Join me at The Hutton on Saturday, June 16th for a solo acoustic show. I’ll be playing two sets of originals and an eclectic set of cover songs full of looping fun.
Weather permitting, I’ll be playing outdoors on the patio! Hope you can make it!
Saturday, June 16th
Josh Bicknell solo acoustic
The Hutton
225 Hutton Street
Jersey City, NJ 07307
7pm-9pm
Catch me with Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors at our favorite spot in Boonton, NJ. We’re playing three sets starting at 9pm. Come early for the food and stay for the music. Can’t wait!
Saturday, May 12th
Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors
Maxfield’s On Main
713 Main Street
Boonton, NJ 07005
9pm-Midnight
Listen on:
I’m excited to share with you a new piece of music – a cover of the Bruce Springsteen classic, Atlantic City.
This version takes the song to a place I don’t believe it’s ever been to before. To me, it conjures up a cold, windy, and desolate evening on the beaches of this classically-tragic New Jersey shore city. It sounds like something you might hear on the Stranger Things soundtrack.
It starts with a dark analog synthesizer sound that pulses slightly, conveying the constant movement of the ocean. Along with a sparse drum machine, this sound makes up the foundation of the arrangement.
As the song continues to build momentum, the bridge arrives, bringing an entirely new sonic landscape; lifting the song with brighter guitars, strings, and sounds of the ocean that propel the song into its closing. The vocal performance is stark, up-close, and at times, just a whisper. It is haunting yet intimate.
As I listen to this arrangement today, it brings to mind the current state of Atlantic City, the city. Having been released from state control, will it be primed for a rebirth? Or continue on the same haunting path?
The casinos can shine bright, but the beach can still get very cold at night.
I hope you enjoy this new interpretation of a classic.
And if you do, I’d be honored if you added it to your music library, one of your playlists, shared it with a friend, or just let me know that you listened. 🙂
Enjoy,
Josh
Here’s a recap of my recent performances.
This was a really fun show at Finnegan’s Pub in Hoboken, NJ. We were without Ty on guitar for most of the show and it was fun to explore these songs sans lead guitar. As usual, we all crammed ourselves on this stage…
And then we played a nice mix of originals and covers! Here was the setlist.
The next night, I was joined by Ty Tuschen as I did my singer/songwriter thing at The Hutton in Jersey City, NJ. After fueling up on a delicious meal, we played for more than two hours straight, mixing my original songs with some wide-ranging covers.
We didn’t actually get through the entire setlist, but we had good intentions! Here it was.
The weather finally turned warm and sunny in a major way… and just in time for the first Groove on Grove of the season! It was a pleasure to kick it off by playing with Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors.
We played outdoors at the Grove Street PATH Plaza.
This was the setlist. The keys and mic stand kept it from blowing away in the wind!
The day ended with a beautiful sunset. Here’s the pedestrian plaza on Newark Ave. in Jersey City just down the block from where we performed.
I’m happy to be back at The Hutton – a cool spot for food and drinks in Jersey City. The vibe is perfect for a duo. Ty and I can’t wait to play a mix of Josh originals and wide-ranging covers. We’ll be playing everything from U2 to Alessia Cara; from Chris Issack to Kendrick Lamar. Come early for dinner and stay for the music!
Saturday, April 21st
Josh Bicknell and Ty Tuschen
The Hutton
225 Hutton Street
Jersey City, NJ 07307
10pm-midnight
Join us at one of our favorite spots in Hoboken – Finnegan’s Irish Pub! We’ll be there for three sets of originals and covers, going into the wee hours of the night. Don’t miss it!
Friday, April 20th
Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors
Finnegan’s
734 Willow Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030
10pm-1am
I’m excited to be joining Casey Solomon as she sings a range of Soul, Blues, Pop, Country, and Rock tunes with Jaime DeJesus on bass, Ty Tuschen on guitar, and yours truly on drums. We’ll be playing 10pm-1am at Finnegan’s Pub in Hoboken, NJ. Hope you can join us!
Friday, April 13th
Casey and the Dirty Water Dogs
Finnegan’s
734 Willow Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030
10pm-1am
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I’m thrilled to have my photography featured as part of an exhibit and live music show on none other than Rex Manning Day! I’m featuring photos that are music-related, which is a neat way to merge two of my artistic ventures. Everything on display will also be for sale!
The opening party is presented by ARTXSOULNJ on Saturday, April 7th 9pm at Sticks and Stones in Hawthorne, NJ. Hope you can join in on the fun!
Saturday, April 7th
Music Is the Glue of the World, Vol. 2
Sticks and Stones
142 Goffle Road
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
Doors at 9pm
I love watching NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. They are an awesome way to watch bands you love perform stripped down versions of their songs. They are also awesome for discovering new music!
A few years ago, NPR decided to launch a yearly Tiny Desk Contest, where emerging artists could record their own music in front of a desk. Last year, I recorded a stripped down version of my song, “Howlin.” This year, it’s a stripped down version of “A New Start,” complete with a live vocal loop during the bridge. Hope you enjoy it!
Thursday night, come check out a new venue in Jersey City – FM. I’ll be playing drums with Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors for three sets from 9-midnight. Join us for a nice mix of covers, originals, and cocktails.
Thursday, March 15th
Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors
FM Restaurant, Bar, and Lounge
340 Third Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
9pm-Midnight