New Jersey Stage 2017: Issue 6 | Page 118

little nod to those boots made fa- mous by Nancy Sinatra. The haunt- ing echoes of “If I Could” and “Sleepwalking” and the ode to her former hometown of Asbury Park, “I Love Living Here Even When I Don’t,” also will stick with listeners and remain lasting treats. The music industry is a brutal business that can carve out one’s heart like a pack of hungry vam- pires and suck out a strong artist’s soul until only a fragile shell of greatness remains. I’m glad that Atkins has survived to make an- other impressive record that keeps her moving forward along the rocky road of show-business suc- cess. That road will bring her home to Jersey to perform July 29 at the Monmouth County Fair in Free- hold and Sept. 10 at Shadow of the City Festival at Stone Pony Summerstage with Bleachers, Bri- an Fallon of Gaslight Anthem, Ti- tus Andronicus, Brick + Mortar and more. Listen to “Sleepwalking” by Nicole Atkins NJ STAGE 2017 - Vol. 4 No. 6 INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 118