Tune In, Turn On
By Doug Deutsch
Return of John Eddie: A favorite musical son of New Jersey returned last weekend to perform at Resorts Superstar Theater. John Eddie – born in Richmond, Va., but a longtime Garden State resident (and onetime co-owner of The Brighton Bar in Long Branch) – put on a high-energy, hour-plus, 23-song set before a capacity, appreciative audience with dozens of The Faithful (the name his fans are called) in attendance. His stellar backing band included longtime Eddie accomplice/renowned bassist Kenny Aronson (Bob Dylan, Sammy Hagar, The Yardbirds, Hall and Oates), Peter Kent Lavengood (guitar, vocals), Ted Russell (pedal steel guitar), and drummer David Halpern.
Clad in black short-sleeved shirt and black jeans, the now-Nashville-based Eddie sounded great, playing tunes from his impressive catalog of rock-based favorites: “Just Some Guy” (from 1986); the hilarious “I’m Gonna Drink You Pretty,” “I’m A Low Life Living The High Life,” and some well-picked covers (Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds,” Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May”).
Eddie, who once signed to Columbia Records, for whom he recorded two albums, might make a good living these days writing songs for such big-time hitmakers as Kid Rock and country artist Brantly Gilbert, but this evening he proved he’s still a viable live performer who should hopefully be writing and recording music for years to come.
A Wizard, A True Star: One of Philadelphia’s finest musical native sons, Todd Rundgren, returns to Harrah’s Resort Casino Friday, May 3. Now 75 but still performing regularly, this isn’t Todd’s first visit to Atlantic City. Rundgren and his then-group Utopia, performed on Garden Pier in August 1983 for a show promoted by jazz musician Mike Pedecin, Jr., for his then-company, Pedicin Productions.
“I was directing the Jazz Studies program at Temple University and touring Japan with the Dave Brubeck Quartet when I began seriously thinking about doing some musical events in Atlantic City,” recalled Pedicin last week in an email interview. “I had the opportunity to check out the Garden Pier, which sat on the Boardwalk out over the beautiful Atlantic Ocean with 250-plus seats.
“I got very excited knowing that this was the ‘new Atlantic City.’ I also had the assistance and support of Dennis Ruley, Sr., who was an important liaison to the city for me. We had a few extremely wonderful concerts by Spyro Gyra, Todd Rundgren, and Bob Weir and the Midnites.”
Though Pedicin only promoted shows for one season on Garden Pier, all three aforementioned shows are now part of Atlantic City’s music memories, especially for those of us who were there.
Grateful Dead/Englishtown Revisited: On Sept. 3, 1977, the Grateful Dead headlined one of the largest and most musically successful concerts of all time at Raceway Park in Englishtown, Monmouth County. In addition to the Grateful Dead, who had just completed their legendary Spring/Summer 1977 tour featuring new material from “Terrapin Station,” the show featured New Riders of the Purple Sage and the Southern rockin’ Marshall Tucker Band.
“Everywhere I toured with the New Riders of the Purple Sage for the past 18 years, someone would come up to me at almost every show and say, ‘I saw you guys at Englishtown’,” recalled guitarist Michael Falzarano in a recent interview. “It seemed like a good idea to put a band together and pay tribute to that legendary show. With that, the Englishtown Project was born.”
After decades-long stints with Hot Tuna and the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Falzarano has earned a reputation as one of the most authentic figures on the blues/jam band scene.
On May 4 the Englishtown Project performs at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, recreating Englishtown and featuring some of the leading musicians from the AP scene (Billy Siegel from the Cosmic Jerry Band, Sandy Mack, Lynley Evans, Brian Abrecht and more). Tune In Turn On will be there so watch for our review.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug also hàs experience writing for the one time shore-based weekly publication, Whoot! He also was a team member with Chip Braymes Advertising. Doug loves bicycling and aspires to bring the Blues to Atlantic City. He can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com and www.facebook.com/dougdeutschpublicity.
