Asbury Park Gets Stoked for the Summer
Shot and Written by Michael Campanile
July 10, 2026
One weekend every summer, our beloved beach town is flooded by a sea of punks...and we wouldn't have it any other way. The Bouncing Souls once again put together another stellar lineup, and even though the day started out on the gloomier side, Stoked for the Summer turned out to be an incredibly fun show full of loud music, circle pits, crowdsurfing, a marriage proposal and a whole lot of happy fans at the Stone Pony Summer Stage.
Philly's own Twentytwo kicked off the evening and lived up to the hype. Those fans who braved the rain were rewarded with an excellent set featuring the band's melodic old school punk rock sound. Jersey shore hardcore band School Drugs was up next, and the best way I can sum up their set was "DAMN!" Their energy was off the chart and again, their old school style was much appreciated. Definitely need to keep my eye out for their next local gig. 
Then it was time for BANE. The rain didn't dampen their raucous performance or the enthusiasm of the diehard fans in attendance. Lead singer Aaron Bedard even made his way down to the rail to sing and interact with the crowd. Chicago-based trio The Lawrence Arms followed with a solid set of their gritty introspective tunes. This was my first time seeing the modern punk veterans, and I hope they come back to Asbury Park someday soon. 
The rain finally stopped just in time for Less Than Jake to perform, with the crowd coming to life as soon as they played the first notes of "Automatic". The band's energy never let up on stage, and the fans in the pit matched it 'til the end. This set also featured some of the most impressive crowd surfing I've witnessed at the legendary venue.
As dusk faded to night, The Bouncing Souls took the stage to close out this year's Stoked. Surrounded by friends and loved ones, they ripped through a 29-song set that included both old favorites and new songs from Born to Be, which was released the day before the show. The loyal crowd sang along all night as they danced and surfed. 
The new record was well represented with "Only Echoes", "The Light", "As One" and "Born to Be" making the cut. And the guys even donned matching "Asshole Friend" shirts to kick off the encore with a song that seems destined to become a regular part of their shows. If you haven't heard the new album yet, what are you waiting for? Go grab a copy and add it to your summer playlist now!
Couldn't make it to this year's Stoked? Fear not, you can still catch these bands when they come through your area next. The Bouncing Souls, Less Than Jake and BANE all kick off their respective summer tours this month, and School Drugs is booked for Waste Fest 6 and Studzilla in September. Unfortunately The Lawrence Arms and Twentytwo don't have any upcoming dates listed yet, so be sure to follow them for future show announcements. 
As always, go check out these great artists wherever you stream your music. And if you like what you hear, be sure to buy the album and maybe a t-shirt too. 
Coverage from June 27, 2026 at The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ. All photos are © Michael Campanile Photography and cannot be used without permission.
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