ATLANTIC CITY — Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes is a homegrown New Jersey, high-energy group rooted in blues, R&B, and gritty horn-driven rock ‘n’ roll. The band first emerged from the same 1970s’ Asbury Park music scene as friend and contemporary Bruce Springsteen, who wrote much of the Jukes’ early material along with current E Street Band guitarist (and fictitious Sopranos wiseguy Silvio Dante) Steven Van Zandt.

Southside Johnny Lyon

A blast to see live, the Jukes have tended to tour infrequently into southern New Jersey over the years for reasons unbeknownst to mankind, including fun-loving front man Johnny Lyon, another big-time pioneer of what would later be called the “Jersey Shore Sound.” Friday night will be an exception, as the Jukes will make their way to the Tropicana Showroom starting around 9pm. And at $20 a ticket, even those feeling the crunch of a down economy should be able to get their assets well enough in order to witness the show.

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Susan Cowsill

SOMERS POINT, N.J. — Now in its 35th year, the Somers Point’s Good Old Days Festival has become a summer staple, and who better than to highlight a summer staple than the original “Flower Girl” Susan Cowsill?

The lead singer for the family band The Cowsills that formed in the mid-1960s (serving as inspiration for the hit ’70s TV show The Partridge Family), Cowsill will perform some of the songs she and her family made into hits (including “Indian Lake,” “Hair” and “The Flower Girl”) during sets at 3pm and 4:30pm.

The critically acclaimed singer/songwriter will be joined by her own band and special guest Billy Walton, the Jersey shore’s homegrown guitar hero, at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park in Somers Point. Local favorites the Danny Eyer Band and Dane Anthony will also be performing at the festival, as will several other bands and solo artists on three stages.

The event also includes the annual 5K Run/Walk for Bud to benefit the Lawrence “Bud” Kern Scholarship Foundation (starting 9am), more than 50 vendors, antique cars, fun for the kids, raffles, demonstrations and more. Click here for more.

NORTHFIELD — Come celebrate the dawn of a great New Year of music, as Tony Mart’s Presents Dr. Bobby Fingers at a holiday sing-a-long party Friday night, Dec. 30, at Formica Brothers Café, Kensington Square, 200 Tilton Road in Northfield. The show will be from 7-10pm and tickets are just $6 at the door. Of course, a selection of wonderful Formica Brothers delicacies will be available and, as always, you may bring your own beer and wine to accompany those marvelous tastes and treats.

The Billy Walton band of bassist William Paris, guitarist Billy Walton (both pictured above) and drummer Marcus Croan will have a CD release party at Sandi Pointe on Jan. 14.

A special concert event has been added for the first Friday of 2012 — Jan. 6 — as Hawkins Road Trio will be performing your favorite pop, rock and country tunes. The trio includes “Ernie T” Trionfo on guitar and vocals, Jimmy “Old School” Glenn on drums and vocals, and Brian “The Voice” Conover  on keyboards and vocals.

Then on Saturday, Jan. 14, the action moves to Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro, 908 Shore Road in Somers Point, for the long-awaited CD release party of The Billy Walton Band’s Crank it Up — which features rock ‘n roll sounds reminiscent of Springsteen, Southside Johnny and, of course, the Rock ‘n Roll of Tony Mart’s.

And don’t forget Tony Mart’s Super Bowl Celebration on Friday, Feb. 3, as two of the greatest local legends, Danny Eyer and Bobby Campanell, perform at Formica Brothers Café from 7-10pm.
Save the date to support Frank Gross (from The Shakes) and his family on Sunday, March 11, at Sandi Pointe when we begin to feel the upcoming excitement of the spring-and-summer concert season with a special “Tony Mart’s All-Star Jam,” which will include The Shakes and several other outstanding outfits. Feel free to e-mail TONYMARTO@AOL.COM or call (609) 653-6069 for more information.

Let the Good Times Roll in the New Year!

The photo at left truly encompasses the magic and the ambiance of the wonderful weekly experiences enjoyed during the Somers Point Beach Concert Series, held every Friday night all summer long at the William Morrow Beach in Somers Point.

Here southern New Jersey guitar virtuoso Billy Walton jams alongside his two daughters (one of whom is keeping the beat with a tambourine) as Joe Prinzo — the road manager for Southside Johnny’s Jukes, for whom Walton plays lead guitar when not performing solo or with his own band — looks on while backing up Billy on rhythm guitar.

The shot, taken July 15 by Atlantic City Weekly’s Rich Kohler, sort of encapsulates what the Friday night Beach Concert Series is all about — top-shelf entertainment, enjoying quality time with the family, and celebrating summer in a southern New Jersey shore town deeply entrenched in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.

To learn more about the Beach Concert Series, go here, e-mail Carmen Marotta at TonyMarto@AOL.com  or call (609) 457-1316 or 653-6069.

Although phenomenal rock guitarist Billy Walton is now touring internationally as the lead guitarist with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, he will find the time to do an intimate show and celebrate the release of his new CD entitled Neon City with his own band at the initial Tony Mart Reunion Party of 2010.
The hot ‘n’ popular young Jersey rockers will bring their sizzling rock ‘n’ roll sound to the Sandi Pointe Coastal Bistro (formerly Mac’s Restaurant) at 908 Shore Road in Somers Point on Saturday night, Jan. 16. Doors open 7pm and the show starts 8pm. It will include two performances by the Billy Walton Band, a Tony Mart-style dance contest, and meet-and-greet interviews with the Tony Mart all-stars.
Tickets are just $6 per person. Autographed copies of the Billy Walton Band’s great new CD will be available for purchase. Tickets will be available at the door, however reservations for tables of eight or more will be accepted.
For more information, e-mail tonymarto@aol.com or call 653-6069 or 927-2759. Tony Mart’s welcomes you to join the party and “Let The Good Times Roll.”