Now that we know that Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will play Philly over Labor Day weekend (disappointing Gov. Chris Christie's dreams), Revel Resort in Atlantic City can still bring acts in with ties to the Garden State for a great night or 2 at Ovation Hall.

Our governor pushed hard for "The Boss" to play Revel, and it's really obvious how much of a fan Christie is of the band.  With Springsteen playing venues much bigger than the 5,000 capacity of Ovation Hall, the odds were long but not impossible.  You know that Revel is going to deliver a great weekend of entertainment over the 3-day Labor Day holiday, but should they decide to go for artists that represent New Jersey there are viable options that could bring even more buzz to the newest spot along the Boardwalk:

1) Bon Jovi

This should seem obvious to anyone who has lived in New Jersey for even 5 minutes!  The guys from Middlesex County are returning to one of their early places where they played - Asbury Park for Bamboozle Festival on May 20th.  The band's website does not provide any other information for dates or touring, so this seems like a marriage should be done here.

A full weekend with Bon Jovi would be a home run for Revel and Atlantic City.  Jon, Richie, David and Tico can easily bring 15,000 fans over 3 nights at Ovation Hall.  Something to watch for that could make this idea hold more water would be if the band showed up in June for the Sugarland concert - remember that Bon Jovi worked with Jennifer Nettles on the former #1 Country smash "Who Says You Can't Go Home".

2) My Chemical Romance

Coming from North Jersey via the likes of Summit and Belleville, MCR have managed to crave a large and loyal following, have seen their music get the Glee treatment ("Sing"), 6 Top-10 hit at Alternative (with a Top-10 Billboard hit in '06 with "Welcome To The Black Parade"), and have sold out venues larger that Ovation Hall.  No tour dates are on their website, but the question here could be whether the fan base would enhance the casino (seems that most of their fans are under 21 - the band members are 30-something men).

3) Stone Temple Pilots

You may not realize that Dean and Rob DeLeo were born in North Jersey and grew up in the Point Pleasant area (Ocean County).  The DeLeo's actually walked in their Core CD (their debut on Atlantic Records) to former Alt. Rock station WHTG in Monmouth County, and promptly found themselves on-air with MTV VJ Matt Pinfield.

The brothers still have family around Point Pleasant, so imagine tying in a show in A.C. with STP with time visiting old haunts.  The band has nothing scheduled, that have played A.C. before, and their library of great music (15 Top-5 Rock hits with 7 reaching #1) will make for a sure fire great night for Ovation Hall.  2 factors could hurt this idea - the band has nothing planned as far as new music this year, and lead singer Scott Weiland has had his personal demons in the past (although all seems good in his world currently).

4) A Tribute to Whitney featuring Queen Latifah and Lauren Hill

This may seem right a crazy idea, but if you take the combined talent of Dana Owens (Latifah - born in Newark, living in Colts Neck in Monmouth County) and the former member of The Fugees (from South Orange and Maplewood), you have 2 women who would perform their great R&B material along with a set with the 2 of them paying respect to another fellow former Jersey Girl.

This could be a special night for the new Ovation Hall, but would both talented singers agree to do something like this?

5) Cobra Starship with Blues Traveler, The Smithereens and Fountains Of Wayne

Take the group with 2 major Top-10 hits in the last few years ("Good Girls Go Bad" and "You Make Me Feel....") with their Jersey guy Gabe Saporta (grew up in Springfield), and add 90s Alternative Revisited and you have a fun night that may look like a mismatch on paper, but all of these acts connect throught the Alternative format as well as NJ.

Take John Popper and the Princeton based band who have had a loyal following for many years, 2 major Pop hits in '95 ("Run Around" and "Hook"), and a new CD coming out soon, then add The Smithereens who are now based in Monmouth (Jim Babjak in Manalapan) and Middlesex County (Pat DiNizio and Dennis Diken), and bring 11 Top-30 Rock hits (including a #1 in 1988 with "Only A Memory") a pair of Top-40 hits ("A Girl Like You" and "Too Much Passion"), and one CD that has been a favorite of many music critics over the years (Especially For You in '86).

Finally the guys named after the actual fountain in the heart of Wayne, NJ, have their memorable "Stacy's Mom" from '03 (Top-20 Pop hit) and a new CD that has been out for a bit.  Make this an affordable ticket, and this could bring thousands to Revel.

 

More From SoJO 104.9 FM