A week ago, I was hanging on the Asbury Park boardwalk with my grandchildren and these wild memories were flooding my head. Although I grew up in the Bronx, I have spent many a summer down the Jersey Shore. Then I looked across the street and saw The Stone Pony and another set of memories came my way. I remember when Dominic Santana bought The Pony and was working towards reopening the venue and I introduced him to FRED's Papers, with whom he took a backpage ad. I drove him to the Asbury train station to pick up his partner, all the while selling him on the Jersey Shore Publication.
I remember seeing Joe Grushecky at a Light Of Day event and waiting for the arrival of Bruce Springsteen. I loved getting up close and personal with Skid Row to get live pics for the paper. That same evening, I also got to meet Geraldo Rivera. I saw my very first GWAR show there, as Jim McDonald was frantically ensuring all of the equipment was covered and protected due to the nature of their act. I made it out to GWAR's return visit to The Pony as well.
Not only did I have FRED's Papers on display there, but when I published The Rag, that was carried by them also. I remember attending the many Asbury Music Award shows there, as well as presenting quite a few trophies to the winners. I will never forget the night that Willie Nile came armed with just an acoustic guitar and tore the joint apart (in a good way). I also booked China White into The Pony, as well as a few solo efforts by Josh Zuckerman. China White opened for The Characters and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, who is one of Josh's idols. Another night saw China White open for Dee Snider, whose soundcheck consisted of Dee yelling "EAT ME" into the mic.
I attended a Pretenders concert and Flogging Molly show on their outdoor stage. I enjoyed concentrating an article on Tuna, who was their Head Of Security during a different time. I have so many memories there that they can't all fit into one blog. Yasgur's Farm doing a Judas Priest song was something I would never forget! Then there was that guy who claimed to be the writer of Bon Jovi's "Runaway." I can go back all the way to when I was riding the circuit and visiting Mrs. Jays, The Fast Lane and The Stone Pony all in one night. Good times!