BIG BASH IN BOOM TOWN
Both Josh Zuckerman and Quincy Mumford have apparently found their own way around the famous parking crunch, as they prep to play the Marine Park stage at Friday’s KaBoom! Fireworks on the Navesink.
It’s like the champagne clink and chandelier-swing of New Year’s Eve, versus the puffy-faced Twilight Zone marathon of New Year’s Day. Or Mischief Night, filled with curfews and eggshells begging to be broken, as opposed to the structured letdown of the boomer-hijacked holiday of Halloween.
What we’re saying is sometimes The Night Before is the one to watch. It’s certainly the case in Red Bank, where, for as long as anyone can remember, the Fourth of July has occurred on the Third of July. In other words, the borough declared its independence from Independence Day as observed all over the map. You got a problem with that? Didn’t think so.
While opinions vary as to why this quaint local custom took hold — it pretty much boils down to not competing head-on with the beach towns and the big Macy’s event — all agree that was once was quaint, now simply ain’t. KaBoom Fireworks on the Navesink — the branded event, the nonprofit organization, the trademark — has long ago laid claim to the title of biggest July 4th pyrotechnics event in the state, and no amount of traffic jams, overtime costs or neighbor-against-neighbor tensions over parking spaces is going to change that anytime soon.
One thing that almost did change the game was The Economy, capitalized like so when it turns ornery. With many once-dependable corporate sponsors begging off from their previous levels of support, the KaBoom kommittee was hit hard — and they in turn staged a hard-hitting drive for small, individual-donor contributions that, in addition to a couple of hot-ticket fundraiser events, helped tackle production costs that committee chairman Peter Reinhart estimated at nearly $200,000. The organization also proudly announced that they met and exceeded their call for volunteers.
If you’re concerned that corners are going to be cut this year — shorter fuses, for example — rest assured that the big sky show aims to keep that bar sky-high. Gone are the days when nonprofessionals handled the pyrotechnics (check this archive story for an anecdote from olden times) — with the Santore family of Garden State Fireworks bringing their computer-timed extravaganza back to the river for the fourth year since taking over from the Grucci company.
The borough and the business community are doing everything in their power to make more than 150,000 guests welcome and comfortable — with metered parking suspended for the entirety of July 3, a smorgasbord of dinner specials around town and a general sense that, weather permitting of course, we’ll all enjoy ourselves. The KaBoom website has the crucial info on parking, transportation and VIP dinner options — and tune in to our mothership site redbankgreen for the most complete coverage as the big day unfolds. Then Continue Reading for our take on the event’s live entertainment.
With the barge silently waiting for sundown on the river, Jo Bonanno and his Godsons of Soul warm up the crowd at a previous edition of KaBoom! Fireworks on the Navesink. (Photo by Dean Fuschetti)
As has become a slick tradition in itself, New York classic rock radio station Q104.3 will be dispatching their remote van to Red Bank to broadcast live from Marine Park beginning at 3pm.
RIVERSIDE GARDENS:
When it came time to stage April’s annual KaBoom fundraising cocktail party at the Monmouth Boat Club, the committee brought along a couple of secret weapons to blast away some of those pesky springtime clouds — a little mini-display of fireworks by the Garden State crew to show ‘em they mean business, and a performance by Koka to lull them into a breeze-kissed tropical mindset. Mixing steel-drum accents and percussive exotica into a pretty eclectic songlist of rock, reggae, folk and originals by lead singer Scott Paden, this trio/quartet act really hits its stride in summer. 4:30pm-6:30pm
With a Sound of Asbury Park vibe that seems to work equally as well in a gritty nightclub as it does in broad daylight, Jobonanno & The Godsons of Soul have become as much a part of this event as the word “wooooo.” The family Bonanno makes its stand between the hours of 7pm and 9pm.
MARINE PARK:
Although he seems to take all of his publicity pictures in winter, Quincy Mumford is as accomplished an all-seasons performer as singers thrice his age. The 17 year old Allenhurst songwriter has been honing his skills in clubs and restaurants and on outdoor stages at a stepped-up pace — with a strong voice and a pop/trop approach (Jack Johnson, Bob Marley and G. Love are listed as influences) that makes him more than ready to play for thousands of “captive” listeners. 5pm-6pm
Can Brian Kirk & the Jirks handle a holiday? Better than that, they invented their own! This is the legendary Shore partyband that created the annual Dunesday extravaganza over at Donovan’s Reef, and not only can they take on just about any kind of music, they’re not shy about a little water and some thunder in the sky. Like the sea itself, this lineup expands and contracts to fit its container — and in summertime it’s at full potency; an irresistible force that’s better surfed than swam away from. 6pm-8pm
One of the things we’ve noticed about the latest generation of local musicians is an (almost mandatory on today’s scene) ability to work with equal effectiveness in solo or band contexts; acoustic or electric. Missouri transplant Josh Zuckerman was something of a pioneer that way, balancing an introspective writing style with a star-quality stage persona. This time he’s with his fine band (check his MySpace page for photos of guitarist Steve “Il Postino” DeVito in apparently required cowboy garb), “Out from Under” and outdoors in what we hope is a brilliantly beautiful night. 8:30pm-10:30pm
Posted
July 02, 2009
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