Tune In, Turn On
By Doug Deutsch
Be warned. A veritable musical tsunami will hit Atlantic City, Somers Point, and other Southern Jersey towns featuring live original music this weekend and beyond. Get ready for the Peach at the Beach and Anglesea Blues festivals, and national acts like Dana Fuchs, Phantom Blues Band, Billy The Kid, Greg Sover and more – all making area appearances.
Just as exciting, a new Atlantic City live music venue, Summer Concert Stage at Island Waterpark-Showboat Resort, debuts this Saturday. Tune in, turn on!
Peach at the Beach Saturday, July 13, is a virtual gift from the Grateful Dead/Allman Brothers Band Gods of Music, with a full day of nationally-known jam groups christening the brand-new Summer Concert Stage at the beautiful year-old Island Waterpark, located right off the Boardwalk at Showboat Resort.
What a friggin’ great idea, right? Live Nation thought so, as they’re presenting Peach at the Beach, headlined by premiere Grateful Dead tribute, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead with drummer/co-founder Russo, Ween’s bassist Dave Dreiwitz, keyboardist Marco Benevento, guitarist-vocalist Scott Metzger, and Tom Hamilton (Brothers Past, American Babies), plus Asbury Park’s Dogs In A Pile, Trouble No More, performing iconic Allman Brothers Band album, “Eat A Peach.” Bass-playing rocker Karina Rykman, and Mykal Rose, one-time lead vocalist from influential Jamaican reggae band Black Uhuru, will take the stage starting at 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, the waterpark opens slightly earlier that day (11 a.m.) and features a dance vibe, with sets from DJ Logic, DJ King Mega, and Uncle Jesse.
Dogs In A Pile will pull double-duty, playing this, too (if you can afford it, treat yourself to poolside VIP passes for this one, thank me later). This folks, should be a blast.
“Peach at the Beach is a beautiful celebration of live music featuring some of the hottest bands on the jam band scene who were inspired by The Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band,” said Ike Richman, Peach at the Beach spokesperson. “It’ll be a wonderful gathering for music lovers outside the Island Waterpark to reconnect and sing, dance, and groove to some of the sounds and songs we grew up with, as well as a possibility to discover your next favorite jam band artist. Get ready for some great playing in the sand!”
PATB is encouraging guests to bring pull tabs from aluminum cans to help support the Ronald McDonald House in Camden. Live Nation, promoters of Peach at the Beach, and the Showboat Resort will assist by providing receptacle containers to collect tabs at points of entry.
Get there early: As in Friday, July 12, Philly-based trance fusion heroes the Disco Biscuits will perform a pre-party Peach After Dark set at the Bourbon Ballroom inside Showboat Resort. Plus, Marco Benevento and Friends, along with Doom Flamingo presents Queen Is Doomed, will perform a post-party Peach After Dark set on Saturday, July 13, also inside the Bourbon Ballroom at Showboat.
Saturday’s Peach at the Beach (a rain or shine event, by the way) hopes to bring back that Dead/ABB vibe and more. Absolutely, let’s do this.
Tickets start at $79, available at livenation.com. Info: https://thepeachmusicfestival.com.
Tony Marts-sponsored shows happening this week include a hot “Mardi Gras on the (AC) Boardwalk” triple-bill of two-time Grammy winners Phantom Blues Band, joined by Chicago soul/blues vocal legend Curtis Salgado, and the always-fun fiddler/vocalist Heather Hardy and the ‘Lil Mama Band Wednesday, July 17. Admission is free. AtlantiCare Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point on Friday, July 12, features a performance by soulful blues/rock singer, Dana Fuchs.
“First time I ever got on stage was with my older brother and sister’s band at a local Holiday Inn in Florida in the middle of nowhere. I was nine years old and I sang a Stevie Nicks song and got roaring applause and it was then that I knew I had to do this!,” Fuchs told us recently. She released her latest album, “Borrowed Time,” on German label, Ruf Records. “‘Borrowed Time’ is my fourth album with Ruf Records. I have a great relationship with Thomas Ruf the label president; he is a true music fan and always affords me an immense amount of trust as an artist, which I appreciate.”
The show starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free. See www.tonymart.com.
Greg Sover’s Blues Coming to Anchor Rock Club: It’s not often that AC’s biggest non-casino live music room presents blues, but this Friday, July 12, guitarist-vocalist Greg Sover plays ARC in support of “His-Story,” set for a July 21 release, which he recorded in part with Billy Cox, the last remaining member of the legendary Jimi Hendrix’ Band of Gypsys group.
“I wanted to do a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Manic Depression’ for the album, and my manager came up with the idea to connect with (Cox). Fast forward, we did two songs (together) on the album. Working with Billy was fun and professional at the same time, a very cool experience hanging with the bassist who played with Jimi.”
The 8 p.m. Friday, July 12 show takes place at Anchor Rock Club, 247 N. New York Ave. Admission is $13.32. See Anchorrockclub.com.
Elsewhere: Live blues and barbecue (New Jersey State Barbecue Championship, to be specific) come together in harmony for three big days, July 12-14, at the Anglesea Blues Festival in North Wildwood. See angleseablues.com for info.
Finally, Billy the Kid & the Regulators, a high-powered, guitar-driven rhythm and blues band based in Pittsburgh and fronted by rising guitar slinger Billy Evanochko, will be at the Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton Saturday, July 13. Tickets/info: lizierosemusicroom.com.
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.
