GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK,
PART 4:

Kate Hiltz - Punk Rock Den Mother

By Jim Testa

Kate Hiltz is best known as the behind-the-scenes force – manager, promoter, den mother - to the Bouncing Souls, and runs their label, Chunksaah Records. She’s also one of the few people we know who bought property and decided to live in Asbury Park long before the city’s current revival and (somewhat short-circuited) real estate boom. And of course she’s been committed and involved with Jersey’s underground music scene for decades. So she seemed the perfect person to ask about Asbury Park’s viability and future as a music city.

Q: Where did you grow up, and how did you wind up living in Asbury Park?

I grew up in Scotch Plains, NJ, a suburb of the NYC. I was living in New Brunswick, going to graduate school and working at the futon shop where I met the souls, for a couple of years and then just wanted to try something new. My friend Wig knew about a place in Bradley Beach and so I moved there with him in 1995. I moved to Ocean Grove in 1998 and I had an office for the Souls/Chunksaah in the old gas building in Asbury Park. Everyone told me I was insane to buy a house in Asbury at that time (2000) but I didn't listen. I moved into my crumbling ghetto money pit in May of 2001.

Q: Big question: What do you like about Asbury Park? What's good about being a performer or a fan there? Venues, audience, promoters, the beer... the proximity to NYC and Philly... whatever.

I love almost everything about Asbury Park. As far as 'the scene' goes... there's a venue for just about anything you want to do. From the Saint to the Asbury Lanes to Convention Hall for rock shows, the Paramount theater for more 'civilized' events, haha... There's also a really cool old-fashioned supper club in the old Hojo's banquet hall... even the coffee shops and galleries downtown have performers.... there's something for everyone. Musicians are always excited to play where the Boss and so many others have played... it's a great vibe here for everyone, not the rush and stress of going to the big city. Plus the ocean breeze is so awesome... I still travel to NYC and Philly for a lot of shows that don't come to Jersey, but hometown is the best for me!!!!!

Q: Bigger question: What is wrong with Asbury Park? What's the first thing about the city you'd change if you could?

Well, my property taxes are SKY HIGH and I don't agree with how they are spent. I basically pay $10k a year and so many of my young neighbors are not getting a good education, there is a lot of crime and few services... and redevelopers like to take over spaces and not finish projects....

Q: Clearly Asbury is a city with a storied past that's been mired in a sort of murky present for a long time, with (supposedly) a bright future. I am reminded of Hoboken. Musicians and artists flocked there in the Eighties because the town was a dump, but a cheap place to live and a great place to be a musician. Developers moved in and then it became not-a-dump but a modern commuter city, but the rents were no longer cheap and it wasn't such a great place for musicians and artists. So: Can urban development and gentrification come to Asbury Park and NOT wipe out everything that people in the music scene like the place? Is there room for a "new" Asbury that leaves room for the Wonder Bar and Asbury Lanes and the Stone Pony?

Of course in my answer to the last question I started running on about gentrification and then I read this question. It's a great question and one that there's no definite answer to.... There have been some notable clashes already (early on in the eminent domain/redevelopment controversy, most of the plans included tearing down the Stone Pony to build more ugly condos and there were demonstrations and arguments...). The current stall in redevelopment is being blamed on the economic downturn (people can't get financing to buy the overpriced condos that are already built...developers have their money tied up in those buildings so they can't finish other projects in the works...) but I think a lot of it is that you can't sell million-dollar condos in a ghetto. The downtown has already seen a turnover in the past couple of years because the cost of doing business is higher than the influx of shoppers/eaters/tourists. The main development company, Madison Marquette, has some interesting strategies for its boardwalk retail areas (rumor is that businesses have to stay open all year but in return they pay a percentage of their income as opposed to a flat rent... but i'm not sure if this is true). Basically, a lot is being done to import and sustain new outsider-friendly businesses and not as much is being done to support the older businesses including the music venues. Madison Marquette works with LiveNation on shows at the Pony and Convention Hall and even the Wonder Bar... but the truly independent venues like Asbury Lanes don't have the resources to market themselves properly or to fight the eminent domain for that matter. Residential problems also affect each differently... the Lanes and the Saint have neighbors to contend with on noise issues but the Pony doesn't. Everyone had to spend a lot of money to get their buildings up to the standards of the new inspection codes but the revenues haven't significantly changed.

On the other hand, there's still a great deal of people who come to Asbury for specific shows and don't even know that there's restaurants or shops or anything to do. They come right in time and leave right after. We all have to learn to work together. Not to toot my own horn, but the Souls and I made a commitment to doing our 'Home for the Holidays' shows at the Pony and to involve other Asbury businesses as much as possible, to bridge the gap between music-lovers and Asbury as a destination. We had afterparties at the Lanes, DVD showings at the Showroom, a party at the Pinball Museum, an acoustic set at the Hold Fast record store.... and we published a local restaurant guide... hoping to get people to see how great asbury is!!!!!

Q: Pretend I am a 15 year old kid in Nebraska reading this and all I know about Asbury Park comes from the lyrics of a Bruce Springsteen song. What is the most important thing you want to tell me about your city?

Duh, the ocean is right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep up with Kate and the 'Souls at www.bouncingsouls.com and www.chunksaah.com