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Jarod Clemons brings friends, family, and fun to Sea.Hear.Now Festival 2026
Asbury Park’s Sea.Hear.Now Festival is no stranger to promoting underground acts, especially those from its own backyard. Asbury Park native Jarod Clemons opened the Park Stage on Saturday, September 19, welcoming festivalgoers with an energetic performance and a fitting greeting to his hometown. Arriving onstage in golden cheetah-print pants and his signature sunglasses, Clemons immediately…
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In conversation with Jack Romano: from Johnny Cash to his own voice
“We have a saying in my band: ‘All roads lead to Cash.’” For Jack Romano, Johnny Cash’s influence extends far beyond the sound of his country voice. Like the late musician, Romano’s catalog is rooted in honesty, vulnerability, and raw emotion—songs that explore what it means to be human and, more specifically, what it means…
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In conversation with EG Vines: choosing his own path
“I hope people open their minds when they listen to [the album].” That philosophy sits at the heart of EG Vines’ newest album, Kaleidoscope Dream. Blending Americana storytelling with alternative rock energy, the record draws from a life shaped by a conservative upbringing, a decade spent working in corporate America, and the leap of faith…
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In conversation with Lauren Oelkers: a community woven through hair
When people picture a hair salon, they often imagine rows of classic styling chairs, neutral colors, and shelves lined with hair products. But at Defiant Hair and Lonely Girl Vintage in Flemington, New Jersey, that familiar image is turned on its head. Equal parts salon and vintage boutique, the shop offers far more than a…
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In conversation with Conni Freestone: proof she was here
Every photograph is, in some way, an act of preservation. For photographer Conni Freestone, whose camera has captured everything from sweaty club shows and wrinkled bulldog faces to classic cars and the changing landscape of Asbury Park, photography has always been about proving a moment existed before it didn’t. That philosophy became the foundation of…
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In conversation with PJM Bond: rejecting perfection in favor of humanity
In a world increasingly shaped by AI, Dutch singer-songwriter PJM Bond has made it his mission to reject it and embrace life’s imperfections — especially in his music. “What’s the point of listening to immaculately perfect pop songs?” he questioned. “By allowing mistakes to happen and by not focusing on perfection, I wanted my album…
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