‘Stuck’ in Boca Raton Due to Snow, Beloved Jersey Shore Party Band Plays Another Night

Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns performs at the Biergarten in Boca Raton, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

It’s no secret that there are plenty of Boca Raton residents whose first love of the beach came at the Jersey Shore. If you’ve visited any of the boardwalk bars in Seaside Heights, the night spots along the the Boulevard in Long Beach Island, or some of the dock-and-dine tiki bars on the mainland, you’ve probably heard of Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns.

Their winter tour brought them to Boca Raton over the weekend, playing to an absolutely packed house at the Biergarten Sunday night. Midway through the performance, lead singer John Kern “grudgingly” announced that the northeast blizzard had closed roads, airports and hotels along the way, keeping the entire band in South Florida for at least another day. But their “misfortune” having to remain here led to a treat for the rest of us – the Biergarten invited them back for another performance Monday night.

“I hear the snow is higher than Shorty, and we all know Shorty can get pretty high!” joked Kern after Sunday night’s long-planned performance.

For those are are new to the Shorty scene, the band’s name is derived from the man whose short statute but gigantic personality brought together this unique group of musicians – in the name of music, fun, and flowing drinks along the Shore’s beaches. Ricky “Shorty Long” Tisch stands 3-feet tall due to osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic condition that affects bone structure. The affliction, however, led Shorty to discover his great talent on the piano and keyboards at an early age, which he combined with his unique singing voice, legendary sense of humor, and even a penchant for rapping his own version of “Just A Friend” on stage over drinks with bandmates.

Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns perform. (Photo: Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns/ Facebook)

Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns performs at the Biergarten in Boca Raton, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

From ’70s classics, to hip-hop, to ’90s and 2000s hits, it’s a band that keeps people dancing and singing all night long.

It’s also not unusual to see Shorty embrace the self-deprecating humor that has made the band an institution that has seen them perform at Philadelphia Eagles and Flyers games, the Standley Cup playoffs, Atlantic City casinos, and pack crowds all year long in Seaside Heights. Armed with a keyboard and a mobility chair that is always decorated for the occasion, Shorty laughs off the stereotypical “short jokes” and embraces the lighter side of life by dressing in costume for the season at hand and wheeling his way through the crowd, taking in the love from fans while singing, rapping and cracking jokes.

Shorty Long and Jersey Horns exude fun, and make interaction with fans a central part of their performances. But the musical chops of the band shouldn’t be overshadowed. What began as a “bar band” at The Beachcomber in Seaside Heights turned into a party band with a full horns section that has opened for the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers and has been featured regularly on radio and television stations in their home market. Many of the bandmates run a successful music school in Ocean County, N.J., where they are based.

Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns performs at the Biergarten in Boca Raton, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns performs at the Biergarten in Boca Raton, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Fans can often be identified by wearing the band’s signature tee shirts, featuring the familiar handicap logo occupied by a silhouette of Shorty playing the keyboards and smoking a cigarette.

“When we got on stage, our guitarist saw a bunch of Shorty Long tee shirts,” said Kern. “We were blown away, because when we came out there were 15 Shorty Long logos just emblazoned across the place, and that was just to start.”

Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns will perform – again – Monday at the Biergarten in Royal Palm Place, Boca Raton (309 Via De Palmas), starting at 7 p.m. and going until at least 8:30 p.m.