How Much Music Fits Inside Jack’s Music Shoppe? Recently … A Whole Lot More with Fantastic Cat!
Meet “Fantastic Cat”
There is only so much room inside Jack's Music Shoppe, but somehow they made space for one more unforgettable afternoon when Fantastic Cat rolled into Red Bank for an in-store appearance, live set, and meet-and-greet celebrating the release of their new album, Cat Out of Hell. I had only walked over from home, but within minutes it felt like I had stepped into the center of the music world.
Introduced by Jeff “Unkajeff” Raspe (Director and host of Brookdale Public Radio -90.5 The Night), the band entered dressed in matching black slacks and black turtlenecks, apparently committed to restoring 1960s fashion one local record store at a time. Standing beneath posters of The Beatles, it was the perfect aspirational image. It was also a clear sign this would be no ordinary Sunday set.
Before the first song, there was some playful conversation about the new record title and whether it may or may not sound familiar to fans of a certain legendary album that shall remain unnamed. Then came the real business.
They launched into a sharp electric-acoustic set that mixed fan favorites with new songs from the record. The crowd was with them from the start, even singing along to the newer material, including “Elevator.” What stands out immediately with Fantastic Cat is how naturally everything moves. Lead vocals shift from one songwriter to another. Instruments change hands without pause. The chemistry feels lived in, not rehearsed. Four accomplished artists sharing one stage with no ego in sight, just songs and the joy of playing them together.
That easy flow was tested only once by a microphone stand that clearly had other plans then supporting a mic that day. No drama there. A quick shuffle, a few laughs, and the music kept rolling.
Inside the narrow aisles of the shop, the crowd packed in shoulder to shoulder, the way record store crowds always should. There was something perfect about seeing a band built for much larger rooms perform in a space this intimate. You could hear every harmony, every joke, every spontaneous moment. It felt less like a performance and more like being invited into their living room for some fun.
One of the afternoon’s best moments came when Anthony D'Amato stepped off the makeshift stage and into the aisle, singing and playing among the crowd. Then he stopped, handed the moment to a fan in the front row, and invited him to help strum the acoustic guitar. For one shining Sunday afternoon in Red Bank, Fantastic Cat briefly became a five-piece.
If you are new to the band, Fantastic Cat is made up of four standout songwriters, each with their own voice and career path, who joined forces to create something loose, smart, and refreshingly human. There is a little supergroup energy in the story, but none of the self-importance that usually comes with that label. Their whole approach seems built on friendship, sharp songs, and never taking themselves too seriously.
Which brings us, of course, to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame countdown. Depending on who in the band maintaining the countdown clock that day, they are now somewhere around 21 or 22 years away from eligibility. Plenty of time to plan the speeches.
After the final song, the party simply moved to the back of the store. Fans lined up to buy records, grab merch, collect signatures, and spend a few minutes with a band that made everyone feel welcome. No barriers, no rush, no distance between artist and audience. Just good people having a good afternoon centered around great music.
That has always been the magic of places like Jack's Music Shoppe. On a given day, you might pull an autographed copy of Robert Plant’s latest release from when he was in town last week, find a signed copy of Jesse Malin’s new book from his appearance the day before, or have an album signed while talking with the guys from Fantastic Cat. That is the power of a great record store. It is not just a place to buy music. It is a place where music keeps happening.
