Live Review & Photos: Jukebox The Ghost, Lightning Jar @ Riverside Gardens Park 8-3-12

For several summers now 90.5 The Night (with the help of some gracious sponsors) have put on a free concert series in Riverside Gardens Park in Red Bank. I can’t give high enough praise to how wonderful a series on concerts this is, bringing in some great touring acts and generally having a local band opening for them. The park is a beautiful space, overlooking the river, and people of all ages seem to come, hang out, and enjoy. Oh, and I have to give special praise to the sound guy (whose name I sadly did not get)(Update: Jeff Raspe just let me know the sound guy was Bill McKelvey of Music Men Productions. If you're looking for a good sound guy, hire him). After the nightmarish sound at the Arts Center last night (see 311, Slightly Stoopid, Soja review), it was great to hear such pristine sound. Every instrument came through cleanly, and the vocals rested nicely on top, easy to hear every word and every note. A good concert begins with a show with good sound.

On this particular night the opening act was Asbury Park’s, Lightning Jar. A few months ago they sent me their album, “so long traveler”, and I instantly loved their soulful folk-rock. As good as their album is, I was unprepared for how good their live show would be. 2 guitars and a mandolin, with 2 (sometimes 3) part harmony, was absolute auditory bliss! These guys played like they were seasoned veterans, not a young, still relatively new band on the scene.

Their set was followed by the high energy indie dance rock of Jukebox The Ghost. Another band without bass, (guitar, keyboards, and drums, with 2 vocalists), but I wouldn’t have noticed it not there had I not noticed no bassist on stage. Their set literally got my (and a good chunk of the crowd) up on my feet and bouncing and swaying to their songs. Even slowing things down for a few songs in the middle of their set, which sometimes kills the energy going through the band and the crowd, felt right in place, a little breather, before the dance rock continues. And special kudos for the odd, but brilliant, choice of cover songs for the night in “I wanna dance with somebody” (originally recorded by Whitney Houston).

A great night of music thanks to two great bands, and 90.5 The Night.

There are several more 90.5 The Night free shows happening at Riverside Gardens Park in Red Bank:

August 10 - Headlining Act: Willie Nile with Opening Act: Bruce Tunkel

August 17 - Headlining Act: River City Extension with Opening Act: Accidental Seabirds

August 24 - Headlining Act: Red Wanting Blue with Opening Act: Rick Barry

Support Good Music!

- Lazlo

www.jukeboxtheghost.com

www.lightningjar.org

Photos
(click on photo to see full size)

Jeff Raspe introducing Lightning Jar

Jukebox The Ghost

Lightning Jar