Northern Lights Welcome The Crane Wives to Asbury Park

Nov 15

The night before The Crane Wives arrived in Asbury Park, faint Northern Lights danced over the coastline, a fleeting reminder that something extraordinary was coming. By Wednesday evening, The Stone Pony was buzzing with anticipation. A cold November wind swept through a line of fans stretching around the block. When the band finally took the stage, the crowd erupted, ready to sing every lyric.

Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Crane Wives formed in 2010. Vocalists and guitarists Emilee Petersmark and Kate Pillsbury, drummer Dan Rickabus, and bassist Ben Zito came together after college and early work experiences in West Michigan. Named after the Japanese folktale "The Crane Wife" and the The Decemberists’ album of the same name, they evolved from harmony-rich indie folk into a more robust, electric sound, now showcased across six studio albums.

From the opening notes of “Scars,” the band established an emotionally charged atmosphere that the audience immediately matched. The set flowed through high-energy favorites like “Allies or Enemies,” “Bitter Medicine,” and “Higher Ground,” highlighting their three-part harmonies and driving rhythm. Midway through the night, Petersmark and Pillsbury paused to thank the crowd for braving the cold, a heartfelt gesture that drew appreciative cheers. The full house swelled during “The Moon Will Sing” and “Never Love an Anchor,” and the encore of “The Hand That Feeds” and “Tongues & Teeth” left the venue vibrating with collective release.

At a historic venue like The Stone Pony, long known for championing emerging artists, it’s exciting to see discovery still alive. The Crane Wives may already have a devoted following, but the young, engaged crowd showed that witnessing the future of indie music in its early ascent remains a vital experience.

What’s Next?

The fall tour continues through the East Coast: