“This land was made for you and me,” sang Dan Brown and the Empaths as a jam-packed Fourth of July weekend on Long Beach Island came to a close on Sunday afternoon. Echoing through the air just steps away from the beautiful beach which thousands flock to over the holiday weekend, the song felt like not only a fitting tribute to America, but to our Island.

It also aligns with Brown’s message and method behind his band name, the Empaths, which represents “exactly what we’re doing here.”