Bad Copy

The Bouncing Souls – The Stone Pony 08/16/2025. Photo by Stephen Jackson

Depending on who you talk to, people will say that Stoked For the Summer started around 2015, 2016, or simply not sure when. The four individuals in The Bouncing Souls created something special in Asbury Park, NJ. A community has always followed them, but here you can see just how big of an impact they’ve had. From their Stoked Market that takes place at Trinity Church, you’ll see them wandering through the crowd or sitting at a booth signing posters, books, or records. They also go out of the their way to take photos with the countless people that truly appreciate them, each fan having a sparkle in their eyes after meeting their heroes and sharing how there’s a song that helped them through what we call life. Another wonderful thing you’ll see are that many of those same individuals have their children with them. It’s been over 35 years since the band formed, and to see kids and teens feel the same appreciation that their parents did is nothing short from wonderful; you see that spark of when a child realizes that something is real.

This festival is built off of the generation,, and countless people that have a story to tell of how Stoked For The Summer was a bonding show of family, strangers becoming friends, high fives, hugs, and togetherness.

Photo by Stephen Jackson

It’s wonderful to see how the crowd interacts every year, just as soon as the band hits the stage. They’re instantly hooked on the moment, or moments, in this case. You can feel the push of the crowd as soon as the first chords hit, the booming voices of countless people of all different age groups. Some people have been coming since the very beginning, others have made it possibly a few years, and there are even those who are experiencing their firsts. Greg, Bryan, Pete, and George eat it up; you can see how much they appreciate every single one of those people in the waving, fist pumping crowd. Their voices become lost in the drowning of all the attendees singing together. Children with their mohawks next to their proud parents, getting to share this experience with them. It’s a new chapter for so many of these people; and with me being a new dad, I suddenly feel what all of these people were feeling. Seeing my children on the side of the stage was a dream come true that brings tears of joy to me. To see these parents stand next to their children with everyone’s focus on the moment at hand while the Souls rip through “Manthem,” “True Believers,” “Ghosts of the Boardwalk,” debuting their new song “Power,” “United,” “Gone,” and countless others.

Photo by Stephen Jackson

To turn, and see that you’re not alone in this crazy world or sharing stories of stresses to then letting it all go to see a band that has been there, and back. That’s why their fanbase keeps on growing, and never leaves. Each fan vibing with the other in the endless sea of people that stand proudly when the sun goes down along the shoreline of the iconic venue that is The Stone Pony. You’re there with your family, your friends – both old and new, your partner, a stranger that you told your life story to or sang all the songs with, and walk out of it with a sense that you were simply in that moment of being. The most important part, seeing all the different ages of people enjoying a show of a band that is over 35 years old.

Photo by Stephen Jackson

Before the event starts, there’s always a soundcheck. During this soundcheck you see families that are friends of the bands, just chilling with their children. Enjoying the music while the summer sun shines. To stage right, you see a group called “The Balcony Crew” that stay over at The Empress Hotel to look on at the events. They’ve been coming since the very beginning of Stoked. Some of them even have children that come to the show, too.

Stoked For The Summer continues to be the wave that brings so many together. This year’s lineup featured Crazy & The Brains, Spraynard, H2O, Dillinger Four, and Lagwagon. They all brought so much energy and two out of the six bands brought out young artists to sum up what this event represents; the veterans to the youths.

Photo by Stephen Jackson

However many years these four have left in them, there will always be a kid experiencing their first Stoked For The Summer looking up to see their parents spark, friends of all ages in a pit, and all the music everyone sings together. This is the magic that is Stoked For The Summer. Proof being the MacLarion family in the final image; not only was the boy’s (Vincent) mother and father there, but also his grandfather and grandmother. I have seen things like this every year at this event, and look forward to seeing this magic continue.

Photo by Stephen Jackson

Check out the full gallery below: