Top 5 - Cha Cha's Fav Concerts
- Cha Cha Cherry
- Jan 21
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 22
Each January, I eagerly await to see which of my favorite bands will come to NJ and who is coming to my favorite venues. I sit with baited breath waiting for The Stone Pony to release their Summer Stage schedule and PNC to announce their summer shows. So far this year, I’m excited to (hopefully) see Me First and the Gimme Gimmes at the AC Beer Fest and Lynyrd Skynyrd in AC since I missed them last year. But it got me thinking….what have been my fav fav concerts I’ve ever been to? In no particular order…
1. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Skynyrd is one of my favorite bands, but unfortunately, I’m not old enough to have caught the original band led by the beautiful Ronnie Van Sant. Some may say the current band as is, isn’t the real deal – and I get it – especially with the loss of original member Gary Rossington in 2023. Despite what naysayers say, I still will forever love the music of Skynyrd and am grateful that I get to see Ronnie’s brother Johnny keeping it alive today. I’ve seen them a few times but my favorite show was in AC a few years ago. I think I was seventh row. It was surreal. But what made it so special was that Gary Rossington, who was suffering from some health issues, came out to play one song. It was the only time I ever got to see him play.
2. 311 – Back in the 90s when I was in college and thought I was a little skater girl gliding down the streets of Belmar in the summer on my board, 311 was my jam. Back then, a lot of the cover bands I used to go see – like Lovepumps/Love Lies Bleeding, Big Orange Cone, Fuzzy Buzzy Slippers – would cover 311. I saw them a handful of times back then but took a hiatus that was probably 20 years+. Sad but true. I had the chance to see them a few summers ago at the AC Beer Fest summer session and damn. First of all they still sound phenomenal. Secondly, lead singer Nick Hexum, at 55, is legit aging backwards. The energy they bring is infectious. The sounds of my youth just bring me back to my carefree dickies-wearing days. I loved 311 so much that on my 21st birthday, I got a butterfly tattoo in tribute to “Beautiful Disaster.” Hope to catch these guys when they come back to NJ (hopefully soon). I can be feeling any sort of way and hear “Good Feeling” and it will still bring a smile to my face.
3. Beastie Boys – What GenXer doesn’t love the Boys? I grew up on these guys. What they did was magical and unique. Don’t tempt me to rap Paul Revere because my old ass still knows most of the lyrics. My heart was legit broken when MCA passed in 2012. I loved Intergalatic so much and was so fortunate when they toured. I’m not 100% sure of the year (late 90s?) I saw them play or where (Maybe Philly? Maybe NJ?) but it was the first and only time I got to see them live. And I am so grateful. One word = ICONIC.
4. Less Than Jake – LTJ has been one of my favorite bands since the 90s when they first started out. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen them play over the years. But they get two call outs. I’m so archaic, I remember a show in the late 90s at Hunka Bunka, you kids know it as Starland Ballroom. LTJ was playing, I went by myself with some pez dispensers on hand to give to the boys who collected them. There couldn’t have been more than 50 people there, mostly guys in their teens and 20s. Then me. Well that was to my advantage as I got to hang with them and do shots. The other show was a few years ago ALSO at now Starland Ballroom. My now teen daughter was a tween back then and she loved LTJ. She often played Fortnight with Roger Lima (after I told him he played and streamed). I told him we were coming to the show, her first LTJ show and that she collected guitar pics. After the show, she got to meet him, got a hug and a guitar pic. Seeing how happy she was just made me melt. We caught him again a few years later at House of Independents and he remembered her. They are on a first name basic. I’m just “Brielle’s mom” after only fan gurling for almost 30 years lol!
5. Artimus Pyle Band - Led by drummer Artimus Pyle, this band plays ONLY Lynyrd Skynyrd tunes. But why? Pyle was in Skynyrd –not the original drummer (Bob Burns was) but was in the band from 74-77 and 87-91 and was the one who was able to escape the infamous plane crash and went for help (and got shot in the process). I saw his band a few years ago at a small show at the Newton Theater. He’s in his 70s and is still beating up those drums. But the best part – I told my friend Stacey, before the show, I’m not leaving until I meet him. Patience paid off as we lingered after the show. I got to meet him, talk to him and get a picture. It was surreal.
Soooo....boys and girls...what were your fav concerts? Who are you looking forward to seeing in 2025?
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