Surfing for Daisy Makes The Stone Pony Their Home
There’s a moment right before a great show begins when the air in The Stone Pony feels charged, almost heavier, like it’s storing up all the energy that’s about to explode. On Saturday night, November 15th, that electricity wasn’t just anticipation; it was pride. Surfing For Daisy, the Freehold-born six-piece who’ve become one of the most exciting bands rising out of the local scene, stepped onto the historic stage as headliners, and to a completely sold-out crowd. It felt like the kind of night people will look back on and say, “I was there.”
Surfing For Daisy has been steadily climbing the ranks of the Asbury Park scene, from early gigs at Low Dive to an emotional album-release show at Wonder Bar, to their breakout moment at Sea.Hear.Now this past summer. But headlining (and selling out) the legendary Stone Pony is a landmark any Jersey band dreams about. And on this night, the band didn’t just rise to the occasion—they owned it.
Surfing for Daisy
A FULL NIGHT OF MUSIC CURATED BY THE HEADLINERS
The venue was already buzzing before the first chord was even struck. Great Oblivion opened the night with a set that felt like it drifted in on its own weather system—an alt-folk haze shaped by Jake Lubas’ haunting, Roy Orbison-meets-Lyle Lovett vocal warmth, Danny Barker’s shimmering steel guitar, and Joe Lucarelli’s resonant upright bass, grounded by James Sleeman’s subtle percussion. I first heard this band at Asbury Lanes months ago, and their sound has only sharpened into something uniquely stirring: a modern Americana dream-state. It’s the rare mix of tone and tenderness that makes you stop mid-conversation and just listen. A sound we’re absolutely going to be hearing more of.
Great Oblivion
Next up was Chad Sabo, whose powerful performance showcased exactly why Surfing For Daisy insisted he be part of the bill. After catching his set at Low Dive months back, they knew he’d bring something special to the lineup. On Saturday, he delivered.
The thoughtful curation of the night was no accident. Drummer Steven Filippone told me: “We always try to curate a complete show starting with support, and we felt Great Oblivion and Chad Sabo made for a really strong bill…Great Oblivion we've played with a couple times, we love those guys…We saw Chad a while back at Low Dive…we just fell in love with Chad's songs.”
This wasn’t a random collection of acts, it was a night built with intention.
Chad Sabo
THE PONY ERUPTS
NJ DJ Rich Russo, who has been spinning the band on SiriusXM’s Underground Garage, stepped out to introduce them, adding an extra jolt of excitement before Surfing For Daisy even appeared. When the lights rose, the roar that followed felt like a wave crashing from the back of the room forward.
Rich Russo
After the show, Steven reflected on the magnitude of the moment: “It's always special to play at The Pony given the history but to headline it was something we've been working towards for a while, so we were super proud…I don't know if any of us expected to sell it out…It really proved to us that all this hard work is really growing the band.”
The performance that followed was tight, emotional, and celebratory, exactly the kind of set a band delivers when they know they’re standing in the middle of something important.
DANNY CLINCH TAKES THE STAGE
The night hit another level when world-renowned photographer and harmonica player Danny Clinch stepped onto the stage, instantly recognized by the crowd. His appearances with the band have become almost a tradition, and Saturday was no exception. Steven told me they’d suspected he might drop by, and a late-night message from his son Max confirmed it. Clinch added harmonica to multiple songs, his signature growl and presence giving the set an undeniable charge.
A BAND MID-MOMENTUM
It’s impossible to ignore how quickly Surfing For Daisy is rising. Less than a year ago, they sold out their 350-cap release show at Wonder Bar. Now, they’ve nearly tripled the room size… and filled it with ease.
Steven shared: “To nearly triple tickets in the same year definitely feels like an inflection point… we're really proud of it and can't thank the community enough for all the support.”
The band recently signed with ROAM Artists, signaling a clear next step beyond local stages.
“We will always love this Asbury Park community…But now it's time for us to really build this band regionally and beyond…Hopefully our next Asbury Park show is on The Summer Stage.”
Given the momentum in the room Saturday, that dream feels more like an inevitability.
Surfing for Daisy
THE SONGS THAT COME ALIVE
Nick Francis offered a glimpse into the band’s creative process: “Although I mostly write my songs and ideas on my own, I'm always looking ahead towards the band… the band blossoms every single raw idea into something so genuinely beautiful…Once we come together as a band…we definitely have the live performance in mind.”
Some songs transform onstage, becoming bigger than their recorded versions. Nick singled out one in particular: “Queenstown specifically is one of the songs we have that is just built to be played live…the energy and intensity…is intoxicating…It's become one of our best and most beloved live songs.”
And the crowd at The Stone Pony agreed.
A HOMETOWN VICTORY WITH A WIDER HORIZON
Surfing For Daisy didn’t just headline The Stone Pony, they claimed a moment in its long, storied timeline. The same charged air that filled the room before they walked out returned in the final notes of the night, this time transformed into something bigger: the recognition that this band is stepping fully into its next chapter. AND WE WERE THERE!
The “Sold Out” Stone Pony
