The Stone Pony

The iconic Stone Pony is host to great shows every year. There are several bars, inside and outside and the staff is pretty friendly. Nice selection of beer and liquor. The sound system inside is always good and the lights seemed to be improved from what I remember. The only drawback is thY it is always so got in there. But nowhere is perfect and I can always walk outside and cTch some fresh air. All in all, a very enjoyable experience.

We purchased tickets for the summer stage. We were looking forward to experiencing an outside performance with nice food options and room to move around and dance. The show got moved to the inside. Before the show date, the opening time and schedule were not posted anywhere. We called and messaged on social media with no response. We got there at 5:00 and people were allowed in at 6:00. The show started at 7:30. The only food was a big pretzel with fake cheese and mustard. A cup of wine was $11 for about 2oz of nasty, cheap wine. It was very difficult to get around and hard to see the performance unless you were within 5 feet from the stage. The security guard screamed at me because I stood one time on the bottom rung of a stool to try and see the stage. He was terrifying. The performances were amazing, but the venue is just not big enough for more than a few hundred people. I won't be going back.

The place is small, crowded, dark and hot, but they usually have pretty awesome musical artists performing there... honestly, I prefer their outdoor Summer Stage.

I got to see Mk.gee. It was lit. He live recorded his album when we were there. Great venue!

The Summer Stage is outdoors and it can get really crowded and rowdy. The staff do their best to keep everyone safe. The Brett Young concert was oversold. Overall, it's an okay venue to watch a concert.

This place gets super packed over the summer with love shows. The music is great. But this causes the beach to get so packed and they ask for 50 dollar public parking. Hefty price if I just want to go to the beach to relax.

The Stone Pony had their annual Record Convention today. Place was packed with sellers and record collectors. I love that they have this held there! There was something for every music genre!

Wife and I went there to see Buckethead Live. Weren't able to get close but there was a raise section in the back that allowed us to see better. No chairs were available and nor can you bring any inside. Decent night.

Had a good experience at The Stone Pony for this past weekend's Shadow of the City festival. Bleachers were amazing, the crowd was friendly and accomodating, sound was great, and the venue was not oversold. Every staff member I interacted with was kind and getting through security was easy. The major hiccup here is food options. For a no re-entry festival that lasts more than 8 hours (no, I was not there that whole time), the food options were seemingly chicken fingers, fries, or a Philly Pretzel Factory pretzel. Did I eat said pretzel and was it delish? Yes. Does there need to be more food options for a festival of this size? Also yes. Tons of history here and the venue does a great job keeping everyone safe. They had merch booths and activations for this festival, and overall I would absolutely go back if one of my favorite bands was playing in the future.

The security guard grabbed me...all of fhe security guards were extremely rude and made me feel unsafe.

Legendary venue that as a Jersey native, I was happy to finally make it to a show. They really pack people in which as a kid going to warped tours, birch hill shows etc was great but now that I'm a bit older it's not always fun. I did appreciate the bar space in the back which was more open, and the port a potties because trying to make it through the crowd to use a restroom was impossible. The staff is nice, but prices are typically Jersey shore bar prices and make sure you eat before you go, they have a limited supply of $7 soft pretzels. Very happy they hosted Evan Honer, a up and coming musician and that they display a proud heritage of music and local history.

NO MOBILITY IN THE ADA SECTION! STONE PONY SUMMER STAGE TREATS DISABLED PEOPLE LIKE THEY ARE SECOND-CLASS Mobility has been described as "the ability to move freely and easily, encompassing both physical movement and the capacity to change one's position or location." The ADA section was a riser/platform next to the stage. Two thirds of the view was obstructed. The left side of the stage had an un-obstructed view. My son (who uses a wheelchair) & my brother got there early & were among the first people on the riser. It was crammed full of chairs with very little room for wheelchairs & other mobility devices (which need space to maneuver). We went to the left side of the stage. The staff person said that we could not go all the way to the left because they had to leave that space open for photographers. There was a 4 or 5 foot space left open at the left side of the stage. My son sat as far left as staff would allow. Again, we were told that the 4 or 5 feet of space on the left of the stage had to be left open for photographers. There were two empty chairs next to my son where staff told my brother & I to sit. We did not have an obscured view in those seats. Within minutes a young woman in a wheelchair approached & was told to sit next to our chairs, where she had an obstructed view. I suggested that my brother & I move so that she could move over next to my son where she would be able to see the stage. Staff said "No." I persisted & after what seemed like minutes of trying to reason with staff, they relented & we moved our chairs & the young woman moved over where she could see the stage, see the concert that she paid the same amount of money to see as everyone else. NOWHERE ON OUR TICKETS DID IT SAY OBSTRUCTED VIEW. We also again offered to move to the left where there was open space & an unobstructed view, but again were told "no, sometimes the ADA section has an obstructed view!" & that the left side of the stage with an unobstructed view had to be left open for photographers (who never showed up, btw). However, staff did not leave a 4 to 5 foot pathway along the front of the riser, leading to the ramp, blocking access on & off the riser. At one point my son had to use the bathroom. Staff acted annoyed because everyone in the front row, including two people in wheelchairs, had to move back out of our way. Problem was, there was no space for them to move because the riser was literally crammed-full of (mostly empty) chairs (for photographers no doubt). We had to squeeze through, between the railing & the folks in the front row. The 500 pound wheelchair couldn't fit through that space & scraped along the railing, which was not strong enough & could have easily been broken by the wheelchair. If my son had fallen off the riser in his chair he could have died. The ADA section at Stone Pony Summer Stage is DANGEROUS. Clearly they care more about the access of photographers than that of people with disabilities, who I might add, are paying customers, who did not know that they were paying for an obstructed view. (If you have ever been to a show in Asbury Park, you have never seen so many photographers in your life. It is the most documented scene in history.) The ADA Section belongs in front of the stage, not on the side with an obstructed view next to the portojohns (toilets). Not in the very front of the stage of course, because of the mosh pit & the area behind the mosh pit, where most of the audience stands to watch the show. Put it behind that space. It would be elevated, so that folks using wheelchairs & other mobility devices would be able to see the stage. The people staffing the ADA section need ADA training. The particular staff who we dealt with needs sensitivity training as well. Actually, she should not be working in the ADA section period. She touched the control mechanism of my son's wheelchair & tried to move him. I said "Don't touch that." & she immediately put their hands on the controls of another person's wheelchair and moved them. This is unacceptable! ADA 101. It's not OK. The ADA section needs to be moved so that everyone in the section can see the show they paid to see & it needs to be staffed by people who are more sensitive & know what they are doing.

I attended a recent concert at the Stone Pony with Sound Check tickets, and unfortunately, the experience left a lot to be desired--particularly regarding organization and communication. We were told to arrive for Sound Check check-in between 5:30 and 6:00 PM, which made it sound like we'd be going inside relatively quickly for the event. Instead, we were met with a massive, unorganized line where both General Admission and Sound Check ticket holders were mixed together, with no clear signage or staff guidance. It was extremely confusing, and everyone around us was just as unsure and frustrated. To make matters worse, it was absolutely freezing and raining. Everyone, including Sound Check ticket holders who thought we'd be getting in early, was stuck outside until 7:00 PM--well past the stated check-in time. I was trembling from the cold and genuinely felt unwell. Had we been given accurate information, I could have at least dressed appropriately or brought more layers, but I never expected to be stuck in such conditions for that long. Once inside, we finally got to do Sound Check (which itself was cool), but then had to wait an hour and a half for the opener, and even longer after that before Dean Lewis took the stage. Considering it's a standing-room-only venue, the amount of time on our feet--after already standing outside in the freezing rain--was excessive and honestly pretty exhausting. Overall, the night felt disorganized and inconsiderate to paying fans, especially those who spent extra for a premium experience. The lack of communication, proper signage, and weather accommodations made what should've been an exciting event feel stressful and physically uncomfortable. I hope the venue seriously reconsiders how they manage Sound Check and premium ticket holders going forward. The concert itself/performers were fantastic!!

We had such a great time here the Sunday of Labor Day weekend 2022 with Southside Johnny and Asbury Jukes playing on the outdoor summer stage. What an electric performance for over 2.5 hours. We danced all night long--such a great crowd. I finally discovered where all the hot women that I went to college with hang out--and they still look hot! It was great to be in this iconic club where Bruce Springsteen got his start before anyone knew Asbury Park. I used to hang in this area in my high school days with my boys looking for Bruce. They have smaller stages inside for other bands before and after the summer stage main act. The other bands were great too. Bathrooms were Porto-potties--hold your nose. The one thing this place can use is better food. I had a grilled hamburger outdoors that was fine, but I was hoping to find quality food here. I don't know why they can't have a great food operator here? I would come again for another show. Parking is expensive on the street. My driver (nephew) told he paid $3.00 an hour to park at the meters.

Ive been to the summer stage twice now and its a really beautiful venue. There is a lot of space, it never feels crowded and there's a good view from every angle. I was just there tonight for sad summer fest and during the Maine's set I was feeling like I was going to pass out so I went to the bar and asked for juice and the man working ( I didn't catch his name unfortunately) was my guardian angel. He was muscular with I think blonde hair and a backwards black hat, maybe some tattoos but I was legitimately about to pass out so I can't really remember. I started drinking the juice before he even finished filling up the cup. He gave it to me for free and I tried to pay him back once I was feeling better but he was just glad I was better. There was an emt nearby who gave me a water bottle as well. It was just a very pleasant experience considering it was my first time at a concert by myself. Thank you to whoever that bartender is, you really helped me out. :')

I'm sorry, where are the negative reviews coming from? I love the Pony and have never witnessed any security incidents other than one actual troublemaker be shown the door. Other near-troublemakers were let be if no actual trouble was being made! (We had to contain some people moshing a bit hard. Happens.) Bar - check. Security - minimal. Good. Music - loud and some good names. Many places to stand - you can even be in a back room farther from the music or at a back room bar. Atmosphere is super cozy and nice and packed, but nothing preventing a giant mosh pit from forming and being encouraged by the band. I approve. I'll be back.

I love this place the summer stage is great for concerts great atmosphere! I've seen Deftones here twice both times were excellent. I've never had food while I was there and I don't drink alcohol so I can't tell how the bar is but I really enjoyed the show great view and even in the rain had a ball!!!

Went here to see a concert and it was absolutely fantastic. Great atmosphere, lighting is awesome, and clear sound. Perfect for the Son's of Silver, Tim Montana, and Myles Kennedy concert which was "off the hook".

Iconic music venue on the Jersey shore steeped in history. Great stage setup in the middle of the salty air!

Pictured is Mike. Mike did an exemplary job tonight preventing me from entering his fine venue. I was obviously trying to weasel my way in by making up a story about wanting to quickly say hello to an old friend who manages the band (which had already finished playing). His reasoning of "you need a ticket" made total sense considering they weren't selling tickets at the venue and online sales had already ended. Keep fighting the good fight Mike! You're doing great. Asbury is a safer place tonight thanks to your efforts. P.S. Those other people I watched you let in without tickets were much less threatening than me so I get it...no hard feelings.

The shows are good but thats bc of the bands. The bartender there is rude af and refused to give me water when I was about to pass out.

Love the Pony! The summer stage is a great venue if you don't mind crowds and standing. It gets a little "cozy." I loved it though, great sound and the atmosphere is a one of a kind.

Craig Hockenberry Leadership Superintendent I visited the Stone Pony for the first time and it was an amazing experience. The staff was great. The bartender was a great guy and did a spectacular job. The music hit the spot and it was a memorable evening! CRAIG HOCKENBERRY

Comparing it against similar toes of venues, the Stone Pony Summer Stage venue is great. You can smell the ocean, the staff are nice, plenty of restrooms, plenty of queues to get drinks. There was a variety of drink options and all reasonably priced. What else can you ask for in a venue.

Picture yourself at the Cavern Club in Liverpool where the Beatles first played in 1961. Take it in for a minute, swaddle yourself in the Merseybeat, and upon absorbing the primitive skiffle through your pores, wake up and acknowledge it for the dump that it is. If you've done that you've also been to the "legendary" Stone Pony in Asbury Park. But, but, but, but... Mike, you're being a dick. You do know that the Mount Rushmore of New Jersey rock - Bruce, Clarence, Southside and Jon Bon Cheesi once trodded this holy ground chasing the elusive Sandy and all the "factory girls who promised to unsnap their jeans." So what... after five minutes of breathing in the heady incense of wailing saxophones past, what you're left with is a pretty crummy dive bar that serves lousy food, thin drinks and is as cramped, uncomfortable and overpriced as any venue on the Jersey Shore. On most nights the acts are as obscure as traceable gin in my glassful of lonely tonic. My advice, if you're coming here to channel Born to Run, save the trip and just download the damn thing. Frankly, I've had more fun drinking warm beer on the hood of a Dodge.

Jeez I never grow tired of this place. The iconic Springsteen bar! His stomping grounds. It's so cool to see live bands local and national when visiting this part of Jersey. Always a cool crowd. Always a good time.

AWFUL!!!! Do not go to this venue. It was so bad we left early & will NEVER go there again. We got there at 6 standing around until after 8 for the show to start RIDICULOUS!!! Then some enormous guy comes & stands right in front of us and was rude & abusive. No, sorry this outdoor , standing room only venue is not for me.

To anyone thinking about coming here, the security does not reason logically. their egos prevent genuine conversation, and there is no one to put them in their place. Without breaking any rules we were made aware of, we were dragged out of the venue mid concert because a friend (without a wristband) was holding my drink while I was ACTIVELY putting on the BANDS MERCH we were there to see. They grabbed the drink out of my hand and threw it in the garbage, a drink i (legally) just bought. They are rude, disrespectful, and fully tried to use their "power" to threaten us (again, after breaking no rules . Absolutely ridiculous and I would never recommend to anyone who cares about the quality of service that they get.

Excellent experience. Show started late. We left before main act started playing. Warm up act good. 1/13 We will be back again. Girls bartending front bar were excellent.

I am so disappointed at this venue spot. I was interested in seeing a concert and did not want to go because I am not a huge fan of crowds, but I will say they have ample space. When I read the other reviews my suspicions about the events that took place were confirmed. This establishment is so internally cliquey and disrespectful to the patrons. It was just an absolutely terrible and unnecessary incident over a misunderstanding and they were unwilling to hear my friend out. We waited so excitedly for 6 weeks to see the band and I had two friends tell me not to go and I should have listened. YOU SHOULD NOT go here. I would go to the bar across the street and watch the show from there or get lawn chairs and watch from outside the gate like everyone else! To throw out a paying customer who is not acting belligerent, drunk, cursing, yelling, or fighting is ridiculous. So, I encourage you to find somewhere else to go see a show and if you are short DON'T attend you won't be able to see anything at all. I am truly disappointed by the actions of the bartender there and the security. They really took advantage of my friend and WE WILL NOT BE RETURNING.

The Stone Pony is historic and a great place to see a concert. The surrounding neighborhood sucks so you shouldn't venture more than 2-3 blocks away or you are risking your safety.

HUGE thank you to Barbara in ADA. I recently had spine surgery but had already purchased tickets and figured YOLO. With that being said I'm so thankful for the disability section and Barbara from security who was in charge of this section. She was so kind, caring, and genuinely happy to help and always checking in to make sure I was comfortable and having a good time. There was a young woman in the crowd who was knocked out and Barbara was the first one on it getting medics and additionally security in to help. The rest of the night she was asking if we had seen what happened as she was so concerned for the girl. Again, so genuinely caring and kind. I hope to see her again at another show and Stone Pony you are lucky to have her! On another note, drinks were great, affordable, and bartenders were fun. The Jell-O shots were delicious and strong.

I tend to not review venues because what is there to say? I just want to add that this place has history and is pretty rock and roll. It's not overly gross and the sound is actually pretty good for a smaller place. Besides each bands merch they also sell their own merch. The security is pretty on point in this place. Coming from NYC this place is in the sticks and only worth it if it's a band you must see!

Literally got kicked out for tripping up the stairs I was so upset. It was a cute venu but I probably would not go back because the security couldn't even give me a reason to why I got kicked out. The only thing I did wrong was trip falling up the grated steps with high heels on. Drinks were fine.

I got tickets to a show here 2 yrs that was canceled due 2 covid. For 2 yrs I've been calling, emailing ,Facebooking them to find out if I can use my old tickets if the show gets rescheduled. Show finally gets rescheduled qnd still no answer from any1 @ the pony

I really like this venue: it feels very intimate, but there is still plenty of space and it has great history which adds this extra layer to your experience there. There are usually around 4 bars and if it's nice enough you can even hang out outside before the show. I appreciate how low and accessible the stage feels to an audience and even if you're not in front of it you're still close by. The staff could be nicer: they were pretty no nonsense and not particularly friendly. The security woman pulled out water bottles from the trash to smell what was in them. Overall, I would say that I do really like this venue despite the weird encounters with staff and security.

We saw the black crowes and the audio was horrible. I couldnt make out a single word chris robinson was saying and all i could hear was drum and bass. What concerns me way more than any of this was the lack of security at the front. They patted our pockets...thats it. No metal detector however there was a bag check, which i walked right past and wasnt stopped. I held my pocket items in my hand, and they werent concerned with that either. Anyone couldve brought a gun in here, literally anybody. How many shootings does it take to take this matter seriously?!?

The venue was awesome, got up real close. Finally got here for the first time to see yungblud the other week. Concert was amazing, really cool to be that close to the stage. They have bars and food at the back end, bouncers and security friendly. Definitely will come back again

A venue where the staff actually cares about its customers, everyone from the bartenders to security. The women at the ticket box went above and beyond for me and I cannot thank her enough. I truly owe her a drink. Venue is located a stones throw away from the beach, perfect for a summer night. Minimal traffic and wait to get in. Venue has a great layout.

I have been to many concerts over the years, and was looking forward to my first concert at The Stone Pony. I am not from NJ. Unfortunately, I will never be going back. We encountered some of the rudest, most unprofessional security I have ever seen. One of the guards put his hands on my little sister while she was watching the concert (She is 14), because I had her hold my drink while I fixed my hair. I asked to speak with a manager, and the guards refused to give me their name or the managers name. Extremely disappointing, and quite frankly would recommend looking for venues elsewhere.

Awesome old school place for live music venues. Awesome signed pictures and guitars hanging in the wall. Great friendly crowd and workers.

My boyfriend surprised me with last minute tickets to go see Minus the Bear over this summer and we had an awesome time. I really enjoyed this venue, I felt like you got to be super close to the performers up on stage and the vibe was really relaxed even with a packed house. The sound quality was pretty good too. The bar area is located in the center as soon as you walk in the door. It was pretty difficult to grab a drink with the place being so crowded but after waiting about 10 mins you can weasel your way in. As expected prices were steep but i expected to pay a little more. Over all I enjoyed it and liked that there was a lot of parking in the area. I would come back.

I've been coming here since I was 17. The STONE PONY has a history like no other Beach Bar around. Rock n Roll clubs are becoming a dying breed in New Jersey. How do I know, my dad had a Rock n Roll club right down the street from the STONE PONY in the 70's and I know first hand what New Jersey used to have, and those clubs are no longer around. This place is where Bruce Springsteen got his start back in the 70's along with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes Band. When you walk in you can just see all the nostalgia up on the walls. Many of the great bands and musicians have played here or got their start. During the summer months The STONE PONY has outdoor Summer Concerts. My friends and I came to see SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES BAND. . This band had been rocking for more then 30 years. I could tell by the crowd that many of these people have been around the circuit for years. It was a wonderful night with perfect weather. The warm up band was REMEMBER JONES. They too, put on a great show. Local bands played inside the Stone Pony before the big headliners. Promised Land (formerly Saints in the City) at 4:30, late show with Dino Petraccio & the Intruders. The crowd was warm and friendly, no one got out of hand. It was very organized and lots of security all around. They had plenty of port-o-potties around the entire outdoor stage. There was food concessions, and several outdoor bars set up. We never had to wait more then a few minutes to get a drink or use the facilities. The sound system was also very good. You could here the bands playing for miles around. I think the hardest part of the entire venue is parking. Since Asbury Park is also a beach town, and the Stone Pony is directly on Ocean Ave across from the beach, it can be very hard to find parking. There are many lots but they were so full that one of my friends had to park quite a distance. I recommend when buying your tickets online you purchase a parking pass, especially if your coming to see the summer concerts, or if coming with a group you get UBER OR LYFT. In the winter the parking is not as bad. All in all this is a place definitely worth coming to if not to see a band, but to see and be a part of the Jersey Shore History.

Last week my fiancé and I went to see Mihali and Trevor Hall! Excellent show, Trevor Hall never disappoints. The venue however irked me a bit. We were so excited to be able to attend a show at the legendary Stone Pony. The venue was a small indoor/outdoor dive that had several bars throughout and lots of history on the walls. We got to the show an hour early and were very close to the front of the line - pretty much guaranteed a front row spot. A little after 7:00 when the doors were set to open, the workers come outside and tell us we are actually at the BACK of the line. Instead of leading everyone around, the entire line just rotates and we get in dead last. I couldn't believe it. We had a terrible view of the stage for $55 (2 tickets) and an hour of waiting in the sticky weather. Also, I'm sure this is to be expected when you pack so many people in a tiny room in the middle of summer, but the room was so hot that the ceiling was dripping with condensation. This kind of grossed me out - maybe they could work on ventilation a bit. Lastly, at the end of the show the band always comes out and hands out their hand written set lists and talks to the fans. I've been to three Trevor Hall concerts and this has been the case each time. But when the band went back stage after the show the workers of the venue went on stage, picked up the set lists, and gave them to random people. Then the band came out and looked for them for a few minutes before giving up and just engaging with their fans. Someone finally told them that they were already given out. How annoying... I'm glad we went and nothing about a venue will ruin a concert for me. I know these places are always rough around the edges, and for the right Performance I'd be back.

My friend's band played an all age afternoon show there recently. Our mosh pot was immediately broken up by the thug bouncers. Then another friend went out to her car for a second and the dope at the door wouldn't let her back in. What the hell! Not very rock and roll, SP. Get off your high horse!

We went for a Deftones concert tonight and my review is a huge shout out and thanks to this venue's security team. They didn't stop and maintained control of a rowdy crowd. Props to their committed team!

I am very disappointed in The Stone Pony. They are having Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes there for one of the stone pony's anniversary events. The February 17 event was advertised on Facebook weeks ago when it was first announced and I wanted to go. I asked my friend if she'd go with me and once she agreed I immediately went for the tickets and they were supposed to be and still advertised as such, $50.00 and $60 at the door but the price was over $500 dollars. Really? My friend and we're not paying that price. The next day they added another date and my friend got the tickets for $50 plus fees. Does anyone think this is wrong? How can this be? The same group, same venue same show. I am unable to go to the Friday night event and I really want to go on Saturday. I've been watching the tickets every day and the cheapest they dropped to was $150. They are back up $200 a piece. I went to the box office today to see if I could buy tickets there and I was told they are sold out and that they, the stone pony, sold 900 tickets to a third party vendor? Though this is legal, I think it's disgusting to do that to people when the Friday night show costs 50 bucks! I think it's terrible to try to do that to people. I'm very disappointed I'm the stone pony and very upset I cannot attend Saturdays show for over 200 dollars a ticket! That's robbery as far as o am concerned and should be totally against the law.

Up until yesterday I didn't think I would ever have a bad thing to say about what was my favorite venue but a five minute meltdown of the bartender yelling at me how he's too busy and I need to learn how to wate my turn to purchase a bottle of water has left me no choice to reconsider ever going back I guess he must have missed me the five other times he asked everyone at the bar who didn't need anything but didn't miss me ask him politely hey man can I get a bottle of water instead he makes a mix drink wile screaming at me in front of the entrance bar room packed of ppl on how I need to learn how to wait my turn and my place although very informative I won't ever be back lesson learned

I have gone to over 100 concerts in my lifetime and out of all of them 12 of them were Demi Lovato concerts. 3 of them were at The Stone Pony summer stage, 4 at The Stone Pony regular venue. And all the rest of the 100 concerts were in NY, PA, NV & the rest up and down the east coast of the USA. I have to say that the event was very poorly ran by the security. They were no organization, they were moving people around for no reason and even making up bogus excuses to get their friends put up front & center of the stage meanwhile the people who waited on line for over 10 hours in the pouring rain were being pushed back or even getting more crowded.

Thanks to Bruce (The Boss) and Bon Jovi, this place has been an icon for thousands of years. The Summer Stage joint is ill AF. Sick bands from all genres...outdoor venue...tons of beers/cocktail options Fuckin sick.

The Stone Pony is not just a place that I visit when I'm craving my live music fix and am in the mood to dance. It's an NJ music staple. I've grown up going to shows here and still continue to do so year after year. Apologies to Mom and Dad for schlepping 40 minutes out of your way to drop me here during the pre-license era. It was worth it! All sentiments aside, this place is DAAAA ISH. It's been around for decades, but like a fine wine, has only continued to get better with age. If you are expecting something fancy and new, then turn around and go home. It's a hole in the wall. It's small, outdated and not that clean and I'm the first to admit that. However, this is a rock and roll mecca. The pony books some of the best names in the game and there's always lots to be excited about on their calendar. The summer stage is in a league of it's own. As previously mentioned, it's dingy on the inside which makes their outdoor stage a huge draw for most. Located directly next to the beach, there is no better place to listen to live music while watching the sun set over the ocean. They usually bring in rock/reggae acts that mesh really well with the beach theme. Because beer can get pricey at the outdoors vendors, I suggest kicking a few back at the nearby Wonder Bar before a show.

Thank you for requiring a ticket to enter your MUSIC VENUE, as I know that without one I could not enter your MUSIC VENUE, regardless of any STORY that I make up. I won't speak for security "Mike" as I'm OBVIOUSLY NOT him, but, I will thank all security for doing their jobs for and keeping ALL patrons of the Stone Pony safe!

Security will violate you and call it "protocol." I had an absolutely terrible experience at The Stone Pony and am writing to spread awareness, and also to give a voice to anyone else that has gone through this and hasn't been able to share their experience. Last night I attended a show. I stood in line and went through security just like everyone else - only had my purse, wallet and phone on me. Was told to go the "females only" line where a security forced her fingers between my breasts and underneath my bra. She did this without warning and without asking for my consent. Other women were able to get through security without having this done, so why was I singled out? It was disgusting and humiliating. Upon confronting security and telling them about what happened, they said this was "protocol." This is TRAUMATIZING. It's easier and less invasive to go through the TSA then it is to get through here. Everyone on the security team I talked to about this was unable to help. The show was incredible, the concession staff is amazing, but they have a sad excuse for a security team. I hope this never happens to anyone again and I hope they re-evaluate what is considered "protocol." Security should be ashamed of themselves; they didn't make me feel safe. They made me scared to ever come back.

What can you say about the Stone pony nothing will change great bartenders call venue very mixed crowd always a fun time

I came here from NYC to see Betty Who. I'm very experienced when it comes to nightlife, and I understand the history behind this place, but The Stone Pony is a joke. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about and I love my dive bars. But the people who gave it good ratings most likely do not get out very much. Simply leave it to Stone Pony's staff to ruin a good night. They take security very seriously. Like to the point where you have to question WHY they take it so seriously. The bouncers would constantly push through the crowd, shine little flashlights in everyone's faces, and yell at people about nothing. They pretty much ruined the show and you have to wonder if they get off on that. And I've never seen a staff so hell-bent on taking people's stuff away and trying to "catch" underage drinkers. One of my friends brought a dugout pipe with him that was empty. The fat security guard with the beard said "Yeah, you're not bringing that in here" and my friend had to explain that he has brought it everywhere, that he has never had an issue, that he wasn't going to use it, and that it was EMPTY. Essentially, it's a tiny metal cigarette in a small wooden box. Big deal. The security guard then became a complete ass, argued a bit with my friend, and took it. I am going to bet he took it for himself. There's a bar in the back that thankfully takes credit cards. However, an older female bartender works that bar and she lost my friend's credit card. I also witnessed her taking another guy's ID because he "looked underage." All in all, I probably saw about 10 IDs taken away just at that one bar. You have to wonder if they are selling them on the side. It was a little over-the-top to the point of being absolutely questionable. My friends and I are New Yorkers in our mid to late twenties who have gone to some of the best bars/clubs in the world and we had to laugh at how strict this place was. Either they have to be this way because their usual clientele is really THAT bad or they're crooked as hell. Conclusion: Call me a stuck up benny, but this place is a basic wannabe show venue that tries way too hard to be cool.

I've been here twice now, and both times (while I enjoyed the bands), I utterly loathed the venue. Before I start the reasoning, let me just say this. I love dives. Dive bars, dive venues, and dive culture - it's pretty awesome to see a place "untouched by time", along with its patrons. The Stone Pony, however, is not a "dive" that I found worthwhile. First off, this place is tiny. I don't know what the actual capacity is, but both times I saw a show here it felt like they crammed entirely too many people into a space that would have been better equipped to handle 1/2 to 3/4 the size. Air conditioning utterly craps out after the place fills up, to the point where humidity from people's breath would literally rain down on top of you (from condensation on the overtaxed AC units). To make matters worse, whoever they have in charge of sound here should realize that this is a tiny venue and stop cranking it up so damned loud. By the end of both concerts, my ears were ringing - ENTIRELY too loud (and I was at the back of the venue both times, I can only imagine how bad it was to be up front!). You'll get bumped into and pushed all over the place, especially since there's no room, and people constantly are trying to get a better view. End result is that smaller folks like myself end up getting pushed further and further back by meatheads who want to thrash around. Security seems to enforce rules at random, or make it up as they go along. Prices for beer / tickets and whatnot are about average for a show venue, so I guess that's a positive. But between the crammed space, incredibly hot and humid shows, overbearing security, and speakers that are louder than a jet engine? I'll take a hard pass on coming back here again. It may be a local landmark, but that's about all it has going for it.

Growing up not far from the Jersey shore the Stone Pony has always been our go to place for concerts. Those from Jersey always hope our beloved BRUCE will show up. Truly a great venue. There is an indoor and outdoor summer stage. The acoustics are great and the fans are really nice. I've been here more times than I can count and it is always a wonderful time. I've also been here to watch local young artists play, some of them my friends kids. It's a great part of the Jersey shore.