I’m caught between wanting to review today and wanting to review the weekend as a whole.  It’s kind of like Return of the King winning all those Oscars; they were awarding the series, rather than the individual film.  So, tonight, I’m going to talk about today, and tomorrow I’ll sum up the whole weekend (must…resist…the urge…)

Today was a day of great music and also missed music.  I started off the day at one of the many Wave Gathering panels.  This one was focused on Public Relations and Marketing.  I got a few good pointers.  I made notes. 

I tried to see Cook, but something happened with something and he gave his set away and I had breakfast with him across the street (well, I stole some of Michael Brett’s toast, to be exact).

Then I managed to see Rick Barry, Heavy Weather, Arlan Feiles, Geena, Greg (from Last Perfect Thing), April Smith and The Great Picture Show, The Commons, Maybe Pete, Turtle Soup and a few other acts (whose names I shall look up for when I post the photos in the next day or so).

I missed Alex Brumel, as well as Geena and The 45s due to schedule mishaps.  These things happen, it’s rock and roll, and I’ve seen them both at other points this weekend, so life goes on.  I also missed Matt O’Ree, whom I really wanted to see.  It just got to be too late at night, and I had to catch the train (work in the morning and all…you know).

I also took a turn being interviewed for James “Don’t-Call-Me-’J-Pat’” Dalton’s documentary which will be put together and ready for your viewing pleasure on the 5th of whenever-the-hell-that-act-gets-together.

All in all, it was an exhausting day full of great music, good people, cute (though slightly tipsy…but very friendly) girls and good times all around.  Full wrap-up and photos tomorrow(ish).

I’m pooped.  Thanks Asbury Park!

Holy crap!

I’m soooo tired.  I’ve been rocking since noon (didn’t make the 11:25 I wanted to, but hey, still…)

Today, I succeeded in seeing Vextion, Amanda Duncan, City Riots, Outside The Box, The Millstone, Sheli Aarden, The New Rick Barrys, Readymade Breakup, The Amboys, The Millwaukees, Keith McCarthy, and a few others whose names escape me at the moment.  However, I failed at seeing Bob Denson, The Ruling Party and The Churchills (who are on RIGHT now), which I regret.  I also missed Hartwell and The Misery Loves, but that’s ’cause neither of them showed up, so, y’know, fuck those guys.

Oh, and addition to seeing SO many great acts,  Eric Ginsberg & The New Originals rocked The Saint…hard.  We got a CD of the show, so I’ll take a listen tomorrow or Monday and see if anything is worth posting here.  Also, there was a lot of video (should be up on youtube in the next week or so) and TONS of photos taken, both on stage and after.  Expect those in the coming week, as well.

Tomorrow, I’ll be checking out industry discussion panels, as well as 12 more acts.  I can’t wait!  I don’t know how I’ll get to sleep tonight with all the excitement.

I’ve been couch-surfing this weekend, so I don’t venture too far from Asbury Park.  Last night, I crashed with Ken Richlin who was super-awesome to put me up, and tonight I’m staying with Steve Bove, from the Abury Park Press, whom some of you may remember as the writer of that fantastic article about me a few months back.  Funny story, actually.  We’d never met before today.  He’s a friend of a few friends, and as I was walking past a storefront, he came out and introduced himself, having recognized me through the window.  And here I am at his apartment (house? I can’t tell), writing today’s wrap-up.  Well, that’s rock ‘n’ roll, right?

More tomorrow and my pictures on Monday.  G’night!

Holy crap!  That was awesome!

I saw Arlan Fieles, Anthony Fiumano, Alex Biese, James Dalton, Rhys, Bobby Strange, Keith Monacchio, Holtz., Keith McCarthy & The Ransom, and Chris Batten & The Woods (one of my new favorite bands)!  I’ll post pictures at the end of this ordeal.  I’m having the best time ever!

Eric Ginsberg & The New Originals hit the stage at The Saint, 601 Main St., at 3pm Saturday (tomorrow, today, who can tell anymore?).  We need someone to sell merch.  There MAY be a free weekend wristband to the rest of the Wave Gathering in it for you.  First one to comment me here by 11am (or just show up at the Saint at 2:45 in the event that no one comments here by 11am) gets it.

Sleep!  Then more rock!  Literally, tomorrow goes from 11:25am through 2am.  14.5 hours of music.  I’m in heaven.  I’m going to sleep.

I feel like a kid on the last day of school. I’m watching the clock, counting down until the end of the day…I’m just so giddy: It’s Wave Gathering!   I’ve waited 13 months, but it’s finally here!  Asbury Park, NJ, here I come!

This weekend, in addition to performing solo at Plan B, 705 Cookman Ave., directly between Bobby Strange and Keith Monacchio (tonight, Friday, 10pm), and playing with my band, The New Originals, at The Saint, 601 Main St. (tomorrow, Saturday, 3pm), I’m going to see 35 of my favorite emerging acts!

It’s only the greatest thing to happen for local music all frickin’ year!  I’m just so amped.  I can hardly contain myself!  Ooh, ooh…You should totally come!  They’re selling 1, 2 and 3-day wrist-bands at WaveGathering.com!  Come hang out with me and bask in my enthusiasm!   I’ve been up since 6am!  I couldn’t sleep ’cause of all the excitement!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I’m off to go play with my band, The New Originals, in the 2nd annual Asbury Rock Stars Charity Softball Tournament, in Neptune.  Seriously, you should come.

But I also wanted to let you know that REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for Eric Ginsberg’s 2nd annual Birthday Party/Car Rally!!   Wooooooooo!  The adventure lives on!

Yes, as of today, Saturday, June 14th, with 8 full weeks until my 2nd annual Birthday Party/Car Rally, registration is officially open!

Take a few minutes and browse the site, discover a little more about what the Car Rally is and make the most important decision you will ever make in your life: to get in on the adventure!

As of this point, nothing has been tested, however, it should all work. There will be minor aesthetic and functionality adjustments made to the site over the next week, but rest assured, it works.

So call up your best friends, band mates, siblings, or just a handful of hobos off the street, and register now!

I’m off to go play softball in the morning/afternoon, and then to play Indie Music Night this evening.  See you at one of them!

Eric Ginsberg & The New Originals’ BBQ and Band Debut:

First we BBQ at Cheesequake Park, then we caravan over to Keyport Twilight Concert Series for the debut of Eric Ginsberg & The New Originals!

It’s Memorial Day Potluck BBQ, hosted by Eric Ginsberg, Graham Schumann, David DiGioia, Andrew Kolbenschlag, Chris Smith and Darryll Meter.

• Bring a pack of your favorite burgers or dogs to be grilled up and we’ll take care of the rest.
• We have picnic tables, but the grass is gorgeous, so you may like to bring a blanket to sit on the ground.
• Oh! And there’s a beach there, so if it’s warm, wear a bathing suit and bring a towel!

1. Enter the park @ 300 Gordon Rd.
2. Pay $10 park entry per car (so carpool and/or pack your car)
3. Follow signs for “Lake” until you hit the parking lot.
4. Walk along the “Lakeside” path until it ends at the second clearing.

At 6pm, the caravan assembles and we head to…The debut of Eric Ginsberg & The New Originals!

Your new favorite band hits the stage of the Keyport Twilight Concert Series (across the street from Espresso Joe’s - 51 West Front St.) for what will be the first show of many in the New Originals’ plot to take over the world…or, y’know, play good rock & roll.

Lawn seating is your friend as this is an outdoor concert. Bring a chair or a blanket for this totally free event…with special guest, Laura Monzo!

Stuff to bring:
1. package of your favorite burgers or dogs
2. $10 per car park entry fee
3. picnic blanket or chairs (if you’d like to sit on the lawn)
4. bathing suit & towel (if it’s warm enough)
5. a few extra dollars, just in case (I hear there’s funnel cake at the park)

(RSVP to the evite, facebook invitations and/or myspace event page)

I spent the weekend in New Paltz, NY (and thereabouts), performing and making t-shirts with the new band logo.  I’ll post more about the shows tomorrow and work on getting the new shirts (hand made with the oh-so-fabulous Liz Cooper) up in the store soon.

Oh, also, I have to de-activate the button that tells you to buy Disconnect as a physical card.  It’s sold out.  Gone, I tell you…GONE!  You can still download the album in the Store, though.  And, um, the original t-shirts will still be available until they’re all sold out (XL is gone, but I’ve still got a handful of smalls, and too many mediums and larges).

And I’ve got to post some fun stuff to the You section.  Gee, I’ve got a lot of web-work to do, now that I’m thinking about it.  I’ve got to set aside a day and make a to-do list.  Well, I’ll fill you in on New Paltz tomorrow, and the rest will wait for another day (hopefully soon).

P.S. I picked up a vinyl copy of the Jazz Singer soundtrack by Neil Diamond for a BUCK!  I rule!

First things first: I was on 88.9fm, wmcx.com, today at 5pm.  It was a ton of fun.  I’ll post some audio soon.

THEN, I rocked over at Brewster’s, in Bradley Beach.  I’ll post photos soon.

Okay, onto business: The winner of the Eric Ginsberg & The New Originals art/logo contest is…::drum roll::…Len Peralta!

Len is the co-host of JawboneRadio and the genius behind Monster-by-Mail, Jonathan Coulton’s Visual Thing-A-Week, Zombie Alphabet and 700 Hobos Project. He has submitted this winning logo and jumped through a few hoops at my behest to make some accompanying art for later use.

Much thanks to everyone who entered! The 1st, 2nd and 3rd runners up (as voted on by The New Originals) were, in order: Chandra Jade, Jessica and Katie Biese.

ALL excellent submissions, and wonderful artists, and I thank them sincerely for their wonderful efforts (each having turned in multiple submissions) .

Len has won…well…recognition from you, for one thing. He and I have worked out a licensing agreement that is mutually beneficial so, should I make money selling items with the logo, he gets his fair share. So, um, I suppose I should make some stuff for you all to buy, so he can get his due…or something. Stickers and T-shirts in the summer, I promise (I don’t really promise). In the meantime, seriously, go buy a monster.

So, um, yeah…see you Monday night in New Brunswick?

…will be formally announced in a day or two.  The band and I picked it out.  Now I just need to see if I can get some customizations done on it before I unleash it to the world.

A VERY sincere thank you to everyone who submitted.  At the end of the day, there were a LOT that I would happily pick, and honestly debated trying to use more than one.  However, for marketing/branding purposes, I really need to pick one and put it on everything.

Keep an eye out.  I’ll post soon.

The Espresso Joe’s show was great. All the acts were terrific, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the audience. Seriously, packed house, attentive all the way, singing/clapping along at all the right moments…You guys rule!

You can catch me next, solo, on Friday, April 4th, playing and interviewing for an hour on 88.9fm WMCX (or WMCX.com for the internet broadcast) at 5pm, and then heading over to Brewster’s for a live 8pm performance (details linked in the sidebar over yonder –>). You’ll be able to catch the band again (still acoustic until May) the following Monday, April 7th, at the Court Tavern, in New Brunswick (details, again, linked in the sidebar –>).