Taking the lead on vocals, 'Big Pussy' Vincent Pastore, is the cat's meow at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park with Big Pussy's Fun House on stage.
Actor, singer Vincent Pastore greets the crowd “It's a gloomy, rainy night in Asbury. It's a perfect night to whack somebody,” host “Big Pussy” a.k.a. Vincent Pastore joked with a little Sopranos mobster humor, as it rained cats and dogs outside; with “cats” being more appropriate for the evening entertainment.
Big Pussy's Fun House was a lot of fun in Asbury Park!
| Some cool cats were bringing down the house on Saturday night at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. And by “cool cats” I mean “Big Pussy” with his band playing a benefit for the Asbury Park Boardwalk Cats. The music line-up included the host, actor Vincent Pastore, with Big Pussy’s Fun House with the RoadHouse Roosters, with Joel Smith, Killer Joe, and Lido Soul; Tony "Bocci" Amato on keyboards and vocals, Tommy Budha Blues belting out the songs. Then the Nick Clemons Band, Lance Larson, and the Eddie Testa Band took over the stage as the night went on. Saturday night was the 10th annual fundraiser for the Asbury Park Boardwalk Cats, hosted for the third year in a row by actor Vincent Pastore, and this year, guest host award winning actor Joe Sernio. Wonder Bar owner Debbie DeLisa celebrated her birthday that same night, along with promoting her cause for the cats.  Award winning actor Joe Sernio co-hosted the event. |  Tony "Bocci" Amato  Tommy Budha Blues  You can see that the band is really enjoying themselves. |
 TheLadyinRed with Garry Pastore of the Eddie Testa Band |  Vinny Pastore and Tommy Budha Blues on stage |
“This is the third time I’ve done this; it’s the third year. It’s gotten bigger and bigger,” said Pastore post-performance. He and his band got on stage, and it truly was “the cat’s meow”. Pastore can not only act, but he’s got a voice to back it up with his band.
A little soundbite from Saturday night. Click to enlarge after play.
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“We totally play into the cats theme using my namesake ‘Big Pussy’,” he continued. Pastore told me that he loves playing at the Wonder Bar, conveying a genuine sense he really enjoys being up on stage singing. He and his band played some popular covers and really knew how to cater to the crowd.
“I love the Wonder Bar. These are my friends. It’s not just performing. All of these people I'm on stage with are my friends. There's history here. I know all of the people I am on stage with,” shared Pastore backstage, as we stood in the private bar area as musicians and actors sat around sipping cocktails, sharing stories, and smiling.
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Pastore dedicated “Stand By Me” to DeLisa on stage because she’s one of many whom he's known for years, and she believed in him from the start.
Big Pussy's Gangster Squad - snippet of "Stand By Me"
Click to enlarge after play.
Click to enlarge after play.
He also incorporated crowd pleasing covers of “On Broadway” and “Gloria”. While some may think that singing is new to Pastore, he told me that his passion for it started a long time ago.
“I did musical theater when I was twelve. I got away from musical theater in the ‘70s and was singing and got into acting,” said Pastore.
So really, he’s just returning to his roots while he and his band tour the North East over the next several months.
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Don’t worry, though! For those who want to continue to see ‘Big Pussy’ on the big screen, Pastore isn’t ditching his day job.
“I love acting,” he told me definitively. He won’t abandon his passion. Music isn’t a new direction for him, but a visit with his past, taking it back on stage in the present.
The house, or should I say bar, was packed, despite the soggy Jersey Shore weather. Pastore raised money for the boardwalk cats, and another legend left his mark on Asbury Park.
You can catch Big Pussy’s Gangster Squad again if you missed them on:
Friday, December 12
The Bayou, 580 Gramatan Ave, Mount Vernon, NY 10552
9pm
Thursday, January 15
Asbury Lanes 209 4th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
9pm
Wednesday, February 11
The Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd St., New York, NY
9:30pm
Friday, December 12
The Bayou, 580 Gramatan Ave, Mount Vernon, NY 10552
9pm
Thursday, January 15
Asbury Lanes 209 4th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
9pm
Wednesday, February 11
The Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd St., New York, NY
9:30pm
Left to Right: TheLadyinRed, Vincent Pastore, and TheLadyinRed's BFF Jen Eichenbaum pre-show
Left to Right: Singer/Actor/Director Garry Pastore, Vincent Pastore, and wine maker Dominick Chirichillo
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