We hype a lot of shows in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It’s our home base, a place we feel at home and a city teeming with tremendously talented bands.
That’s why we’re excited for tonight. Tonight is one of the biggest nights for this famed rock ‘n’ roll city-by-the-sea. It’s River City Extension’s annual Simple Gifts Thanksgiving Eve charity show. It’s a show that has everyone in the scene talking, it has music fans from all over New Jersey planning on braving the lousy weather and of course there will be that one guy who loudly screams for the band to play their song “Elephant” from one of their earliest records. (No, seriously that guy is at ever River City show I’ve attended).
River City Extension is one of those bands that is just pure magic. Listen to them live or on any form of musical-playing media you have and you’ll fall head over heels in love with them. They have a way of lifting your spirits and breaking your heart with their songs. Their energy onstage is so infectious and beautiful that you can’t help but feel enveloped by it.
Sure, we can make the lay-up E Street reference (due to the band’s size, origin, etc.), but hot damn, if you attend this show tonight (or any year they do it), you’ll know how those cats from the bygone days of Student Prince/Stone Pony-era Bruce felt.
Outside of RCE, the card, as always, is packed with greatness. As we posted yesterday, national recording artist and indie darlings Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band will be on the card. Also on the bill will be one of our all-time faves, Those Mockingbirds. Rounding out the show will be the much buzzed about Harper’s Fellow.
And if this wasn’t enough for you, the show is a charity event. So while you’re out, enjoying some beers and good tunes with friends, bring something to donate for the wonderful people at the Monmouth and Ocean County Food Bank. These people do tons of awesome things for those in need at the Jersey Shore and any donation will help someone out in need. Yes, that was a bit preachy, but donating (if you can) to charity is a good thing.
If you want to snag last second tickets, click here.
Interviews with the bands…
Those Mockingbirds (Brand New!)
