ASBURY PARK VIBES PODCAST

We had a chance to catch up with Mike Noordzy from Mothguts and Cody McCorry from We Used to Cut the Grass to talk about this upcoming show.  The two of them collaborated on two sound pieces that set the tone for our discussion.  While what they performed is not what they will be playing at the show, Mike and Cody are two truly inspired and creative people who represent the best of Asbury Park! Mo...

Lightning in a Bottle – A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes is a raw, intimate, and unfiltered photographic chronicle of one of New Jersey’s most beloved underground venues. Shot over 11 years by photographer Mike McLaughlin , the book captures the heart and soul of Asbury Lanes, in the heart of Asbury Park—a vintage bowling alley turned DIY music venue—before its redevelopment in 2015. We had the oppor...

Erik Mason and his band brought “coastal soft rock” to life in this episode—cinematic indie with ‘70s roots and a hint of pink-sky Americana. We dug into the stories behind his songwriting, from the timeless influence of Jackson Browne, Billy Joel, and Neil Young to the way Jersey Shore places and people have shaped his band’s music. With his latest EP Butterfly Effects , Erik explores how small c...

Our conversation with Monte Maybe flowed like one of her songs — intimate, energetic, and full of heart. Monte’s storytelling blends pop, folk, and country influences, grounded in her New Jersey roots, and you can hear it all over her 2025 debut album Jersey Devil — a record that stakes her claim in the NJ soundscape. We dove deep into how she crafts songs from real-life experiences, how the New J...

Our conversation with Connor Bracken, frontman and guitarist of Connor Bracken and the Mother Leeds Band , was as electric as one of his live shows. We dug into the nuts and bolts of the music industry—what it really takes for a band to not just survive, but grow and thrive. Connor spoke about his bandmates—drummer Rich Seyffart, guitarist Dee DiMeola, and bassist TJ Haefner—and how their shared d...

Jon Caspi and the First Gun have been gracing the Asbury Park (and local area) with their homegrown rock and roll.  The band, made of the nicest fellows, came into the Asbury Park Vibes studio for an intimate three-song set.  They also stuck around to chat about their new EP, AIRPORT PLAZA. Caspi has been a longstanding figure in the NJ indie, singer/songwriter, alternative, and punk scenes. In th...

We were already looking forward to our sit-down with The Band Palm , but the episode turned out to be so much more than we imagined. Their stripped-down acoustic performance was absolutely brilliant, setting the stage for a conversation that was equal parts engrossing, funny, and deeply introspective. From stories about cool great-grandmothers, grandmothers and parents ... to the many interpretati...

Burn in Tweed (Ronny Day - Guitar/Vox, Shane Dillon - Drums, Rebeca "Bexx" Qualls - Bass/B-Vox) is a new band with a very familiar face up front.  The band, heavy with purpose, is locked in Ronny's introspective and narrative lyrics.   Ronny Day is an old-school throwback from the punk heyday of Long Branch and The Brighton Bar.  Most would know Ronny from starting the moshpit.  Now he has finally...

In this episode, we sat down with Joe Brown —founder of Melting Trends —along with musicians Rachel Ana Dobken , Damion & Paul from Tango Machina , and Gia from The Azures . The conversation centered on the upcoming Bond Street Block Party , happening Saturday, September 6 from 1–10 PM outside Bond Street Bar in Asbury Park. This free community festival has become a staple of the local scene, draw...

In this episode of the Asbury Park Vibes Podcast, I sat down with Billy Walton , a Jersey Shore staple whose guitar work and high-energy performances have taken him from Asbury Park clubs to international stages. Billy will be hitting the Hard Rock’s Sound Waves in Atlantic City on September 5th as part of North to Shore’s "Garden State Live" series — a showcase dedicated to original New Jersey ta...

We  recently had the pleasure of chatting with Will Blakey, Tom Briant (and Will's son Allen) of Never The Name —a genre-blending band mixing funk, indie, emo, hip-hop, and rock into a sound that’s completely their own. Since coming together in 2024 with fellow bandmates Lisa LoVell and Joshua Van Ness, they’ve released their debut album Millennial Boomer Consumer and three standout music videos,...

In this episode, we sit down with Jersey Shore singer-songwriter Francesca Fuentes (aka Chess) to talk about her journey from writing songs at age 12 to crafting her heartfelt, pop-rock inspired tracks today. Francesca shares the moments that shaped her music, the stories behind some of her most meaningful songs, her 2025 EP Can't Hide , and how her creative path has evolved along the way. As a sp...

In this episode, we sit down with Max Satow, the artist behind NOSHOWS , to explore the genre-blending sound and deeper mission behind his music. Fusing elements of alt-rock, hip-hop, and electronic textures, Max creates music that’s as emotionally raw as it is sonically dynamic. His upcoming EP, The Fear , dives into personal experiences and modern anxieties, drawing from his own lifestyle shifts...

Separatr is an indie pop duo originally from Bellingham, WA. In 2022, married couple Stephanie Melvin and Joe Douglas sold most of their belongings, got in a van, and headed for the East Coast. Now calling the Asbury Park music scene home, the pair has been steadily touring the Northeast in their camper van, building their fanbase one show at a time. In this episode, we talk about the band's uniqu...

On this episode of the Asbury Park Vibes Podcast, we caught up with Jordan Chez to talk about his evolution from Thelonious Funk to his solo project, where he’s been releasing fresh tracks that blend soul, pop, and introspective storytelling. Jordan opened up about his musical influences, what he’s learned from both the Asbury Park and Nashville music scenes, and how he's been leaning into the art...

On the latest APV podcast, we sat down with the Phokupps —an exciting, unique cover band with a name that’s as playful as their sound (yes, it’s a nod to pho noodles). Known for taking songs you know and flipping them on their head, the Phokupps blend their wide-ranging musical tastes into reimagined versions of classics and current hits, often making them more danceable or giving them a whole new...

Ryan Gregg - you've heard him, you've seen him, and you would recognize him as being one of the most sought-after piano/keyboard players. In our latest episode, Doug gets to chat with Ryan in depth about his musical proclivity at a young age, how he operates and grows as a musician now, and the various musicians and groups he collaborates with. The Ryan Gregg Trio is making its debut at the North...

In this episode, we caught up with the dt’s — David Cacciatore and Tom Losito — as they gear up for their sold-out North to Shore Festival performance at Wonder Bar on June 22 with Penelope Road and the Mike Montrey Band. The North to Shore Festival is a unique celebration of New Jersey’s arts and culture, giving local artists like The DTs the opportunity to share the stage and gain exposure along...

In this episode, we sat down with an artist who truly lives and breathes creativity — Patty C. Whether fronting Patty C & The Pints or collaborating with En Delirium , Cranston Dean Band , and Daly Rituals , Patty brings a genre-bending sound full of joy, soul, and storytelling. We talked about his latest EP Happy Camper — a vibrant collection that reminds us how music can uplift, connect, and spa...

Three-time Grammy nominee Brady Rymer joins us to celebrate 25 years of making music with his band, Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could . In this joyful and heartfelt episode, we talk about his journey from the band From Good Homes to writing family-focused songs that connect generations. Brady shares stories behind his new album Sunny Side Up , his creative process, and how a misheard name...

Ever wonder how a pop punk band gets its start?  Joey CXP is right there, defining himself with his immensely talented band and original take on a well-traveled music genre. Currently promoting his latest single " prettiest girl in town " and EP " CANDY CRUSH ", the band is getting ready to hit the road and do their first tour in Canada starting May 16! During our podcast, Joey and the band discus...

One of the coolest perks of having a podcast? Getting to chat with awesome people! We had a fantastic digital sit-down with Above the Moon , where we dove into their music, their journey, and all the exciting things happening in their world right now. They're bursting with new tunes that you absolutely won’t want to miss! Their latest project, There Is No Arrival Vol. 1 and 2 , is a collection of...

Doug and Diane recently got to fulfill their dream of interviewing a legendary musician as they sat down and chatted with Burton Cummings … vocalist, keyboardist, and primary songwriter for the chart-topping ’60s/’70s rock band – The Guess Who ! A gifted and prolific songwriter and musician, Cummings crafted massive hit singles like " American Woman ," " These Eyes ," " Laughing ," and many more—s...

In this episode, we sit down with Surfing for Daisy , the Asbury Park-based Alt. Folk Rock band making waves with their heartfelt songwriting and rich instrumentation. The band— Nick Francis (vocals/guitar), Mike Bernabei (guitar), Steven Filippone (drums/percussion), Cam Seidel (bass), Dan DiSantis (guitar/vocals), and Katie McCarty (keys/vocals) —shares the story of how they came together, the j...

Doug & Diane recently had the opportunity to chat with George Marriner Maull (Founder & Artistic Director of The Discovery Orchestra ) and Vocalist Cheryl Warfield (Founder of Manhattan Opera Repertory Ensemble or MORE) about their upcoming concert, Discover Angelitos Negros (Little Black Angels) . Maull and Warfield – along with Composer & Pianist Patricio Molina – will present this special Black...