Farther south at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, the Shore-based jam band Juggling Suns will hold court for the second year in a row. Amateur Night? Not for These Bands - New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/30artsnj.ht\ ml?_r=1&oref=slogin> "At this point, it feels like family for us, because we've played there a lot and been on the Jersey Shore our whole existence," said Mark Diomede, of Point Pleasant, the singer-songwriter who formed Juggling Suns a decade ago. "It's a great night to play, because people want to relax. But they're also in a really good state of mind they're with friends, and they're reflecting on the year and thinking good things or hoping to forget about it.
"It's just a great hometown gig," he said. "If anybody gets rowdy, it's usually in a good way." Even if it's not, the Stone Pony is continuing an arrangement it made last year with the nearby Berkeley Carteret and Empress Hotels. "They've made some special deals for rooms, and they're both a short walk away, so if you do get really drunk, there's no need to worry about driving," said Mr. Diomede, who said he plans to make the rounds to join fans and friends at both hotels after the band wraps its set, probably around 3 a.m.
