A Night to Remember w/ Remember Jones
Last Friday, I attended a sold out concert at the House of Independents in Asbury Park with Remember Jones.
I first became aware of Remember Jones in the Fall, when he was performing the entire R. Kelly “Trapped in the Closet” album. Sad that I could not attend that performance, I kept in touch on social media to find out about future performances. When I found out he’d be performing the entire Amy Winehouse “Back to Black” album in a “Back to Black to Back” concert, I knew I had to be there. The show was part of the annual Light of Day Winter Fest in Asbury Park which raises money to cure Parkinson’s Disease, so not only was it going to be a great concert, but it was also going to be for a great cause.
If you haven’t checked out the House of Independents, you need to! It’s a great venue in downtown Asbury Park that hosts a lot of great talent. It is definitely something that Asbury Park was craving and I look forward to going back there.
After two amazing opening acts (Kiirstin Marylin & Nik Greeley & The Operators) Remember Jones’ 20 piece band took the stage before he came out and the crowd went wild. After trying hard to quiet down the crowd, he launched into “Rehab”. As soon as I heard that performance, I was hooked.
For the next hour + I listened to the entire Amy Winehouse masterpiece as interpreted by Remember Jones and his band. Not only did every song have an amazing amount of energy, but some songs included mash ups (“Tears Dry on Their Own”/”Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”) giving them a completely new sound. On of my favorites (although I’m a bit biased) is a mash up of the Amy Winehouse track “Only He Can Hold Her” and NJ native Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)”. Not only did the two songs mesh perfectly together, but my middle school best friend Virgina (who was a back up singer) rapped on it. Small world…
He concluded the show with Smashing Pumpkins “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” and “Marcy Playgrounds “Sex and Candy” which blew my mind. The man could literally sing the alphabet and give it a different spin. It was wild.
You don’t need to fan of the original artist he performs to become a fan of Remember Jones. His energy, music direction and performance of his band make it worth it to see him live.
Be sure to like him on Facebook for a chance to see him yourself!
About Remember Jones:
Remember Jones is a soul/pop singer with a throwback vibe and authentic energy that bring audiences to another time and place. Originally from Asbury Park, NJ where he has a stronghold on their large, thriving music scene, he has packed popular venues such as THE STONE PONY, ASBURY LANES, THE SAINT, and sang for audiences at CONVENTION HALL and THE PARAMOUNT THEATRE. He has been awarded TOP VOCALIST in the Asbury Park Music Awards, directed and debuted as HEDWIG in HEDWIG IN THE ANGRY INCH for Asbury Park’s first long-running theatrical production, and has produced, music directed, and supported many local acts, rock musicals, and touring bands (most recently direct support for the return of Buster Poindexter).
He fronts a tribute project “back to BACK TO BLACK”, a recreation of the entire AMY WINEHOUSE album with an orchestra of 25, a re-creation of JOE COCKER’s MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN with a 20-piece band, has created live show experiences as Producing Artistic Director of the historic STRAND THEATER in Lakewood, NJ, and released a fully composed and orchestrated chamber pop with a Chicago-based band, THE LIVE DEBATE!. On October 31st, 2015, he was the first ever to present and sing R. KELLY’s TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET LIVE alongside a 20-piece orchestra.
Available and adaptable fronting a band from 4 members to 25, Remember evokes the energy of the great front men and women, with one of a kind song styling (“the vocal child of Tom Jones and Patti LaBelle”, says award-winning singer/songwriter Glen Burtnik) and expert storytelling that keep audiences on their toes and emotions in the moment
Additional Praise for Remember Jones:
“…rock and roll power vocalist… sits somewhere in between Jeff Buckley and Sufjan Stevens” – John Pfeiffer, The Aquarian Weekly
“Soul sensation Remember Jones is an expert at making the past present, bringing history to life with soulful sound and funky fury.” – Alex Biese, The Asbury Park Press
“…simply amazing…” – Rock Chicago Magazine
“…consistently entices…” – Chicago Reader
“…powerhouse soul singer…” – American Songwriter Magazine
“…the vocal love-child of Tom Jones and Patti LaBelle… Remember Jones is a gifted, talented, hard working, inspired powerhouse who always – every show I’ve seen him do – brings the audience to it’s feet with his intense, exhilarating performances. I’m not kidding. You wait and see.” – Glen Burtnik, Billboard chart singer/songwriter, acclaimed musician
“Soul sensation” -ASBURY PARK PRESS
“Fiercely passionate frontman, one for the ages” – LIVE FOR LIVE MUSIC
“NJ’s most ambitious song interpreter” – NJARTS
