pressed and stirring music cre-
ated, but because of the toll of
hard work and personal sacrifice
made by an artist who refuses to
let his dream die. There’s some-
thing about being involved in
music in Asbury Park that makes
it very difficult to give up. Per-
haps it’s the wonder of the
boardwalk when we were kids
before the devastating race riots
of 1970 shattered our innocence.
Or those rowdy days in night-
clubs packed with sweaty pas-
sion before the Internet ingested
is us into our cell phones. In Petil-
lo‘s case, there are epic memo-
ries of magical Upstage jams into
the wee hours of the morning
that turned Springsteen, South-
side, their original band mates
and other Asbury music greats
from teenage garage rockers
into professional talent. What-
ever it is that makes Asbury Park
a magnetic music mecca, we all
should be glad that the old-tim-
ers keep rockin’ AP and connect-
ing a rich history to today’s resur-
gent scene, and that rather than
give up, Petillo made a record
everyone can enjoy if they give it
a chance.
See Petillo live when the Up-
stage Jam Band, also featuring
Paul Whistler, Vini Lopez and
John Mulrenan of Dawg Whistle,
guitar great Billy Ryan and sever-
al others, close the Makin Waves
30th Anniversary Party on March
31 at the Wonder Bar in Asbury
Park. Petillo also will play March
16 at Val’s Tavern in Rumson. w
Bob Makin is the reporter for MyCentralJersey.com/entertainment
Contact him at [email protected].
Like Makin Waves at www.facebook.com/makinwavescolumn
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 44
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