Thanks to the businesses that support us, we belong to a garden of poets, bands, and artists. Closing just one of these businesses is a loss, so you can imagine how sad I was to hear that three of my favorite spaces announced their closing dates. Trinity and the Pope and the Ocean Bay diner of Point Pleasant are closing their doors with no anticipated reopening date. The Annex is in the process of remodeling, and some fear this change may do more harm than good since the intimate space is what we love about it. These beloved spaces gave us a place to call home. Many have invested their time and love into these businesses so they could prosper and become a melting pot of diverse people and ideas. Trinity was the place to be on a Thursday night, Chris Rockwell hosted the Spoken Word Open Mic Nights at the Annex which brought people from all over together, and how can you be a Brick or Point high school graduate and not know about the OB diner: the late nights, the conversations, and the table you felt most comfortable at. Elevator Art's very first show was immediately followed by an excursion to the OB with all the performers. It's hard to say which business I'll miss the most.
Trinity and the Pope stood out in the venue-saturated Asbury Park. It was one of the few that didn't ask bands to sell tickets, didn't charge at the door, and provided sound in a sophisticated setting. Sure, I support venues so they can continue to survive in this economy, but Trinity was a place we all congregated because of its accessibility. There were nights where atleast one person from each band would be there and everyone was talking about their progress and future plans with their band. Elevator Art had some important conversations about the Martian Diver EP at Trinity. It was a guaranteed great show when Mad Feather Group, Lightning Jar, Accidental Seabirds, We Used to Cut the Grass, Karmic Juggernaut, or Moon Motel played at the venue. You know that awkward space that separates the band from the audience? There was none of that at Trinity; you had no choice but to stand right in front of the band, and that only made the experience better for everyone.
This goes out to you Annex, Trinity, and OB. At least your last weeks were in October when we are all submissive to the reality of change. You will be missed.
