Panel Discussion on Blues and Songwriting

Ocean County Music Panel

By James Dalton

Just a few days before the Christmas holiday, on an early Sunday evening in Point Pleasant Beach’s vibrant downtown, four bluesmen took the stage. While music was played, and played well, this wasn’t your regular “blues gig.”

Moderated by myself, James Dalton, I was joined by WBJB’s Stu Coogan, Michael “The Rev” Rochelle from ShadeTree Mechanics and guitarist Brian Holderness at Ocean County Music right on Arnold Ave. Intended to be a fundraiser for the Rev and I to help take care of some costs of our upcoming participation in the International Blues Challenge down in Memphis, TN, we all fit ourselves and our instruments on this seemingly secret gem of a performance space in PPB and talked shop. Not only did four of us discuss the role of songwriting in blues music, but we swapped stories, compared notes and fielded questions from a very engaged audience of musicians and blues fans, bringing together not only a successful fundraising event, but a great night!

ocean county music

Thanks to Mike, Sal and Vinnie down at Ocean County Music for hosting us and make sure to keep an eye out for more JSJBF events there in the future!