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Jersey Rock Band of the Week: Bobby Mahoney

Bobby Mahoney will Rock South By Southwest this March! Hear them Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 11:30pm on Jersey Rock!

Image courtesy of Bobby Mahoney

Rocking South By Southwest on March 16!

March is shaping up to be a massive month for Jersey Rock vets Bobby Mahoney!  Formerly known as Bobby Mahoney And The Seventh Son, the group shortened their name just in time for a long stretch of shows.  No strangers to rocking alongside  big-time headliners, the group has opened for Bon Jovi and played Gaslight Anthem's official Asbury Park after party.  Whether they are performing before thousands in an arena or 100 people at a local Asbury haunt, the group always turns in an epic performance.  Speaking on that fact Bobby Mahoney said:

“When I was a kid, my friend, Matt Hogan, told me to play every show like we are playing Madison Square Garden, and we have really taken that advice to heart. We approach every show as a chance to improve, to learn, and to strengthen our bonds within ourselves and our audiences.” 

Considering everything Bobby Mahoney has done on both the performance and recording sides of being a live act, it's not surprise they were tapped for a huge event on March 16.  If you happen to be attending South By Southwest, don't miss them at The Continental Club in Austin, Texas  for The Wicked Cool Records Review, presented by the Hard Rock and Little Steven's Underground Garage!  Speaking of the opportunity Bobby Mahoney said:

 “(we're) honored that our Austin debut is a SXSW showcase. We are excited to get a taste of the culture and are looking forward to catching other artists (and some great food) while we are in town!“

Following their performance at South By Southwest Bobby Mahoney will rock dates in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Tune to Jersey Rock on 95.9 The RAT Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 11:30 pm to hear killer cuts from across Bobby Mahoney's catalog.  Bobby Mahoney will call in to the show each night!

Check out the video for "Moth to the Flame"!

5 Rock Acts We’d Like to See at the Las Vegas Sphere

Sphere in Las Vegas is one of the coolest venues to open in decades. There truly hasn't been anything like it, especially when it comes to its many visual aspects.

To begin with, its sheer presence as a building just off the Vegas Strip is awe-inspiring. Your eyes are just drawn to it, regardless of what it projected on its external surface. Sphere's website notes the "Exosphere" features 580,000 sq feet of LEDs that are so bright they can be seen from space.

Its interior is also magical, and we don't just mean its spatial audio system. Sphere's website states, "Events at Sphere are immersive experiences that, depending on the event, may include elements such as seat haptics, movement sensations, flashing lights, intense lighting, visual effects, loud noises, and atmospheric simulations including fog, scent and wind."

In other words: There are seemingly few limits to what can be done with Sphere's remarkable technology.

U2 and Sphere

After breaking ground in Sept. 2018, Sphere opened in Sept. 2023. U2, of course, was the first artist to perform a residency at the new Vegas venue, which cost $2.3 billion to build. In December 2023, The Hollywood Reporter noted the 17 shows U2 performed through Nov. 30 generated $30.7 million in revenue, which is an average of $1.8 million per show.

Additionally, Sphere has screened Darren Aronofsky's film Postcards From Earth. Through Nov. 30, the state-of-the-art venue has hosted 111 screenings of the film, which has resulted in $44.5 million in revenue. This averages to $400,000 per screening. Altogether, these two attractions have generated over $75 million in revenue for the new venue.

After U2 wraps their residency on March 2, Phish will be the next band to perform at The Sphere. Their show dates are currently April 18-21. After Phish, Dead & Company's "Dead Forever" residency will begin on May 16.

This all has us asking ourselves a very important question: Who should be next to occupy Sphere? After some thought, we think these five rock acts would make very interesting use of the unique space.

David Gilmour

Gilmour doesn't perform much anymore, so having him do a Sphere residency would be really special. He undoubtedly has enough of a catalog to warrant such a grand venue. Also, you just know he could really bring an impressive visual experience, too. A Gilmour Sphere residency would continue to make the venue the most in-demand attraction in Vegas.

Tool

Let's just say it: Maynard James Keenan is a f---ing weirdo. (Yes, we do mean that in a positive way.) It would be fascinating to see how he would play to such a larger-than-life venue. As far as visuals go, their existing music videos could be projected on the massive screens, and it would be outstanding! The video for "Vicarious" alone would be trippy AF. Of course, Tool would likely create original visuals for the performance just because they could.

Paul McCartney

How do you make a larger-than-life rock figure even larger? Have them take on Sphere! If anyone could do it, it's obviously Sir Paul. Like with Gilmour, there's an ample catalog to play with. Plus, he'd be able to sell out countless nights at the venue. Nothing but wins all around for this one!

Nine Inch Nails

Giving Trent Reznor the kind of visual freedom Sphere could offer would be interesting, to say the least. It would just be fascinating to see what he would do with all of the technology. He would surely come up with a concept literally only he could dream up. Let's hope a NIN residency will eventually become a reality.

Slipknot

Remember how we noted Sphere is capable of "atmospheric simulations including fog, scent and wind"? Just imagine how Slipknot would utilize scent in a venue. Sure, there's a good chance it would be gross, but it's not like you'd want some earthy patchouli incense at a Slipknot show. Plus, their visuals are overwhelming at their shows already. Just think of what they would do with those screens!

Tom Hanley is the host of Jersey Rock, New Jersey’s longest running local rock show on 95.9 The RAT. He got his start in broadcasting at Monmouth University's WMCX-FM. He's hosted Jersey Rock since 2016, been on the air at WRAT since 2008, and been listening to RAT Radio since 1996! Jersey Rock is a multi-platform local music brand that provides exposure to NJ artists. The on-air program features a different Garden State band each week. Tune to 95.9 The RAT every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday night at 11:30 pm to hear call-ins and songs from the Jersey Rock Band of the Week! Each week Jersey Rock features a different music video as the Jersey Rock Video of the Week . Between Jersey Rock's on-air and online platforms, there's opportunities for 9 different NJ bands to be featured each week. If you're in a NJ band and want to be on Jersey Rock, e-mail Tom Hanley. Send your mp3's, videos, pictures, and links to jerseyrock@wrat.com