. Just remember to stay hydrated.
In addition to their reputation as must-see live performers, the Company’s prolific immunity to writer’s block has led them to release over 100 original songs between seven studio albums, two live albums, and four EPs in a period of just six years. 2023 will see the release of (at least) an additional two studio records, a handful of singles, and who knows what else!
Dizgo – Dizgo redefines the live experience by blending jamtronica with funk, deep-groove soul, and psychedelic rock, taking the audience on a musical journey that includes intricate compositions and extended improvisation. The result is something both danceable and introspective: soulful vocals, interweaving analog synths and shredding guitar all of which join forces under the banner of Dizgo.
21+ admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
Duane Betts & Palmetto Hotel
By the time Duane Betts began working on Wild & Precious Life — his triumphant debut solo album — he’d already spent two decades creating his own version of guitar-slinging, story-driven American rock & roll.
“It felt like the right time to make something that was entirely my own vision,” he says. “This is a record that guitar players will love, but at its core, it’s really a song record. It’s an album about who I am, where I come from, and what I believe in.”
The years leading up to Wild & Precious Life’s creation were a whirlwind. Duane cut his teeth with the bands Backbone69 and Whitestarr, then spent the better part of ten years playing guitar alongside his father — legendary Allman Brothers co-founder Dickey Betts — as a member of Dickey Betts & Great Southern. He’d also travel the world as a touring member of Dawes before releasing an EP of his own songs, Sketches of American Music, in 2018. As the decade drew to a close, Duane co-founded The Allman Betts Band, releasing two records in 2019 and 2020.
Even so, the need to create a full-length solo album — one that nodded to his musical roots while simultaneously pushing ahead into new territory — continued to gnaw at him. “I wanted to make a record which would really capture that old school Florida vibe,” says the Sarasota native. Following his instincts, Duane assembled his dream team of musicians — including guitarist Johnny Stachela, bassist Berry Duane Oakley, keyboardist John Ginty, and drummer Tyler Greenwell — and took up his old friends Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks on an offer to record at their own Swamp Raga Studio in Jacksonville. Wild & Precious Life was recorded to two-inch analog tape during a series of live-in-the-recording-studio performances in 2022.
“We set up as a band, tracked everything live, and kept whichever takes had the magic,” says Duane, who co-produced the album with Stachela and Ginty. The band welcomed a number of guests into the fold too, finding room for Marcus King (who swaps guitar solos with Duane on “Cold Dark World”), Nicki Bluhm (whose haunting harmonies run throughout the country-flavored “Colors Fade”), and Derek Trucks (who contributes searing guitar leads to the album highlight “Stare at the Sun”). Bobby Tis handled the album’s engineering duties, while seven-time Grammy winner Jim Scott mixed.
Wild & Precious Life offers up a timeless version of American music — a mix of blues, rock, folk, and country that could’ve blanketed the FM radio airwaves during any number of decades. It’s a modern album inspired by some of the best parts of the past, full of sharply crafted songs written in a state of deep reflection and Duane’s journey toward sobriety. “Waiting on a Song” is a timeless tribute to patience, faith, and the muse itself, laced with fiery fretwork from Duane’s Les Paul Gold Top. “Circles in the Stars” is equal parts cowboy campfire song and folk ballad, with Duane singing a love letter to his wife over the earthy resonance of a vintage, post-WWII Martin D28 acoustic guitar that once belonged to his father. The twin guitar harmonies that define “Stare at the Sun” breathe fresh life into southern rock. “I was inspired by a conversation I’d had with Derek, where he was talking about my father’s guitar playing,” Duane explains. “He told me, ‘Your dad is one of those players who’s not afraid to stare directly into the sun,’ and I loved that line. I was already working on a new song, and Derek’s sentiment gave the song a center.” Even the album’s instrumental track, “Under the Bali Moon,” seems to conjure up its own storyline, thanks to a combination of evocative slide guitar and non-western twinkles of piano.
Wild & Precious Life captures the emotional release of overcoming struggle, appreciating the fleeting nature of life, and celebrating the joy of being present.
Wild and precious, indeed.
21 and up admitted
$20 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $25 at the door
Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads, One Time Weekend
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads – On “Life During Wartime,” the first single from Talking Heads’ 1979 album Fear of Music, David Byrne famously sang the immortal lyrics, “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco…no time for dancing…” Yet all those anti-fun declarations go gleefully out the window when Mystic Bowie, aka the “Head Dread,” takes the stage, re-imagining and infusing fresh life into TH’s classic catalog with his high octane mix of roots reggae, ska and lover’s rock (aka “romantic reggae”).
Since debuting his musically revolutionary Talking Dreads project live at the High Times Music Festival on the beach in Negril in late 2015, the charismatic Jamaican-born singer and performer has electrified audiences at over 100 shows across North America – spinning the heads of initially skeptical Talking Heads fans, and getting everyone else grooving along to the infectious, joyous rhythms and jubilant spirit of his native island. Considering the success of these events, it was only a matter of time before Bowie – who has lived in the Northeastern U.S. for many years – headed back to his cherished homeland and set up shop at the famed Barry O’Hare Studios in Ocho Rios. He gathered old friends he had played music with since childhood, along with younger musicians, legendary Jamaican artists and other surprise guests to capture all the magic of his live performances on the epic, 13 track recording Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads.
“Talking Dreads is much more than a cover band,” Mystic says. “I am very much drawing on my own musical culture and history to make these amazing songs my own, while at the same time preserving the integrity of the Talking Heads songs. I’ve always felt that reggae’s dance-inspiring, feel good vibe is universal, as are many of the band’s songs. And don’t forget their intelligent, powerful lyrics, which are fun to sing and shine fresh light on through this new fusion of styles. It took a lot of effort to deconstruct and dissect each song to make it work seamlessly with my singing and performance style. I removed all the instrumentation, kept the story and words, then created my own reggae, Caribbean and tribal feel and married those two elements – then brought back a few of the melodies that captured my attention back in the day.”
One Time Weekend – “We Groove – You Move” is the mantra of One Time Weekend – the innovative shred-funk Connecticut quartet bringing driving grooves with a melodic and progressive edge to the universe. One Time Weekend is known for their live shows – delivering a high-energy musical experience at every performance as twin lead guitarists, Adam Eytan and Zac Mulcahy shred over bassist and lead vocalist Ian D’Arcangelo’s funky bass lines and dynamic vocals while Ben “Beano” Sullivan mans the pocket holding it all down with his rhythmic energy – all of which keeps OTW Nation grooving and moving.
21+ admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
Hayley Jane, Residual Groove
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
Hayley Jane – Hayley Jane’s performance is layered with raw intensity + linguistic prowess. She has a deeply emotive + highly magnetizing presence that’s generating a buzz in the industry.
Hayley pulls inspiration from a variety of styles, including 60s + 70s rock + pop, musical theater, folk, blues, soul, psychedelic, funk + bluegrass. Just as varied, are the many ways she can captivate an audience. Whether the concentrated potency of her solo acoustic performance, the explosive energy + movement of her full band shows, or one of her theatrical performances, she always brings the charisma, humor + passion to move an audience.
Her music has been praised by a wide range of musicians, producers + music lovers alike, for successfully combining a diverse sound with clever, over-the-top lyrics + Vaudevillian-style storytelling. Hayley reawakens her audiences to the wild parts of themselves, great medicine for these modern times.
Residual Groove is a five-piece funk/fusion band from Norwalk, CT featuring brothers Previn Edwards (guitar/vocals) and Kiran Edwards (keys/vocals), Miles Livolsi (bass), Henry Thomas (drums), and Garrett Halstead (percussion). With a healthy mix of groovy originals and surprising covers, Residual Groove joins their influences and creations together through tasteful segues and spontaneously improvised segments.
21+ admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
DRAMARAMA
“…John Easdale….one of the finest singer/songwriters of these times…” – Los Angeles Times
“One of America’s best rock bands…” – Chicago Sun Times
Dramarama’s music has appeared in/Dramarama has appeared on Ellen, Late Night with David Letterman, Private Practice, Entourage, Nightmare on Elm Street 4, Two Night Stand, Tuesdays with Morrie, Prison Break, Higher Learning, Road Trip, Mayor of the Sunset Strip, and many more.
Rooted in distorted grit, punk energy, and American songbook eloquence, and sporting three of the original “four-ish” members (“four-ish,” you ask? Well, they didn’t start out with a permanent drummer), Dramarama has always been both classic and cutting-edge. This iconic alternative rock group was formed in the basement of a record store in Wayne, New Jersey by John Easdale [singer, songwriter], Mark Englert [lead, rhythm guitar] Peter Wood [lead, rhythm guitar], and have, for the past 18-plus years, been joined by Mike Davis [bass], and Tony Snow [drums], who not only preserve but strengthen the spirit that established Dramarama as a history-making force in 1982.
As the story goes, John, Peter and Mark traded New Jersey for Los Angeles. Long before the nineties alt rock radio boom, the West Coast initially embraced the group’s single, “Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You…)” (off their 1985 debut, Cinéma Vérité), as the de facto anthem of the nascent alternative nation. It notably made history as one of the most requested songs of all time on the World Famous KROQ 106.7 FM in Los Angeles. It could also be heard loud and clear everywhere from A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master to HBO’s Entourage. And although Dramarama has yet to become a household name (still the next big thing), Easdale’s work has been cited as an influence on several major bands of the last three decades.
On the heels of Cinéma Vérité’s success the band delivered a decade of fan favorite albums: Box Office Bomb [1987], Stuck in Wonderamaland [1989], Vinyl [1991] and Hi-Fi Sci-Fi [1993], and after a 10-year hiatus served up Everybody Dies in 2005. As their legacy solidified, more critical praise followed. The Chicago Sun Times christened them “one of America’s best rock bands” and the Los Angeles Times proclaimed Easdale “one of the finest singer/songwriters of these times.” And the praise continues as Dramarama’s latest release, Color TV, was named one of the Top 10 Albums of 2020 by legendary music journalist and critic Robert Christgau.
The band is having more fun than ever and exudes a confidence and ease that can only come through experience and mutual respect. As Easdale puts it, “Few things compare to that sense of uninhibitedness you feel during a great show–waving your fist, stomping your feet, singing out loud and not giving a f*ck about anything but the music. I’m proud to say that this is the feeling experienced by both the band and audience at the vast majority of Dramarama live shows–fast, tight, loud, sweaty sing-a-longs. EVERY time we play, the audience’s pleasure is our primary concern.”
“Dramarama-Rising Like Lazarus From The Ashes: …reviving the hard-driving sound that made this alterna-rock band so beloved by those in the know.” Jim Farber – NY Daily News
“…it is a tribute to a potent sound and enthusiastic vision that Dramarama still sounds as fresh and sharp now as when it first emerged during the corporate-rock bloat of the mid-80’s.” – David Fricke, The Trouser Press Record Guide
“…[the] band’s supercharged set blew everyone else away.” – Orange County Register
“…some of the best musicians New Jersey has ever produced” – Upstage Magazine
“…I can’t wait for the next sweaty, sing-along experience.” – Whitney Matheson, USA Today
“…the epitome of cool” – Orange County Register
Pop savant John Easdale / Dramarama…first album in 15 years is the finest of an impressively consistent career. ‘A’ #8 Dean’s List 2020 – Robert Christgau
Easdale’s longing emotions extend through the song, imbuing it with a dreamy ambience. – Big Takeover
“Up To Here” proves Easdale’s pipes haven’t aged a day, sounding exactly as they did back when they first won our hearts on their sterling 1985 debut, Cinema Verite – Consequence Of Sound
The band’s new album Color TV features some of lead singer / songwriter John Easdale’s fiercest and most moving compositions – American Songwriter
Although it’s been 15 years since the release of their last album, Dramarama are telling a lifetime worth of stories on their new EP, Color TV – SPIN
A worthy return from a damn cool band… – Cryptic Rock
Color TV may be the most vibrant record that Dramarama ever recorded. – Pure Grain Audio
15 years on, the iconic Dramarama still sound as cutting-edge, vibrant and emotive as ever – Meawww
Founding member / lead singer / main songwriter John Easdale has penned a series of mini-movies sure to induce as many tears as smiles – All Access
Most importantly it serves as a reminder you can’t keep a good band down. – Icon Vs Icon
Listening to this new album might possibly transform your black & white world into a colorful one. – California Rocker
40 VIP TABLE SEATS (EACH TICKET INCLUDES A SIGNED CONCERT POSTER)
21+ admitted
$30 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $37 at the door VIP: $52 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $57 at the door
Arise Roots, Kind Hearted Strangers
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
Arise Roots – From the heart of Los Angeles rises a powerful movement known as Arise Roots. Steadily becoming a household name around the globe, the group of six veteran musicians united their talents in order to bring a unique and refreshing interpretation of Roots-Reggae with the common goal of preserving its true message.
Finding inspiration in everything from the streets of LA to situations surrounding everyday life and social injustices throughout the world, Arise Roots instinctively brings all that attitude and energy directly to the stage and music. Their fresh and powerful, yet smooth delivery has earned Arise Roots praise from some of the biggest names in both International and American Reggae.
Kind Hearted Strangers – Hailing from all corners of the country, Kind Hearted Strangers began in the foothills of Colorado – where an impromptu open mic performance by songwriter Marc Townes quickly evolved into something much bigger. With genre bending improvisations from lead guitarist Kevin Hinder and bassist/vocalist Ace Engfer, KHS has become a dynamic full band capable of bridging the gap between all out rock n’ roll and their harmony-driven acoustic roots. The addition of drummer Eggy Gorman has seen the band grow into a road-driven force, hungry for live music, delivering high-energy rock shows across the country.
21 and up admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
Yam Yam, Muscle Tough
Nectar’s & the Wonder Bar present the Asbury Jams 2023 series
Yam Yam is dedicated to exploring and creating beautiful music together. The members bring a diverse range of influences to the group, including jazz, gospel, jam, and funk. Michael Dempsey plays piano and organ with a focus on jazz, gospel, and New Orleans boogie, while Xander Moppin provides the foundation of funk on bass. Tyler (Kokko) Fuller brings the pocket to the drums, and brother Tom Fuller adds his groove and ethereal and psychedelic soloing on guitar. Then finally, is the virtuous saxophone playing of Jason Mescia, bringing influence from Eddie Harris and John Coltrane among others. Together, they create a high energy, soulful, and psychedelic sound that is sure to get fans moving. The band had its start in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and has since traveled throughout the U.S., bringing their music to wherever listeners may be.
Muscle Tough, Philadelphia’s premier Futuristic Funk Fusion trio, specializes in a heavily improvised blend of modal jazz, funk, and rocking psychedelia. Their creative use of sound design and group-minded improvisation blurs the line between their originals and the quirky pop classics they stretch out on.
21+ admitted
$10 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $10 at the door
LowDown Brass Band
Brass Queens
$18 in advance (plus applicable surcharges), $20 at the door