Saturday, August 23, 2008

Tony Marts Reunion September 6, 2008

Tony Marts Reunion - September 6, 2008 - Stumpos, 8pm

Announcement from Somers Point councilman Sean McGuigan:
It is with a very heavy heart that I issued the following:

The Good Old Days Festival Committee in conjunction with The Somers Point Office of Emergency Management has decided to cancel The Good Days Festival scheduled for Saturday September 6th in Kennedy Park. This decision was made after consulting with the Somers Point Recreation Commission and reviewing the forecast with The National Weather Service. There is severe weather forecasted for the duration of the day. There is no rain date at this time.

The “5K Walk/Run for Bud” that was scheduled for 9:00 AM Saturday will now be held at 9:00 AM on Sunday September 7th at Kennedy Park.

www.spgoodolddays



This Tony Marts Reunion thing is getting to be a twice annual affair, once in the early summer and then again at Stumpo's on the night of the Good Old Days Picnic. At least it's happened twice so far, they are now calling it an annual affair.

While I felt like I was at a nice wedding, rather than at Tony Marts, it's back to the ballroom at Stumpo's where last year we had a blast, with Terrence Simeon, the Zydaco King, dropping by after his hot show at the picnic and Bobby Campanell and Company jamming like the real good old days.

The Good Old Days Picnic at Kennedy Park, now in its 30th year, will feature three really good local bands of different colors - Hawkins Road, Bob Sterling and the Bubba Mac Blues Band, as well as Walter "Wolfman" Washington, who leads yet another hot New Orleans band.

Hawkins Road:
http://www.hawkinsroad.com/

Bob Sterling:
http://www.bobsterling.net/

Bubba Mac Blues Band:
http://www.bubbamac.com/

More on Good Old Days Picnic:
http://www.spgoodolddays.com/


The Tony Marts Reunion later that night will also feature, Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters, who will withoutadoubt make things happen.

They'll be playing tunes you know from Ray and Fats, and Bobby "Blue" Bland, who I remember seeing at the Club Harlem on Kentucky Avenue in Atlantic City and at the Academy Of Music in Philly, (both times with B.B. King). So I know the "Wolfman" is going to cover these guys great, and play some original tunes as well.

The Wolfman and the Roadmasters have won the Big Easy Award for Soul & Blues, and they continue to spread the New Orleans sound around, just as The Radiators did at the Picnic three years ago, and Terrence Simeon did last year, and I assume at a show I missed at the Ocean City Music Pier earlier this summer. Hey, I can't be everywhere.

You know, when Katrina hit, all those Big Easy musicians went on the road, and spread the word about the kind of music they play down there, and we've been lucky, thanks to Carmen and Nancy, to hear a lot of it at the Good Old Days and the Somers Point Beach on Friday nights.

For those who are going to New Orleans any time soon, you can catch the Wolfman play his guitar and howl at Tipitina's on occassion or more regularly at the The Bank Street Bar, where he has the Thursday night gig down pat, except when on tour, as they are at the moment. They're just getting back from the three-day Periguett Festival in France and the Jackson Hole Arts Fest, so they should be cookin'.

As one Cresent City reviewer put it, "Seeing Walter “Wolfman” Washington perform with his current outfit, the Roadmasters, is akin to taking a history lesson on black music in America with the exception that sitting down and taking notes is not an option. With his breadth of experience and seemingly endless repertoire, each of his highly danceable shows is one-of-a-kind. Like the greatest jazzmen, Washington channels his everyday life into his music. Depending on the setting, the band plays the blues, R&B, soul, funk, jazz and everything in between with pure heart."

What more can you ask for? If you're not yet convinced, check out:

http://www.walterwolfmanwashington.com/bio.html

As at all Tony Marts Reunions, besides really good music, there will be Tony Mart T-Shirts, a trivia and dance contest, full service bar and food available. Stumpo's Italian is great, as anyone whose done time in Cape May knows, and the Maryland Avenue Somers Point restaurant is convenient and has plenty of free parking (unlike Cape May).

Limited Reserved seating is $15, or general admission at $10. For reservations or more information call (609) 653-6069 or email Nancy and Carmen at TONYMARTO@AOL.COM.

And tell them you read about it at Bill Kelly's Jersey Shore Nightbeat Blog.

More to come on this one, when I get around to it, especially the headliners at the this year's picnic at Kennedy park that same day.

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