Podcast Summary: All Of It – "A History of The Stone Pony, Where Springsteen Got His Start"
Host: Kusha Navadar (in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Nick Corsaniti, author of I Don't Want to Go Home: The Oral History of the Stone Pony
Air date: June 4, 2024
Overview of the Episode
This episode delves into the storied past and vibrant present of the Stone Pony, the legendary Asbury Park music venue widely known as Bruce Springsteen’s launch pad. In celebration of the release of Nick Corsaniti’s new oral history book about the venue, the episode explores the intertwining cultural, social, and musical history of the Stone Pony and Asbury Park, gathering insights from the author, listener stories, and live music clips.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Why an Oral History?
[04:45 - 05:37]
- Nick Corsaniti discusses choosing the oral history format to capture the colorful, first-person stories from musicians, staff, and local patrons.
- “When you have so many people who've come through there, so many characters… you want to hear their stories as they tell it. And when you weave it together in an oral history, I think you really get a sense. You get pulled inside the walls or even outside the walls in Asbury park… in a way that normal prose I don't think can really convey.” — Nick Corsaniti [04:45]
2. Researching the Book
[05:37 - 06:44]
- Corsaniti interviewed over 170 people (some multiple times, e.g., Bruce Springsteen twice, Eileen Chapman eight times), accumulating "weeks of tape."
- The book began as an overlong article idea for the New York Times before evolving into a full-scale project over four and a half years.
3. Diversity of Experiences and Opinions
[06:44 - 08:27]
- While most loved the Pony, some, like Dan Jacobson of the Tri City News, critiqued how out-of-town visitors would come for shows but not engage with the broader Asbury Park community.
- Musicians note the venue’s unique shape (wide and shallow), intensifying the performer-fan connection.
- “It was so fascinating to be on that stage and looking out at a crowd that felt like it was on top of me, that I could read their beer labels.” — Mike McCready, Pearl Jam (via Corsaniti) [07:45]
4. Listener Memories
[08:47 – 09:27, 14:13 – 14:54, 21:33 – 22:11, 29:47 – 30:23]
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Callers from near and far recounted seeing Springsteen jam with Southside Johnny, the safe and electric energy of the club, and even Bruce giving a personal nudge in a crowded bar.
- “I would see Bruce sitting at the bar in the back… and eventually he would get up and start jamming with Southside Johnny and the Jukes. It was awesome.” — Jeanette, caller from Denver [08:52]
- “My sister… gets stuck. And all of a sudden she feels someone on her shoulder saying, no, no, don't stop. Keep going. And she turns around and it's Bruce Springsteen trying to make his way to the stage to just jump up and surprise the crowd that night.” — Peggy, caller from Williamsport [14:13]
5. The Symbiotic History of Asbury Park and the Stone Pony
[10:10 – 11:24]
- Corsaniti sees the story of the Stone Pony as inseparable from Asbury Park’s history, including its urban decline, recovery, and the venue’s closures and revivals.
- “As Asbury was starting to decline… it started to drag the Pony down with it… But… it still was a little bit more resilient… And as it started coming back in 2000… Asbury slowly started to come back. They do kind of depend on each other…” — Nick Corsaniti [10:10]
6. Segregation and the 1970 Riots
[11:24 – 13:12]
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Asbury Park was divided along racial and economic lines; the west side, a thriving Black neighborhood (Springwood Avenue), suffered most in the 1970 riots.
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The destruction of these neighborhoods affected the city’s social and economic future and continues to shape its legacy.
- “It erupted into riots that destroyed the west side of town where the largely black population lived. And it really decimated that neighborhood. And it's still struggling to come back.” — Nick Corsaniti [12:20]
7. Spontaneity and Accessibility of the Pony
[15:05 – 16:00]
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Bruce Springsteen’s unannounced performances, particularly with Cats on a Smooth Surface in the early ’80s, fueled the Pony’s mystique.
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The possibility of famous musicians mingling with locals distinguished it from other venues.
- “Everyone had those moments with a real rock star.” — Nick Corsaniti [15:58]
8. Not Just Classic Rock: Musical Diversity
[18:33 – 20:00, 21:33 – 23:40]
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The Stone Pony has hosted artists spanning genres—Jonas Brothers, punk, emo (Bouncing Souls, My Chemical Romance, etc.), jam bands, and beyond.
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The Jonas Brothers played the club before achieving fame, hustling flyers as teens and with “hecklers in the back.”
- “There's something, I think, about being a musician from this state... it's just a deep root and a deep pride that's always there no matter who the artist is.” — Nick Corsaniti [19:37]
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The “elder emo” punk scene of the ’90s and 2000s also found a home at the Pony, cited as a launching pad for bands like My Chemical Romance and Midtown.
- “The Pony was our big stage... I was obviously young and very into punk… But punk was what was guiding me there.” — Nick Corsaniti [22:19]
9. Venue Resilience and Adaptation
[25:35 – 27:28]
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After closing twice (1991, 1998), the Pony reinvented itself, shifting from a full-time neighborhood bar to a curated music venue.
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In the ’90s, promoter Tony Palagrosi embraced the punk and jam band scenes, whose “fearless fans” kept the music going.
- “Punk fans, they're fine with violence. They live on the edge… Jam fans will go where the music is… Punk and jam is kind of what really kept the Pony alive in the 90s.” — Nick Corsaniti [26:38]
10. Local Bands That Never Broke Out
[27:39 – 29:41]
- Listeners asked about beloved local bands who never made it big; Corsaniti highlights Lord Gunner and punk band Lanemeyer.
- Local acts still get to open for major bands, keeping the spirit alive.
11. The Role of LGBTQ+ and Black Bars
[30:23 – 31:21]
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A listener texted to remind that “gay bar and black bars kept Asbury Park going when the city was… in some of its worst years.”
- “It's a crucial part of the history. You see all the shirts that say, Music Saved Asbury Park, and that's an important part of the spirit. But it never would have had the opportunity to save Asbury Park if it wasn't for the LGBT community. They came… and invested and built a community… it's still vibrant to this day.” — Nick Corsaniti [30:47]
12. 40th Anniversary of "Born in the U.S.A." and Book Release
[04:26, 32:15 – 32:20]
- The book’s publication coincides with the 40th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. Corsaniti calls it “kismet.”
- The show ends with a live clip of Bruce at the Pony, celebrating the lasting communal joy of surprise performances.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On oral history:
- “You get pulled inside the walls… in a way that normal prose I don't think can really convey.” — Nick Corsaniti [04:52]
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On Springsteen’s secret shows:
- “It was this randomness and this spontaneity that created this addiction to the place. And everyone had those moments with a real rock star.” — Nick Corsaniti [15:55]
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On venue design:
- “It was so fascinating… looking out at a crowd that felt like it was on top of me, that I could read their beer labels.” — Mike McCready, recounted by Corsaniti [07:45]
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On Asbury’s ongoing recovery:
- “It started a lot of flight… and left this once booming resort that was a destination for even people from New York City kind of in question.” — Nick Corsaniti [12:44]
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On resilience and community:
- “It never would have had the opportunity to save Asbury park if it wasn't for the LGBT community… it's such an important part of Asbury's history and culture, you know, to this day.” — Nick Corsaniti [30:47]
Important Segments and Timestamps
- The oral history format explained: [04:45 – 05:37]
- Listener memories – Springsteen jamming: [08:52, 14:13]
- The Pony’s unique layout and impact: [06:52 – 08:27]
- Segregation/Riots in Asbury Park: [11:24 – 13:12]
- The club’s musical evolution and diversity: [18:33 – 23:40]
- Resilience, revivals, and scene survival: [25:35 – 27:28]
- Local bands and fostering new talent: [27:39 – 29:41]
- The LGBTQ+ and Black bar legacy: [30:23 – 31:21]
- Anniversary connections and celebration: [04:26, 32:15 – 32:20]
Episode Mood and Takeaways
The tone throughout is celebratory, nostalgic, and inclusive, echoing the camaraderie and communal history that defines both the Stone Pony and Asbury Park. The show was peppered with personal stories, listener calls, and live music snippets that transported listeners into the heart of the club and its city. Corsaniti’s reflections, made more potent by specific recollections, highlighted that the Stone Pony is more than just a music venue—it’s a cultural crucible for locals, legends, and every dreamer who ever played or partied there.
Final Note
The episode wraps with a special invitation:
- The Stone Pony book launch party – Saturday, June 8, 7pm (music at 8pm), promising surprise guests and a live sonic journey through everything chronicled in the book.
“We're going to have a house band. There's going to be special guest appearances... It's gonna be like everything we talk about in the book. And, you know, we'd love to see you there.” — Nick Corsaniti [31:47]
And, fittingly, Bruce Springsteen’s sound rises over a jubilant crowd, encapsulating fifty years of music, memory, and resilience at Asbury Park's beating heart.