In a state filled with iconic and beloved concert venues, Asbury Lanes hold a special place in the heart of Jersey Shore punk kids. Not the swanky, sanitized version of Asbury Lanes that opened in 2018 with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, bowling ball art and a full-fledged diner. The dingy DIY venue that emerged in the bowling alley in 2003 and became not just a popular place for concerts, but one of the epicenters of the city’s cultural revival. Host Jeremy Schneider is joined by photographer Mike McLaughlin, who published “Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes” in December. The two discuss the beautiful insanity of The Lanes, why it was much more than a concert venue, the rise and fall of Asbury Lanes and what has become of the space in 2026. Then Jeremy bowls Mike through the Garden State Gauntlet, Asbury Lanes edition.

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Follow Mike McLaughlin ⁠@mikemclaughlinphotography⁠. His book, “Lightning in a Bottle: A Love Letter to Asbury Lanes,” is available for purchase ⁠here⁠.

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