Tune In, Turn On
As a music journalist, I get seriously excited when seeing announcements about big headlining acts coming to our Jersey Shore.
This upcoming week – starting Friday Aug. 15 and ending Wednesday, Aug. 20 – presents a plethora of extra-special, high-quality shows to consider attending; they’re all worth your time (and in the case of ticketed shows, your hard-earned dollars).
Without further ado, let’s jump right in.
Dropkick Murphys/Bad Religion/The Mainliners, Ocean Casino, Friday, Aug. 15: For those who are into non-commercial, hard, loud and fast indie rock, there may not be a better lineup at the shore this summer than this show.
Boston’s Dropkick Murphys have long been hailed for their righteous (and some might say, fearless) stance against the current administration in Washington, D.C. Promoter Jon Henderson has had the Celtic/punk-rock group perform at his AC Beer & Music Festival a few times, most recently, and very memorably, at Bader Field in 2023. You should’ve seen the mosh pit for that show. We were there and can attest that it was wild!
Bad Religion, from Southern California, have been together for an incredible 45 years; they record for respected indie-punk label, Epitaph Records, which BR guitarist Brett Gurewitz founded in 1980 as a way to release the group’s own music before it evolved into a major independent label.
Info: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15. Tickets: $57-$73. www.theoceanac.com.
Vanessa Collier, Tony Mart Presents Concerts on the Beach, Friday, Aug. 15: This native of Dallas, Texas, who was raised in Maryland, is one of the hottest blues acts on the scene, thrilling audiences from coast to coast with her soulful, funky blues stylings on saxophone, for which she has won multiple blues awards in the past few years. (She’s also a talented vocalist).
Trust me folks; it’s rare to see Collier play a non-ticketed show, so get out to Somers Point by the Bay this Friday and see this talented musician do her thing at this free show. P.S. If you miss Collier this time, she will be back at the Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton on Dec. 14.
Info: 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, Bay Ave. Beach, Somers Point. Admission free. www.tonymart.com.
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live – Hard Rock Casino – Sunday, Aug. 17: This historic hip-hop celebration features short sets by no fewer than 20 New York hip-hop icons (Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, Rakim, many others including my namesake, Doug E. Fresh lol) hosted by respected music impresario, DJ Cassidy, who told me in a recent interview,
“I first conceived of ‘Pass The Mic’ while Face-timing late one night with Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire at the start of the 2020 pandemic.”
This is a first-of-its-kind event here on the East Coast. If you dig old-school hip-hop, do not miss this show! Info: 7:30 p.m, $59. Info: https://casino.hardrock.com/atlantic-city/event-calendar/dj-cassidy?_gl.
Devon Allman’s Blues Summit, AC Mardi Gras Concerts on the Boardwalk, Wednesday, Aug. 20: Gregg Allman’s son has created his own formidable musical footprint with relentless touring (he was here in AC this past June performing with the Allman Betts Band), and now returns to play Tony Marts’ popular Wednesday night concert series, promoting his new album of the same name (“Devon Allman’s Blues Summit”) on Ruf Records, where he’ll be joined by well-known luminaries who played on the album (Jimmy Hall, Larry McCray, Sierra Green). Allman is a better-than-average vocalist and can lay down a mean guitar solo. Kennedy Plaza will be packed for this one, bet on it! 7 p.m. Free. Info: www.tonymarts.com.
Also This Week: Train at Hard Rock Casino, Aug. 15; In This Moment, Tropicana Ballroom, Aug. 16.
Until next week, Peace Out!
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 can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com
