Scott Stamper opened The Saint -- at the corner of Main Street and Monroe Avenue in Asbury Park -- in 1994.
SCOTT STAMPER'S IMPRINT on the New Jersey music scene began at Rutgers University, where he spun records as a disc jockey for the school's radio station, WRSU 88.7 FM. Stamper wanted to run his own venue, booking bands and ordering booze for hundreds of shows each year -- and, in 1994, he opened The Saint on the corner of Main Street and Monroe Avenue in Asbury Park. In a city renowned for live music, The Saint has rooted itself as one of the best spots to catch a show and Stamper has grown ever more influential. For the past 23 years, he has also presided over the Asbury Music Awards, which this year will be held Nov. 10 at The Stone Pony.
1 | Why is Asbury Park such a fruitful region for live music?
It is the first market south of New York City where bands can play without a radius clause. That's how I came to base myself in Asbury Park. So, as an act you can play three shows -- Philadelphia, Asbury Park and New York City. Very few agents say no to Asbury Park. We are also blessed to have a radio station -- WBJB 90.5 FM -- which plays music from the national scene. Before 90.5, there was 106.3, which was the alternative station playing the new bands. Plus, there is a rich history to Asbury Park. Throughout the years, acts know Asbury Park -- for one thing, two of the biggest stars in the business came through here, and that always helps because they travel all over the world and spread the word about Asbury Park. Live music here goes way back. I remember one night going to see the $5 rock show at the Paramount Theatre when The Buggles performed "Video Killed The Radio Star." I had a yellow Chevy Nova -- it had probably 20 bumper stickers on the back of it -- and I picked up Jon Bon Jovi and we drove down to see that show.
2 | Can you point to the influence on the region of live music venues like The Saint or The Stone Pony?
I like to think that what got Asbury Park its name is the quality of venues. The national scene saw that The Stone Pony was the top club for sound and that we have followed that. Sound is the key. In all the bars in Asbury Park, the settings for live music are great, too. Asbury Lanes is a very cool setting. Wonder Bar has all that history. All the bands from the 1960s and '70s played there. We have opened our arms to the national scene and also the local music scene. But the venues have to be first-rate and that can be said of the music venues in Asbury Park today. Bands want to come and will vouch for playing here. We get shows here because we take care of the musicians. At this point, I get emails from all over the world of people who want to play or just visit.
3 | Every Jersey music fan has seen a great show at the Meadowlands or at Madison Square Garden, but what is special about seeing a show in an intimate venue like The Saint?
We are always true to having great sound. I've been blessed with great sound people who can put together a sound system that can blow your mind. When you come into the room, it has a great feel to it. You are not not going to see the show -- there are no poles blocking your view, no bad seats. You're going to feel the show. It's going to be right in your ear. There is nothing stopping that. And that's why fans and artists want to come back for more.
4 | Approximately how many shows have you booked at The Saint, and do you have a favorite?
We can say a rough number is 275 shows a year. And recently, it has been 300 shows per year. And we've been doing (it) since 1994. That's a lot of shows. The one that sticks out happened in our third year. It was Joey Ramone and the Dream, with Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone. There were two Ramones on the same stage. I would have never dreamed that I would get a call asking, "Do you want Joey Ramone to play tonight." Joey spun at the local radio station, then came here. Having two Ramones on our stage doing all the hits -- I can never top that. I remember seeing them play at Rutgers, with Cyndi Lauper opening up. And that was his last New Jersey show -- at The Saint in 1997.
5 | I believe it's state law that you can't talk about the Asbury Park music scene without mentioning The Boss. Do you have a Springsteen story?
In 2010, we booked singer/songwriter Josh Ritter. It was a secret show, not advertised, and Bruce Springsteen came by and hung out at the end of the bar like he was the boss. Nobody knew that he was there until the show was about to end. He was incognito, with a baseball cap pulled on. Bruce has come to The Saint a few times. He recorded a BBC special here in 1998 called "A Secret History." You can find it online -- Bruce sitting on a barstool at The Saint, telling stories.
Next month: Barry Farber, motivational speaker, author and host of "Breakthrough with Barry Farber"
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