Border crossing, heading north from Ocean Grove. Paul Goldfinger photo. June, 2014. Click for bigger. ©
Asbury Park is where the action is, or so they say. Ocean Grove is quiet and family oriented. Asbury Park is hip, noisy and a bit disheveled. Ocean Grove has organ recitals while AP has the Stone Pony.
The contrast is striking, but, taken together, we have a remarkable confluence—a this or that, or even a ying or yang. We can enjoy them both, but when it’s time to get some sleep, OG is the place. Compared to AP, we are from different worlds—our’s is Earth. Well, actually, in OG we are from Neptune. But we shouldn’t fight the difference.
A change of pace is within walking distance north and south. We heard jazz in Asbury last Thursday. This Thursday we will hear the Imperial Brass in the Great Auditorium, a venue that is unmatched anywhere, and if remarkable acoustics for music appeal to you, come to OG for the IB. You won’t be drowned out by the tumult at the bar.
And, what the heck, Days is on both sides of the border, and you don’t need a passport.
—-Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
CANADIAN BRASS : Pachelbel’s Canon in D–this is what you get in Ocean Grove:
Love the many choices and differences between the two towns, but whats with the “singing” at Nagels on the weekends. Way too much and way too late.till 11:30. What happened to the beautiful soft guitar singers we once had.?