Concert stages were quiet, theaters were empty, nightclubs were closed.
But that didn’t stop New Jersey’s creative spirit. Indeed, the coronavirus epidemic that began in March has put a damper on the normal way art operates in New Jersey, but other nontraditional means of expression have been found and artists and fans have found new ways to engage. I found
In September, theaters and nightclubs across the state were allowed to reopen at limited capacity.
Here is our list of the top 10 entertainment stories from Jersey for 2020.
10. Mooby’s opens in Red Bank
Come taste the irreverence of pop culture and stay for the food.
A real-life movie restaurant opened in Red Bank for a week in September. If you’re unfamiliar with Kevin Smith’s world, the fictional movie debuted in his 1999 Smith film Dogma and has been mentioned in his films ever since.
“In a lot of our movies, this is a kind of background noise, and I didn’t expect to see it in real life,” Smith told USA Today Network.
Mooby’s acquired Gianni’s Pizzeria and now you can get both burgers and vegan fare.
The pop-up has moved to other parts of the United States and Canada, but the Highland native also hosted a drive-in show with actor Jason Mews at Holmdel’s Bell Works in September. Comic book store Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash will move from 35 Broad Street to 65 Broad Street on December 28th.
We assure you, they are not closed.
Let’s see: Inside Kevin Smith’s pop-up Mooby’s in Red Bank
9. Vogel opens on Basie
Not only did the show take place at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, it also opened a new venue.
The two-story Vogel Hall, which seats 800 people in peacetime, debuted on October 22 with a Grace Potter concert. It was a seated, socially distanced affair.
“Thank you for wearing the mask, it’s such an honor to be a part of tonight,” said Potter from the stage.
Vogel is named after Colts Neck philanthropists Anne and Sheldon Vogel. The new Basie venue is part of his ambitious $28 million expansion plan for the Count Basie Center for the Arts, which includes space for performance, education and community outreach.
Full text: Count Basie Center’s New Venue The Vogel Opens With Grace Potter
8. Whitney Houston walks into the rock hall
The star of the late Whitney Houston was as bright as ever in 2020.
A mural consisting of over £1,000 of hand-cut glass mosaics in her hometown of Newark’s Central Ward, sponsored in part by the city’s Prudential Center, was dedicated on December 16, when she celebrated rock and roll. I was appointed to Hall. Fame at a virtual ceremony on November 7th.
“I’m very, very proud to have Whitney inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” her mother, Cissy Houston, said at the Rock Hall ceremony. “She wanted to be something. She was nothing. She tried her best.”
Houston’s life was tragically cut short when he was found dead on February 11, 2012, in a hotel bathtub in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 48, the night before that year’s Grammy Awards.
Houston’s official biopic ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ is coming out soon. This is a collaboration between Houston real estate, headed by Houston’s sister-in-law Pat Houston, and music executive Clive Davis.
New Jersey Legends: Whitney Houston’s star is so bright she’ll be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame posthumously
7. Livestreams take all night
Alone, we were together.
The ‘NJ Shore Musicians ‘Stay at Home’ Live Music’ on April 4th was attended by over 30 musicians, mostly from the Jersey Shore and including one in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Previous story: Dozens of Jersey Shore Musicians Stay Home Streaming a Really Big Show Saturday Night
Jersey musicians were live-streaming at the time the venue closed, but it’s the first multi-artist effort and was organized by music fan James Cathery.
It was a hit that ended with an a cappella performance by Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, founder of the E Street Band from Florida.
He sang two “missionary songs” a cappella.
“I hope the songs I sing are relevant to what is happening in our country right now,” Lopez said before the performance.
they were.
6. Drive-in movie
Baby you can drive my car — to a drive-in movie.
Drive-in movies are making their way back stateside with pop-up screenings in Berkeley Township, Brick Township, Jackson Township, Hillsdale, Northvale, Ocean Township, Thayerville and more. Even Holmdel’s Bell Works got in on the act.
Holmdel: Bell Works Drive-In Movie Sold Out In First Weekend
Of course, Vineland’s Delcie Drive-In, the state’s only permanent drive-in, was old school.
They opened in 1949.
“Logic won,” Delsea co-owner Jude DeLeonardis told USA Today Network. “I should have won earlier.”
5. Drive-in concert
Baby, you can drive my car — to a drive-in concert.
Drive-in concerts, open-air shows where fans sit, sit, and sit next to their cars, trucks, and SUVs, have been all the rage this summer.
The concert was held at Monmouth Park in the Oceanport parking lot and was presented by the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank. Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, provided by BergenPAC. Fosterfield Farm in Morristown, presented by the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Jackson’s Six Flags Great Adventure. Such as Rhythm and Reels Drive-In in Williamstown.
It was a unique experience to say the least.
“There’s no audience to react to. It’s just a car,” Southside Johnny said on stage at Monmouth Park in July. increase.”
Monmouth Park: Front Votoms celebrate new album with drive-in concert
4. Jon Bon Jovi washing the dishes
In a social media post on March 19, Jon Bon Jovi was washing dishes at the Seoul Kitchen community restaurant in Red Bank, his face shaded in short sleeves.
In the post, Bon Jovi commented, “If you can’t do what you do…do what you can.”
This photo went viral because it served as a representation of the challenges we faced and still face. When a group of Chicagoans wanted to unite the city by singing a city-wide chorus out of their windows while Illinois was on “stay-at-home” order, they chose the song “Livin’ on” by Bon Jovi. It was a Prayer.
Band members David Bryan and Everett Bradley battled the virus. Bon Jovi’s tour has been canceled and the band’s ‘2020’ album has been postponed. New song “Do What You Can” was added, inspired by a photo taken by John’s wife Dorothea Bongiovi.
Bon Jovi became the epicenter of the rock and roll trend.
dining: Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen on Toms River’s Red Bank Opens for Al fresco Dining and Online Pickup
3. 50,000 in New Jersey
When will we know this is over?
“Somewhere in New Jersey, 50,000 people will scream again.”
Bruce Springsteen SiriusXM Radio Show: Lesser-known bands appreciate Boss’ spin
Bruce Springsteen resonated with fans and Jerseyans alike with his message of hope in “Bruce Springsteen: From My Home to Yours,” which aired May 6 on SiriusXM’s E Street Radio. The nonprofit, Red Bank’s Count Basie Center for the Arts, sold “50,000” of his t-shirts to raise money while its doors were closed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Boss offered just the right degree of cautious optimism that one day I’d be able to have all this in my rear-view mirror when I really needed it.
2. Jersey Musicians Say Black Lives Matter
They said it, sang it, rapped it, marched on it.
Following George Floyd’s May 25 arrest in Minneapolis, Jersey musicians, including local and national activists, began highlighting the issue of systemic racism. At Asbury Park, music legend Nina Simone’s grandson Alexander Simone released the song “Fight the Fight” and led Floyd’s protests in the city on June 1.
Bayville’s Chill Smith has re-released his track “Reverse Racism” and also shot a new video. Asbury Park rock duo Brick + Mortar have released “American Reality,” a stark look at the American reality. Halsey, George Clinton, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and other Jersey-born National His artists have all spoken out about Black Lives Matter.
NJ Hip Hop: Bayville’s Chill Smith Wears MAGA Hat in New ‘Reverse Racism’ Video
1. Jersey Arts continues to perform well
No, the world didn’t end on the second weekend of March 2020.
Music, theater, television, film, and artistic expression didn’t stop there that weekend. Creative types have just found new ways to do it, and fans have found new ways to have fun. Doing so further strengthened the bond between the artist and the community of fans.
“Letter to You” Interview: The Life, Death and Chords of the E Street Band
Jersey musicians such as Williams Honor, Jarrod Clemons, Emily Grove and Bobby Mahoney will stream weekly online, Ocean Avenue Stompers take their music to the streets, long brunch Brighton Bar, He performed music at venues such as the Langosta Lounge and Tim MacLone’s Supper Club. Her Chubby Pickle in Asbury Park and her Highlands has brought music indoors after the state allowed social distancing shows in September.
Bon Jovi ‘2020’ album review: What kind of world are we leaving our children?
Big Jersey artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Nicole Atkins have found new outlets such as radio, social media and variety shows. In addition, they all released new albums.
listen: New Jersey summer music releases to listen to right now
The new format, many of which are highlighted here, gave fans a new perspective on music and art makers. No it wasn’t the same. Not ideal. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven that the creativity of Jersey art is very strong.
A native of the Jersey Shore, Chris Jordan handles entertainment and features for USA Today Network New Jersey. Please contact @chrisfhjordan. [email protected].