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Blog Entry: #85

Joe DePalma & His Cover Band Perform LIVE At The
Legendary Stone Pony In Asbury Park, New Jersey!
(LIVE FOOTAGE)
by Joe DePalma

I have always loved the Rock n' Roll culture of New Jersey. Considering I'm a Jersey boy myself I guess it's not groundbreaking for me to name other New Jersey natives like Frank Sinatra, Frankie Valli, Southside Johnny, Jon Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen as my core musical inspirations (along with Elvis). However, it has always been hard for me to figure out if I love music because of those artists, or if I love those artists because I love music.

You see when you grow up in New Jersey those artists become a deep part of your life whether you like it or not. It just so happened that I liked it and dove headfirst into the New Jersey music pool and I haven't come up for air since.

With that said there is one main club that represents the power and the promise that New Jersey Rock n' Roll is known for; and that club is The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. The house that Bruce built. The music factory that wouldn't die even when the entire city of Asbury crumbled down around it for most of the 1990's and into the millennium. The Stone Pony is a national treasure of live music and its always been a dream of mine to play there with my band. I especially focused on this goal for about one year and then out of the blue it was a reality. I believed it. I conceived it. And then I achieved it.


The Stone Pony - Asbury Park, NJ

It was mid summer 2010 and it happened very fast. The party rock cover band that I front called HAVE MERCY was playing our usual circuit of Jersey shore bars and clubs when we were approached with an offer we couldn't refuse.

Our cover band never spent a lot of time trying to get booked to play at The Stone Pony because the Pony caters almost exclusively to original acts. The Pony doesn't usually give stage time to party rock cover bands who play established songs from famous artists.

Bruce Springsteen on the Stone Pony Stage

Even now I'm now 100% sure how it happened, but through connections here and there The Stone Pony offered us a spot to play on a Friday night as an after party for a night of original music. The gig literally found US.

As the night of the gig drew closer it was reported that Hurricane Earl was looking like it would make landfall up and down the Jersey shore on the very night of our gig. Considering The Stone Pony is across the street from the beach we were a little nervous.

However, as the night progressed Hurricane Earl fizzled out but not before it cast an incredible energy over Asbury and the surrounding areas. By the time we were ready to take the stage for our 40 minute time slot all the stars were beginning to align outside and it was quickly becoming a night I'd truly never forget.


Myself & Have Mercy rocking at The Stone Pony

After only a few songs into our set the management asked us to continue on past any pre-established time limit because the excitement and energy in the club was amazing. When all was said and done our quick 40 minute set turned into a 25 song full show that lasted a little over 2 hours! It was an awesome night that I'll never forget. Thank You Stone Pony as well as everyone who partied with us!

(For Live Video From This Amazing Night - Click The Links For Each Song)

Here is the full set list from the Stone Pony show:

1. Baba O'Riley -- Who
2. Hard To Handle -- Black Crowes
3. Alive -- Pearl Jam
4. American Girl -- Tom Petty
5. Summer of 69 -- Bryan Adams
6. Jack and Diane -- John Melloncamp
7. Bad Moon Rising - CCR
8. Only The Good Die Young -- Billy Joel
9. Jailhouse Rock - Elvis
10. Do You Love Me --Contours
11. Runaround Sue - Dion
12. Twist and Shout - Beatles
13. Shout - Isley Brothers
14. Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
15. Blister In The Sun - Violent Femmes
16. Laid - James
17. Semi Charmed - Third Eye Blind
18. Dammit -- Blink 182
19. Country Roads -- John Denver
20. Ruby Soho - Rancid
21. 8675309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
22. Satisfaction -- Rolling Stones
23. Born To Run -- Bruce Springsteen
24. Rockin' in the Free World -- Neil Young
25. Paradise City -- Guns n' Roses

*** HAVE MERCY is ***
Joe DePalma/ Lead Vocals
James Marrero/ Lead Guitar
Kyle "Zupe" Zupancic/ Bass-Vocals
Greg Aronne/ Rhythm Guitar
Steve Svenda/ Drums


Have Mercy - Stone Pony Asbury Park New Jersey
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