Live Music: Real Friends
Asbury Lanes @ Asbury Park, NJ
By Gabby Cabacab
The legendary, and recently renovated, Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, New Jersey had the pleasure of featuring some incredible pop-punk acts last week. Featuring Grayscale from Philadelphia, PA, and Blackpool, England’s own Boston Manor, the two opening acts set a perfect, high-energy atmosphere for what was to come. Around 9:30 PM Real Friends from Tinley Park, Illinois came opened up the stage playing “Me First”, the first song on their brand new album, Composure. From there, the band played favorites from their past albums The Home Inside My Head (2016), Maybe This Place Is The Same And We’re Just Just Changing (2014), and Put Yourself Back Together (2013).
A band open about mental health awareness, Dan Lambton (lead vocals) took time towards the middle of their set to talk about mental health and the importance of getting help. To remind us all that no matter what we think about our own battles with mental health, we are never alone. This may have been my favorite part of the night, because after this speech, the crowd sang lyrics back with so much passion. Tears were shed, smiles were shared, and hugs were given mosh pits.
If you haven’t caught Real Friends live yet, do it. Watch this band live and see for yourself what they can do to a crowd of similar minds and hearts. I promise you, you won’t regret it.
