"I Can't Wait for the Summer": Stringbean and the Boardwalk Social Club Return
Monday Evening Residency Resumes
Last night, a perennial local favorite of the Monmouth County, New Jersey music scene returned.
Stringbean and the Boardwalk Social Club have been a regular highlight of the Asbury Park boardwalk for at least four years. Ensconced at Low Dive every Monday night in the warmer months since Low Dive opened (it was Asbury Park Yacht Club), the band plays jaunty, warm folk rock, a sort of Traveling Wilburys sound with shades of The Beach Boys’ cult classic Seventies era. Led by Kenny “Stringbean” Sorenson—so named for his frame—the core band includes M.J. Hancock on bass guitar and Richie Blackwell on auxiliary percussion. They sometimes play as a trio during the colder months, including at Tenth Avenue Burrito in Belmar. Another mainstay of the Boardwalk Social Club is keyboardist Bill Henry. The rest of the lineup tends to rotate. Last night, it included Sim Caine on drums and Joe Murphy on guitar. (Hancock and Murphy are Stringbean’s sons-in-law.) Blackwell is best known for studio and live work with his lifelong friend Bruce Springsteen; he played on the first and last tracks on The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle (1973) and has been a vital part of the local scene ever since.
Last night’s set included familiar tunes like “We’re on the Side of the Planet” (a.k.a. “Right Side of the Earth”) and “Stop That Train” (I was unable to confirm this is the official title). The group also performs select covers, including Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released”, always a highlight. Last night, Paul Whistler, another local journeyman known for Whistler and the Wheels in the 1970s, joined the band again for his original “Cadillac Back”. The band plays two sets, beginning at 7PM, every Monday from the beginning of May until sometime in October. Typically, they perform outside on the boardwalk. If weather is inclement, they will perform inside on the Low Dive stage, as they did last night (presumably because of a fairly low temperature).
Stringbean has been performing locally for many years and has written an impressive catalog of songs, including recent singles “Fiery Words” and “I Can’t Wait for the Summer” (both 2025). They can be found on the streaming services and YouTube but are best experienced brought to life in a live setting. (Stringbean is not to be confused with the late country singer David Akeman, as Apple Music does.) Stringbean and the Boardwalk Social Club can be seen in various incarnations year-round, including at Asbury Park’s R Bar and Palmetto, Low Dive’s sister venue (and restaurant) next door. But they are best experienced outdoors at Low Dive on a crisp, warm Monday evening, perhaps after an early boardwalk dinner.
The tri-county area of Monmouth, Middlesex, and Ocean is known for its globetrotting superstars. Stringbean and the Boardwalk Social Club are a reminder that the legendary scene can be experienced every week and that residents and visitors alike should experience these and other locals. The rest of the culture may decline, but these inestimable staples of the local culture remain robust.
Playful crowd on a Monday this week! Was great to see a new season kicking off!