---

I’ve heard it said before – only in an Asbury Park – and had the chance to experience such a moment on Thursday night at Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery at The Asbury, located at Fifth Avenue and Kingsley Street.

This art-meets-music space has become known for its impromptu after hour shows, that is reminiscent of the former Upstage Club and NYC nightclubs like Smalls, where legendary and great talents come together to blow off steam following gigs throughout the city.

This was the case Thursday as members of the Phil Lesh & Terrapin Family show, which  brought the iconic Preservation Hall Jazz Band to the stage, performed with city’s own bluesman – Stringbean and his Boardwalk Social Club bandmates; among them were Branden Lewis [shown in feature photo] and Clint Maedgen [below left]. 

Clinch, a music industry photographer, video producer, and musician in his own right, is celebrating his one year anniversary at The Asbury. That celebration comes with the news that waterfront redeveloper iStar and hotelier David Bowd of Salt Hotels [who administers the hotel operations] have extended Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery’s lease for another year.

“With Danny and his team it was always about what more there is that can be done with the gallery, whether it’s more shows, more live streaming,” Bowd told Sun and triCity News publisher Dan Jacobson in September. “Not one person who goes in there doesn’t love it. Danny just embodies everything about Asbury Park.”

Aside from the rotating exhibit of Clinch’s work, there’s been those Soulful Showcases by KYDS, a local nonprofit that works to help Monmouth County’s youth develop a holistic approach to life’s challenges; a rare live streaming performances with Gary Clark Jr that garnered 51K views, close to 300 shares and over 600 comments; and the weekend live show, curated by Rachel Ana Dobken [triCity News Assistant Creative Director]. The space is managed by Tina Kerekes, who offers mid century home decor inside the space.

“I think it’s so much easier to sell art if people can see it envisioned in a space,” Kerekes said of the space, which features everything from comfortable seating to unique lighting and accessory pieces.

A part of the ‘Only in Asbury Park’ magic included Clinch’s urging of up and coming performers to share the stage with the industry’s best.

“It’s been a great run,” he told triCity News. “The value it brings to not only myself, but also to Asbury Park, is tremendous.”

—————————————————————————————————————-

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---