Arts & Entertainment

Indie Rockers 'Lifeguard Nights' Reunite Sunday to End Summer With 'Song'

Long Branch musician, formerly of Basking Ridge, brings band back together to recreate 'Church of Song' album.

For South Jersey-based rock band Lifeguard Nights, making music is a religious experience. 

So it's no wonder the rockers are looking forward to reuniting at 10 p.m. Sunday at the legendary Stone Pony to recreate their album 'Church of Song.' 

Recorded in July of 2007 at Retromedia Studios in Red Bank and released by New Jersey-based label Headshop Records, the album's standout single 'Amen' was nominated for 'Song of the Year' at the Asbury Music Awards. A successful tour of the West Coast followed.

Front man, or in this case, head 'Lifeguard', Vincent Brue explained how the show came about six years after the 13-song album was released. 

"About a year ago I was asked to perform the whole 'The Church of Song' album by myself as part of a singer/songwriter series at a coffeehouse in the area," he said. "The show got canceled unfortunately, but I didn't mind because I didn't really want to do it solo; I wanted to have the whole band join me."

Brue said while it's been a logistical challenge getting all nine 'Lifeguards' together, each member is looking forward to Sunday's 45-minute set, especially in light of the band's recent burst of popularity overseas.

"In the past few months, our song 'Bastille Day' from 'The Church of Song' has become somewhat of an international hit, for reasons that are still a mystery to me," Brue said. "Thousands of people all over the globe have downloaded it on iTunes in the past few months, from Great Britain to Russia to Thailand and Australia. All over. A lot of people are suddenly buying the whole album as well. It's crazy. When I told a bunch of the old band members about it, we all agreed that maybe it was time we should reunite and play the album again for old times sake."

It seems fitting that the Lifeguards should close out summer at The House That Bruce Built as Brue describes the band this way, "If Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band procreated with Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and raised their child on indie rock, Lifeguard Nights would be that child."

Attendees can look forward to hearing the band's sing-along favorite, 'Over It,' an ode to putting a bad relationship in the rearview that finishes off the album. 

Will Brue get into true 'Lifeguard' mode and perform in a Speedo as a tribute to bygone days? The singer/songwriter isn't saying so you'll have to stop by and see for yourself. 

Lifeguard Nights is Boris Veysman: bass; Drew Brady: keyboards and vocals; Katy Cunningham Veysman: vocals; Steve Dans: drums; John Dorocki: keyboards; Mike Biskup: lead guitar; Sean Calvert and "local legend" PJ Donofrio on the congas; and Brue: acoustic guitar and lead vocals.

The all-ages show boasts a unique twist: all Jersey Shore Lifeguards get in for free. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. 


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