Sea Hear Now Day 1 review: Pearl Jam explodes, Avett Brothers, Patti Smith dominate main stage
Sound is a crazy thing.
I’m talking about how it travels; how those invisible waves ricochet and trick the human ear, especially at a monstrous rock show like Sea Hear Now, the expansive music and surf festival that commandeered Asbury Park this past weekend.
As the Smashing Pumpkins finished their electrifying set Sunday night, and droves of weary fans filed off the beach, I could’ve sworn the throttling guitar noise was emanating directly from the towering Asbury Ocean Club resort, four city blocks away.
That’s how loud the main stage was, and the sheer force of vibration bouncing off neighboring structures.
This isn’t a complaint. The speakers needed to boom in such a way to reach the massive crowd attending one of New Jersey’s largest outdoor music fests. Fans totaled around 35,000 for Pearl Jam, the Avett Brothers and more Saturday and it seemed most returned Sunday for another full day of music: 15 bands on three stages (two on the sand north of Convention Hall, one in nearby Bradley Park).
Alt-rock titans Smashing Pumpkins finished off the day with a headlining hour and 40-minute set, mixing in new tracks from the group’s November synth-pop double album “Cyr” with the band’s patented batch of post-grunge classics.
The crowd, most of whom purchased their Sea Hear Now tickets for 2020′s lineup — prior to Smashing Pumpkins being added to the bill after the fest’s pandemic postponement — sang fervently to hits “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” “Disarm” and “Tonight, Tonight.” The latter was given an acoustic treatment, which played powerfully against the traquil ocean and nearly full moon.
Enduring frontman Billy Corgan, donning a floor-length robe and pale makeup with hearts painted on his cheeks, wandered around the large stage, his idiosyncratic vocal style still propulsive. The 54-year-old singer was in good spirits, at one point scooping up his 3-year-old daughter Philomena and carrying her around as he sang, smiling. Eventually, he put her down and attempted to serenade her, but the little girl ran off stage.
Comedy? At a Pumpkins show? A first, for me, at least.
Corgan said little to the crowd, though he did make a joke about The Stone Pony, and how it was a proving ground not for Springsteen but the J. Geils Band. Maybe too deadpan as the crowd didn’t get it.
This was a tighter set than the overstuffed and pretentious three-hour affair I reviewed at Madison Square Garden in 2018.
James Iha, the co-founding guitarist who returned in ‘18, delivered a dynamic performance, beaming with thick, sinister tones. “Cherub Rock” was all-encompassing and “Zero” always kills, but the new track “All Hallow’s Eve” was especially strong, bolstered by guitarist Jeff Schroeder, a member since 2007.
And major kudos to longtime drummer Jimmy Chamberlain, who rejoined in 2015 and continues to annihilate his kit. His allotted solo on “Solara,” a track from 2018, sounded like a mechanized weapon bound for destruction.
While Saturday’s undercard was more folk-rock-focused, Sunday’s appeared a bit more eclectic and upbeat, with pop-punk forefather Billy Idol taking the evening main stage for a round of requisite hits: “Dancing With Myself,” “Mony Mony,” “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding.” The 65-year-old rocker also jammed a few new guitar-heavy tracks from a new EP released Friday, called “The Roadside.” Longtime collaborator and shredder Steve Stevens blasted a handful of piercing solos.
There was still some folk to be had on the beach’s second stage, where celebrated songwriter Ani DiFranco led an understated trio: only a drummer, upright bassist and her strumming acoustic guitar. Her set, which in moments took on a lounge quality, was better fit for a club show, but all the respect to Buffalo’s finest, who for 30 years has carved her career as she wanted, releasing music on her own label Righteous Babe. She walked so Alanis could run and “Both Hands” and “32 Flavors” remain deeply moving songs.
“I hope you love your job half as much as I love my job,” she said. “I missed my job.”
Earlier in the day, the effervescent indie-pop outfit Grouplove played the park stage to an enormous crowd, many surely drawn by the band’s 2011 hit “Tongue Tied” (and it’s half a billion Spotify plays). But the band led by co-vocalists Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi was ready for a thrilling party, bringing the frenzy for big rock bangers like “Welcome to Your Life” as the sun set behind them.
And mysterious alt-country singer Orville Peck, best known for his Lone Ranger-with-fringe mask obscuring his identity delivered some intriguing yet woefully sad tunes conjuring Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison.
But the day’s most addictive set was surely an evening performance from chameleonic New Orleans powerhouse Tank and the Bangas. Fueled by the multi-talented front-woman Tarriona “Tank” Ball, the seven-piece group brought elements of funk, soul, hip-hop, jazz and spoken word to the beach — not to mention some badly needed diversity.
So far, Sea Hear Now has branded itself as a festival catering to mostly middle-aged white audiences, those perhaps most inclined to drop $200-plus on a festival ticket.
While the formula is clearly working — 2021 was sold out, 2022 is already booked with dates coming soon — it’s somewhat disheartening to see a new festival (launched in 2018) with only five of its 29 total bands led by an artist of color, with none taking the main stage. Here’s hoping the scale balances as the festival grows.
And grow it almost certainly will, as Sea Hear Now is quickly becoming New Jersey’s marquee rock-centric festival, filling a void left by the Bamboozle in 2012 (that fest returns for an anniversary performance in 2023). Operated by C3 Presents, orchestrators of Lollapalooza, it’s a well-run machine bringing major artists to the Jersey Shore. If they can get Pearl Jam, they can book just about anyone in the rock sphere.
The vibes were generally calm and content and surrounding businesses were packed all weekend. Barring a COVID-19 outbreak (all attendees were required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test), I’d call this another win for what’s becoming a destination event.
May those beguiling sound waves boom for years to come.
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Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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