House Of Independents - Don’t Call it a Comeback

In September of 2023, Downtown Asbury Park suffered a major flood. The water rose from Wesley Lake, the barrier reservoir separating Lake Ave from Ocean Grove. Making its way into the storefront lining the street the rising water left a trail of damage. Among the businesses impacted was the House of Independents. With the venue flood, it seemed they would likely need to shutter their doors indefinitely. 

In a welcomed move to save this Asbury Park staple, Concert Crave spearheaded the reopening, slotting it for the summer of 2024. Announcing a June start date they worked tirelessly to open the doors back up to the public. 

Part of this undertaking was a rebrand of their logo and a fresh coat of paint for some of their internal signage. A 4’x3’ sign hung over the walkway leading from the front door. The previous design consisted of yellow octagons, creating a honeycomb effect with their trademark “H” in the center. The revamped design had the same “H” with a graphic, neon green, house surrounding it. Working with their team we decided to showcase the new logo with a 3D drop shadow and triangular acoustic tiles in the background. The final creative would be framed in black, hung glowing on the wall overlooking the entrance and bar. A hand-painted sign to pull the room together and greet the attendees as they walk into the space. 

Painting the panel started with prepping the surface. I sanded down the previous iteration to create a uniform surface. After that, I applied two coats of primer, aligned the patterns to pounce the transfer, then started painting! First was the background gray. This was left to cure overnight before returning the next day to add the details, logo, and border. While painting, others worked to set up tables, build the stage, and other tasks to prepare the space for opening. 

Completing the hand-pained sign, it hung on the wall as a glossy symbol of rebirth. The bright greens draped over the geometric background fit perfectly on the wall, anticipating the energy that would be put forth by all of the upcoming performances. 

It was great to be a part of something integral to Asbury Park. Known for its music this Jersey Shore town will continue to live up to its tradition of being a welcoming place for the arts and those who support them.

4am Somewhere Hand-painted Murals and Signs