BLACK STONE CHERRY + THEM DIRTY ROSES + AYRON JONES AT ASBURY LANES
Asbury Lanes shook with the kind of electricity you rarely feel on a crisp November night at the Jersey Shore. On November 18, a powerhouse triple-bill Ayron Jones, Them Dirty Roses, and Black Stone Cherry set the room ablaze in a way that completely flipped the expected script. Yes, Black Stone Cherry headlined. But this wasn’t one of those nights where the crowd trickled in for the opener and saved their energy for the final act. No, this was a three-way musical slugfest, and every band came ready to claim the title.
AYRON JONES —A DETONATION TO START THE NIGHT
The show erupted from the moment the lights dropped for Ayron Jones, the Seattle-born alternative rocker whose live presence hits like a charged particle. Joined by bassist Bob Lovelace and drummer Malachi Johnson, Jones unleashed a set that felt both ferocious and tightly interlocked, as if this lineup had been touring together for decades.
This was not a warm-up act, it was a warning shot.
Jones’ guitar tone snarled with grit and soul; his vocals oscillated between vulnerable cracks and explosive growls. Lovelace was a whirlwind, throwing down bass lines that vibrated through the floorboards, while Johnson delivered a thunderous, nearly athletic drumming performance that pushed every track into overdrive.
Imagine a sonic collision between The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, Living Colour, and Hendrix-era psychedelia. That was the atmosphere in the room: funk, fire, blues, and pure rock chaos braided into something entirely Jones’ own.
By the third song, the crowd wasn’t just engaged, they were all-in. It’s rare for an opener to get that kind of response, and even rarer for it to feel completely inevitable.
THEM DIRTY ROSES—SOUTHERN ROCK WITH SWAGGER & SWAY
Next up was Them Dirty Roses, delivering the kind of whiskey-soaked Southern rock that instantly revs your heartbeat. The Alabama quartet swaggered onto the stage and launched into a set dripping with groove, grit, and undeniable charisma.
Their music feels like a bar fight and a back-porch jam session happening at the same time in the best possible way. Rich vocals, swampy riffs, and a rhythm section that hit with both precision and heat had the crowd stomping along song after song. They’re the kind of band that makes you want to grab a beer, raise a fist, and shout the chorus even if you’ve never heard it before.
If Ayron Jones lit the fuse, Them Dirty Roses twisted it twice and handed it to the headliner.
BLACK STONE CHERRY—A VETERAN BAND AT FULL COMMAND
By the time Black Stone Cherry took the stage, the energy in Asbury Lanes was already overflowing. But the Kentucky rockers, celebrating years of road-tested musicianship, knew exactly how to harness that momentum and turn it into a full-throttle celebration.
Chris Robertson’s vocals were powerful and warm, moving effortlessly from rasp to melody. Ben Wells’ guitar work was crisp and energetic, pairing perfectly with Steve Jewell Jr.’s basslines. Drummer John Fred Young, always a highlight, performed with that signature blend of precision and wild-man abandon that drives BSC’s live identity.
Their setlist pulled from across their catalog, giving longtime fans their anthems while drawing new ones into the fold. The room felt unified, sweaty, loud, and fully alive.
A NIGHT WHERE EVERY BAND FELT LIKE THE HEADLINER
What struck me most as a reviewer and as someone photographing the room from all angles was how universally invested the crowd was from the very first note of the night. This wasn’t a slow burn; it was a three-band supernova.
You don’t get nights like this often. When you do, you chase them. And Asbury Park is the perfect place for that spark to catch fire.
BLACK STONE CHERRY – SETLIST
Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park · Nov 18
────────────
Me and Mary Jane
Burnin'
Again
When the Pain Comes
Celebrate
Blind Man
Devil's Queen
Like I Roll
Stay
Give Me One Reason (Tracy Chapman)
Cheaper to Drink Alone / Drum Solo / Return
Neon Eyes
In My Blood
White Trash Millionaire
Blame It on the Boom Boom
Lonely Train
