Pictured: Eliza Neals
Tune In, Turn On
By Doug Deutsch
Don’t let April showers rain on your music parade, not when there’s so much great music happening here at the South Jersey shore.
Seen ‘n’ Heard: Flogging Molly at Hard Rock Casino, the LA-based band put on a powerful show in the Sound Waves showroom, even without the presence of co-frontperson/violinist Bridget Regan, who suffered a shoulder injury during one of the first shows of their current tour (she’s the wife of FM lead vocalist/guitarist Dave King).
Their Irish-flavored, Celtic-influenced rock is infectious, perfect for hoisting a beer at the St. Paddy’s Day holiday.
NY hardcore staples the Cro-Mags, fronted by OG bassist Harley Flanagan, invaded Anchor Rock Club in Atlantic City on a cool recent Sunday night and put on a hot show, replete with stage divers and mosh pit, with nary an injury or scuffle to report.
Two opening bands from our area preceded the Cro-Mags and deserve mention: Jumpship, with lively front-man Daniel Ginsburg, whose stage presence/style was a little bit Henry Rollins-esque (a compliment of course) and Gutter Drunk, whose anthem-like, sing-along tunes had the Anchor crowd worked up nicely. Both the latter bands represent the burgeoning AC indie music scene well.
Speaking of Anchor, can’t wait for the April 7 show by NY indie-pop/punk darlings CumGirl8, founded in 2019 by Lida Fox, Veronika Vilim, Avishag Cohen Rodrigues, and Chase Lombardo, who describe themselves as a “sex-positive alien amoeba entity” (okay?!) and are active not only in music, but also film, fashion, and publishing, and whose style and artistic practice are shaped by “an opposition to patriarchy and capitalism.”
Also on the Bill: Not Yer Baby, Cheeky, Ugli, and deejay set by Molly Ringworm. Stephen Weiss and Norstep are back at ARC with Spring Forward on April 15, “five indie bands playing extended sets – local band Dead Season from Cape May; Dogbeach, from up North, Ripped; young sensation Kobi Reese; and somewhere in between we have Second Half Comeback. A Jersey-filled lineup sure to blow you away,” says Weiss.
Lastly, veteran hip-hop/rockers Limp Bizkit front-man Fred Durst will be at the New York Ave. club on May 5 for the Sad and Boujee Official Bamboozle Afterparty. Limp Bizkit play the Bamboozle Festival May 5-7 at Bader Field with Rick Ross, Steve Aoki and others.
Never been a big fan of this group, but can’t argue with their past success. Info: www.hardrockcasino.com; www.bamboozlefestival.com; www.anchorrockclub.com; www.instagram.com/norstepproductions.
All Eyes On Eliza: Straight outta Detroit, powerhouse blues vocalist Eliza Neals visits Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton on April 8.
“Really looking forward to headlining the fabulous Lizzie Rose Music Room,” Neals told Shore Local via email. “This is your chance to see my band and I get up close and personal in an intimate setting, so bring your sweetie and friends because we will have a natural ball.”
Neals has risen the ranks to national blues festival headliner, and many of her songs are in heavy rotation on B.B. King’s Bluesville/Sirius XM. Info: www.lizzierosemusic.com; www.elizaneals.com.
Rick Wakeman, Keyboard Wizard: If you’re anywhere between the ages of say, 40 and 70, you’re likely familiar with the UK-based progressive rock group Yes, who ruled the FM airwaves during part of the ’70s and ’80s. Wakeman is a prolific keyboardist and composer who comes to the Hard Rock Casino’s Sound Waves this Friday, March 31.
He played keyboards on many of the group’s most influential albums, including “Fragile,” “Close to The Edge,” “Tales From Topographic Oceans,” and others, reuniting with the group to tour from 2016-2020.
Wakeman was also a member of somewhat-influential Brit folk group The Strawbs before joining YES and collaborated with the late, great David Bowie, performing on the classic Bowie track “Sound Oddity,” as well as on songs by music greats Cat Stevens, Elton John, Marc Bolan, and Lou Reed. Wakeman’s discography includes over 90 solo albums. www.hardrockcasino.com; www.rickwakemansmusicemporium.com.
Band of the Week/The Arato Brothers: My Shore Local colleague Marc Berman brought to my attention a talented young band called The Arato Brothers, teenage Filipino-American siblings consisting of Jun-Gabriel Arato on keyboards and vocals, Jay-Rafael Arato on lead guitar, Sean-Nathaniel Arato on drums, and Darwin-Miguel Arato (diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder) on bass.
The quartet all share vocal duties and perform a variety of genres, but are more influenced in classic rock, alternative rock, progressive rock and experimental. The Arato Brothers will perform at the 2023 Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival on June 11 at Moonshiners Bar and Grill.
They’ve won many awards, including Teen Band of the Year at the Elephant Talk Indie Music Awards in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Their first EP was released in 2017.
The Arato Brothers Band are strong advocates of autism awareness and autism acceptance. Info: https://www.facebook.com/aratobrothers.official;
www.moonshinersbarandgrillnj.com;
https://www.facebook.com/elephanttalkindie/
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.
