Tune In, Turn On
With Doug Deutsch
When I moved back East in September 2022, my friends living here had already tipped me off to how cool Anchor Rock Club was, and the great shows they were doing at their 600-capacity venue located on New York Avenue right off the Boardwalk.
Unfortunately I just missed two great shows in the summer of 2022, (the Dead Kennedys and The Dead Milkmen). Everyone (meaning music people in AC, bands, etc.) talked about what a cool guy Greg Mungan is, who runs and books the Anchor. They were so right. I like the Anchor so much that a goal of mine is to do a blues concert there. Anchor Rock Club opened in October 2019.
Mungan, who used to be bassist in the popular, one-time Philly rock/reggae band, Scram, has not only booked and given regular gigs to emerging local bands like Te Vista, Molly Ringworm, Reckless Randy, Gutterdrunk, Deardarkhead, Malcolm Tent with 1adam12, and many others; he’s also taken chances and booked bigger, national acts like The Feelies, Shelter, CroMags, Murphy’s Law, Solace, Low Cut Connie, Kurt Vile, Gorilla Biscuits and more.
Greg also supports local promoters like Mari Beth (who does Ghost Mart at ARC) and Tina Notaro, whose Noetrope company does special-themed events every few months there. Both Mari Beth and Tina’s events feature eclectic clothing, jewelry, and arts vendors, plus some form of live music or DJ for their always-successful shows. Anchor Rock Club has a solid house DJ and sound guy, David Earl, whose emo-themed dance nights are always well-attended.
On Friday, Feb. 7, Anchor Rock Club will team up with local dispensary Cannabis Conservatory to present “Mardi Gras On The Boardwalk.” The ambitious show was originally scheduled to feature renown musical artists James Andrews, Eric Lindell, and Ocean Avenue Stompers; but as a result of Lindell taking ill, and Andrews being unable to travel from New Orleans, the Ocean Avenue Stompers (pictured), an Asbury Park-based group, are fronted by trombonist Ian Grey, the perfect act for this show. (We’ve seen the band live. Give them a good-sized stage and stand back, you’ll literally get blown away).
“We’re really excited (here at the Anchor) to kick off the Mardi Gras season with this great band, and who better to team up with than the wonderful folks at Tony Mart’s,” said Mungan. “Thanks to the new force in South Jersey culture, Conservatory Cannabis Co. is going to sponsor an authentic, large-scale Mardi Gras concert as part of its Conservatory Cannabis Carnival this February,” said Tony Mart’s promoter Carmen Marotta, who teamed up with the rock club and Conservatory Cannabis, a smart idea that hopefully continues. “This is ‘Cannabis for the Community’ working with Tony Mart Presents and the premier music club in the emerging Atlantic City Orange Loop district (and) Anchor Rock Club.”
Looking ahead, Anchor welcomes all-girl mod-rockers The Surfrajettes March 14; St. Patrick’s Day Parade Party with cool Irish tunes by our favorite, DJ Sparkles March 8 (1-6 p.m.), and a reggae show with 10-Foot Ganga Plant, Mixed By Scientist, Sensamotion, and Bubbest, on April 19. Info: anchorrockclub.com.
Provenza Restaurant/Event Center in Ventnor Heights features live music pianist Andy Khan on Jan. 31. Great Latin-flavored food, too.
