New Jersey’s Must-Visit Fantastic Destination For Music Lovers

This is a fun topic! Finding the "Must-Visit" destination for music lovers in New Jersey. Many venues might come to mind, but one stands out as "iconic" and it was the first concert spot that popped into my mind. Love Exploring did a recent article about the best "Must-Visit Concert Locations" in America. "From jazz clubs and dive bars, whose walls reverberate with history, to sculptural amphitheaters and state-of-the-art concert halls, the US has something for all ears when it comes to live music."

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So the one spot that popped into my mind is located right in Monmouth County, just feet from the boardwalk in Asbury Park. "The Stone Pony, one of the world's best known music venues, opened its doors on Feb. 8, 1974 in a building which formerly housed a popular restaurant called Mrs. Jay's."

What's special about the Pony, in my humble opinion, is its simplicity. It's not a huge venue, it doesn't have comfy seats and tons of lighting, it is an iconic bar with a small stage that has featured some of the best musicians in the world. If you want to see a "raw" show, then the Stone Pony is a place you must visit in Jersey. The "Summer Stage" at the Pony is larger and outdoors. It offers more sound and more space and is a fan favorite during the summer months.

According to Love Exploring, "The Stone Pony didn’t exactly launch Bruce Springsteen’s career, though the success of the bar and New Jersey's most famous son are inextricably intertwined. Springsteen first performed here in 1976, two years after the club opened, helping to propel this spot into rock ’n’ roll history. Among the many other notables to play here are Elvis Costello, Jon Bon Jovi, Blondie, Joan Jett and Jimmy Cliff. It’s still a class act, and considered a must for music fans traveling through Ashbury Park. There’s an outdoor stage in summer too."