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The creative mind behind Asbury Underground and his team join in honoring one of the state’s earliest punk settlers at the 20th Anniversary Concert for The Electric Ballroom, being held 6 pm Sunday at the House of Independents.

WRAT 95.9’s Electric Ballroom is veteran musician [and sometimes actor] Keith Roth’s radio show, which first aired Oct. 11, 1988.

Raised on punk near ‘Handsome Dick’ Manitoba’s Dictators Bronx neighborhood, Roth has been featured on over 30 records, performed with a host of industry icons, and has recorded and released nine albums with his current band Frankenstein 3000.

“I am delusional but the Electric Ballroom is the best radio show for underground and old school music fans,” Roth [shown in featured photo] has said about the show which centers on ’70s punk, alternative, glam, stoner, and deep underground classics. “The thing that keeps me motivated to keep doing this is the impact that it has on people,  [from] discovering things that they weren’t aware of [to] broadening their minds to so much great music and art that wasn’t exposed to the masses. Sadly, over these past 20 years, we have lost a lot of friends who had a major impact on what I consider the musical landscape of today. We need to keep reminding people of their legacy and how they have influenced and affected the next generations with their timeless sounds. I am always hoping to hear and share the next Velvet Underground or The MC5’s.”

Roth has been a featured host on Sirius XM for over 15 years, hosting such shows as First Wave, Buzzsaw, Octane, and Left of Center, Asbury Underground founder Pat Schiavino said. He is currently featured on Ozzy’s Boneyard and Hair Nation and is the producer of David Johansen’s Mansion of Fun show heard on Spectrum and The Loft.

“I have known Keith for a long time now,” Schiavino said.” “We are great friends, and I was very happy when he approached me to participate in this event. We have shared so many stories and musical experiences over the years, and this just felt like the natural thing for me to do, and I am very proud to have this opportunity. Having Keith, Monster Magnet, Blue Coupe, Frankenstein 3000, The Ribeye Brothers and Naughty Clouds on the bill keeps it all “home-grown” and in the Asbury Underground philosophy of promoting what has made and continues to make Asbury Park one of the world’s leading meccas for original music.”

Roth’s acting career includes having the lead role in the film “Let Me Down Hard”, last year’s Best Feature Film winner in both the Asbury and Garden State Film festivals. He also produced the film’s soundtrack.

Headlining the celebration is Red Bank’s Monster Magnet, a band Rolling Stone called a decadent psych-rock whirlpool. Also on the bill are Blue Coupe featuring Dennis Dunaway of the Alice Cooper Group, Joe and Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult, Roth’s Frankenstein 3000 band, The Ribeye Brothers, and Naughty Clouds.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show kicking off at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Tickets are available at The Rebel Supply Company, located at 550 Cookman Ave, or online via houseofindependents.com.

[Photo courtesy of Asbury Underground]

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