‘Mad Dog’ Vini Lopez talks Twitter, the E Street Band name, and show at the Chubby Pickle

Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez is in a pickle, and that’s just fine with him.

Lopez and the Wonderful Winos play Saturday, July 1, at the Chubby Pickle in Highlands. The founding E Street Band drummer has had a limited show schedule as of late due to oral surgery. He’s happy to be getting back behind the drums.

“The Pickle, they always treat me nice there,” Lopez said. “I always get a great hamburger there, and the waitresses are cool and the people are cool.”

Carl “Tinker” West, former manager of Springsteen and his pre-E Street Band, lives down the road from the venue. He and other area notables come out to the Wonderful Winos shows.

“It’s important for them to be there,” Lopez, 74, quipped.

Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, shown in 2014.

Perhaps more so for this show as it’s partly a welcome back. Lopez had his oral surgery in March, he said, and wasn’t able to book as many summer gigs at the Jersey Shore this season. Nor did he play in Florida as much as usual during winter with the Hula Hula Boys.

“Hence, now we have a few gigs coming up, and there will be a few more coming up,” said Lopez of the Wonderful Winos itinerary.

Lopez is still in recovery mode.

“My stamina is way low because when I had my mouth done I couldn’t eat,” Lopez said “I lost like 15 pounds and now I gained some weight back. I’m starting to eat chicken.”

While Lopez hasn’t been performing as much as of late, he has been active on social media, where he enjoys zinging high-profile devotees of ex-President Donald Trump on Twitter.

“I use Bugs Bunny a lot,” Lopez said. “Craziness is what it is. Most of the stuff I just see it and blow through it because it’s just really stupid.”

He also has been vocal about the name of the E Street Band. It’s “The” E Street Band, contrary to concert posters for the group current tour, which states it as “E Street Band.”

He should know. He founded the group.

“In the beginning, there was ‘Mad Dog’ Vini Lopez,” said Bruce Springsteen when he inducted Lopez and the rest of the E Street Band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “The genesis of the E Street Band was actually a band that Vini Lopez asked me to form to make a few extra bucks on the weekend.”

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As for the Chubby Pickle, get there early. Lopez and the Wonderful Winos — also Gary Cavico, Jon Brice and Frank Frasche — go on at 6 p.m.

“This is going to be a good test for me,” Lopez said. “I’ll be rootin’ tootin’!”

Go: Vini Lopez and the Wonderful Winos, 6 p.m. Saturday, July 1, followed by Modern Motion at 9:30 p.m., Chubby Pickle, 23 Bay Ave., Highlands, free, thechubbypicklenj.com.

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Ray, Goodman and Brown did not let the rain stop the show.

The legendary R&B act moved their show from Springwood Park to the Asbury Park Public Library on Monday, June 26, to kick off of the Asbury Park Music Foundation’s Music Monday’s series.

“Let’s get this party started,” said group member Keenan Blount. “Let’s not act like we’re in a library. C’mon, get your hands up!”

Hands raised, the group delivered their classics, including “Love on a Two-Way Street” and “Special Lady,” in front of book shelves and one of two striking stained-glass murals in the library.

There was also a poignant moment of remembrance for Ronald Coleman of Neptune, who passed away April 4 at the age of 82. He was a member of the Broadways of Asbury Park in the ’60s with Ray, Goodman and Brown member Billy Brown.

“My best friend, Mr. Ronnie Coleman, departed us,” Brown said. “I’d just like to thank each and everyone of you for supporting him and his family.”

Brown also noted that he’s turning 79 on Friday, June 30. The crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to him.

“By the grace of God and only by His grace,” Brown said.

Fellow city greats Nicky Addeo and Leon Trent, who were also members of the Broadways, opened the show. Their rendition of the O’Jays “Love Train” to close the set got everyone in the library on the right track.

The Gentlemen of Soul play Monday, July 3, at Springwood Park. Visit asburyparkmusiclives.org for more information.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Mad Dog Vini Lopez plays Cubby Pickle in Highlands, E Street Band