In Cahoots, In Asbury Park is the story of one of the most important cities in music history, from the perspective of one band, Cahoots, and their closest counterparts and fans in the Asbury Park music scene.
The book begins with the stories of two musicians whose careers literally began on separate sides of the railroad tracks that divide Asbury Park in half at Springwood Avenue. In July 1970, Cahoots' bassist, John Luraschi, was on the roof of The Upstage music club, surrounded by armed musicians who set out to protect the club, where artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt and "Southside" Johnny Lyon honed their craft, before becoming music legends. Luraschi felt indebted to the club's owners, Tom and Margaret Potter, who provided him with a venue for self-expression during tougher times. On the west side of the tracks, Ernest "Boom" Carter benefited from the guidance and mentorship of the jazz legends that performed at its many establishments, such as the Orchid Lounge and Turf Club. From the front of Asbury Park High School, Carter, who later played drums on Springsteen's song "Born to Run," watched the rioters destroy everything the African-American community had built, in response to de facto segregation on the east side of the city.
The book provides a thorough account of Asbury Park's musical heritage, told in third person through the eyes of those who experienced and lived it. The book completely outlines the entire careers of Cahoots' key members and traces how each met and together carved out a slice of the Asbury sound.
