Tune In, Turn On
By Doug Deutsch
Welcome to the first-ever Tune In Turn On Shore Local Music Awards, our first stab at a “Best Of” awards column for the Jersey Shore in 2023. So without further ado, our winners are:
Best Original Bands/Solo Artists: Reckless Randy, Gutterdrunk, Molly Ringworm, Dear Darkhead, The Looms, Red Meat Conspiracy, Michael Pedicin, Jr., Patty Blee, and Adam Holcombe.
Reckless Randy is a wildly-talented rock guitarist. Gutterdrunk rock hard and draw well. Molly Ringworm are fronted by local pop-ster/WLFR DJ Sarah Holt. Mysterious Dear Darkhead have a new album due out soon. The Looms play rousing Americana-rock. Red Meat Conspiracy rocked Anchor Rock Club’s float during the 2023 St. Patty’s Parade (Moo!). Saxman Pedicin is the dean of jazz musicians at the Jersey Shore. Blee is back singing her lovely folk rock tunes after a recent hiatus. Holcombe is an in-demand solo/duo act and member of the award-winning band Incognito.
Best Top 40/Cover Bands: Billy Walton Band, RED, Dead Reckoning, Kobi Reese, and Michael LeCompt.
No one works harder than the rockin’ Billy Walton Band. (BWB plays the Polar Bear Plunge After-Party 1 p.m. New Year’s Day at Brigantine Elks, open to the public). Bob Kimmel and RED, in existence since 1996, fill The Deck at Golden Nugget Mondays in the summer. Charlie Wigo and Dead Reckoning keep area Dead Heads happy. The 13-year-old up-and-coming rock vocalist Kobi Reese has a great work ethic. There’s only one Michael LeCompt, the hardest-working, most in-demand Philly/South Jersey Top 40 act around, whose live shows are instant classics.
Best Non-Casino Live Music Venues: Anchor Rock Club, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Josie Kelly’s, The Point, Rhythm & Spirits, and Lizzie Rose Music Room.
Anchor single-handedly supports our local indie music scene. I can’t overstate the great job Greg Mungan has done there. TABH offers an eclectic music schedule and indoor/outdoor venues. Josie Kelly’s rules Mainland music (Jenny Barnes Band, pictured above, is there Dec. 22). The Point in Somers Point packs them in during the summer. Rhythm & Spirits in AC is a small but important venue with delicious cuisine. Lizzie Rose is a slice of original music heaven in Tuckerton.
Best Casino Live Music Venues: Ovation Hall (Ocean), Soundwaves (Hard Rock), Music Box (Borgata), Mountain Bar (Caesars), The Yard (Bally’s), and The Deck (Golden Nugget).
Ovation, Soundwaves and Music Box are acoustically fine, sizable venues. Mountain Bar and The Yard feature top-notch bands with no cover, as does Golden Nugget’s The Deck.
Best Independent Local Promoters: Jon Henderson, Carmen Marotta, Jerry Ryan, Stephen Weiss, Betsy Lynn Paisley, Maribeth Capelli, Tina Notaro, Jim Tuohy, and AC Mike Lopez.
Henderson’s AC Beer and Music Festival (April 12-13, AC Convention Center) features excellent headliners. Marotta (with wife Nancy and help from local photographer John Loreaux) produces wonderful, free, weekly summertime Mardi Gras Concerts Wednesdays on Atlantic City’s Boardwalk, and its sister Somers Point Beach Concerts on Fridays. Ryan produces the Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival (there’s two in 2024 at Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall). Weiss and Norstep Productions produce music/420-themed events and, currently, rock shows at Rhythm and Spirits. Paisley, AC’s Queen of Blues, does memorable shows at her place. Capelli and Notaro are two top promoters in AC’s underground/arts/music scene. Tuohy is a local patron of the arts. Lopez is a tireless AC advocate heard daily on WOND-AM.
Best Concerts/Shows in 2023: AC Beer & Music Festival/Bader Field, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Johnny Sansone,/AC Boardwalk, Govt. Mule “Dark Side of the Mule”/Mark Etess Arena, Hard Rock Casino, Tommy Castro/Somers Point Concerts, Kenny Wayne Shepherd/Borgata Casino, Low Cut Connie/Anchor.
Best DJs: David Earl, Joey DJ Sparkles Nickels, DJ Freezie, Jonny Fones.
Earl’s EMO Nights rock Anchor while area veteran Sparkles does the same at Tomatoes in Margate. Freezie spins at The Yard. Fones is a longtime fixture on WLFR-91.7FM.
Best Radio Stations: WLRF 91.7FM, WOND 1400AM.
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.
