Review 2020-01-18 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ

Another fun Light of Day

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.

By Stan Goldstein via Facebook.
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