Their home away from home is
the Stone Pony, where the band
have played more than 65 times.
Most memorably there, they recre-
ated the Allman Brothers Band’s
1971 masterpiece “Live at the Fill-
more” and shared the stage Dark
Star Orchestra and Umphrey’s Mc-
Gee. Other headlining spots have
included a David Bowie tribute
concert and the release party for
last year’s self-titled EP. Gestat-
ing for 19 years as live music, the
EP has gained an audience as far
away as Africa.
I personally can attest to the Se-
cret Sound Jamily. On March 23, I
was one of five friends who rode
in a van from Olde Village Pub in
Middletown to the Cutting Room
in New York City. The van was
scaled down from a bus because
not enough people bought in.
We all feared Secret Sound would
bomb in their debut at this big city
venue. But like the closing scene
of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” friends
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 59
came from all over to honor Secret
Sound and packed the room, im-
pressing the owner, who plans to
have them back.
Secret Sound’s summer concert
season includes June 8, DROM,
New York City; June 28, Patten-
burg House, Asbury (Hunterdon
County); Aug. 22 Jams on the
Sand, Anchor’s Bend, Asbury
Park, with Mystic Bowie’s Talk-
ing Dreads, as well as Sundays
throughout the summer at Reef
& Barrel in Manasquan, and, of
course, the hot weekly open jam
they do Thursdays at Headroom
Bar & Social in Jersey City. The
Jams on the Sand show will coin-
cide with the release of the follow-
up to the debut EP.
I recently chatted with Hill about
his beloved band, as well as his
experience as a solo jazz player
and the influence the Allmans, The
Meters and Little Feat have had.
Enjoy!
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