Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

RED BANK: A RED-CARPET, NAME-DROP NIGHT

drummer_carmine_appice_right_works_with_basie_rockit_students_in_advance_of_their_vanguard_awards_performance_on_august_29th-1235603Legendary rock drummer Carmine Appice, above at right works with members of the Rockit! band in preparation for Saturday’s show, which also honors local music legend Bobby Bandiera, below.

bandiera-220x149-2414531A lieutenant governor, a captain of industry and a rock ‘n roll field marshal are the honorees — with some music royalty in the house — when the Count Basie Theatre presents its 2015 Vanguard awards in Red Bank Saturday night.

Among the honored trio is Bobby Bandiera, the veteran singer-guitarist whose résumé stretches from legendary bar-band combos (Cats on a Smooth Surface) to major tours with the Asbury Jukes and Bon Jovi, in addition to his duties as bandleader-curator for the Basie’s HOPE Concerts and long-running series of Jersey Shore Rock ‘N Soul Revue tributes.

The ceremony, which also honors New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and Investors Bank executive Richard Spengler for their support of the arts in Monmouth County, is slated to occur at the halfway point of an ambitious performance by the students of the Basie’s school-of-rock Rockit!, a show that begins at 7 p.m. with a set of classic-rock Sounds of 1969, and continues with a full performance of The Who’s TOMMY.

The performance promises the participation of some special guests, including Maureen Van Zandt, a recipient (with husband Steven Van Zandt, of the E Street Band) of an inaugural Vanguard Award from last year, and a participant whose onstage acting-singing role stands in addition to her offstage work in the planning of the concert, as she assisted Lori Santoro in the creation of the kids’ stage costumes.

Also taking on an advisory role — and working personally with the young musicians of the classic-rock conservatory — is Carmine Appice, the influential Brooklyn-born drummer who came to prominence as a charter member of the 60s power combo Vanilla Fudge (and whose many credits include stints with Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, and the friendly-fire “Drum Wars” battles with his fellow-drummer brother Vinny).

Bandiera, the man who redbankgreen once described as “the hardest working Cat in Shore business,” is also expected to lend a lick or two to the recreation of Pete Townshend’s pivotal rock opera — while his onetime bandmate Southside Johnny Lyon has been announced as an additional guest for the Rockit! performance; joining Rick Byrd (a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee for his work with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts) and Pat Guadagno, the local music legend (not to mention brother-in-law to the lieutenant guv).

The evening kicks off with a set of 1969 selections that range from the later works of Elvis Presley and the Beatles, to the debut efforts of King Crimson and more. Included will be historical information culled from the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation’s Teachrock program, founded by Steven Van Zandt — and all monies raised from the concert will go towards partnership program scholarships and other initiatives that fall within the Basie’s mission of providing arts education and outreach.

Southside Johnny, who resumes his New Year’s Eve concerts at the Basie in 2015, is scheduled to present the Vanguard award to Bandiera. Area businesswoman, philanthropist and Count Basie Theatre board member Carol Stillwell will present Lt. Governor Guadagno with hers, while American Storage CEO and Rumson resident Warren Diamond will present Richard Spengler with his Vanguard.

“The 2015 Vanguard awards will continue to shine a light on the Count Basie Theatre’s education and outreach programs and especially support the Theatre’s partnership programs such as Rockit, JazzArts and the Central Jersey Youth Chorale,” stated Count Basie Theatre President and CEO Adam Philipson in a press release. “This year’s three honorees aren’t just supporters of the Basie’s mission, but advocates for the importance of the arts in everyday life around our region.”

Take it here for tickets ($25 – $75) to Saturday’s show.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
redbankgreen Classics
Partyline
JAY AND SILENT EAGLE
A very loud blue jay squawks at an indiferent bald eagle in a treetop alongside the Swimming River in Red Bank this week. (Partyline photo b ...
PIZZA LOVING SQUIRREL SPOTTED IN RED BANK
Pizza squirrel spotted in Red Bank. (click to read)
GET YOUR MA SOMETHIN’ NICE AT THE RED BANK FARMERS MARKET
It’s a beautiful and sunny Mother’s Day for the first instance of the farmer’s market, held every Sunday, beginning in May ...
SIGN? WHAT SIGN?
Folks in Red Bank Wednesday exercising their riparian rights to access tidal waters first encoded into Roman law in 500 AD and later adopted ...
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Partyline contributor captures photo of backyard fox.
STRIPER RUN AT MARINE PARK
An angler pulls in a striped bass from the Marine Park bulkhead Tuesday evening. (photo by Partyline contributor Boris Kofman)  
COLD AS CANADA? CHECK.
A pair of goose sculptures propped atop an air conditioning unit on River Street in Red Bank.
SUNRISE OVER A GLASSY NAVESINK
Sunrise over the Navesink River, seen from NJ Transit Train 3320. (photo by Partyline contributor Karly Swaim)  
A BLAST FROM THE PAST
NJ Transit "heritage" locomotive makes an appearance at the Red Bank station.
RBFD SNUFFS OUT SMALL APARTMENT FIRE
A small fire that started in a light fixture at the Colony House apartments in Red Bank was quickly put out by members of the Red Band Volun ...
HEAVENLY RED BANK
Rays burst from behind clouds at the sun begins to set over the Navesink River. (photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)
IN THE FLOW STATE AT RIVESIDE GARDENS
Flow artists in Riverside Gardens Park Friday night. ( photo by Partyline Contributor Karly Swaim)
MAILBOXES HEAD TO HISTORY’S SCRAP HEAP
Sign of the digital age: mailboxes hauled away from Red Bank post office to storage.
HOVERING CHOPPER
What’s going on here? Last Sunday. Hovering around for quite a while. (Photo and text by Partyline contributor Rosaleen Perry)   ...
RBMS HOOPS CHAMPS HONORED
The Red Bank Middle School girls basketball team is honored for their championship season. (click for more)
NAVESINK SUNSET
Sunset sunburst over Riverside Gardens Park (photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)
RIVERSIDE SUNSET
Sunday’s sunset shot from Riverside Gardens Park. (Photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus) —
MARINE PARK SUNSET
Stunning sunset from Red Bank's Marine Park.
GULLS AND GRAY OVER MOLLY PITCHER INN
On a cold rainy spring day, bulls soared high above the Navesink River and the golden cupola of Red Bank's Molly Pitcher Inn.
Red Bank Commuters Enjoy Stunning Sunrise Over Navesink River
Thursday morning sunrise over the Navesink River, a commuter view from NJ Transit Train 3320. (photo by Partyline contributor Karly Swaim) & ...