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Arts & Entertainment

Thunderfest Rolls Through Holmdel's PNC Bank Arts Center

Eatontown radio station 'Thunder 106' held its annual music festival Friday

This year’s Thunderfest featured many of Country music’s biggest stars on July 15. Headlined by the one and only Brad Paisley and his H20 II Tour, the show also featured Blake Shelton from NBC’s The Voice. 

Also on the bill were newcomers Jerrod Niemann, The JaneDear Girls, Sunny Sweeney and the surprisingly good Eden’s Edge. The show was sponsored by Eatontown radio station Thunder 106.

After being greeted by Allison at Live Nation, I quickly saw why this show was the place to be; there was fun for people of all ages.

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A huge inflatable water slide seemed to be constantly occupied; there was a dunk tank with one of the radio station’s interns on the “hot seat,” and a pull-up bar testing the strength of potential Marines. There were photo ops for anyone who wanted to be Captain America or even to “play” one of Brad Paisley’s guitars.

After taking in the sights of the show, I sat down to listen to sets by Sunny Sweeney, The JaneDear Girls and Eden’s Edge.

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Sweeney, who has been riding high on two popular singles, had the crowd singing along to songs “From A Table Away” and “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving” as well as screaming out “August 23rd”—the release date for her debut album.

Warner Bros recording artists, The JaneDear Girls, followed Sunny Sweeney’s set with a medley of Michael Jackson songs, a few Lenny Kravitz riffs, a cover of “Footloose,” as well original tunes “Shotgun Girl,” and “Wildflower.”

To close the “Water World” side stage was Big Machine Records’ (Taylor Swift’s label) latest hit trio, Eden’s Edge. EE hit a few sound issues at the top of their set up quickly resolved them and hit their stride. I say they were surprisingly good because they are relatively unknown this far North but had a great stage presence and quickly won me over.

With an hour between the side stage and Jerrod Niemann, I went to check out the vendors to see what they had to offer. Some were expected: cowboy hat vendors, t-shirts, and a cigar booth. Unexpected, quite pleasantly, was Piney’s Pit from Bayville, NJ. The “pit smoked” backyard BBQ had a table and chair setup out on the lawn in front of the front gates.

Finally at around 7:30 p.m., “Lover, Lover” singer Jerrod Niemann, hit the stage. “Judge J” as his band calls him, played an abbreviated 30 minute set. The singer/songwriter/guitarist worked the crowd better than most “opening” acts; he ran with his guitar around the entire stage.

Next up was recent tabloid sensation, Blake Shelton. The recently married singer (to Miranda Lambert) just wrapped up the singing competition, The Voice. His newfound fame attracted a wide demographic: among his fans was a 12-year old named Melissa from Toms River,  to a man in his 80’s holding up an “I Love Blake” sign.

Shelton’s set was really fun and exciting. Besides his hits, “All About Tonight,” “Honeybee,” and “Some Beach,” Blake’s third song was a medley that had the entire crowd singing and laughing -- almost simultaneously.

After admitting that he’s been “drinking,” he tried to explain why Brad Paisley and NBC both book him for their shows: “For the same reason people watch NASCAR: to watch the wreck!” He then went into a story about his childhood and how he got into music. He explained about the sounds coming out of his parents’ room when it was locked at night. Besides the sounds that “messed” him up, the sounds of “Play That Funky Music,” was audible. After a minute long cover of that funky song, Shelton then reminisced about the days his brother’s door was locked and the smell that came out from under the door.

He then played about a minute of J. Geils Band’s “Centerfold.” With two contradictory songs to tell his story done, what else would Shelton do to surprise the packed house? He spoke of his sister’s dislike of him. She would give him attitude then slam her door on him.

Out came Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative.” Halfway through the song, he started to laugh and said, “I can’t believe I’m actually singing this. Only for you guys in Jersey!”

Finally to close Thunderfest, there was the one and only Brad Paisley. Let’s say this: he puts on one heck of a show. He banged out hits, “Ticks,” “Water,” “This Is Country Music,” and so many more. During many tunes, Paisley would extend a bridge or interlude of a song and just start telling a story.

During “Still A Guy,” Paisley dedicated the song to “any guy who is wrapped around a girl’s finger. You know, what I mean Blake?,” referring to his touring partner Blake Shelton. He continued, “You wear a shirt just because Miranda wants you to.”

Near the end of set, Brad walked into the crowd and took a seat by the soundboard and picked up his acoustic guitar. He performed “Letters To Me” and a piece of “Anything Like Me.” At one point he stopped playing and again, started telling a story. “People said high school are the best years of your life,” Paisley recollected then continued, “Shoot me now. I am living proof that high school isn’t the best years…but college, that’s different!”

On the way out, the buzz from the crowd was complete satisfaction. It was a long, long day and the weather was perfect. Great music from Country’s biggest stars capped the night.

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