Gov. Murphy Feared He Would Be Booed At Red Bank Bar, Lead Singer Says

RED BANK, NJ — The lead singer of the band that played the July 3 concert where Gov. Phil Murphy was at first cheered, and then booed said the two-term Democratic governor initially declined to come up on stage — because he feared he would be booed.

Gov. Murphy's media team did not immediately respond to this story.

"I didn't see him at first, but the guitar player tapped on my shoulder and pointed him out," said Brian Kirk, lead singer of popular Jersey Shore band Brian Kirk + The Jirks. "He's showed up at my shows before; he's a fan."

That evening, the band played an outdoor concert on the patio at Red Rock Tap + Grill in Red Bank.

"(The governor) was in a great mood," continued Kirk. "He said, 'I’m not getting up there; they're gonna boo me.' He was adamant about it. But I insisted. I almost begged him to come up. I started the song anyway; I know he loves to sing that song to his wife (Tammy, who was also there that night). He has sung it to Tammy in the past with us. I knew he couldn't resist singing it."

Kirk said he directed the band to start playing Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You," and Murphy came on stage. Gov. Murphy actually did serenade his wife with the entire rendition the 1967 romance hit, said Kirk.

After he finished singing, some in the crowd cheered, but then others started loudly booing the Democratic governor, whose name continues to be floated as a possible 2024 presidential nominee.

"He sang the entire song — to cheers mind you — and then after it was over some people booed him. And that's when I said something," said Kirk Monday morning. "I really think that video was enhanced."

Watch video posted on Twitter by Matt Rooney, who founded Save Jersey, a conservative Garden State news site. Rooney said he posted the video exactly as it was sent to him from someone in the bar that night. He also said he does not have the technical skills to edit the video.

"I'm a luddite. I wouldn't know how to edit the video even if I wanted to," said Rooney. "The reason this story has legs is because Murphy was booed in a blue town, Red Bank, and Brian Kirk decided to lecture the crowd about it. Typical limousine liberals."

Here's another video that shows the crowd singing along with Murphy before some started booing at the end:

Amidst the booing, Kirk took to the microphone to ask the crowd to stop:

“Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, what did I tell you guys? Hey. Listen to me. Listen to me. He didn’t want to hear that. He’s a buddy of mine. This is not about politics. He’s a friend of mine. Do not do that. Please. Out of respect for my friend,” said Kirk during the booing. "Don't do that."

Even now, a week later, Kirk said he "feels terrible" for how the crowd reacted.

"I feel terrible. Come on, he just wants to sing a song to his wife. Come on," said the musician.

"I said I have a special guest here and if you don't like it, I don't want to hear it. This is not about politics," said Kirk on Monday morning. "We don't hang out, but I would count him as a friend. I think he's a good guy. I do this when anyone notable shows up at my shows; of course I'm going to ask them to come up and sing. Last month we had (actress) Jill Hennessy at our show at The Sandbox (a bar in Highlands) and guess what, I asked her to come up on stage and sing. It's what I do!"

The Jersey Shore is not friendly territory for the two-term Democratic governor: A majority of voters in both Monmouth and Ocean counties (Red Bank is in Monmouth County) chose Republicans candidates both times Murphy ran for governor. This summer, Murphy is facing much pushback for his plan, backed by President Joe Biden, to install hundreds of offshore wind turbines off the Jersey Shore.

Murphy lives in a waterfront estate very close by in Middletown, on the Navesink River. And Kirk lives nearby in Rumson.