Sea.Hear. Now Festival 2021 Experience: What Was Seen and Heard

Editor’s Note-  Monica V.Fuchs was on hand for the 2021 Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park, NJ this past  September. Here are some of her impressions: 

SATURDAY

Black Flamingos / photo by Chris Capaci / courtesy of C3 Presents

First band up for the day was on the Park Stage — Black Flamingos. They have a surf rock sound, which I love. Tunes included “Shark Repellent” and “Malibu Run.” I enjoyed this band and their no-lyrics surf sound, but I had to leave to go check out the bands on the beach.

The Sand Stage plays against the Park Stage, with the exact same set times, so you can never see a full set of a band scheduled on either one of those stages unless you completely miss the other stage. The Surf Stage’s set times are opposite those of Park and Sand, so you can see a full set there.

Hirie / photo by Michael Kravetsky / courtesy of C3 Presents

Opening the Surf Stage was Hirie, a reggae band named for their woman lead singer. Highlights included what the Hawaiian-born Hirie described as “the happiest break-up song.” I loved this band and also that I could just do a 180 and walk to the Sand Stage to see New Jersey’s own Jackson Pines. They are local and I only have great things to say about them.

SUNDAY 

Remember Jones / photo by Michael Kravetsky / courtesy of C3 Presents

I made it in time to catch the Remember Jones set on the Park Stage. They put on quite a show and I was impressed when they covered Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality.” Then I quickly made my way to the Surf Stage to check out Strand of Oaks with my toes in the sand. They initially made me think of My Morning Jacket, which is a very good thing. I really enjoyed this set , which included  “Galacticana”  and “Somewhere In Chicago” from the new album, In Heaven, and I look forward to seeing more of  Tim Showalter and his bandmates.

Orville Peck/ photo by Charles Reagan / courtesy of C3 Presents

It was back to the Park Stage for Moon Taxi, who I had seen before at another festival. They had good energy right away and I enjoyed “Make Your Mind Up” and decided to do a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s  “Dancing in the Dark.” I had to split this set, because at the same time on the Sand Stage was Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, who I also have been privileged to experience live before. Check them out if you’ve got a feel for a “Get Up Offa That Thing” vibe. I’d love to see Gary Clark Jr. sit in with these cats.

Billy Idol / photo by Roger Ho /courtesy of C3 Presents

Over to the Surf Stage for Orville Peck, whose voice at first reminded me of the Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts. Peck is a Canadian country singer who always covers his face. (Some would consider that strange, but I think it’s genius.) He says, “Here’s a love song, you know when you love someone so much, they drive you crazy you want to kill them? It’s called ‘Roses Are Falling.’” It makes me think of Elvis, as long as I don’t look up and see his outfit — but I’d really love to see his face.

Back on Park Stage, Grouplove (“Don’t scratch my face…”) drew a big crowd. They’re kind of screaming soft punk — not my thing but I like punk, so not sure what was missing. After catching a bit of Tank and the Bangas at the Sand Stage I went over to the Surf Stage for Billy Idol, who began with “Dancing With Myself,” “Flesh for Fantasy,” and then a new song, “Rita Hayworth,” from his new EP, Roadside. “It’s exciting to write new music and we don’t do it very often,” he said. Another new song, “about a motorcycle accident I had” was “Bitter Taste.” He also sang “Eyes Without a Face,” “Mony Mony” and “Rebel Yell.”