Thanksgiving Eve is known as the biggest party night of the year. If you’re wondering why, it’s because this is the day when people come back home for the first time in forever, and want to go out and have a few libations before settling down for a day filled with turkey, football and the requisite family drama.
So it makes perfect sense that Lou Montesano and his new band The Shark Party — a supergroup of longtime, venerated Asbury Park musicians — are performing on this “homecoming night” at The Wonder Bar.
Lou Montesano has been a staple of the Asbury Park scene for nearly 20 years. His band Status Green was part of the soundtrack, part of the tapestry of the City that Bruce Built during the transitory period from Asbury’s days looking and feeling like a scene from a zombie apocalypse film to the bright lights, big city vibe of today. Back then (and yes that makes this writer sound so old) Asbury was a “if you know, you know” scene where great music could be found bouncing around the walls of the most unlikely venues, where original music developed a community filled with artists, creatives, weirdos and outcasts who didn’t quite fit the Shore’s Hollister-driven beers and boards set nor the fist-pumping scene driven by MTV reality series. Status Green were one of the bands at the forefront of this comeback for the city and are forever beholden in the hearts of so many.
So while those bygone days of Asbury are in the history books, it’s refreshing to know that Montesano and his all-star band consisting of Asbury Park stalwarts Matt King, Nick Cucci, Matt Wade, Mike Smith, Jenn Fantaccione and Haley Lopez are still in the scene providing fresh, new, and terrifically crafted music. It serves as a remind that no matter how many high rises that get built or how many old school Asbury spots fade into the ether we can still come home and hear the music we fell in love from the musicians who helped bring Asbury to its current glory. These were the people who made it cool to come to the Boardwalk in the off-season (when no one would be caught dead there) and drink craft beer and cheap whiskey (or not-so cheap whiskey) because of the great, original music they created.
Recently, we caught up with Lou Montesano to have a very open, honest and emotional conversation about his personal life and how it inspired his new music. We also discuss the formation of the Shark Party, Status Green, and playing Wonder Bar on Thanksgiving Eve.
Lou Montesano and The Shark Party Are (Band Members & Instruments They Play):
Louis Montesano – Lead vocals, Guitar
Mike Smith – Bass, vocals
Matt King – Lead guitar
Matt Wade – keys, organ, vocals
Mike Montalto – Drums
Nick Cucci – Percussion, guitar, vocals
Jenn Fantaccione – Cello, strings
Haley Lopez – Violin
Year We Formed: Summer 2024
You’ve Seen Us in Other Bands Such As: Status Green, The Morgan Freemasons, Last Perfect Thing, River City Extension, Gay Guy Straight Guy, Earth Man, Captain James & The Pain, Matt O’Ree Band.
Our Sound Has Been Likened To: That’s a good question. I’m going to say it’s like an alternative/folk/rock. There are different styles of music in the cocktail of this group.
This will be our first show with the band as I envisioned it. I’ve carried some songs over to this project from former bands such as Status Green, The Morgan Freemasons, and a very fun but short-lived project called The Barbaroi which featured the late great Ben Feld on keys. That was a really fun band. We had fake names which I thought was really great. For example, my name was Lucas Moonglow, and Ben’s name was Sal “The Fish” Gafilta.
Lou, last time you did an interview with Pop Break it was right before our Christmas Party in 2019. At the time you were playing with The Morgan Freemasons and you were working on a solo record. Can you talk about how you feel you’ve changed both on a musical and personal level since that time?
Well on a personal level, 2019 was a really shitty year. I was dealing with some profound levels of depression and an equally bad opiate addiction. I was neck deep in family drama and it was taking a toll on me. Instead of lashing out at others, I had put myself in the crosshairs. It wouldn’t be long until I was a full blown heroin addict. That’s quite the leap because I could’ve looked you in the eyes at one point and sworn that I would never do such a thing and I would be telling you the truth. But there I was, running full speed through my moral and personal boundaries.
It would be multiple rehabs in multiple states before it was able to take. It wasn’t looking good for a while. Not good at all. But thank God I was able to get clean. The shitty part about getting sober is that you’re sober and then you have to walk back into your fucked up situation with sober eyes and see the devastation. It was like driving back to your Kansas home after the tornado tears the entire town to ruins. It’s pretty heartbreaking. It still very much is, but it did inspire art. I was able to start writing again and some of the songs were a little different … a little more beautiful. Unfortunately, sometimes I have to do some hard living and some hard losing to be inspired to write certain songs. I guess you could say that this whole project was born out of the ashes of that experience.
You reunited with your old band Status Green in May of 2024. Can you talk about the feeling of literally “getting the band back together” and the feeling of playing one more show at The Stone Pony?
Status Green is and will always be my heart. Whenever that band takes the stage, it truly feels like we never stopped playing. I’m sure there will be more Status Green shows when the time is right. I will say, that the band and the music is one thing but the group of people it brings together is so damn special. The vibe that night was pretty magical and happiness was permeating the Stone Pony. So many people from our past and present were there with us and that to me is what it’s all about. So I’d be happy to do that again and again.
Let’s talk about your new project — Louis Montesano and The Shark Party. First, gotta know about the name behind the band name?
Back in 2004 when I first started Status Green, I had a mission to play The Stone Pony. I knew that Asbury Park would be the place where we would cut our teeth. Billy O’Brien and Danny Croak created and promoted a weekly show (at then) Club Deep (this spot is currently inhabited by The Break). This show was called The Shark Party and it was wildly popular and flat out wild at times. That’s a time I hold very close to my heart. It may have very well been the happiest time of my life as a budding artist. This is back when Asbury Park was still very much an adventure and far from a destination. It hadn’t been ravaged by capitalism just yet and places like the Asbury Lanes and The Saint reigned supreme. It was a real family vibe. And I’m grateful for every fucking second of it. I truly am.
You’ve assembled an all-star line-up of musicians to be part of the band — can you talk about this group and why you’ve brought them together.
Well, I’ll be honest. It was sort of a one at a time type thing. I didn’t have a plan starting out. I first called Matt King and asked him if he wanted to be in my new band that didn’t exist yet. Matt and I have played in multiple projects over the years and I haven’t heard anyone quite like Matt. He was in. Then I reached out to Mike Smith. Like Matt, Mike and I have also played together in past projects and we have a brotherly bond when we play together. He was a quick yes which was very reassuring.
Followed by a phone call to Mike Montalto to play drums. A band is only as good as its drummer, so if Mike Montalto is in, then you know you already have a great band. And that right there was the core. I started filming a music video for my new song “Arrows” and I needed string players to simulate the string parts on video.
Jenn Fantaccione (formerly of River City Extension) had played with Rick Barry during his set at the Status Green reunion show so I reached out to her to see if she could play strings in my video. I asked Jenn if she knew any violin players and she said she had a friend named Haley. So as all three of us we were filming the video at the Count Basie theater I heard them playing my song live together and it was absolutely beautiful. So I planted the seed that day that I would love to play with the both of them live.
A week later I was playing an acoustic gig at the Asbury Bazaar in the Grand Arcade. Nick Cucci happened to be there and he approached me and offered his musicianship in case I was working on anything … and as a matter of fact I was. So I asked him if he would come to rehearsal. He fit like a glove for this project. It been surreal playing with someone who is as versatile and laid back as Nick.
Last but certainly not least, I reached out to Matt Wade to see if he would be interested in playing organ. Totally thinking he wouldn’t have much interest. But to my surprise, Matt said he was in. Looking back, I realized that I created an insane band with these particular musicians. The process is still very new, but we all work together like old friends — because in many way, we are. It’s been a joy to get together and play music with all of them. The fact that they’re all amazing musicians is a bonus.
You played a show with the band over at Low Dive (formerly AP Yacht Club) this fall, talk about that show and rolling out a brand new band? You’ve been playing your whole life. Are there still nerves when you break out a new project or a new song?
The Low Dive show was a great opportunity to play some of our songs for a new crowd and to have some fun. It was the stripped down version of this project but the reaction was still vey positive. They had fun, we had fun. And we made some new friends. I hope some of those people will come out to the Wonder Bar on November 27 to see us play.
100%, I definitely get nervous in the anticipation of taking the stage. But once I start playing, that usually goes out the window. As long as we have fun as a band, that is what truly translates. Having fun playing music comes very naturally to me and the people in this group. New songs or new project is sort of inconsequential I think. It’s just the anticipation that can get in your head and make you a little nervous.
You sent me some of the songs you’ll be performing at Wonder Bar on Thanksgiving Eve — “Morning Light,” “Arrows” and “Saint Anthony.” In your message to me you said “Saint Anthony” is one of your favorite songs you’ve written. Please tell us why?
There is just something very familiar and fun about that song. I wrote that one while in The Morgan Freemasons and I believe it’s the only song we recorded that sounded like that. I just love the pop sensibility it has, and I love the organ parts. It’s one of those songs that I feel could be played on the radio and you wouldn’t exactly know what decade it was from but you would like it for some reason. That recording I shared with you isn’t complete. We left the studio and never went back. I was dealing with some personal issues during that time so the song stayed where it was unfortunately. But I still love the recording.
Thanksgiving Eve is always a huge night out — tell us what you have in store for those coming out to the band’s show at Wonder Bar?
I’m just very much looking forward to playing some live music with these characters on Novemeber 27. In some ways its a mystery … this will be the first time we’re all playing together at a live show. If i was trying to sell anyone on anything, I would just say, come out and see this band. I think you’ll like it. And I think you’ll like us. We’re a good time.
Finally, what plans do you have for the band going forward?
You know Bill, that’s a good question. I guess I’ll have a better idea once this show is over and I get a feel from the band. But as far as I’m concerned personally. This thing is just getting started and I feel like theres so much potential between all of us to make some really beautiful music. But ask me after the show.
Lou Montesano and The Shark Party perform at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ on Wednesday November 27 with special guests The Well Wish and International Superstar Robin. Click here for tickets.
