Sunday, September 20 was the second day of the Sea. Hear. Now. Despite the gray skies and misty weather, fans headed to the beach. Bustling with excitement despite all odds, I walked to the festival area with a few fans who were there the day prior. Prepared for anything, I firmly intended to stay even if it rained, unless I was instructed otherwise for safety.
The first set of the day that I got to experience was Alice Phoebe Lou on the park stage. While the ground was wet, the spirits were high on the early rainy afternoon. Her angelic tone blended with the bluesy melody of her band. She opened with her song Touch and followed with Angel; ultimately, throughout the entire performance, her voice gave me chills with its soothing echo. The South African singer has six studio albums under her belt, and her most recent album, released in 2025, is titled Oblivion. Her band was phenomenal; together they seemed to charm the audience as if we were all snakes. I am overjoyed that I didn’t miss this performance.
I headed over to the beach to see if the surfing contest was still happening despite the weather conditions. I caught a glimpse of some waves and the band Makua from Hawaii. They have a tight, pop-punk-sounding beat and an energetic frontman. It was a pleasant soundtrack to watch some surfing. Makua played an additional set at The Wonder Bar on Saturday night as part of the late-night series of shows after the festival.
You know them, you love them—and if you don’t, you will soon—the punk rock band called Die Spitz from Austin, Texas. I’ve described them as the Linda Lindas but heavier; passionate lyrics and dynamic stage presence match their epic sound. I heard one woman in the crowd say she was probably old enough to be their grandmother, and she thinks they are amazing. Bassist Kate Halter is unapologetically having so much fun up there, and even walked out on stage doing a handstand! They showcase their talent throughout the set, especially when Ava Schrobilgen and Chloe de St. Aubin swap places on drums and guitar for a few songs. Eleanor Livingston and her fiery red hair have a phenomenal, echoey tone that’s complemented by Schrobilgen’s screams.
Soon enough, I was running across the beach to catch Fontaines DC—I might add you don’t realize how out of shape you are until you run on the beach. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, I slowly noticed Irish flags and jerseys scattered across the audience before they started. Many people I talked to said they were here specifically to see them today. The band’s sound is like the love child of The Cure and LCD Sound System; I found myself impressed with the synth sounds live. People were softly moshing, especially the ones standing next to me in the crowd. I enjoyed their enthusiasm; I wasn’t sure what the crowd vibe would be going in. I admit I left with a newfound appreciation for their music; seeing them perform and pour pure energy into their craft added another dimension to their discography for me.
The Goo Goo Dolls revived the crowd’s energy after bouncing around to Fontaines DC. With a crisp, clear soft-rock sound, I was transported back to the early 2000s, when I realized how much of their discography I knew by heart. I think that I have heard bands cover Iris more than I can count on two hands, so it was really cool to finally hear it straight from the source. Aside from the fans singing along to John Rzeznik’s familiar voice and their nostalgic tunes, my favorite part was when local photographer Danny Clinch came on stage, sporting a harmonica, to jam alongside them. I absolutely fan-girled being a huge fan of Clinch, his work, and his remarkable gallery.
Headlining and closing out the festival were none other than The Strokes, aka New York’s own post-punk new wave darlings. In the crowd, I met two girls from Florida who had been anticipating this weekend for months to see The Strokes. I noticed people in the apartment buildings that overlooked the beach watching from their windows and waving flashlights excitedly. They are simply always going to be a great show, one of those bands that just fits like a glove. Perfect lighting, so bright that they all still wear their sunglasses at night (It’s much cooler when they do it). I wanted to take a moment to personally thank them for closing out on Ode to The Mets. I enjoy this song; the hundreds of fans cheering for you to play this song enjoy the song, and even Yankee fans enjoy this song. The rain sealed the deal and waited until the very end of the song, and it honestly felt like a movie.
Thankfully, the rain held out fully until the very end. I saw someone online say to thank the Etsy witches, because the entire festival still happened despite fear of rain. All in all, I would say this was a successful year of Sea. Hear. Now. This is a festival designed for everyone, whether you’re a die-hard fan of a specific artist or someone who’s just looking to chill out on the beach and discover new music. I’ve concluded this festival is very family-friendly, and many families seem to look forward to it year after year, making it an amazing pillar of culture for surrounding New Jersey communities. While the weather was overcast for most of the weekend, this festival was nothing short of entertaining, passionate, and inspiring.
