WELCOME TO THE STONE PONY!

The Ocean Avenue Ramble
Ocean Ave Stompers, Jackson Pines
The Stone Pony Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate with us on Feb. 6, 2026 at The Ocean Avenue Ramble, the kick-off to The Stone Pony’s 52nd Anniversary Weekend, an evening of non-stop co-headline sets culminating in the Pine Barrens Stomp, the all hands on deck collaborative show finale! Jackson Pines and Ocean Avenue Stompers are joining forces to co-headline a One Night Only engagement featuring the region’s premier folk and horn bands, highlighting rootsy and soulful sounds from the South Jersey Pines to the Jersey Shore Boardwalk.

Door 7:00, Showtime 8:00 to 11:30pm

NPR Music and Billboard acclaimed folk band Jackson Pines, fresh off a headlining set at the New Jersey Folk Festival, will be celebrating the release of their new full length record Wheel, which will be available for the first time on this evening. Named The Aquarian Magazine’s 2024 band of the year, Jackson Pines has spent the last year recording new original songs as well as preserving traditional folk music from The Pine Barrens. They have played with likes of Old Crow Medicine Show, Billy Strings, and Nicole Atkins, and are Sea.Hear.Now alumni. On this night, expect string band and full band sets, as well as collaborations with the Stompers. Having played at the Pony since they were teenagers at matinees, Joe, James and band are always excited to rock the Pony!

The Ocean Avenue Stompers are no strangers to The Pony. Known for their undeniable energy and creative power, they return for their first co-headlining set at the venue, mere days before Mardi Gras and setting the tone the Anniversary weekend. This evening also marks eight years of the Stompers, a run that has included standout moments at The Pony: shows with Dogs In A Pile, joining Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes or LaBamba’s Big Band, and holding down the horns at the Ocean Avenue Stomp Afterparty during Sea.Hear.Now, joining Tangiers Blues Band and backing artists from Bruce Springsteen to Brandon Flowers as well as Jim James and Danny Clinch. Turning in multiple sets and collaborating, this night promises to be another memorable chapter in the journey of the Stompers.

Join us for the Pony Anniversary Celebration packed with joyous music, multiple sets in different configurations, music including New Orleans and American folk favorites, exciting new originals, special guests from the scene, and the two band super-jam The Pine Barrens Stomp.

Emo Night Brooklyn: Valentines Day
21+ admitted
Tickets: $17 & up in advance plus applicable surcharges, $23 at the door

Doors at 9 pm, show time 10 pm

Welcome to Emo Night Brooklyn, a late night DJ based dance party blasting the best emo and pop punk jams. We may even invite some of your favorite artists and bands to surprise you and join the party. Get ready to scream your lungs out, mosh, and dance to all your favorite songs with all of your favorite people and experience the awesomeness that is Emo Night Brooklyn.

The Asbury Park Music Awards make a triumphant return!
Beloved celebration of heralded music scene returns after a seven-year hiatus

The highly revered Asbury Park Music Awards are back, reigniting a long-standing tradition of celebrating the original artists who keep Asbury Park’s legendary music scene alive. The 2025 Awards will take place Fri., Feb. 20 at The Stone Pony.

Now presented by the Asbury Park Music Foundation (APMF), the awards were originally founded in 1993 by Scott Stamper of the iconic venue The Saint and Peter Mantas, entertainment director of the former Langosta Lounge, and ran annually through 2018. Known as “the Heart of the Asbury Music Scene,” The Saint closed in 2022, and Stamper has now passed the torch to APMF with his full support.

The 2025 Asbury Park Music Awards will feature 31 categories, including New Music of the Year, Artist of the Year, Musician of the Year, and several Genre-Based Performer of the Year categories. In addition, four special awards will recognize standout music released during the event’s “gap years” from 2019 through 2024.

Produced by the Asbury Park Music Foundation, proceeds from the event will support APMF’s mission to provide life-changing music education to under-resourced youth.

Tickets: $25 in advance plus applicable surcharges, $30 at the door

Door 6:30, Show 7 to 11:30

SUIT & MAI TAI
The Ultimate Yacht Rock Experience
with special guests The Smokin’ Jackets

Suit & Mai Tai makes their Stone Pony debut! Join us for a yacht rock party like no other. Ahoy! NJ’s premiere yacht rock show sails into The Stone Pony on Sat., Feb. 21. Suit & Mai Tai brings the smooth sounds of yacht rock to life, then cranks it up with a fresh, unexpected edge. With a large following across New Jersey, this seven-piece band has become a staple at top clubs, outdoor festivals, and exclusive private events. They deliver a high-energy, sonically rich show that turns soft rock nostalgia into a full-on experience. Come aboard landlubbers — it’s time to party in yacht rock style!

Fueled by three powerhouse lead vocalists, flawless harmonies, searing guitar work, blazing horns, and a rhythm section that kicks like thunder, Suit & Mai Tai takes audiences on a journey through the best of the ’70s and ’80s- from Christopher Cross, The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Toto, Linda Ronstadt and Steely Dan to Styx, The Eagles, Billy Joel, and many more. Think yacht rock classics with grit, mixing in rock anthems with polish. It’s the perfect blend of velvet with voltage.

Their slogan says it all: “Yacht That Rocks.” This isn’t background music. It’s a full-production, crowd-igniting event designed to keep audiences singing, dancing and coming back for more. If you’re looking for a show that needs to deliver both musical excellence and undeniable entertainment, Suit & Mai Tai is the act that brings smooth to the stage — and rocks the boat while they’re at it. Showtime 8 pm.

The Dave Matthews Tribute Band
Tomorrow We Die Tour

DMTB is a celebration of the music of the Dave Matthews Band – a time machine to a funky tea party in the ’90s, a boisterous era of tape trading, sing-alongs, and exploration into a new sonic landscape spearheaded by complex guitar riffs, soaring violin melodies, smooth sax lines, and explorative-explosive drumming.

Dedicated to recreating that moment in musical history, the DMTB has been honing their craft for over 20 years. Since 2004, the band’s ruthless touring schedule has been unparalleled, playing over 2000 shows in 46 states and 10 countries. The Buffalo, N.Y. based band has successfully paid tribute to the Dave Matthews Band, with heartfelt recreation of DMB’s musical spirit.

The DMTB aims to transport the listener back in time. The band takes inspiration from the classic DMB sound, with immense respect for the original quintet. While including material from the bands later and current catalogs, the goal is to create a well rounded and authentic tribute with attention to details and love for the music they play so honestly. Join us at the Pony for a night of DMB hits and fan favorites!

Door 7:00, Showtime 8:00 – Two set show!
Tickets $22. Adv / $25. Door

Pat Roddy Band
with special guest Force Fed

One of Belmar’s favorite sons returns for a headline show.

The pride of Belmar, Pat Roddy, has been playing music along the Jersey Shore for over two decades. He formed The Pat Roddy Band in the late nineties and has put out four CDs of original music. The band’s talented cast of musicians exudes a Jersey Shore soul vibe and has the musical versatility that appeals to a wide fan base. Whether he’s covering Springsteen, Southside Johnny, or Tom Petty at bars along the shore, performing at weddings, or playing for charity, Roddy and his band have always rocked the house.

Despite his musical accomplishments, Roddy is most proud of his charitable work and the support of his fans. When the pandemic hit and forced everyone into lockdown mode, Roddy sprang into action. He live-streamed a weekly acoustic show from home which, thanks to his fans, raised over $100,000 for various charities in Monmouth and Ocean County.

Door 7:00, Show 7:30 to 11:00

Epilepsy Services of New Jersey
15th Annual Paint the Pony Purple
A Family Friendly Benefit Concert
Raising Awareness for Epilepsy

Paint the Pony Purple is a Battle of the Bands–style benefit concert dedicated to raising awareness and support for individuals and families living with epilepsy. Hosted at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, this annual event is presented by Epilepsy Services of New Jersey (ESNJ).

Local bands take the stage in a high-energy competition where music, mission, and community collide, and fans decide the winner. Paint the Pony Purple brings artists and supporters together to amplify epilepsy awareness, support advocacy efforts, and raise critical funds for ESNJ’s epilepsy programs in New Jersey. Every dollar raised helps expand education, resources, and services that promote independence and quality of life for people living with epilepsy.

Attendees will experience nonstop live performances and interactive experiences, and have access to free educational resources provided by event sponsors. Paint the Pony Purple is more than a Battle of the Bands. It is a loud, unapologetic show of support for the epilepsy community, powered by music and purpose.

This Year’s Lineup:
Prominent Slide
Bovine Bandits
The Black Ties

OUR LADY PEACE
30th Anniversary Tour
with special guests
The Verve Pipe

One of Canada’s most influential rock bands, OUR LADY PEACE has shaped the alternative rock landscape for over three decades. With multi-Platinum-selling albums and global hits like “Superman’s Dead,” “Clumsy,” and “Somewhere Out There,” they’ve has sold over five million albums worldwide and garnered more than 360 million streams. They’re among the elite 13 Music Canada Diamond-certified artists, holding 3x-Triple and 5x-Double Platinum certifications. With 19 Top 10 radio hits in Canada—including five #1 singles—the band has has won four JUNO Awards and ten MuchMusic Video Awards, making them one of the most celebrated bands in MMVA history. Their extensive touring history includes sharing stages with The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, and Alanis Morissette. They were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame on June 14, 2025 and capped off the summer with a US amphitheater tour with Live and Collective Soul.

POP EVIL
The What Remains Tour
Kamenar
Sierra Pilot

Passion. Dedication. Fortitude. Leigh Kakaty is the embodiment of these three qualities, and for good measure, too. For two decades, he has needed to mine the deepest of reserves in order to drag Pop Evil up from the blue-collar grassroots of the band’s local Michigan scene to stand proud at the top of the modern rock game. Soaring successes, bitter defeats… Leigh Kakaty has stood face-to-face with it all along the way. Leigh Kakaty has survived it all.
What Remains, the band’s eighth full-length album, is the culmination and story of this journey with Pop Evil, laid bare like never before. Continuing in the recent vein of 2023’s acclaimed Skeletons album, What Remains is both sonically and thematically Pop Evil’s heaviest ever offering; a thundering collection of arena-ready modern rock and metal hits in which Kakaty opens heart, mind and soul – pulling no punches and taking no prisoners in doing so.
“There are a lot of issues and things that I’ve dealt within this journey of Pop Evil that I’ve buried for a long time,” the frontman explains of this document of resilience, perseverance and accountability.

HUNTER HAYES
The Evergreen Tour
with BLÜ EYES

Grammy-nominated, multi-instrumentalist and multi-platinum-selling artist, Hunter Hayes is an embodiment of a musician that embraces evolution and redefines boundaries. Bursting onto the scene with his platinum-certified debut album, Hayes has charted a unique course through the genre-bending path he was destined to explore.

The Louisiana native has amassed over 2 billion on-demand global streams since his debut, with six singles achieving gold and platinum certification. His electrifying on-stage performances have not only stolen the hearts of fans, but have also earned him spots on tours with superstars like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, and resulted in his own sold-out headlining shows across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia.

With more than 50 award nominations and wins, including five Grammy nominations, Hayes’ journey is just getting started.

BAD SUNS
ACCELERATOUR USA 2026

Bad Suns are embracing everything that’s possible. On their joyous fifth album, fittingly titled Accelerator, the Los Angeles trio are taking stock of everything they’ve been through together as a band and pushing into a bright future with a renewed sense of purpose.

Together since 2012, Christo Bowman (vocals/guitar), Gavin Bennett (bass) and Miles Morris (drums) started playing together as teenagers and went viral almost immediately with their magnetic blend of indie-rock and ‘80s synth sheen. After four hit albums, the trio reached a point where they needed to recalibrate and recenter if they wanted to continue. Recording their exuberant 2023 EP Infinite Joy was a cleansing experience that recalibrated Bad Suns and set them on a thrilling path forward into making Accelerator, which comprises 12 new tracks brimming with dance-pop hooks and poignant lessons learned.

“We saw the Infinite Joy EP as a new beginning for the band. I felt this yearning once again,” reflects Christo Bowman. “Accelerator being our fifth album, our first studio album as a trio, and the first album of my 30s, we knew that this was going to be really important. We didn’t want to take that lightly. We asked ourselves, how do we live up to the occasion? We saw this album as a mountain we wanted to climb.”

In planning their elevation, Bad Suns reconnected with their go-to producer Eric Palmquist (Tate McRae, Half Alive), who also helmed their 2014 debut Language & Perspective, plus follow-ups Disappear Here (2016) and Apocalypse Whenever (2022). Going into recording Accelerator, Eric encouraged Bad Suns to channel their sense of renewal into an energetic sonic direction they’d tapped into before, but never quite to this extent. “One of the first times we sat down with Eric, we were talking about what we’d all been vibing with. He said point blank, ‘It would be really cool to mess around with some ‘90s house-inspired music. Right away, the light bulb went off for me. I’d wanted to push in that direction forever.”

While tracks like the previously released “Communicating,” anthemic opener “Slow Karma,” the pulsing “Why Am I Like This,” and the shimmering club cut “Just Like Magic” reveal a riveting pop turn for the band, Accelerator is still steeped in the original DNA that made Bad Suns a feel-good viral sensation with early hits like “Cardiac Arrest.” The rushing pop melodies mirror Accelerator’s title, but its lyrics are filled with stop-and-think moments where Christo surveys his past actions and makes the intentional choice to embrace personal growth and impending fatherhood.

“My 20s were a challenging time with a lot of peaks and a lot of valleys,” he says. “There’s a lot of joy, a lot of mistakes. This album is ultimately about finding the strength within yourself to assess the damage that’s been done and make the changes that you need to in order to take control of your own life, kind of reckoning with the fact that you can’t control the external circumstances. I can’t control the world around me, but I can control the way that I react to the events taking place and the way that I move through the world.”

The hook-packed gem “Slow Karma” acts as Christo’s mission statement for Accelerator. An intimate and cathartic track, the album opener finds Christo at a personal and professional crossroads as he confronts old habits and makes the decision to become sober. “I was at a point in my life where it was becoming abundantly clear to me that I needed to make some changes in order to progress and live the life that I really wanted,” Christo says. “Getting sober is really hard, but then it becomes the easiest thing in the world. ‘Slow Karma’ is about accepting that this is gonna be difficult. And I don’t know exactly what’s ahead, but I know this is the direction I’m supposed to be moving down.”

The sparkling “Mystery Girl” signifies another crossroads as Christo, in a diaristic stream of consciousness, remembers his coming-of-age years while facing the inertia of fatherhood. “There’s this beautiful new chapter in my life unfolding, and there’s mixed emotions that come with it,” he says. “This is a song about my teenage years, past relationships and experiences, and being a young person who is ultimately just looking for love.”

Christo is equally unafraid to imagine what would have happened had he not made a series of positive changes. On the urgent, electropop banger “Back To Zero,” the singer envisions an alternate reality without Bad Suns or his wife and partner of 13 years and arrives at a place of heart-bursting gratitude for everything he has and the future that lies ahead.

“I didn’t want this record to be too self-help-oriented, but I did want every song, one way or another, to relate some wisdom I’ve gained,” Christo says. “By imagining myself alone in an apartment, my wife long gone — my life very easily could have looked like that. I’ve learned how important it is, as the lyrics say, to ‘find the beauty in what’s painful,’ and love every moment for what it is.”

As Bad Suns move into their latest era, one filled with exciting personal and professional milestones, they’ve never been more harmoniously aligned. “While making this album, I turned 30, I got married, I found out I was having a kid. Going to the studio every day and being in the room with the guys, I had this sense that I’m going to look back and know that was probably one of the best times of my life.”

CHAMELEONS
The Veldt

The legacy of The Chameleons dates all the way back to 1981 when the band were discovered by legendary BBC Radio host John Peel. Following their debut single ‘In Shreds’ for Epic Records in 1982, the band released three seminal albums: the widely acclaimed ‘Script of the Bridge’ (1983), cited by many sources to be a masterpiece way ahead of its time, its follow up ‘What Does Anything Mean? Basically!’ (1984) and for the US based Geffen Records ‘Strange Times’ (1986). Their unique sound quickly captivated the public through their very own mix of melancholic, yet energetic and powerful tunes, hypnotic ethereal riffs and the potent, timeless lyrical style. The Chameleons are considered to be one of the most influential guitar bands of the 80s and 90s, contributing substantially to the post-punk, shoegaze and indie scenes and are often regarded as one of the most underrated bands ever to emerge from the city of Manchester, England.

The Chameleons disbanded in 1987 only to re-emerge in 2000 with the independently released, ‘Why Call It Anything’ and toured widely across Europe and the United States. However following the tragic death of their drummer, John Lever, and the departure of another founding member guitarist, Dave Fielding, the group disbanded once more. The Chameleons reformed in 2021 with surviving founders and principle writers: guitarist Reg Smithies and bassist, vocalist & lyricist Mark Burgess, joined by guitarist Stephen Rice, Danny Ashberry on keyboards and on drums Todd Demma.

Over the decades the popularity and reputation of the band continued to grow leading them to share the stage with the likes of U2, Killing Joke, Bauhaus, Simple Minds, Talk Talk, The Cure amongst others. The Chameleons regard themselves primarily as a ‘live band’, which has earned the fan’s loyalty and respect for decades with ther effortlessly intense and emotionally-charged performances. They have been touring extensively in the EU, UK, US and as far abroad as Australia, South America and China.

The Chameleons are excited to announce the release of their first new single in over a decade: ‘Where Are You’ coming out on May 24 on Metropolis Records in conjunction with ‘Strange Times Entertainment.

“We are thrilled to be working on our brand new album titled ‘Arctic Moon’ coming out later this year. We’ve been working extremely hard and we’re really proud of the results so far. We all feel it’s the best work we’ve done so far. Fans might have the chance to hear some of the new songs on the upcoming tour in the United States, Europe, Australia and South America.”

ALL THAT REMAINS
with special guests
BORN OF OSIRIS
DEAD EYES

6:00p Doors
7:15p-7:45p Dead Eyes
8:00p-8:45p Born of Osiris
9:15p All That Remains

VIP packages will be available

All That Remains have built an unbreakable axis between pit-splitting metal and anthemic melodies. This signature balance has defined the platinum-certified band’s output since day one. It’s why the group have notched multiple Top 10 Active Rock Radio hits, sold out shows worldwide, and generated over half-a-billion streams. For as far as they’ve come, they’ve never lost sight of the cold Massachusetts underground where the guys first cut their teeth, preserving the same spirit without compromise. They’ve weathered the changing tides of a fickle business, unspeakable tragedy, and all manner of conflict only to come out stronger than ever on the other side. This strength surges through their tenth full-length album and first independent offering.

“I think we’ve managed to forge our own identity independent of every other group,” notes Phil. “From our scene, we were among a very few bands who didn’t go on a long-term hiatus, stop playing, or find other jobs. All That Remains has been what I do for the last 20 years. The fact that we managed to dodge all of the trends and be ourselves is something I’m very proud of.”

By sticking to their guns, All That Remains have continued to thrive on their own terms as well. Among many accolades, signature hit “Two Weeks” received a platinum certification from the RIAA, while “What If I Was Nothing” and their cover of “The Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks each reached gold status. Meanwhile, 2008’s Overcome went gold, and For We Are Many cracked the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. Not to mention, they have scored five Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart, landing four in the Top 5. During 2022, the group launched a successful sold-out anniversary tour in celebration of their seminal LP The Fall of Ideals which Revolver hailed as “one of metalcore’s most essential records” and Loudwire christened “a genre-defining album.”

Ultimately, All That Remains are still standing strong.

“I’m incredibly grateful to anyone who has listened to our music or come to a show,” Phil leaves off. “We survived in a changing business and world. I’m hugely satisfied with the success we’ve seen, but there’s so much more to come. If you were a fan before, I think you’re going to be a fan of this record.”

The Chicago-based progressive metal outfit Born of Osiris are known as one of the first deathcore acts from the 2000s to leave that genre behind in favor of a brutal yet alluring meld of technical death metal and metalcore filled with flashy twin-guitar leads and near-psychedelic keyboard adventures that owe as much to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden as they do Helloween and Meshuggah. Though they began as a typical deathcore band with 2007’s The New Reign EP, by 2009’s Higher Place, they’d all but abandoned that sound to focus on a more technically advanced, melodically astute, and brutally forceful approach. Its appeal garnered an ever-growing cadre of admirers. They have placed four albums in the upper half of the U.S. album chart, including 2013’s Tomorrow We Die Alive, which peaked at number 27. Subsequent titles like 2015’s Soul Sphere went to number two on the hard rock charts. 2017’s The Eternal Reign was a progressive, track-by-track re-recording of 2007’s The New Reign; it met with both high praise and withering criticism. 2019’s The Simulation was 28-minute EP that was reportedly the first of a two-part album, but it never materialized. An entirely different outing titled Angel or Alien appeared in July 2021.

Before assuming their name, they cycled through monikers such as Diminished, Your Heart Engraved, and Rosecrance. Drummer Cameron Losch, guitarists Lee McKinney and Matt Pantelis, vocalist Ronnie Canizaro, keyboardist Joe Buras, and bassist David Da Rocha (who left in 2018 and was replaced by Nick Rossi) met while in high school and experimented with various sounds and genres before developing an early version of their signature blend; after a demo and a live gig, they came to the attention of Sumerian Records, which signed the band. The New Reign EP appeared in 2007. Pantelis left in 2008 before the recording of 2009’s A Higher Place. That album sold well enough to land inside the Top 100. All Shall Perish guitarist Jason Richardson temporarily joined the band in 2009. He played on 2011’s The Discovery (an album that was cut using seven-string guitars) before being fired later in the year. Produced by the band, it didn’t place as high on the pop chart, but fared better than all previous outings on various indie and metal charts.

Pared down to a quintet, Born of Osiris released Tomorrow We Die Alive in August of 2013. In another sonic shift, they opted for a more orchestrated sound, one that involved more vocal layers and programmed orchestration by co-producer Nick Sampson. Buras’ keyboards were a central focus on the set, but the band’s attack remained as aggressive as ever. The album placed inside the Top 30 during its release week and inside the Top Ten on various other charts.

After aggressive touring, the band re-entered the studio. In the summer of 2015, Born of Osiris began leaking small bits and pieces of a forthcoming, somewhat conceptual album. Its 12 tracks were divided into three “levels”: The Binding, The Fight, and The Release, with four cuts in each. Titled Soul Sphere, it was released while Born of Osiris were in the middle of a lengthy tour (which ended up being cut shortly after guitarist McKinney broke his foot in several places). Soul Sphere peaked at number 67 on the Billboard 200. The band returned in 2017 with its second EP, The Eternal Reign, a re-recorded new vision of their debut produced by Nick Sampson. After a summer 2018 tour, Da Rocha left and was replaced by Rossi. BoO released the video and single “The Accursed” in November. It served as the opening track for The Simulation, a 25-minute mini-album issued in January.

JOHN EDDIE
and his Dirty Ol’ Band

One of Asbury Park’s favorite sons is coming home with a special early summer kickoff event with his Dirty Ol’ Band, plus special guests to be announced. Stay tuned for event updates! Door 6:30, Show 7:00 to 11:00pm.

John Eddie is an accomplished singer-songwriter, recording artist, and dynamic live performer, who recently has also branched out into writing and producing for film and TV (Agent Elvis, Netflix). Eddie has attracted a devoted following with his electrifying stage presence and heartfelt songs infused with raw, real-world lyrics, cutting wit, and musings on life, love, and everything in between. Following the release of his Lost Highway record Who the Hell is John Eddie?, Eddie moved to Nashville, where his songs were discovered and recorded by the likes of Brantley Gilbert, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, and Sammy Hagar, among many others. As a touring musician, Eddie has performed with Bruce Springsteen, Miranda Lambert, Bob Seger, John Mayer, and countless others. Bruce became an instant fan and helped foster John’s early career and has joined him on stage through the years. Get ready for another memorable night with John Eddie at the Pony!

SILVERSUN PICKUPS
Tenterhooks Tour
with Giant Waste of a Man

Silversun Pickups’ sixth album Physical Thrills came together as a serendipitous accident during a dark time. The LA band began 2020 by touring in support of their record released the previous year, Widow’s Weeds. But the pandemic halted those plans, with the members including guitarist and singer Brian Aubert, bassist Nikki Monninger, drummer Christopher Guanlao, and keyboardist Joe Lester, finding themselves stuck at home. In that resting period, Aubert wasn’t focused on Silversun Pickups; instead, he channeled his energy into taking care of his son, Nico, while his wife Tracy worked.

But as much as his focus initially shifted from the band, he couldn’t escape the new melodies germinating in his head. “I would sneak off and start writing these songs, and I didn’t know what they’re for because I didn’t really think about Silversun on any level. I was just doing it to keep myself calm and keep myself company,” says Aubert. The songs were so different from what he’d previously written for Silversun Pickups that he initially thought he was writing a musical. There were “dream shanties,” gentler vocals, horror-inspired sounds, and other exciting new elements coming to mind.

The band finally was able to gather in person for a live-streamed acoustic performance on Halloween for The Dark Zone Network’s virtual music festival Queen Mary, and it was there that Aubert revealed the new material to his bandmates. They readily embraced the new direction—and so did producer Butch Vig. The band reunited with Vig, who first worked with Silversun Pickups on Widow’s Weeds, recording the record at the famed producer and Garbage member’s home.

When Aubert first reached out to Vig, he wasn’t sure if the band was making an EP or a full record; Widow’s Weeds was still fresh for Silversun Pickups. But once Aubert made plans to visit Vig and play him what he had, the music began pouring out. He immediately began recording with Vig, later having the rest of the band join.

Once the band began working on Physical Thrills together, they made some of Silversun Pickups’ most stunning songs yet. The record doesn’t depart drastically from the sound the band’s fans know and love, but rather enhances it with previously-unexplored fixtures at play.

Physical Thrills was colored by the pandemic, but isn’t meant to be solemn; instead, Aubert explores his own comfort in the temporary, newfound isolation. There’s a juxtaposition of playfulness with angst from having so much time to process untapped emotions. That’s something that comes through in the album’s instrumentation, too, with wide-ranging sounds that transform according to the weight of the lyrics.

There are tracks with shoegaze-infused distorted synths and guitar, like opener “Stillness (Way Beyond)”; bouncy, pop-tinged danceable tunes (“Empty Nest,” “Hereafter (Way After)”); pared-down ballads (“Alone On A Hill”); and a collection of “dream shanties,” as Aubert refers to them.

The titles of those shanties call back to “Dream At Tempo 119” off the band’s 2006 debut record, Carnavas, tying the band’s beginnings with the current, evolved iteration of Silversun Pickups. But, this time, the instrumentation matches the lyrics. Aubert forgoes the heavy guitars to instead create magical lullabies: “Dream At Tempo 050,” “Dream At Tempo 310,” and “Dream At Tempo 150.” Each carries a secret code in the title with numbers personal to Aubert.

With such an exploratory record, the band members felt free to traverse new ground. Guanlao, who usually shies away from fills on drums, took inspiration from The Beatles documentary Get Back, throwing some into Physical Thrills, influenced by Ringo Starr’s work on Let It Be. Whereas for Monninger, this record allowed her to showcase her vocals at the forefront more than in previous work. Joe also took a larger role in composition on this record, writing the piano part for “We Won’t Come Out,” which became the backbone for the song.

The making of Physical Thrills also allowed for whimsical moments, including Aubert creating a distinct tapping noise by incorporating the sound of drumsticks hitting Vig’s Grammy in “Hidden Moon,” and playfully pelting balloons at Monninger while she played “Hereafter (Way After)” on bass to create less tension.

While this record features such an eclectic mix of melodies, each song is interconnected with each other, meant to be experienced as a whole body of work. “All of our records are designed for people who want to listen to them all the way through and hopefully stick around with it,” says Aubert. “After a while, maybe you’ll catch on to the little things—not just the [pattern of] the dream songs, but maybe you’ll hear that, and you’ll hear a melody from the first song in the last song. There are crossover things happening.”

Lester says, “Physical Thrills is exactly the record that we wanted to make, which I’m really stoked about because sometimes you look back and think, ‘Well, that’s maybe not exactly how we would have done it’ when you go back and listen to it years later.’ But I feel really proud of this one. I think the songs that Nikki sings on are like the best ones we’ve done for her to sing on. The lyrics are better than they’ve ever been.”

Monninger adds, “We’ve been together for twenty-two years; it’s really interesting that we still love doing this. We know that we’re fortunate to still be together after all these years, seeking out the silver lining. I feel like we still have many more things to say, and we’re so happy with how this album turned out.”

The band have reunited with producer Butch Vig and are currently working on the follow-up to Physical Thrills, which is out now via their label, New Machine Recordings. Physical Thrills is available for purchase on all formats.

TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS
Wild America Tour 2026
with special guest Lucero
on The Stone Pony Summer Stage

The Turnpike Troubadours have never followed any script. Breakthrough albums have been followed by breakups. Triumphant reunions have overcome insurmountable odds. And live shows have been thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Now, just two years since their comeback album, A Cat in the Rain, the Tahlequah, Oklahoma, band delivers yet another helping of the unexpected: the surprise release of The Price of Admission, the group’s most vibrant, piercing album since 2010’s career-defining Diamonds & Gasoline.

Reteaming with Grammy-winning producer Shooter Jennings, who oversaw A Cat in the Rain, the Turnpike Troubadours crafted and recorded 11 new songs for The Price of Admission, reminding fans and peers alike just how it’s done. how it’s done. Songwriter and front man Evan Felker rises to the occasion, cementing his status as country-rock’s version of Bruce Springsteen. He writes and sings openly and poetically about his sobriety, about loss, and about lighting out in search of something, anything, to fill the void.

For Felker, it’s his band of brothers in Turnpike Troubadours: fiddler Kyle Nix, multi-instrumentalist Hank Early, guitarist Ryan Engleman, bassist RC Edwards, and drummer Gabe Pearson. All of them are at the top of their games on The Price of Admission, refusing to hold on too tightly and letting the music guide them.

N2S presents
Hot Mulligan
on The Stone Pony Summer Stage
with Joyce Manor
Saturdays At Your Place
Koyo

HOT MULLIGAN is a ride-or-die testament to staying true to yourself. When the emo band formed in 2014 and cut their teeth playing house shows and naming songs by closing their eyes and typing into auto-correct on their phones, no one expected they’d be selling out thousand-cap venues, one of their scene’s most respected bands a decade later. But as Hot Mully readies their phenomenal fourth LP THE SOUND A BODY MAKES WHEN IT’S STILL (Wax Bodega), that’s exactly where they’re at. Hot Mulligan is a resounding success story, the #1 Hot New Band (11 years running, just ask them), and ready to keep fighting the good fight.
“I don’t know anyone in their right mind who says, I want to be a musician, make money, not have a job, and also be comfortable,” jokes guitarist Chris Freeman, thinking back to the band’s formative years in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and later, down in the mitten in the college town of Lansing. “The dream was to play a song in a shit basement, live in a van, be gross, sleep on French fries, and go to cities you’ve never been to before.”
Since 2018’s Pilot put Hot Mulligan on the map, they’ve been lauded in Paste and Alternative Press, streamed over 140 million times on Spotify, and toured with sonic forefathers like The Wonder Years and Jimmy Eat World. For Hot Mulligan—vocalist Tades Sanville, guitarists Freeman and Ryan Malicsi, bassist Jonah Kramer, and drummer Brandon Blakeley—the new LP is a white-knuckled affirmation of everything they stand for.
And make no mistake: it’s never been easy.
“The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still is a lyric reference,” says Sanville. “That lyric is in a song about paranoia, which is fear. With the album title, you can go the meditation route, or, the horror that you are in your body, and you have to exist. You have no choice, really. Even if you plan on killing yourself, right now you exist. And that is a terrifying thing.”
This fear lives and breathes throughout the album, in blistering choruses alongside the most vulnerable moments Hot Mulligan has ever laid to tape. On “Moving to Bed Bug Island,” a cathartic opener straight out of Hot Mully’s wheelhouse, Sanville is screaming for sanity huddled in a basement; by the album’s final song, the very-literally-titled “My Dad Told Me to Write a Nice One for Nana So This Is It,” he’s monologuing his last respects over acoustic guitar to the mother figure who helped raise him. That being said, this is still a Hot Mulligan record, and that means it rocks. Lead single “And a Big Load” is a heroic pop-punk rager that spends its entire two minutes and 53 seconds outrunning the ghosts that chase it. “It Smells Like Fudge Axe in Here” reels you in with its emo-gone-Tokyo Police Club groove. “Carbon Monoxide Hotel” pairs some of the most emotional, raw-nerve lyrics Sanville has ever sung with a gutting breakdown and, somehow, one of the stickiest choruses in the Hot Mulligan catalog.
And even when life is beating you to the ground, Hot Mulligan resists the urge to take it all too seriously. The most challenging part of making the new album? According to the band, recording while crashing in places that smelled like chocolate Axe body spray and exhaust from a seafood kitchen. Second hardest, adds Freeman: “Getting our drummer to play the drums, because he just acquired mounts in World of Warcraft and wanted to play that instead.”
Through it all, Hot Mulligan and longtime producer Brett Romnes laid down a masterclass. The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still grabs your attention with all its fight-or-flight hooks, but it’s the little nuances and connective tissue that make it Hot Mulligan’s most cohesive album yet. There are gripping high notes from Sanville and subtle guitar twinkle and synthesizer sparkle that unfurl with every listen.There’s a pair of poignant interludes—“This Makes Me Yummy” and “This Makes Me Yucky”—with Sanville reading a dreamlike, half-audible short story down in the mix of the latter (it’s up to listeners to figure it out). “Slumdog Scungillionaire,” the penultimate track, weaves lyrics from throughout the LP into a soft-to-loud, time signature-shifter unlike anything the band has ever written. While records like 2020’s you’ll be fine and 2023’s Why Would I Watch hold up as classics, Hot Mulligan has never crafted a start-to-finish statement like this. Their most accomplished LP in tow, Hot Mulligan is ready to venture on.
“When we started Hot Mulligan, the emo revival was going,” Freeman says, shouting out inspirations like You Blew It! and Modern Baseball. “We so desperately wanted to be a part of that, but by the time anyone would listen to songs called ‘11 Second Burp,’ most of those bands disappeared and we were out on our own. Even though we were born at the ass-end of that, we captured the sound a little.”
Now, bands who, like Hot Mulligan, never chased radio play or of-the-moment co-writers, are pushing sonic boundaries while playing sprawling festivals and raucous, packed club shows. “I’m proud that we didn’t go, Well, our music’s not here anymore, let’s write something else so we can ride the wave. We stuck to our guns.”

RUMOURS ATL

For over a decade, Rumours ATL has proven to be the most authentic live recreation of Fleetwood Mac’s golden era.

With a reverence for the legendary group’s rich history, Rumours ATL masterfully captures the magic of Fleetwood Mac’s iconic sound. From the hauntingly beautiful melodies of “Rhiannon” and “Songbird” to the electrifying energy of “Go Your Own Way,” every performance is a journey through the timeless classics that defined a generation and continues to influence pop and rock music today.

Each member of Rumours ATL brings a unique touch to their role, immersing themselves in the essence of their iconic counterparts. Their attention to musical detail ensures that every show resonates with the essence of Fleetwood Mac’s original spirit. Yet, beyond the impeccable recreations, there is an enigmatic quality to their performances that keeps audiences guessing and longing for more.

The band’s allure lies not just in their exceptional musicianship, but in their ability to evoke the mystical charm of Fleetwood Mac. They weave an experience that transcends mere imitation, offering a glimpse into the soul of the legendary band’s performances. Their intricate harmonies and evocative stage presence creates an atmosphere where each concert feels both familiar yet enchantingly new.

Rumours ATL invites you to step into a world where the legend of Fleetwood Mac comes alive once more. With a blend of nostalgia and intrigue, their shows promise a unique adventure that longtime fans and newcomers alike will cherish.

“Rumours ATL is a pleasure to work with and extremely dedicated to bringing a Fleetwood Mac experience to our audiences at every show. Which they sell out each time.” Peter Moshay, Grammy Winner and sound engineer for Daryl Hall and John Oates, Live from Daryl’s House

“We love having Rumours ATL play our venue. They’re always so fun and get along with the staff great! They also sell a lot of tickets and their shows are awesome.” Jason Westbrook, Production Manager Iron City, Birmingham Alabama

“We love having Rumours ATL and I love lighting their shows. They always make it magical.” Farrell Roberts, Variety Playhouse Atlanta GA

Doors: 7:00 PM
Show: 8:00 PM

Black Country, New Road
Horsegirl

There are few contemporary bands who can do musical reinvention quite as consistently as Black Country, New Road. From their Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut For the First Time, which touched upon everything from jazz to post-rock via klezmer music, to the art-rock meets chamber pop follow up Ants From Up There (both top 5 charting albums). Then when singer Isaac Wood amicably left shortly after, they wrote an entire set of new songs to tour which ended up on Live at Bush Hall, an album The Guardian claimed was a “magical resurgence” in a triumphant five-star review. Now, on studio album three, the band are once again building from the ground up in yet another miraculous musical transformation

Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, & Spin Doctors
on The Stone Pony Summer Stage

Nearly four decades ago ago, the four original members of Blues Traveler — John Popper, Chandler Kinchla, Brendan Hill, and the late Bobby Sheehan — gathered in their drummer’s parents’ basement in Princeton to jam. From these high school sessions emerged a band that would go on to release a total of 14 studio albums, four of which have gone gold, three platinum, and one six-times platinum – selling more than 10 million combined units worldwide. Over an illustrious career, Blues Traveler has played over 2,000 live shows in front of more than 30 million people, and, in “Run-Around,” had the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history, which earned them a Grammy for “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.” In 2021 Blues Traveler released the Grammy-nominated Traveler’s Blues on Round Hill Records, a collection of reimagined and recharged classics from the American blues songbook, and the group’s first official blues album. The second release in this series, 2023’s Traveler’s Soul, takes a similar approach, consisting of cover songs from a specific genre, this time classic R&B and soul.

Gin Blossoms is an American alternative rock band formed in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona. The band rose to prominence following the 1992 release of their first major label debut album, New Miserable Experience, and the first single released from that album, “Hey Jealousy” became a Top 25 hit and went gold. New Miserable Experience eventually went quadruple platinum and three other charting singles were released from the album including “Allison Road” and “Until I Fall Away”. The band’s follow-up album, Congratulations I’m Sorry (1996), went platinum including the Grammy nominated “As Long as It Matters” and the top 10 single “Follow You Down”. Gin Blossoms continue to tour every year and in recent years have shared the stage with Blues Traveler, Collective Soul, Barenaked Ladies and Hootie & The Blowfish.

Spin Doctors’ first album in 12 years is at once a bold leap for a legendary band and the sound of a group truly revitalized. Marking their debut on new label home and iconic major Capitol Records, Face Full of Cake finds the alt-rock veterans in top form with an abundance of hooks in their arsenal and the warm, funky sound that longtime fans have come to expect from them. The record truly marks a new era for Spin Doctors, and with a blockbuster summer tour on the horizon and new bassist Jack Daley in tow, it’s impossible not to catch the thrilling feeling that this 35 years strong-and-running crew is, despite their wealth of experience, just getting started.

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

Ben Harper is one of the premiere songwriters of his generation. He is also one of the most versatile and brave songwriters, fearlessly working in a cross-section of genres, ranging from pop, reggae and soul, to blues, rock, funk and folk. He has recorded 18 studio albums and amassed a worldwide following having sold over 16 million records worldwide and 3 Grammy Awards.

Ben was born on October 28, 1969. While his music and career embody the sonic bravery, brilliance, lyrical honesty and activism of that pivotal time, Harper adds his unique modern day cultural awareness brining music with social conscience into the now, reflected in the 2023 nomination for the newly minted Grammy Special Merit Award.

Harper’s latest album “Wide Open Light” included the hit “Yard Sale,” a duet with Jack Johnson. It followed up the revealing, fearless and soulful Grammy-nominated “Bloodline Maintenance.”