By Jack Silbert on May 24, 2019
4 stars out of 5
The story goes that, a couple of years ago, Mr. Bruce Springsteen saw a rough cut of this documentary and said, “I should be in this.” His ample included commentary in the finished version certainly lends the film some legitimacy and authority, but the story presented here is worth telling regardless.
We learn of Asbury Park’s creation in the late 19th century, carved out between wild Long Branch and reserved Ocean Grove. (To compete with Long Branch as a resort destination, Asbury got a little wilder itself, and the reputation became set: You went to Ocean Grove to pray, and Asbury Park to play.)
Segregation enters this tale early, whites on the east side of town and blacks on the west side (and love on the wrong side, and darkness on the edge?). Both areas thrived, music providing the heartbeat, and Asbury became a required tour stop for the major white and black artists of the mid 20th century. (Some of the most impressive footage here is of the Rolling Stones and the Doors performing at Convention Hall in the mid-1960s.) The concept that music has the unique power to bring people of different backgrounds together is stressed repeatedly.
The film spends a lot of time on the founding of the Upstage club, a veritable petri dish for E Street (another successful interracial example). This is where Bruce-o-philes such as myself get their ticket price’s worth. In addition to the Boss, interviews include Little Steven (often carrying his little doggy), Garry Tallent, Max Weinberg, David Sancious, Ernest “Boom” Carter, and Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, as well as Southside Johnny.
Indeed, just when it seems like the movie is becoming another Springsteen biography, the riot mentioned in the title comes into play. It was 1970, and the racial inequality that had exploded elsewhere in the country — Detroit, Newark, etc. — hit Asbury and hit it hard. I’ve been in New Jersey a long time and never knew this history.
I appreciated that the filmmakers give credit and significant screen time to the LGBTQI community and its major role in the slow but certain revitalization of Asbury. However, I was annoyed that the film didn’t also shine a spotlight on the local indie music scene, centered around the original Asbury Lanes, that has played such a key part in drawing a younger, artsier demographic to town. To represent the next generation, I would’ve loved to see Dentist or Algebra II on the big screen, instead of just the little-kid musicians that the movie spends way too much on. Eh, but it’s hard to get too upset about a movie where one of the producers is Jersey Mike’s.
Click here to find a screening near you.
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 10s movies, Algebra II, Asbury Park, Bruce Springsteen, Dentist, New Jersey, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes
By Jack Silbert on May 22, 2019
What an honor to be interviewed on the great WFMU program In Real Life about my disability, recovery, and more. An extended podcast version is available here.
Posted in shameless self-promotion | Tagged disability awareness, Hoboken Jack, In Real Life with Kimzilla and Emily, WFMU
By Jack Silbert on May 21, 2019
EPISODE #331: ABORTION RIGHTS
The A’s — “A Woman’s Got the Power” [ALTERNATE THEME]
Louis Jordan & his Tympany Five — “I’m Alabama Bound”
Warren Zevon — “Play It All Night Long”
Neil Young — “Southern Man”
Screaming Females — “My Body”
Nick Lowe — “Born a Woman”
Alice Cooper — “Only Women Bleed”
Sleater-Kinney — “Call the Doctor”
Cinema Cinema — “Lady Abortion”
Monty Python — “Every Sperm Is Sacred”
Heavenly — “Sperm Meets Egg, So What?”
Louise Distras — “Stand Strong Together”
The Hive Dwellers — “Montgomery Hammer”
Patti Smith — “People Have the Power”
Jack’s Aquarium podcast is proudly recorded in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Alice Cooper, Cinema Cinema, Heavenly, Hive Dwellers, Louis Jordan, Louise Distras, Monty Python, Neil Young, Nick Lowe, Patti Smith, Roe v. Wade, Screaming Females, Sleater-Kinney, Warren Zevon
By Jack Silbert on May 17, 2019
I wrote this preview article for hMAG of the exciting young Hoboken-based band Rest Ashore’s appearance at the Spring Arts & Music Festival. The piece also serves as a review of their recent EP Annihilation.
Posted in shameless self-promotion, unsolicited criticism | Tagged hMAG, Hoboken, Hoboken Arts & Music Festival, Rest Ashore
By Jack Silbert on May 14, 2019
EPISODE #330: HATE
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
The Beths — “Future Me Hates Me”
Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers — “I Hate Chicago”
Ballboy — “I Hate Scotland”
Wilco — “I Hate It Here”
The Vaselines — “I Hate the 80s”
Thee Headcoats — “(We Hate the Fuckin’) NME”
Mudhoney — “Hate the Police”
The Lemonheads — “Hate Your Friends”
The Gotobeds — “I Hate My School”
Sloan — “I Hate My Generation”
Hank Williams — “My Love For You (Has Turned to Hate)”
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts — “I Hate Myself for Loving You”
The Posies — “I May Hate You Sometimes”
Les Brown & his Orchestra featuring Doris Day — “Celery Stalks at Midnight” (r.i.p. Doris Day)
Jack’s Aquarium podcast is proudly recorded in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Ballboy, Doris Day, Hank Williams, Joan Jett, Laura Jane Grace, Lemonheads, Les Brown & his Orchestra, Mudhoney, Sloan, The Beths, The Gotobeds, The Posies, The Vaselines, Thee Headcoats, Wilco
By Jack Silbert on May 10, 2019
3.5 stars out of 5
OMG it’s the final final final — don’t be a sucker, it’s not the final anything. Sure, maybe some actors’ contracts are up and besides, nobody wants superheroes who are too long in the tooth, so… “Endgame.”
This is a mostly very enjoyable movie but by no means whatsoever is it a great movie. (The tag-team directing Russo brothers are certainly not the Coen brothers.) I imagine it’s best for an audience — and admittedly it’s a sizable one — who has watched every single movie in the “Marvel Universe” (a registered trademark of Walt Disney Inc.), and perhaps multiple viewings. A really nice aspect of the previous Avengers flicks was that they caught up us casual viewers on key details from any movies we’d missed. But in Endgame, it feels like many moments would only resonate for those who’ve been paying overly close attention lo these many years. When a female character threatens bad-guy Thanos, he replies, “I don’t even know who you are,” and I was thinking, “Right there with you, brother.”
What works? The comic-book action stuff. Zap! Blammo! Fighting and flying and exploding and teamwork, vengeance, good vs. evil, and saving the universe. Another thumbs-up goes to much of the humor, especially when Paul Rudd and/or Chris Hemsworth are onscreen. Less successful are the “dramatic” scenes, which I’ll blame on the mediocre-to-shoddy writing. It’s the sort of screenplay with hack lines such as “Uh, am I the only one seeing this?”
Individual things that annoyed me: Is Audi the official car manufacturer of the Avengers? And did we need a lingering shot on a Ben & Jerry’s container, as well? Also, hey, it’s pouring rain, so this might be a real good time for Hawkeye to take off his hood. Later, in a big battle, there’s a “girl power” moment that struck me as tacked-on and pandering, and I even felt a twinge of racism when Black Panther is basically used as Walter Payton.
As the movie reaches its climax, I was feeling better about it… but then the plot keeps going… and then going some more (with some late lapses of logic tossed in for good measure). That’s the problem with having 18 storylines; you don’t know where to conclude. As a result, we non-mega-fanboys have to sit there for three freaking hours. End this game, fer crissakes! Ah well, see you all in a year, year and a half for Avengers: A New Beginning.
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 10s movies, super powers
By Jack Silbert on May 7, 2019
EPISODE #329: TALKING
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
Run-D.M.C. — “You Talk Too Much”
Betty Hutton — “Can’t Stop Talking”
Cheap Trick — “You’re All Talk” (early version)
Wild Flag — “Endless Talk”
The Music Machine — “Talk Talk”
Jackie Wilson — “Talk That Talk”
Bruce Springsteen — “Talk to Me”
Jean DuShon — “Talk to Me, Talk to Me”
Harry Nilsson — “Everybody’s Talkin'”
The Beach Boys — “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on my Shoulder)”
The Yardbirds — “I’m Not Talking”
Rogue’s March — “Shut Up and Drink”
David Berkeley — “Love’s the Only Thing That Shuts Me Up”
Portishead — “Silence”
Jack’s Aquarium podcast is proudly recorded in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Beach Boys, Betty Hutton, Bruce Springsteen, Cheap Trick, David Berkeley, Harry Nilsson, Jackie Wilson, Jean DuShon, Portishead, Rogue's March, Run-D.M.C., The Music Machine, Wild Flag, Yardbirds
By Jack Silbert on April 30, 2019
EPISODE #328: MY 2019 WFMU RECORD FAIR DJ SET
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
The Fleshtones — “Destination Greenpoint”
The Incredible Casuals — “Records Go Round”
Big Eyes — “Back From the Moon”
Pinact — “Seams”
The Fastbacks — “Everything I Don’t Need”
Liquid Liquid — “Optimo”
Pylon Reenactment Society — “Messenger”
Stag — “The Bedazzler”
Sunshine & the Rain — “It’s All in Your Mind”
Joy Cleaner — “My Psychic Dent (Is Acting Up Again)”
Resounding No — “Hexed Pet”
The Mice — “More Than I Can Talk About”
Heavenly — “Sperm Meets Egg, So What?”
Bruce Springsteen — “Where the Bands Are”
Jack’s Aquarium podcast is proudly recorded in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Big Eyes, Bruce Springsteen, Fastbacks, Fleshtones, Heavenly, Incredible Casuals, Joy Cleaner, Liquid Liquid, Pinact, Pylon Reenactment Society, Resounding No, Stag, Sunshine & the Rain, The Mice, WFMU
By Jack Silbert on April 25, 2019
2.5 stars out of 5
I first saw Elle Fanning in 2006’s I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With. Next, I singled out her strong performance in my review of Super 8 in 2011, and then in Trumbo (2015) I noticed she was growing up. I figured the first time I’d see her as the lead in a film would be Woody Allen’s A Rainy Day in New York, but I don’t know when we’ll be able to see that. So instead I’m stuck with Teen Spirit.
It almost works. The set-up is compelling enough: Fanning is Violet, a 17-year-old on the Isle of Wight who balances working the family farm with her Polish single mother, waiting tables and washing dishes at a sad restaurant, and being a regular teen at the local high school. But Violet — she loves to sing. In her bedroom, she mimes and writhes to No Doubt. Violet sneaks off at night to sing at an (equally sad) bar. And when she sees that an American Idol-type audition is coming to the island, her interest is piqued.
Unfortunately, the story can’t rise above its Cinderella clichés. Violet meets a sweet old Russian drunk who was actually a world-class opera singer, huh! He help but she must work! Vlad is Mr. Miyagi and Mickey though he looks like Artie Lange. Plus, you wouldn’t believe it but there’s some dirty business behind the scenes of the reality competition.
Writer/director Max Minghella is the son of top director Anthony Minghella, and the script seems to honor the Isle of Wight immigrant community that his dad grew up in. But Max does not yet have his father’s skill, and the screenplay definitely could’ve used a strong revision. The filmmakers brought in a top composer/producer, Marius de Vries, to handle the music, and I did like the natural way the soundtrack was often whatever was playing in Violet’s earbuds. However, the newly written songs are auto-tuned pop garbage; I kept waiting for the film to point out the absurdity that a so-called “singing contest” was based on such by-the-numbers pap. Nope, that’s not what this story is about. And, adding insult to injury, there’s also the worst imaginable cover ever of “Teenage Kicks.”
Kudos to Elle Fanning; she tries. I guess this isn’t her first role with a British accent (a “posh” one this time) and it’s believable, but she also has to speak a little Polish. And yet the casting of Rebecca Hall as the slimy TV producer only reminded me that Hall, formerly Vicky in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, is also in A Rainy Day in New York, which is likely a decidedly better film than this one.
Posted in movie reviews | Tagged 10s movies, Elle Fanning
By Jack Silbert on April 23, 2019
EPISODE #327: FRIENDS
The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]
The White Stripes — “We’re Going To Be Friends”
The English Beat — “Best Friend”
Talulah Gosh — “My Best Friend”
Queen — “You’re My Best Friend”
R.E.M. — “All the Right Friends” (1983)
The Wedding Present — “You Should Always Keep in Touch With Your Friends”
They Might Be Giants featuring Brian Dewan — “I Found a New Friend”
The Field Mice — “Fabulous Friend”
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band featuring Alejandro Escovedo — “Always a Friend (live)”
Allo Darlin’ — “My Sweet Friend”
The Millennium — “I Just Want To Be Your Friend”
The Beach Boys — “With a Little Help From My Friends (live)”
The Rolling Stones — “Waiting on a Friend”
Nothing Painted Blue — “Rock and Roll Friend”
Jack’s Aquarium podcast is proudly recorded in Hoboken, NJ.
Posted in internet radio playlists | Tagged Alejandro Escovedo, Allo Darlin', Beach Boys, Brian Dewan, Bruce Springsteen, English Beat, Field Mice, Nothing Painted Blue, Queen, R.E.M., Rolling Stones, Talulah Gosh, The Millennium, The Wedding Present, They Might Be Giants, White Stripes
Jack Silbert, curator