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Springsteen unleashes surprise set at N.J. show, jams all night
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Every year, Bob’s Birthday Bash sells out at the Paramount Theatre — partially because it’s an important fundraising event for Parkinson’s Disease research, and partially because fans know there’s a good chance Bruce Springsteen will perform. The Boss had played the annual charity event 11 times between 2000 and 2015.
Though attendees were left wanting for the last four events, which take place each January as the centerpiece of the Light Of Day Foundation’s WinterFest weekend in Asbury Park.
But Bruce was back Saturday night for an explosive 70-minute set — his longest public performance since he left Broadway in December 2018 — jamming alongside Pittsburgh rocker and longtime friend Joe Grushecky during the show’s 20th anniversary performance. The “BRUUUUCE” chants crested from the 1,600 or so fans and Springsteen, wearing a half-unbuttoned flannel and newsboy cap, played fast and loose through a combo of Grushecky’s crunchy tunes and his own bounding rock staples.
Grushecky’s five-piece Houserockers band did well to keep up as Springsteen laid into his guitar, ripping a searing solo on Grushecky’s 1980 tune “Pumping Iron."
Of course, the crowd went wildest for the classic Springsteen tunes: “The Promised Land,” with Bruce’s emphatic harmonica solos; a rousing, impassioned take on “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and a fun call-and-response for “Savin’ Up,” where Springsteen took a moment to facetiously preach, as he’s wont to do.
“This song isn’t about how much you’ve got in your bank account — it’s about how much you’ve got in your love account,” Springsteen announced, grinning. “If you’re bankrupt in your love account, you need to start working on that right now.”
Though Springsteen seemed to revel in the mystery of obscuring his face with his low-pulled cap, he still was clearly tickled to be back — even in a good enough mood to take a shot of alcohol on stage with the band. Though I’m not sure what the booze was, if it was Bruce’s call, it was probably tequila.
The night rode to an end just after midnight, with a monstrous and fitting rendition of “Light of Day,” with dozens of performers — from the Birthday show and other events around town — on stage to sing with Bruce and celebrate Bob Benjamin, the longtime music industry figure and founder of the organization. Benjamin suffers from Parkinson’s and sat in a wheelchair on stage, singing along to the swirling tune.
When Springsteen shows up at this particular event, “Light of Day” is often the set closer. But in a touching moment, Springsteen said “let’s do one more for Bob” and strapped on his acoustic guitar for “Thunder Road." The swelling, powerful sing-along between the performers on stage and the elated crowd boomed from the theater.
The Light of Day Foundation was created in 2000 and has since raised over $4.5 million “in the fight to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease,” the website reads. Around 70 shows in 13 countries in North America, Europe and Australia take place annually. The foundation’s WinterFest in Asbury Park brings dozens of events every year to venues around the city: The Stone Pony, Wonder Bar, House of Independents and more.
Other performers Saturday night included New York punk-rock stalwart Willie Nile, U.K. singer-songwriter James Maddock, New York rock veteran Jesse Malin, Asbury Park country duo Williams Honor and more.
Springsteen appeared earlier in the night to play guitar and sing background vocals on two of Malin’s songs: “Broken Radio” and “Meet Me At The End Of The World," and one of Nile’s: “One Guitar.”
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Bruce Springsteen surprises audience at 20th annual Light of Day in Asbury Park
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Every year, Bob’s Birthday Bash sells out at the Paramount Theatre — partially because it’s an important fundraising event for Parkinson’s Disease research, and partially because fans know there’s a good chance Bruce Springsteen will perform. The Boss had played the annual charity event 11 times between 2000 and 2015.
Though attendees were left wanting for the last four events, which take place each January as the centerpiece of the Light Of Day Foundation’s WinterFest weekend in Asbury Park.
But Bruce was back Saturday night for an explosive 70-minute set — his longest public performance since he left Broadway in December 2018 — jamming alongside Pittsburgh rocker and longtime friend Joe Grushecky during the show’s 20th anniversary performance. The “BRUUUUCE” chants crested from the 1,600 or so fans and Springsteen, wearing a half-unbuttoned flannel and newsboy cap, played fast and loose through a combo of Grushecky’s crunchy tunes and his own bounding rock staples.
Grushecky’s five-piece Houserockers band did well to keep up as Springsteen laid into his guitar, ripping a searing solo on Grushecky’s 1980 tune “Pumping Iron."
Of course, the crowd went wildest for the classic Springsteen tunes: “The Promised Land,” with Bruce’s emphatic harmonica solos; a rousing, impassioned take on “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and a fun call-and-response for “Savin’ Up,” where Springsteen took a moment to facetiously preach, as he’s wont to do.
“This song isn’t about how much you’ve got in your bank account — it’s about how much you’ve got in your love account,” Springsteen announced, grinning. “If you’re bankrupt in your love account, you need to start working on that right now.”
Though Springsteen seemed to revel in the mystery of obscuring his face with his low-pulled cap, he still was clearly tickled to be back — even in a good enough mood to take a shot of alcohol on stage with the band. Though I’m not sure what the booze was, if it was Bruce’s call, it was probably tequila.
The night rode to an end just after midnight, with a monstrous and fitting rendition of “Light of Day,” with dozens of performers — from the Birthday show and other events around town — on stage to sing with Bruce and celebrate Bob Benjamin, the longtime music industry figure and founder of the organization. Benjamin suffers from Parkinson’s and sat in a wheelchair on stage, singing along to the swirling tune.
When Springsteen shows up at this particular event, “Light of Day” is often the set closer. But in a touching moment, Springsteen said “let’s do one more for Bob” and strapped on his acoustic guitar for “Thunder Road." The swelling, powerful sing-along between the performers on stage and the elated crowd boomed from the theater.
The Light of Day Foundation was created in 2000 and has since raised over $4.5 million “in the fight to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease,” the website reads. Around 70 shows in 13 countries in North America, Europe and Australia take place annually. The foundation’s WinterFest in Asbury Park brings dozens of events every year to venues around the city: The Stone Pony, Wonder Bar, House of Independents and more.
Other performers Saturday night included New York punk-rock stalwart Willie Nile, U.K. singer-songwriter James Maddock, New York rock veteran Jesse Malin, Asbury Park country duo Williams Honor and more.
Springsteen appeared earlier in the night to play guitar and sing background vocals on two of Malin’s songs: “Broken Radio” and “Meet Me At The End Of The World," and one of Nile’s: “One Guitar.”
There's plenty of posts, pictures and videos from Saturday night's Light of Day show from the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park. Here's my little recap. When it seemed Bruce would not be a guest for the fifth year in a row since he was at a equestrian benefit in Florida on Friday, a buzz started around Thursday that it could be a possibility.
By Saturday afternoon, it was pretty much a definite as word started to spread.
Bruce showed up for a soundcheck with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers around 4:30 p.m. They rehearsed seven songs, one was not played, more on that later.
Bruce first came onstage with Jesse Malin to perform two songs: "Broken Radio" and a new one from Jesse called "Meet Me at the End of the World" from Jesse's "Sunset Kids" album. The sold-out crowd, many who didn't know Bruce would be there (not everyone monitors the Springsteen social media pages all day and night, ha!) was thrilled and pumped to know they would be in for a special night.
Bruce later joined Willie Nile for "One Guitar" and he was very into it. Yes his voice was rough throughout the night, but it was great to see him rock out with Willie and Johnny Pisano.
Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers closed the show. Bruce came out about 10:50 p.m. and played close to the next 1 hour and 11 minutes with Joe. He was very talkative, telling stories and having fun. We haven't gotten too many Bruce electric guitar appearances with bands since 2017 so this was great to see again.
Set list with Joe: 1. Talk to the King, 2. The Promised Land, 3. Pumping Iron. 4.Atlantic City, 5. Never Be Enough Time, 6. Darkness on the Edge of Town.7. Pink Cadillac (Danny Clinch join in), 8. Savin’ Up, 9. Light of Day, 10. Thunder Road (acoustic). and Bruce led everyone on stage to sing "Happy Birthday" to Bob Benjamin.
After "Light of Day" and prior to Light of Day, he said this about Light of Day founder Bob Benjamin: "Thank you Bob Benjamin! This is our 20 year anniversary for the Light of Day. Bob started it 20 years ago, damn that's hard to believe, it's been an incredible experience. He's done an incredible amount of good. I think I met Bob early in the 1970s, a look time ago. We'll do one more for Bob. All right sing along", as Bruce played "Thunder Road" on the acoustic guitar.
"Because the Night" was sound checked but not played.
Overall a great night, one of those special nights that I'm so glad continue to happen. Bruce is now 70, so we all have to keep that in mind, but still no one does it better and makes everyone in the theater walk out smiling that they just witnessed greatness once again.
