Photos + Review by Steve Cerf ( @SteveCerf )
May 5th 2025 – Evan Honer didn’t just walk onto the stage at The Stone Pony—he backflipped into it. The packed house in Asbury Park exploded, and in that one move, we all knew we were in for something special. Indie, alt-pop, and folk artist Evan Honer is one to watch…and listen to. His career is just beginning to soar, and I love seeing stars on the rise.
Honer opened with his newest single, “Everything I Wanted,” and had the crowd immediately hooked. It was a touching start to the show—a song about achieving success but having no one to share it with. The sincerity in his voice set the tone for the night, and the audience sang along with every word.
Right after, he launched into “Nowhere Fast,” the breakout single and opening track from his sophomore album Fighting For. It fired up the crowd and cemented that he wasn’t here to just play songs—he was here to leave a mark. Fighting For recognizes his growth in both life and music, and you can hear that growth in every lyric and every line.
From there, Honer and the band captivated everyone’s attention. His magnetic voice rolls perfectly between a passionate tremble and a raw wail. There is no question why he’s gaining so much success in so little time. The genuineness he radiates in his lyrics—and finishes with his voice—makes everything he touches feel pure to who he is.
“I Figured We’d Go Dancing” brought a country feel to the set. A sort of waltz-type song, it had the audience lightly swaying back and forth to its melody. Around the midpoint of the show came what I felt was his most personal moment—“Brother,” a heart-wrenching song about Honer’s own brother, who suffers from schizophrenia. It’s about Evan’s helplessness in trying to understand his brother’s struggles. Honer is no stranger to trauma, and his songs reflect that—especially in this one.
The energy never let up. The room stayed electric all night. Honer’s storytelling, stage presence, and connection with the crowd made it one of those rare shows you don’t forget.
“IDK Shit About Cars” closed out the main set—a humorous and lighthearted song about shortcomings, and one I can personally relate to. It was a perfect setup to the wave, and Honer walked off on a high. But the audience wasn’t ready to leave.
Shouts of “ENCORE! ENCORE!” echoed through The Stone Pony, and to roaring cheers, Evan and the band walked back onto the stage for a two-song encore—“Mr. Meyers” and “Better Off Lonely.” It gave the packed house one last high. The entire room was singing along. One hell of a way to close out a night of unforgettable live music.
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