Belmar’s Minister of Entertainment: Barry Peterson
Since Belmar’s Pro Entertainment Overlord is on-point again for this year and has helped to re-organize the overall beach layout, stage setup, band booking and the after parties, we figured it made sense to re-visit this gem of an interview from last year’s event! …. And, since his band Barry and the Penetrators (along w/ Fiction 20 Down) will be rocking out the BPro once again this year, we figured re-posting was a no-brainer! Enjoy:
"Hi, I'm Barry. Welcome to Belmar. Hope you have a great time."
So Barry, what is your history and connection with Eastern Lines?
Barry Peterson: When I was 14 years old, I came into Eastern Lines on Main St. and met Don Tarrant, (owner) and instantly fell in love with the surf culture in Jersey. Coming from Cali, it felt just like home. I started working there 15 years ago and have been apart of the Eastern Lines family ever since.
And tell me about your longstanding Belmar party band, Barry and the Penetrators.
Barry Peterson: I’ve had the band 12 years, and we are total beach lifestyle music. When the first Belmar Pro came around, they needed a band to play on the beach and we filled that slot perfectly.
How’s the groupie situation these days?
Barry Peterson: The groupie situation is going very well. My wife’s in the band and she has tons of groupies. Ha. The rest of us are all ugly.
How did you become the master of musical ceremonies at the Belmar Pro?
Barry and his Penetrators will be rocking all over Belmar in Sept.
Barry Peterson: After the first one, I realized that I booked my band all over and could definitely get other bands to play the Belmar Pro. Don Tarrant said “go for it,” and just blew up from there.
Who do we have on the line-up this year?
Barry Peterson: This year we have, of course, Barry and the Penetrators, as well as Paul Cilinski, Predator Dub Assassins, the Solid Few, Echo Movement, Fiction 20 Down, Burning Suns, and Flight’s Kool.
What new bands are you excited about?
Barry Peterson: Fiction 20 Down, from Maryland.
What kind of a sound do they have?
Barry Peterson: They have a reggae, rock vibe.
Fiction 20 Down
How difficult is it to find acts that are going to keep everyone happy on the beach?
Barry Peterson: That part is tough, but we have such a big genre of different artists, that there is basically something for everyone.
Have you had moments where there was something insane happening on the stage while there are all these families on the beach?
Barry Peterson: Yeah, when Three Bad jacks from LA played, they lit their stand-up base on fire.
And you’re band always has a few gigs that weekend?
Barry Peterson: Yeah, check the Belmar Pro website for everywhere we’ll be playing throughout the contest.
Do you get exhausted?
Barry Peterson: Yes but I stay totally hydrated with my Vita Coco.
Where else will you be playing this year?
Barry Peterson: We’ll start a tour after the Belmar Pro is over. We’ll be playing from Vermont all the way down to Florida. Can’t wait to see all our East Coast friends. You can check out the new video from Barry and the Penetrators, “Wicked Game,” here.
Am Weekend (putting the rest of Jersey in a jersey)
Mikey Ciaramella, 2010 Belmar Am Weekend Juniors champ.
Ben Bourgeois, Shea Lopez and Dean Randazzo didn’t just wake up one day on top of the surfing world. No way! It was a long road between gromhood and the Dream Tour.
There were years and years of amateur events leading up to their pro careers (and in Randazzo’s case, a lot of riding his bike to surf in a beavertail in April.) New Jersey is home to dozens of amateur surf events ever year.
In 2010, MC and entrenched event director, Scott Goodwin, decided to give some of the younger and more local guys and girls a chance to shred without all the pressure of the event.
Scott Goodwin gives the ams a shot before Belmar's big show.
The result was the first Belmar Amateur Weekend, which was held the weekend before the big show. Goodwin’s rolling out the big Am Weekend again this year, Septmeber 10-11.This will give younger surfers a nice warm up at the same break, with the same scaffolding, and same feel as the Pro without having to draw Kyle Garson or Jamie DeWitt. The Am event will offer six divisions – Mens, Boys, Juniors (under18), Longboard, Girls, and Bodyboard.
Last year saw a host of rippers from Hawaii and California who were in town early, looking for hurricane swell. Young Kalani David won the boys over Nic Hernandez. But Stone Harbor’s own Mikey Ciaramella beat him out in the Juniors. Monmouth County surfer, PJ Raia took third.
Hawaiian Nathan Carvalho won the Mens. The Girls title went to super-talented local female, Kim Kepich, who won a close one over Caroline Duerr. Corey Kisiel edged out JJ Egan in the Longboard and not to be left out, Rob Mack won the Bodyboard.
Brian Dalton took his experience from the Am Weekend and took second in the Longboard Pro last year.
And don’t think because it’s an amateur event there aint some money being thrown around. The Boys, Jr. Men, and Mens division offer $200 for first place. That can do some damage over at T.R.’s Food Court. Second, third, and fourth place will get you $75, $50, and $30 respectively. Even the Longboard, Women, and Bodyboard Division have $100 on the line for first place!
