The scene was set: A never-ending line of cars piling into Red Bank for the annual KABOOM fest of fireworks on July 3, 2006. Getting the day off to a booming start was the Internet Café Courtyard who hosted a Seashore Music buffet of sorts. The melodies of Michael Brett and Sheli Aarden treated early listeners to some folksy tunes in this relaxing, shaded pre-party not to have been missed.

Red Bank Fireworks - Filling the sky

   My boyfriend and I did some pre-show drinking at all the famous Red Bank bars. At the bustling Globe Hotel, Samuel Adams girls gave us T-shirts, beer cozies, and cool squeeze key chains. Riverside Gardens was packed with chairs upon chairs of folks so we headed on down to Marine Park. There was a festival with food and crafts, more live music to be heard, and boaters pulling in for a good view.
   Having been the first time this honorary Jersey Shore resident has ever seen this spectacular, I was lucky to get a seat right at the edge of the boat dock, my feet hanging over the pilings like I was a kid again. Thanks to the cool Jersey lady who made room for my man and me. The weather held in a big way as revelers were treated to an amazing sunset over the Navesink River.
   Then it was show time! Fireworks went off without a hitch and lasted about 20 minutes. A favorite display was the vertical rows of light sticks that exploded out of a mushroom but hung in the air lit up like diamond bracelets. I’ve never seen pyrotechnics stay lit the entire time they floated. It was amazing to see the kayakers in our little cove keeping their balance among the big booms.
   Afterward, the scene was surreal. Streets were closed and hoards of people took over the entire town. It was as if I was back in college-litter all  over the streets-people laughing and stumbling around drunk-couples stopping in the middle of Broad Street to make
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   Have you ever woke up and heard wonderful music being played and you don't know where it came from? Chances are, Arnie Baird was sitting outside your window making your day brighter before it even began. What's even better than that? Catching a set on the shore and hearing for yourself what all the good vibes are about.
   A self taught fourteen year old, Baird was forming bands, playing out, and living the dream. The coffeehouse scene was choice at the time. His three piece band ‘Elevator’ received some airplay in New England and New York. All this until the ripe age of nineteen.
   From nineteen on, Baird took an almost twenty year break from music. He started to gear up again slowly, building more momentum each day. Writing original songs inspired by Christian music, he started performing again in 2002. The snowball effect takes hold from here.
   Today Baird had a Ph.D. in singer songwriter magic. Frequenting open mic’s throughout the tri-state area, The Bitter End in NYC, and John and Peter's in New Hope, Arnie is bringing his melodies to your ears via Waikiki, HI style. Treating the audience to tender cover songs and masterful originals makes wherever he is playing the place to be for anything at all!
Arnie Baird can be seen at his standing gig Long Valley Pub and Brewery One Fairmount Road Long Valley, NJ (http://longvalleypubandbrewe ry.com) on Saturdays and more random open mics in the area. For other shows, look him up at www.ArnieBaird.net.
by Chandra