Mixin' It Up — WALT STREET PUB
Across from the Red Bank train station is Walt Street Pub Bar and Restaurant-family-owned and operated by Chris Mustillo and her husband, Lou (son Glen is general manager and daughter Heather helps out in the office). Buffalo wings and other homemade specialties notwith standing, music has been a staple there since opening day in 1983.
“We don't specialize in jazz or blues, but in having different bands,” explains Chris. Some of them, like Sunny Kenn and Bobby Banderia, have been performing at Walt Street for years. There's new talent, too, like the all-girl band Kat House, that plays modern rock, and Under Pressure — five musicians all working toward their Bachelors Degree in music — that plays a diverse repertoire. On any given weekend, you might also find the The Jonzes, a well-known local group, the Voodudes, Kindred (Lisa, one of the singers, is a former Rockett), or Josh Zuckerman on electric fiddle. As Chris says, “We try to mix it up.” Walt Street caters to the 25- to 40-year-old crowd.
Friday night, by virtue of being marginally mellower than Saturday night-ask any club hopper-often features acoustic performances by various groups, and musicians such as Kevin Horn. Each first Wednesday of the month, the Shore-born Jazz Lobsters are on tap with their large band playing everything from Swing, Sinatra, and Motown to dance favorites and rock classics. Thursday, it's Aloha Monkey, a Red Bank-based rock & roll cover band “that's just getting started, but they're doing great,” notes Chris. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are musical days of rest at the Pub.

WALT STREET PUB | 180 Monmouth Street
732.741.5936 | waltstreetpub.com

DJ Disco — BUONA SERA RESTAURANT & BAR

Remember dancing under the glitter ball to Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, and the Jacksons? Disco, driven by that hypnotic four-on-the-floor rhythm with the eight-note quaver and hi-hat on the off-beat (what did you think you were listening to?), may have peaked by the late 1970s, but it still draws a hot-to-trot crowd at Buona Sera Restaurant & Bar, at the corner of Monmouth and Maple streets. True, Buona Sera does offer “world-class cuisine” and a wine cellar with over 10,000, but disco is king on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, from about 10:30pm to last call at 1:45am.
The restaurant draws a good-sized crowd — mostly in their 40s and 50s — who have Saturday Night Fever, or simply want to dance the night away like Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers. Ask the DJ.

BUONA SERA RESTAURANT & BAR | 50 Maple Avenue 732.530.5858 | buona-sera.com

Live, Local, Anything's Possible —
JAMIAN’S FOOD AND DRINK

Here, eclectic drink and food fare are complemented by local artwork hanging on the walls and a music scene that's worth hanging out for. For do-it-yourselfers — and supportive listeners — there's Sunday's Open Mic night, which showcases local music talent (signups are 6pm; show time 8pm). Then there's a changing roster of featured rock bands, making Jamian's, for many, the epicenter of Red Bank's eclectic music scene (and a free one at that) that's included acts such as Jeanie Westerhoff, Matt O'Ree, Def Tat Jazz Trio, Melissa Chill Trio, Poppa John JamBand, Black Pie Funk, Random Test, Quincy Mumford, Quest Theory… all penciled in as owner Jamian Laviola's fills in his monthly musical-chairs calendar.
“There's a lot of local talent on display & a nice friendly vibe thru out the place,” writes a customer on Yelp.com. “They rock the place with some really good bands.”

JAMIAN’S FOOD AND DRINK | 79 Monmouth Street 732.747.8050 | jamiansfood.com

Seasoned with Salsa — TEAK

The sushi-nibbling, sake-sipping atmosphere that you can find sometimes at Teak — the restaurant and self-described “Asian flair” sushi bar and lounge — belies the fact that at other times the place is rocking down the roof. This may have something to do with the top-notch salsa bands Teak brings in every second and fourth Friday night of the month. Move out all the tables in the front dining room and, faster than you can whack a clave (a traditional wooden instrument made of two sticks stuck together to make a clicking or taping sound), a giant dance floor! According to General Manager Peter Yim, it's often filled with upwards of 200 energetic patrons in the 25 to 40-year-old group. The music starts at about 10pm, and continues to closing time at 1:30am. Salsa bands have included Sonido, Costeno, and Frank 3 Clave. Now you know.
Rather take it down a notch or two? Head to the bar every Thursday for happy hour and the acoustic mastery of Andrew Holtz. Not done with Thursday and in the mood to grab a mic? Stick around for karaoke, which begins at 10pm.

TEAK | 64 Monmouth Street | 732.747.5775 teakrestaurant.com

Celtic-Minded Music — THE DUBLIN HOUSE

“There was a jazz trio out front in the courtyard and that brought me right in...the atmosphere was wonderful...” Well, that's Zagat.com for you on Red Bank's venerable “gastropub,” The Dublin House Restaurant & Pub. The free courtyard music the writer refers to originates through a borough program called StreetLife, which was launched in 2000 and kicks in throughout the Red Bank Business District during the summer months on Saturday evenings, June 5 through August 28. But there's plenty of the Dub's own music inside, as well.
The first and third Sunday of each month features an open mic seisiun — that's Irish for an informal social gathering of friends and Celtic-minded musicians armed with fiddles, flutes, guitars, and Guinness — and everyone is welcome to join in. The second and fourth Monday of each month showcases a traditional Irish seisiun featuring Trinity Celtic Band banging out Irish jigs and reels. As Trinity points out, “you don't have to be Irish to enjoy this music, and you can sing along if you know the words.” Out back at the Dub is the outdoor Temple Bar. While there's no formal schedule, every once in a while there's a band.

THE DUBLIN HOUSE | 30 Monmouth Street | 732.747.6699 | thedublinhouse.net