MUSIC
On the Road
Asbury Park Press
They call the North to Shore festival, which runs through Sunday, June 29, in Asbury Park, Newark and Atlantic City, the festival only Jersey can handle.
Yes, its Jersey-ness is undisputed.
The fest, funded partly by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, has home-grown superstars: Jack Antonoff of Bergenfield and his band Bleachers at the Shadow of the City, Saturday, June 28, at the Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park; and Jon Stewart of Lawrenceville, taking the stage with Pete Davidson and John Mulaney, on Friday, June 27, at the Prudential Center in Newark.
Then there's lesser-known talents like Jermaine Holmes of New Brunswick, who has performed with Pete Rock, Daniel Lanois, and D'Angelo, and won a Grammy for his work on D'Angelo's “Black Messiah.” Holmes will join Alexander Simone & Whodat? Live Crew, Sed Marsh and more at Soul in Park 3, Friday, June 20, at the GotPicz Photography Studio in Asbury Park.
There's a lot of Jersey to unpack. Visit northtoshore.com for more info.
Here are five not-to-miss shows featuring Garden State talent:
Honey Bxby, Asbury Park
Who's Jersey's new breakout star?
It's Asbury Park's Honey Bxby, whose red-hot collab with Lil Kim on “Left Eye” and “Crush On You” at the BET Awards on June 9 lit up the internet. Now comes the Hot 97 Summer Jam, newly part of the North to Shore and taking place Friday, June 20. Honey Bxby plays the Who's Next Festival Stage, which is up from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Mulberry Commons outside the arena.
This year's Summer Jam lineup includes A Boogie, Gunna, GloRilla, Muni Long, Asake, Ayra Starr, Ja Rule and Friends Tribute to Irv Gotti, Kash Doll, Bobby Konders and Jabba featuring Masicka, Jim Jones and Friends, Cash Cobain, 41 (Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, Tata) and surprise guests.
Go: Hot 97 Summer Jam, 7 p.m. Friday, June 20, Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St, Newark, starting at $102; northtoshore.com.
Brenda K. Starr, Jackson
What exit for the beat?
The dance music and Latin sounds of Brenda K. Starr certainly have a connection to her native New York City, but Starr is actually a long-time resident of New Jersey. She calls Jackson her home, and daughter Gianna Isabella had her own star turn on TV's “American Idol” in 2016, on which her mom appeared.
“I'm going to be singing all my hits, including my signature song 'I Still Believe,' as well as 'What You See is What You Get,' 'Picking Up the Pieces, 'Over and Over,' and the list goes on,” said Starr in a social media post about her upcoming show.
Go: Brenda K. Starr, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21, House of Independents, 572 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, starting at $36; northtoshore.com.
Smithereens, Carteret
Let's do it again.
The Smithereens' North to Shore show last year at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park was such a rocking highlight that even fan Gov. Phil Murphy couldn't get enough. The Smithereens are coming back to the Wonder Bar for more, with Marshall Crenshaw on vocals.
The Carteret band lost their founding lead singer when Pat DiNizio passed away in 2017 at the age of 62. The Smithereens have moved forward with a rotating lineup of lead singers: Crenshaw, Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms, and John Cowsill of the Cowsills.
These guys are definitely not “Only a Memory.”
Go: The Smithereens with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw, 8:30 pm. Saturday, June 21, Wonder Bar, 1213 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, starting at $70; northtoshore.com.
Stone Temple Pilots, Point Pleasant
The Stone Temple Pilots are unbowed.
Brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo of Point Pleasant formed STP in the 1990s, scoring hits like “Sex Type Thing,” “Plush,” “Vaseline,” “Interstate Love Song” and “Big Bang Baby” that have remained vital to this day. The band has lost two lead singers along the way — Scott Weiland and Chester Bennington — but have forged ahead with Jeff Gutt, who has ably handled the vocals since 2017.
Asbury Park's Parlor Mob, whose hard rock musical roots are similar to Stone Temple Pilots’, open the Thursday, June 26, show at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. They headline their own festival show on Friday, June 20, with Sunshine Spazz at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park.
Go: Stone Temple Pilots with special guest The Parlor Mob, 8 p.m. Thursday, June 26, NJPAC, 1 Center Street, Newark, starting at $59; northtoshore.com.
George Clinton, Plainfield
Music legend George Clinton founded the Parliament Funkadelic universe in a Plainfield barbershop 50 years ago.
Now it's time to play some classic cuts in Asbury Park. Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will play a rare Asbury Park show Sunday, June 29, at the Stone Pony Summer Stage. Living Colour — who lit up the beach at the 2023 Sea Hear Now festival in the city — will open the show, then join with P-Funk for a couple of jams.
We can safely say the salty air of Asbury Park will not diminish the power of the Mothership's engines.
Go: George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, with special guest Living Colour, 5 p.m. Sunday, June 29, Stone Pony Summer Stage, 913 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, starting at $30; northtoshore.com.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at [email protected]