Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar

Established in 2002, the Wonder Bar near the Asbury Park Boardwalk on Ocean Avenue in Asbury Park, New Jersey offers basic Americana staples such as burgers, shakes, fries, onion rings, and hot dogs, live music, food, and great drinks. This famous New Jersey spot is a favourite stop for seasoned bands and where up­-and­-comers can make their mark. Bon Jovi, Clarence Clemons, Lance Larson, Bruce Springsteen performed and many others have played at the Wonder Bar.

Asbury Park is over one hour drive from Montgomery Township. I planned to leave home after a quick breakfast and arrive around 8 AM. The idea was to arrive at the Wonder Bar before motorist had parked on the street. However, I overslept and didn't leave my home until well after 8 AM. I parked on Ocean Avenue, noticing the half dozen cars parked outside the building.

Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (21.3 mm, f/8.0, ISO200), © Khurt-Williams
Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (16.5 mm, f/8.0, ISO200), © Khurt-Williams

The air was cold and crisp. I could smell the ocean coming off the nearby beach. I walked around photographing the exterior of the Wonder Bar trying to keep the parked vehicles. I started thinking about the various bands that have played the venue, about the parties in the expansive outdoor deck called Tillie’s Landing after Tillie, a grinning mural of an amusement park "fun face" that was initially located on the side of Palace Amusements.

Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (16 mm, f/8.0, ISO200), © Khurt-Williams
Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (16 mm, f/8.0, ISO200), © Khurt-Williams
Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (42.7 mm, f/8.0, ISO200), © Khurt-Williams

Tillie was painted in the winter of 1955. The name Tillie is supposedly an homage to George C. Tilyou, the owner of Steeplechase Park in Coney Island, New York, which was built in 1897. The Tillie "fun face" is based on a similar beaming face, which can still be seen on signs, beer labels, and merchandise all over Coney Island.

Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (16 mm, f/8.0, ISO200), © Khurt-Williams

The Wonder Bar is dog-friendly, featuring a weekly Doggie Yappy Hour and the longest Dog Run in the state of New Jersey.

Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (22 mm, f/8.0, ISO200), © Khurt-Williams
Lance and Debbie’s Wonder Bar — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (22.7 mm, f/8.0, ISO200), © Khurt-Williams

Our 1980s Radio Favourites

’80s Indie Essentials by Martin McCallion (devilgate.org)

Outsourced is an NJ-based band covering a broad range of the 1980s and 1990s pop and rock songs. Bhavna’s brother-in-law attended Rutgers University with all of the band members, all of whom are doctors. We first heard them play when one of Bhavna’s co-workers, a doctor and whose husband (who isn’t a doctor) also went to school with my brother-in-law’s friends, invited us to hear her perform with the band. She had been practising singing with them for a few months. The doctors are super busy, so the group only perform a few times a year.

The band drew a sizable audience filling the tavern that night. They played many popular songs from the ’80s and ’90s, including many of my favourites (U2, Duran Duran, Men at Work, The Police). We had a great time, but Bhavna and I realized that we listened to different things on the radio in the ’80s. She was very much into American pop, and I listened to (mostly) a mixture of British and European pop, American rock and roll, and of course reggae and soca. That is to be expected. She grew up in New Jersey, and I grew up in the British West Indies.

Bhavna and I also realized that we associated these songs with different moments and places in time. For many songs, I can recall the island where we lived when I first heard the song and the general time of year of some memorable event associated with the song. Bhavna doesn't think she has memories associated with songs, but I think she does.

My brother-in-law hosted a Super Bowl party this year, and we had a chance to talk with the singer for the band about how he chose the music for gigs and his favourite 80’s music. Bhavna was particularly interested in the playlist of 1980s music he had created on Spotify. He sent me a link with the list. As we are Apple Music users over the last two months, I have recreated her brother-in-law's playlist but added my personal favourite hits and made sure to include entries from Bhavna’s favourites.

Our 1980s Radio Favourites, a personal playlist on Apple Music, is a combination of our favourites.

NOTE: Martin McCallion's recent post prompted me to write this one.