2020/2/14 The Englishtown Project @ Stone Pony
Not like I don’t get to scratch my livemusic itch often, cause I do, but it feels like forever since I’ve gotten down hard like I did last night. So I just completely let go and gave myself to The Englishtown Project and they delivered in spades. They’re one of those bands that you don’t know until you know, but once you do, well, fun times ahead. A seasoned and authentic mix of musicians both young and old, they regularly welcome guests as they play homage to primarily the Grateful Dead but also Marshall Tucker Band and NRPS.
The best part first … they’re super good but not all that popular or well known which kind of sucks for them but is pretty great as a fan if you like to enjoy inexpensive top shelf music in uncrowded bars with plenty of room to shake your ass. Well, that’s exactly what I like so this show checked all my boxes, most especially my desire to get down with a bunch of like-minded and unpretentious folks. Long story short, I danced my ass off to the tune of, drum roll please….
18,721 steps, every one of them an eager warmup for FBXX.
I wrote this review for Asbury Park Vibes…
Asbury Park was home to a revival of sorts when The Englishtown Project took the stage at The Stone Pony last night. The brainchild of guitarist Michael Falzarano, who played with both The New Riders of the Purple Sage and Hot Tuna, The Englishtown Project was formed to play tribute to three iconic bands who played at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ on September 3, 1977, when the Grateful Dead headlined what may have been New Jersey’s most historic concert with The Marshall Tucker Band and The New Riders of the Purple Sage on the undercard. Joining Falzano on stage are Rob Wolfson (lead guitar/vocals), Clare Maloney (vocals), and three-fifths of the Zen Tricksters: Dave Diamond (drums), Tom Circosta (guitar/vocals), and Klyph Black (bass/vocals). Kevin Cooper filled in rather admirably on keyboards.
Buddy Cage, who recently passed away on February 5, was a longtime member of New Riders of The Purple Sage and had graced many an Asbury Park stage alongside bandmate Michael Falzarano. After a warm introduction by Stone Pony promoter Kyle Bendle, The Englishtown Project’s set appropriately began with a dedication in Cage’s memory, a chilling cover of the Rolling Stone’s “Dead Flowers” followed by NRPS original, “Louisiana Lady.” Female vocalist Clare Maloney wowed the uninitiated with her first lead of the night on a raucous cover of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” As the Grateful Dead covered the aforementioned Berry rocker nearly 300 times over their 30 year career, it was a fitting segue in the setlist as the took Dead-centric turn with “They Love Each Other,” “Cassidy,” and “Panama Red,” a song written by Peter Rowan, and shared by Jerry Garcia and NRPS when they played together, and then recorded by each of them separately shortly thereafter. “Mississippi Half-Step” brought the night’s first goosebumps as the crowd and band engaged in a stirring sing along.
Asbury local Sandy Mack joined the band for vocals and harmonica on “West LA Fadeaway” and “Minglewood Blues” before handing the vocals back to Maloney for a chilling cover of Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” also played with regularity by the Dead. Perhaps in an ode to Valentine’s Day, or more likely because it’s one of the Marshall Tucker Band’s most widely known songs, “Heard It In a Love Song” followed before Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” and the Grateful Dead’s “Music Never Stopped” closed the set. During intermission, the crowd was treated to a guitar/harmonica duo of Peter Tonti and Sandy Mack.
Peter Tonti stayed on stage and continued to flex his vocal and guitar chops for the set opening “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain.” NRPS original “I Don’t Know You” preceded a high energy duo of “Good Lovin’” and “Shakedown Street,” the latter of which announced the stroke of midnight and began the new day in high fashion. Sandy Mack returned to take lead vocals on “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” a song written by Little Milton and popularized by the Jerry Garcia Band. A gorgeous version of Marshall Tucker’s “Can’t You See” followed as Maloney continued to tug on the heart strings of the crowd with her scintillating vocals.
“Bertha,” Beat It On Down the Line,” and “Tennessee Jed” followed as the crowd thinned out but the band continued to heat up. Sandy Mack returned yet again for lead vocals on “Next Time You See Me,” an early blues number recorded by Junior Parker in 1956 but played with regularity in the early days of the Grateful Dead and sung by Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. Mack remained and Tonti rejoined for an all-hands-on-deck version of “Turn on Your Lovelight” that put the final exclamation point on this three-plus hour throwback.
Asbury Park always looks best in tie-dye, and The Englishtown Project delivered a gem last night for an all-ages crowd. For a night of unpretentious and authentic Grateful Dead with a smattering of choice Marshall Tucker and NRPS covers, highlighted by gorgeous vocals and a three (sometimes four) guitar attack, don’t miss your next chance to see The Englishtown Project when they play a stage near you. Follow the band on Facebook to be notified of upcoming shows.