I went to the Saturday show with my Wife and Daughter and had a great time.
The format is very simple. Max and his band have a list of roughly 200 songs, and you can request a specific song and, if chosen, they will perform it. Mostly classic rock with a few Bruce songs thrown in.
His band consisted of veterans of the Jersey Shore music scene. Originally the band was supposed to be 3 members of the Asbury Park based The Weeklings, a Beatles tribute band. I think for the first show, guitarist and vocalist Bob Burger, Bassist and vocalist Glen Burtnik and Guitarist and vocalist John Merjave all appeared. On the second night, Ralph Notaro filled in for Bob Burger.
Mr. Burger had recently recovered from a heart attack he had while performing on stage, and Max mentioned how great he had been the previous night. I only hope his absence was more a preventative measure, and did not have anything to do with him not feeling well.
The mood was loose and very fun from beginning to end. Max was a great MC and kept the pace moving throughout the night. He told many great stores about the bands, drummers and songs that influenced him, and skillfully handled his way with audience members who seemed to think this was the best time to try to have a conversation with him.
Glen Burtnik, John Merjave and Ralph Notaro all took turns singing lead vocals, and sounded great on the wide variety of styles. Glen sang lead on the Beatles covers, John on the Bruce songs.
I was happy that Max only did 2 Bruce songs. As big a Bruce fan as I am , it is a real treat to hear Max show off his skills on drum parts for bands as varied as The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Surfaris, and Deep Purple.
The night was a long overdue reminder of how great the Jersey Shore music scene was and continues to be, and how many great musicians we are lucky to have in the area.
As Max said at the end of the night, it was everything a Saturday night on the Jersey Shore should be. Great music, great stories and maybe a cold beer or two.
Here is the setlist:
She Loves You (The Beatles)
Hush (Deep Purple)
Good Times Bad Time (Led Zeppelin)
American Girl ( Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
Glad All Over (Dave Clark Five)
Highway to Hell (AC/DC)
Lola (The Kinks)
Pink Cadillac (Bruce Springsteen)
Nowhere Man (The Beatles)
Wooly Bully (Sam the Sham & The Pharoahs)
Hang on Sloopy (The McCoys)
Cinnamon Girl ( Neil Young)
Surrender (Cheap Trick)
Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones)
Honky Tonk Woman ( The Rolling Stones)
I Can See For Miles (The Who)
Wipeout( The Surfaris)
Glory Days (Bruce Springsteen)
