Son Take A Good Look Around

During our most recent trip to New Jersey I learned something really cool about Mandy's Uncle Gil. He grew up in Freehold, NJ and went to school with none other than Bruce Springsteen. But that is only the beginning, not only did they grow up together, they were friends and in rival bands! At the same time Bruce was playing with The Castilles, Uncle Gil was playing rhythm guitar for The Maccabees. Their bands played together all the time and even had the same manager, Tex (correct me if I'm wrong Gil). After hearing about how much of a fan I am he offered to take me on a tour of Freehold and Asbury Park. I was excited to get a personalized tour of the places that I had heard about in songs for so many years from someone who is a local and better yet a friend of the Boss. Gil had many cool and interesting stories about their early days, he was able to show me old record stores, restaurants, clubs, corners, and haunts where they would hang and practice their music. I took so many pictures that day that I won't bore you with them all but I thought you might get a kick out of some of them.

Gil and Me standing in front of a tree outside Springsteen's childhood home. This is the same tree that Bruce is leaning against on the My Hometown single. Bruce's first home is now a parking lot, but these are the next two homes that he lived in growing up. Gil said that the top window (below) was his room and that many a day if you walked past the house you could hear him practicing his guitar.
"Now Main Street's whitewashed windows and vacant stores, Seems like there ain't nobody wants to come down here no more." Well I don't agree, downtown seemed very nice.
Here we were treated to some of the best thin crust pizza that I have ever had. This joint has been around for a long time. Gil said that after their shows they would all go to Federici's for a pie. And in case you are wondering there is no relation to Danny Federici, I asked.Mentioned most recently in Long Walk Home. "Past the barber shop on South street."

To you this may just look like a door but this is the back of what used to be "The Left Foot" which was a place where both The Castilles and The Maccabees played. Gil said that they used to hang outside this door and listen to each others sets to make sure that no one ripped off each others songs.

"They're closing down the textile mill across the railroad tracks, Foreman says these jobs are going boys and they ain't coming back to your hometown." Well the textile mill did close down but now it is a community center and, I think, senior housing. This park which sits across the street from the old rug mill is dedicated to "Tex" Vineyard, The Castilles manager. He was responsible for getting a lot of the "rough around the edges" kids of Freehold interested in music. In fact he helped Bruce get his first guitar. It's hard for me to pick a highlight of the tour but if I had to Asbury Park would be it. It was everything I hoped it would be. Although I was expecting it to be a little more run down based on what people had told me
"Did you hear the cops finally busted Madame Marie for tellin' fortunes better than they do?"
A dip in the Atlantic.
I didn't tell Mandy that a little wave was coming and then I took the picture right when it hit, priceless! For anyone who is a fan of rock and roll The Stone Pony is a must see. So many of the greats have played here and it is exactly what I picture when I think of the sea side bars that Bruce sings about. Anyway, when I tried to enter I noticed that it was closed. I was pretty bummed because I was looking forward to seeing the inside. I decided to think like Uncle Gil and see if there was a back door ajar. Sure enough there was, I entered from the back through the loading dock. The manager who was in there saw me and told me that they were closed. She could tell that I was pretty excited to be there so she told me that I could take a look around if I wanted. She even let me play around on the stage. It would still be really cool to see a show there but even if I don't get the chance at least I got to see it. Our last stop in Asbury Park was one of the most famous corners in NJ, 10th Ave and E Street. It was on this corner that the E-Street Band was formed and where the title for one of my favorite songs comes from "10th Avenue Freeze Out". After that he treated us to a an ice cream cone at the Jersey Freeze, which was the perfect ending to the perfect day. Many thanks to the Lloyd's for spending the day with us and showing us around your hometown. And to Gill, if the Maccabees ever get back together for a reunion show, I want tickets!