I noted last year when we posted vintage photos of clubs and music venues, that the 1970s and 1980s were great times in New Jersey for those who had a penchant for live music.
From the Soap Factory in Palisades Park to the Riptide in Wildwood, all kinds of small music clubs provided the opportunity to see local bands, rising stars and, on occasion, nationally known acts.
There are still many music clubs in the state, but times have changed. For every Stone Pony or Coconut Cove, there’s a club that has opted for DJ entertainment rather than live music. Some venues have dispensed with musical entertainment while others have shuttered their doors.
Oh, to have been there….
In 1995, Neil Strauss wrote an article in the New York Times about the decline of music clubs in New York.
“The reasons for these hard times for club owners are many,” wrote Strauss. “They include the rising cost of real estate, the difficulty of obtaining liquor and cabaret licenses, increased police crackdowns on noise and license violations and the hostility of community boards.”
MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey
He also referenced an issue the New Jersey club owners faced in 1983 when the state raised the drinking age from 18 to 21. “That the average club concertgoer is under 21 makes owning a live-music space a particularly risky proposition, since profits come not from ticket sales but from the bar.”
Here’s a gallery of vintage photos of clubs and bands in New Jersey. Enable captions to read about them.
And if you don’t see one of your favorites, you’ll either find it in last year’s gallery (click on this link) or it’s because we just couldn’t find a photo. If you have any, we’d love to see them!
Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.
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