The Parlor Mob Comes Home to Wonder Bar
As part of the Prudential North to Shore Festival, The Parlor Mob returned to their hometown of Asbury Park with a packed show at Wonder Bar—and it felt like a full-circle moment. The band, made up of Mark Melicia, David Rosen, Paul Ritchie, Sam Bey, and Anthony Chick, brought a level of intensity that hit hard right from the first song. Their sound is loud, gritty, and full of attitude—old school rock with a modern edge. Mark’s voice filled every inch of the room, and the whole band moved like they were playing to a much bigger stage. I’d heard they were known for their live shows, and this one lived up to the hype. The best rock show I’ve seen in a while, hands down. A sweaty, high-energy set that made Wonder Bar feel way bigger than it is. Earlier in the night, I ran into the lighting designer and complimented him on his previous work, which I was familiar with, not realizing just how good the setup for tonight was going to be. That little stage lit up like a full-blown festival—honestly one of the coolest lighting designs I’ve witnessed in a small room.
Opening the show was Sunshine Spazz, a trio from Toms River who owned their set. Their sound was punchy and raw, and they had this fun, scrappy energy that got people headbanging early. Between the killer lighting, the crowd, and two bands that gave it everything, it was one of those Asbury Park nights that reminded me why live music, especially hard rock, still hits different.
