The Interrupters, on the verge of stardom, kick off Stone Pony Summer Stage season

The fourth-wave of ska landed May 13 at the Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, and it made quite a splash.

The Interrupters, a ska-punk outfit from Los Angeles, closed Saturday's show with an upbeat, energetic and fun set of ska, punk and a few surprises. One of those surprises was a partial cover of Bruce Springsteen's “Hungry Heart” that included an audience sing-along.

“I don't know where I was going with that one,” said band guitarist Kevin Bivona after not singing the second verse.

Bivona did know he was in Asbury Park. The Interrupters have a history of playing the Stone Pony and other area venues, including the now-closed Brighton Bar in Long Branch.

“Cheers New Jersey, and I'm really sorry that (bassist) Justin (Bivona) left all that cooked pasta in the woods last week,” said Kevin, Jason's brother. “He didn't know what do with it.”

Not on only have the Interrupters played seemingly every venue on the Jersey Shore, but they also stay up on the area's current events.

As the third-wave of ska took place in the '90s, a fourth wave is about due — and the Interrupters are leading the charge. The five-member band has tons of energy and are in constant motion, especially Kevin, Justin and frontwoman Aimee Allen, who jumped from stage riser to stage riser during the set.

Allen has quite a voice and a whole lot of grrl-power charisma. The band's latest album, “In the Wild,” presents a more vulnerable Allen as it details her personal struggles. The confessional work has connected to a broader audience. On Saturday, it seemed many female fans in the audience, from pre-teen kids with their parents to middle age BBFs, were there to see her.

The ballad “Alien,” with a segue into “Hallelujah,” later in the set framed Allen's voice nicely in a non ska-punk moment. Her phrasing and tone is similar to Pink's, but Allen has more fullness in the lower range.

During the Interrupters' set, crowd surfers took the air to shake Allen's hand, which she gladly did. You'll be hearing a lot more about Allen and the Interrupters before too long.

Brit punk rocker Frank Turner, who was the show's co-headliner and preceded the Interrupters, also has a long history in the area. He spoke of his 2008 show at Asbury Lanes.

“That show changed my life,” Turner said. “That was the first show I played to actual people in the United States.”

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He stressed the power of positivity in punk rock music.

“We come here as strangers and leave as friends,” Turner said.

The show, which included Check Ragan and Bedouin Soundclash, was the opening night of the Stone Pony Summer Stage's 2023 season.

“The greatest thing I love is that entering my 40s I feel like I'm looking at the same generation I saw going to the Warped Tour when I was in my 20s,” said Candance Pascale, 44, of Manahawkin. “We're all here and I see people with their kids and I'm so upset I didn't bring my kids. I'm looking around like we kind of all got old, but we didn't because we're here.”

The night was a positive punk experience in the packed venue.

“I'm definitely very supportive of the culture and everybody who's behind the scene,” said Travis Applegate, 38, of Bayville, who attended the show with Crystal Helmick, 33, of Bayville. “The sound's awesome. It sounds great out here.”

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Food options at the Summer Stage this season include Bubbakoo's Burritos and Rocco's Pizza, which also offers cheesesteaks, sausage sandwiches, vegan subs and fries. Portable restrooms are located at the back of the yard and toward stage left. You can also access the restrooms inside the Pony.

Get ready to stand, or sit on the asphalt ground, when you go to a Summer Stage show. As in past years, there are only a handful of stools provided on the dining deck. Some older fans found seats toward the back of the yard at Saturday's show.

The next Summer Stage show is the Indigo Girls on Thursday, June 1.

Stone Pony Summer Stage schedule

Indigo Girls, June 1

Young the Giant with Milky Chance, June 2

AP Pride Party with Carly Rae Jepsen, June 3

Fletcher and Friends, June 4

Rainbow Kitten Surprise, June 9

The Used and Pierce the Veil, June 12

North 2 Shore presents Demi Lovato, June 16

North 2 Shore presents the B-52s, June 17

Streetlight Manifesto, June 24

Stick Figure, June 25

An Evening with Goose, July 3, 4

Yellowcard, July 6

Trey Anastasio, July 7

Yacht Rock Revue, July 8

The Head and the Heart and the Revivalists, July 9

Yungblud, July 15

Bouncing Souls with Bayside and 7 Seconds, July 22

The Ghost Inside and Underoath, July 27

Louis Tomlinson, July 28

Orville Peck, July 29

Backseat Lover, Aug. 1

Alter Bridge, Aug. 2

Incubus, Aug. 8

War on Drugs, Aug. 18

Pixies and Modest Mouse, Aug. 20

Gimme Gimme Disco, Aug. 25

Almost Queen, Sept. 1

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Sept. 2

Yacht Rock Revue, Sept. 3

Go: Stone Pony Summer Stage, 913 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park; stoneponyonline.com.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: The Interrupters kick off Stone Pony Summer Stage 2023 season